True Winds AstroBlog

Mars in Retrograde: The Aftermath of a Firestorm

(Nov. 15th, 2007 - Jan. 30th, 2008)

Living in San Diego, during the biggest evacuation in California history due to wildfires, I can’t help but recognize the synchronicity of this event and the aftermath of a firestorm to the Mars Retrograde Period.   Parenthetically, during the evacuations, Uranus (trauma, upheaval, separation) was conjunct the moon (home, emotions, security). Mars, the red planet, is the warrior God ruling Aries, a cardinal fire sign. All of this fire energy the last week has been a wake up call to me, especially in contrast to living in the rainy Pacific Northwest for almost 15 years, before moving here 2 years ago. In Seattle where my astrology studies began, I usually associated letting go and transformation with the oceanic water signs, especially Scorpio & Pisces. However, after this week I am processing the concept of fire energy as another important means for purification and rebirth.

The Phoenix as a Totem for Mars/Aries

During the firestorm, I remained sequestered in my cottage one block from the ocean with my golden-eyed, white cat, Sunshine. I dare to admit that it almost felt like a retreat, being protected on the peninsula of Ocean Beach, with my connections to the outside world seemingly dissected (school & work canceled), while I wrote poetry. I could not ignore the proximity of the fires, yet paradoxically felt safe & cloistered from the fires. While listening to the radio and hearing the reality outside my shell, the metaphor of the mythological bird Phoenix kept coming to mind regarding the situation. (Imagine that!) For whatever reason, in the past, this mythological icon has not appealed to me that much. Transformational fire didn’t interest me like watery themes of letting go symbolized by the ocean & moon. However, we are to some degree a product of our environment & living in the desert is beginning to rub off on me, I guess. Thus, this article attempts to process my exploration of the concepts of transformation & rebirth through the element of fire.

In my opinion, the zodiac sign’s totem for Aries (ruled by Mars) could just as accurately be the transformational Phoenix, as the Ram. Mars/Aries is a fire sign and is associated with the following characteristics: leadership, initiative, aggressiveness, impulsive, adventurous & pioneers. The Phoenix‘s self-annihilation into flames is associated with rebirth, which is largely related to Aries, being the first sign in the zodiac, representing the beginning. Often Aries/Mars gets narrowly pigeon-holed as a starter. But really, death & rebirth in many ways are synonymous. So how can we segregate the endings from new beginnings? We cannot and that is what the Phoenix is such an apropos totem, fire & all, for Aries/Mars.

Mars in Retrograde

Mars in Retrograde happens the least frequently of any other planet in the solar system, but its duration is the longest of the personal planets (Mercury, Venus & Mars), being retrograde for approximately 2.5 months almost every 2 years (social planets-4.5 mo retrograde/ transpersonal-5.5 mo retrograde per year). As with all retrograde planets, it is a more yin-natured period that involves going backwards or retrograde in some way. As mentioned in my other articles on retrograde planets, it is a great time for those “Re” words: reorganize, replan, reorient, reroute, research. In general this may be time for taking detours, while we rebuild our routine routes of action.

The red planet, Mars, represents our energy-levels, passions, assertiveness, initiative, & natural instincts (including sexuality). With Mars being the “God of War” it can represent what impetus within us that drives us to “go to war” for something. The placement of Mars and Aries in the astrological chart points to where we exert much of our energy. Emotionally, Mars symbolizes our relationship with anger. Overall, the characteristics of Mars and Aries are of obvious Yang orientation. So reconciling this planet with a retrograde period, which is very yin, can be an overall challenge.

Time to Reassess our Martian Strategies

Since Mars is strongly related to our energy levels and how it is expended, it’s obvious that this is a time to reassess how, what, why & where we utilize our energy. Mars alone can act impulsively enacting strategies that later may be recognized as a waste of time. This is often seen in people with prominent Aries or Martian energy. They act first and think later. This may be a time for detours, while we upgrade our routine route and rethink how we want to expend our energy.

This time may also be a time for putting out damaging fires we have created and LEARN FROM IT. Have we stirred up a controversy in the workplace that needs to be resolved? Do we have a speeding ticket to pay? Have we incurred debt for impulsive purchases? Or do we have too many irons in the fire and need to complete some projects? Mars is all about starting. Since this is not the time to begin new plans, the focus should be on completing or letting go (Scorpio side) of some things.

The Mars Retrograde Period is a good time to contemplate the cliché, “We choose our own battles.” What we fight for ideally is a selective process.  Mars, unchecked, will impulsively “go to war” for anything.  Thus, we need to balance this concept with the rest of our being, while incorporating our values, causes & aspirations, within realistic parameters, to choose the most meaningful battles, so that we can win some with meaning and purpose.

Connecting with Divine Passion

All the fire signs & planets define to a large extent our passions.  The placement of Mars in an astrology chart often explains a person’s passionate side and what their passions in life are.  This retrograde period is a great time to connect with and cultivate our passions in life.  Knowing our passions can help us to find direction and focus.  When we know our true or divine passions, they can be our driver and burn away anything that doesn’t serve our higher purpose.   When connected to our divine passions, there is no desire or time for experiences, relationships or blocks to our birthright of manifestation, abundance & happiness. 

Passion is fire energy and when it is pure and true, it will burn away all that is irrelevent to your true purpose.  Many people with destructive habits, confusion or misguidance are simply not connected to their passions.  Find your divine passions and your fortune or dharma will find you. 

Mars in Retrograde: The Scorpio side of Mars

Just like Mercury retrograde is often associated with, the yin ruler, Virgo; the Scorpio side of Mars (co-rules Aries & Scorpio) can be associated with the Mars Retrograde Period, as the shadow to all the fire in Aries and the waterside that puts out senseless fires.  Scorpio/Pluto and Mars/Aries are all associated with our sexuality, libido and carnal knowledge (so to speak). With this being a retrograde period, it is an obvious time to reassess how we expend our sexual energy. It’s important to understand that sexual attraction can block our accurate intuition about someone. It may be ignoring the voice that screams: “No, emotional debacle at your service!” How do you rationalize? For example, I can inspire this black widow to change her ways and walk into her web of lies…and live. And ladies, are notorious for being in relationships, based on an illusionary love for a man’s potential or his dreams while ignoring the dismal reality of his current life. It’s time to consider beyond the visceral, instinctive chemistry aspect of Mars. We need to consider the Scorpio side, which gets into the shadow side that can include the emotional stress involved on our souls, even including past lives, from being in relationships. Do you really want to energetically take someone on, with their energy field possibly lingering in yours, years after? Gee, you wonder why you can’t let them go and move on: They’re still with you. Some believe that by exchanging sexual fluids (memory) with another you exchange karma. There is some intense food for thought. In the Asian philosophies there is the belief that through sexual encounters, we exchange QI or Prana,which are synonymous with life force.

Relationship with Anger

A key emotional component of Mars & Aries is anger. Mars in Retrograde is a conducive time to reassess our relationship with the emotion, anger.  Often anger is the result of being disconnected from your divine passions.   Discover your passions and the anger may dissipate into a life of divine manifestation and abundance.   Anger can show up in many ways and they are not always negative.  For example, some people with strong Aries or Mars energy are fueled by anger as a source to confronting blocks and manifesting what they want.   However, probably more often than not, anger is a negative response or signal.  Additionally, there are those who “Never feel anger,” which may be pointing to some repression in their well-being that shows up as depression or guilt.  Interestingly, Mars will be transiting through Cancer (emotions) in December and March , while retrograding back to Gemini (communication) in January & February. Thus, this Mars Retrograde Period will be an especially powerful time for learning about our relationship with the emotion, anger, and our communication skills for expressing it.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the emotion anger is associated with the Yin/Yang paired organs, Liver & Gall Bladder. Suppressed anger can harm the Yin organ, liver & over expression of anger can indicate an imbalance to the Yang organ, Gall Bladder. According to TCM, treating these organs and rebalancing the body can facilitate our connection with emotions in a healthier manner.

In the TCM 5 element (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) paradigm, wood is associated with anger and corresponds with the Yin/Yang paired organs, Liver & Gall Bladder. Metal, associated with the emotion sadness/grief, controls (chops) the wood. People with strong metal, may suppress the wood, feeling sadness or grief  instead of anger.  With these individuals, according to TCM, it’s important to sedate the metal (Lungs) and tonify the wood (liver) element so they can healthily perceive the anger and relate to it in a more conscious manner. We can see this dynamic pointing to a person who may be more prone to depression, instead of full expression of their true feelings. This is another example of how depression is often just a nebulous state of mind,  from being disconnected to your true feelings & emotions. The slowing down, heavy feelings of depression are trying to guide you deeply inward to discover something about yourself. It’s important that we don’t rush to mask the symptoms of depression and instead, follow the feelings into deep answers about ourselves, that can direct us up & outwards to authentic expression of our true feelings & better health.

To my knowledge, the best source for relating healthily to the emotion, anger, is the book written by the legendary Buddhist Monk, Thich Nhat Hanh called “Anger, Wisdom for Cooling the Flames.”  In his book, Thich gives the vivid metaphor of us all being a garden in which we contain positive & negative seeds within us. It is our responsibility as gardeners of our well-being to water the positive seeds of compassion, divine passion, & love instead of hostility & anger. By using healthy discernment, we can enhance our well-being by choosing experiences, relationships & responses that bring out the best in us.   Plus, Thich says that compassion is the ultimate antidote for anger.  In my opinion, everyone should read this book, and especially those in committed, long-term relationships.

Medical Astrology: Mars & Aries

Mars & Aries correspond with the adrenal glands & blood/muscles. Mars in Retrograde is a good time to check in with our adrenals to see if they need a tune-up. Have we just gone through a stressful period and feel depleted? Enduring long-term stress or even recent traumatic stress can be an indicator we need to tonify our adrenal glands.

People with strong Aries &/or Mars energy often show their imbalances through blood disorders, such as, anemia. In fact, those with a strong Aries profile are the only sign that I advise to eat red meat, even if they are a vegetarian.  So, if anyone with anemic tendencies is getting light-headed, pale or feeling fatigued, this may be a time to get their blood checked for RBC.  

Mars/Aries Healing Tools

Each zodiac sign & planet corresponds with healing tools, that provide good supplement suggestions. Since Mars in Retrograde is a time for regeneration of our adrenal glands, blood, muscles, & emotional toxicity from anger, these healing tools may be timely for everyone during this period. Mars/Aries corresponds with the following: Mineral (iron); Vitamin (B-12); Foods (dulse, liver, beets, red meat, backstrap molasses); Herbs (nettles, yellow dock & burdock root, cayenne); Color (red); Note (D-Flat); Gemstones (ruby, bloodstone, garnet); Aromas (basil, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger); Bach Flower Essences (impatiens, vine, heather).  Additionally, as aforementioned, Thich Nhat Hanh’s book entitled Anger, Wisdom for Cooling the Flames would be a great psycho-emotional tonic for anyone. Mars in Retrograde is a conducive time to read it and practice its Buddhistic principles in your daily life.

I will conclude with my poem written on the Phoenix during the firestorm. In my opinion this mythological icon is a great motif for Mars in Retrograde…Have a peaceful transformation, and remember…Those who let go, do not get burned!

The Phoenix (Feng Huang)

An inferno of gold & red plumes

& azure tail emblazons

into a bright vortex, bedeviled,

by the wing’s shadows…

The divine fire is ignited

by hot noon sun

from nest of cinnamon twigs (Gui Zhi),-

gathered for a funeral pyre…

It’s been 500 years &

the heart is too ancient

for the young blood spilling

on the dry chaparral…

The smoldering combustion

of death, enveloped by dawn,

lets go & transforms passionately

releasing into infinite awareness,

amidst ashes that rise

loftily with clouds of smoke…

& sullen embers crackling

helplessly in the roaring winds.

His firebrand etiquette

is unconquerable

on the incendiary path of purification where,

those who let go

do not get burned,

blazing a higher trail

so the end & beginning merge…

There is no manmade law

to extinguish the supernatural:

Thus, we learn to dance with fire & wind

& flow with streams of water…

upon the still earth.