Once every 25 or 26 months, Mars enters a 2 and ½ month period of moving “backwards” across the night sky.  Of course, Mars doesn’t really move backwards, but it is simply that the Earth has caught up with Mars (since Earth moves faster than Mars).  It also means that we are nearing our closest point to Mars when Mars goes Retrograde, which begins on April 16th and lasts until June 29th.  In general, this can provide for a much clearer connection on an energetic level with the red planet.  Regards of whether or not you are in an astrological Mars cycle or not, this plays a significant role in our lives and you will feel it, if you haven’t already.

The planets trace their journey across the sky on the plane of the solar system, which is called the “ecliptic”.  This ecliptic is directed by the path of the Sun across the sky, our home star.  All of the planets follow this path in general (though Pluto deviates far off of the path sometimes above and below the ecliptic) and Mars is no exception.  As Earth draws closer to Mars, the red planet brightens, outshining most other planets and stars.  In general, it can become the second brightest planet in the sky after Venus during this period.

As Mars becomes more luminous, the connection is focused on a specific region of the sky.  This year, the focus is on the Scorpion constellation, the sign of Sagittarius & Scorpio as well as the planet Saturn.  There is a secondary focus on the space between 2 zodiacal constellations of the Scales and the Scorpion.  Mars will spend roughly 7 months in this area.  It began in February and will last through August (as it passes Saturn and begins to “increase” speed from our perspective standing on Earth).

Why is this all important?  Mars symbolizes our relationship with the masculine principle or energy and this period of time emphasizes the masculine in our lives.  How do we see the masculine in our lives?  Not just for the male gender but for all other genders.  We all possess a part of the masculine energy within us and we all have both external and internal relationships with the masculine.  How can we live in harmony with those relationships?  What has been our experience with the masculine? Now through August is the time to ask those questions of yourself.

As Mars passes and focuses on this region of the sky (Scorpion constellation, signs of Sagittarius and Scorpio and the planet Saturn) it brings to light the shadows of this long history of living in a patriarchal culture that is generally world-wide.  This part of the sky has an abundance of themes of death and rebirth, exploring new territories, uncovering the truth, detoxification, facing our deep fears, creating alchemy from poisons, exercising right will and life force energy, deep passion and sexual energy.  Saturn will be somewhat present during Mars’ Retrograde phase, which will allow us to use these themes in a healthy and practical way that produces results in harmony with our path.  Saturn can also act in bringing in the clamps and having to work with limits and boundaries.

For anybody born with any “personal” planets/points or even the planet Saturn on their astrology chart in the signs of Scorpio or Sagittarius (or even the opposite signs of Taurus and Gemini and the ones in a “Square” relationship Virgo, Pisces, Leo and Aquarius), you are likely to have some feeling of intensity in your life during this time.

NOTE: Personal planets/points in Shamanic Astrology include: Moon, Sun, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Lunar (Moon) Nodes, Jupiter and the “Angles” Ascendant/Descendant and Midheaven/Home & Roots (Bottom of the Chart).

OR, if you are in a Mars Return Cycle, then you will also front and center in regards to this special alignment of planets and stars.  The Mars Return Cycle centers on your relationship with the masculine, both inside (Sacred Marriage) and in the external world, especially those that are close to you.  And also for men, it is a time for more growth into the man they are intended to become in this lifetime.

NOTE: To say this easily, if you are turning age 15, 30, 32, 47, 62, 64 or 79 between now and the next 26 months, then you are in a Mars Return Cycle (as developed by Daniel Giamario and explained in great detail here).

 If any of that applies to you, then it would be well-worth getting insight from myself or another shamanic astrologer as to how it influences your life on a more personal level while taking into account all the features of your astrology chart.  In addition, the Mars Webinar Series with Daniel Giamario and I will be highly beneficial to you as well.  Learn more about that by clicking here.

Diving deeper into the Mars process and this Retrograde phase, we can more readily see our shadows, projections and limits as we explore new territories and truths.  There is nothing bad or good about a Mars Retrograde, despite what you may read elsewhere about this rare orbital pattern.  This region of the sky has been important to all peoples for many thousands of years across the globe.  It is only in the last few centuries that we’ve turned our eyes and spiritual receptors away from the night sky beyond the general intellectual curiosity and understanding the way the cosmos functions.

Deeper we go, we can take advantage of this time to shine the light or simply remove the covers off of buried secrets and hidden truths, especially to that of the patriarchy.  In keeping with the Saturn process, it can mean that we reach our limits of expansion without more focus.  Saturn brings us a way to focus on where we want to explore new areas and forge a new path in our life.

One other prominent feature of this Mars Retrograde phase is the orange-red Heart of the Scorpion, otherwise known as the star of Antares.  In ancient Greece and Rome, Antares was known as the “Rival” or “Equal” of Mars.  But in Shamanic Astrology, we are not necessarily bound by the teachings of just one major culture.  In North America, there are certain Native American (or First People) tribes that saw Antares as the “Spirit Star”.  It was seen that way because when souls left the body and Earth, they would travel along the zodiacal constellations and find rest at Antares before finishing their journey to the Golden Gate at Galactic Center, just a short skip and hop between the Scorpion Constellation and the Archer Constellation.

Later this month, on the night of April 24^th and morning of the 25^th, there will be a special alignment of planets, the Moon and Antares.  Mars, Saturn, the Moon and Antares will form a “oddball” visual square known in geometry as a “trapezium”.  That would be a night to do personal or group ceremony around the masculine in our lives.  Are we giving away our power to others because it is what we have always done?  Are we always going to see the masculine as the dominant force in this world?  What can we do to bring healing to our inner (and outer) masculine, our relationship with it and be able move beyond the current mainstream view of what men should be in this world.  The Universe is always striving for balance and harmony.  How can we help that along personally and as a community?

On May 22nd, Mars will move into opposition with the Sun and begin a 26-month long cycle and initiation in the form of a quest or journey.  I will write more on this next month and also hold (with Daniel Giamario) a multi-level webinar series focused on Mars’ journey through the sky and how it relates on a personal level, including empowerment of your authentic self, your relationship to the masculine and how to bring wholeness into your life.

Mars Webinar Series – The Quest in Sagittarius and the Scorpion – sign up here to be a part of the bonus class on April 26 before the official launch on May 2nd.

With all of this, I would encourage all to mark this time in a personal or group ceremony or ritual that speaks to you, without dogma.  Whenever there are alignments of this magnitude, we can honor ourselves, our initiations with ceremony.  We can look to the ancient symbols of these celestial bodies to gain insights and clues to assist us in setting our intent in our relationship with the masculine. A part of ourselves is alive above us in the many thousands of years of relationship with the heavens.  It has ALWAYS been a part of who we were then and who we are now.  It is way to symbolically and magically connect with the planets and stars.

With love and blessings,

Erik Roth 4/8/2016