Strange how the night moves with Autumn closing in. — Bob Seeger
Mars enters Leo on Sunday night shortly before 10:00 pm EDT. This will take place four days after Venus put on Libra’s costume and four days before the Sun follows suit, marking an equinox. There is a balance in this temporal symmetry of sign change, and the red planet is in a pivotal position. It would be entirely consistent if you were to reach a concurrent turning point your own life over the next week. That is not to imply something will happen to you. On the contrary, the astrology indicates you will be facing a choice of how to direct a newly empowered ability to act on your own.
Planets do not beam down some zombie energy that manipulates you like a puppet. The objects orbiting the Sun are archetypes, each one representing a different reality in our lives. As those archetypes move from one sign to another, they change to a different set of clothes. As you know from your own life, what you wear can dictate what you do or how easily you can do it. The same is true for planets.
The archetype of Mars is Yang, the vitality that is attracted to the receptive Yin, between them yielding change. The essence of Mars is to assert what is within us, so that we can be proactive with relation to the wider world around us. Change, action and vitality all imply movement. As you know from your own experience, some types of clothing are more conducive to movement than others.
For a month and a half, Mars has been wearing a damp Yin uniform while making its way through the cardinal water sign Cancer. That wet and ill fitting wardrobe has served to make it difficult for the Martian energy to move. You may have witnessed evidence of that symbolic inhibition in yourself or others lately, as some inappropriate argumentation has surfaced unexpectedly. Such is the fatigue of slogging for six weeks with a seasonal initiative in tow.
Now Mars is about to put on a track suit of sorts. The raiment of Leo is drier, lighter and sympathetic to Martian motion while still being friendly to the spirit of the Cancer solstice. The only question is the direction of movement. Now that the Yang has been freed up, there are two ways for it to go. It can be self-aware and in harmony or self-involved and in conflict. That is where you and your consciousness come in.
Mars is not always entering Leo on the eve of the Libra equinox. At this time last year, for example, the red planet was leading from the front in Scorpio, chasing after Venus. That was a natural and easy role for the Yang archetype. Now, the assertive in each of us will be advised to do something a little different, and more difficult: lead from behind. It will still involve action and movement, but directed in a manner unaccustomed. In order to be in harmony with its Yin counterpart and their respective places in the sky, Mars is being called upon to defer. The appropriate motion of Martian energy in Leo clothing at this time is out of the way.
To paraphrase the beautiful words of Fe Bongolan, Venus is carrying its light to a new room. The timing of the brightest planet’s reappearance in the West makes it the the harbinger of a new season and a new expression. The Sun is supporting Venus by moving toward it. Mars is on the other horizon and its role is to move into a place of reflection and balance.
For Mars, the rising Sun is going down. The steady red light in the East is in the process of appearing longer before the dawn. Its proper business is more and more with the Moon in the coming weeks, not to further a season about to pass. Now that the Yang archetype is freed up, its appropriate moves will be night moves on the other side of the sky.
Offered In Service
Len,
A belated thank you for your patient and clear explanation! I suppose I should know better than trying to learn something as complex as astrology by just reading and then checking out the energies experientially. Sometimes I understand bits and pieces and then completely miss the big picture.
Burning River: Thank you for your kind words.
be: Hey, what did happen to my byline anyway? Yes, i remember last year – 8 months in Leo. Thank you as always for your erudite perspective.
darkmary: Thank you for your question. Last year, when Mars was in Scorpio (a sign it rules) it was in front of the Sun which was in Virgo at that time. In other words, it got to Scorpio before the Sun did. It was not because the apparent speed of Mars is faster than the Sun – it never is. It is because Mars was in retrograde in Leo for 8 months. When Mars finally got out of Leo, the Sun was in late Gemini and it took until earlier his year for Sun to catch up and pass Mars. Please, does that clear things up for you?
Thanks so much, Len. My Martian/Yang energy has really come into my awareness lately. I don’t always like how I express it or work with it and the idea of leading from behind is really helpful. It is particularly helpful to hold this as transiting Mars is coming up on my natal Mars at 0 (and some change) Leo. My natal Venus is at 8 Leo, each sitting on either side of my Midheaven at 5 Leo. It evokes the idea of the masculine (action) in service to and support of the feminine (reception).
But I am a little confused about one thing and I am sure it must have to do with my ignorance of astrology. You said that last year at the equinox, Mars was “leading from the front in Scorpio, chasing after Venus.” I am not following you here. What about Leo being in Scorpio means that it is in front? Do you simply mean that Scorpio is further along in the zodiac than Leo? But then, in following or “chasing” Venus…is that not the same as “leading from behind?” I guess, as I articulate these questions I realize I am even more confused than I realized. In spite of this, the idea of “leading from behind” seems really relevant and almost a Zen koan to sit with. Any light you can shed on my confusion would be much welcome! Thanks, Len.
Almost missed this Len, thought it was by Amanda but then 2nd time around I caught the little ‘sunset’ logo. Well you can’t say that Mars hasn’t put a lot of vitality into our feelings while he’s been in Cancer. Whew, and that damp yin uniform? That’s sweat my man; he has fired up the temps around here and all through the midwest, so it ain’t all tears dampening his costume. But Mars is a big boy and he surely must realize that, like all the other planets, he must work a little harder in some signs than others and they all can’t be a piece of cake, like his trip through Leo.
Do you remember his last trip in Leo? Boy, I sure do; he parked on the degree of my Pluto for 21 days while he stationed and that’s when I had the seismic shifts in my jaw caused by a wisdom tooth that wanted more space. Not something I will ever forget either. He won’t be stationing again until he is in Virgo and that will be over 2 degrees, alternating from 22 Virgo(10 days) to 23 Virgo (7 days) and back to 22 Virgo (10 days). At least old 22 Virgo will get a week’s break in between the pounding!
Leading from behind. Is that anything like back seat driving? Ha ha, just teasing Len; thanks so much for sharing your perspective and this time I’m looking forward to Mr. Mars in Leo getting me fired up to whip through my Fall cleaning.
Get thee behind me Mars!
be
This coming weekend for me is going to be pivotal. Your reflections on Mars today and in the past weeks have been important lanterns in the darkness for me. Through your articles I have been made more conscious of how I will do well to keep my Martian energy in check, negotiate, and lead from behind, as you said today. This yang energy has been crucial in initiating the situation that is coming to a conclusion, but now you are helping me understand that the yang strength that was initiating at the beginning several years ago is now going to be used to defer. Interesting. So, you’ve given me a head’s up. A silent, calm bow of respect, as I stand my ground in support of my goal, while caring at the same time for the reality of the situation over-all (termination of 44 year marriage).I still do not know if I will “win” or “lose”. You could say that whatever happens, both of those will be the ultimate outcomes. But I will proceed with dignity. The fight is over. The emotions are strong (Mars in Cancer) but are not dominating. Peace will be had, but that peace wears a tuxedo.
Love ya, Len. You’re the Best. Thanks and +_+
Gary: Thank you for the kind words and the link. It is an honor to have your praise.
junspace: Thank you for your kind words as well. It is an honor to be of resonant service to you.
I.. like.. this.. post! Thanks, Len. Nice to know that what I’m feeling today really is what I’m feeling 🙂
And thanks for the link, dreamastrologer.
Nice one, Len
Seger has gone from the young lion to the grizzled philosopher, but still rockin this song
http://youtu.be/YxihGy66N1U
he looks a little like Rob Hand now 😉