Mars Retrograde and the Sounding Bell

Energy builds in intense ways over recent days. Major winter storms sweep across Europe and North America. Transportation and logistical snafus give new meaning to "holiday travel". Biggest surf since 1969 appears in Hawaii. Sun spots 7 times larger than Earth appear on an awakening Sun. Blackberry users in North America hit with 2 days of outages, etc. Critical tension and metaphors abound as we begin the run-up to 2010 and beyond.

On the 20th of this month, Mars began its retrograde in the sign of Leo. This energy has been building since mid October when Mars entered the "retrograde window" at 0 Leo.

Energetically, Mars represents action and achievement. It's how you move your energy externally. Retrograde means "backward".  As with all retrogrades, Mars retrograde is an introspective period of discovery and integration; gathering new information and strategies for the post retrograde period.

Have a look at this short video to better understand how the movement of a Mars retrograde works from an observer's perspective on Earth.

The energy of Leo relates to the heart (think lion-hearted). This Mars retrograde focuses on heart intention and what you desire in the realm of achievement, success and progressive action. Retrograde symptoms in this realm include inaction, delays and false starts. For example, the aforementioned weather events have put quite an energetic stranglehold on those affected.

If you are following your heart's desire, this retrograde is a potent period for upping the vibration in your work through introspection, integration and initiation of new strategies. By contrast, if you are applying your energy to pursuits not resonating with your heart's desire, this retrograde cycle may prove difficult, non-productive and constrictive.

The timing for the Mars Retrograde:
Oct 16 - Passes 0 degrees Leo and enters the retrograde window or shadow - note 0 degrees Leo is one of the significant eclipse points triggered during the Solar eclipse this past July.
Dec 20 - Slows down at 20 degrees Leo and begins moving in reverse (retrograde) - intense phase begins
Jan 29 - Earth directly in between Mars and Sun (opposition), and the most intense point - throughout January, the strength of this retrograde will build, like a wave in the ocean.
Mar 10 - Mars returns to 0 Leo and begins to move direct once again - energy begins to ease
May 17 - Mars reaches 20 degrees Leo again, ending the retrograde cycle

As you can see, this retrograde is spread out over a 5 month period, with the most intense phase between December 20 and March 10. We suggest using this period to discover what now makes your heart sing; what you would like to create during the next 2 1/2 years in this Mars Leo cycle; and creative, passionate steps to take over the next 2 1/2 months to put that energy into motion come March.

Remember, there are a number of significant astrological cycles occurring in synchronicity or rapid succession in 2010. Mars retrograde represents the "sounding bell" for what is shaping up to be a very significant year for intense shifts and transformation in the consciousness.

Coming Blogs - Late December's Mercury Retrograde, New Year's Eve Eclipsed Full Moon (note: Blue Moon references have no basis in astrology); and January astro highlights.

Many blessings in this season of the building light
Aloha, Kathryn and Joseph

Sagittarius New Moon - Quest for Truth

Wednesday, Dec 16th 2:02 am HST; 4:02 PST

(image & description from our Astroactivator Series)

This New Moon 2 week period represents a time to contemplate the truth. Expand your idea of what is true for you. Build enthusiasm and deepen your vision for the meaning of Life. As a fire sign, Sagittarius values action arising from innate wisdom and instinct. Remember the teacher in you. Meditate, pray, or deepen a spiritual path. Sagittarius is a time of adventure, travel, and wisdom. (from our eBook Manifesting by the Light of the Moon, available here.

This New Moon ushers in a 2 week period of renewed optimism and greater focus for the task at hand. As a prelude to the Mars and Mercury Retrogrades on the 20th and 26th, respectively, this is a potent time for clarifying relationship issues (Saturn in Libra), especially in the areas of honesty, dependability, integrity and mutual cooperation. Moving into these retrograde cycles with greater clarity and connection with those close to you provides a smoother inner journey. By contrast, unspoken or unresolved issues in the areas mentioned above will be magnified during the retrogrades.

Finally, Uranus in Pisces, and Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius create a square and sextile, respectively to this New Moon dynamic, which heightens the desire for change (Uranus) and freedom (Aquarius trio). Time to spread your cosmic wings.

Coming Blogs: Solstice on December 21, Mars/Mercury Retrogrades, and December 31 Blue Full Moon.

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Aloha, Kathryn and Joseph

Pictorial Spotlight on Mars

As Mars nears its December 20th retrograde, it is becoming brighter and more noticeable in the pre-dawn sky. Look for a bright, amber colored, star-like object that does not twinkle above the eastern horizon. This brightening occurs because Earth is catching up, or drawing closer to Mars, as both continue their orbital dance around the Sun.


Retrograde means a slowing down, then a temporary reversal of position in the sky background. Ordinarily, Mars moves through one sign of the zodiac in about 5 weeks. However, at retrograde, the lingering stretches this time frame to over 8 months. 


As the astrological archetype of Mars continues its 8 month journey through the sign of Leo, it brings Leo like attention to itself in a variety of ways. In part, the Leo archetype enjoys being on center stage. It relishes the spotlight and the adulation that sometimes occurs. This is a wonderful time to shine a spotlight on the inner Mars of your astrological natal chart, exploring ways to recalibrate and re-energize its vibration over the coming Mars retrograde months. 

If you'd like a free copy of your natal chart and our Astrological Interpretation Guide, send us an e-mail with your birth information (date, time, location).

The inner journey of Mars has an outer journey too. The Boston Globe's tri-weekly photo series "The Big Picture" puts its Leo-like spotlight on the planet Mars and its mysterious, artistic landscape. This pictorial journey may be found here. Wonderful timing for this sort of information. "Why" you might ask? Today the magnetic Moon moves through early degrees Leo and conjoins or meets Mars. How's that for magnetic spotlight magic!