Today Mars goes direct. Things which seem to be more inclined to stay still, or that seem to be stuck in reverse, finally have a chance to move forward. When a planet slows to a halt before moving forward again it’s like a spring holding potential energy before it’s released. I read a great description – appropriate as Mars is in Leo – that it feels like a cat is crouching ready to pounce. Thanks to Gary at Goddess Astrology for that.
Mars is also extremely close to the point of last years July eclipse which was right at the end of Cancer. You can expect anything which was a live issue then to come back to life now.
Mars went retrograde on 19th December 2009 and began its shadow period on 16th October 2009. That’s the point when it reached the degree it will station direct at – 0 Leo. The whole shadow period goes from when the planet reaches the station direct, through to when the planet reaches the station retrograde. If you looked at the planets motion against the sky it would draw a huge Z with the changes in direction being the stations. The diagram below is a graphic ephemeris which shows the movement of Mars over time. Degrees are on the vertical axis, time across the horizontal.
Mars retrograde cycle
Mars reaches the end of its shadow period on 16th May. After that we hurtle into the more drastic aspects which the summer will bring. Time to get tooled up to take advantage of any opportunities which come out way. 2010 is a year when change is not optional, it’s compulsory. We’re just about to find out how far back the arrow had been pulled before its release.
