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.