Mars, the planet of action, turns retrograde

[elleng]

in the sign of Leo on December 20, 2009, just before the Winter Solstice on December 21. Mars is the energy that helps all of us go for it and express our desires. So when Mars travels retrograde; its excited, active energy becomes covert and calculated, its motives are hidden. When Mars is retrograde, everyone's thought patterns are more introspective and we tend to think about ways of acting on issues and concerns which relate to the sign involved.

Positively, Mars retrograde can give us a chance to think before acting; to assess our motives and aggressions before reacting; to find our inner demons and send them packing before they continue to interfere with our life.

astrology.com

[BlueIris]

1. What an optimistic post.

My take: this retrograde is gonna bite. Good luck, Obama Admin, advancing your goals under this influence. Good luck, Democratic Party, moving forward with reforms. Good luck, BlueIris, finding a permanent place to settle down. BLECH. I can feel the energy halt just sitting here (well, actually, I've been feeling it since Mars started slowing down in October, but now...kaput).

On the bright side, I sincerely doubt it's going to be as bad as the last one (can anything be worse than Mars Rx in the sign of its fall?) and it's probably not going to be as bad as the one before that was for me (Rx in my own sign of Taurus). Also, as the primary purpose of a Mars retrograde is to rest, it will give (some of us) a chance to recoup our strength before the godawful Year of the Tiger arrives. The biggest mistake I made during the last Year of the Ox was not using the end of it to prepare for the onslaught of the Tiger.

So, um...rest up, everyone? 'S gonna get a whole lot worse next year.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Could you say more about the year of the Tiger? Thanks.

[WhiteTara]

13. here's a whole bunch

here's this

http://www.yearofthetiger.net/
2010 - The Year of The Tiger!

The Chinese use the lunar calendar for celebratory events which includes the New Year. This falls somewhere between late January and early February. The cycle of twelve animal signs originates from Chinese tradition as a way of naming the years. The animals follow one another in an established order and are replicated every twelve years. The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig are the twelve animal signs. Every animal has particular characteristics and people born in a specific year are believed to take on these characteristics.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, which commences on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011. The Tiger is the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac cycle, and it is a sign of bravery. This courageous and fiery fighter is admired by the ancient Chinese as the sign that keeps away the three main tragedies of a household. These are fire, thieves and ghosts.

Tigers are physically powerful, gracious, independent and brave, they are extremely bold animals. They are friendly and loving but can also selfish and short tempered. Tigers seek attention and power; frequently they are envious in a relation. Tigers live dangerously which often leads to trouble. They are intolerant, take risks and are always searching for excitement. Tigers are also instilled with a good dose of courage.

The Tiger has an overpowering attraction and is very kind and always takes on the character as protector. The Tiger flourishes by power and attention and takes advantage of all circumstances it gets itself into. The Tiger is a natural leader and loves to be the centre of attention. As a rebel it goes up against authority and speaks out about wrongs in society, and willingly puts up objections. Even if you don’t agree with the beliefs of the tiger you admire his way to protest.

now I'm off to take my nap!

[peacetalksforall]

16. Thanks. I appreciate it. I'll remember this.

[Fire Walk With Me]

2. Thanks, it makes sense regarding the energy I'm perceiving.

[Eurobabe]

3. Wow, combine that with MercRx

after Xmas, I should be in fine shape. :banghead: :yoiks: :nuke: :rant:

BWAHHAHAAA!!!

[u4ic]

5. That resonates with me

It's currently on my Mercury, and will stay stuck there for a while. I do have a lot on my mind that I have to figure out, and it's 4th and 5th house stuff (in my 5th now and will return to my 4th).

Interestingly, it will travel back to conjunct my Mars in the 4th; I have to move at that time. (Pluto will also be close to conjunct my moon, which rules my 4th)

[OneGrassRoot]

6. *sighs*

You guys are so good about knowing your chart. Do you keep it in front of you or something to know which house is affected by which planets? Oy....my brain couldn't begin to add this to the mix. ;) I admire that you guys are so knowledgeable about astrological influences. Maybe I can make it a resolution to learn more this year.

:hi:

[I Have A Dream]

7. OGR, do you have a way to see where the transits are hitting your chart?

If not, astro.com lets you see this. Please let me know if you don't know how to access it.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. Thanks, IHAD. I'll check that out.

:)

:hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

10. I think I need help...lol

I found a birth chart I had saved on my computer. For some odd reason I'm especially curious about this Mars retrograde that you guys are discussing.

For this birth chart that I have, it says "Mars is in 19 degrees Libra."

Is that what I need to know in order to see how the Mars retrograde potentially affects me -- or how I can make best use of it and work with it (if you're reading, Rick! ;))?

:hug:

[stellanoir]

12. Well I'm not Rick

but from how little you posted, the Mars retro will sextile your Mars.

No biggie really.

Just really minor and totally avoidable irritations.

Don't sweat it.

best

[Sweet Freedom]

15. Stellanoir, do you mind telling me about mine, please?

mine says Mars Scorpio 2°19'43 in house 4 direct. What does that mean?

Thanks :hi:

[stellanoir]

18. Looking at a solitary placement in one's chart is sorta akin to

doing Sun sign astrology exclusively. We all have varying influential forces with all of the signs.

However, I will tell you an anecdotal story about Mars in Scorp.

One of my oldest Friends has that particular placement.

She has a slew of Libra placements as well.

It's been really curious to watch her over the many years. She's mostly always been really judicious and fair with people.

Yet when someone crosses her in an intolerable manner, she can go for the jugular with outrageous acuity.

I've long marveled at her ability to do so.

My progressed Mars is in Scorpio. I used to joke with her about giving me "Mars in Scorpio lessons."

With only that placement in mind I'll say that Mars is the former ruler of Scorp (prior to the discovery of Pluto.)

Unlike Mars in Aries, Mars in Scorp is ever mindful of the laws of karma. Mars in Aries can often be prone to vent its spleen regardless of the repercussions.

Here is the Sabian Symbol for 2 degrees of Scorp. . . (from Marc Edmund Jones)

""A broken bottle and spilled perfume." This is a symbol of man's real power in making his permanent impact on others, dramatized at each moment of issue and crisis by a completeness of the self's flow out and into every last ramification of given experience. There is in the reversed symbolism an irrovocability of self expression which marks every individual's divine determination to be significant at all costs. The chrysalis of being is burst open in what may well be tragedy for anything short of supreme self-dedication. The keyword is PERMEATION. When positive, the degree is persistence in in effort and utter fidelity to the inner essence of selfhood, and when negative, witless dissapation of self and society."

Kindly be mindful that MEJ wrote in a time of intense dualism.

Thankfully, times are different now. Believe it or not.

Best to you and all throughout the holidays.

[Sweet Freedom]

21. Hmmm

Normally, "...when someone crosses her in an intolerable manner, she can go for the jugular with outrageous acuity" does not sound like me, but I've never been angrier than I am now at my Scorpio friend, so maybe.... :)

FYI: I have just a couple Libra placements--
Sun Capricorn 12°27'38 end of house 5 direct
Moon Cancer 4°15'53 in house 11 direct
Mercury Capricorn 27°42'07 in house 6 direct
Venus Aquarius 27°56'58 in house 7 direct
Mars Scorpio 2°19'43 in house 4 direct
Jupiter Libra 5°34'19 in house 3 direct
Saturn Aries 18°50'27 in house 9 direct
Uranus Libra 3°59'43 in house 3 stationary (R)
Neptune Scorpio 27°50'13 in house 4 direct
Pluto Virgo 25°05'58 in house 2 retrograde
True Node Aries 4°08'33 in house 9 retrograde

Thank you for your response! :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

20. Thanks :)

I know so little that I don't even know what the heck I'm looking at.

I need to learn more before even asking questions. ;)

Hugs to you

:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

17. OGR, in addition to stella's comment above...

I'd be happy to actually make your chart for you if you'd like. (I'd need your birth day, time, and location. You could PM the information to me if you want it to be kept private.) I wouldn't be able to tell you what it all means though. That's for the experts like stella.

Additionally, I'd be happy to actually show you how to do it on astro.com so that you can always make your own charts with the current transits any time you want. Just let me know at any point if you want help doing this.

:)

[stellanoir]

9. Well the very best definition of retrogration of inner most planets

comes from Caroline Casey. She says (paraphrasing) when inner planets, and by extension outermost planets go retrograde, "They go on a vision quest."

May violence no longer be seen as a resolution to conflict.

May conflict be seen as an enlightenment to consciousness.

[rumpel]

11. "They go on a vision quest.", love it, sis

:)

May violence no longer be seen as a resolution to conflict.

May conflict be seen as an enlightenment to consciousness.

Om Mane Ped Me Hung...

[I Have A Dream]

14. Your last two lines could almost be a mantra.

Wonderful!

Thanks, stella. :)

[stellanoir]

19. hon. . .

The original line went. . . "conflict only occurs in the state of mutually shared culpabity." ( Granted there are always karmic influences. )

I wrote that shortly after 9/11 and it oddly got quoted on NPR.

Fundamentally, I'm quite sure that conflict only exists to raise consciousness.

Though sometimes, it takes a while.

Smooches anyhoo.