Mars Retrograde : The (Backwards) Way You Do The Things You Do

When a planet in a natal chart is found in retrograde (Rx), the native's experience the energy of that planet in a more subjective, internal way. Thus their interpretation and expression of the planet's energy is very unique to them personally. There is almost always a somewhat unusual or obsessive concern with the past where the energies represented by the planet (in Mars' case: action, passion, sexuality and aggression) are concerned. Some karmic astrologers believe that retrograde planets indicate a link to a past life. If this vein of interpretation is to be believed, it can be said that natives with their natal Mars in retrograde had aggression used improperly by or against them in a former life. Their conceptualization of Mars energy is closer to the heart in their current incarnation as a result, and now comes from a different, deeper place than those around them.

Mars Rx is unusual; only Venus retrograde is more rare. Mars turns retrograde only once every 26 months for a period of roughly 8 weeks. Mars Rx individuals need to turn their desire energies inward before they can define the motivations behind their actions. They may do damaging or chaotic things over and over again before they understand why they are doing them to begin with. They often alternate sharply between periods of feeling very stagnant and going to extremes. They almost always have either unusual sexual aversions (a distaste for sexual acts which most consider tame and/or normal, instead maintaining a "risky" or "shocking" sexual lifestyle with no concern for it's "abnormality"), or fickle, constantly rotating sexual tastes. They may find they are more fascinated with sexuality in general than their own, specific feelings on the subject. Mars Rx women in particular are often attracted to partners who are very dependent, particularly those who are sick or physically handicapped in some way and/or unpopular social misfits.

What is usually seen in a Mars Rx person is someone who has particular difficulty finding direction. They rarely act in their own best interest, although this is unintentional. Their passions/motivations, which are always at least slightly out of the ordinary, are difficult to spark. But - and this is a very important point - when they do find something or someone that stimulates them, their drive and passion will be endless where this focus is concerned. This is because this motivation has been properly internalized, which happens rarely to the Mars Rx individual, and so becomes a very personal, important subject to them. A pattern of abusive and/or co-dependent relationships often arises, typically leaving the Mars Rx individual feeling used or as if they had been taken advantage of. There are several reasons for this. It typically takes natives longer than most to internalize that abuse is truly abuse, particularly if the abuse is not directly physical. Also, when a relationship manages to ignite the Mars Rx individual's nearly impossible to spark passion, she will find that her energy for this relationship is endless, and that she is willing to give more than most, and work harder, in order to make it work. As you can imagine, a situation like that is easily taken advantage of by the wrong person, and given their attraction to unwell individuals, this happens to Mars Rx native's often.

When people with natal Mars Rx do not have a stimulating outlet for their passion, they often become afraid of the sheer power of their urges and will often refrain from expressing them, to their detriment. They often must cope with periodic depressions of energy and operate mostly in sudden spurts of revolutionary activity. In fact, they are a contained revolution simply waiting for inspiration. Because of this revolutionary containment, this can actually be a fine natal position to have, but requires a tremendous amount of effort and focus to express it positively.