Mars stations direct later this week, after spending about 11 weeks retrograde in Virgo. It’s slowing to a station opposite Neptune and Chiron in early Pisces. This is a week to take one step at a time; one day at a time.
Mars retrograde messes with motivation, and in Virgo, there is a self-criticism issue. This has not been an easy phase for many people.
Oppositions and squares to Neptune can be exhausting, and Mars changing directions can try the patience of a saint. This is why it’s important not to push, even if you feel like you haven’t got nearly enough done in the past few weeks (as Mercury ended its retrograde). You may feel like you have to make some urgent decisions — however, there’s a strong chance they can wait, at least through the weekend. One thing that tends to happen when a planet stations direct is that information comes out. If you act with incomplete or incorrect information, you can create complications.
Decisions that are rushed or made prematurely will likely have to be made again. Plans put into action too soon — you’ll know because you might feel a certain kind of resistance, that’s telling you to pause — can have a disruptive effect. That’s why it really makes sense to work with these planetary stations; they have a strong element of ‘go with the flow’ — and at least we have some idea of when the tide is turning.
Mars retrograde has served as a review, and as an opportunity for some deep investigation and processing in some area of your life, most likely connected with work, your health or your tendency to do too much for others (or too much in general).