MY GET UP AND GO GOT UP AND WENT ???

MARS - the planet representing the urge to get what you want, sexual drive, initiative, courage, raw energy and desires - began its RETROGRADE journey for 2016 yesterday, April 17th, at 8:14 AM EDT ...

The purpose of a Mars retrograde ultimately is to evaluate what it is that motivates you and for you to determine if you are on the correct path to achieving your goals, and if you are doing what you should be doing to get there ... inside a Mars retrograde, it is time for all of us to adjust our actions and aggressive instincts to ensure that ones intent is accomplished in a positive manner... this often includes going back over previous actions and having to redo them or let them go in order to move forward ... also, old resentments and personal issues that haven't been resolved in the past have a tendency of resurfacing during this period yielding the awareness that the time has come to develop new strategies and approaches for dealing with issues, personal anger and whether or not we express it in a healthy manner, and to learn positive assertiveness ... sometimes we prefer to drop back and let others take the lead for awhile even though it is a good bet that we will not be satisfied in the end with that course of action ... also it is possible that a male figure from ones past may come back around that one may need to settle some form of unfinished business with ...

Mars makes a retrograde journey for about 9 - 10 weeks out of its 26 month cycle ... Mars was last retrograde from March 1st, 2014 through May 19th, 2014 ... it was completely in the sign of Libra going from 27 degrees 32 minutes back to 9 degrees 2 minutes ... anything come to mind from that period in your life ???

This 26th month cycle becomes significant as we are used to Mars energy moving forward since it takes about two years to return to its natal position in ones birth chart and thus spends about two months in each sign ... the direct and retrograde stationing movement of Mars occurs most frequently in Cancer, Leo and Virgo, and least frequently in Sagittarius and Aquarius due to its eccentric orbit around the Sun ... Mars could be considered a "double twin" of the Earth as it tilts on its axis in almost the same way as the Earth, but Mars has 4 six month seasons instead of 4 three month seasons like we have here on Earth ... the Earth orbits the Sun in 1 year and Mars in 2 years thus the Earth finally catches up with Mars roughly every 2 years and 2 months = 26 month cycle ...

Frequently Mars retrogrades will bring issues of frustration or hostility to the surface we have deliberately suppressed due to their disruptive qualities which can cause forward movement in our lives to be temporarily delayed ... sudden reversals of interest and drive may occur, as well as the termination of a long term goal as it may become apparent that the effort exerted is inappropriate or non productive ... also old wounds, hurts and frustrations may arise seemingly out of context but usually there is a purpose for this ...

During a Mars retrograde it is usually a good idea NOT to undertake any major new beginnings especially per contract or verbally since the energy often isn't there to carry it through ... obviously you can't just "sit tight" for nearly two and a half months, but there are good reasons, if at all possible, to hold off as the waiting may ultimately prove to be a blessing in the long run ... often things begun under a Mars retrograde may begin to run into problems when it stations back into direct motion - that being June 29th, at some point during the next two years, as a result of another personal planets' - in this case being Mercury and Venus - retrograde energy, or perhaps when Mars takes its next retrograde journey which will be in June of 2018 !!!

Most unfortunately, this Mars retrograde occurs during two of the most popular months for couples to say "I DO", that being May and June, and marriage during a Mars retrograde is a huge NO-NO and even more so this time as there will be a Mercury retrograde embedded in it during part of the time !!! ... if you are curious about how the Mars retrograde energy has the potential to affect your marriage, have someone mark the time you are pronounced as married and consult a reputable astrologer who can run a natal chart for the marriage to determine in which house retrograde Mars falls and therefore in which area of life the challenge may rise for the two of you ... needless to say, it is NOT a good idea to being a major new romantic involvement as it could prove to be constantly challenging, fall apart rather quickly or have major issues arise during the next Mars retrograde which will bring it to an end once and for all !!!

This Mars retrograde is a dual sign retrograde period going from 8 degrees 54 minutes Sagittarius back to 23 degrees 3 minutes Scorpio ... if you've had a natal chart done, you can look to which house or houses where these degrees fall and get an idea of where, in your life, you might be rethinking some kind of action you have taken or where you might encounter delays or even shift into a different direction ... if you were born with your natal Sun between 23 degrees 3 minutes Scorpio and 8 degrees 54 minutes Sagittarius, at some point Mars will either station and/or cross back over your natal Sun and, among other things, there could be a few days when you feel as if someone unplugged your energy outlet - even though many of us may feel that anyway during the retrograde period ... Normally Mars crossing over ones natal Sun would have the tendency to infuse them with an excess of energy !!!

If you have any natal planets in the signs of Sagittarius and Scorpio within the retrograde degrees, you will probably experience some kind of backward or off-kilter energy produced in relation to the planet and the area of life in which house it is placed as Mars retrogrades over or in aspect to that planet ... Mars retrograde energy has the potential to produce some action if it aspects other planets in your natal chart regardless of sign but still within the same range of degrees ... as with Mercury retrograde periods, sometimes those born with Mars retrograde will find this period more productive since they are already comfortable and have a better understanding of this backwards energy ... in a natal chart, those born with Mars retrograde are said to have actions in the current life that are recreations of the past to deal with, they probably abused the principles of aggression and personal initiative, and they are frequently in competition with themselves !!!

Mars will spend the first 41 days of this retrograde period in the sign of Sagittarius in which it began its initial transit back on March 5th ... Sagittarius is the natural ruling sign on the 9th house which is considered to be the house of Life ... the 9th house represents the higher mind, the super conscious, the law, religion, science, ideals, higher learning, philosophy, psychology, profound mental study, ones dreams, ones visions, long distant travel, foreigners, foreign dealings, commerce, big business, imports and exports, the church as a spiritual factor, the clergy, in-laws, grandchildren, intuition, ethics, the public opinion in general, and the lessons we learn through living ... the ruling planet is Jupiter which rules wealth, leisure time, optimism, height, growth, morality, prosperity, indulgence, aspirations, sports, luck, hunting, fondness for animals, health and growth ... there is potential for any or a combination of all of the previous areas mentioned to have issues arise in your life while Mars retrogrades in Sagittarius ...

Mars will reenter the sign of Scorpio on May 27th where it will spend the final 33 days of its retrograde period ... Scorpio is the natural ruling sign on the 8th house which is considered to be a house of Endings ... the 8th house represents the support you receive from other people - including financial, moral, spiritual, and physical ... it represents legacies, trusts, wills, taxes, insurance matters, secrets, sex, spiritual and physical regeneration, psychological rebirth, degeneration, death, occult matters, sleep, deep research, investigation, hidden assets, assets of partners, alimony, surgery and shows types of illness ... the ruling planet is Pluto which rules the underworld and that which is hidden from view including the unknown "worlds" within your submerged or subconscious self, conception, printing, the masses, waste, subversion, atomic power, crime, phobias, obsessions, slow growth, birth and death, isolation, coercion, disappearance, kidnapping, bacteria, viruses, generation/regeneration/degeneration, that which is developed secretly or undercover, plumbing, dictatorships, and unpopular causes ... these are all areas where potential issues could arise once the emphasis of the retrograde period shifts ...

Mars is the ruling planet of Aries which is the natural ruling sign on the 1st house, or Ascendant, which is considered a house of Life ... the first house represents your personality, your natural disposition and tendencies, your individuality and the way you express yourself, how people see you and the way you want others to see you, the way you "package" and "market" yourself, your physical body, your health, early childhood years, your approach to life, your worldly outlook, your appearance and the beginnings of all enterprises you under take ... to reiterate, Mars represents your animal nature, desires, sexual energies, assertiveness, force, power, construction, work, strife, competition, surgery and operations, weapons, war, accidents, inflammations, wounds, cuts, burns, scalds, violence, tools, iron and steel, actions that are sudden, self-assertive and disruptive actions, and energy that can be used destructively and angrily or with courage and strength ... all of these areas are vulnerable to issues during the entire retrograde period as it is Mars which is in retrograde ...

In regards to health, the areas subject to issues for the entire retrograde are the external reproductive organs, head and face ... the most vulnerable areas for the first 41 days would be the hips, thighs and liver, and the final 33 days would be the genital area, the elimination and reproductive systems ...

This Mars retrograde period could end up being even more intense and challenging as Jupiter, ruling planet of Sagittarius, and Pluto, ruling planet of Scorpio, are both retrograde, as well as the very challenging influence Mercury retrograde completely within the Mars retrograde has the potential to produce !!!

As Mars was last retrograde from March 1st, 2014 through May 19th, 2014 completely in the sign of Libra, and it made its last first complete direct transit through the sign of Scorpio from January 3rd through March 5th, and began its transit through Sagittarius on March 5th but did not complete it due to the retrograde, it is most likely that many issues will arise in regards to actions taken during those periods ... what actions were possibly begun that now must be readdressed, readjusted, reworked, or simply have run their course and come to a necessary ending needing to be released, or concluded but not by our choice, in order to promote further personal and spiritual growth ??? ... and undoubtedly you may be readdressing some of these issues again once Mars stations direct up until it exits its retrograde zone on August 22nd !!!

For those of you born between April 18th and June 28th you will get this Mars retrograde energy somewhere in your astrological birthday chart - known as a solar return - for the whole year ahead ... however, those born on April 17th and June 29th may or may not get this retrograde energy depending on the time of your solar return for the current year ... all Taurus and Gemini born will definitely get the Mars retrograde energy in their solar return chart this year !!! ... below is what noted astrologer Mary Fortier Shea has to say about having Mars retrograde in the birthday chart - also known as the Solar Return:

"When Mars is retrograde in the solar return chart, the individual must work with the process of self-motivation. This is a good time to work on a long-term project, especially one involving the need to repeatedly push yourself  toward achievement. You are the motivating force. No one else can get you to move. It is very unlikely that you will be motivated by others since personal goals will seem more important than the conflicting goals of others. If you cannot motivate yourself or direct your energy in a useful manner, you will feel listless and tired. This is an extremely useful retro gradation for those who are goal-oriented; unfortunately, it can be a very counterproductive placement for those who are not.

The way you choose to handle anger is symbolized by Mars retrograde. Usually, there is a desire to avoid confrontation and conflict. You may be unable or unwilling to express anger outwardly. Furthermore, you might find it difficult to be openly aggressive or even assertive given the situations you are involved with. If this is so, you could resort to passive-aggressive behavior or manipulation if it seems impossible to deal with a present situation on a rational level. For example, if you are taking care of a cantankerous and senile relative, confrontation and rational discussion will not improve your relationship, but refusing to engage in conflicts and stressing the humor of the situation may. You can manipulate your way around the old coot with love and understanding in your heart. Having Mars retrograde in a solar return chart signals the need to reassess the appropriateness of anger and conflict in certain situations where it may actually be totally useless. It is not the answer to all situations and you can learn to use other tactics.

If you are involved in difficult circumstances, you may not defend yourself against the criticism of others. And  in fact, you could see yourself as responsible to some extent for the situations you are involved in. This is a time when you are more apt to get in touch with the role you, yourself, play in creating stress. You could blame yourself and be very self-critical of your own behavior. Positively, we can look upon this year as a time when you are more apt to see self-defeating situations and take corrective action. It is fairly common to realize the existence of at least one self-defeating situation or personality pattern during the year.

Mars retrograde, at its worst manifestation, can have a self-destructive interpretation. It is possible that you will place yourself (through your own doing) in a situation that causes you difficulty or pain. You will have the ability to withdraw from the situation, but might choose to remain throughout the solar return year. This may sound like a horrible manifestation, but it is not necessarily so ... The house placement of Mars will relate to the self-defeating or self-destructive attitudes and may symbolize this negative behavior in relationships, career practises, financial responsibility, etc. If one concentrates on the issues, solutions can be found and there will be no need to remain in compromising situations."

ARIES BORN - this is your period to slow down and in some cases stop - WHICH YOU DO NOT LIKE TO DO AT ALL !!! - in order to review and rethink what has and what is going on in your life especially in regards to what has transpired in your life since May 19th, 2014 when Mars, being your ruling planet, last stationed back into direct motion ... Even though Aries born individuals in addition to Sagittarius and Scorpio  born - since Mars is retrograding through your birth signs - may be more sensitive to this reversal of energy, we will all experience it or surely witness it somewhere in our lives and lights may begin to come on in our heads as we discover that perhaps we should have either waited a while longer before taking action or possibly never have taken a particular course of action to begin with in certain situations ...

Mars remains retrograde until June 29th ... and as frustrating and challenging this energy has the potential to be in our lives, the universe is not going to let us off easily because the second Mercury retrograde period will be completely embedded in this Mars retrograde from April 28th through May 22nd ... in addition, many may feel along the way that there is something making them restless, edgy and irritable and they are simply not able to pin down the cause - this is usually the case when Mars
transits ones natal 12th house !!!

As it is said that in a Venus retrograde we often become somewhat less sociable and frequently forget our manners, during a Mars retrograde we may become somewhat less "warlike" and that our energy can repeatedly hit a lull ... over the course of the next 74 days as energy rises and seems to fall just as quickly, we may become all too personally and frequently associated with that famous saying - MY GET UP AND GO GOT UP AND WENT !!!