Here comes the fire! Mars retrograde moves into Cancer on January 6, 2025.
Let’s see what this means.
The meaning of Mars Retrograde
Mars is the natural ruler of energy and drive. A planet is called ‘retrograde’ if it appears to move backward through the zodiac signs, and retrograde planets tend to act in the opposite way than normal.
This means that Mars retrograde is a time when energy and drive can slow down.
If you were born while Mars was retrograde, you have Mars retrograde in your birth chart. Natal Mars retrograde shows that you are someone who takes action and uses your energy in more subtle ways and who may be more passive. Taking the initiative can be a challenge for you.
Mars retrograde natives may be better at being passive-aggressive and finding other ways to make things happen. It may be difficult for you to express your anger, and this may cause you to bottle up your anger and explode at some point.
If you were born with Mars retrograde, it is crucial that you learn how to stand up for yourself, take initiative and be more confident.
The periods when transit Mars is retrograde can give you the opportunity to tap into Mars energy that wouldn’t normally be available to you, so you should try to make the most of those periods (such as the period when we now!).
Transit Mars retrograde can bring difficulties with energy and drive for all of us. We may have trouble getting things moving and sometimes feel stuck. That could cause us to explode and create even bigger problems.
Healthy, positive outlets for anger and aggression are incredibly important during Mars retrograde. If that can be controlled, we can navigate the retrograde period much more easily.
Mars Retrograde: the details
On December 6, 2024, Mars stationed retrograde at 6°11′ Leo, beginning a period that lasted until February 23, 2025, when it turned directly at 17°01′ Cancer.
With Mars retrograde in Leo, the focus shifts to areas ruled by Leo, such as creativity, self-expression and leadership. This transit encourages a rethinking of how we assert ourselves in these domains.
We may reevaluate our creative projects, leadership roles, or ways of seeking recognition. This is a time to address any underlying issues related to pride or ego that may be hindering authentic self-expression.
On January 6, 2025, Mars retrograde shifts into the emotional and nurturing sign of Cancer, bringing an energy shift that encourages introspection around emotional conflicts and domestic matters. Mars, the planet of action, drive, and passion, feels more subdued in Cancer, as this water sign prioritizes feelings and security over direct confrontation.
During this time, you may revisit old emotional wounds, reevaluate how you stand up for yourself in relationships, or question your boundaries within family dynamics. It is a time to slow down, reflect and approach challenges with compassion and care rather than violence. While the retrograde can stir up unresolved issues, it also offers a powerful opportunity to heal and strengthen your emotional foundation.
Patience and self-care are key during this introspective transit.
How to Survive Mars Retrograde
1. Use crystals
Crystals can be very helpful in managing retrograde energy if you are struggling on your own. We recommend choosing crystals that complement the energy of Cancer!
- Moonstone: Enhances intuition and emotional balance and resonates with Cancer’s connection to the Moon.
- Rose quartz: Promotes self-love, emotional healing and compassion, helping you calmly navigate conflict.
- Carnelian: Increases motivation and creativity while balancing the fiery energy of Mars in a gentler way.
- Lepidolite: Calms anxiety and emotional overwhelm and helps release old emotional patterns.
- Smoky quartz: Grounds and protects you from absorbing negative energies, supporting emotional resilience.
Before using your crystals, cleanse them with moonlight, sage, or water (if the crystal is water resistant). Hold the crystal in your hand, close your eyes and set an intention, such as:
- “I release emotional blocks and welcome healing.”
- “I stay grounded and connected to my inner wisdom.”
- “I embrace this time to reflect and grow emotionally.”
2. Start meditation
Meditation can be helpful with almost any retrograde, so consider getting started!
If you’ve tried meditation before and didn’t stick with it, don’t despair; you probably just weren’t doing the right kind of meditation for you. Yes, there are many different forms of meditation! So try a few different ones.
This next meditation is designed to help you tune into the nurturing yet introspective energy of Mars retrograde in Cancer. It encourages you to connect with your emotions, heal old wounds and find peace in your inner world.
1. Grounding
- Close your eyes and take three deep breaths.
- With each exhale, release the tension and allow your body to relax.
- Visualize roots extending from your body to the earth, grounding you in a sense of stability and security.
2. Connect with the element of water
- Imagine standing by a calm ocean under a soft, moonlit sky.
- Feel the gentle waves wash over your feet, softening and cleansing you.
- Imagine that with each wave the emotional heaviness is lifted away, leaving you lighter and calmer.
3. Invoke Mars Retrograde Energy
- Visualize Mars as a glowing red light in the sky. The energy feels softer and more introspective and encourages you to slow down.
- See this light descend and gently enter your heart center. It brings warmth and relief to hidden or unresolved emotions.
4. Explore your inner ocean
- Imagine diving into a vast ocean in your heart.
- Allow memories, feelings or unresolved conflicts to arise while swimming. View them with compassion and curiosity, as if you were observing them from a distance.
- Ask yourself: What do I have to let go of? Which emotions need care?
5. Emotional release and healing
- Visualize a glowing blue light, the color of Cancer’s nurturing energy, surrounding you.
- Imagine this light enveloping the emotions you want to release, softening the edges and transforming them into peace and clarity.
- Whisper to yourself: I honor my emotions. I let go of what no longer serves me. I trust my healing journey.
6. Rebuild your emotional strength
- Imagine a shell forming around your heart, not to seal it off, but to protect its new strength. This scale represents healthy boundaries and emotional resilience.
- Feel gratitude for your inner growth and the wisdom that Mars retrograde has brought you.
7. Close
- Slowly bring your awareness back to the present moment. Move your fingers and toes.
- When you’re ready, open your eyes.
After meditation, keep a journal of any emotions or insights that emerged. Use this time to reaffirm your commitment to self-care and emotional authenticity.
3. Connect with your emotions
With Mars retrograde in Cancer, connecting with your emotions is not only helpful, but essential. Cancer, the sign of intuition and nurture, asks you to slow down and honor your inner world. Mars, the planet of action, is often about progress, but in retrograde it invites reflection rather than reaction.
This cosmic alignment creates the perfect opportunity to explore what really drives you on a deeper emotional level.
Suppressing feelings during this time can lead to frustration or burnout, as the energy of Mars retrograde amplifies unresolved tensions. Instead, lean into the Cancer themes of vulnerability and self-care. Journaling, meditating, or having open conversations with loved ones can help you process emotions and gain clarity about where to focus your energy once the retrograde passes.
By connecting with your emotions, you will not only heal old wounds, but you will also strengthen your ability to act with intention and authenticity when Mars moves forward.
5. Take small breaks when necessary
Taking microbreaks during Mars retrograde in Cancer is essential for maintaining emotional and physical balance. This period is characterized by introspection, increased sensitivity and a slower pace of action, making it important to respect your energy and avoid burnout.
Cancer is a deeply emotional sign, and Mars retrograde can bring hidden feelings to the surface. Microbreaks allow you to distance yourself from emotionally charged situations, allowing you to process your emotions in manageable doses. Taking a few minutes of deep breathing or taking a short walk can prevent overwhelm and create space for calm reflection.
Mars retrograde often slows down physical and mental energy, making it harder to sustain long periods of productivity. Micro-breaks help restore your focus and vitality, in line with the nurturing energy of Cancer. They ensure that you have the stamina to approach tasks with care and intention.
Cancer encourages you to tune into your inner world, and micro-breaks provide opportunities to check in with yourself. Use these moments to ask:
- How do I feel now?
- What do I need to feel supported?
This practice strengthens your connection to your emotional needs and helps you deal with challenges with greater self-awareness.
It is not the time to break through resistance; it is a time for gentle, intentional action. Microbreaks remind you to work with your energy instead of against it, and help you move forward in a way that feels aligned and sustainable.
