|
Mars
Retrograde: Part One
We're headed
into a major slowdown this week, and just as the creatures of the forest
scurry about before an impending storm, a sense of urgency drives activity.
Daily life unfolds at an almost reckless pace as pressure builds. The
next six days of May are the last days before Mars begins a two-month
retrograde period. On May 11, as Mars downshifts into reverse, the etheric
brakes go on. While life won't exactly come to a screeching halt, the
next two months unravel with ever increasing waves of frustration. You'll
need a healthy dose of patience to navigate the jarring rhythm of this
backward force. Everybody-even the steadiest among us-is apt to feel off
their game.
Retrograde
phases are a time to review, reconsider, and reconnoiter. When the planets
seemingly move in reverse, we retrace previously covered ground. All the
big planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, retrograde during
the year. We're used to these planetary course corrections, tending only
to notice their impact the week or day they turn around. Mercury retrogrades
three times a year, and even though its retrograde phase is a drag, we're
learning to put it to good use. Venus retrogrades approximately every
18-19 months. This year, Venus went retrograde on March 8 and turned direct on April 19. Venus retrograde raised issues of value, as it simultaneously
stirred deep feelings. It was an intense time, yet for most of us this
emotional reexamination wasn't impossible to bear.
Mars
retrograde is an entirely different story. Mars retrogrades once during
its approximately two-year cycle. But because Mars is a goal-directed
force aimed at crossing the finish line and isn't the least bit interested
in replays, instant or otherwise, when Mars does retrograde, it disrupts
and disturbs the routines of daily life. What's more, Mars turns petulant
in reverse, turning the energetic climate cloudy with temper tantrums,
prideful stands, and emotional meltdowns.
Of course,
from a transformational perspective, Mars retrograde offers opportunities
for growth and healing. But you'll need a really good attitude to reap
the rewards of this retrospective. As the I-Ching advises, sometimes retreat
becomes the wisest choice. Willfully pushing forward can push us over
the edge. During times of disruption, it's often best to marshal our internal
forces and wait patiently for the appropriate moment to forge ahead.
See the article
Venus and
Mars Retrograde: Looking Back, Looking In for more on this
subject.
|
