Planet Road Rage, AKA Mars, goes retrograde for a little over two months, beginning December 6th and stretching out till February 24th. Prepare for more tricks than treats.
Like puberty, a retrograde is an awkward and inherently difficult transit, during which a planet seems to be moving backwards in the sky relative to us on earth. When, for example, lovely Venus goes retro, it tends to make romance more challenging. Similarly, when chatbot Mercury reverses, things like messages, contracts, and conveyances go full wonk.
In essence, a retrograde perverts a planet’s powers. So what are the powers of Mars and how does a retro mess with them?
Along with Saturn, Mars is a malefic. It causes problems, strife, confrontation, war, arguments, disputations, harshness, and rashness. But it also relates to libido, drive, and ambition. It moves us forward–albeit often into danger–but forward nonetheless. With no Mars, there would be no cosmic zhuzh. It gets us out of bed, even if it then torments us throughout the day with lust and rage.
At bottom, Mars is a kind of engine, but when it reverses, we lose its torque. Imagine Humpty Dumpty all cracked and helpless after his fateful fall from a wall he had no business teetering upon in the first place. That’s us during Mars retro: yolky and feckless on the ground from mismanaged heft.
Because of its rarity (Mars reverses every 26 months) and its duration (it generally lasts over two months), a Mars retrograde is more heavy duty than our garden variety Mercury backspin. We should anticipate its influence on us in the following ways.
First, libido (or a lack thereof). We could find ourselves twiddling our thumbs rather than bums and tender buttons in the boudoir over the next couple months. All that Mars heat and sex spice could cool off to room temperature milquetoast.
In addition to libido woes, another symptom of this retro could be plans not going anywhere. Mars is a fire planet. It’s quick to start things–fights, companies, projects. This retro could disincentive us from making plans, let alone acting on them. And, if you do have that drive to start something up, Mars retrogrades are famous for just kind of letting them peter out. It’s the ultimate “meh” transit.
But “meh” doesn’t mean not getting mad. Quite the opposite. Frustrations around our dreams feeling deferred by this pesky retro could trigger outbursts and tantrums. Mars will start off the retrograde in Leo and then backtrack all the way to nurturing Cancer over the next few months.
Lest we feel overwhelmed by all this intel, let’s keep in mind that we’re not going to feel quick to anger but libido-less for months on end. These perturbations come in waves, cresting on certain days, such as:
Mars trine Neptune on January 11th
From Janruary 6th to the 11th Mars is in a perfect “trine” with misty Neptune. Planets form aspects with other planets–conjunctions, squares, oppositions, etc. “Trines” (120 degree aspects) are said to be of the nature of Jupiter itself, that is, very positive.
Neptune is the planet that governs dreams, illusions, and that space where things feel a little uncertain but still really enticing. During this transit, you might find yourself looking at your goals and thinking, “Hey, maybe this actually could happen.” It’s like that shift where what once felt distant or unrealistic starts to feel like it’s within reach.
This is a great time to really lean into that feeling and start getting clear on what you want. Whether it’s through creating a vision board, writing down your goals, or just reflecting on your long-term desires, this moment invites you to let your imagination run wild without second-guessing. It’s not about having it all figured out, but about allowing yourself to dream without limits. Enjoy the moment while you can, because just a few days later, we’re hit with a pretty intense full moon.
Full Moon in Cancer on January 13th
Mars will be exactly conjunct the Moon, which does not love being near Planet Road Rage. Conjunctions amplify the energies of two planets. The Moon is emotional. It causes us to feel deeply. Mars can be harsh and cutting. So, this is definitely a short fuse lunation with ourselves or others. Given that Full Moons are about culminations, we might overblow issues with a partner, colleague, or family member, and want to end a job, relationship, etc. Again, that could just be the transit talking. Wait the lunation out and see how you feel a week later. Don’t be Mars rash.
Tips for how to make the most of this mars retrograde
As we said at the jump, there are more tricks than treats with a Mars retrograde–but what’s the trick to working with it? The most useful piece of advice for dealing with transits is to align with their energy–even if it’s challenging. The fancy astrological term for this practice is “remediation.” Remediation is the practice of balancing out a planet that’s too active or not active enough by making it more part of our lives.
A very easy remediation technique is just being aware of the days of the week. Monday is for the Moon. Saturday for Saturn. Tuesday is for Mars, and so on.
For the duration of the retrograde, try and make a reminder in your calendar to do one Mars activity per Tuesday. Mars activities are action based: working out, cardio training, or amorous entwinements with a beloved in the boudoir. Working with Mars on Mars-day is like those scenes from Greek myth where mortals propitiate the gods with offerings. Here you are offering Mars-like action to align with the planet’s cosmic motions. The idea is to have a constructive use for Mars and make the effort to do this on the day it rules over.
This retrograde moves through two distinct signs, offering a unique opportunity to harness both their energies. Here's how to make the most of each phase:
Essential Tips for Navigating Mars Retrograde in Leo (December 6th - January 6th)
Dusting Off Your Creative Projects: It's like the perfect excuse to pick up that screenplay, novel, or art project you definitely started but didn’t finish. Leo’s all about that big creative energy, so it’s like a cosmic nudge to rework the things that matter to you. Don’t judge it. Just fix it.
Taking a Step Back on Your Ego: Mars retrograde in Leo wants you to check yourself, honey. Time to reflect on how you show up in the world, like whether your actions are truly aligned with who you want to be or if you’ve been just trying to impress people. Newsflash: It’s okay to be a little less “performative” and a little more real.
Reclaiming Fun and Play: Leo’s like, "Where’s the fun?" You’ve been too serious lately, so this retrograde wants you to reconnect with the things that make you feel alive and joyful. It’s like finding your vibe again—maybe it’s dancing at midnight, or maybe it’s just some much-needed laughter with friends. Just reclaim that joy.
Essential Tips for Navigating Mars Retrograde in Cancer (January 6th - February 24th)
Tuning into Your Emotional History: Look, Cancer is all about your feelings and your home, and when Mars goes retrograde, it's basically like a therapy session with the universe. Time to get real about your emotional baggage—especially from family or childhood. We’ve all got that, don’t we?
Reassessing Home Life: So, you’ve been redecorating, rearranging, or maybe just dreaming about it—this is your cosmic sign to rethink your space. Is it serving you emotionally, or are you avoiding some deeper issue by filling your home with cute throw pillows?
Building Emotional Resilience: Mars retrograde in Cancer might feel like a low-energy time, but it’s actually all about learning how to build inner strength, especially when it comes to emotional vulnerability. Be gentle with yourself, but also make sure you're growing. You don’t have to rush it. Just feel it all and work through it, one tear at a time.
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