by Robert Wilkinson
By tomorrow morning, Mars will finally leave Gemini and enter Cancer. I'll post more on this influence in the near future, but today I felt a look back is in order, since the recent Mars retrograde between November and January is still impacting what we're going through even now. Yes, just because it's direct doesn't mean the RX influence is over and done! Why? Read on.
The reason the Mars RX period is still relevant is because it's still occupying the span of degrees of its RX period. When it went direct in late January and moved forward through February, it transited the last 5 degrees of Gemini for the third time since last September. You might say it was introduced to the lessons in September, revisited the lessons in January, and practiced those lessons "with finality" in February.
It was introduced to early Cancer lessons in October and early November. It revisited those Cancer lessons in late November through December. Now it's about to practice those lessons "with finality" in March. That's why the retrograde is still a major influence in everything going on right now, even though Mars is direct. This is the time to act on what we learned and rehearsed, the stuff that got put on hold last Autumn. Simply put, it's time to act after many months of preparing.
As an aside, that's not the only RX influence at work right now. If you will recall, last Summer Mercury went retrograde in approximately the same span as Mars' recent retrograde, and I composed an article referencing how those two RX periods impacted each other. You might say Mercury heralded the Mars influence, and Mars executed the Mercury messages.
So today it may be of some use to take a look back at the various ways and lessons the Mars brought all of us just a few weeks ago so we can better understand what decisions and reorientations confront us in the near future. In this case, the past was truly prologue to the future, which is upon us now as Mars again opposes the Galactic Center for the third time. For your renewed consideration, a baker's dozen collection of articles that may help to knit the past, present, and future together as we stand on the threshold of using energies in new ways that may seem strangely familiar. Get ready to mobilize in your self interest, gathering what you need to move your projects and lives forward!
How Astrology Works - Mercury Retrograde in Cancer Heralding Mars Retrograde 2007-2008
Enjoy!
© Copyright 2008 Robert Wilkinson
Do you feel that sun in aries or others with strongly placed or afflicted mars have a harded time with mars retro periods?
Posted by: ian | March 03, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Robert, the Paths we walk along...
Mine is something like yours, where you learn from others of what the true meaning of life is, through observation of the elements presently known, and we share with our friends and loved ones. In their times of doubt and insecurity we are their rock of perspective. In turn we gain perspective and an understanding greater than that could ever be explained in a thousand languages over a thousand lives or lands.
What we know will someday help others see the balanced picture of what is cast in front of all eyes as illusions. For those who are willing to learn are those who are willing to love. These are people i call my friends who come to pass throughout the world and its lifetimes because knowledge is eternal for we have deemed it so.
Wisdom is a gift that comes from knowing and experiencing what is and always will be.
The future is something not to be worried about but to be created. For we are all headed there, and our journey's are all quite different yet richly laden with experiences beyond what can be understood at the time because, well, when you are in the eye of the storm you sometimes forget which direction you were headed.
Seas turn tides and moons transit other worlds of thought, this window lasts but mere seconds and i hope that i've expressed myself justly.
If you can create the freedom of another day then the sun will most certainly be assured to show its face to the creator for another day.
Posted by: robyn | March 03, 2008 at 09:33 PM
Hi Robert,
... and Mars will oppose Pluto one last time, what would you say about this?
Posted by: Alix | March 04, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Hi ian - Well, I have Sun conjunct Mars in Aries elevated, and I definitely experienced Mars RX as a momentum killer (but so did everyone else I corresponded with!) I think everyone has a hard time with Mars RX, since the nature of Mars is inner and outer hassles, as well as doing what it takes to resolve them.
Hi robyn - Yes, it sure seems like we've learned some parallel lessons involving perspectives and "an understanding greater than that could ever be explained in a thousand languages over a thousand lives or lands." Knowledge is eternal, as are our true friendships forged through Soul bonds of loving kindness, strength and mutual support. It's a pretty mysterious thing to be alive as an Eternal having a body, feelings, mind, perceptions, and apparent reality that shifts moment to moment. And love is a really great glue that holds everything together!
Hi Alix - It's time to bring things to the surface that were put on hold last Autumn. Use energy wisely to bring forth seeds of a higher awareness, transformative power, or personal authority. This is a huge turning point in life for many people, and can help us all focus the energies streaming to Earth from the Galactic Center through a higher, more "perfect" standard of measurement.
Posted by: Robert | March 06, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Robert, a major turning point indeed, in mine and many other people's lives that I know. Thank you.
Posted by: Alix | March 06, 2008 at 03:23 PM
I can relate very easily to what your are ponting out. In a way, we can sense the wisdom behind the workings of these RX periods: it is as if, if everything "changed" from a minute to the other, humanity would be left breathless and not really have the time to absorb new values... With RX periods, one if given the chance to really "review" whatever ares of life are in geopardy or need to be tunned to new - more healthy - forms of reaction from our part.
Congratulations on your articles! Already left a comment in the Article on The End of Age.
Isabel
Posted by: Isabel Nobre | March 07, 2008 at 03:42 AM
Hi Alix - You're welcome. With knowledge comes the ability to steer the process.
Hi Isabel - Welcome to the site. Yes, the RX periods are sort of a time of "digesting" whatever new higher awarenesses their prior forward motion symbolized. Then we get to use the two-fold experience to move forward with confidence.
Posted by: Robert | March 08, 2008 at 10:39 AM
wow,ive just fallen into the poetic words of your site & conversation.How beautifully,and perfectly you capture a moment i have recently felt.shine on you beautiful souls.love,light and blessing.xx
Posted by: melanie Gibson | March 09, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Hi melanie - Welcome to the cantina. There are some interesting, intelligent, and gentle Souls here who check in from around the world. Glad you like what you find here. Aum and blessings to you as well.
Posted by: Robert | March 10, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Hi Robert,
I just experienced a very emotional weekend, which seems (in hindsight) related to being too anxious about wanting to find a partner, and also about "mis-reading" whether men are possibly interested in a relationship. I feel very vulnerable and find this all very painful. I left my last (14 year) relationship in June 2007 and this occurred in connection with a man I met September 2007 with whom I have had a good friendship since we met, so it's not like we skipped over the friendship part. I mostly missed out on the dating part of adolescence, and also went to an all girls boarding school and so there weren't guys around much, and I know I am lacking some of the skills/insights that most people usually acquire at that age. This weekend coincided (exactly) with the first of the three oppositions that transiting Chiron will make to my sun (Leo, 18 degrees) ... and I just now found that the third of the three times Mars squared my natal Chiron (Libra, 2 degrees) occurred today, the latter obviously part of the Mars's retrograde period. I read that Chiron is related, at least in part, to healing our deeply wounded parts. It seems like I am getting a double dose! Any help on how to navigate this time (the next year with Chiron opposing my natal Sun twice more) while keeping my heart open rather than shutting down, but not getting hurt unnecessarily?? Born Aug 11, 1945 (you did a reading for me in May 2007) Thanks and blessings. PK
Posted by: PK | March 12, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Post script to above comment... I think I just got what that was about - I was looking outside myself for "something" (a relationship, or whatever) that would make me feel "whole" and "complete".... but I am finally beginning to "get it" that that feeling can only come from inside..
Blessing as always, PK
Posted by: PK | March 13, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Hi PK - I figured you might be breaking through some stuff so you can get clear about inner baggage you no longer need to carry. Old causes create effects that move us into our future. Our task is not to carry that baggage one moment more than we need to. It's 100% internal, since the external mirrors our internal hologram, some of which we're aware of, some of which we need to become aware of if we're to move beyond our old blind spots and fears. When things seem "very emotional," it's probably a mood seducing you, perhaps an echo of a memory of a perception of an echo of a memory of a ..... We CAN have good relationships, but only after we break/brake old habits that lead us into a proverbial ditch. Saturn over your Sun ushered you into a new long range life, illumination, and integrity. Now you're just pounding out the details.
Posted by: Robert | March 13, 2008 at 07:24 PM