Mars began its retrograde cycle on December 6th, 2024 at 6° Leo 11′. Today, Mars–still retrograde–returns to the sign of Cancer, where it will remain for the rest of its retrograde cycle.

Mars Retrograde Cycle from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025:

Mars Retrograde Dates in 2024-2025:

Mars is retrograde from December 6th, 2024, to February 23rd, 2025.

• On October 4, 2024, Mars enters the Retrograde Zone (pre-retrograde shadow) at 17° Cancer 01′
• On December 6, 2024, Mars stations and turns retrograde at 6° Leo 11’Rx
• On February 23, 2025, Mars stations and turns direct at 17° Cancer 01’D
• On May 2, 2025, Mars leaves the Retrograde Zone (post-retrograde zone) at 6° Leo 11′

***See also an explanation of Mars Retrograde and Mars Retrograde Dates.

Mars spends its retrograde cycle in two signs: Leo and Cancer. At this time, retrograde Mars returns to the sign of Cancer.

The Sun in Capricorn opposes retrograde Mars in Cancer on January 15th, 2025 (the Sun only opposes Mars while Mars is retrograde).

Mars was in its pre-retrograde shadow period from October 4th, 2024, forward, and will b in its post-retrograde shadow until May 2nd, 2025.

When Mars is in its retrograde cycle, we must re-assess our current projects, our approach to getting what we want, and our desire nature. Rather than directly assert our desires, we tend towards introspection.

While Mars in direct motion is direct, straightforward, assertive, and aggressive, while it’s retrograde, 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 our instincts during the retrograde phase of Mars.

When we internalize anger, there can be some rather challenging byproducts, such as tension, resentment, depression, apathy, and even some paranoia. On the other hand, we might choose to personalize it and make it more intimate.

With Mars retrograde in the already introspective sign of Cancer specifically, we might experience smoldering anger, finding it hard to discover direct and healthy expressions or outlets for frustrations. We can be more pensive and cautious, taking our time to reach our goals. If we push ahead impulsively anyhow, we run into problems, obstacles, and frustrations.

Cancer rules our inner foundations as well as outer ones–our homes, domestic affairs, and relationships with family. As such, we may need to re-assess our approach to our home lives. We are apt to feel some frustration or anxiety about our basic sense of comfort and security–our roots– and with regards to the development of our domestic affairs.

Health issues may be a factor (especially in areas ruled by Cancer, including the stomach), and accidents a possibility throughout the Mars retrograde period.

Our goal during a Mars retrograde period should not be, however, to simply sit on our impulses or to squelch our enthusiasm. Rather, it should be to better understand our impulses, survival instincts, anger, sexuality, 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 throwing ourselves into action, just for the time being.

Learn more about the meaning of Mars Retrograde.