Mars retrograde in Cancer
The red planet is Out of Bounds, let's get wierd.
Mars is now not only retrograde and bright in the night sky but also currently Out of Bounds beyond the northern most range of where planets “usually” travel.
He is also in Cancer which is the sign of his “fall” opposite his sign of exaltation, Capricorn. It’s a steamy, emo, thermal geyser of a combo. Planets out of bounds do rogue shit, are non-conforming and sometimes wildly innovative.
I would also add that a planet OOB in north declination is more likely to break the mould of consensus reality.
If Mars is how we DO what it is that we ARE and Cancer correlates to the safety of our homes and sense of belonging then this time feels like a radical invitation to reset what safety actually means. Recalibrating that into a higher octave than just moodily reactively guarding “me and mine”.
How is nourishment upheld? How is the “home” genuinely protected, without going to war?
For me, my first home is my body and the safety I experience in that space is primary, also the Earth itself…how are those spaces taken care of actively and then how does that project out into the physical house, world etc?
You may find yourself needing to examine your boundaries especially with Men in your life in new ways.
I think we may see people lashing out or getting extra spicy about defending their territories, this could include governments as well as individuals of course.
With Mercury now joining the Sun in Capricorn there is a bunch of action across the Cap/Cancer axis which I call the Mummy/Daddy axis of the zodiac.
Lets also remember that we are mere days away from the nodes changing signs…When the NN enters Pisces on Jan 12th and starts applying to Neptune there is a literal watershed of energy that will start flowing… hopefully rains for LA but also tears and emotions and spiritual floods for the rest of us. Staying “grounded” will be important as is leaning into trust over paranoia.
This Mars retrograde has us questioning what is the masculine, active face of the way we take care of what is most sensitive and personal. It takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable and lord knows we need our heroes to have both open hearts and strong spines. The courage to put armour on and go into battle but also to take it off. 💕
Mars also fuels our eros, the raw life force of desire that generates an impulse toward or away from things including lovers. Mars in Cancer activates an erotic tenderness which melts through conservative or traditional notions of male and female polarity. It’s Dad in an apron and Mum in the office and this can be HOT because it makes us feel nourished in parts of ourselves that are often overextended by societal norms…this is a very reductive example but feel into that.
Energetically, there is a wonderful tantric queering which occurs when Mars and Venus get into each others signs, which will happen with the upcoming Venus Rx in Aries. (Stay posted for the Heart Alchemy Venus Sadhana launch coming soon).
I say this referring to a balancing, cross pollination of energies which ultimately makes us more creatively potent as a whole rather than strictly sexual/gender related themes.
We have Mars Rx in Cancer until Feb 24 when it turns direct and then all the way until mid April before he leaves the sign.
The quest has only just begun. Find Cancer in your chart and that is where the action is taking place. If you don’t know how or wanna go deeper you can always book a reading to talk it over.
🦀
This Ted talk felt very relevant about long lasting couples having high trust, prioritising sex and cultivating sensitivity.
Good Mars in Rx themes.
Art by Cosmic Collage.
This is so on point 👌