Interview: Karl Grossman talks about the relationship between nuclear energy and atomic bombs in a special edition of Planet Waves FM.
Mars is now moving in direct motion. It stationed direct Friday after being retrograde in Virgo since late January. Mars is the planet of volition; of motivation; of desire. When Mars is retrograde, all of these properties of the psyche go through a change. We’re now reorienting on Mars in direct motion, which is whispering ‘slow and steady’.
When Mars stations direct, it only picks up speed slowly. For example, today it will move just .02 degrees. The suggestion here is that as you resume ‘normal’ Mars activity, get some of your new ideas going or repair what might have been damaged during the retrograde, try to proceed incrementally, taking small steps. The Virgo angle suggests that being methodical — that is, considering a method and sticking to it — will be beneficial.
Virgo is the sign of thinking things through, which you may have done plenty of. Here’s a question — what ideas did you have during the retrograde? What was Mars propelling out of the corners of your mind these weeks? How did you rearrange your logic, get tested or reconsider your journey?
Focus is being offered to the situation by something to push back off of — the Sun is currently opposite Saturn. This expands the message, suggesting that structure, containment of energy, a careful plan and moving in gradual increments is the best way to proceed. Sun-Saturn aspects call for discipline, not speed. If impatience is a feature of your personality, this will be more challenging. There will be rewards, however, in that getting smacked down by your circumstances is frustrating, while slow progress is satisfying if taken consciously and appreciated for what it is.
The pace of Mars quickens slightly every day. If it has a next destination, that would be arriving in Libra on July 3. Between now and then it’s going to cross the next 27 out of 30 Virgo degrees. (Mars is currently at 3+ Virgo.)
Mercury was also retrograde recently, and that process is still working itself out. You may recall that this last round of Mercury retrograde began in Aries, and drew back into Pisces. Since April 4, Mercury has been slowly moving forward in Pisces and Monday at 6:41 pm EDT, Mercury re-enters Aries. This first degree of Aries is known as the Aries Point, and Mercury will soon be there. That puts it onto the cardinal cross, where it will join forces with the 2012 aspect — the Uranus-Pluto square. This is the cycle that last went off in the mid-1960s, and always comes with a surge forward. With Mercury now involved, it’s time to be forward thinking and boldly creative.