Mars stations retrograde in Gemini from October 30, 2022, until January 12, 2023. Mars will continue to move through Gemini, until March 26, 2023, spending an unusually long period of time in this corner of the zodiac. It seems the Universe is setting us up to work with Mars in Gemini energies, let’s dive deeper into what this all means…
Mars, the Planet of Energy and Motivation
Mars is known as the planet of energy, motivation, and taking action. Ancient astrologers depicted Mars as the God of War, a fearless soldier that would ride through the town on a chariot pulled by two horses named Phobos (Fear) and Deminia (Terror).
While Mars has the power to spread fear and terror wherever he went, he also had the power to overcome it too, and this is one of the ways we can work with the energy of Mars.
Mars can guide us to allow our fears to either ride us into a state of contraction or expansion. Just like Mars rides his horse-drawn chariot, we can allow our fears to ride us into limitations, blocks, and smallness, or we can ride our fears bravely and confidently to live the life of our dreams and highest purpose.
In modern astrology, Mars represents our fears, but also our energy levels, our ability to take action, our masculine side, our ego brain, our passions, and our sex drive. It also rules over our heads, making us headstrong or hot-headed, and giving us natural leadership skills.
The Mars Retrograde Cycle
Mars takes about 2 years to work through the zodiac, and during that journey, it retrogrades once. Retrogrades occur when a planet appears to be orbiting backward due to our vantage point here on Earth. When ancient astrologers observed this in the sky, it was believed to be a signal that it was time for us to go back over the past, reevaluate, and reassess, especially around areas relating to the planet’s energy.
Mars retrogrades the least out of all the planets, so as it happens so rarely this period of time heightens Mars energy in our lives. This makes Mars Retrograde a good time to:
- Address how we are choosing to spend our energy
- Manage our energy levels
- Assess the motivation behind our actions
- Make peace with our masculine side/qualities
- Review our passions and goals
- Rewire our ego brain
- Pay attention to our sexual health
Mars Retrograde can also stir hotheaded emotions and challenge our leadership skills or any power struggles in our lives. As Mars rules over the head, it can sometimes exacerbate physical symptoms in this area such as headaches.
While there are many ways Mars Retrograde can manifest for us, the fact that Mars is retrograding and spending so much time in Gemini, is a clue as to how this energy may show up.
Mars Retrograde in Gemini
Gemini is the sign of the twins. One twin is mortal, the other immortal, representing the balance between body and soul. We are a soul, but we are also a body, here for a journey that should inspire both these sides of our being.
Gemini also rules over communication, our mental thought processes, and our ability to connect with others. Its ruling planet is Mercury, so there very well could be a “Mercury-Retrograde flavor” to this 2022-2023 Mars Retrograde energy.
To add to this, Mercury will also station retrograde during this Mars Retrograde period from December 29 to January 18, 2023. This is going to be a particularly sluggish time of very strong retrograde energy! But it helps to remember that this is the Universe’s way of slowing us down, drawing us inward, and getting us to reevaluate.
With Mars Retrograde in Gemini, we may find there are issues with technology, delays around travel or contracts, or we may find it harder to think or communicate clearly.
As Mars is the planet of action and energy, it tends to slow things down, making it harder for us to take action and use our energy in the external world.
As Mars is traveling “backward” it is almost like we have to take a few steps back too and reassess before moving forward. We may also find our motivation zapped or the need to address where our motivations are truly coming from and if they are aligned with where we want to be.
Just like on a Mercury Retrograde, to take giant leaps during a Mars Retrograde, or push forward on something new is likely to result in mishaps, missteps, and needing to eventually go back over things anyway.
Mars Retrograde in Gemini can also highlight the motivations behind how we are choosing to express ourselves and communicate with others. Are we doing things because we feel we should or because they come from a place of true alignment?
The relationship with our ego may also come up for review under this energy. We need our ego mind as it is the voice of survival and allows us to navigate this physical world, but we may need to look deeper into any unhealthy habits or how our ego mind may be manipulating or misguiding us.
As Gemini can activate our inner voice, we may notice more people speaking up, or we may find that we need to speak up and state how we really feel. Alternatively, the reverse may be true, and we may find ourselves unable to really share how we feel. Instead, we may feel the urge to go within and get truthful with ourselves, before we can share with others.
Strong Mars energy can make us hot-headed, triggering those fiery emotions so this may be something we need to be mindful of. If you notice yourself feeling extra irritable, come back to your center, see what is hiding beneath it all, and listen to what your inner voice may be trying to communicate with you.
Communication with your inner world is going to be a strong antidote to whatever this Mars Retrograde in Gemini energy is stirring within your life!
And finally, Mars Retrograde can lead to looking before we leap, so be extra mindful to take your time, to pause, and avoid rushing ahead. Mars Retrograde can also make us more accident-prone, and as it’s taking place in Gemini, we need to watch our hands and fingers, as they are the body parts Gemini rules!
Mars Retrograde Workshop
If you want to dive deeper into the energies of Mars Retrograde and talk about what it means for your sign, join me for a special Zoom workshop on Friday 28th October from 11 am-12 pm Pacific Time. Sign up here.
