The 2022 Mars In Retrograde Rollercoaster: Everything Your Zodiac Sign Needs To Know

Pretty much everyone is aware when Mercury in retrograde strikes – it’s become quite popular in our culture to rage about the ill effects of this astrological phenomenon. But you might not have heard of Mars in retrograde before now. Well, it can be quite a doozy, and will definitely affect your life over the next couple of months. Not sure what the term “Mars in retrograde astrology” means? Here’s everything you need to know to get through what is sure to be a bit of a wild ride.

Mars in retrograde 2022: meaning and definition
Mars in retrograde occurs when Mars appears to move backwards while Earth passes it. Because Earth moves faster than Mars, it makes two laps around the sun in the same time it takes Mars to go around just once. We take a lap around Mars every 26 months. But when Earth passes Mars, there’s an optical illusion that takes place that makes it look like Mars is going in the opposite direction (better known as retrograde). The planet isn’t actually moving backwards, it just looks that way. Similar to Mercury in retrograde, this planetary movement can cause chaos for us here on Earth.

What happens during Mars retrograde?
Mars in retrograde occurs typically once every two years and lasts for a three-month period. This current period of retrograde started on October 30 and will last until January 12, 2023. Astrologers are predicting it will be even more intense than in years past because of clashes with Mars and Neptune. Because Mars was named after the Roman God of war, passion, and ambition, all of these areas of our lives are hugely impacted by the retrograde. Plus, since Mars is the planet closest to Earth, we tend to feel its effects even more.

What are the most common Mars retrograde effects?
There are tons of ways that Mars in retrograde can impact us. You might notice that there’s just a lot more negativity in your life than normal, and this can manifest in a lot of different ways –conflicts at work or in your personal relationships, a huge lack of motivation to get things done, increased confusion and miscommunications with everyone around you. You might experience more anger and frustration as well.

What does Mars retrograde mean spiritually?
Because Mars is symbolic of war, you’ll notice a lot more arguments with people (or internal arguments with yourself). Because Mars is essentially going backward, you could find that some of these conflicts are with people from your past who are now coming back to haunt you. You might feel less spiritually content and more unable to move forward with your life in a positive way.

Physically, people are also likely to feel more depleted and rundown, which typically happens during the holiday season anyway. You’re more likely to get sick during Mars in retrograde because your immune system won’t be functioning properly. Bottom line: there will be obstacles to you feeling like your best self, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

What are the Mars retrograde 2022 affected signs?
Every sign in the zodiac will be affected by Mars in retrograde, unfortunately. There are a few signs who will bear the brunt of it – if you’re a Scorpio, Gemini, Sagittarius, or Aries, the next few months will be rough for you.

Here’s what to expect for each sign…

Aries: Your temper will be at an all-time high. It will be increasingly difficult for you not to blow up at people (even over small things). Try to remember to count to ten and breathe deep when you start to feel angry.

Taurus: Your spending habits will be greatly affected by the retrograde. If you don’t want to go completely broke once the new year hits, skip those expensive purchases. You’ll only end up regretting them later.

Gemini: You’ll feel like no one is listening to you during this retrograde. It’s easy to feel overlooked at work and in your relationships when you’re not speaking up. Make sure you’re making your needs known!

Cancer: You’ll be in direct conflict with someone important in your life, but instead of dealing with it honestly, they’ll be playing a passive-aggressive game with you. Stand your ground and speak your mind.

Leo: You usually rush ahead in all things – career, love, etc. But during Mars in retrograde, you’ll be rewarded if you take things slower than usual. Taking your time will be to your benefit, even if it feels unnatural to you.

Virgo: You’ll be experiencing major brain fog during this retrograde. If you want to feel more clear-headed, make sure you’re including plenty of self-care in your routine. You need time to rest and recover!

Libra: You’re on track to succeed with several of your goals, but some of that progress might be derailed due to the retrograde. Don’t get too discouraged – this isn’t a failure, just a temporary obstacle that you’ll eventually overcome.

Scorpio: You’ll be feeling a serious lack of motivation over the next few months. You just can’t be bothered to complete any projects. The best thing you can do is ride it out until your ambition is restored.

Sagittarius: Your romantic life is going to be interesting during Mars in retrograde. There will be a few tough conversations that you’ll feel like avoiding, but that are actually necessary if you want to move forward in a healthy way.

Capricorn: You’re going to feel super frustrated with both your work and your romantic life during the retrograde. Your best bet is to accept that there are some things you cannot change and just go with the flow as much as possible.

Aquarius: Your life will be feeling pretty overwhelming during Mars in retrograde, which makes it even harder than normal for you to leave your comfort zone. It’s okay if you want to play it safe until the next few months are over.

Pisces: You’ll notice more strife than usual in your family during this time. You’ll want to play peacekeeper, but it’s important to remember that every single battle is not yours to fight. It’s okay to sit on the sidelines until the retrograde is over.

What can you do to minimize the effects of 2022 Mars in retrograde?
Although a lot of this news can seem very doom-and-gloom, we’ll eventually make it through to the other side of the retrograde! The best thing all of the zodiac signs can do is take a breath and practice mindfulness. Stay grounded and don’t act in haste if possible. This is also a great time to focus on yourself and your health. Practice as many healthy habits as you can and get plenty of rest. This might be a trying time for all of us, but there will be tons of great things coming our way in the new year!

Want to know more about Mars in retrograde or how it might affect you? Book a reading with an astrologer today.

Featured image by Luca R on Unsplash