Mars Retrograde in Leo & Cancer 2024-2025
Mars Retrograde in Leo and Cancer 2024 & 2025: December 6th, 2024, to February 23rd, 2025
NOTE – The next Mars Retrograde (after this one in 2024-2025) is from Jan 10th to Apr 1st, 2027, in the signs of Virgo & Leo.
On this Page:
- The significance of Mars Retrograde.
- Indicators in the charts of people especially sensitive to the Mars Retrograde cycle.
- How this Mars Retrograde cycle affects each sign of the zodiac (Mars Retrograde Horoscopes).
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. In fact, its impact can be signficant.
What is Mars Retrograde? Occasionally, Mars appears to be moving backward in the sky. “Appears” is the keyword here, because, technically speaking, no planet actually moves backward 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 even dangerous. Thus, if you stand up for yourself, you now tend to hesitate, back down, or even be plagued with fears of retaliation.”
What do retrograde planets, including Mars, mean if you were born with them? See Retrogrades in the Natal Chart | Cafe Astrology .com.
Mars Retrograde Cycle from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025:
Mars Retrograde December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025
Mars Retrograde in Leo & Cancer: December 2024 to February 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 10’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 10′
Mars spends its retrograde cycle in the sign of Leo and then Cancer.
Details: December 6th, 2024 — Mars turns retrograde at 6 degrees Leo 10′ and is retrograde until February 23rd, 2025, at 17 degrees Cancer 01′.
Times are Eastern. Retrograde times are always approximate.
Mars is in its pre-retrograde shadow from October 4th, 2024, forward, and then in its post-retrograde shadow until May 2nd, 2025.
We live life a little differently when Mars is retrograde. Retrograde Mars wants us to re-assess current projects and passions, our approach to getting what we want, and our desire nature. Rather than directly assert our wants, we tend to keep our desires to ourselves, and we’re more introspective or roundabout.
Where Mars in direct motion is straightforward and assertive, Mars in retrograde motion is indirect and roundabout. Mars energy essentially turns inward–it’s internalized, intensified, personalized, and perhaps pressurized. We can be hesitant about taking action, second-guessing our instincts or natural impulses rather than acting upon them.
The usual ways we react to situations under normal conditions don’t necessarily work for us now, or we don’t exactly trust our instincts during the retrograde phase of Mars.
When anger is internalized, there can be some rather challenging byproducts, such as tension, resentment, depression, apathy, and even some paranoia. On another level, we can make it more personal and intimate with some effort.
Our goal during a Mars retrograde period should not be to simply sit on our impulses or squelch our enthusiasm. Instead, it should be to better understand our impulses, motivations, survival instincts, anger, sexuality, inner courage, and the ways we pursue 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.
In many ways, I think of Mars retrograde periods as similar to Mars transits through the twelfth house. It’s a time when we hesitate more often than we throw ourselves into new endeavors. We second-guess our impulses. 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 instincts to take a break. It’s time for regrouping, which is vital on both physical and emotional levels.
When Mars is retrograde, it reaches an opposition aspect to the Sun yet is closest to the Earth. This suggests that an entirely new perspective on our desires, anger, and motivations is possible during this ten-week cycle. This unique viewpoint comes not only because we are closer to these Mars energies but also because this cycle pits our desires against our wills. We can more clearly see the differences between what we feel we should do and what we want to do, and this can lead to greater insight into how we’re managing our lives.
What to watch for:
Rather than choosing direct and healthy expressions or outlets for frustrations, we might resort to sneaky, indirect, or obtuse methods of going after what we want. However, if we push ahead impulsively, we run into problems, obstacles, and frustrations.
The answer lies somewhere in between – slowing down, strategizing, and pacing ourselves.
Mars Retrograde Themes
Mars is courageous, competitive, assertive, defensive, dynamic, territorial, sexual, passionate, and self-centered. While Mars is retrograde, acting in these ways may not yield the expected results. It’s not so much a bad time to take on new projects as it is a time when we may be less courageous and more anxious about doing new things. Slowing down makes sense.
We may not be as direct about satisfying our sexual needs. When we can’t find outlets for expressing our desires and anger, there can be struggles with resentment or shame. Energy flow seems interrupted or unnatural and stop-and-go.
Motives may be hard to discern regarding others’ actions. There can be many question marks about the people in our lives! As we consider and reconsider our actions and initiatives, we can be more indecisive than usual. Sexual feelings may be stronger and more intense, but the outward expression of sexuality may not be as spontaneous.
Mars energy is particularly powerful near its stations–whether turning retrograde or direct–and often problematic. Aggression can rise, and it can seem to come out of nowhere. It’s potent but indirect, which can blindside us.
Retrograde Mars is often connected to warmer than usual weather.
It’s important to consider that Mars governs our ability to spot dangerous situations, our fight or flight responses, and inner alarms. With Mars not working the same way, we should watch that we’re not ignoring important internal signals about what we deem safe. Still, we might go the other way and become especially risk-averse during the retrograde cycle. Whatever the case, it’s best to watch for acting out of character.
We may not get an adrenaline rush from the same things during the retrograde Mars period–different things tickle our fancy. Things we do differently while Mars is retrograde include expressing anger, sexual expression, assessing risk, seeking adventure, and asserting our desires. We’re less spontaneous and more hesitant.
Mars is a me-first, me-centered energy, and when it’s retrograde, we could find we’re more often reminded of what we can’t do. We could feel that circumstances are testing our willpower and determination.
Mars Retrograde Do’s and Don’t’s
We shouldn’t panic if a new job, project, interview, or relationship happens during the Mars retrograde period. Still, we should probably adopt a wait-and-see attitude and take things slowly before locking something down since our perspective may change once Mars turns direct, and our needs can seem considerably different.
There is definitely going to be a larger focus on the past while Mars retrogrades, and this is a good thing to a certain point if we are taking a lesson from past experiences. However, it’s better not to put too much energy into rehashing those things that can’t–or shouldn’t–be changed.
There can be a stronger desire to go back to “fix” old problems, especially disagreements. Returning to old relationships that didn’t end well or that otherwise broke down may not be the best idea, although it can be tempting, as the problems may seem easier to resolve or non-existent. However, after Mars’ direct turn, the frustrations can emerge once again.
It’s, in fact, a very good time to look back at a relationship or endeavor from a new perspective – one that is less clouded by anger – but not so wise to make final decisions based on what we’re seeing or experiencing now.
Aggression and competitiveness are less overt during Mars retrograde. We may be rethinking old relationships or jobs that ended because of disagreement or conflict. While we may, to some extent, make peace during this period, it’s better to take things slowly, largely because the old problems and conditions may resume after Mars turns direct. A different approach is imperative if we want different results.
As well, until we really get in touch with our desires and goals, it’s better not to commit to something important, mainly because we could discover that the goalposts can change more than once going forward.
It’s wise not to jump to express anger. It’s possible that working things through inwardly can be more productive. In fact, working with or through anger issues can be highly creative during this cycle.
It’s best to avoid pushing matters or throwing yourself into something entirely new. You typically don’t need to suspend your projects during a Mars retrograde period. Reworking and redefining current projects may be especially satisfying and, ultimately, very rewarding.
Mars Retrograde in Leo
Mars spends its time in Leo for the first month of this retrograde cycle, at which time (on January 6th), it returns to Cancer.
With Mars retrograde in the usually assertive and direct sign of Leo, the tendency to internalize and hesitate might feel especially unnatural. 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 how we embrace 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 in these areas may not get off the ground as planned, perhaps due to hesitation, caution, and fear of taking risks.
While Mars is retrograde in the Sun-ruled sign of Leo, 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.
Mars Retrograde in Cancer
Mars spends its time in Leo for the first month of this retrograde cycle, at which time (on January 6th), it returns to Cancer.
The Sun in Capricorn opposes retrograde Mars in Cancer on January 15th, 2025 (the Sun only opposes Mars while Mars is retrograde).
With Mars retrograde in the already introspective sign of Cancer, 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. Again, 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.
More on this Mars Retrograde
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.
In the Natal Chart: 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.
Mars Retrograde: The dates:
- Mars turns retrograde at 6-7 Leo on December 6th, 2024,
- Mars moves back into Cancer on January 6th, 2025,
- Mars turns direct at 17-18 Cancer on February 23rd, 2025.
Shadow period: October 4th to December 6th, 2024; February 23rd to May 2nd, 2025.
There is always a bit of a preamble and hangover for retrograde cycles, and these are likely to occur in the dates of the shadow. While Mars is “moving backward” (from December 6th to February 23rd), there could be some backtracking in these areas, perhaps even some losses. It’s a period of review. Working on long-term projects can have better results than embarking on entirely new projects. In fact, this can be a very good time for making important edits to existing projects.
Enthusiasm builds slowly but surely as Mars moves direct again (after February 23rd). Mars only begins to travel new ground from May 2nd, 2025, forward.
As noted above, Mars energy is particularly powerful near its stations–whether turning retrograde or direct–and often problematic. Aggression can rise, and it can seem to come out of nowhere. In 2024-2025, Mars stations occur on December 6th and February 23rd, and we can consider December 5-7 and February 22-24 particularly potent.
People don’t say what they do, or do what they say!
Mars Retrograde in Leo through the Signs
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.
See my Mars Retrograde Horoscopes. I also discussed this Mars retrograde cycle in my December 2024 Monthly Horoscopes.
See also: Mars Retrograde Dates & Signs
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