Mars Retrograde in Leo 2009 to 2010

Mars Retrograde in Leo 2009-2010: December 20th, 2009 to March 10th, 2010

On this Page:

• The significance of Mars Retrograde.
• Indicators in the charts of people especially sensitive to the Mercury Retrograde cycle.
• How this Mercury Retrograde cycle affects each sign of the zodiac.

Overview

"Mercury Retrograde" has certainly become a buzzword - or buzz phrase - these days. The Mars Retrograde cycle is lesser known, and it occurs less frequently than Mercury Retrograde, but it is certainly no less significant nevertheless.

What is Mars Retrograde? Occasionally, Mars appears to be moving backwards in the sky. "Appears" is the key word here, because, technically speaking, no planet actually moves backwards in their orbits around the Sun. In fact, they don't even slow down. Retrograde-station-direct cycles are essentially illusions that result from our point of view from Earth, simply because the Earth is also orbiting the Sun at a different speed than the other planets. Mars is Retrograde approximately 58-81 days every 2+ years.

If Mars is retrograde in the natal chart, this is what the Karmic Insight report has to say about this position: "Asserting yourself vigorously and directly is complicated by the fact that you had a prior lifetime or lifetimes in which aggression was either misused (by you, or against you) and/or all personal initiative and self-will was insistently discouraged (perhaps due to a belief system that advocated passivity).

In any case, the message that was impressed upon you was that forceful action is wrong or dangerous. Thus, if you stand up for yourself, you now tend to hesitate, back down or even be plagued with fears of retaliation."

Mars is Retrograde in Leo from December 20th, 2009, to March 10th, 2010.

17 Oct 2009 01:41 am 00°18' Enters Rx Zone

20 Dec 2009 08:30 am 19°42'Rx Stationary Retrograde

10 Mar 2010 12:50 pm 00°18' Stationary Direct

17 May 2010 06:46 am 19°42' Leaves Rx Zone

Details: 20 Dec 2009 08:30 am 19°42'Rx to 10 Mar 2010 12:50 pm 00°18'

Mars is in its shadow from October 17th, 2009; and then until May 17th, 2010.

When Mars is in its retrograde cycle, we are forced to re-assess our current projects, our approach to getting what we want, and our desire nature. Rather than directly asserting our desires, we tend towards introspection. While Mars in direct motion is direct, straightforward, assertive, and aggressive, with Mars in retrograde motion, Mars energy is essentially turned inward--it's internalized, intensified, personalized, and perhaps pressurized. We can be hesitant about taking action, second-guessing our instincts or our natural impulses rather than acting upon them. The way we react to situations under normal conditions doesn't necessarily work for us now, or we don't exactly trust it.

When anger is internalized, there can be some rather negative byproducts, such as tension, resentment, depression, apathy, and even some paranoia. On the other hand, it can also be personalized and made more intimate. The goal of a Mars retrograde period is not, however, to simply sit on our impulses or to squelch our enthusiasm. Rather, it's to better understand our impulses, our survival instincts, our anger, our sexuality, our inner courage, and the ways we go about getting what we want from life. The cosmos are asking us to look before we leap rather than throw ourselves into action, just for the time being.

In many ways, I think of Mars retrograde periods as similar to Mars transits through the twelfth house. It's a time when hesitating is more likely than throwing ourselves into new endeavors. We might require more rest than usual. Some of us are more accident-prone or illness-prone, almost as if the cosmos are forcing us to slow down if we haven't listened to our natural impulses to take a break. It's time for regrouping, and this is important on both physical and emotional levels.

With Mars retrograde in the usually assertive and direct sign of Leo, the tendency to internalize and hesitate might feel especially unnatural. Rather than direct and healthy expressions or outlets for frustrations, we might resort to sneaky, indirect, or obtuse methods of going after what we want. If we push ahead impulsively, we run into problems, obstacles, and frustrations.

Leo energy is proud, and pride can be expressed in both positive and negative ways. Pride can push us to greater heights, but it can also keep us from expressing our true feelings, for example, or could prevent us from truly learning from our experiences and from others. With Mars retrograde in Leo, we might see more sulking or pulling away to make a point. These behaviors are actually dramatic ones, as the goal is to put across the message: "Look how much you hurt me". However, it's humility that we should be striving towards, as humility is the only way towards honesty with ourselves and with others.

Leo rules children, creativity, recreational pleasure, entertainment, and romance. As such, we may need to re-assess our approach to these matters. Circumstances are likely to be such that we feel forced to do so. We might feel some frustration or anxiety about these matters. Projects may not get off the ground as planned, perhaps due to hesitation, caution, and fear of taking risks.

Health issues may be a factor (especially in areas ruled by Leo--the heart and back), and accidents a possibility throughout the Mars retrograde period. Avoid pushing matters or throwing yourself into something entirely new. There is absolutely no reason to suspend your projects during a Mars retrograde period. Reworking and redefining current projects may be especially satisfying.

Motives may be hard to discern for others' actions. As we consider and re-consider our actions and initiatives, we can be more indecisive than usual. Sexual feelings may be stronger and more intense, but outward expression of sexuality may be less spontaneous than usual.

Any planet that is retrograde is an especially strong and dominant energy in our lives during the retrograde period. Because it is closest to the earth during the cycle, the energy of the planet, while dominant, is more challenging to harness in a controlled, conscious manner. This can lead to irrational behaviors and reactions, particularly since Mars rules action and initiative. Wherever you find Mars transiting your chart during the retrograde period, you could be especially preoccupied with the affairs associated with that house and/or planet. Some of us experience a lessening of interest, initiative, and enthusiasm in these areas of life during the retrograde cycle, particularly as Mars begins to slow down (in October 2009). While Mars is "moving backwards" (from December 20/2009 to March 10/2010), there could be some backtracking in these areas, perhaps even some losses. It's a period of review. Working on long-term projects has better results than embarking on entirely new projects. Enthusiasm builds slowly but surely as Mars moves direct again.

People don't say what they do, or do what they say!

Mars Retrograde through the Signs - December 20th, 2009 to March 10th, 2010

Some people are more sensitive to Mars retrograde cycles than others. Mars-ruled Aries and Scorpio natives are likely to be particularly sensitive to the effects of Mars Retrograde in general. This applies to anyone who has a number of planets in either sign. Also, check to see where Aries and Scorpio are found in your natal chart. If Aries is on the third house cusp, for example, (which is often the case for Aquarius Ascendant natives) communication issues may be especially prominent themes now. If either of these signs is on the fifth house, then we can expect some stalling in the areas ruled by the fifth house--romance, creativity, and children, for example.

A sign-by-sign breakdown will follow on this page at some point before Mars retrogrades.

See also: Year 2009 Horoscopes

See also: Monthly Horoscopes

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