A Fixed First Quarter Moon and Mars in Retrograde Shadow, July 27th, 2020

The first quarter moon, the waxing square between the moon and sun that marks the halfway point between the new moon and the full moon, arrives on Monday, July 27th, just after Mars enters the shadow of its upcoming retrograde in Aries. 

The moon is squaring the sun from Scorpio, a sign of intensity, unearthing, transformation, and healing.  Both Scorpio and Leo are fixed signs, meaning they come to us in the center of one of the four seasons, when that season is at its "height."  ("Leo season," when the sun makes its annual transit of Leo, happens at the height of summer.)  We could think of the four fixed signs (Leo, Scorpio, Taurus, and Aquarius) as both confident and stubborn. 

Squares always feel like an impasse, an obstacle we need to work through, because the energies are intersecting at a ninety degree angle.  When it is the sun and moon in square, it is our conscious mind and subconscious that arrives at this energetic impasse.  The first quarter square is also known as a, "crisis in action," because it is during the waxing, rather than the waning, moon.  

The moon, ruler of Cancer, sign of the mother, emotions, and the past, is in Scorpio for this square to the sun in Leo.  Scorpio is the sign of the deep psyche, secrets, power, healing, and transformation.  This first quarter square on Monday is bound to feel intense with this placement, especially with the extra tension of Mars just having entered its retrograde territory in Aries on Saturday the 25th. 

Mars, the warrior and the planet of our passion, assertion, and motivation, is spending the entire last half of 2020 in its own sign of Aries, which is rare, and quite potent energetically.  Mars typically spends only about two months in each sign - this transit is three times as long, even more powerful because Mars is on its home turf and also going retrograde while here.  

Mars in Aries can up the hostility factor.  We might find ourselves with our hackles up where we normally wouldn't.  This is the energy strong for the next six months.  Strong Mars energy can move mountains, but it needs to be handled carefully and consciously directed.  If this kind of amped up Mars vibe is allowed to run amok, it can be very destructive.  And we already know that not everyone will be able to be completely conscious of this all the time, and some way less than others.  We know we are not perfect.  And we know some of us are just not conscious enough to even be aware of this sort of dynamic on this level. It does us no good to place unrealistic expectations on ourselves or others, so let's not do that.  Remember, this is about strategy.  Walking around with blinders on won't help us.  To be successful, to access this magic, to navigate, we must have our eyes wide open and be working with what is - as it changes from moment to moment even.  

Use caution.  Be strategic. Steer clear of people you know are energetically sensitive but unconscious, and so tend to act out because the energies are making them feel uncomfortable.  Try to be aware of when this is getting stirred within yourself, and take a break from people and get some alone time.  A solid "time-out" practice is going to come in very handy over the next six months as is exercising your right to not respond and to not engage. 

In the words of Marcus Aurelius, "The best response to anger is silence."  In fact, these next few months are a great time to dive into all things Marcus Aurelius.  Mars retrograde is when we focus on strategy.  This is when we fall back, regroup, recharge, and do the necessary reconnaissance work.  The number one rule for working Mars retrograde successfully is, "DO NOT INSTIGATE".  If you find yourself in a hostile situation and need to defend and protect, that is one thing, but Mars retrograde, and let's just include the pre- and post-shadows as well because this is such big energy during already turbulent times, is absolutely not the time to start shit.  Don't do it under any circumstances. 

During a Mars retrograde, when the warrior turns inward, if you start it, you lose, end of story.  In addition, keep in mind that Saturn stations direct in Capricorn in square to Mars retrograde on September 28th.  While Mars is retrograde it will be squaring Saturn, Jupiter, and Pluto in Capricorn.  This is going to be bumpy astro to say the least, which is why we are going to get grounded and get our rules of the engagement and boundaries in place (and start studying up on Marcus Aurelius) NOW. 

For now the important thing to keep in mind is that we are in the retrograde shadow as of Saturday the 25th, and that means Mars is making its first pass out of three over these degrees of Aries that are the retrograde territory.  Issues that come up now around self-assertion and anger are sure to be what will be reviewed during the retrograde.  Being as observant as possible and minimizing being reactive as much as possible are the things now. 

Also, right now both Mercury in Cancer and Venus in Gemini are still in their post-retrograde shadows.  Mercury is the mind and the messenger and in Cancer was deep diving into our past and emotional patterns.  Venus is love and money, but by way of values and self-value - really at the heart of the matter here is self-love.  Venus is how we attract what we most desire into our lives, and that happens through our ability to resonate energetically with those things.  Gemini is actually ruled by Mercury, and is the sign of the mind.  So Venus retrograde in Gemini was actually drilling down to our values and self-value and self-love and then rebuilding back up through our beliefs, thoughts, and actions.  These two retrogrades were linked by that Mercury piece, and we are still integrating them right now, until August 4th and August 7th, when Mercury enters Leo and Venus enters Cancer, respectively.  (I hope to have a post up addressing this specifically on the blog very soon, so you can check for it here.)

For this week, as we pass the first quarter moon and head into the upcoming full moon at 11 degrees Aquarius on the morning of next Monday, August 3rd, we are paying attention, observing, evaluating, and re-evaluating.  We are paying attention to this shift as Mars enters its retrograde territory.  We are paying attention to what is coming up at Monday's square between the Leo sun and Scorpio moon.  We are taking note of where we have been over the past month, and what our intentions were at this past new moon in Cancer, and looking forward to where we want to go, reading the upcoming energetic currents, and making adjustments.  We are centered and calm, yet focused and adaptable, ready to take small course-correcting actions as necessary.  We are becoming adept at observing, strategizing, and navigating - we are becoming masters of manifestation.  


Love & Gratitude,
Kasey

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