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When Mars goes retrograde in Libra (March 1st to May 19th) it may trigger delays and indirect action in relationships. Mars is aggression, sex and initiative. It starts fires. But when it moves in reverse, existing fires will burn low and it will be difficult for new sparks to burst into flame. As Mars retraces its steps from 27 to 9 degrees Libra, Cardinal signs will experience this retrograde most intensely. This transit will most likely impact relationships if it’s moving through your 1st, 5th or 7th Houses, or if Mars Rx is aspecting your natal Sun, Moon, Venus, Mars or the ruler of your 7th House. Read on to see what this transit has in store for Libra, Aries, Cancer and Capricorn.

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Libra: A Chance to Rebalance

When Mars entered your sign on December 7th, relationships heated up. New attractions, plus an increased sense of “me first,” probably felt unnerving and exciting. As Mars goes Rx, you’ll be able to slow down and consider how a relationship is unfolding. A new relationship may lose momentum, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. You may actually enjoy the breather this Rx period affords you; it will be a chance to regain some of the balance that was lost during the unfamiliar surge of “take charge” energy. See what happens when you allow recent relationship developments to simmer (rather than continue at a full boil). While you’re chilling out, consider how you’ve felt since December, with Mars in your sign. Were you direct about your desires? Did your partner demand more from you, and how did you respond? Mars Rx is the time to evaluate your reactions. The caution here is to make sure you don’t slide back into passive-aggressive territory. It’s not easy for you to be blunt at the best of times, and Mars Rx’s introspective path may stir up deeper issues about sex and assertion. Keep an eye on resentments (towards your partner) that may creep out.

Aries: Take the Indirect Route

Mars Rx (your ruler) will be opposing your sign. Relationships may be challenged by a significant drag, and some may even come to a full stop. This will not be easy for you, because you don’t do “stop.” You’re about action and impulse. These are things you’ll have to dial down during the Rx period, because the harder you push your partner, the more resistance you’ll encounter. Your direct way of tackling relationships and intimacy won’t work. You’ll have to find an indirect route, or simply pull back and give your lover time and space. Then again, you may be the one who needs time and space as you experience an unfamiliar drain on your energy and confidence. Questions about your role/actions in a relationship may come up. This is all part of the Mars Rx plan (it forces you to look inwards). As uncomfortable as this may be, allow yourself to have doubts, and don’t try to rush anything to a conclusion. That includes impatiently deciding that you should just be done with a relationship, because it’s going nowhere. This is the time to pull back, but not end things.

Cancer: Discomfort Underneath

Mars Rx will be squaring your sign. Squares from Mars are prompts to change, while dealing with issues around dependence/independence and expressions of anger. When Mars was direct, this may have manifested as tension/arguments with a partner, or a passionate but unsettling new attraction. As Mars reverses, some of the heat may drain from those conflicts. But you may also find yourself revisiting disagreements that you thought were over. You’ll continue to be prodded out of your comfort zone, but during Mars Rx it will feel like a splinter underneath your skin. You may have to deal with the fallout of a partner rushing your boundaries. What are the current results of your actions if you stood up for yourself (or failed to stand up for yourself)? For those of you who were in emergency nurturing mode when Mars was direct, you’ll now have to back off from mothering your partner. They may not want your help, so use this time consider how you can help yourself.

Capricorn: Dial Down the Ambition

Mars Rx will be squaring your sign. You may have found that your general ambitions in love, or in one particular relationship, were stimulated by Mars direct. As Mars goes Rx, the assertiveness that you demonstrated with a lover will have to shift; this is not about winning. The drive to succeed in, or advance, your relationship will be put in neutral as you reconsider what you want (or your partner may be doing some reconsidering). It’s easy for you to get caught up in The Plan, in any area where you’re gunning for success. But The Plan ignores more delicate issues. During Mars Rx, you’ll be confronted with whatever sensitivities you charged over. If you were being challenged in a relationship, you may have to endure the frustration of revisiting old arguments, or having to (temporarily) drop a disagreement altogether. Whether you’re backing down or being confronted by a previous point of tension, know that the best approach is to carefully respond, rather than react. You may not be able to achieve your relationship goals during this Rx period, but you can go back and ensure that your actions/desires line up with your partner’s.

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