Mars Retrograde

by James Kelleher November 27, 2022

Mars Retrograde

(Ocotober 30, 2022 - January 12, 2023)

Mars began its retrograde motion on October 30, 2022 and will remain retrograde until January 12, 2023. When a planet is retrograde, its energy becomes compulsive, obsessive and it tends to overflow. In the case of Mars, that means that anger, aggression, and warfare will become more pronounced. Mars will spend the last part of its retrograde phase in Rohini Nakshatra from December 4, 2022 – January 12, 2023, which might also further amplify Mars' negative side.

In a general sense, this is a time to take things easy and to avoid arguments, if possible. The overall belligerent quality of Mars, during this period, might contribute to increased unrest in various parts of the world. So the best thing that each of us can do is to create peace within ourselves.

For Russia and Ukraine, this should be a more complicated and unpredictable period. The path of the solar eclipse, on October 25, 2022, included Russia and Ukraine, but was stronger in Russia. The Eclipse fell exactly on the Russian Venus, which rules land, territory and the general happiness of the population. They have already been losing territory to the Ukrainian army, and Mr. Putin is receiving a great deal of criticism.

On the other hand, retrograde Mars, the period ruler for the Russian chart, will probably cause Putin to regroup, replenish his troops and then double down with increased aggression. In any case, the Russian chart looks like he isn’t going to pack up and go home any time soon. Sadly, I think it would be a mistake to think the war will be over in the near future.

On the individual level, when Mars is retrograde, sometimes we notice that the things it signifies in our chart become more complicated or problematic, requiring attention and effort to fix or improve. That means that the retrograde Mars transit can bring an opportunity to review, edit, refine, or perfect those areas of life that are signified by the two houses Mars rules in your horoscope.

For those of you who are astrology practitioners, I am only focusing on the things signified by the houses Mars rules, since this is a rather complex transit that includes Mars changing signs and houses during the transit.

Here is a list of some of the areas of life that might benefit from a little extra attention during the retrograde Mars transit. This is based on your Vedic Sun sign. Remember, we use a different zodiac in Vedic astrology, so you have to look at the birth date ranges for each of the Sun signs carefully. If you happen to know your Vedic Moon sign, Lagna (Ascendant) or Arudha Lagna, then you can read the results for those signs as well. If you happen to know all of those signs, you can potentially read the predictions given for four signs. That may seem confusing, but each of the descriptions reflects a different angle on the transit of Mars and will tend to manifest in its own way. If you feel like you want a little help navigating the issues listed below, you can chant the Mantra for Mars, Om Hreem Mangalaya Namah, 108 times a day. You can also listen to a recorded version of the mantra if you prefer a more passive approach. A recording of the Mars mantra and the mantras for all of the other planets is available on my website.

Vedic Sun Signs

Apr 14 - May 14 (Aries) This is a good time to work on your physical body. Any type of therapeutic physical activity including yoga, Tai Chi, body work, or exercise is recommended. But don’t overdo it by straining or overexerting. This can also be a good time to review or remodel joint finances, contracts, or finances related to partnerships.

May 15 - Jun 14 (Taurus) Mars retrograde is a good time to work on refining and improving your relationship skills. More to the point, it is a good time to look at how you or your partner (or other people in general, if you are not in a partnership) assert yourselves and advocate for fulfilling your desires. Do you often find that one of you becomes pushy, or is prone to anger. This is a good time to work on the balance of personal power in various relationships. It's also a good time for any type of introspective process, especially those that are physical, like yoga, Tai Chi, or Chi Kung.

Jun 15 - Jul 15 (Gemini) During this period, you might notice that fulfilling your desires, finishing a project, or actualizing the final outcome of any undertaking might require going back to the drawing board and fixing minor errors or mistakes. If you consciously use this period to iron out the flaws, you will produce a polished end product. You might have the impulse to do a spiritual retreat, workshop or any other reflective activity with a group. This is also a good time to recommit yourself to activities related to health like exercise or yoga.

Jul 16 - Aug 16 (Cancer) During the retrograde Mars transit, you might find yourself experiencing small issues, problems, or obstacles related to your work, so you might want to decide in advance that you are going to allow extra time to weed out mistakes and to refine and perfect your ambitious projects. On another level, this is also a good time to apply the same type of reflective, refining energy to the areas of education, investments, creativity, and children.

Aug 17 - Sep 16 (Leo) During this period, you might feel the desire to experience your natural environment, so don’t hesitate to go for walks or trips to the ocean or mountains. This might also be a time when you feel the need to make some improvements to your home or residence. Don’t wait until life gives a reason to fix something. Get on it now! Clean the house, catch up with minor repairs, and create good energy in our home. That also goes for anything related to your mother, your car, education, and long distance travel.

Sep 17 - Oct 16 (Virgo) During this period, you might find yourself going on short trips or even simple errands around town that have a more intense quality. Events or interactions with siblings can take on a reflective or internal quality now. Communication with others might also become the source of internal reflection, especially if that internal reflection centers on working through anger or resentment. Remember, anger is a form of violence that only hurts you. This period might also promote travel.

Oct 17 - Nov 15 (Libra) If you play your cards right, you might be able to use this period to improve your relationship with your spouse, partner or family members by cultivating a greater sense of acceptance and compassion and avoiding power struggles and control issues. This period can also support finances, but you might feel like making some changes and plugging the financial leaks.

Nov 16 - Dec 15 (Scorpio) During this period, you might be able to make some headway with improving your health. For example, it’s a good time to get more involved with exercise, as long as you do it very gently and don’t strain. If you are employed, you might want to be vigilant with your work, weeding out errors or mistakes and polishing your work to perfection. If you have any anger issues, this is also a good time to work on them. Remember, most people are a little crazy and messy. It comes with being human and is reflected in their horoscopes. So relax. It’s ok. We are all in the soup together. When you relax into it, and when you realize that it’s alright that they aren’t perfect, you might just become aware of a pleasant inner expansiveness. That’s what the Taoists call the inner smile, and its quality is compassion.

Dec 16 - Jan 13 (Sagittarius) During this period, you can benefit greatly by putting more attention on meditation, reflection, and other internal spiritual practices. Children or education might be areas where you strive to fix problems and bring improvement. This is also a good time to try to decrease needless expenditures and to review your investment strategies.

Jan 14 - Feb 12 (Capricorn) During the retrograde transit of Mars, you might become involved with group activities or activities that involve friends that have a reflective nature. On the other hand, you might also find that groups or friends become complicated or difficult, so this is a time when the practice of patience, compassion and kindness can be helpful. You might feel like getting out and experiencing your natural environment. This period supports any type of work or improvements to your home, house, or car.

Feb 13 - Mar 13 (Aquarius) Events or interactions with siblings can take on a reflective or internal quality now. Communication with others might also become the source of internal reflection, especially if that internal reflection centers on working through anger or resentment. Your work, or even short journeys or errands, might become more intense, including small delays or obstacles. Here’s a good mantra for the transit: Om Patience Kindness Compassion Namah.

Mar 14 - Apr 13 (Pisces) During this period, finances might need your attention. You might need to plug financial leaks or reevaluate investments. In any case, internal reflection on your relationship to money and an attitude of making effort to improve it, might be helpful. The same is true with your diet and your speech. This period might also produce a desire to travel that is coupled with a feeling of inner reflection.