The Mars Retrograde Station: Conflict in Flux

This post was originally published on Astrology News Service

Alex Miller

The planet Mars comes to its station retrograde on December 6^th, appearing to slow its motion, come to a standstill, and change direction.  Planetary stations are optical illusions, created by the triangulation between Earth, the sun, and any third celestial body (nothing ever actually reverses course in the cosmos), but astrologically, they represent important power points where the energies embodied by that planet imbue a particular area of the zodiac for longer than normal.  Focused and concentrated, these stations become metaphoric “turning points” in how that planet’s energies are expressing, affording opportunities to reassess, make adjustments or change direction in the affairs of that planet.

For Mars, named after the Roman god of war, conflict is a major issue.  Mars also rules the military and weaponry, so a stationary Mars could inspire change in these areas as well.  Existing conflicts between nations, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s occupation of Gaza, are all up for review.  US President-elect Donald Trump is fond of saying he could end the war in Ukraine “in a day,” even before reentering the White House; perhaps the Mars station is the day he’ll pick.  With China’s recent unveiling of a new fleet of stealth fighter jets, and a prototype nuclear reactor to power their next generation of aircraft carriers, the South China Sea looks to be another hotspot, sooner rather than later.  And Israel’s “second front” against Iranian surrogate Hezbollah in Lebanon, currently on pause with a fragile ceasefire that began on November 27^th just as Mars slowed to its station, could spark a wider war in the Middle East.

All of these “usual suspects” are reflected in the chart for the Mars station, either directly linked to the planet of war, or spotlighted by a connection to the Sun on the day.  But first let’s look at the underpinning structure of the station, which could be a cosmic cautionary tale.  From its station at 6 Leo, Mars is staring down Pluto, directly opposite at 0 Aquarius.  Mars is also the arbiter of violent death, while Pluto, designating raw power, has additional associations with death and destruction, so the combination of these two could lead to some very devastating outcomes indeed.

Further complicating the situation is TNO Haumea, at 2 Scorpio, on the fulcrum of a challenging, dynamic pattern which astrologers call a T-Square, comprised of two planets in opposition (180 degrees), with a third on their midpoint, roughly squared (90 degrees) to each.  Haumea has a metaphorical light side and a dark side, as do most celestial objects.  But in the context of this pattern, with these players, it’s the dark which will most likely assert itself, at least initially.  Haumea transforms (something it has in common with Pluto), destroys (with the ultimate goal here to rebuild), and is capable of drastic action (damage, death, destruction) if thwarted or cornered.  What leaps to mind immediately is US President Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles in their struggle with Russia; if Russian President Vladimir Putin feels threatened or cornered by this development, he might escalate this conflict with the nuclear weapons at his disposal.

The US will play a key role in many of these conflicts, actively or as arbiter, and this is reflected by the appearance of asteroid Washingtonia (for Washington DC) at 10 Taurus, filling in the empty arm of the T-Square to form a Grand Cross pattern, four points equidistant from each other around the zodiac.  Washingtonia here signals the US as of prime importance in what conflicts do, or do not, develop, and how existing conflicts morph or transform, escalating or diminishing.  A mooted action by the US to cut off arms transfers to Israel, due to humanitarian concerns in Gaza, which might have resulted in de-escalation there, has been deferred after signs of increased flow of aid to the stricken region caused the White House to back off from its threat.  But the incident vividly illustrates Washington’s crucial role in global conflicts, even those that do not directly affect the US, as represented by Washingtonia’s inclusion in the Mars station Grand Cross.

Other global entities with asteroid referents having direct contact to Mars at this time include Ukraine and Taiwan, both underdogs facing (or potentially facing) much larger antagonists.  These are represented by asteroids Taiwan and Kiev (anglicized spelling of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital), which conjoin each other from 4 and 8 Aries, in trine to Mars.  The trine (120 degrees) is a supportive, generally beneficial linkage, perhaps implying that peace talks could wind down the war in Ukraine (now approaching its third anniversary), or that Taiwan might be spared direct military action from its aggressive neighbor, China.  The possibility that this Mars station could result in decreasing tensions is “baked in the cosmic cake” as well, with peaceable Venus at 29 Capricorn conjoining Pluto and opposing Mars, perhaps damping down the fires they promote.

Mars is also inconjunct to a grouping of asteroids Israel, Ukraina and Moskva, at 2, 4 and 8 Pisces respectively.  The inconjunct is an aspect of moderate tension, requiring adjustment in approach for success.  Asteroid Israel here may depict the Jewish state’s need to adjust its wartime footing, while Ukraina (named for Ukraine) and Moskva (Russian for Moscow, its capital) together could suggest that serious peace talks between the warring nations do in fact commence.

Solar connections reinforce the sense that talking to each other, simple communication, could smooth a path to peace.  The Sun at 15 Sagittarius meets up with Mercury, planet of communication, negotiation, and documents such as treaties, ceasefires or peace agreements, at 13 Sagittarius.  This combination throws a spotlight on verbal or written interactions, and a semisquare aspect (45 degrees) to Venus suggests a goal of harmony or accord in what is discussed. 

As with Mars, there is a planetary T-Square in effect here as well.  The Sun/Mercury conjunction opposes Jupiter at 16 Gemini, arbiter of foreign relations and diplomacy, but also tending toward escalation of situations, something not necessarily in the best interests of all concerned.  On the fulcrum is Saturn at 13 Pisces, which represents official governments and heads-of-state generally, but also tends toward restriction, limitation or loss.  Saturn can be withholding, perhaps preventing governments from reaching amicable agreements, but it also indicates longevity and stability, so any agreements which do emerge during this period could be long-lasting and solid.

Global entities which feed into this pattern include Iran (as asteroid Irani) at 13 Virgo, Taiwan (as asteroid Taipei, named for its capital) at 17 Virgo, and China (as asteroid Peking, former designation of Beijing, its capital) at 25 Virgo, which again collude to form a Grand Cross of the planetary T-Square.  Taipei conjunct Peking in this Grand Cross could signal high-level talks between the Chinese and Taiwanese governments, which do not currently have diplomatic relations, with each nation vying to be the “real” China.  The solar presence here throws a beacon on these nations in particular for the duration of the Mars station effects, to last at least until Mars resumes direct motion in late February 2025.

If there is a wild card in this diplomatic deck (and there is), it would be those nations with namesake asteroids having connection to Uranus, ruling controversy, volatility, unpredictability and shocks or upsets to the system.  At 24 Taurus, Uranus is conjoined by asteroids China, Jerusalem (named for Israel’s capital) and Russia, at 19, 20 and 25 Taurus, as those nations most likely to throw a spanner into the works.  And indeed, Jerusalem’s policy toward Iranian surrogates going forward could further unsettle the region, or pour oil on the waters; China’s belligerent glances across the Taiwan Strait could be mere saber-rattling, or lead to an all-out conflict; and with recent reinforcements from the North Korean army, Russia is poised to resolve its conflict with Ukraine, one way or another.  How these conflicts play out in the ensuing four months will be greatly influenced by the Mars station.

Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, author of The Black Hole Book, detailing deep space points in astrological interpretation, and the forthcoming Heaven on Earth, a comprehensive study of asteroids, both mythic and personal. Alex is a frequent contributor to “The Mountain Astrologer”, “Daykeeper Journal”, and NCGR’s Journals and “Enews Commentary”; his work has also appeared in “Aspects” magazine, “Dell Horoscope”, “Planetwaves”, “Neptune Café” and “Sasstrology.” He is a past president of Philadelphia Astrological Society, and former board member for the Philadelphia Chapter of NCGR.  His two decades of chronicling asteroid effects in human affairs can be found at his website, www.alexasteroidastrology.com.