Mars in Virgo

Mars in Virgo - Cautious Leadership

"Self-esteem isn't everything; it's just that there's nothing without it.'"

— Gloria Steinem

The week begins with quite a bit of intensity that is difficult to manage. Ambition is high. But quickly, both Mars and Mercury shift signs. Mars moves from bold and blustery Leo into circumspect and deliberate Virgo. On the other hand, Mercury moves from deferential Cancer into demonstrative Leo. These shifts generally suggest a desire to step up on a soap box but not any realistic commitment to push forward. Mars in Virgo is cautious, which is not especially comfortable. The ongoing pressure on our self-esteem and self-image is compounded by the restrictions that Mars in Virgo feels. Mercury in Leo at least encourages us to speak up even though we're concerned about how others are receiving our message. Ultimately, the shifts of Mars and Mercury are mostly about shifting our perspective, encouraging us to share our thoughts and ideas but not providing enough confidence to fully commit ourselves to any specific course of action. Even so, our ambition needles us to look for ways to gain a broader base of support. If we find support in our environment, our message will at least be more level and balanced. However, a lack of support — or acceptance — is likely to lead to increased defensiveness or even a rebellious attitude. The problem is really that we would like to find quick answers — which just aren't there. What is needed is self-discipline and consistent responsibility. As our self-image and self-esteem is challenged, we will recognize areas that need to be shored up or even completely 'rebuilt' around new insights and a new understanding of ourselves. Under this week's waning Moon, we are mainly just 'planting seeds' for future progress. Our intuition may be suggesting that expansion and new possibilities are in the works. But a forming Mars-Saturn opposition, which won't complete until after next Monday's Cancer New Moon (11:31 AM PDT 24° Cancer), is discouraging us from exerting consistent effort. As well, the bouts of rebelliousness and erratic self-expression have the potential to further weaken our self-esteem, if we don't find the kind of support we need from those around us. We may find that what is most productive in this environment is offering our support and encouragement to others, rather than only seeking support from others.

Intuition offers surprising solutions on Sunday. Responsible, self-reliant determination is well supported. We may begin to start obsessing over details on Monday. We can quickly get stuck on one particular idea or something that has made us angry or upset. A sense of destiny is strong on Tuesday, spurring ambition. A changing perspective has increased our desire to share our ideas freely. Loyalties are tested on Wednesday. It may be most important to check in on how loyal we are to ourselves. Ambition is tinged with rebelliousness on Thursday. However, environment is everything and if we aren't well received, our self-esteem will quickly suffer. We face increasing impatience on Friday. The atmosphere is likely to feel somewhat unfamiliar. Moods are all over the map on Saturday. It isn't easy to establish a sense of safety and security. Focusing on the service of others can provide an escape hatch from the insecurity and turmoil.