Long Wave Astrology in 2016-17 – Mars Stationary Direct at 24 Scorpio Affecting Us Through 2018 Pt. 1

by Robert Wilkinson

In case you didn’t notice, Mars has been in late Scorpio or early Sagittarius a LONG time! The retrograde period since mid-April has been a time of decreased momentum, deconstruction of some ways of doing things, and a time of preparing, training, taking care of things as prelude to future constructions, and on the whole a slow-mo time. That changes now!

After over 70 days, Mars is finally going stationary direct at 24 Scorpio at 4:38 pm PDT, 7:38 pm EDT June 29, 12:38 am BST June 30. This marks a point where Mars accelerates its pace relative to the Sun, where what we thought we began in February and March 2016 resumes its development.

It is a platform from which many new activities and projects leap forward after these months of waiting, preparing, and planning. We will finally begin to move forward in very definitive ways, now that we've undone or redone something, or had to wait for something else to be done before we could pick up on whatever we've had to postpone since Mars began to slow down radically in late March.

So all things Scorpio and Sagittarius have now begun to move forward anew. We began to move into this energy last February, and hit a threshold in mid-April at 9 Sagittarius. Since then, during the retrograde period, we've been getting new techniques to teach and learn skills that aren’t necessarily “natural,” but needed for life in society. We have become more aware of what we need to master to advance to the next level (whatever that means) and have had to have courage as we honored our inner guidance during the growth process.

So before we take a look forward, let’s take a look back at what has been a HUGE influence since mid-April! From the article I gave you went Mars went stationary retrograde at 9 Sagittarius,

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.”

Think about these words, since everyone has been going through experiences related to this symbol for the past 10+ weeks. This has now shown us a new way to express Mars, and many are not so hassled by old ways as they were before this period. We’ve all found a new perspective on future possibilities, and a new freedom on the emotional or social level. We have received glimpses of potential, and reworked our magnetism, desire, way of sharing resources or values, and now stand on the threshold of using past inspired teachings to transform our everyday lives. It’s transformation time!

In part 2, we’ll go into what this stationary direct degree is about, and what we can reasonably expect as Mars now moves forward. From here it gets faster and faster for many months, so things will again seem to be moving quickly, if not very quickly. Feel the sense of relief, get focused, get ready, see how you are living a transfigured reality in some way since February, and know you’ve made it to a place of power!

Copyright © 2016 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Adam]

Transiting north node was between 23 degrees and 30 degree scorpio in 2012....mars direct is from 23 degrees scorpio, is there a connection with the NN transit of 2012.

[Nic]

Thanks Robert, you not only give us a glimpse of what is to come but a great summary of things recently past.
Ready for part 2.

Blessings be to all.

[Mel]

Hello Robert! What I find interesting is that 9 - 10 Sag corresponds to the fixed star Antares. The Brexit vote and more recent terrorist attack suggest that there's quite a bit of anger in the populace, which is manifesting according to the collective background of people involved. The comment by Adam is something I also resonate to on a personal level given my natal Mars Retrograde in Cancer in 10th. SD Mars will exactly square my ASC/MC midpoint and Moon (I have a Thor's Hammer aspect between those). There's a lot going on and hopefully my career goals will materialize by August. Unfortunately I suspect there may be a lot more terrorist activity/collective unrest by the time Mars and Saturn conjoint in August however. Hope you're well! Mel

[Valerie]

Yesterday Mars stationed exactly square to my Pluto. Yesterday was my birthday. I don't know what the plan is, but I hope for good things. Once when Mars in Scorpio squared my Pluto I began a successful diet. Maybe that can happen again. I'm in good health but I'm chunky. Also yesterday, my ex husband, who is my age, with the same Pluto 23 Leo had his house broken into and several cherished heirlooms were stolen. His Pluto is in the 2nd house. Mars square Pluto! What a painful lesson! You can't take it with you... Thank you for your insights, as usual... Namaste :)