December 6, 2024 — Mars retrograde begins on Friday, imploring us to slow down and look at the past. Mars rules sexuality, aggression, war, and the inner masculine. When Mars retrogrades, we purge and up-level in these domains. If we want to move forward, we first need to address unfinished issues—unresolved arguments, lingering misunderstandings, and incomplete projects.

Starting in Leo, this Mars retrograde helps us reorient to our ego and pleasure. We are seeing where we’ve been overly dependent on attention or external validation, and noticing where we’ve neglected play, creativity, and joy. As Mars returns to Cancer on January 6, 2025, the focus will shift to our emotional foundations—challenging us to confront defensiveness, codependency, and our fear of vulnerability.

This is a good time to hibernate, unpack previous conflicts, and take inventory. We’re observing old patterns around love, sexuality, and anger, and releasing any damaging behaviors that have kept us stuck. Frustrations may arise as we experience decreased energy and thwarted desires. But this slowing down isn’t punishment—it’s an invitation to transmute anger as we lay the proper groundwork for the future. 

We can give ourselves space to make decisions and determine our next steps. This is not the time to sever ties, plunge into new commitments, or burn bridges—we can wait and see how we feel when Mars finally stations. We have until the end of February to fully undergo this process of reflection. Ultimately, we are learning how to become stronger, more genuine, and more secure in our expressions of self, passion, and desire.

MARS RETROGRADE Aspiration

As Mars retrogrades through Leo and Cancer, may we turn inward to reflect on our anger, passions, and unmet desires. May we pause to determine where we are heading next, and what steps we will take to move forward.

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