Mars Effects

Mars retrograde, neecha banga raja yoga, in opposition to Venus and the Sun January 27-29, 2010

On October 5, 2009 Mars entered its sign of debilitation, Cancer, and remains there until May 27, 2010. Astrologically Mars is the planetary archetype for energy, desire, aggression, anger, war and the ability to get what you want. When it is debilitated, energy doesn't flow smoothly, and it is much harder to get what you want. Tempers flare more easily under the emotional Cancerian influence on the planet of desire.

Mars went retrograde on December 20, 2009 and will not go direct until March 10, 2010. Usually Cancer is the sign of debilitation for Mars, but this debilitation is canceled because of the retrograde motion in what is called a neecha banga raja yoga. In truth the debilitation is not fully canceled, but rather it does not produce as many negative effects -- until it goes stationary direct in March.

Astronomically this retrograde does make Mars appear closer to the earth. A blogger on Shadow and Substance has a great sky map that illustrates the retrograde pattern in the night sky.

According to Spaceweather, Mars is only 99 million km (60 million miles) away and will appear bigger through a telescope than any moment between 2008 and 2014. Doug Zubenel's 12.5-inch "PlanetCatcher" in Kansas is one many great photos posted on Spaceweather.com. Mars rises a few hours after sunset in the eastern sky. It will be at its full opposition to the earth on Friday, January 29, 2010 -- the same day Uranus returns to Pisces that I discussed in my last post.

Add in the red planet's simultaneous opposition to Venus and the Sun, the upcoming Uranus-Neptune parivartana yoga, and the full moon in Cancer on Saturday, and we may see more fireworks than stars -- or at least be distracted from the ongoing Saturn-Pluto square.

Namaste!