At 9:35 pm PDT on June 8, Mars enters Taurus. 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 Cardinal Fire of Aries and now expresses it through the Fixed Earth of Taurus. Having flamed on in its home sign, it now enters the sign of its “exile” since Taurus is opposed to Mars’ home in Scorpio. Time to enjoy and settle into a comfortable groove!

Now that it’s entering Taurus, it initiates much which was promised by Jupiter during its year-long stay in that sign. In Aries, Mars initiated activity of itself, and that continues with Mars in Taurus, another “primal sign” which does its own thing in its own way. So continue to act on your own initiative, but try not to get bugged if someone tells you how to do something or tells you to speed up.

Mars in Taurus will keep the pace steady, so any momentum we’ve generated should continue to continue. And many diverse cycles will be set into motion, as we’ve had many recent conjunctions with both Jupiter and Uranus in this past year! Mars will definitely jump start a new future for all of us when it transits 22 Taurus the second week of July and activates the recent Jupiter/Uranus conjunction at that point.

Taurus is where we make what was started in Aries calmer and more enjoyable. Like Aries, Taurus also acts of its own initiative, but is less quick to respond to things and more intent on just enjoying doing what is natural to do. It builds its own momentum and will not be stopped in its movement toward its goal. It can be VERY stubborn when pushed, but can move mountains if it feels like it.

Mars in Taurus is in its own 2nd house relative to its rulership of Aries, and in its own 7th house relative to its rulership of Scorpio. This offers us clues to its expression.

Taurus is where Mars finds resources which enable it to continue its forward motion. It is where Mars takes the initiative to grab or guard what it needs, or accumulate material and nonmaterial resources it may draw on when they are needed. It its own 7th sign it can be antagonistic in its determination, but can also move situations which are ordinarily unable to be budged. And as Taurus is the “exile” of Scorpio, while Scorpio would like to externalize through its own sense of “Taurus,” when Mars is there Scorpio finds resistance in the Taurus Earth. So it builds strength, but also pressure.

Mars’ now gives our Aries and Scorpio sectors a Taurus emphasis. Its entry into Taurus throws the primary focus of activity in the house where we have the first 10 degrees of Taurus from now through June 22. From June 22 through July 6, the focus of activity will be in the house where we have the second 10 degrees of Taurus, followed by the focus on 21-30 Taurus from July 5 through 20, when it enters Gemini.

Mars is still moving at a fast pace of around 44 minutes per day while beginning to slow for its coming retrograde in early Leo and the last half of Cancer at the end of this year into 2025. In Taurus it will activate any planets we have in Taurus and the house it’s transiting. If speed, reliability, and a pleasant attitude are needed to deal with something, Mars in Taurus encourages us to give everyone a big smile as we “just do it!”

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

We’re now closing in on the end of Mars’ retrograde cycle which began in January 2023 at 9 Gemini after its retrograde from 26 Gemini between late October and mid-January. It moved forward in Gemini through late March when it entered Cancer, staying there until it entered Leo at the powerful Fixed T-square in late May. It moved into Virgo mid-July, and into Libra in late August. It entered Scorpio in mid-October, entered Sagittarius in late November, entered Capricorn in early January, and Aquarius in mid-February.

Mars in Sagittarius (December) moved the remains of the “stripping down and purifying” energy of Scorpio up and out, freed of obsolete things and considerations. Mars in Capricorn (January through mid-February) organized the Sag realizations into practical forms of power which in Aquarius can be applied to a greater vision of a greater good for a greater number.

Mars in Aquarius renewed the “visionary organized activity” directly related to the “expansive structures” which began with the Grand Mutation at 1 Aquarius in December 2020, giving new impetus to that 20/200 year energy. It then moved through the deep waters of Pisces from the March Equinox to now, with only Aries, Taurus, and Gemini to go before it completes that cycle and moves into its next retrograde period!

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 from late May to July 4, 2022, and was re-set in the past 6 weeks.)

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 from July 4 to August 19, 2022, and is now being re-set between June 8 and July 20, 2024.)

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 between late August 2022 and late March 2023. This cycle will be re-set when Mars is in Gemini between July 20 and September 4.)

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. The next cycle will be re-set between September 4 and November 3.)

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 2023.)

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 late August 2023.)

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 late August and mid-October 2023.)

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 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 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 between early January and mid February 2024.)

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 February 12 through March 22.)

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 just re-set between March 22 and April 30, 2024.)

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-entered Aquarius again in January 2024, we had Mercury conjunct Pluto at 1 Aquarius in early February, followed by Mars and Venus both making conjunctions at that exact degree on Feb 13 and 17 respectively. 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 Taurus experience in the house(s) where we have that sign in our charts. During Mars’ transit of Taurus it expresses our Taurus tendencies, and is somewhat of a “bull out of its pasture.”

The main aspects from Mars to the outer planets show Mars makes a square to Pluto and a septile with Mercury, Venus, and the Sun followed by a powerful semisquare to Saturn all in the second week of June. It then receives sextiles from Mercury and Venus around the same time it septiles Saturn just after the Solstice and then makes a biseptile to Pluto.

By the end of June and beginning of July, Mercury and Venus make sextiles and then quintiles to Mars as it closes in on the sextile with Saturn. The middle of July brings Mars conjunct Uranus, Venus quintile Mars, and Mars sextile Neptune before it moves into Gemini. The Sun sextiles Mars the entire month of July.

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?

Mars began a new cycle when it conjuncted the Sun at 26 Scorpio in November 2023, and has passed all its oppositions to the outer planets until its next opposition to Pluto in November 2024. So it’s now opening its cycles with Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto while still closing in its cycles with Jupiter and Uranus. The Uranus cycle will be completed and a new one begun when Mars conjuncts Uranus in July and Jupiter in August. After that Mars begins to make and take oppositions beginning in November 2024 through January 2025.

Of course, that also means 2023’s many oppositions from Mars to the outer planets was extremely important. That phase began with Mars at 1 Leo making 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.)

Mars Links to the Past, Present, and Future

While Mars now initiates a new focus wherever we have Taurus, it activates all of this year’s important conjunction with Jupiter and Uranus. This activates the all previous years’ conjunctions with Uranus, as well as 2024’s Jupiter/Uranus at 22 Taurus, the Sun/Uranus at 29 Taurus, and the Venus/Uranus at 30 Taurus. As Mars transits Taurus, it will renew the themes of the Mars/Uranus conjunction at 19 Taurus in August 2022.

This is going to activate our Taurus sectors in a big way, so don’t hesitate. Figure out what you have to do to keep everything rolling forward in a stable pleasant way and put it in warp drive!

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