At 9:04 pm PDT October 11, Mars enters Scorpio. What does this mean for all of us?

It means that how we generally “attack the problems of life,” or how we “take the initiative” leaves the balanced “compare and contrast” process of the idealistic Cardinal Air of Libra and now expresses that energy through the focused, intense, “take no prisoners” Fixed Water sign of Scorpio.

Scorpio is where we move past the idealistic and pleasing forms of Libra into the magnetic essence of the process of regeneration. Mars is in one of its home signs in Scorpio, so is at ease with the stable, consistent, “eliminate to purify” energy which severs the past, creating voids to be filled in the future. While Mars in Libra was in its sign of “exile,” being somewhat moderate, cautious, and seeking the “perfect balance,” when in Scorpio Mars is set loose to shred forms to find essentials.

Mars in Scorpio is in its own 8th house relative to its rulership of Aries, and in its own 1st house relative to its rulership of Scorpio. This offers us clues to its expression. Scorpio is where we turn past defeats into the power needed for future victories, and where we let go of all unnecessary considerations to achieve forward momentum on our own terms. Mars in this sign operates under its own rules, never forgets a slight, and often goes too far too fast. It is invincible in pursuit of its ends, even to the point of self-destruction.

Mars in Libra has been great for cautiously taking the thousand step route to accomplish, as it prepared for the relentless intensity of Scorpio. As Mars has the quality of “severing,” then while Mars in Libra has expressed “the iron fist in the velvet glove,” Mars in Scorpio will express more of a “take the war to the opponent” type of energy. Mars in its home signs is fearless, as it naturally knows how to use those energies to accomplish its ends, even if it seems ruthless at times.

Mars continues to speed up after its long retrograde in Gemini, and in Scorpio anticipates what we’ll experience between late October and late December when the inner planets transit that sign. Mars is now moving at about 40 minutes a day and continues to speed up. By early December it’ll move at 43 and still be gaining speed. This indicates a gradual speeding up of our ability to use the transiting Mars energies in precise ways.

Mars’ Path To How We Got Here and Where We’re Going

We’re still expanding from its retrograde period in Gemini which began in late August 2022. It went forward to 26 Gemini in late October, and then retrograded back to 9 Gemini by January 2023, after which it resumed direct motion and stayed in that sign until late March, when it entered Cancer. It stayed in that sensitive sign of its “fall” until It entered Leo at the powerful Fixed T-square in late May, where it blazed a trail for this year’s long stay of the inner planets in that sign. It was in Virgo between mid-July and late August, when it entered Libra where it’s been till now.

Mars’ now gives our Aries and Scorpio sectors a Scorpio emphasis. Its entry into Scorpio throws the primary focus of activity in the house where we have the first 10 degrees of Scorpio from now through October 26. From October 26 through November 10, the focus of activity will be in the house where we have the second 10 degrees of Scorpio, followed by the focus on 21-30 Scorpio from November 10 through November 24, when it enters Sagittarius.

The Mars Challenge For All Signs

When Mars was in Aries, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aries, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Capricorn. It puts the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Libra, and fulfillment to those with Sun or Ascendant in Cancer. (This last happened between July 2020 and January 2021. This cycle was re-set most recently from late May to July 4, 2022.)

While Mars was in Taurus, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Taurus, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aquarius. It puts the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Scorpio, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Leo. (This last happened January and February 2021. This cycle was re-set from July 4 to August 19, 2022.)

While Mars was in Gemini, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Gemini, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Pisces. It puts the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Sagittarius, and fulfillment to those with Sun or Ascendant in Virgo. (This happened between early March and late April 2021, and the last transit of Gemini re-set the energy anew between late August 2022 and late March 2023.)

While Mars was in Cancer, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Cancer, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aries. It puts the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Capricorn, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Libra. (This cycle was re-set and renewed between late March and late May 2023.)

While Mars was in Leo, it brings new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Leo, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Taurus. It puts the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aquarius, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Scorpio. (This cycle was re-set between late May and July 9.)

While Mars was in Virgo, it brings new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Virgo, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Gemini. It puts the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Pisces, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Sagittarius. This cycle was re-set between July 9 and now.)

While Mars was in Libra, it brings new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Libra, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Cancer. It put the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aries, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Capricorn. (This cycle was re-set between mid-September and late October 2021, and was just re-set again between late August and mid-October.)

While Mars is in Scorpio, it brings new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Scorpio, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Leo. It put the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Taurus, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aquarius. (This cycle was re-set from November through mid-December 2021, and now re-sets again between mid-October and late November 2023.)

While Mars was in Sagittarius, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Sagittarius, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Virgo. It put the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Gemini, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Pisces. (This cycle was re-set from December through late January 2022, and will re-set again between late November 2023 and early January 2024.)

While Mars was in Capricorn, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Capricorn, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Libra. It put the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Cancer, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aries. (This cycle was re-set from late January through early March 2022)

While Mars was in Aquarius, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Aquarius, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Scorpio. It put the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Leo, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Taurus. (This cycle was re-set from early March through mid-April 2022.)

While Mars was in Pisces, it brought new beginnings to those with Sun or Ascendant in Pisces, and new emergent developments to those with Sun or Ascendant in Sagittarius. It put the focus on relationships to those with Sun or Ascendant in Virgo, and fulfillment or public activity to those with Sun or Ascendant in Gemini. (This last happened from mid-May through late June 2020. This cycle was re-set from mid-April to late May 2022 .)

Obviously within these transit spans there are other “phase relationships” between transiting Mars and all the planets in our charts, but to go into all of them would make this article a book. For example, Mars makes aspects to your other planets which are different than aspects to your Sun and Ascendant. All aspects, waxing and waning, fall within “The Whole Cycle” of each planet to every other planets and our Ascendant. You can find out more about the Whole Cycle in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend, linked below, where I explain the various phases in the planetary cycles in terms of the Whole Cycle for various generations.

What We Experience When Mars is in Each Sign

Mars in Aries teaches us how to act on our own initiative, not defer so much to others, and “working half-heartedly is not the way to accomplish much.” Mars in Taurus teaches us to “take pleasure in our work” as we learn to keep it simple and steady despite crosswinds, and Mars in Gemini teaches us adaptability because “there are many ways to get things done.” Mars in Cancer teaches us to “be watchful as we work,” acting with sensitivity, care, and caution.

Mars in Leo teaches us to “work with flair and style,” putting on the show as we accomplish things in inspired ways. This is a time to show our power and style when opportunities present themselves, and see how our command of energy can be expressed in creative ways. Mars in Virgo teaches us “All play and no work make for an ungrounded life.” Mars in Libra teaches us “All work with no socializing makes for an unsustainable life.” Mars in Scorpio teaches us “doing the wrong thing in the wrong way with the wrong people will never make us happy, so do the right thing and be happy!”

Mars in Sagittarius teaches us how to be a “stylish and bold Archer riding our Sacred Arrows to our dream,” as well as “scattered effort leaves us frustrated.” Mars in Capricorn teaches us “Work for the now, work for the future, work for all time.” Mars in Aquarius teaches us “As you strive for greater things, you make manifest a future ideal which will outlive you.” Mars in Pisces teaches us “to witness our common humanity as we struggle for clarity in a murky collective environment.”

Mars Set the Pattern of the New Age in 2020

Mars conjunction with Saturn at 1 Aquarius in March 2020 launched a totally future oriented period of human existence which began to take shape in a new 20 year Aquarian Era with Jupiter’s conjunction with Saturn on that same degree in December 2020. And here it’s important to note that this is the last transit of Saturn through Aquarius before we “slip across the edge of the Age” after 2050.

I explained how various Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto transits over the past 3 centuries each strengthened the advent of the Age of Aquarius in the article Uranus Awakened the Age of Aquarius, Neptune Dreamed It Into Collective Consciousness, and Pluto Will Sprout It Into Life, as well as why we are not yet fully into the Age of Aquarius yet, but will be in the third quarter of this century. Of course, living on the cusp of a Great Age means we will be dealing with the dying echoes of the Age of Pisces for some time to come, since many who were born under those dying assumptions will try to perpetuate them as long as they can.

Just remember that the Capricorn cycles set into motion by Mars in March 2020 will have far reaching implications, some of which won’t be completed until 2053! We won’t have another Saturn conjunct Pluto for over 30 years, nor another Jupiter conjunct Pluto until early 2033. These Capricorn cycles will play out until the next transit of the outer planets over the conjunction points as a finish to what just began, and as prelude to the next cycles beginning then. (There will be an exact Sun conjunct Jupiter as both conjunct Pluto in February 2033 at the Angel Point at 15 Aquarius. That promises to be a much happier cycle than the current one!)

Of note is that just after Pluto re-enters Aquarius again in January 2024, we have Mercury conjunct Pluto at 1 Aquarius in early February, followed by Mars and Venus both making conjunctions at that exact degree. This will bring new power to the initial pulse launched at the Grand Mutation in December 2020.

Aspects in Play

We’re now going to experience a renewed Scorpio experience in the house(s) where we have that sign in our charts. During Mars’ transit of Scorpio, it is its own ruler, bringing a Scorpio backdrop to how Mars expresses itself, just as it will to the inner planets as they transit Scorpio.

The main aspects from Mars to the outer planets show Mars makes a binovile, quintile and sextile to Pluto; it makes a biquintile, sesquisquare, and trine to Neptune; and makes a quadranovile to Uranus in mid-October, followed by an opposition the second week of November. It begins its transit of Scorpio with a trine to Saturn in mid October, followed by a tredecile at the end of October and beginning of November. It makes a “fateful” biseptile between November 2-10, and only makes the exact square after it leaves Scorpio at the end of November. Mars opposes Jupiter the last week of October, and makes a quadranovile in late November.

During Mars’ time in Scorpio, it makes only conjunctions with the Sun and Mercury in late October and early November. The Sun will conjunct Mars, re-setting their cycle on November 17/18 at 26 Scorpio which will last until January 2026 at their next conjunction.

Venus makes a septile to Mars the last week of October and first week of November. It then makes a semisquare in mid-November, which is the last aspect before Mars enters Sagittarius.

As I’ve offered before, when Mars is within a degree of forming or separating while making a hard aspect with a planet, slow down and show deliberation and caution in how you use force. Hard aspects to/from Mars always require that we moderate or antidote impulsiveness and impatience.

What Do Mars Oppositions Teach Us?

At this point in its cycle, Mars is actually a sort of “herald” as it transits Libra and Scorpio before the inner planets pass it beginning late October. We go through a long stretch each year when we have no oppositions other than those made by the Moon. Mars at 1 Leo made the first non-Lunar opposition to another planet with its opposition to Pluto in late May. It then made an opposition to Saturn in mid-July, Neptune in late August, with oppositions to Jupiter and Uranus in late October and early November.

Please remember that while they can be tense, those oppositions require us to use different spiritual planetary energies. All oppositions made by Mars externalize various types of wisdom, since the “Tension of Opposites” between the planetary expressions in the signs they’re in entirely determines the spiritual tests to learn and demonstrate.

As I noted in Chapter 2 in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend,

Mars' duality is Grace/Sin. This is the aspect of consciousness that shows whether our responses are manifesting error or truth, maladjustment or beauty. By our Martian function we force things before their time or confront abrasive, aggressive, or hostile energies in ourselves and others, and thus we learn how to sever what must be severed, and further what must be furthered, quickly and directly. (As an aside, the original meaning of “sin” had nothing to do with moral failure. It was an archery term meaning “to miss the mark,” or not hitting the center of a target. I use it here in that sense.)

So Mars has now made several oppositions, and is making waning aspects to Pluto, Saturn, and Neptune, while still in waxing oppositions to Jupiter and Uranus. That has put us in a time of “tests of skill” in expressing the realizations which surface at Mars oppositions. May, June and July brought bring realizations about Pluto and Saturn, August brought realizations about Neptune, while late October and November bring realizations about Jupiter and Uranus.

Mars Links to the Past, Present, and Future

While Mars now initiates a new time of activity wherever we have Scorpio, it activates the information the inner planets will bring us when they transit Scorpio beginning late October. In this case, with the conjunctions to come, everything is moving into another compression of all the planets into a ever-narrowing span which will hit its closest angle in early 2024 after Venus conjuncts Pluto.

When Mars conjuncted Jupiter in Aries on May 29 at 4 Aries, it began a new two year cycle of opportunity and expansion wherever that falls in our charts. That set the pace for the rapidly unfolding developments of Jupiter in Aries, which was active from late May through late October 2022, with a rapid return between late December and mid-May 2023. The Mars/Jupiter 4 Aries pulse will be re-activated by Mars in early May 2024, with collective implications when Saturn and Neptune transit 4 Aries in early 2026.

So in 2022, we got a sense of the promise of things to come when Mars transited Sagittarius, got a new look at what we are to do and how we are to do it during Mars in Capricorn, and a new engagement with multiple long wave Aquarian cycles. We moved through vast fogs of the collective consciousness where we had to bless a lot to move down the time stream in Pisces so we could embrace the important new initiatives of Mars conjunct Jupiter in Aries!

We secured the momentum in Taurus and found there were many ways to do things in Gemini, so much so we had to go forward, backward, and forward in that sign from August 2022 through March 2023. We then resumed our journey and found relative security and intimacy in Cancer, and then some play or enjoyment in Leo. We enjoyed the ongoing shared service with our Spiritual Brothers and Sisters in Virgo, got to play the peacemaker, moderator, and the person who refines things to make them more pleasing when Mars was in Libra, and now get to enjoy the intensity, focus, and power of Mars in Scorpio!

Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with written permission from Robert Wilkinson. Copying this article to other blogs is strictly prohibited. It is copyright protected. 

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