This is by no means a comprehensive guide to the upcoming Mars retrograde in Cancer and Leo, but rather a pool of thoughts and observations that have come through so far for what we will be experiencing together as a collective over these 9 months. I am sure at some point that I will release the exact dates and outline a more cohesive technical process, though as of now, I am truly living and reliving the archetypes and themes that such a transit means to foreshadow.
I've discussed Pluto's transition through Capricorn and Aquarius extensively and now we are at the final retrogression in the sign of Capricorn in our lifetimes. We will never again see this transit and for that, Pluto transits signify much of our life's work. We can only live through so many of them, the houses and planets aspected are violated by Pluto's presence and develop something transformational as a result. Pluto in Capricorn is a lot of things. It's been a symbol of capitalism and greed, the global pandemic and especially the way in which such a pandemic was handled. This transit has taken us to the extremes of our mental, emotional, and physical capacity, it has taken us to the depths of personal and global economy, to the core of long standing familial and generational issues, and has facilitated the collapse of many, many attachments. I have been very vocal about the transition into the Pluto in Aquarius transit, the "new world" of innovation and individuality. This Plutonian transition is the crux of the upcoming Mars retrograde as Mars and Pluto move to oppose each other, the Cancer-Capricorn and Leo-Aquarius axes are each boldly highlighted.
Pluto has re-entered the sign of Capricorn on September 1st and in this week alone, I am seeing myself and everyone around me relive potent themes that characterize the entirety of the last 15 years revolving around matters of attachment, patience, restriction, and boundaries. Earlier in the week I faced what seemed to be an internal tsunami of nervous system activation in response to a trigger that I was convinced (or rather hoped) that I had fully moved past ages ago. These triggers and difficult characters are resurfacing in our lives for one last time, I think Pluto's hope for us is to identify them and hold stubbornly to the core he has taught us to develop despite the feeling of destabilization. It wasn't until I confronted this "internal tsunami" of sorts and accepted whatever the consequences may be for relying on what I have relearned over and over these last 15 years. I took the risk: to exhibit patience in the face of perceived danger or seemingly unbearable limitation; to assert myself even if it means that I will be abandoned; to love honestly even if it means to be hurt. I was pleasantly surprised with the results of leaning on these past Plutonian lessons, I can see that it can truly be different this time now that this transit has (and I in response have) matured. Even so, that doesn't mean that it's easy nor that the transit is over. Pluto will not fully settle into Aquarius until November 19th, and you know, a lot can happen in two months.
Liz Greene says in her book Astrology of Fate, "One of the boons of Pluto, so far as I have seen, is a capacity for survival and a tough inner core which may not always be 'kind' or 'selfless', but is a good deal more effective in life, and is not frightened by separation, suffering, or death." It is this week that I have re-realized, re-epiphanied that like courage is not the absence of fear, maturity is not the absence of toxicity, and growth is not the absence of regression. These are choices that we must make everyday, to keep ourselves accountable by doing the insurmountable even while it is deeply uncomfortable. Pluto is inherently a deeply uncomfortable planet. Maybe it's not that we are without fear of separation, suffering, or death but maybe our actions might appear to be after Pluto works closely with us.
Similarly, in all about love by bell hooks she says, "Acceptance of pain is part of a loving practice. It enables us to distinguish constructive suffering from self-indulgent hurt. When love's promise has never been fulfilled in our lives it is perhaps the most difficult practice of love to trust that the passage through the painful abyss leads to paradise." Mars in Cancer is usually a transit in which we confront our enmeshment with others, our dependency on others, and these things can leave us feeling completely out of emotional control and in response we may either cling or completely separate rather than find a way to engage appropriately. I have realized through another run in with Pluto in Capricorn that in efforts to counteract my more anxious and controlling tendencies over the years, I have adopted the extreme opposite, avoidance. This is the Cancer-Capricorn axis and it is one that is trying to find a final balance with a retrograde through the sign of Cancer and through this transition onto the Leo-Aquarius axis (not to mention Mars in Cancer is headed towards the nodal bendings of Aries and Libra). Many might be realizing at this time that they have mastered the art of either relational harmony or separation, but they have not truly learned how to engage with both at the same time– how do we sustain anything without that balance? This is the complicated Leo-Aquarius theme of loyalty to ourselves and loyalty to others, the seamless connection with others without losing ourselves entirely but we must not forget its root in the Mother-Father archetype that finds itself in our own family lore on the Cancer-Capricorn axis.
As Pluto now leaves Capricorn for good in November, we are being given a chance in the opposite house and sign of Cancer to clear out, setting us in the right direction we would like to go in, reassessing our martian motivations in this area of our lives and preparing for a Jupiter transit through Cancer shortly after. This time is an intense reassessment and alchemical clearing to eventually grow, expand, and learn what else is out there for us now that Cancer is no longer suffocated and continuously violated by Pluto. We may even see some evidence of a completed transformation and of Pluto's boons this Capricorn season in December 2024 and January 2025 as this is the first time we see this season unoccupied by Pluto's intimidating presence. This could aid us in a time of need during Mars retrograde in the opposite sign.
Mars will still oppose Pluto on January 2nd 2025 at 1º of Leo-Aquarius, this is showing us the first something that must "die" in this 20 year Pluto transit but we will have to go backwards, deep into our Mother-Father lore to retrieve something essential for that death when Mars retrogresses Cancer January 7th- February 23rd. 2025 may begin with clarity around what this Pluto in Aquarius transit wants to transform for us and what is required to do so.
I hope that this dumping space for what I have witnessed so far is helpful and informative for whatever journey you are each gearing up for. I am so grateful to have you here reading along.
Your friendly neighborhood astrologer,
Katie
