Happy Mars Retrograde! How are you doing? Have you been tending that fire inside?
It’s an interesting occurrence to see the planet of fire moving in to retrograde motion as we enter into the darkest time of the year. To those of you who have been following my astrological forecasts and teachings, you know that retrograde periods mean that the planet is leaving us to manage its energy in our lives. It is a test.
This time, it is a test of divine fire. Are you up to it? Can you tend the flame of spirit within or will you allow cruelty and self-doubt to snuff it out? That’s the challenge Mars has issued to us all for the next couple of months.
Timing Details of Mars Retrograde:
Mars Retrograde happens once every two years or so (24 – 26 months to be precise). This retrograde period started on December 6th, 2024 and will conclude on February 23rd, 2025.
Mars initiates his retrograde motion in Leo and on January 6th, 2025 he works his way into Cancer finishing his retrograde period in the sign which is his Fall. (More to come on that).
This retrograde period is just over 11 weeks long – plenty of time to heal and purify the lower natures that keep you trapped in cruelty and self-doubt!
Key Theme of Mars Retrograde: Honouring the Divine Self
As an initiate of the Modern Mystery School, I can safely say that we make no secret about our belief in the Godliness of humanity. This is not a New Age teaching. Nor is it without basis in history. This concept comes to us from the times of Hermes Trismegistus himself who is said to have lived 6 – 8000 years ago in our lineage. Much of Hermes’s teachings spoke of humanity as being both mortal and divine – the marriage of the physical and spiritual.
The teachings of Hermes then traveled their way northward through ancient Egypt to Greece and ultimately to Rome, carried by Astrologers who then passed the torch on to the schools of philosophy that later became the roots of Stoicism.
Many famous astrologers and stoic philosophers throughout history were initiates of varying degrees and their works have remained with us through time to remind us that the lower nature is not the totality of who you are.
So, what has this to do with Mars Retrograde?
As Mars initiates his sojourn in the sign of Leo, the lion, he awakens and stirs up the polarity between the personality (a condition of your physical life) and the individuality or divine self. Mars stimulates conflict, he polarizes – and in this case, he widens the gap between mortal and divine so that you feel it. And by feel it, I mean that you really feel it.
You know that Mars Retrograde is stimulating you to heal if you notice any of the following:
· Succumbing to addictions or bad habits you’re ashamed of
· Doubt in your ability to succeed in chosen goals or life in general
· False pride hiding a sensitive and fragile ego
· Self-judgement and criticism that can border on cruelty
· Forgetting that there is anything good about you and focusing on the negative
· Feeling sorry for yourself and hiding from the world
· Feeling feeble and taking ineffectual actions
Any of the above can show up in major or minor ways. Retrograde periods work with us wherever we are at and to the degree that we need their assistance. This retrograde period may be gentle or it may be in your face. The biggest question is how can you heal the divide? How can you align your physical life with the divine self?
Lesson of Mars Retrograde: Humans are not Animals
As we look to the nature of Cancer and Leo, you will note that both signs are symbolized by animals – the crab and lion, respectively. In the Hermetic teachings as well as Stoic philosophy, we have a lower or animalistic nature. Those who commit heinous crimes or live a life of misdeeds are likened by the great stoic philosopher Epictetus to be as wolves, lions or foxes as they honour their animalistic nature over the divine.
When speaking of humanity’s nature, Epictetus states:
“Two elements are combined in our creation, the body, which we have in common with the beasts; and reason and good judgement, which we share with the gods. Most of us tend toward the former connection, miserable and mortal though it is, whereas only a few favour this holy and blessed alliance.”
From the perspective of Esoteric Astrology, Cancer is the sign in which we are born into the physical and acquire our mortal (or animalistic) nature along with all its instincts survivalist behaviours. As we move out of infancy, Leo symbolizes that stage at which the personality begins to form as an extension of the physical or mortal nature.
As we grow, we have the chance to remember who we are though – to remember the divine and to actively tend to that flame within ourselves. Epictetus himself finds it puzzling that we cling to this lower nature (but perhaps he had forgotten that knowledge of man’s divine origins was not common knowledge, but rather kept hidden in mystery school lineages).
The animalistic or lower nature is that which speaks to you of survival, of limitation, of hunters and prey. The animalistic nature says that you either thrive or die. It must dominate the weak or find a way to be dominated and yet survive. The cooperation of the animalistic nature is of the short-lived type that is found in what Machiavelli called low-trust situations. In essence, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” The animalistic nature says that there is always someone out to get you – unless you get them first.
If you focus on your physical nature, then that is what will grow. The nature of the physical though is animalistic, it is feeble and following your lower nature leads to ruin. It is spirit that drives and accomplishes. Epictetus writes:
“‘What am I? A wretched mortal – a feeble piece of flesh.’ Feeble indeed – but you have something better than the flesh. So why turn from this and cling to that?”
Mortal and Divine: Stand with Spirit
“If we could completely subscribe, as we should, to the view that we are all primary creatures of God, and that God is father of both gods and men, I don’t believe that we would ever think mean or lowly thoughts about ourselves.”
- Epictetus
If you have been feeling lowly, feeling the sting of words and thoughts of yourself, this Mars Retrograde period is inviting you to find strength in honouring the Godliness within you. This isn’t about ignoring errors and inflating pride or arrogance. It is about genuinely honouring the good within you.
If you’re new to this concept, or even just need a reminder, here are my recommendations for you:
1) Hermetic Astrology Reading or Natal Chart Reading: let’s work together to help give you clarity about the beautiful aspects of your nature and how to overcome blockages in a balanced way
2) Universal Hermetic Ray Kabbalah: This is an amazing alchemical journey that unveils your relationship with God and your Godliness.
3) Archangel Michael Interstellar Tube of Light: Part of the magick of this wonderful session is the power of recreation. You have the opportunity to step into the archangel’s tube of light and recreate yourself to be more in alignment with your light and spirit. (If you’re local to Toronto, I can offer this session but can refer you if you are elsewhere in the world).
4) Journeys of the Spirit: This is an amazing introductory class that will help you connect with your Higher Self. Without exposure to spirit, it is hard to overcome the lower nature. This workshop teaches you methods to connect with the Higher Self so that you can embrace that relationship and begin to embody that higher wisdom and ability.
5) Prayer – honouring the divine: if we don’t give gratitude and actively seek the divine in our prayers, it is so easy to succumb to the jaded, egotistical, lower nature of the world. You’re surrounded by it every day. Take your time to pray and give gratitude for the goodness in yourself and your life! Honour God and yourself and as god in your prayers. All the good things in your life happen because of that partnership! Prayer is easy and you can do it any day, anytime, anywhere!
The most important thing to remember about Mars Retrograde:
Remember, your animalistic/lower nature will always tell you that you can’t do it. It will demean and degrade you. It is the conversationalist whose language is negative self-talk when it’s quiet and self-cruelty when really stirred.
With Mars widening the chasm between the mortal and divine natures, the friction between that positive voice and the negative voice will be louder. It’s ok though – better to feel the difference and act on it than to live according to the lower nature by default. If you embrace spirit, you will hear a difference voice – a voice that the stoics called “reason” or “mind”.
The beautiful thing is that when you start to listen to your divine nature, the gap begins to close. Life becomes less painful and more joyful. When you begin to honour the divine within you, it evokes the divine in others. It fosters compassion, wisdom and success.
“Man must be so weighed as though there were a God within him.”
- Marcus Manilius
Man must be so weighed because there is a God within him. There is a God within you. Embrace it and let the self-doubt and self-cruelty ebb away!
May Mars bring you the strength of divinity within!
Aleks