Mars-Vesta in Sagittarius Square Neptune-Chiron in Pisces: Keeping the Motivating Flame of Truth Alive

 Photos: Willow

Mars is currently transiting Sagittarius until it reaches more solid ground in the sign of its exaltation, Capricorn, on March 17.

As warrior planet Mars moves through philosophical Sagittarius, we're truth-applying missiles, following the motivational drives of our own truth, ethics, and beliefs. We're seeking the quickest and most direct route (Mars) to greater understanding, meaning, and purpose (Sagittarius), but this path is not simple or clear-cut.

As Mars works its way through Sagittarius, it is retracing the steps of Saturn in Sagittarius (December 2014 - December 2017), which means it is activating/inflaming the themes of the Saturn in Sagittarius square to Neptune in Pisces (in effect late 2015 through 2016) and then the Saturn in Sagittarius square to Chiron in Pisces (in effect late 2016 through 2017).

Many found the years 2016 and 2017 to be highly challenging under these aspects, and we're now going through a (relatively quick) re-cap of the associated themes. 

Mars is in some pretty thorny territory with many quagmire areas in which we could get emotionally or psychically bogged down.    

Mars can have an inflammatory effect, and Mars transiting Sagittarius indicates a time period when people following their own truth may come into frictional contact with other people following an entirely different truth.

Frictions may be particularly acute in the days surrounding these exact squares:

February 13 - Vesta in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces at 13 degrees (along with Mercury in Aquarius square stationing Jupiter in Scorpio at 22 degrees)
February 17 - Mars in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces at 13 degrees
February 25 - Mars conjunct Vesta (18 degrees Sagittarius) square Venus (18 degrees Pisces)
February 28 - Mercury in Pisces square Mars in Sagittarius at 19 degrees
March 14 - Mars in Sagittarius square Chiron in Pisces at 28 degrees
March 28 - Vesta in Sagittarius square Chiron in Pisces at 28 degrees

We may be moving through some murky confusion about which way to go now. We're stepping into the backwash of some broad collective problems that seem to have no easy solutions. Under the sensitizing, immersive influence of Neptune/Chiron/Pisces, the pain and problems we face (personally and collectively) can seem particularly daunting and intolerable, and we can experience acute points of frustration, followed by depression or despair, about the way forward from here.

Motivation may be dampened somewhat under these Mars-Neptune and Mars-Chiron squares, and we may have to fight to keep our spirits buoyed and to stay on task. We may have to force ourselves to forge on, to stay on track, despite the energetic remembrance of disappointment and futility, hanging around us like stale fumes. 

We're working through some energetic lulls, some points of inertia, and some points where our footing seems to drop out from under us, and this may have us questioning the effectiveness and meaning of our current path.

These aspects are in full effect around Valentine's Day, a day which creates a big, old void of sucking misery at the best of times for a lot of people (honestly, for couples and singles alike). 

Jupiter in Libra: Bringing it All to the Table

Photos: Willow

Relationship-related planet Venus is acting as a scout at the moment as it transits its home turf of Libra. 

Venus is currently out front of Jupiter, which enters Libra September 9 for a transit that lasts until October 17, 2017. 

As it transits the sign of the scales, Venus is forming the same aspects to the outer planets that Jupiter will form during its own year-long transit. 

This gives us a taste of the social and relationship growth on the near horizon, and friends, this taste could be a little spicier than we were expecting from such a balanced and peace-seeking sign. 

Just as we clear the final exact Saturn-Neptune square on September 10, Venus will square transiting Pluto in Capricorn (September 11) and oppose transiting Uranus in Aries (September 18). 

Sandwiched between those two Venus aspects, we have a number of dominant squares to navigate, and the flavour of these squares gives us an indicator of the sometimes-frictional growth opportunities that lie ahead. 

The Sun and Mercury retrograde will form their interior conjunction at 20 degrees Virgo on September 12, and both bodies will be in exact square to Mars in Sagittarius September 12/13. 

We will also experience a 24-degree Pisces Full Moon conjunct wounded healer Chiron on September 16 opposite the Sun and Mercury Rx in Virgo and with all bodies squaring Mars in Sagittarius. This Full Moon has a definite "getting it all on the table" quality, and the things being shared could be inflammatory (Mars). *ahem* 

As mentioned in the recent Jupiter in Libra patron article, Jupiter's transit of Libra will put a spotlight on social justice issues and the ongoing work toward a more just society.  *hoo boy* 

The main theme I see here - with Venus scouting for us in Libra and the Sun-Mercury in Virgo square to Mars in Sagittarius - is a requirement for some of the finer points on social justice issues to come forth in order to puncture and "reality check" some partial-truth rhetoric being put forth by academic circles, media, and various organized groups. 

Mars Direct! An Unearthing of Previous Articles to Fortify Our New Directions

Well, our boy Mars is just about to go direct at 23 degrees Scorpio on June 29 (4:39 p.m. PDT), initiating a new two-year cycle related to goals, personal direction and trajectory, desires, physical energy, and...sex!

I'm offering a couple older articles here so that interested parties can have this perspective fresh in their minds as they move forward, along with Mars. 

Astrology is like fine wine or an expertly-crafted violin - it often improves with time. The astrological information often makes more sense and gives clarified perspective with a little distance on it. So in light of that, I offer these articles as Mars completes its retrograde period and begins moving forward again through the zodiac.

Please note: Willow's Web Astrology patrons have already received these articles. They were also previously available for purchase on the blog, so some non-patrons may have already purchased them, as well. Please check your email box before purchasing. 

The first article was released February 12, 2016 and is titled, "Mars Retrograde 2016: a Re-Direction of Passions" - $9.50

The second article was released March 19, 2016 and talks about the Saturn retrograde in Sagittarius. This article is called "Entering a Period of Beneficial Restructuring" - $6.50

These articles can be purchased via PayPal by clicking the links above or by email money transfer to: willowsweb [at] hushmail.com.

You may recall that action planet Mars stationed retrograde April 17, 2016 in conjunction to taskmaster Saturn, drawing the energy of that conjunction into the retrograde process and into our next two years on Planet Earth.

Mars and Saturn will finally make their exact conjunction on August 24 at 9 degrees Sagittarius, indicating a check-in point as far as our personal trajectories, goals, and physical mojo are concerned. New directions, goals, and desires should be solidified or shored up in some way around that time.

New life and new energy are coming as we close out this month of June. Certain areas are being resurrected. True feelings and desires are being revealed. And Mars is stirring the pot in ways that the pot desperately needs to be stirred

Mars is now stationing direct in quincunx aspect to Uranus and Ceres in Aries, indicating that it may be quite radical and/or shocking breaks from previous trajectories that are nourishing and validating to us now. We're busting out in new ways over the next two years, based on who we are and what we desire now, while also resolving some long-standing and very sticky karmic issues.

The next two years won't always be pretty. In fact, some of it will be pretty raw! But there is no energy in the same old karmic set-ups. There is no life in the holding patterns.

We're moving to where the life is, to where the energy is, to where the inspiration lies. 

And with this martial quincunx energy carried forward for the next two years, there is not much that can stand in our way...

Mars Retrograde 2016: a Re-Direction of Passions

Mars is referred to as the action planet, relating to physical energy, personal direction, goals, will, anger, aggression, sex drive, sexuality, the way we move, and the way we do things, in general.

One of the primary astrological events for 2016 is a Mars retrograde period from April 17 to June 29 when Mars will appear to re-trace its steps in backward motion through the zodiac. 

Mars retrogrades occur once every two years. With the upcoming retrograde period from 8 degrees Sagittarius to 23 degrees Scorpio, the path we are actively carving through life will be changing - or at the very least, deepening - in 2016, becoming more fully aligned with our personal belief systems, faith, and truth.

Both Sagittarius and Scorpio are known as quite passionate signs, and this Mars retrograde period indicates a time of “passions directed and re-directed.” 

In Sagittarius, Mars is actively seeking meaningful experiences that boost inspiration, exhilaration, joy, and faith, as well as deepening our knowledge of the truth.  

In Scorpio, Mars desires to know stone, cold reality, right down to its deep, dark (and sometimes ugly) core. Mars in Scorpio leaves no stone left unturned.

This is an excerpt from the patron article, "Mars Retrograde 2016: a Re-Direction of Passions." It is available in its entirety to Willow's Web Astrology patrons, or it can be purchased for $9.50 via PayPal or email money transfer.