What everybody should know about Mars in the Fall of 2020
The first thing you need to understand about this Fall is that Mars is in the sign Aries. Aries is home territory for Mars, the god of war, anger, and battles.
In your professional life, Mars will activate, motivate, and inspire you to fight the good fight. But when we see Mars making some difficult connections to other planets, like we are seeing this Fall, crises and emotions can also spin up quickly. Mars in Aries boosts the irritability factor and makes you more acutely aware of your drives, desires, and self-interest. Pay attention to what angers and irritates you– what are these reactions telling you about yourself?
Most people’s response to anger is to distance themselves from it, either by withdrawing or fighting back. But at the core of the Aries fire is a desire to be seen and understood. Anger is a secondary emotion. At the root is either hurt or fear.
Now this is a tall order– but if you can help the angry person feel safe enough to express the underlying hurt or fear, the “why” behind the anger, that can help disarm the bomb before it goes off again. The formerly angry person feels safe, seen, healed.
The inherent problem is that it takes a lot of inner strength to acknowledge and share those deep hurts. When the angry person locks the door on their feelings but lashes out physically or verbally from that wounded place, we have gone to the darker side of Mars. Mars’ dark side may take the form of outright warfare, what-aboutisms, or covert abuse tactics like gaslighting. And when Mars is in Aries, these situations can spin up like mini-tornadoes– fast, furious, and over quickly.
Although being in Capricorn limits Jupiter’s expansive nature, Jupiter sextile Neptune and conjunct Pluto this Fall opens the door to grow spiritually, make art, detoxify your body, and support your immune system. There is a major new beginning coming up at the end of the year, and this Fall gives us an opportunity to work through old patterns and make space for something different.
Fall 2020 “Hot Spots”
- Mars enters Aries: June 27, 2020
- Mars enters its retrograde shadow: July 25
- Mars square Jupiter (1) ~August 1-4
- Mars square Pluto (1) ~August 10-13
- Mars square Saturn (1) ~August 20-24
- Mars retrograde begins: September 9 at 28° Aries
- Retrograde Mars square Saturn (2) ~September 25-29
- Retrograde Mars square Pluto (2) ~October 5-9
- Retrograde Mars square Jupiter (2) ~October 15-19
- Mars retrograde ends: – November 13 at 15° Aries
- Mars square Pluto (3) ~December 19-23
- Mars leaves its retrograde shadow ~January 2, 2021
- Mars enters Taurus: January 6
- During most of the Fall, Mars happens to land on some long-term sore spots that have been a factor for the entire year (Saturn, Pluto, and Jupiter in Capricorn).
- And hits them more than once due to the forward-backward-forward action of Mars retrograde.
- Mars loses his cool in quick-to-react Aries;
- Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto magnify the negative in serious, pessimistic, authoritarian Capricorn.
Here is a breakdown of the major hot spots this Fall.
Mars square Jupiter
Dates: July 31 – August 3, rx October 15-19
Slow down! This pairing of Mars and Jupiter, two high-energy planets, revs up enthusiasm, adventure, and the quest for justice. But the nature of Jupiter under stress is to distort perspectives and proportions. So take your time. Don’t risk your health, buy something you don’t need, or act on a faulty assumption.
Work: Keep your expectations reasonable. You might be spending this week putting out fires. Don’t be in a hurry, just take it step by step.
Love: The nature of Mars in Aries is hot and fast. And it may make it a little more difficult to relate to the world outside ourselves, and even to our own needs. Don’t let the fast pace and freewheeling spirit of the day blind you to the needs and realities in your close relationships.
Health: Movement and exercise is beneficial as long as you don’t overdo it. Gentle yoga or weights will help you increase (Jupiter) your muscle mass (Mars) and strengthen bone (Jupiter in Capricorn). Mars with Jupiter, planet of fat, highlights fat and fat burning. But you’ll pay the price if you push beyond your limits, as Jupiter tempts us all to do. Especially during the Mars retrograde period.
Mars square Pluto
Dates: August 10-13, rx October 5-9, and one final repeat in mid-December
Work and love: Pluto can bring out the best and/or the worst in people. This interaction can poke your deepest wounds and feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness. Whether we mean to or not, we end up stomping on each other’s emotional triggers. Pluto events often involve something irreversible happening. Like birth, death, healing, transformation, or purification. Shedding a skin. Creating or clearing karma – Pluto.
With Mars in super-fast Aries, situations can escalate and go over the cliff so fast, you won’t know what happened. Slow down and take your time with important decisions. This is especially worrisome in light of the public safety crisis in our country and violent encounters between protesters and police. Be safe out there.
Health: Take it easy. Chronic pain, inflammation, and mood disorders tend to flare up. Take special care to avoid your usual triggers. Think cool thoughts and treat yourself gently, taking care to avoid stoking the heat with spicy or processed foods, exercise that pushes your limits, or risky activities. Find a physical outlet for your pent-up energy. Cool down with gentle exercise, fresh fruit, and plenty of water. Support the adrenal glands with Vitamin C, Magnesium, B vitamins, and salt.
Mars square Saturn
Dates: August 20-24, rx September 25-29
Saturn tends to thwart the desires and activities of Mars, with frustrating and potentially dangerous results. Be careful in traffic and handling weapons, sharp objects, and sharp words.
Work: Frustration and negative attitudes infuse the workplace and the streets. Lay low and wait for a better moment to launch a new project. If you’re able, put off your most important meetings until next week.
Love: Temper tantrums. Fight if you must, but disengage if you can. If you’re feeling angry and irritable, remember: we are all feeling it in some way or another. So don’t take it personally when someone squawks at you, and don’t get behind the wheel of a car if you aren’t feeling centered.
Health: Heat, stagnation, and inflammation lead to tension, stiffness, and rumbly guts. Anxiety and mood disorders, as well as allergies, sensitivities, and chronic pain may flare. Inflammation in the head, eyes, joints, bones, and gall bladder.
5 Responses
BAM! Right on target! Thank you so much, Molly.
Just finished reading this page and found it so helpful. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Sheri! I’m glad you found it helpful.
I love this review!
i want to comment because you’ve asked.
I’m finding this Mars energy activating” my ego” in a disruptive way!
Mats is transiting my 3rd house activating ” ideas about myself”; with squares to the transiting Capricorn planets in my 11/12th, issues of my reputation, legacy and sense of belonging, are leaving me feeling insecure.
I find it disconcerning, as if i need to relitigate my reputation just for my ego’s satisfaction.
Phew! it could be worse! lol
thanks again for the nice article!
You’re welcome Lynne! Thank you for leaving your comment. It sounds like you have a good idea how the symbols are playing out for you. Great work!