Mars goes direct at 8º of Gemini. 01/12/2023
On January 12th, after 2.5 months of being retrograde Mars is finally turning direct in the sign of Gemini. One thing that is important to note is that though Mars is direct, we are not done with the lessons and unfoldings of the past few months, as Mars will leave its shadow phase only on March 16th, and will completely move out of Gemini on March 25th, 2023.
This is indeed good news, especially for those who are Mars ruled ( Aries, Scorpio), and those who have prominent mutable cross placements (Gemini, Virgo, Sag and Pisces) between 8º and 25º degrees. The exhale is real, and it is long. Take your time to move out of this place of internalized focus and external stagnation, we still have one more Mars/Neptune square ( March 14th), so there are still knots waiting to be untied from the place of greater inner clarity and self trust.
Mars retrograde in Gemini had a task for us to learn how to make better choices, when there is ever present sense of duality. This Mars retrograde echoed Venus retrograde in Gemini back in 2020 with how to be abstinent from decision making when we find ourselves in the place of persistent uncertainty. Retrograde periods are brilliant time loops for a forced realignment with the more authentic way. The universe guides us back to ourselves through imposed limitations and delays, through suspension of clarity and need to cultivate trust in this process that is life.
Mars spending so much time in the mutable, airy Gemini undoubtedly highlighted our ever existing duality, that led to conflicting thoughts and the need to ask ourselves the right questions about the consistency of our efforts. One of the main things to learn with Mars in Gemini is the ability to prioritize our curiosities and energies, we might have noticed how much of our fire is wasted on habitual and insignificant distractions. Asking oneself how to use your curiosity so you can spiral up, not go in wasteful circles is very important now. Gemini Mars loses its precious fire by the lack of discipline when distractions arise. If you were able to identify what are your main distractions, where you are leaking your curiosity mindlessly, you can start on creating better mercurial rituals and habits during this time. The ruler of this Mars retrograde, Mercury, is still retrograde in Capricorn until January 18th. So treat this time as a long, mindful and grounded exhale.
The greatest joy this retrograde brought in is the space to grow more into oneself, to experiment with the idea of becoming someone you haven’t allowed yourself to become until now. Gemini Mars likes to sample life, to be sparked by the variety of experiences. I hope the space provided by this retrograde period allowed you to get back in touch with your curiosity and the awareness that you can change and reinvent yourself as often as you are called to do so.