Mars Stations Retrograde

Mars Stations Retrograde- Ego Check

"When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves."

— Viktor E. Frankl

Mars stations retrograde this week and Neptune stations direct. The broad effect of these two shifts is likely to be quite disorienting but we may not actually recognize the disorientation as it is working on us. Our focus is generally aimed at pushing forward, planning and organizing, without fully acknowledging the complications as they begin to pile up. Mars in Leo is bold and courageous and is encouraged by the Sagittarius New Moon (10:21 PM PST 9° Sagittarius). The New Moon has encouraged us to set a course of optimistic planning and organizing with fiery impulsiveness and determination. But there are complications. Consideration, adjustment, and review are required. As Mars slows down all week, it encourages us to push forward but won't provide the follow-through we may be anticipating. Mercury's continuing retrograde motion and the second of three Mercury-Saturn squares suggests some self-doubt and insecurity. Complications are not appreciated by the energy of the Leo Mars, which is broadly ego-driven and vulnerable to stumbling over the road-blocks of insecurity and doubt. While the Sagittarius Sun feeds our optimism and the desire to chart an individual course, we need to recognize the need for adjustments — specifically adjustments to our belief systems. We may not recognize how important it is to connect with others. A loss of confidence can lead us to get stuck on issues that simply point out our need to adjust. Humility and an open sharing of insights may feel quite threatening. After we build up quite a 'head of steam' at the beginning of the week, we can become extremely vulnerable to a need for approval. We may also be especially sensitive to any mistakes that we've made. The key is recognizing our need for connection. Neptune's direct station can offer broader awareness of the need to work with others but the 'hazy', foggy' nature of Neptune can also lead to distrust. Once Mars begins to retrograde, we lose traction, unable to directly pursue the plans and desires that we're trying to set up this week. The resulting confusion and disorientation may quickly lead to aggressive defensiveness if we can't accept or acknowledge the need to make adjustments and work with others. Mars will retrograde back to oppose Pluto two more times and the set up for power struggles — especially in our attempts to plan and organize — will become apparent over the next few months. The Sun's opposition to Jupiter at week's end may lead us to focus squarely on the uncertainty and disagreement, rather than expanding our awareness enough to recognize the need for balance and further consideration. But Venus moves into Aquarius at the end of the week after making an extremely nurturing conjunction with Ceres at the end of Capricorn. Once in Aquarius, Venus makes a conjunction with Pluto. There is hope that, from the messages that Venus is offering, we will better understand the importance of balancing our own individual perspective with the perspectives that others are offering.

We feel a wave of optimistic planning on Sunday, sending us 'off to the races'. The potential is undeniable but we may not have enough clarity to lead in the way we are hoping. We have a feeling of 'invincibility' on Monday during the early part of the day. Later in the day, we gain better grounding and find clear 'action steps'. Insecurities bring some defensiveness on Tuesday. A desire for approval signals that we don't have as much confidence as we are trying to display. Important adjustments are required on Wednesday. The main challenge is finding 'faith in the process' and trusting others. We face some significant challenges with communicating our insights on Thursday. Nonetheless, we are able to find a bit more clarity for exactly what we want to communicate. We face the set up for future power struggles on Friday. With awareness, there is hope that we can begin to recognize the need to find balance between sharing our own perspectives and honoring the perspectives of others. There may be some trust issues on Saturday when the atmosphere begins to become uncertain or 'hazy'. The key is finding a broader perspective that encompasses the perspective of others.