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Doing Work Over Again |
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Doing Work Over Again |
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Despite the strange and perhaps intimidating language astrology sometimes uses, the fundamentals of the art itself are really very simple. According to its logic, certain planets seem to be symbols or metaphors for certain kinds of energy.Based on where these placements are in the sky; what they are doing at a particular time – for instance, are they in retrograde or direct motion; and what angles they are forming with one another, an astrologer (or anyone who "knows the code" -- so to speak) can interpret and describe how these energies are expressing themselves in the real world where they can be seen, felt . . . and where they have to be considered and managed in order to get through life..
A planet's position also shows the "evolutionary phase" it's energy has reached in a certain context, and, from that, a knowledgeable astrologer is able to forecast, speculate or offer information on how this may produce visible and practical results in everything from vast social groups and movements to individual everyday lives. This then, is the basis for the skill of predicting . . . based on the fundamentals of astrology. And the accuracy of a prediction depends a great deal on the individual astrologer's knowledge of the elements, what each represents and how the specific energy involved will express itself.
I think it's fair to say a planet (or its energy) has a "personality." Just as you could make predictions about what someone you know very well would do in a given situation – even if you've never seen him in that situation before, even if he's never been in that situation before – a good astrologer can suggest with great accuracy how a planet and its energy will most likely function in given circumstances. At the risk of "de-mystifying" the magical . . . that's what astrology and forecasting is all about.
This article is about what happens when Mars goes into retrograde motion – Mars Rx, for short. For a more complete explanation of what retrograde motion itself is all about . . . please see the article also available here on the site, "Planets in Retrograde – An Explanation."
Mars goes Rx roughly once every two years and stays that way for about two and a half months each time. Mars Rx marks a time when all the things Mars represents undergo, express and experience all the things Rx represents. (See? I said it was easy . . . although now I'll spend the rest of this article interpreting and discussing what this means "in plain English.")
As the article "Planets in Retrograde -- an Explanation" describes, retrograde energy is an influence of reworking, refocusing, redoing, rebuilding, reconsidering -- going back again into the structures of one's life and recreating something new, or at least something different – according to what the planet itself symbolizes.
Mars represents physical action. It deals with actual work, ambition, initiative, assertion, and, in its less attractive expressions . . . aggression, brute force, and violence. It represents your ability to take action and to set things in motion, to move forward to achieve your desired results. Mars also represents desire and sexual energy . . . the kind of "love" you express and the ways you see to acquire "love" for yourself.
Mars describes your capacity to be direct, forceful and forthright, to be independent and pioneering, to pursue your ambitions -- and take vigorous action to get what you want. Mars energy is impulsive, determined, driven, competitive, and enthusiastic.
Mars energy represents the kind of desire and enterprise that wants to move forward now!! And so in some ways retrograde motion is not comfortable for this very assertive, vigorous and even impatient energy that wants to get things done immediately -- because Mars Rx energy is literally devoted to "doing work over again." However, part of the creative process is to pause, look back, rebuild what wasn't done right the first time, fortify what needs to be stronger, and to solidify the results of one's past action so that future progress can stand on more substantial foundations.
Mars Rx energy can also be the very constructive results of "learning from experience." A lot of pioneering initiative and creative effort does benefit enormously from the wisdom of hindsight. Having done something once already, prepares you to do it the second (or third or fourth) time more efficiently, knowing where the potholes in the road were located last time, knowing how to avoid previous mistakes, knowing how to streamline the process as a result of your prior practice. In short, how to move faster and get where you're going more quickly -- with fewer stumbles and false steps to slow you down than happened when the path was strange, untraveled and unmapped, the first time through.
However much you may agree, though, that "doing things over" in certain areas of your life is necessary, even advantageous at certain points -- there is still an almost unavoidable level of anger, frustration, impatience, restlessness and even resentment that accompanies this time. People will seem a little more on edge than usual, a little pushier (for all the good that does!!) -- and may chafe more openly at feeling stalled, blocked, hemmed in, limited and "held back."
Obviously, for those of you who are able to see these connections quickly, Mars Rx is not the time to be blazing new trails and marking new territory. In fact, don't expect much "new progress" on anything during Mars Rx. What is created at this time (and especially whatever is newly created) will also have to be "redone" eventually -- because this is a time of shoring up, of finding other paths through which to pursue your goals, of finding even indirect -- or previously unrecognized and disregarded avenues of approach -- for achieving the ambitions and results you want to claim for yourself.
In fact, as you come to recognize the "life patterns" that astrology describes with its cosmic symbolism, you will probably see that what is really happening here is a "returning" to lay claim to something you already know about, are working toward, but that has either assumed more relevance and standing in your life than you originally believed it would have -- OR -- something you have been moving to achieve is taking longer and requiring more work to "claim it properly." Indeed, some combination of those two feelings may be very much present in the areas of life where Mars and its Rx, energy is operating at a given moment.
When Mars is Rx, you will be working (literally re-working!!) in certain areas of your life that will need more solidity and groundwork in the future, for things to evolve as you need them to -- so instead of approximately 2 months worth of work per sign -- which is the kind of time involved in the progression when Mars is direct -- you will get more than 6 months worth of "concentration" on the area of your chart affected, as Mars backs up . . . and moves forward again -- with new structures, plans and ambitions in place, that are probably more efficient and substantial than was the case when all this renovation started.
View all new projects begun at this time as "rough drafts" of what will eventually be needed. Wherever possible, give yourself the time, patience, latitude and scheduling comfort to accommodate this fact. It's not, as a rule, a good idea to move into a new house, a new city, take a new job, or start some important long-term project under Mars Rx, without understanding that it is probably a very "temporary" circumstance you are dealing with (and plan accordingly) -- even to the extent of coming to view the effort you are putting forth now as more a "false start" or "premature arrangement" than anything more dependable. What you are doing now . . . will change, probably substantially, before it reaches its intended results.
Understand that ambitions are changing at this time -- and be open to what new possibilities and opportunities arise. Realize that tempers flare faster and anger is more apparent now than "normally." Take that, also, into account. (The more dangerous side of this, is the repression of anger and resentment, often in the mistake belief that "things will get better in just a little while." This can become an extremely destructive tactic if you are not dealing honestly -- at least with yourself -- with your own feelings.)
Mars Rx is a time of redirecting effort and choosing somewhat modified goals. It may even be a time of reversing and changing choices made (and "work done") in the last approximately 2 years. With all this impatience afoot -- and the possibility of repressed aggressions and underground sexual energy operating -- do be extremely cautious about impulsive behavior or actions based on uncontrolled aggression, or even outright rage. Accidents of all kinds -- especially ones involving serious injury -- are more likely under a Mars Rx influence. A little extra care and a little extra tolerance may save you a lot of discomfort in the long run, if you can manage that kind of serenity, temperance and control now.
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Sandia Park • NM • 87047 |
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