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Mars Retrograde: Chill Out!

Mon, 01/23/2012 - 10:57 am PST by Maria DeSimone

I think I’ve lost my edge.

Usually I’m an incredibly self-motivated woman -- the type of gal who jumps out of bed in the morning and tackles her day like nobody’s business.  But lately I’m content to skip the gym in the morning and go to sleep a little earlier at night. Lately, instead of feeling that chaotic sense of urgency burning in my gut, pushing me to achieve more and more…well I’m kind of chill.

What’s up with that?

Under normal circumstances, I don’t do lazy. I certainly don’t do unambitious. These qualities are simply not a part of me, thanks to my Aries rising and strong Martian nature. So for me to stop working at night and actually watch an occasional TV show or movie -- well, that’s just out of character. Usually I’m the one burning the midnight oil. Lately, however, I’m more content in slow motion -- even if it’s costing me some muscle mass.

I have Mars retrograde to thank for my newfound calm. Yes, that’s right -- you are reading an astrologer sing the praises of Mars retrograde!  In case you don’t know, Mars is the planet of action, energy and initiation. Mars rules whatever motivates us, and from January 23 to April 13, 2012, Mars is retrograde in the sign Virgo -- deflating our collective energy or even worse (I’m talking to my fellow Mars-ruled friends: Aries or Aries rising) sucking the wind right out of us. This time around, if you have planets in Virgo it’s likely you’ll also feel the effects of this Mars retrograde in a particularly personal way.

Now, it’s true that Mars retrograde isn’t the most ideal for starting new ventures that require all of your stamina, drive and clout. And it is true that for some of us we’ll need to take extra care of ourselves to avoid illness because Mars is energy and it’s retrograde in the health sign Virgo. It’s also true that no matter how hard we push to complete tasks, there won’t be any Energizer battery-charged bunnies around to help us out. But this doesn’t mean we’re all doomed to failure for the next several months.

It means we get to cultivate patience and a more relaxed approach to our goals for a while. And I, for one, am singing the praises of Mars retrograde because I have too much Mars and I’m grateful for the break! If Mars is strong in your chart I know you’ll understand this. I’ve got Mars on an angle in my chart and it’s square Pluto, trine Jupiter and rules my Aries rising, making it my chart ruler. Mars is also square Venus and widely conjunct Saturn.

To put it bluntly, I can be a high strung, neurotic bitch on wheels when I want to be. I can be pushy, rude, and impatient, and because Mars is technically in my third house, conjunct my fourth, I can also yell and curse like a truck driver when I get pissy. Oh, and people with heavy Martian energy tend to get pissy a lot.

But now I have an opportunity to RELAX and not run a hundred miles an hour 24/7. I get to live life at a slower pace, and remember what it feels like to walk instead of run, chew my food instead of swallowing it whole, and remain calm instead of easily frazzled.

Yes, I have personal projects that I’m sure will stall during the next few months, just like the rest of you. And yes, I might not be able to bench-press what I usually do at the gym for another few weeks. But that’s ok because Mars will eventually turn direct and suddenly Zen Maria will transform back into Type-A Maria.

Until then, it’ll feel good to put my feet up, rest and catch up on all of those crazy reality TV shows. I’m still Mars-ruled Maria, and yes, I can still kick ass. But I have no desire to fight until April. Unless, of course, you try to steal my remote control.

know how to make these things happen for you? Ask the I Ching!

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