Mars Retrograde

Today marks the first day of Mars retrograde, this time in the sign of Aquarius, moving back into Capricorn. In retrograde, Mars appears to be moving backwards and it’s distance from earth is closer, making it’s archetype much more intensely felt. Mars rules our drive, assertion, desire and willpower. In retrograde motion, it’s energies are driven inward instead out outward. Along with Neptune’s current shift into retrograde, this is a highly reflective and introspective time (The Hermit)

Something to take note of during the retrograde period is that with Mars closer to the earth and more intense, it’s archetypal elements may come out more actively. The impulsive and somewhat aggressive nature of Mars can be touchy now. However, we have much to learn if we can integrate a more passive approach to witness the energies at play and refine them for more intentional and harmonious directions. 

In the sign of Aquarius, we are being called to review how we are integrating into our community and collective as well as exercising our more unique and rebellious facets. Aquarians are the innovators and the flashes of unexpected insight. While it may be safe to stay quiet about group dynamics, we will begin to see how this has the potential to effect ourselves and our communities negatively. With Chiron also in Aries which is ruled by Mars, this may bring up issues around how we or others in our groups or collective are embodying their masculinity. Where is there too much force? Where is there not enough? Is there any obvious imbalances that have been at play that need to be smoothed out? Aquarians can be seen as the activists, the one’s who stick up for the group and honor integrity over the individual ego. This year with Chiron moving into Aries we have begun the process of healing toxic masculinity as well as giving those who have been repressed in expressing their own masculine archetypes space and empowerment to do so. This Mars retrograde can come with hitting a wall in certain areas of your life, depending on where this retrograde falls for you. (10 of swords) This symbolizes an ending of a way of thinking and space that has held long seated beliefs. It is the wiping clean of a slate. For the dawning of a new day to arise, we much put an end to the old ways of conflict and hostility (5 of swords).

Capricorn as mentioned before is the ruler of Saturn. This archetype is what is used predominantly when creating structure and on a larger scale, our system. Specific to our time, capitalism. While Mars is retrograding it will be making it’s way back into Capricorn to evaluate how our individual wills are being integrated and representing the whole. When you are dependent on a system that does not prioritize the whole, how can that internally be reconciled? I believe all of us have an inherit urge to live in a balanced system, one that provides and serves us all. We all have the Aquarian archetype in our psyche. Unfortunately, when a system is unbalanced and upholds it’s power by the use of manipulation, control and fear, it is only natural to predict that we may lash out at one another, fearing our own mortality. We find each other reflected back to us if only in fractions, we are a blossoming of our whole history and future as one. Mirroring and structured coupling, it is the language of biology and life, our home. We mirror one another, project our values and attract/detract those who align with us. The thing we struggle with is mirroring is our planet. The nature of life. It is mind-boggling to think we believe we have the power to withstand life when we ignore it’s current’s all around us. To much of Saturn creates walls, where there are walls we expunge life.

Reminding us of May’s big Uranus shift into Taurus it is a time of destruction of the old economy and system, making way for the new. A blip in this seven year cycle we are collectively undergoing a wild transformation. Jupiter is still retrograde in Scorpio for much of this year. Alchemical death and rebirth. The past will not do for creating our future. Being a species complacent with the negligence of planning our future will no longer suffice. Uranus in Taurus provides us with the circumstances we can work with to truly initiate change. 

What will all this bring for your own perceptions and choices this month? Stay open to new insights. Give yourself permission for stillness. It is this we need most now as capitalism's primary attribute is one of action, competition, and maximizing. We must take moments to listen to the shifts needed to create lasting change in our lives. 

As we see with the King of Cups and the Six of Wands, this time is meant to empower us if we can become the masters of our emotions and feminine thinking. Welcome the challenges as they will lead to more balance. 

The Runes of this period that fell out for once Mars turns direct in August are Dagaz and Wunjo, representing The Awakening and Joy. 

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WAYFINDER