First Dance – Mars Enters Virgo

Mars enters Virgo ’round midnight EST (11:15 pm). It will remain in Virgo for nearly eight months, four times the usual tenure, because of a retrograde period early next year. We won’t need to wait that long, however, to know that Mars has changed signs. Over the next five days, the red planet moves through three powerful aspects. You may experience those aspects as something analogous to a dance — a first dance. Whether through conscious intent or unanticipated consequence, that first dance has the potential to open a new phase in your life. The trick will be to get into the rhythm after an awkward start. 

In the words of Robert Hand, Mars “rules the energy that an individual uses to maintain himself in the face of pressures from his environment.” The optimal employment of that energy is dictated by the sign that contains it. The transition from fiery Leo to grounded Virgo entails a change of emphasis from expression to purpose.

It is one of the more drastic departures astrology has to offer, a challenging stage of growth. The first Martian aspect from Virgo may likewise feel like the first steps with a new partner not of your choosing.

The sign opposing Virgo is Pisces. In the first degree of Pisces, Chiron has recently resumed direct motion. The day after Mars enters Virgo, Earth will be positioned directly between Mars and Chiron. That physical arrangement is called an opposition. Oppositions represent you and another face to face with a choice, conflict or negotiation. Because we often feel Mars aspects in advance, your volition may already have encountered such an option. You would know it as something that cannot be ignored.

Chiron was discovered only 34 years ago. It is distant and small with an eccentric orbit. Unlike countless other bits of data that came to light in the information age, it refused to go away. Charles Kowal, the astronomer who discovered Chiron, dubbed it “a maverick.” The maverick astrologer, Al Morrison called it “the inconvenient benefic.” Robert Hand likened it to the proverbial nail, without which an entire kingdom could be lost. Every take on Chiron implies that it must be dealt with, regardless. If Mars entering Virgo means redirecting your defining energy, then the nearly concurrent opposition of Mars to Chiron means initiating that reformation will be contingent on how well you dance with a partner who chooses you. Another, larger planet promptly reinforces that notion.

Uranus, still retrograde in early Aries, will encounter Mars over the weekend from the not-quite opposition called a quincunx. That aspect indicates an adjustment is in order. On the heels of Chiron’s insistence, the irresistible and galvanizing nature of the Uranus archetype may cause accommodation to seem more like coercion. If we can persist through next Wednesday, however, we may finally find the rhythm through a common element.

Four elements of ancient natural science (fire, earth, air and water) are an integral part of how the twelve signs of astrology are organized and distinguished. Each of four elements becomes part of the identity of three equally distributed signs. Signs characterized by the same element share a flowing and knowing relationship reminiscent of the most accomplished dance partners. Planets in signs of the same element benefit from that relationship through an aspect called a trine.

Mars will conclude its first dance in Virgo with a trine to Jupiter in Taurus next Wednesday. The Jovian archetype is expansive encouragement, open arms and long, easy strides. The earthy sympathy between Taurus and Virgo provides a stable platform. It is a good match for Martian energy re-tasking and, after nearly a week of acquiescence, a chance to finally relax into a new modulation that will be home for a long time to come.

Like many a first dance, it may come to nothing, thwarted by anxiety and discomfort, endured but not enjoyed. It takes something more to work through that, something shared. As you feel the push and pull in your life over the next week, see if you can sense a new rhythm and instead of resisting it, try it on for size. It could be the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship.

Offered In Service        

16 thoughts on “First Dance – Mars Enters Virgo”

  1. immaculate virgoan: My heart goes out to you and your family. Please keep in mind that Mars in the natal Sun sign carries strength as well as challenge.

    be: Thank you for your words of wisdom and condolence.

  2. Dear emaculate,

    Sounds like you are the only one left able to hold it all together. This is your classic “can’t see the forest for the trees” moment so stay focused on the details. The numbness is your protective shield until you get through it all. My thoughts and prayers are with you my dear.
    be

  3. Thanks be for the encouragement,

    The only updates are a partner with a ruptured vein in his leg and his daughter on crutches with a sprained ankle.

    This week we have left to go:

    – my partners custody case goes to court again tomorrow
    – 3 funerals, Thursday, Friday & Monday.

    I feel…numb…

  4. Dear immaculate,

    That’s an awful lot of trauma for one family in such a short period of time. Having nothing to go on except the effect these incidents have had on you, I would say it is as much Chiron’s doing as it is Mars. For whatever reason, you are being pushed into an awareness that will take you beyond how you raised your children and your image of “how we are”. Believe it or not, someday you will look upon these times as a gift. Right now you have the opportunity to re-set the course for two of your daughters who are still young and under your influence.

    It is notable that at the time you entered this message today Mars was almost exactly trine Pluto in Capricorn. It seems that Mars in your Sun sign (star sign?) has given impetus to you seeking to get to the bottom of these disturbing events. Also at this time the Sun has just entered Sagittarius, leaving the soul-searching sign of Scorpio and now is positioned to challenge the opposition between Chiron and Mars that began your “horrid experiences”. The Sun seeks awareness and in Sag he especially wants to understand the big picture. I also thing that as the Moon was in her last degrees of Libra and trine Neptune in Aquarius, you probably sense that it is some kind of turning point that involves more than just your family.

    There is a lot of confusion out there for all of us as old rules and methods seem to be morphing into something we don’t comprehend. Personally, I have a lot of confidence in astrology and what it is telling us about these times. There isn’t one person who comes to PlanetWaves that isn’t rattled about what is happening in their life. As a Virgoan you have the advantage of being able to adjust to the changing scene while also staying sure-footed. I’m confident also that you will be a blessing to your children as they face their uncertain situations. The fact that they have been open with you, even belatedly, shows the strength of your relationship with them. This is something you can cope with even if it seems overpowering. Mars will be in your sign for many, many months providing courage and strength as you fill in the blanks and heal the wounds. Take deep breaths and tell yourself “I can handle this”, and “nothing lasts forever”. Please come back and let us know how things are going for your children and you.
    be

  5. I am looking at this article in hindsight when I went looking for reasons for my horrid experiences over the past week that commenced as Mars moved into Virgo, my star sign. What could be the correlation?

    On November 11 I found my 17 yo daughter had inadvertently become involved in an incident that will put her in court on a criminal offence. A misdemeanor that defies the way I raised her.

    On November 16 I found out that another daughter was sexually assaulted at the age of six – she is now 13. She also told me she is nervous of my partner due to the previous assualt although he was not the person who assaulted her.

    On November 18 I told my partner. Thankfully he was extremely supportive and keen to do anything to promote healing in my daughter.

    On November 19 three graduating boys from the school my 4 teenagers attend were killed in a car accident the day after graduating. 3 of my kids were close to some of them.

    My life feels like a mess. The dance of the past week has been awkward. A dance I didn’t want to have. I am cringing at what may happen next. I feel like I have a very dysfunctional family but this is not really how we are.

  6. I’m right there with you (((dear susyc))) and send you sisterly strength and loving and grace. Your sister is lucky she has you and your hubby keeping it real. I hope this dance becomes a happier dance with time.

  7. “The Jovian archetype is expansive encouragement, open arms and long, easy strides. The earthy sympathy between Taurus and Virgo provides a stable platform. It is a good match for Martian energy re-tasking and, after nearly a week of acquiescence, a chance to finally relax into a new modulation that will be home for a long time to come.”

    I am definitely in a new dance with my sister, a Virgo, who is getting ready to go into assisted living. I’ve been helping her for two years now move from setting to setting as we attempt to find the one that best fits her needs. It is NOT a dance I would have chosen. It’s more a grim tango than a happy dance. She’s a year younger than me!

    This will be the third time my husband and I have moved her. We are fronting the money for her new setting, including furnishing her tiny little efficiency, but she will have a dining room for her three squares and weekly maid and linen service. She’s actually on the independent living side, but it’s more supportive and she’ll have more company and professional people will be looking out for her, with the opportunity to upgrade to full assisted living when she needs it.

    Of my brothers and youngest sister, my Virgo sister has been the least advantaged and may have addiction problems as well. But now she has fibromyalgia and COPD and who knows what else. She was the ‘lost child’ in our family constellation. I shared the ‘scapegoat/mascot’ roles with one of my brothers.

    As you might guess, I struggle as much not to resent my Virgo sister as I struggle not to blame myself for her troubles. Over the last 5 years or so, I’ve had my dad in my home in hospice, resettled my mother in what seemed to be a tenuous situation with my daughter and her bipolar husband and my grandsons, and now hopefully, finally, settling my sister in a setting that is appropriate to her needs. She is sad and excited at the same time. I think she realizes how much she needs this after her experiment with trying to live independently in an RV. Needless to say it has been difficult. I look forward to that Jovian expansion, and I pray that I will be strengthened and supported in loving sisterhood in this opportunity to give back to my family. Love, susy

  8. As always your articles seem to come at just the right time in my life – I’m exactly at this point-a Sun Sagittarius with Aries Moon 😉 Given me that extra encouragement that I really need-made it clearer too in terms of choices, also those affecting my partner, Pisces Sun and Aquarius Moon-exciting times !! We are enjoying the dance ! Thank you Len 🙂

  9. I’m in no mood to dance Len. When I went to the grocery this afternoon, Mars was still in Leo, doing a song and dance with the check-out lady. Not until a few minutes ago did I look at the receipt, just as Mars entered Virgo. To my surprise I was charged twice for a 12 pack of Cottenelle TP when I only bought one. Details details you might say, but do you know what they charge for a 12 pack of toilet paper these days?

    Anyway, I guess the last dance was with Neptune and now I have to go back to the store, unless I want to forfeit $8. Odd that the Moon was conjunct Sedna when I found out I’d been overcharged but only being 2 degrees past my own Uranus, I can say it definitely was a surprise! I guess the moral of the story is never trust the guy with the oars, or the gal at the cash register, or Mars as he dances out the door.
    be

  10. Thanks for the heads-up, Len. This new dance that came up for me just today with a partner not of my choice (an aggressive real estate agent) now can be put into perspective. And definitely there was some Leo-Mars energy on this encounter with the Agent. This is truly a situation that cannot be ignored and the options ARE conflict or negotiation. I do not like to negotiable with the cards stacked against me. That doesn’t really feel like”negotiation” does it? Sort of “coerced”. But. I did set boundaries and am sticking to them. Giving in on many points but those. Phew! This dance is not fun. Maybe by next Wednesday I will be in the flow. I love to dance so much, I will definitely be aiming for the fun of it. If there is any fun to be had, I will find it with Jupiter’s help.
    Big smile with earrings
    \+____+/

  11. A wonderful intro to the aspects of the next week Len, Thanks so much. I will look forward to the dance. Chiron is now my friend as I’m learning to listen to him more and more. I’m not a great dancer, but hopefully he can coach me, along with some good Jupiter tunes!

  12. Carly58: Thank you for your kind words. i am not worthy to preach, so please forgive me if my words come across that way. My only intent is to serve.

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