Mars Retrograde:  Welcome to Fight Club

If you have never seen the movie “Fight Club”, then it is recommended viewing to fully understand and comprehend Mars on its deepest level.  As researching Mars retrograde on the Internet provided very little information, and it’s most notable action is the capacity to start wars between countries.   Perhaps this is because nobody really wants to become involved with the messier more destructive side of human nature.  The side that is aggressive, brutal, and often emotionally manipulative wrapped up in a package of passive aggressive behavior and political correctness.    Yet, nature does not really care about the “human condition” as it does about patterns and Mars Retrograde (Nov 15 – January 30) occurs whether we want it to or not.  

Working with Mars creatively is often a good means through which to approach this planet.   The realm of mythology and fairy tales are filled with creatures, Gods and literary figures that embody the expression of the planet, yet I think the figure of Ares (the God of War) from Greek Mythology stands out the most.   In fact, in Homer’s, “The Illiad,” he is described as a 300 foot brutal, hairy, sweaty being which lusts and devours human flesh, yet he was honored and held a prominent place in both Greek and Roman cultures as do all the Gods of War.   Why?  War was personified as the glorious expression of the human fighting spirit.   Ares was revered because he stood for not only our struggle for survival and champion of the weak and less fortunate, yet he defends both our integrity and our will to survive.   Without him alive and well (and without a Mars you could say) we would have nothing to fight to make each of us special, unique, or vibrant individuals. 

On the planetary level, the expression of Mars in the horoscope is an expression of us receiving from life what we desire.  It is the desire principle, and his only function is to go out into life and get the Sun (the center of individuality in the horoscope) what it needs for fulfillment.    This not only comes from our ability to get what we desire, yet also defend ourselves from a hostile world, which is not only competitive, yet its fundamental opposed to individual expression.   Our need to fight comes packaged up in many worldly ways such as fighting for our families, countries, or religious principles.   So Mars is the fighting principle for our need for self definition, individuality, and survival, as Mars is the “henchmen” of the Sun and gives us our ability to define our own goals and values effectively and succinctly.

 When Mars is retrograde it brings to the surface those issues where we are blocked from getting what we desire.  This can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as career dissatisfaction, relationship disappointment, financial woes, or even personal dissatisfaction.    However, despite the frustrations it is also a time where we are forced to re-analyze what it is that we truly want out of life.   As was stated earlier, nature is not really concerned about the individual, yet about patterns of the larger core of life in general, therefore it provides us with tools that if we can face what they require gives us an enormous breakthrough in our future. Mars retrograde is one of those tools as frustrating as it can be.   If we can face our struggles, Mars gives us the ability to change our lives.  As Mars promises whatever we desire from life we have some chance of getting it.  

 This Mars retrograde occurs in the sign of Cancer, which is a water sign.   Whenever Mars is in a water sign its energy is very fluctuating as water by nature is fluid and has no shape.   Mars in this element is also very sensitive to the environments around it.   Therefore, you need to analyze your current situations!  Are you happy with your environment?  Mars in Cancer is very sensitive, gentile, and diplomatic, and areas of sensitivity, gentility, and diplomacy are often highlighted during a retrograde period.   Often it comes to our attention through its opposite manifestation – insensitivity, roughness, and aggression.   We can find ourselves during this cycle in an inner war of facing our own values and what they mean.  However, on the other side, we will find the circumstances in life that we really wish to fight for.  Are you ready for the challenge?