Mars Retrograde. Mars has one purpose -- ACTION!! Mars, the energy that helps you go for it and express your desires, doesn't like to be stopped and turned inward; this concept makes no sense to Mars. When Mars stations and travels Retrograde, its excited, active energy becomes covert and calculated; its motives are hidden. Careful -- inwardly turned outward-bound energy can become toxic! Positively, Mars Retrograde can give you a chance to think before acting; to assess your motives and aggressions before reacting; to find your inner demons and send them packing before they continue to interfere with your life. Indecision and delays can be an clue that you need to make better plans -- back to the drawing board!! with renewed patience... 

Despite something that seemed promising before a Mars Retrograde, progress can start to seem like an unrealistic dream as you feel a loss of enthusiasm and energy for whatever seemed to be so exciting while Mars was traveling direct. However, in the FIRE sign of Leo, there may be needs for personal attention you overlooked and increased drama can bring up more possibilities for fame or self-sabotage. 

Since everything seems to be moving in slow motion during Mars Retrograde, tension can turn inward and frustration can manifest as inflammations, fevers, rashes, cuts&bruises, accidents, or muscle strains. And if you are overly self-centered, the tension can manifest in general irritability and an increase in dramatic scenes. This may not be the best time to start a new creative project, and if you do, you may abandon it or just lose energy for it when Mars stations Direct. It IS a great time to complete long-term projects and learn to take rest breaks before YOU break!

When Mars is in its retrograde cycle, people are forced to re-assess current projects, the approach to getting what is wanted, and the desire nature. Rather than directly asserting your desires, people tend towards introspection. While Mars in direct motion is direct, straightforward, assertive, and aggressive, with Mars in retrograde motion, Mars energy is essentially turned inward--it's internalized, intensified, personalized, and perhaps pressurized. We can be hesitant about taking action, second-guessing instincts or natural impulses rather than acting upon them. The way we react to situations under normal conditions doesn't necessarily work now, or we don't exactly trust it.

When anger is internalized, there can be some rather negative byproducts, such as tension, resentment, depression, apathy, and even some paranoia. On the other hand, it can also be personalized and made more intimate. The goal of a Mars retrograde period is not, however, to simply sit on our impulses or to squelch our enthusiasm. Rather, it's to better understand our impulses, our survival instincts, our anger, our sexuality, our inner courage, and the ways we go about getting what we want from life. The cosmos are asking us to look before we leap rather than throw ourselves into action, just for the time being.