Mars Retrograde from September 10-November 14th
Mars has turned retrograde in Aries until November 14th. If you've been wondering when the pressure of 2020 will let up, there's a chance this Mars retrograde will lead us into smoother waters. It’s a right mess at the moment - during these 2 months this retrograde promises to challenge us deeper - AND - hope is on the way if you navigate the energy to your advantage.
The Astrology
Without delving too deeply into the nitty gritty of the astrology - Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn are rewiring our personal neurology and all governing systems. This trio trines Uranus in Taurus, which disrupts all ways we have dug our heels in for survival in a dehumanizing system, and the Sun in Virgo, which shines a light on where we need to purify ego and choose neutrality. The nodes in Gemini/Sagittarius are dismantling rigid belief systems about right and wrong, allowing us to see differences as variations on a theme rather than moral certainties about good and evil. Chiron and Mars in Aries are asking us to reconsider who we really are at the core, demanding us to know ourselves deeply before acting. Venus in Leo desires we be valued for our unique gifts and Mercury in Libra wants to find the right way to communicate harmoniously. Finally, Neptune in Pisces is holding all these personal and collective complex energies in loving and healing liminal space, the space between worlds, when one world is not yet finished, but demands a new one emerge. When it’s all over, perhaps we will be closer to knowing how to cooperatively relate to the inner and outer worlds from a place of inner authority. Perhaps we will have some clues about how to relate cooperatively and well enough to thrive.
Without delving too deeply into the nitty gritty of the astrology - Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter in Capricorn are rewiring our personal neurology and all governing systems. This trio trines Uranus in Taurus, which disrupts all ways we have dug our heels in for survival in a dehumanizing system, and the Sun in Virgo, which shines a light on where we need to purify ego and choose neutrality. The nodes in Gemini/Sagittarius are dismantling rigid belief systems about right and wrong, allowing us to see differences as variations on a theme rather than moral certainties about good and evil. Chiron and Mars in Aries are asking us to reconsider who we really are at the core, demanding us to know ourselves deeply before acting. Venus in Leo desires we be valued for our unique gifts and Mercury in Libra wants to find the right way to communicate harmoniously. Finally, Neptune in Pisces is holding all these personal and collective complex energies in loving and healing liminal space, the space between worlds, when one world is not yet finished, but demands a new one emerge. When it’s all over, perhaps we will be closer to knowing how to cooperatively relate to the inner and outer worlds from a place of inner authority. Perhaps we will have some clues about how to relate cooperatively and well enough to thrive.
What are the energies of Mars Retrograde
Mars in Aries is the primal energy of ‘I AM’. As a cardinal sign Aries is a creative, initiating force. As a fire sign it is passionate and inspired. Ruled by Mars, Aries is confrontational. It is concerned with using the sword of determination to express the unique self. It is always oriented in opposition to a second energy in order to know itself by comparison. At its best, it is the fierce, determined action to do what needs to be done to nourish, be and express ourselves in a whole and healthy way. At its worst, it may act in impulsive, reckless and divisive ways when it feels threatened or blocked to express itself or have its way. Retrograde Mars in Aries provides intense pressure to confront our conditioning to repress ourselves by understanding the meaning we give to conflict in the interactions with others in our worlds. There is a need to understand what we are fighting with to be ourselves and to discover what we believe stands in the way of expressing ourselves. The Capricorn planets caution us to temper impulsiveness with long term goals, they ask us to allow the conflict to be internal and to look inward for the answers to what we're fighting before stepping forward with the sword.
Mars in Aries is the primal energy of ‘I AM’. As a cardinal sign Aries is a creative, initiating force. As a fire sign it is passionate and inspired. Ruled by Mars, Aries is confrontational. It is concerned with using the sword of determination to express the unique self. It is always oriented in opposition to a second energy in order to know itself by comparison. At its best, it is the fierce, determined action to do what needs to be done to nourish, be and express ourselves in a whole and healthy way. At its worst, it may act in impulsive, reckless and divisive ways when it feels threatened or blocked to express itself or have its way. Retrograde Mars in Aries provides intense pressure to confront our conditioning to repress ourselves by understanding the meaning we give to conflict in the interactions with others in our worlds. There is a need to understand what we are fighting with to be ourselves and to discover what we believe stands in the way of expressing ourselves. The Capricorn planets caution us to temper impulsiveness with long term goals, they ask us to allow the conflict to be internal and to look inward for the answers to what we're fighting before stepping forward with the sword.
Who Are We Fighting and Why?
There has been extraordinary evolutionary pressure since January to face our fears and take this path of individuation. Do we have the right and ability to be self governing? We’ve not done it before yet the pressure is unrelenting to do it in order to move from surviving to thriving. In fact, the sense is that unless we can thrive, we won't survive. To succeed, we must know who we are and what we have to offer, stand in our strength and know how to make boundaries from a generous and inclusive heart. The retrograde will help us learn to stop projecting power outside ourselves in spite of the fact we're conditioned to do otherwise. And this means we must find and reclaim where and how we’re projecting power onto others. We must use our spiritual warrior strength to cut through self deception to truth. And the truth may be complex and lead us to deeply conditioned beliefs and emotions about separation to be reconsidered.
We’ve all been preparing in one way or another. If you’re a kundalini yogi, you have been preparing for this shift in your practice. Daily Sadhana brings us deep to know, love and tame the inner worlds.
Mars retrograde will take us deeper into our conditioning and ask us to relate with others differently. When we run into conflict, we’ll be asked to face the difficult emotions of fear, anger, resentment and even hatred with others who may try to control us or who we may believe are controlling us. In fact, even if others are working to control us, it has nothing to do with us and everything to do with their own fears. Or, if we feel blocked or can’t move the way we want to, we may try to handle our fear and irritation by controlling others.
This retrograde is a gift. These primal, limbic emotions are simply the pressure to be and express ourselves that have been buried and have come to the surface. We are supported to integrate them into our higher consciousness and we’ll have more understanding how to express ourselves more precisely, effectively, cooperatively and confidently by the time the wave hits the shore.
Some Helpful Things to Get Us Through This Time
- This wave is a gift from Creator to help us heal and become whole.
- We’ll know how to move forward with more wisdom and confidence, when the wave settles at the shore on November 14th, both on our personal paths and in community.
- It is safe to know the deeper emotions. We are supported at this time to be patient and control our impulsivity.
- You have the right to control your own energy, but not anothers’ energy.
- You only have the right to control your energy, know this and be free.
- Anger will transform into fierce determination with your loving presence. Use this time as an opportunity to know and love your anger and darker emotions better and well. When you are able to be with it and allow it, the energy will melt to reveal the deeper vulnerabilities beneath it. In this gentler place you will free your emotions from the poison of resentment and feel grounded in a new confidence to move forward with fierce determination.
- Cut the head off righteous indignation, using your spiritual sword of neutrality and open heart.
- Use this time to develop deeper compassion knowing all beings are on a similar path to reclaim their inner wisdom and will have the hard task, ready or not, to face their deeply buried shadow material. *
- Know what you are fighting for before your pick up your sword. Before striking, ask yourself if you’re striking the right target.
- Make a boundary with reactivity first.
- Mind your own business when you see others struggling with reactivity in a way that causes disturbances and keep others’ success in your prayers. Their disturbance will pass. Imagine their desire to succeed.
- Continue to work for the higher good and think of others with generosity if you find their reactivity is creating disruptive disturbance that's hard to deal with. Find a way to give them a wide berth; do not take on the disturbance.
- Protect yourself with purity and goodwill.
- Nourish your mind with the loving thoughts that we are all children who have a right to be here and all have the right to learn by doing.
- Don't make any assumptions, don't take anything personally, be impeccable with your word and just do your best. Remember these 4 agreements of Don Miguel Ruiz.
- Hatred never ceases by hatred, only love will heal. Know this in your core.
Some kriyas and meditations to help us during Mars retrograde
-Meditation on the Self
-Reverse Adi Shakti Kriya
-Kriya for Hemisphere Adjustment & Subconscious Memory Elimination
-Opportunity & Green Energy Set
-Laya Yoga Meditation
-Meditation for a Calm Heart
-Projection & Protection From the Heart
-Meditation on the Self
-Reverse Adi Shakti Kriya
-Kriya for Hemisphere Adjustment & Subconscious Memory Elimination
-Opportunity & Green Energy Set
-Laya Yoga Meditation
-Meditation for a Calm Heart
-Projection & Protection From the Heart
*Shadow material is anything that drives your personality from the unresolved emotions of the past. It is disowned parts of ourselves that haven’t been allowed expression. It can be recognized in irritation, resentments, positive or negative projections, internal and external controlling and depression.
Are you interested in learning more about yoga, chakra balancing or energy healing? Learn more at my website and take a yoga class or make an appointment for Chakra Balancing.
