Mars Retrograde (December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025)
Ok, who’s ready to get mad, cry, self-regulate, and repeat? We are all about to feel like both the turtle and the hare only to find that we’re actually just running in place.
The When, Where and Who
Beginning on December 6th, 2024, and carrying us through the beginning of 2025 is a Mars retrograde period.
Mars will start its retrograde motion at 6° of Leo and reenter the sign of Cancer on January 7th. It will finally return to direct motion when it reaches 17° of Cancer on February 23, 2025. We will definitely feel a release of tension and frustration once Mars goes direct, but may not feel super driven or motivated until Mars moves out of Cancer and into Leo on April 18th, 2025.
This transit will mostly affect people with major placements in the mid-late degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn) or in the early degrees of the fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius). You may feel this transit most if you have your Sun, Moon, Mars, Rising, Midheaven, or Chiron within these degree ranges.
For an in depth look at the how and why of this Mars Retrograde, take a look at our Mars Retrograde Rx for Aligning with your Highest & Hottest Self article.
Read on below to learn what this Mars Retrograde has in store for you specifically! It might suck, but it’s lowkey pretty juicy and we will all be better off for it on the other side!
Read for your Rising Sign first, then feel free to check out your Sun, Moon or Mars signs for some bonus support.
Aries
Read for: Aries Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 4th House, Leo in the 5th House
Ok Aries, this is going to be a rough time for you. You are being asked to directly process frustration and anger, two emotions that you might move through really quickly and without pause in your day to day life. You might be having big emotions all around and feeling very vulnerable during this time. Practice turning your creative endeavors into a meditative, self-reflective practice. Be extra patient with your family during this time and be mindful that familial conflicts might come up and be extra emotionally charged during this time. Slow down, let yourself cry, and get curious about what big desires and needs your tears or frustrations might be pointing you towards.
Taurus
Read for: Taurus Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 3rd House, Leo in the 4th House
Practice communicating how you’re feeling right now, Taurus. You can focus on the here and now – the better we can articulate where we are, the easier it can become to express where we want to be. Setting up a regular journaling practice if you don’t already have one could be really helpful to practice that articulation and to get your brain caught up with what your body already knows. Getting some fresh air could feel really good to you at this time. Bring some physical fresh air into your lungs and into your home, maybe getting outside regularly or doing a deep clean of your house, dusting behind the furniture, clearing out the pantry, and washing all the blankets. You don’t mind a period of inaction or standstill, Taurus, because that means you get to take your time. Treasure this period and use it to take care of your foundations so that when you are in your next period of growth the change is that much easier to embrace.
Gemini
Read for: Gemini Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 2nd House, Leo in the 3rd House
This might not be a super impactful or dramatic period for you Gemini, and could actually be really boring. This pause could be a great opportunity for you to get back on track if you’ve lost it a bit this year, or to redirect altogether. What has felt the most boring and uninteresting to you this year? Is it still serving you? You are built to follow your curiosity, Gemini, so life could feel pretty dull without that accompanying you on your journey. Once this Mars retrograde period is all finished you will only have a few more months of Jupiter in Gemini left before it moves into Cancer in June. Your curiosity, your intellect, and your friendliness are your guides to abundance and expansion, so lead with them! Things might not stick, actions you take right now might not last, but keep going and you’re sure to find that path eventually. And you will have a heck of a lot more fun along the way!
Cancer
Read for: Cancer Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 1st House, Leo in the 2nd House
Ok bb Cancer, your sense of self and what you value might be a little confused at this time. You could feel overwhelmed easily, like there are too many options and action in any one direction feels impossible. This could be a good time to assess how you take care of yourself on a foundational basis – how feed yourself, how you sleep, how you care for your body, how you make money. Are you caring for your whole self – physical, emotional, and spiritual – in these areas? Take this time to also reflect on how your emotions motivate or demotivate you. Do you feel limited by fear often? Do you feel like action only comes when you are emotionally level or emotionally invested? How has this served you so far? Get curious about what it would look like to take action regardless of your emotional experience. Your emotions are your compass, Cancer, but they are meant to drive you forward, not hold you back. You could benefit from some intellectualization during this time.
Leo
Read for: Leo Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 12th House, Leo in the 1st House
Who are you, Leo? How does your desire communicate to you and others who you are? Have your desires and actions been in alignment with how you see yourself, and is who you are in alignment with your desires and actions? Slowing down is hard for us fire signs, and this Mars retrograde is going to hold up a mirror to you. You are being asked to do the self-reflection, get in touch with your emotions, and face your truths head on by turning inward. Big big feelings could come up during this time, including self-doubt or imposter syndrome, and it will feel like even more is bubbling just below the surface. You are being challenged at this time to approach yourself with that big heart of yours and not to bury whatever is coming up, because burying it will just cause more problems in the future for you. Seeing the world and especially seeing yourself through that big, wise heart of yours will be one of the most healing things you can do for yourself.
Virgo
Read for: Virgo Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 11th House, Leo in the 12th House
This Mars Retrograde might have things feeling stagnant in the brain space for you, Virgo. Action might not be the biggest challenge right now for you, but coming up with ideas in the first place! This could be super frustrating as you can tend to have a love-hate relationship with your brain on a good day. The lack of productivity and the general forgetfulness and mindlessness during this time could be pretty distressing. Whatever comes up emotionally during this time, your number one job is to NOT turn this into a winter of self-flagellation! That means actively working against self-judgment, self-criticism, perfectionism, even against the idea of productivity itself. Virgo is a mutable sign and is ruled by Mercury – that means that you are meant to meander, to get off track, to go down rabbit holes, to follow your curiosity! And let’s be honest, you are already doing that anyway – now we need to practice embracing that trait with love and compassion, not with criticism and shame. You have a powerfully curious brain, Virgo, so make sure you are giving that brain time to play. Bring in your natural imagination and see how good it could feel to practice a little healthy escapism and play pretend for a while. Maybe even with a group of friends – D&D, anyone?
Libra
Read for: Libra Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 10th House, Leo in the 11th House
Getting out of the house might feel hard during this time, Libra. Even your endless love of social interaction might not be enough to motivate you to go to work or social gatherings, which could feel really distressing to you. This period of time is a gift, however. You are being asked to reflect on the balance between internal and external motivation in your life. Do you do the work that you do because it is work you deeply desire, or because other people desire you to do that work? Do you invest your energy in issues, activities, friendships that you deeply desire and value, or just because you receive external validation there? This is a time to get a little selfish, Libra, and reflect deeply on what it is that you feel, that you desire, and that motivates you from your core. Just a hint – the friends who encourage you to do this self-work are keepers, while the ones who start to act up as you turn inward might not be.
Scorpio
Read for: Scorpio Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 9th House, Leo in the 10th House
Mars is the traditional astrological ruler of Scorpio, so you may feel this Mars retrograde a bit more intensely than the other fixed signs. This transit is here to remind you that you have an impact. Has your faith been wobbling lately, Scorpio? Whether it’s belief in yourself, belief in a higher power or particular religious doctrine, or belief in the goodness of humanity, you could feel a little tested during this time. Slowing down now and reconnecting your body with your faith could be really nourishing and productive. Get out of the house and practice embodying a sense of home wherever you go. Lastly, with Mars retrograde transiting through your 10th House, there could be some feelings of stagnancy, tension, conflict, or uncontentment in your work place and career. Be especially mindful of how your actions and reactions affect others at work during this time. You’re building an understanding of where you want to go next in your career at this time – it’s all about you and your experience, so turn your attention inward and don’t be tempted to burn any bridges right now.
Sagittarius
Read for: Sagittarius Rising, Sun, Moon or Mars; Cancer in the 8th House, Leo in the 9th House
Ready for some shadow work, Sag? This Mars Retrograde might bring up some big, deep, old feelings for you. You may be grappling with your biggest fears and wounds at this time. One of them might be the fear that nothing really matters, which is a fear that might come up when you’re feeling disconnected from yourself and your true self. Come back to yourself and your inner child at this time. In your best moments, what makes you feel like you shine so bright you could warm the whole world? When were those times where your tears felt so full of love that you felt like they could heal absolutely any wound out there, Faux the Phoenix style? In those moments, you KNOW that everything matters. You are the lighthouse of the zodiac, Sag, the beacon of hope in all the darkest places, the one who refuses to give up no matter the circumstances. Where is that part of you now? How can you reconnect with that part of yourself so that it guides your every step in this life? Delulu energy is a signature Sag move, and it works for you, so don’t be afraid to embrace it now too. Strengthen your foundation of hope and optimism now so that when the time for action comes around again, you can act without doubt and without fear.
Capricorn
Read for: Capricorn Rising, Sun, Moon, or Mars; Cancer in the 7th House, Leo in the 8th House
Welp, Capricorn, time to revisit the ol’ relationships – with others and with yourself. Do your relationships encourage you to grow, embrace your ambition, and inspire you to go after all your big dreams? If you’ve been feeling stagnant, complacent, bored, or so overly invested in your relationships that you’ve lost your sense of direction and personal drive, that may come to a head at this time and you may be asked to reconsider and reconnect with your intrinsic motivations. Remember, don’t push people away during this time just because it feels vulnerable to be taken care of – we actually want to embrace that vulnerability now too. You need friends and partners who encourage you to express your dreams, fears, and desires, and who support and embrace your ambition and actions to go after them. Your desire is your power and the source of your ambition – which is directly linked to your happiness.
Aquarius
Read for: Aquarius Rising, Sun, Moon, or Mars; Cancer in the 6th House, Leo in the 7th House
You contain an inner dichotomy, Aquarius, of both being the sign of change and revolution and being a fixed sign. Change is the magic you bring, but you could find it really easy to settle into a period of inaction. Reflect on past revolutions in your life, especially in your day to day and the relationships you keep – how much have things really, truly changed? Play around with small but real changes in your daily life right now. They don’t have to last, but you could gain a lot of personal insight into what you feel and who you are. Listen to your heart, recognize your emotions, allow yourself to be vulnerable. You are human, with real feelings and thoughts, physical needs for food and sleep and comfort, emotional and chemical needs for relationships and company, spiritual needs for connection. Allow yourself to be human. Self-awareness is essential for you to be your best self, Aquarius, at all times but especially now when you have such an opportunity for real pause.You are extremely intelligent and can see things clearly out in the world – practice seeing yourself clearly now. You may find more real growth and progress in doing so than external action could ever give you.
Pisces
Read for: Pisces Rising, Sun, Moon, or Mars; Cancer in the 5th House, Leo in the 6th House
Pisces bb, where have you been hiding lately? Mars retrograde is here to draw back that curtain that you’ve been crouching behind. It’s time to let a little light in, to see and be seen! Your big feelings are your gift, and are never a reason to hide away. This period of time might look like crying at home, crying in public, crying while doing the most mundane tasks throughout your day. If you’ve been holding it back lately, this is your moment of pause to clear out any gripping, stagnant, tense energy stuck inside! This Mars Retrograde might be a continuous cycle of tension followed by tears for you, and that is something to celebrate. Take as much time as you need right now, the Universe is gifting it to you. This is also a great time to experiment with creative practices, with daily spiritual practices, and with being seen by others in new ways. Let it be just that – experimentation, play – and practice taking things a little less seriously right now. And as always, use this time to practice healthy boundary setting (with others and with yourself) and to build more structure and grounding practices into your regular day to day. Once we are through Mars Retrograde, all the grounding, self-awareness building, and experimentation you’ve been practicing will make you feel like a lush forest bouncing back after a heavy rain storm, ready to grow even bigger and stronger.
Want to get even more specific and learn about how this Mars Retrograde will interact with your unique chart placements? Book a birth chart reading with Maggie at egressastrology.com to find out what’s in store for you and how to thrive as we launch into 2025!
