MARS RETROGRADE - HOW TO - SURVIVE & THRIVE. ASTROLOGY HUB.com

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Eugene Hampton
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1 MARS RETROGRADE - HOW TO - SURVIVE & THRIVE ASTROLOGY HUB.com

2 Mars Retrograde: How to Survive And Thrive! Introduction The world is a busy place. But never-ending activity leaves little time to reflect on where we re going. Or why. A Mars retrograde is Nature s way of reminding us to slow down. To pause and reflect before we act. It s a chance to learn more about who we are. And if we listen, we can do more than just survive we can thrive. What is a Retrograde? A retrograde occurs when a planet appears to reverse its direction in the sky Of course, we know it's just an illusion. Planets don't actually change direction. But imagine for a moment that all the planets are like cars moving along a racetrack. The planets on the inside tracks closer to the Sun have a shorter distance to travel, so they lap the planets on the outer tracks. In the case of Mars, it's the orbit of the Earth that's closer to the Sun. As both planets move along, every 26 months, it's the Earth that catches up to Mars, then passes it from the inside "fast lane." As Earth is passing by, Mars appears to slow dramatically, then reverse direction. After 72 days, he changes direction again and speeds up to resume his normal motion. It's this phenomenon that we call a "retrograde." Now, planets are closer to the Earth while they are retrograde. In the case of Mars, that means it's also at its brightest in the sky. Therefore astrologers say that a planet's action intensifies during a retrograde. It wants to be noticed.

3 But that also means the usual rules don't apply. And so WE may have work a little harder to integrate the energies of a retrograde planet into our daily lives. The Meaning of Mars To understand how to work with a Mars retrograde, we first need to understand the energy of Mars. Against the dark night sky Mars is a glowing red ember. To the ancients, the action of Mars was to burn. Literally sometimes, but also figuratively. With him our passions are enflamed. We get fired up. Over a romance. A project. Or a cause. As the first planet that's outside the Earth's orbit, Mars is like the energetic teenager willing to break away and blaze her own trail. He's the planet of ACTION. With him we're willing to separate from the crowd. Or at least what others expect us to do. He's the planet that inspires us to actually FOLLOW our bliss. Astrologer Joanne Wickenburg summarized it well: "Mars acts on what Venus wants. He initiates action drawing on information from Mercury's perceptions and intelligence." There's also a protective side to Mars. He says "Don't tread on me" -- we have the courage to stand up for ourselves and in what we believe. How to thrive when Mars retrogrades Retrogrades of any planet imply the need to slow down. We sense that there's more to a situation than just the shallow surface appearance. We want to research, reflect and go deeper. Since Mars is the planet of action, it s what MOTIVATES us that's up for re-evaluation. You may have a deep need to understand and evaluate the WHY of something what motivates you at your core. You may even come face to face with your own power to take action (especially with Pluto's retrograde starting just the next day after Mars changes direction).

4 But it's not enough to understand your motivations and your power, you need to explore HOW you take action in your daily life. Is what you are doing the BEST way to use your energies to get what you want? Are your actions supporting or prohibiting your growth? Do you even want what you've been spending so much time to acquire? Would you be willing to change what you ve been doing, or even breakaway from the "norm," to have more success in your life? Don't be surprised if you have to confront the past and release it s energy in order to move forward in the future. In Business Examine how you are using your energy and resources. Are you making progress toward your goals? If not, what needs to change? It s time to research and strategize alternative solutions, perhaps even brainstorm a 2-year action plan for the next Mars cycle. Gather your resources, but don't invest until after retrograde ends. In Love and Relationships Relationships started under Mars retrograde tend to fizzle fast. If you want to love em and leave em, no worries. Compromise yields better results than taking a hard line. Practice diplomacy In Health and Wellness Don't overdo it. Manage your energies. Review your diet and exercise routines are you taking care of yourself the way you need to? Postpone elective surgery, but don't fear doing emergency procedures Mars supports emergency actions.

5 Suggestions by House The place, or house, in your chart where the Mars retrograde occurs indicates specifically where you may have been overextending yourself, and what needs to change. Sagittarius Sun or Rising (Moving from 1st House to 12th House) When Mars' retrogrades in your sign you may have been overextending -- yourself! Take care of yourself and your own needs. Is your body in shape? Is your environment supporting you and your actions? Are your actions aligning you with your goals? If the answer is no, step back and contemplate what's motivating you. Spend some time alone to integrate and strategize for the next phase. Scorpio Sun or Rising (Moving from 2nd House to 1st House) When Mars retrogrades in one of your financial houses, it's time to review your relationship with money. Review your financial situation and make corrections if necessary. Pay off debts and strategize how you can save more. Understand your values and they affect your motivation. Consider how investing in your future is part of your self-care. Libra Sun or Rising (Moving from 3rd House to 2nd House) With Mars retrograde in your place of the routine and familiar, you may have found yourself super-busy -- but are you really accomplishing anything? Review your routines and habits, are they bringing you closer to your goals? Simplify and streamline to save time and money.

6 End subscriptions for newsletters, websites and memberships you don't use. Empty your inboxes and other paperwork piles. Plan for a clear desk, and a clear mind by the end of the retrograde. Virgo Sun or Rising (Moving from 4th House to 3rd House) Mars retrograding in your house of family and roots suggests addressing lingering issues from childhood may be key to understanding how you use your energy. Release anger associated with your family of origin -- whether birth family or adopted family. You don't need to carry it any longer. It's also a good time to make repairs around the house. Improve security, change smoke detectors, fire extinguishers. Strategize a plan or a schedule to keep your home in better shape. Leo Sun or Rising (Moving from 5th House to 4th House) When Mars retrogrades in your 5th house, you may discover the pursuit of pleasure has been too much on your mind, or maybe not enough. What's the role of fun and pleasure in your life? You need to take time to relax. Watch movies, go to the spa, do something fun. But if you've overdone it, like binge watching your favorite show for hours to the detriment of other things, you may need to cut back. If you have children, they may need extra assistance. Take them out to release their energy. Cancer Sun or Rising (Moving from 6th House to 5th House) Have you taken on too many responsibilities? If you have, the stress may even be affecting your health. Conserve your inner resources; you may have less energy than usual.

7 Improve your diet. Add nutrients that benefit the kidney-adrenal and the iron content of the blood. Revisit health diagnosis if you're not finding resolution to a chronic condition. Reduce stress in your life by making more time for fun. Gemini Sun or Rising (Moving from 7th House to 6th House) You may have been spending too much time worrying about relationships. Beware of repressed anger and resentment issues in your relationships. Compromise is the best strategy talk it out! If a relationship has been troubled for a while, it may be time to let it go. Avoid of being the aggressor in a lawsuit or other dispute, you are more likely to lose. Investigate finding help to make more time to spend with your partner. Taurus Sun or Rising (Moving from 8th House to 7th House) If you are financially over-extended, it's time to get some balance back in your life with Mars retrograde in your 8th house. Pay off credit cards and other debts. Update insurance policies. Re-strategize financial matters involving others. Consider how your financial affairs and attitudes are affecting your relationships. Aries Sun or Rising (Moving from 9th House to 8th House) When Mars is retrograde in your 9th house, you may realize you've been stuck in a rut, and need to stretch yourself. Re-evaluate religious or spiritual practices to see if they are supporting you. Study other religions, philosophies or cultures for insight into your own choices.

8 Plan foreign travel, or travel beyond your normal routine Get out of your comfort zone to discover where you're blocked. Pisces Sun or Rising (Moving from 10th House to 9th House) Are you working hard but not smart? That's the question you may ask yourself while Mars retrogrades in your career zone. Re-evaluate your career decisions. Figure out what's not bringing results and plan a new strategy. Competition or jealousy may fuel motivation. Self-reliance is key to public recognition. Additional education or taking a big picture view may bring new solutions. Aquarius Sun or Rising (Moving from 11th House to 10th House) A Mars retrograde in the house of friends and benefactors may mean you are relying too much on friends, rather than yourself. Realize that fulfilling your dreams is your own responsibility. If friends or supporters disappear or may be unavailable. It's okay to do things alone. You may even feel the need to take a break from social media to get back in balance. Capricorn Sun or Rising (Moving from 12th House to 11th house) Are you spending too much time hiding behind the scenes? Or maybe you haven't taken enough time for yourself. It's time to rebalance your inner and outer worlds. Are your actions leading to your own self undoing? Pull inward and focus on the deeper picture. Solitude is beneficial. Meditation puts you in touch with your inner self. Also consider who you invest your time with. Choose your friends wisely. You may need to let go of unhealthy relationships. Key Retrograde Dates

9 Use the first half of the Mars retrograde to wrap up unfinished business, and the second half to create the new habits and systems that will allow you to use your energies more effectively in the next phase. This Mars cycle began June 14, 2015, and ends July 27, The Mars Shadow begins Feb. 19. This is when Mars first crosses into its retrograde zone. During the shadow period, Mars may have a hard time keeping up. It can take in more than it can digest. What's on your plate may overflow. In the beginning, you may be optimistic you can handle it. As Sun in Aries harmonizes with Mars in Sagittarius at the end of March, we are pertaining feeling optimistic. But as Mars quickly slows, after that, old outdated systems break down. Mars Stations Retrograde Sunday, April 17, at 8 degrees Sagittarius. Now you realize you're stuck. You can no longer move forward. Re-evaluation necessary. First things first, you must process the backlog. Then you must find the personal meaning in events, get to the root understanding of how you've used your energies. How you've contributed to the situation in the first place. If you've done your inner work, around May 22 when the Sun in Gemini opposes Mars in Sagittarius, you may experience a Breakthrough or an AH-HA! moment. You may even find deeper awareness through your confrontation with the other -- be it someone or something in your life, or something more internal. After the opposition, it s time to take the insights you've gained and use them to prepare yourselves for the new cycle. Strategize and consider your options. When Mars finally stations direct on June 29 at 23 Scorpio, relief is on the way. You may feel a surge of freedom and and release Confidence returns as Sun in Leo trines Mars in Sagittarius July 16. You may sense the "green lights" of forward momentum. The Mars Shadow ends Aug. 22. You've changed. But you re now in the flow of the new normal.

ARIES. 2/ The Dark Pixie Astrology

ARIES. 2/ The Dark Pixie Astrology 1 ARIES This season kicks off on a rocky note for you, Aries, with Mercury retrograde (appearing to move backward) in your sign March 22nd - April 15th. If you're feeling way off, way impatient, way impulsive,