Mars Retrograde 2020
Mars, the fiery planet of sex and conflict, transited into its natal ruling sign of Aries on June 27th, where it will reside for an unusually long period of six months, until January 6th 2021. This prolonged stay in the sign of Aries is in part due to a retrograde it will make on September 9th, until November 15th.
Despite all the horror story click-bait headlines, retrogrades aren’t actually a bad thing. They simply give us the opportunity to pull focus. To slow things down, in order to allow us the time to soak in the detail of a situation or thing. A moment to reevaluate. However, it must be said, that with the energy of both this planet and sign naturally always being set to fast-forward, this sudden shift into slow mode may feel challenging to us in the area it affects, potentially even causing a sense of frustration. Where we were once on fire, we may start to feel a little burnt out.
The key though, is to take the opportunity this pause is offering, to truly acknowledge what rubs us up the wrong way, in order to make the relevant changes that will ultimately lead to the creation of harmony - inner and outer. In order to do that however, we must be willing to be honest, with ourselves, but also with others and for some of us, that may require courage. Which, thankfully, Mars is all about - the willingness to overcome our fears, insecurities, and whatever else may be holding us back - so, utilising its energy during this time is vital. Especially as, during a retrograde, there’s little to no chance that we’ll be able to avoid it, as the planet refuses to budge from the tender spots it’s pushing on.
If you want to find out specifically which area of your own life Mars will be prodding for the next few months, look for where you have 28° to 15° Aries in your chart (feel free to pop me a message if you need clarification - always happy to assist), as these are the degrees Mars will start and end its retrograde. For me personally, it will begin in my 3rd House of communication, right on my Jupiter, before backtracking into my 2nd House of self-worth and values. So, in my case, it’s about my ability to speak up when I need to (3rd House), along with having and upholding boundaries (2nd House).
Mars’ transit in Aries is already a fiery combination, which has been creating heat for everybody, personally and collectively, since the end of June. But now, as the planet starts to take a shift back through the degrees it’s just covered, expect there to be some fine tuning required in certain areas of our lives. This may play out as certain situations or feelings reemerging/reoccurring, so, we might wish to look back at what was going on for us, or in the world, at the end of June.
Additionally, with Mars making three key squares to Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn, over the coming months, the Universe isn’t asking that we look at what Mars is highlighting, it’s demanding! That’s because squares - which are when two planets make a 90° degree angle to one another - create tension; the kind that forces us to take note. It’s that unavoidable discomfort, which comes from a sore spot, in need of healing, getting poked and prodded by an intrusive grubby finger. It can be a testing time for our patience and inner calm. How much can we keep our shit together when our shit is being pulled apart for examination.
The first of these three squares is on September 29th, between Mars and Saturn, in its natal Capricorn. Saturn is about karma, responsibility, and authority. It’s slow, considerate, and long-term focused. So, here we have the young, ambitious, impatient Mars in Aries, squaring up with Old Father Time, Saturn in Capricorn. It’s like the neighbourhood punk kid, getting an ass whooping from the old veteran next door. One is trying to teach the other a lesson, but what precisely is the lesson. Saturn is about authority, Mars is about courage. Meaning that we both collectively and personally, are being asked to stand in our own authority and have the courage, along with the fortitude and patience, to assert our needs and uphold our boundaries against the bigger, more aggressive systems we’re opposed to.
Mars says do you, but Saturn says, do what is right. When we combine the two, we learn to take a foot off the accelerator and instead of rushing in and reacting out of our feelings, especially our aggression, we take a moment to process and respond in a constructive way. Saturn doesn’t want Mars to do its usual thing, namely burning the village to the ground in haste and anger. It wants Mars to utilise its fire to fuel the long, hard work, that the real valued change requires.
The second of the squares comes on October 9th, between Mars and Pluto, again in Capricorn. Pluto is about transformation and in Capricorn, it’s talking about revolutionising the bigger systems. Think corporations, politics, and that old fucking bastard, the patriarchy. The lessons that Saturn taught Mars back on September 29th, will be asked to be put into practice. How can Mars best utilise its aggression and energy to transform the systems which have been oppressing it.
Finally, on October 18th, we have the final square (until the end of the year/early 2021), between Mars and Jupiter, also in Capricorn. Jupiter is about expansion, growth, and our belief systems. This is a little pocket of positivity in an otherwise challenging time, but only if we, personally and collectively, harness the lessons of the previous two squares will Jupiter truly reward us. If not…we may find that our haste and inability to tame the flames of our Mars lit fires, gets in the way of our potential to blossom and change.
Ultimately, the last half of 2020 will most likely be as shocking and destabilising as its first half. But nothing occurs without reason and it’s for us to see every setback, knock back, and loss, as an opportunity to learn and create new ways of doing things. Whether that’s on the collective scale in our societal structures, or on a personal level within our own lives. The astrology is merely highlighting to us the energies we have to work with, it’s down to us what we do with them.
May this retrograde provide you with the necessary insight to recognise what needs changing and the courage to do what must be done.