Mars in Virgo: Retrograde Ahead
Virgo Mosaic
Energy planet Mars is now in Virgo, where he’ll spend the next 7+ months. This extended Mars-in-Virgo stay has to do with Mars’ retrograde, or backwards cycle, in play from January 23 – April 14*.
Mars is retrograde every two years, for about 3 months each time. Retrograde planets have an internalised or introspective tone. They are less about outward expression/engagement, and more about revising and reflecting.
In the case of Mars, the main planet about action and momentum, this can be a subdued time, where action requires greater effort. It’s also a time where treading water for a little bit can be a good thing.
As Mars is retrograde in Virgo, a mutable earth sign, this has most impact on other mutable signs – Gemini, Sagittarius and Pisces – as well as the other earth signs – Taurus and Capricorn.
If you are familiar wiyh your personal birth chart, note the house(s) that 3 – 23 Virgo covers – this is the area(s) of life you’ll personally experience this cosmic stop/start energy over the next few months.
Mars retrograde works in three phases. First, the initial or beginning phase, where you are moving forward, but at a noticeably slower pace. The middle phase is the retrograde itself, where projects and plans stall, and you find extra time with which to review and revise your objectives. The third and final phase is the re-implementation phase, where you slowly begin to move forward again, this time with a revised action plan.
Traditionally Mars is linked to the 10th House, via the arrangement of the Chaldean order of planets through the houses. This link shows a Mars retrograde can be a time where tweaking and updating plans re life direction pays off.
While the retrograde itself doesn’t start until January, Mars will be in shadow and slowing down by the end of the week (November 18).
With this Mars retrograde falling in the organised, meticulous sign of Virgo, this period is likely to encourage attention to detail and dealing with the minutiae of life.
May you enjoy the ‘two steps forward, one step back’ energy the cosmos has to offer over the next little while! Feel free to post your experiences or comments below, especially if you know which area of your life Mars in Virgo will influence.
*Mars was last retrograde in Leo, from December 2009 – March 2010. The last time Mars was retrograde in Virgo was for a short period in January 1995 (most of that retrograde was spent in Leo) and in March/April 1997.
Mars Rx in Virgo triggers my 7th House, so I’m curious to see how relationships will experience this review + revise energy over the next 7 months. What about you?
3-25 degress Virgo is pretty much exactly my 1st house (3 deg. ascendant). (Also natal Mars at 27 degrees Virgo, in 2nd house conjunct the cusp).
I’m thinking: thoughtful, deliberate action regarding my core identity, and any new beginnings in my life. Hmm. What do you guys think?
Sounds about right Jessica! Just take note of the start/stop/start energy of the Mars and be preapred to re-work your plan as circumstances require. By the end of it definitely a stronger sense of self for sure. Do the previous dates of Mars Rx (mid 90′s) hold any significance for you? K x
my IV house starts at 5 virgo…i recently moved in with my ederly Mom after a break up of a 5 and half year relation ship ,(pluto on my descendant and uranus square
) i always work where i live…i mean, decoration…garden, re novating, re vamping, re organising..mind you all is pretty much done here…(venus in libra in the house demands 
) so i’m curious of how this will pan out..but with no earth in my chart..i welcome this..even if opposite my moon in pisces…i always strive for complimentary instead of opposition ! be well and merci Kelly !
Classic Louise! Sounds like a little 4th House retreat and perhaps shifting where family dynamics are concerned. Venus in Libra is a great decorator! I too have the Moon in Pisces so am also watching to see how that unfolds. Moon =health so it can be a Mars type health thing – actue/hot/infection (Mars health wise) – we shall both be stronger for the experience no doubt!
Virgo covers the 1st half of my 11th house (11th House starts at 6 deg Virgo). Which I guess hints at the friendships I’ve started to form with a new group – through a common cause.
Mars now is still in my 10th House, but not for long, and only on the edge – which possibly signifies that I’m going on extended Leave from work in a few weeks (yay!).
But as Mars moves forwards then retrogrades it moves into my 11th house, moves close to Pluto but doesn’t touch it, moves back to my 10th House (only just), and then in April when it moves forward again, it takes until about mid-June to actually touch Pluto, then proceeds to hit Uranus, MSN & Jupter – all lined up in a row all in the 11th House (although Ura etc not in VIrgo)… I’m guessing something interesting, maybe revolutionary, possibly karmic & unusual is going to arise for me out of my making friends in this particular group, to do with this very worthy cause (which has already captured my heart & has already changed my life & is the reason I’m going on extended Leave from work – the cause I’m meeting new people through is to do with foster care – which all links in that when Mars crosses MSN in 11th, it’s opposition MNN & Chiron in 5th House – but that’s not until July – I just mention it as it seems to all be related to the same cause).
hi Kelly, just wondering if you have any comment on what I’ve written here (above)
I do! Should get a chance to post them later this week xo
We’ve also been on a bit of a clean eating kick since Mars entered Virgo as well!
This should be interesting to observe.
Uranus at 3 Virgo 51R 10th house and Pluto 11 Vir 25R 10th house.
Will I actually be more comfortable in retrograde cycle? will experience be amplified – 4 steps forward and 2 steps back?…Will I get to levels of life direction clarity I’m yet to get to?
march /apr 1997 would have been the time I conceived my 3rd child and I made changes to my work.
A retrograde in an angular house – 1, 4, 7, 10 – is always a bit more obvious. I’d focus on Mars rx and 10th House themes like review and revise where life direction, purpose and professional avenues are concerned.
Planetary positions
planet sign degree motion
Sun Scorpio 26°31’28 in house 12 direct
Moon Scorpio 24°49’16 in house 12 direct
Mercury Scorpio 8°23’11 in house 11 direct
Venus Capricorn 4°13’28 in house 1 direct
Mars Cancer 18°37’49 in house 8 direct
Jupiter Capricorn 4°29’36 in house 1 direct
Saturn Capricorn 14°57’33 end of house 1 direct
Uranus Leo 25°44’05 in house 9 direct
Neptune Scorpio 9°31’24 in house 11 direct
Pluto Virgo 8°00’48 in house 10 direct
True Node Virgo 12°31’26 in house 10 retrograde
Planets at the end of a house are interpreted in the next house.
House positions (Placidus)
Ascendant Sagittarius 24°10’00
2nd House Capricorn 15°20’21
3rd House Aquarius 6°45’20
Imum Coeli Pisces 2°06’55
5th House Aries 5°02’15
6th House Taurus 15°24’26
Descendant Gemini 24°10’00
8th House Cancer 15°20’21
9th House Leo 6°45’20
Medium Coeli Virgo 2°06’55
11th House Libra 5°02’15
Sorry Kelly – zapped the previous message through by accident. Not sure what I should be looking at in regard to the upcoming Mars Retrograde – so was hoping you could please clarify for me.
Thanks so much
Find the house in your chart that holds the sign of Virgo – that’s the area of your life most affected by this particular Mars retro. Be ready to redo, revise and revision in this part of life.