by Robert Wilkinson
For the last few days and the next few, we’re in the heart of Sun square Mars! This is a highly energetic aspect, with great potential for bringing things to spectacular and quick conclusion, even if the cross currents are stronger that we suspect.
Obviously, this is an aspect that can accompany some highly aggravating or annoying circumstances, where our lives are disrupted by something that is at odds with something else in our lives. As the Sun is faster in motion than Mars, the transiting Sun always makes the square to transiting Mars, and not vise-versa.
The Sun-Mars cycle is important, in that the conjunction between these two shows our area of intense striving over the next two years. That sets a lot into motion in the house where the conjunction falls. The squares and oppositions of these two planets show turning points in the “primary cycle” begun at the conjunction, but they also make squares and oppositions to each other at points unrelated to the original conjunction.
Here it’s important to remember that transit to transit aspects are generic influences, and cannot be taken personally, even if they work in a very personal manner. Basically, if something in the general situation is tense, or may create friction, these are the times when they cut loose, break apart, or create a gear grind.
Previous conjunctions of the Sun and Mars fell at 24 Virgo (Sep 2004), 30 Libra (Oct 2006), 15 Sagittarius (Dec 2008), 16 Aquarius (Feb 2011), and 29 Aries (April 2013). These show the 2 year “pulses” of the Light/Life relative to the part of us that energetically pushes into new life activities (and can get more than a bit aggravated while doing so.) We’re obviously finishing the last cycle that began Spring 2013, and headed for the next Sun conjunct Mars at 24 Gemini in June 2015.
Waxing squares show emergent turning points in the cycle that begins at the conjunction. The Sun-Mars oppositions show they’ve hit “the far side” of the cycle, and always accompanies Mars retrograde. The Sun can only oppose Mars when Mars is retrograde. The waning square indicates there is something that has culminated relative to our efforts symbolized by Mars. (I’ll be addressing how the aspects work within larger cycles in a webinar class on that exact subject.)
So this cycle works two ways. One is when the Sun squares or opposes the original conjunction point. The other is when the Sun squares or opposes Mars where it is transiting.
The previous conjunction was at 29 Aries in April 2013. The Sun waxing squared that point in July 2013, opposed it in October 2013, waning squared that point in January 2014, conjuncted that point in April 2014, and will again waxing square that point in a few days. Before the next Sun conjunct Mars, the Sun will again oppose that point in October, square that point in January 2015, and conjunct that point in April 2015. These were all turning points relative to what began at 29 April in Spring 2013.
Within that cycle, because Mars is always moving forward, the squares and oppositions of the Sun and Mars within their cycle happen fewer times at different points. After that conjunction at 29 Aries, the first square (waxing) between the Sun and Mars in this cycle was from the Sun at 13 Capricorn square Mars at 13 Libra in January 2014. That was followed by Sun opposed Mars retrograde from 19 Aries to 19 Libra in April 2014. This is now the waning square, made from Sun at 27 Cancer to Mars at 27 Libra.
You can see how individual charts can be affected during both of these aspect cycles, as well as when Mars makes conjunctions, squares, and oppositions to natal points. Everyone with planets near 29 Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn have been dealing with what the Sun conjunct Mars set into motion in the Spring of 2013, especially during those times when the Sun made aspects to those degree zones (listed two paragraphs up).
We’ve also been affected during these generic times of the Sun-Mars squares and opposition, so those with planets or angles near 13, 19, and 27 Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn were affected by the transiting Sun-Mars aspect when they occurred on those points as well. This is one of those times.
Also remember that these “hot points” in the Sun-Mars cycle may have triggered past Eclipse points, Lunation points, as well as the stationary retrograde and direct points of the planets. One way this could work is by releasing the energy (via transiting square) to a planetary position within any of these Lunation or stationary points.
Whatever is happening at this time may seem unrelated to anything else, but astrology teaches us that every event is linked across time to some other prior event that set up whatever is released or demonstrated during these transit to transit events. So if something is happening right now, it has its roots in the past, and this marks a culmination of that process.
On a final note for today, please remember the current Sun square Mars has been in its most intense phase for about a week, and will continue to be very intense for the next week. Slow down, take it easy, and try to be as organized and calculated in your responses as you can.
Refuse to get aggravated by rude, impulsive, pushy, or abrasive people and circumstances. Get above the fray while mobilizing to meet a crisis, since through imagination you could reclaim something you thought was gone or lost. Take the initiative, quickly finish up whatever has fulfilled itself, be efficient as you calculate a plan, and take heart that this storm will pass within a week, even if the aftereffects will last a while.
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
Wow Robert, I was wondering what was going on. Thank you for explaining, I feel better knowing, but wish I could feel better by getting some good news! I know for my husband and I it has been a horrible time. Job loss, opportunities come then go, and it doesn't appear to be getting any better. Thanks again and hope you are doing well~
Posted by: ss | July 18, 2014 at 08:41 AM