Astrology in April 2016 - Mars Stationary Retrograde at 9 Sagittarius - Aquarius Papers

by Robert Wilkinson

Yes, Mars is slowing in motion, preparing to go retrograde in early Sagittarius. What does this mean?

Mars will go stationary retrograde April 17, 2016, 5:14 am PDT, 1:14 pm BST, at 9 Sagittarius. I'll be posting several articles about Mars retrograde as well as the coming Mercury retrograde in the near future. For now, remember that a retrograde doesn't necessarily mean something bad. Let's review some things to remember about Mars retrograde.

First, there are many things that move forward exactly as they should during Mars retrograde periods. Though there may seem to be less momentum to some things, even delays and the need to rework some things, or wait for other things to develop before picking up the original intention, there are ways to navigate these recurring periods and keep everything on track quite nicely. It doesn't have to be much of a problem if we position ourselves correctly given the shift in the pace and unfolding of events.

Also, please remember that the planets do not "cause" anything. Whether and how things happen or don't during a retrograde period has everything to do with us and others' actions and reactions to things, both past and present. The free will of human beings has far more power than a planetary retrograde!

As I wrote in A New Look at Mercury Retrograde, Chapter 1, "What Is Mercury Retrograde and Why Does It Seem to Cause So Many Hassles?"

Throughout the year, all the planets go retrograde at some point. Usually one or more planets are retrograde simultaneously. Sometimes there are as many as four to six retrogrades occurring simultaneously... A planet, when retrograde, simply indicates a slowing of its orbital speed relative to the Sun from the perspective of the Earth.

Some planets slow for a few weeks; some for a few months.... In our Solar system, the motion of the planets and the "lights" (the Sun and Moon) symbolize the ebb and flow of the universal life that we all live within.

This is why it is inappropriate to attribute a problem to a retrograde; though there may be some apparent correlation, a retrograde cannot "cause" anything. This may be the most commonly held misunderstanding about astrology and how it works. Any astrological configuration simply symbolizes a state of time within which life manifests.

It is true that many things seem to happen because of an astrological association. However, the cause of all that happens (if and when there is a concrete cause at all) is a prior action, or inaction. All that is, all that occurs, is a part of a larger natural process of unfoldment. All our experiences give us opportunities to be led out of ignorance and fear of the unknown into a greater awareness of the interrelationships between all things.

Mars retrograde represents a period where the timing and coordination of things, as well as how fast or slow things seem to be happening, take on a different pace and rhythm of development. At this time in history as we approach the Great Fracturing shown by the multiple Grand Mutable Crosses of June 2016, slowing things down a bit might be exactly what’s needed!

Perhaps Mars retrograding in Sagittarius back into late Scorpio can give us ways to rework or redo our responses to what we learned when Saturn was in that span between October 2014 and December 2015. It will certainly be a time when we will experience echoes of that period of time, and can find new ways to interpret how we can act on those Saturnine lessons.

Of note is that this SRX degree at 9 Sagittarius is novile the last SRX degree of Mars in March 2014 at 28 Libra, and sextile its May SD point at 10 Libra. The current SRX degree is also very close to where Mars will conjunct Saturn this August at 10 Sagittarius, which will re-activate the Jupiter SD point in August 2007 at 10 Sagittarius. More on that this Summer.

The Sabian Symbol for 9 Sagittarius is “A mother with her children on stairs.” In the Marc Jones class notes from "The Astrology of Personality," Rudhyar states this degree is one of “conscious advance of selfhood from plane to plane,” “real courage in all approach to life,” and “inner guidance in all growth.”

In his "Astrological Mandala," we are told that this degree is one of “the need in any social situation to assist the less evolved in their management of the problems which society requires its members to solve.” He goes on to state that this symbol is about learning to acquire a skill that is not “natural,” but necessary for life in society, and that the child learns by imitating the adults in their life.

He says this implies that each of us who have acquired a skill must be willing to teach it to those who comes after us, and that while “walking is a natural human function (but) climbing stairs is a skill made necessary” by our buildings. He states “what is implied here is social concern for the less evolved of society’s members.” He offers that this is in the Span of Receptiveness, and is the technical degree on the emotional-cultural level of the Scene of Abstraction in the Act of Group Integration.

Dr. Marc Jones says this symbol is one of “extreme alertness to the interests and needs of others,” and “high competency” in going for “ideal ends.” He goes on to state that we have “an inescapable duty… to remember that (we are our) brother’s keeper,” and we must ‘develop and demonstrate a genuine social conscience.”

He continues that in our “rounding out” of our “community usefulness” and in the “increasing recompense” we reap “fruits of service.” He offers us the keyword EDUCATION, and says when this degree is working positively, it’s one of “effective response to every personal challenge in everyday affairs.”

Mars retrograde usually indicates there will be some things that must occur before other things can be done. Get clear about the priority of things, pay attention to the rhythm of unfolding events, and see much of what's come down the past few weeks as prelude to undoing, redoing, or reworking some things in April, May, and early June before picking the pace back up in late June. All of this relates to the life areas (houses) where we have Aries, Scorpio, and Sagittarius.

Remember that sometimes a delay is the best thing that could happen as other things develop on their own, since I've found life is sometimes like a Charles Dickens novel. There are many chapters, many players, and some things cannot be known and/or acted upon until the plot develops.

But rest assured, that at the end of the play, all will be seen in proper perspective, the unknowns between the players become clear, and things have developed so that "the hero's journey" is perfectly completed. So during this Mars retrograde, do what you must, work and/or adapt the plan, don't fret at the apparent delays or slowness, and fit things into a long range perspective with an eye to the radical quickening to come in late June.

Comments

This Mrs retro starts on my 9 degree natal Venus in my first house`Sagittarius and`ends on my 23 degree ASC in Scorpio before going forward and crossing the ASC. It appears to me to be a momentous time. As a Libra who has spent about 7 years experiencing my 2nd Saturn return, Saturn in my sun sign and finally Saturn in the 12th crossing my ASC, I'm tired and could use some new life's experiences...a little happiness, too

Posted by: Starbright | April 16, 2016 at 08:51 PM

The thot plickens for sure...

Posted by: sue | April 17, 2016 at 05:26 AM

Robert, will you at some point explain how the coming mutable Ts and crosses will be different from the cardinal ones in summer of 2010? I would find that very interesting. Thank you!

Posted by: Diana | April 17, 2016 at 08:37 AM