Here I get into the astronomical and astrological significance of Mars retrograde as well as a full outline of aspects that Mars will make in Gemini from its ingress into Gemini until it leaves for Cancer in March!

From August 20, 2022 to March 25, 2023 Mars will be in Gemini. That’s a long time! Typically Mars spends two months in each sign. Now it’s going to be in Gemini for seven.

Because it will be retrograde from October 30, 2022 to January 12, 2023, it is spending more time in Gemini this time around. Mars retrogrades every two years, and retrograding is part of every planetary cycle

Where in the sky is Mars?

Mars never moves between the sun and earth, only Venus and Mercury do. Mars retrogrades whenever it is opposite the sun. Oppositions and conjunctions are kind of the same, since they’re at a linear angle. They’re both considered syzygies.

Oppositions and conjunctions to the sun are also the same because they imply a planetary retrograde. Mars and all planets beyond it, for example, station when they’re opposite the sun. Venus and Mercury retrograde cycles are tied with their inferior conjunction to the sun.

The next Venus retrograde, for example, is in Leo during the first few days of Leo season 2023, when Venus and the sun are both in Leo. The next Mercury retrograde begins in Libra, during the first few days of Libra season 2022, as Mercury and the sun will both be in Libra. Mars retrograde happens in Scorpio season, just before Sagittarius season begins, just before the sun reaches the sign opposite Gemini!

Why can’t it happen during Sagittarius season at the exact opposition? Why must it happen during Scorpio season? Astrology tries to make astronomy perfect using harmonies and geometry, but astronomically, the planets don’t always fit exactly into the idealistic forms of the solar ecliptic focused zodiac.

There are astrologers who are working with declination and trying to distance themselves from the tyranny of the solar belt (shout out to Bernadette Brady who taught me fixed stars, and Vedic astrology).

But I like the sun. I’d say the sun’s pretty important.

This ecliptocentric astrology only permits a celestial object a voice in humanity’s dialogue with the heavens if through mathematics it is made to walk the single line of the sun. Or another way of seeing this is to realise that we have adjusted our sacred and personal relationship between earth and sky to encompass only the sun’s point of view.

As a result, the astrology we have developed is what can more aptly be called planetology or solarsystemology, as it is really about the relationship we have with the planets and the seasons on earth and very little to do with the dome of the starry sky. Indeed the only star that is represented in the map is Helios our sun and the planets in a horoscope are measured in one dimension in relationship to Helios’ journey.  Therefore, the prefix of astro which means “of the stars” should not really be used.  However, do not misunderstand my sentiments here. I regard planetology as a very powerful technique; nothing is more revealing than a horoscope with its circle of the ecliptic and the sun and planets located on this band, falling into houses, zodiac signs and geometrical relationships with each other. — “Fixed Stars, Why Bother?” By Bernadette Brady on Astro.com

While the movement of Venus in the sky is beautiful and harmonious, making a flower shape as it cycles around the sun, Mars is pretty erratic and energized, much like the astrological meanings that it carries. The red planet’s movement through the sky can be zig zagged or loopy.

What to expect, astrologically ,from Mars retrograde

Mars is the planet of action, attack, and execution. Astrologically, a planetary retrograde describes a planet going to sit on the sidelines during the game, so it’s not showing up in the sky and doing what it does normally. A Mars retrograde implies that Mars, the aggressor, is sitting on the sidelines, thinking about the game plan, rather than scoring points. Can Mars retrograde imply passive aggression? This is of course being said about a transit chart, not a natal chart.

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The past few Mars retrogrades I’ve noticed lethargy, laziness, or a general lack of mojo (I watched that one Austin Powers during the Mars retrograde in Aquarius 2018… it is actually the perfect metaphor for Mars retrograde…). The last Mars retrograde in Taurus in 2020 was record-breaking for the number of naps taken, but Mars in Taurus is a particularly cozy Mars. I typically don’t take naps, but I also think I was regulating my caffeine consumption (Taurus=food) at that time, so my energy levels (Mars=libido) were different (retrograde=irregular).

The stars simply reflect, they don’t compel! Or maybe we are just moths slamming ourselves into the hypnotizing blue light of the Co-Star screen, over and over until we crumble into dust.

This time Mars will retrograde in Gemini, a sign concerned with information, communication, and siblings, to name a few random significations. The vibe of Mars in Gemini is more fast-moving than Mars in Taurus, where Mars was before entering Gemini on August 21. You may have noticed that the pace picked up right around then. Mars in mutable sign Gemini is able to multitask and Mars in fixed sign Taurus would prefer to do one thing at a time, all the way through to completion.

I expect Mars retrograde to correspond with coping with the mental burnout that comes with aggressive multitasking. There can be a need to simplify the objectives in order to see them all the way through. Mars in Gemini moving as quickly as it is now (it has fast planetary speed) has a large variety of competing interests, but is still pursuing them nonetheless. The approach is distractible, and has a lot of different plates spinning.

The retrograde period might ask that we pick one plate and spin that for a while, or find a way to reroute attention to make getting anything done to completion a possibility. Which is annoying, because Gemini likes at least having the options. Maybe the options presented during this time should be like the options presented to a child, where they believe they are choosing and have autonomy, but ultimately all roads lead to the same goal.

Of course the significance of Mars retrograde in your life will vary depending on what Gemini in your birth chart looks like. If you want to talk about it I’m available for now, at least until I realize that I’m spinning too many plates and need to hide out in my studio making paintings.

What aspects will Mars in Gemini make?

Since Mars is in Gemini for 7 months, I’d like to see if it will make aspects multiple times. And I am noting some very quick delineations along the way. These are especially helpful if you know your annual, or monthly, time lord.

Mars in Gemini will trine Saturn in Aquarius and square Neptune in Pisces multiple times, since Saturn and Neptune aren’t changing signs over the transit of Mars through Gemini.

I can’t believe I did it but here are all of the Ptolemaic aspects Mars will make in Gemini from August to March, with some sketchy delineations. Proceed with caution…

August 21 Mars enters Gemini
A variety of multifaceted pursuits. Mental agility.

August 27 Mars in Gemini square sun in Virgo 3º
A conflict of interests. Changes and flexibility in order to see it through.

August 31 Mars sextile Jupiter in Aries 6º
Extremely ambitious, “striking while the iron is hot”, courageous, support from people who believe in you. Faith in oneself and the direction that things are heading.

September 8 Mars begins to slow down 9º
Maybe there isn’t the same motivation, morale is starting to disperse.

September 16 Mars square Venus in Virgo 14º
Changes in relationships, libidinal nagging. Urges for intimacy.

September 29 Mars trine Saturn in Aquarius 19º
Execution to completion. There is the last word. Take it or leave it, that’s the direction it’s heading.

October 17 Mars trine sun in Libra 24º
Resolutions to whatever problems arose during the Mars/sun square on August 27. An ability to accept issues as they are finally visible and therefore manageable.

October 25 Solar eclipse in Scorpio 2º

This eclipse is ruled by Mars, which is just about to retrograde. I think if I’m being thorough about the next seven months of Mars in Gemini, it’s important to reference a Mars-ruled eclipse.

Venus will also be at its superior solar conjunction here, which only happens once every 584 days. Venus no longer appears as a morning star and returns to the underworld as an evening star, but first, it no longer appears in the sky at all for the coming days, since it’s swallowed by the sun. It’s also going to be at its furthest distance from earth at this time.

October 26 Mars trine Mercury in Libra 25º
Making peace with a course of action.

This is after September’s Mercury retrograde in Libra, which I’ll write about another time.

October 30 Mars retrograde begins in Gemini 25º

At 2:26 PM CET Mars stations retrograde! The degree that Mars stations retrograde is exaggerated, since the planet is sitting there for longer than usual. Mars is at 25º Gemini from October 22 to November 8.

At this point Jupiter has just retrograded back into Pisces (officially ingressing back into Pisces on October 29) meaning that Mars and Jupiter are within orb of a square. While they never reach the exact degree of the square, the Mars square Jupiter vibe is still there.

Mars square Jupiter: fighting for what you believe in, a philosophical or metaphysical debate. There is a reframing of frustrations when faced with a fuller scale. Left to wonder what our real motivations are when we're confronted with the bigger picture.

Have you ever tried to explain to a 34 year old Dutch man who Caroline Calloway is? This Mars in Gemini square Jupiter in Pisces kind of reminds me of that. When you approach something greater with local, petty concerns, and the something greater is like, “I’m sorry, what?”

If I may quote myself, however out of context, “God literally doesn’t care

November 20 Mars retrograde square Neptune retrograde in Pisces 22º
Improvisation. A need to come up with something intuitively and from feeling. Creative expression through gesture, dance, art.

November 28 Mars retrograde trine Saturn in Aquarius 19º

This is a repeat aspect from September 29. Same signs, same degree, except this time Mars is retrograde.

Not so funny now, are you? Maybe this is the “cry later” of the “laugh now cry later”. A different execution. Another opportunity to address the challenges with more insight and less hype. Like a castrated pet accepting that it’s in its cage. It is what it is.

November 29 Mars retrograde opposite Mercury in Sagittarius 19º
It’s hard to get the wheels rolling when there is no strategy or clear focus. A need to reroute. The end of a plan, time to regroup and reconsider.

December 1 Mars retrograde opposite Venus in Sagittarius 19º
Sexual tension. A need to break the ice. There’s the idealistic vision of romance and then there’s what’s actually happening. Awkwardness.

December 8 Mars retrograde opposite sun in Sagittarius 16º
There’s what’s right and then there’s what’s right now. This is a tension between Machiavellian pursuits, an ability to rationalize your actions, and the overarching view of what’s right and wrong. People’s behavior changes whenever there are eyes on them. It’s not just Schrödinger’s cat.

December 21 Jupiter enters Aries

With Jupiter in Aries, there is a sign-based sextile between Jupiter and Mars. There’s a sort of confidence and self-assuredness that comes from this Jupiter-Mars combination. Who am I to say if that level of self-esteem is good or bad.

January 4 Venus enters Aquarius

Here’s a sign-based trine between Venus and Mars. There have been a lot of hard aspects between Venus and Mars. This aspect can reflect a smoothing over of any sexual or general relationship issues that were stirred during Mars retrograde.

January 9 Mars retrograde trine Venus in Aquarius 8º
There’s something intellectually fertile and ripe about this one. There’s an ability to express ideas. An artistic fluency. At the end of the Mars retrograde cycle how are we able to see and express things differently? Apologies accepted.

January 12 Mars retrograde ends 8º Gemini

Mars stations direct at 8º. It is sitting at that 8º mark from January 2 to January 24. As it ends its retrograde it receives a sextile from Jupiter and gives a trine to Venus, so both benefics are involved in its direct station. Bonification?

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What’s nice about this moment is Mercury, dispositing Mars in Gemini, will also be retrograding in Capricorn at this point, also stationing at 8º around the same time. There’s something extremely reflective and wistful about this one. Whatta trip.

Now I’m feeling annoyed that I didn’t also mention Mercury through this whole Mars in Gemini writeup, but I don’t got all day.

January 29 Mars direct trine Sun in Aquarius 9º
There’s a fuller understanding of the real direction that things are happening. What is the end-game? Who do we know that we can share these ideas with? Who is coming with us to make it happen? The light at the end of the tunnel. Clearer resolutions from issues brought up on December 8 and August 27.

February 5 Mars direct square Venus in Pisces 11º
Wild fantasies and creative execution. Making dreams come true. It’s happening. Putting ur love on top. Libidinal charge. Asserting desire and the pain that comes from it. Winter heat.

February 22 Mars direct trine Mercury in Aquarius 16º
Research. Pursuing understanding. Addressing the matter from multiple perspectives, but still able to find a core reference.

March 1 Venus conjunct Jupiter in Aries 11º

Mars is at 19º at this point, but it’s nice that it gets a little bit of sign-based help from these two.

March 11 Mars direct sextile Venus in Aries 22º
That’s hot. Charisma. Chemistry.

March 15 Mars direct square Neptune 25º

This is the second Mars Neptune square, thanks to the retrograde. This is when it’s at its exact degree, but certainly there will be a lingering vibe. Again, improvisation and expression through creative means. This time, outwardly?

March 26 Mars enters Cancer
Rejoice. Mars has left Gemini. And is now in Cancer. Wonderful… It’s still “slow” until it passes its square to the sun. I have nothing to say about Mars in Cancer right now.