otterspaceastrology

MARS IN AQUARIUS — DECEMBER 25, 2012 — February 2, 2013

Dear Friends and Readers, hopefully everyone had a nice holiday.  I took a break, baking cookies and feeding a houseful for a few days,  but now the house is quiet again and it’s back to work with clients and writing.  I’m so glad the days are getting longer again.  I miss the Sun…up here in the north we cherish every sunny day…

Mars is now in Aquarius and there are a number of transits to look at but first we’ll explore the nature of Mars while it’s moving through this sign.  Mars is interesting  in Aquarius, not necessarily incompatible but Mars tends to be a solo act, (excepting in Libra :)) and Aquarius is all about sublimating the ego for the good of the group.  Group can mean friends, family, co-workers, volunteer and/or charitable organizations.  Mars can be a symbol of leadership and a call to action.  If you are trying to motivate a  group be sure to lead through action, not words, since Mars is involved.  If you can ACT on your ideals and promote cooperation within the group you can accomplish a lot this month.  Being bossy won’t work and it is also important to remember enlightened principles of leadership — delegate, give praise where due, share the glory, etc.   I know a  couple of Aquarians with Mars on their Sun natally and they tend to be feisty.  Fond of instigating rebellion in the ranks, yet stubborn and resistant to outside pressure.  If they decide to change fine, otherwise, forget it.

This is a great transit for inventive people to move forward with their goals and ideas, especially inventions that save time/money/labor/energy and can benefit large groups of people.  There are more Aquarians in the Hall of Fame than any other sign, and also more lunatics, too.  Mars is not a patient planet and sometimes it’s hard for Aquarians to wait for the world to see the value of their ideas.  They tend to understand what is or will be popular way before it actually happens…

Mars in Aquarius encourages you to take initiative and reach out to others.  Make contacts, network, gather friends and groups together to work or socialize.  Just remember that the social angle will go far better if there’s also a purpose beyond the fun of the moment.  Habitat for Humanity is a perfect example of this transit.  The volunteers work with sharp tools (Mars), they gather together to help others (Aquarius), they work hard and quickly (Mars), and the good they do lasts far beyond the moment (Aquarius).

Looking at specific transits, I notice that transiting Mars and Saturn are in square, exact on January 7^th — allow a few days of orb on either side.  On the physical level,  since ½ the world is in winter, guard your legs from the knees to the ankles and be careful about slipping on wet or icy surfaces.  On the mental level, this is not the time to get into an ideological war of words with someone who has a weak ego, is insecure, and always has to be right.  Gee, that sounds just like DC these days !!!  Still, unless you have no choice, like being locked in a room with a jury, let things slide until a better time to get your point across.  On the spiritual level,  this square may present you with a dilemma regarding your needs and that of others.  With some effort on your part, you could actually come up with a brilliant solution.  Ask the heavenly realms for help, clear your mind, and be receptive to inspiration…

A more minor, but pleasant day would be around the 4^th as Mars trines both the Moon and Jupiter — that’s a Friday and very good for socializing, sharing ideas, and having some fun.  After that, it’s better to wait out that square from say the 6^th through the 10^th…

The New Moon in Capricorn is also on a Friday, the 11^th, so if you need to begin new projects, or have work-related meetings, this is the time. Mars provides a mild but helpful semi-sextile (30 degrees) to the Moon — not much energy but at least Mars is not stirring up issues.  Friday afternoon, the boss may be more approachable if you need a favor or some help.  It’s a perfect day to schedule dental work, if that applies to you.  Also good for bones and joints — stuff like PT appointments.

Mars conjoins Moon in Aquarius on the 13^th.  Combined with transiting Venus square Uranus, these energies are fine for hanging out with friends, but not helpful with emotional intimacy re: male/female relationships.  People could do some odd things to gain space; their behavior is really saying they are nervous about getting too close.  Give your loved ones some breathing room and wait for a better time for being comfy-cozy together.

The 15^th is interesting…there’s the same semi-sextile between Mars and the Moon but this time it’s on the other side, Moon is in Pisces.  This is very good for meditation, group or solo, and for paying attention to your dreams.  A great time to figure out the symbolism of dreams…again you can do this by yourself, but it’s really a great day to discuss metaphysical themes with your kindred spirits.  Those of you who use subliminal tapes and work with different brain-wave patterns — a great day for progress in these matters, too.

The 17^th through the 19^th might be kind of a heavy time, Mars is not involved, TG, but there could be a lot of events, possibly geological, too, since Sun and Mercury will be moving into the 29^th degree of Capricorn and then into Aquarius.  I don’t see a lot of other transits supporting  more crisis, but on Friday the 18^th there could be a big announcement in the news — Capricorn — big business?  Churches? Government?  The 18^th is actually a great day for writing, if you are so inclined.  The Moon sextiles Mars on the 18^th, too, good for action, trying new things.  With the Moon in Aries, exercise looks good, too…

Mars squares the Moon in Taurus on Sunday the 20^th so you need to move more slowly and deliberately at home and guard against  careless accidents and ALSO careless and stubborn speech.  Not a good day to use angry or impatient words with your loved ones.  The Aquarian tendency to jump from subject to subject without understandable segues could be very irritating to people who think in more predictable patterns.  Since Taurus is money and shopping, those might be good subjects to avoid…

On Wednesday, January 23^rd, Mars trines Moon in Gemini and there’s also a Mercury trine Jupiter that day.  So there’s definitely a positive accent on communication and the exchange of ideas.  This is a positive for students, for teachers, for computers and technology, and most of all for groups who need to formulate a plan of action.  A great day to launch a campaign — fundraising, marketing, public information, etc.  People who  work in advertising could be particularly inspired with clever ideas.  Keep a notebook or a digital recorder handy…

Friday evening the 25^th, transiting Mars inconjuncts the Moon.  This is a 150 degree angle that often manifests as co-workers or other people trying to get you to be responsible for what is really their issue or problem.  First of all, don’t even talk to someone who is hungry — with the Moon in Cancer people won’t even be rational if their blood sugar is low.  Second, use active listening techniques and strive for clear communication.  You can be empathetic but don’t allow yourself to be guilt-tripped.  The usual solution for an inconjunct is to help the other person help themselves.  Total bail-outs may backfire and cause a worse situation for the person who needs help.  The idea is to help strengthen them to meet their own responsibilities.  As far as domestic life, it would be helpful to doublecheck who is doing what chores, so things don’t get mixed up and/or forgotten.

This inconjunct appears again, on the other side, this time when Moon is in Virgo on the 30^th.  Most likely an issue with a co-worker who is not meeting some kind of deadline,  or they are having a technology problem.  Again, do what you can to help with a glad heart but know your limits, too.  Reiterate to the person that ultimately it is their responsibility.  If we help someone but we feel resentment then we don’t win any brownie points, so you will need to stay clear within yourself about what you are willing to do cheerfully.  Otherwise, it’s better to say no.  Remember the inconjunct is YOUR challenge, the inept or needy person is simply presenting you the opportunity to know yourself more deeply…

BTW, when we help another, I  do not believe we have the right to expect THAT same person will help us back. That would be a hidden agenda and contaminate the purity of the help we give.  But we DO have the absolute right to expect that the help we need will come from somewhere when we most need it.  Random acts of kindness count for a lot on the other side…here, too, as recent events have shown us…this is an area of life where Mars in Aquarius can really shine.  Aquarius is the sign of friendship and brotherly love — agape — with Mars here it’s not what you SAY, it’s what you DO…

That’s pretty much it for Mars.  Mars enters Pisces early on the 2^nd of February, 2013.  Happy New Year to all…Jenae