Planet Mars has an intriguing retrograde coming up. On December 6, the red planet, currently in the sign of Leo, will pause before apparently backtracking across the sky. When astrologers refer to “retrograde,” they are talking about a period when a planet’s orbit slows down. This creates an illusion where the planet seems to be traveling in reverse from our vantage point on Earth.
When planets “turn retrograde,” they don’t actually change direction. It’s an optical illusion due to where the planet is in its orbit. Symbolically, retrograde planets express themselves more erratically and with less coordination. They also emphasize specific time frames; a planet will appear to traverse a portion of the sky, go backwards over that same patch, and then resume its forward motion for a third pass over the same section. Retrogrades are a time of deep study of a particular curriculum.
Mars stations retrograde approximately once every two years for two months. This means it’s not as common (or pesky) as Mercury retrograde. However, it still has the ability to create chaos when it occurs.
Mars retrograde happens once every two years or so, for about two and a half months at a time. Mars retrograde is a time when things move slowly and feel messy, we take alternate or indirect routes, and sometimes this is a stressful time.
By the end of a Mars retrograde period, we feel clearer on where we’re heading and can move forward in a much clearer and more directed manner.
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What does Mars retrograde mean? When any planet is retrograde, it is actually the closest to the Earth that it can physically be. If anything, planets feel so strong while retrograde that their influence is overwhelming. When a planet is retrograde it’s as if we are deeply immersed in the energy of that planet rather than being able to observe it only from the outside, for better or for worse. We are going deeper into them, seeing them from a different perspective, swimming in their depths, and even bringing them inside of us like we are breathing them in.
Mars is the planet of action, activity, conflict, vitality, zest for life, anger, aggression, passion, personal power, leadership, discomfort, stress, injury, impulse, sex (sex acts especially), and more. Mars is fast, hot, and sharp. Mars retrograde, sometimes written as Mars Rx, means that all of the things in Mars’ domain are turned inside out or inward, reassessed, deepened, and approached from different angles.
Mars retrogrades feel like the winter: quiet, dark, more still, like the day of the winter solstice (though this stillness can also result in unexpected burns and heatwaves). These are times when energy is lower and the earth is turned inward, shrinking back in the absence of the sun, and we are doing the same. Similar to wintertime, Mars retrograde is a time for rest, recharging and recuperation, not charging forth against the current or trying to force things.
During this time, many people begin to recognize how burnt out we are, how much more rest we all need, and what rest actually consists of. If you are able to give yourself more rest and more space to drift in and out of different types of rest during Mars retrograde, do it. Keep in mind, too, that ‘rest’ does not only mean sleeping more and lounging about, though that is an important part of it too. Rest is also play, joy, and fun. Mars retrograde can be a great time to return to old joys - games, sports, kinds of exercise, or even sex acts that you haven’t done in a while.
Because Mars is traveling in a different direction during this time (or appears to be from our position on Earth, anyway), it may be easier to approach Martial things from different perspectives right now. While Mars is retrograde it’s often much easier to resolve old conflicts, right old wrongs, change directions, alter the ways we deal with conflict, take action in ways that are out of the ordinary, approach sex and desire differently, and make notable changes in life and to how we navigate life. When navigated with intention, Mars Rx can be calming and soothing for these Martial topics.
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How to Survive Mars Retrograde!!
Understanding Mars
Mars is associated with the assertion of will, how we pursue our desires, and all acts of individuation. It’s the planet responsible for how we hew our way through the world and differentiate ourselves from others. Traditionally, it’s the planet of war, aggression, and conflict, but this expression most commonly shows itself in the face of oppression. It’s also the planet that astrologers study to ascertain a person’s relationship with anger and sexuality.
The red planet is associated with passion, willpower, action, and drive. When Mars is retrograde, it can feel like the fire is out. Enthusiasm wanes, courage is muted, and motivation is harder to find. This wet blanket vibe creates disinterest, leading to slowdowns and setbacks. Needless to say, this can cause tension, especially in work-related matters. For example, if you need to meet a deadline, you could experience obstacles or distractions that force you to work harder. Instead of a normal pace, you are moving as if you’re wearing cement shoes.
Mars is known as the “warrior planet,” which means aggression, anger, and conflict are also up for review during the retrograde period. Because retrogrades turn the energy inward, the feeling is similar to a simmering volcano. For example, if you get mad, you might have trouble expressing it. So, you attempt to suppress your feelings until they boil over. Temper tantrums, road rage, and explosive arguments are common Mars retrograde reactions, especially if you do not regulate your emotions.
Because Mars is usually an “act first, think later planet,” impatience and impulse tend to get amplified during retrogrades, leading to situations where you take action only to regret it later.
The Impact of Mars Retrograde
What happens when the planet of initiative and drive shifts gears and throws itself into reverse? Conventional wisdom would have us thinking that it might become mellower, unsure of what it wants, or frustrated. These are definitely possibilities, but it’s also just as likely to go rogue-or become ravenous and tyrannical. As with all retrogrades, the planet’s attributes are amplified, but the experiences are dependent on the individuals or events expressing them. Retrogrades are a refining process.
Read also: Synastry: Moon Conjunct Mars
We can think of this time as an opportunity to revisit how well or poorly we have advocated for ourselves in the past. How do we process anger?
One of the things that makes this retrograde particularly complex is that it travels through two signs. From December 6 to January 6, 2025, Mars retreats through Leo, then it continues to backstroke through watery Cancer until February 23, 2025. After that, it resumes forward motion over the same ground it covered for the third and final time. Leo and Cancer are distinctly different in character, and Mars has varying degrees of ease in each sign.
A fiery planet like Mars has affinity with the fixed fire sign of Leo. Mars is comfortable in expressive and individualistic Leo. It can put its skills to work in an uncomplicated way. Plenty of energy is available to create objects, images, and events that bear one’s unique signature. There’s lots of fuel for sustaining positions of leadership, making dramatic presentations of feeling, and heartily enjoying oneself.
In Cancer, Mars is a stranger in a strange land. One of Mars’s principal archetypes is “the warrior,” and in nurturing, receptive, Cancer, its expression can be quite awkward. It’s not that this placement is useless, it just takes some creativity and adjustment to find itself. When Mars enters the domain of Cancer, it can’t access its preferred resources as quickly. Gone are the swords and blowtorches, and in their stead, comfort foods and cozy blankets.
When Mars finds its footing in Cancer, it can be a great defender of the vulnerable and advocate on the behalf of women, children, and the home-front. It can mobilize its energies to build fortresses, gardens, and sanctuaries. Mars in Cancer could adopt the role of a relentless provider of comforts, aggressive caretaker, or the one who dissents from a tradition.
The most glaring signature of this Mars retrograde process, is its meetings with the lord of death and rebirth, Pluto, on January 3 and April 26, 2025. Mars in Leo will confront Pluto in Aquarius by opposition, urging us to dig deep for hidden sources of power. These two meetings stem from a first encounter in November 2024 when Mars was in Cancer and Pluto was in Capricorn. By working with this Mars retrograde process, we’ll be more able to refine the wielding and surrendering of our power and how we respond to perceived enemies.
Navigating Mars Retrograde: Practical Tips
So, How Do You Handle Mars Retrograde? First of all, you need to slow down, take a breath, and count to ten before reacting or taking action. A bit of mindfulness will prevent most of the Mars retrograde problems. Miro adds: “It’s an opportunity to reassess where you’re asserting your energy and effort and to examine the motivations and roots behind your actions.”
If anger or jealousy arises, healthy outlets can cool you down. Physical activity falls under Mars’s realm, so exercise such as a brisk walk or weed-pulling session in the garden can do wonders for your mood. Gentle activities are also helpful for calming your fire. Miro recommends “journaling, creating, or simply taking time to rest, recharge, and treat yourself right” as wholesome options.
It’s essential to resist conflicts as much as possible. This could mean stepping away from situations that seem to be escalating or dodging angry types who want to stir the pot. “Listening more and responding less can help you stay grounded. Not every conflict needs to be resolved immediately. Sometimes giving it space is the healthiest choice,” advises Miro. In some cases, boundaries may be necessary. Above all, you’ll want to choose your battles wisely. This means focusing your energy on the most important issues and not getting caught up in unnecessary or unproductive squabbles.
This also extends to legal conflicts. Mars retrograde is not the time to initiate a lawsuit. Odds are, you won’t find success. However, if someone files a lawsuit against you, you have a better chance of winning.
Another standard guideline is to avoid starting a new business when Mars is retrograde. It’s more likely to run into problems or fail. “Mars is bold and action-oriented, but during a retrograde, those qualities can feel misaligned,” says Miro. “This isn’t the time to launch new projects or take impulsive actions. Instead, focus on reflecting, refining, and redirecting your energy and actions moving forward.” If you use this period to examine your plans, you’ll be ready to launch once the retrograde comes to an end.
Mars retrograde is the perfect time to revisit old projects. Update, reorganize, or tie up loose ends. If something has been left dangling for too long, this is the perfect time to wrap it up once and for all.
Lastly, Mars is associated with power. How are you stepping into your power … or not? Do you allow others to push you around? Do you use aggressive or passive-aggressive ways to get what you want? Find the courage to reclaim your power. At the same time, don’t forget to respect other people’s autonomy.
Mars Retrograde Through the Houses
Have you ever dreamed of visiting Mars? When Mars goes retrograde (backwards) in our skies we have a greater than usual tendency to feel irritation, frustration, anger and impatience. This is a signal from the Red Planet that there’s something that we need to assert or clarify through meaningful action. To understand how this Mars retrograde period is affecting you personally, find the house in your chart that Mars is passing through.
- First House: If Mars is retrograding through your First House, the way you see yourself is under revision. Take time to look inwardly to manifest change outwardly. Perhaps it’s time to use unresolved anger in a more positive way-take up boxing or martial arts.
- Second House: If Mars is retrograding through your Second House, take a look at your values. Are there better ways of utilizing your resources? Are there steps you can take or ways you can assert yourself to ensure a more secure future? This is a good time to revisit your budget and plan ahead for any large expenditures later this year.
- Third House: If Mars is retrograding through your Third House, you may find communicating a challenge. Try using influence rather than force. Do what you can to reduce your frustration about not being heard, or it may explode. Consider alternate styles or forms of communication during this time. What has always worked in the past may need reconsidering.
- Fourth House: If Mars is retrograding through your Fourth House, use caution when expressing anger towards those you live with. While it’s always good not to let things fester, it might be better to practice compassion at home-even when you don’t feel it. Frustrated about your home?
- Fifth House: If Mars is retrograding through your Fifth House, your creativity can feel blocked. Or is the universe merely redirecting you so that you can discover alternate outlets for that expressive energy? It’s best to let it flow at this time. What will it take to get you unstuck? Dogged determination to finish a creative endeavor may not be the best approach.
- Sixth House: If Mars is retrograding through your Sixth House, ways of working may require restructuring. You may not move as quickly or as assuredly as you have in the past, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be productive. This is a good time to review your productivity. Let quality take precedence over quantity. Don’t allow your frustration to destroy your structures.
- Seventh House: If Mars is retrograding through your Seventh House, you may be arguing more with your partner. Re-assess how you handle conflict with one another. If you are not asserting yourself enough in your relationship, try to understand what is holding you back from affirming your position. Then take the actions necessary to persuade your partner that you mean what you say. But gently. If you are too hard on your partner, too demanding, then step it back a notch.
- Eighth House: If Mars is retrograding through your Eighth House, you may want to insist on putting your sexual needs first. You cannot just demand more intimacy, you may have to ask for what you want-clearly but gently. Do you also feel entitled to some shared resources? What’s holding you back from asking for them? Bring honesty into these conversations.
- Ninth House: If Mars is retrograding through your Ninth House, it’s adventure time! Frustrated about that trip you never took? Hit the road! Get out there and if you can’t spontaneously do it, then initiate the planning of it. Ask yourself what is inhibiting you from expanding your horizons.
- Tenth House: If Mars is retrograding through your Tenth House, you may encounter career blockages and feel frustration about not advancing fast enough in your field. Revisit some of your career goals from years ago, and see how they line up with where you are now. What is stopping you from asking for that promotion or bonus? What’s the next move for you?
- Eleventh House: When Mars is retrograding through your Eleventh House, you may find that you are not asserting yourself among your friends, peers and colleagues. How are your needs being eclipsed by the will of your tribe? How can you reclaim your place without stepping on too many toes? Alternatively, if you pick up your tribe’s banner and begin waving it (i.e.
- Twelfth House: When Mars is retrograding through your Twelfth House, are you the protagonist in your own dream, or are you just watching things happen to you? You may experience blockages and frustrations that come from mysterious sources, or possibly that are rooted in superstition. Seek out the heart of these mysteries that are draining your vital energy. Is it time for you to know the truth? Could facing it set you free?
Upcoming Mars Retrograde Dates
Here are some upcoming dates for Mars in retrograde:
| Dates | Zodiac Location |
|---|---|
| January 10, 2027 - April 1, 2027 | Begins in Virgo, ends in Leo |
| February 14, 2029 - March 5, 2029 | Begins in Libra, ends in Virgo |
| March 28, 2031 - June 13, 2031 | Scorpio |
| May 26, 2033 - August 1, 2033 | Begins in Capricorn, ends in Sagittarius |
| August 15 - October 15, 2035 | Pisces |
Fun factoid: Although Mars moves sequentially through the zodiac, it marches to a different beat than the other planets. This means the retrograde may skip or repeat signs.
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