Mars Retrograde in Gemini 2022 ~ 2023

Where Mars usually spends around 45 days in each zodiac sign, in Gemini, it remains for seven months. Mars begins its retrograde in Gemini late October, lasting until January 2023.

Out of all planets, Mars turns retrograde the least. And so, when there is such an astrological emphasis on a particular energy, we listen. Each transit within astrology is an invitation to remember, embody, grow, and return to the self through a very particular theme or lens that the transit speaks to.

Read on for insights and journal prompts. And as always, reflect on where in your natal chart Mars will be retrograding through for a deeper understanding on the area of your life coming into a new pace and deeper questioning.

To explore this transit deeper, explore our Divine Guidance Transits Astrology Reading here.

Mars Retrograde

• Sign: Gemini
• Dates: 30 October 2022 – 12 January 2023

Just as nature often reminds us of a slower pace, within astrology, retrogrades do the same. They are an invitation to mimic the seemingly backwards motion of the planet, to go within, and to slow down enough to hear our inner guidance once again.

Contrary to our ancestors beliefs, when a planet is in retrograde it isn’t actually moving backwards. The truth, rather, is that our beautiful blue Earth completes its shorter orbit around the Sun quicker than other planets, and therefore periodically overtakes them. It is when the Earth overtake these planets that it looks, from our perspective, as if they are moving backwards.

Mars in Astrology is our warrior planet. It is all things passion and drive, motivation, and strength. Each planet and zodiac hold a particular role as a teacher and as an invitation.

Mars is the fire that propels us forward in the direction that is calling our name. It urges us to move towards our goals, take steps, and make the changes that we know are for us. It is an entire source of energy on its own, and by connecting with Mars, it’s as if we are gifted with an extra motor to keep us moving.

While in retrograde however, the influence of this forward action-oriented planet slows down. Our inner fires that propel us forward dim. We are being asked to trust ourselves and life enough to slow down. 

Gemini, a sign ruled by the planet Mercury, speaks to the mind, communication, and information. It loves variety, movement, speed, and learning. It is flexible, diverse, changeable and deeply curious. It’s not fixed in any one way of being or way of seeing the world, rather it shifts and changes, moves, and transforms.

For a deeper understanding on where in your natal chart Mars is retrograding through, any aspects being made, and for a deeper understanding on the area of your life coming into a new pace and deeper questioning, consider a Divine Guidance Transits Astrology Reading.

Your Mars Retrograde invitation

With Mars retrograde in this dynamic sign, it asks us to create a new relationship with questions. Perhaps questions are not only made to be answered, maybe they are also made to open up doors to new ways of thinking, perceiving, and being.

Let questions be your friend, without pressuring yourself for immediate answers.

Allow yourself to reflect on the actions you have taken and how they have added to the life you are living today.

Ponder on your relationship with action.

~ Does your action taking come from a pressure to keep up, or to feel worthy? How does aligned action feel to you, compared to expected, or pressure-filled action?

Bring the spaciousness into your mind to question your belief systems, your styles of communication or perhaps identities you have created regarding your mental capacity, intellect, or style of communication.

~ Do these identities still feel relevant to who you are? Do they allow for freedom and growth, or do they feel small and restricting?

And lastly, let your relationship with stillness come into total transformation.

~ How do you feel without constant movement, action, and speed, and how can you nurture what emotions or fears that may come up within this stillness?

While our modern culture is built upon movement, growth, outward movement, and doing – Mars in retrograde asks for an entirely new level of trust in our paths, and trust in ourselves. Here, we are being asked to go against the ways of living that we have been taught.

We are being asked to review instead of leap. Question instead of do. Rest instead of race. And bring greater energy and focus into our inner worlds, rather than the glorified state of constant output.

Mars Retrograde reminds us that just like the Earth, we have seasons. While some of our inner seasons are geared towards growth and movement, others ask us to trust the silence, and rest.

While the motors of Mars slow down, it is our opportunity to take a step back and assess the direction we are moving in.

Whatever direction we move in, we move in. This retrograde is a reminder that we may as well be moving in a direction that serves our joy, fulfilment, and visions that we desire for our lives. Mars wants its spark to be harnessed towards a life that is aligned – not for a direction that only seems to take us further away from our truth.

Mars Retrograde Journal Prompts

~ Does your action taking come from a pressure to keep up, or to feel worthy? How does aligned action feel to you, compared to expected, or pressure-filled action?

~ Do your identities around your intellect, belief systems, or communication still feel relevant to who you are? Do they allow for freedom and growth, or do they feel small and restricting?

~ How do you feel without constant movement, action, and speed, and how can you nurture what emotions or fears that may come up within this stillness?

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