The 2024- 2025 Mars Retrograde Cycle ( Mercury retrograde and Mars retrograde overlap until 12/15/2024)
12/6/2024 to 05/02/2025
- Mars entered the pre-Shadow retrograde zone on 10/4/2024 at 17’ Cancer 01
- Mars Retrograde starts December 6 2024 at 06 Leo 10
- Mars backtracks into Cancer on January 7, 2025.
- Mars will go direct on 2/23/2025 at 17 Cancer 01
- Mars reenters Leo on April 17, 2025
- Mars leaves the post-shadow retrograde shadow on May 2, 2025, at 06 Leo10
Important Aspect during the Mars Retrograde cycle:
- On 11/3/2024, Mars was in Cancer at 29’ opposite Pluto Capricorn at 29’ (this was right before the election)
- On January 3, 2025, Mars retrograde at 1’Leo will be opposite Pluto at 1’ Aquarius.
- On April 27, 2025, Mars will again oppose Pluto they will both be direct in motion at 3’Leo/Aquarius.
This Mars opposite Pluto aspect is highly volatile, involving the stubborn fixed signs of Leo and Aquarius. This combination often manifests as a defiant attitude, characterized by aggression and a lack of self-control. Actions taken at this time may not be logical. This transit can revolve around an obsession with power and dominance, as well as a refusal to compromise.
The second square in a series of three takes place on December 24, 2024, with Jupiter at 14’ Gemini square and Saturn at 14’ Pisces. Collectively, we are facing the cause and effect of our moral choices. A lot of FAFO will unfold.
On February 3, 2025, Mars at 19’ Cancer will Square Chiron at 19’ Aries: Chiron squares can be emotional and very painful. This aspect potentially will be more difficult for cardinal signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorns.
The Mars Retrograde Cycle:
Re-examining and Reflecting on Actions and Consequences
Mars goes retrograde about every 26 months for 58-81 days. When Mars “goes retrograde,” it will look like Mars has changed direction, but it’s an optical illusion created by our viewpoint here on Earth.
Mars rules physical activities, life force, sexual energy, and the competitive and ambitious drive to get our basic needs met. Mars is how we go about getting what we want in life. A healthy Mars is confident, ambitious, assertive, and strong-willed. A Mars that is not well-placed can be indecisive, timid, and co-dependent.
Mars is exalted when in Capricorn, rules when in Aries & Scorpio, detriment when in Taurus & Libra, and in its Fall while in Cancer.
The Mars retrograde of 2024 – 2025 will spend its retrograde cycle in both Leo and Cancer.
Mars transiting in Leo, a fixed masculine fire sign, is thought to represent humanity’s best and worst traits. Known for their large egos and generous hearts, Mars in Leo needs to be the center of attention, self-confident, and courageous. However, Mars in Leo can also be rigid, prideful, and stubborn.
Mars transiting in Cancer is a much different expression than outgoing and confidant Leo. Mars Cancer is a difficult transit. Cancer is a cardinal feminine water sign, Cancer is concerned with emotions, family, home, and security. Mars in Cancer is debilitated by being in the opposite sign of Mars’ exaltation, which is considered to be in decline, weak, and hidden.
When a planet is in its Fall, it doesn’t have value, it is not listened to, hidden away, or cast out. A planet in its Fall can overcompensate, act oddly, or indicate an imbalance.
When Mars goes retrograde we can feel deflated, indecisive, and lack motivation. Mars’s retrograde energy becomes internalized, introspective, and hesitant to react. The internalized anger and stress can exacerbate health issues at this time.
Plans or projects can stall or move slower than planned. Accidents are a possibility due to impulsive behavior, disagreements, and aggressive confrontations, which are more likely to occur during Mars’s retrograde.
Sometimes delays, setbacks, and frustrations during the Mars retrograde help us to discover issues that need to be addressed and behaviors that need to be changed. The Mars retrograde can force us to examine Mars issues relating to anger, sexuality, and ambition. If you have been overworking, trying to cope with stress, or are experiencing health struggles the Mars retrograde can force you to slow down and use the Mars retrograde cycle time to reconsider how you have been managing your life.
The Mars retrograde is an excellent time to reexamine what has been working and not working in our lives. We can use the retrograde to reinforce and strengthen the routines that support our goals. We can review and hopefully gain understanding regarding our anger issues, impulses, desires, and ambitions.
- If we decide to make changes it is best to wait to take necessary corrective measures when Mars goes direct.
- The retrograde is a good time to review your goals and the methods you have been deploying to meet your goals.
- You can make adjustments, work out the details, and take corrective action to implement changes after Mars has gone direct.
During Mars retrograde DO NOT buy or DIY anything mechanical! Do not force things! At this time initiating or being impulsive will not help and can have serious consequences.
The Mars retrograde is a good time to:
- Review how you handle anger, conflicts, competition, sexual relationships, self-defense, and passive/aggressive issues.
- Recalibrate, slow down, and redefine your relationship to Mars issues. Listen to your intuition, go with your instincts.
- What in your life is no longer serving a purpose?
- What is essential and what do you need to let go of?
- Expand your perspective, be flexible, and accept changes.
Prepare for the retrograde and remember that:
“It is a wise person who rules the stars, a fool who is ruled by them.”