Editor’s Note: Today we have a guest writer in our daily series, an astrologer and journalist who goes by the name Willow, the author of Willow’s Web Astrology. This article is about Mars retrograde, which forms a grand trine with Jupiter and Pluto in the earthy signs — an event that goes on for many months. Technical: the ‘retrograde shadow’ means a planet is moving direct, in the degrees where it will be, or recently was, retrograde. If that’s not clear — please type your questions in the comment area. — efc
November 10, 2011 – Mars enters Virgo
November 18, 2011 – Mars enters the retrograde shadow
January 24, 2012 – Mars goes retrograde at 23 degrees Virgo
April 14, 2012 – Mars turns direct at 3 degrees Virgo
June 19, 2012 – Mars leaves the retrograde shadow
July 3, 2012 – Mars enters Libra
The Mars transit and retrograde through Virgo involves an eight-month period of mutable, transitional energy that requires our precise and active participation to direct, re-direct, adjust and re-adjust our courses. Throughout this time, we’ll be directed down only the most pertinent and effective channels in our lives, honing and refining our courses and withdrawing personal energy from anything that is not necessary, valuable or vital moving forward. This process is happening, specifically, in the house or houses where Virgo falls in your natal chart. That’s the area where things need to be tightened.
Virgo is one of the quieter placements for Mars. Mars is active here but only in the ways that count. No excess of motion, exertion, words, mental function, or use of will. Small movements, adjustments, and re-direction have big effect, and temperance rules, as too much effort in one direction results only in energy expended for self-correction.
The energy on the planet will be getting very bizarre and out of control at times over the next years, and things can really go haywire if we allow them to. This is why we need the Virgoan qualities applied through the iron will of Mars to set our courses now, doing battle on the fine points.
If we’re oh-so-careful and diligent, smoothing every screwy detail, critiquing every glowing illusion, attending to every nagging issue, we set a tone with this retrograde that can keep us grounded and out of the worst of the hyped baloney and utter bullshit being amped up on this planet.
Clean, crisp, clear. In Virgo, every detail matters. Virgo is a sign that needs things to be just right, and with Mars here, we’re going to have to take it personally when they aren’t.
If it hits our ears as incorrect, it’s rejected, no matter how many people are saying it, doing it, or believing it. Anyone trying to fill our minds, bodies, societies, or environments with useless crap is viewed as an enemy of our health.
Enemies of our health. There are many. Under Mars in Virgo, we’re consciously fighting to maintain health in a world increasingly toxic to living things. Our systems are quite literally being attacked on multiple fronts. There’s an immediacy with this Mars transit. There’s no more time to put off the changes necessary to fortify our health. It’s on. In order for our systems to continue processing and metabolizing what’s going on, they need to be in tip-top condition.
Diet, exercise regimes, habits, routines, work conditions, the quality of our food and water, our mental and emotional environments — a crucial analysis and refinement is on the docket during this transit, fighting to maintain systemic health while preparing us for the next years on the planet. This involves the removal or at least strong limitation of anything that weighs our systems down: excess alcohol, drug use, cigarettes, perfumes, air fresheners, chemical cleaners, electromagnetic pollution, noise pollution, pesticides and additives in food, refined sugar, artificial colours, genetically modified food, fluoride, excessive internet, TV, music, shopping, socializing.
Mars is a hard-ass in Virgo, and with good reason.
Even things touted as healthful should be gone over with a fine-toothed comb. With Virgo, less is more. Be careful what you add to your life and to your system. In most cases, Virgo is about what needs to be taken away.
There is a sexual element (Mars) to health (Virgo) here. A more precise application of sexual energy is required. A new understanding of the effects of sexual activity on health and on the surrounding energetic environment as a whole comes about here. The “too much, too fast, too soon” sexual ethic constantly shoved down our throats is rejected by those who use this transit well, and the application of sexuality is streamlined with a new awareness and focus on the health of the individual, the partner, the relationship, the immediate social groups and society, and the spirit, in general. There’s a re-wiring of attractions and sexual habits here, a clarification, and a removal of toxic sexual connections. Holistic sexual health.
Our work is infused with a necessary level of fight during this transit. We fight to overcome the redundancy, uselessness, and listlessness forced upon so many through mass institutionalized unemployment, underemployment, and lack of meaningful paid employment.
Charting the course for the next two years correctly requires our absolute focus over the next eight months.
Mars entering Virgo sets off a grand earth trine with Jupiter Rx in Taurus and Pluto in Capricorn that will be in effect most strongly November 16-23.
Mars retrogrades back into this grand earth trine in March when the configuration will be exact. Jupiter in Taurus, Mars Rx in Virgo, and Pluto in Capricorn will be exactly trine each other at 9 degrees of the earth signs from March 12-14, 2012.
Mars in Virgo will trine Pluto in Capricorn one last time on May 15-17, 2012 with Mars moving direct. At that time, Jupiter in Taurus will be out of range.
Needless to say, within these grand earth trines, the application of specific choices and actions — including what we choose not to do or say — has big ripple effects, creating real, concrete, structural changes.
I just wanted to add my voice to those giving Willow a big thumbs up.
This is really well written and clear. It’s as though your writing style embodies mars in virgo itself!
Loved the jewelry too.
Looking forward to more.
-Fugi
Willow, I too was introduced to you a few weeks back when Eric linked to your site and quoted some of your writing on Scorpio. I truly loved what and how you described things and it threw an angle on my temperament I never quite got before. Or maybe I did, but this time it just hit home, and with things happening in my life, an added awareness to heal and correct old patterning. Thank you for that, and for this wonderful clear article. I look forward to reading more of your work both on your site and here.
Eric, thank you too for the inclusion of wisdom offered by another talent. Many hold on to a more competitive mindset among fellow writers in the same field.
I feel very lucky to be here.
HS
Thank you Eric for exposing us to Willow. Excellent insight and concise message! I am feeling almost reassured by this Mars in Virgo transit now. I’ve been trying to focus and getting distracted repeatedly for a long while. This hits my ninth in Virgo btw opposite Pisces where Neptune will soon arrive. I’ve forgotten when. I wonder if this will be helpful in my aspirations toward writing, astrology, and teaching.
Thanks for this great guidance Willow. It is too easy to be sidetracked from an agenda what with so much going on these days. I’m glad to hear from you that Mars is determined to keep me on course for the next 8 months. There are things I’ve managed to put off for a couple of years (good grief!) that I now feel confident will finally get done. Mars can do that, of course, give one confidence. I like your view and approach to astrology very much. Pleased to meet you.
be
Work conditions – I’d like to see more small shops offering locally made products and home grown food, and more people buying and trading services. Some of the better union stewards I ever worked around were Virgo, with a strong sense of right and wrong. They were the ones that forced legislation regrding safety and child labor laws. Small cause, big effect. No education required, just a willingness to work.
Willow, I love your timing, your tempo. Your writing cuts through the mind’s minutia; very refreshing. I am printing this out to share with others. I am looking forward to hearing more from you. Thank you for being here.
Eric, my nose hairs freeze when I see that crisp photo of denuded trees and cloudless sky. Waking up this morning to 74 degrees here, the windows are all open. One has to love the internet and the the lovely tidbits it brings if we take the time to notice. -G
Hey, my two favourite astrologers for the price of one click. Excellent! I have been reading your work for over a year now, Willow, and I regard your rich writing and kick ass political viewpoints as the creme de la creme of the astrological crop.
Yeah, it’s great to see you at PW…….eh 😉
Yes. I discovered Willlow on PW as well. Generous and wise as you as ever, Eric, for publishing her here. Thanks Willow, you’re a shining light!
Eric, I am delighted to see Willow’s post here. I picked up on her blog through your blog a few weeks ago and have been very much helped by her understanding of the astrology she covers and thoroughly enjoy her way with words :>). This piece on Mars going into Virgo is very significant to me at this time.
Willow, you will recognize me when you see me with those flowered cloissone (sp?) beads around my neck; and know that I love you, and seeing you on this site thrills me. You’re where you belong, little one. Hugs.
Eric: Separate praise for the selection and execution of the evocative photo. One of my favorite tableaus and perfect to accompany Willow’s piece.
Willow:
Thank you. It’s really cool how you affect the strident voice and include detailed content so as to be consistent with the stated theme. Similarly, how you implicitly integrate the course of concurrent energetics from other mutable signs while being conversely explicit about the other earth signs. Very practical, very tasteful, very well crafted. We certainly know what we are in for now.