Visualize the attention and excitement captured by the spotlight on a stage as Leo’s domain. The Sun rules this realm offering us energy and a chance to be seen as our true self. With the Fixed Fire Sign offering unending passion and consistent star power, the will to succeed as the main character resonates through all who enter.
Two days before November’s election, a Mighty Warrior makes his grand entrance to accept the glory he feels he so rightly deserves. Surprisingly, his gait is hesitant and he cuts short his monologue on December 6th grumbling about the past while gradually retreating to the privacy of his home. The stage remains empty except for occasional appearances by the chorus until the Warrior attempts a comeback in mid-April. Although still not at full force until early May, he recovers his vigor and offers the expected 6 weeks of passionate persuasion and vigorous footwork.
Mars usually spends 6 weeks in each sign. This year that stretches to 9 long, slow weeks in Leo. Next spring, we’ll get two slower weeks plus 6 weeks of Mars at full strength and speed in sunny Leo. With a triple dose of Mars in Leo, we’ll be able to face the challenges in November and December then adjust to our changes in late April and still enjoy a full serving of confidence and attention in May and the first half of June. The graph below doesn’t show the break we get between the servings.
Mars in Leo is usually a ferocious King of the Jungle, a celebrated champion fighter bringing heat and hustle to charm his way into the center of attention. This year, Mars overstays his time but instead of bursting into the spotlight, he creeps in, goes retrograde and slinks back into Cancer by dawn on January 6th. The once mighty and regal lion among men will appear feeble in November then faded and obsessed with old glories through the holidays. Will you be the faded lion or simply tasked with enduring or avoiding him? All of us will be challenged to re-evaluate how fast and effectively we choose to move as previously energizing efforts lag. The harsh stage lights will force us to see what no longer fits our authentic self-expression and question the expectations that push us to perform for approval.
Next year, Mars picks up most of his most of his speed in the 2 months before returning to Leo’s spotlight although the second half of April will involve clean up and adjustments to the change. When the Mighty Warrior is at full speed in May, he will deliver his usual energy to whomever embodies his confidence and speed.
The diversity in how Mars in Leo expresses itself can be seen by the presidential candidates both of whom have Mars in the late degrees of Leo so their Mars returns happen at the end of this transit in June. Their fights attract attention and glory although with Mars in different houses they don’t champion the same causes. With a Mars Rx in Leo, people tend to fight though tired and slow like Volodymyr Zelensky or become a rebel without a cause like James Dean.
- Sept 4 ~ Mars enters Cancer
- Oct 5 ~ Mars enters pre-shadow in Cancer
- Nov 3 ~ Mars enters Leo
- Dec 6 ~ Mars turns Retrograde in Leo
- Jan 6 ~ Mars Rx returns to Cancer
- Feb 23 ~ Mars turns Direct in Cancer
- April 18 ~ Mars returns to Leo
- May 2 ~ Mars leaves post-shadow in Leo
- June 17 ~ Mars enters Virgo
There’s more to this Mars Retrograde story with Mars in Cancer. I’ll be teaching at GVST on this topic in November and you can register here. Or you can make an appointment on Zoom or in person to explore these transits with me personally.