Mars Goes Retrograde: What It Means for You Until February 2025

If you thought you only had to contend with Mercury going in retrograde, you’d have another thing coming! Mars went into retrograde on 6 December 2024 and will continue moving in that direction until 23 February 2025. The planet of ambition, drive, and action hasn’t been in retrograde since early 2023 and is going to stir up drama for some zodiac signs.

What Is Mars Retrograde?

Mars retrograde happens every two years when Earth overtakes the planet in its orbit around the sun. This time, the retrograde will last in Leo till 6 January 2025 and move backwards in Cancer till it culminates in February.

How Is The Mars Retrograde 2024-2025 Going To Affect You?

Since Mars is the planet of action and drive, its retrograde period causes a slowdown in all sectors, be it your work or relationships. In 2024 and 2025, the retrograde invites you to calibrate your energy and reflect closely on your relationships. It will also give you a chance to think about mental and physical wellness. The period could also intensify feelings of dependency and put a wrench in plans of self-expression for some. Here’s how it will affect each zodiac sign…

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Mars being your ruling planet puts things into a different league for you, Aries, during this retrograde phase. This period calls upon you to shift focus and create a new narrative for yourself. There’s going to be a deeper focus on creativity and pleasure, asking those in long-term or serious relationships to reevaluate the interpersonal dynamics.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Mars retrograde calls upon you to reflect on where your energy is being spent. The period will also mark conflicts flaring up within your inner circle. Even if these aren’t centred around you, you might still find yourself heavily involved. This is the time to regain balance and chart out the journey that you want to take towards your goals.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Communication might be your biggest strength but this pesky retrograde will make it challenging for you to get your point and intent across effectively. While this might seem disorienting, you need to go with the flow. Adapting to any new situation will be easy once you leave worrying about the future and consequences aside.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

The period asks you to consider the energy you’re putting into the different sectors of your life, specifically self-growth. Since Mars will be moving backwards in your sign for the later part of the retrograde, you need to be extra careful about your actions. Take this time to rest and rejuvenate. Unspoken frustrations from the past might rise to the surface but it's nothing some honest conversations cannot fix.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Your usual bright and vivacious energy might seem a little dimmed during this phase, what with the retrograde period starting in your sign. Things that usually come easily to you would seem laborious. However, you can flip things around if you choose to let this slowdown teach you how to regroup and find more refined approaches towards your goals.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Virgo, you’ll find your intuition heightened during this phase and it will help steer you towards the steps you should be taking next. Listening to your gut is the only way to stay ahead of the curveballs that life could throw at you during this time. This is also the time to spread your wings and network to build new connections.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Your ability to make connections quickly would face a few roadblocks during this phase, Libra. Mars retrograde will also have you evaluating how much of yourself you want to give to others. For some, this period could mean going back to the drawing board and realigning your priorities to work towards a stronger foundation for the future.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You need to choose your goals wisely, Scorpio. This retrograde period will have you in a more critical state of mind, where you are more amenable to tweaking the values you were set on before. Give yourself some time and space to adjust and think about the big picture as you move through this phase.

Sagittarius (22 November-December 21)

While many other zodiac signs would be experiencing a period of slowing down, it’s the opposite for you, Sagittarius. The energy of this period will have you thinking about all the ways you’ve been holding yourself back and just going for it. Expect a few eye-opening experiences that judge you towards adventures and parts of yourself that you’ve been longing to explore.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

The Mars retrograde puts a spotlight on your relationships, Capricorn. You need to reflect on the way you share resources with your partner, especially in the financial sector. This might make for some challenging conversations but the only right way is through, so brace yourself and forge ahead.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

This period will have you shake things up, Aquarius. Don’t hesitate to question the status quo and stand up for what you believe in. It will also highlight the need for you to focus on your health and wellness needs. Put yourself first and strike the right balance between what you want to do and what you need to do.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

The days ahead might seem disorienting but if you stay grounded to your core values, you won’t be able to lose sight of where you’re headed. This period will also allow you to question how you define productivity. Your daily routine needs tweaking and this is just the right time to do so.