Mars Retrograde in Leo 2009 to 2010

On December 20th, just before the Solstice, Mars reaches his retrograde station at 19°42' Leo, in preparation for a period of retrograde motion in Leo that will last until March 10th, 2010. The effects of the retrograde period will continue to be felt until he returns in direct motion on May 17th, 2010 to the degree where he first made his station (19° Leo 42').

In general, Mars, the god of warriors, rules physical energy and efforts. His placement in your chart expresses the strength and direction of the physical force that drives your ego, your will to achieve. Mars fires your emotions and energizes your passions, but also powers your mental endeavours and communicative skills.

Mars retrograde gives rise to irrational action; introspection; depression and self-assessment; sexual issues and relationship conflicts. Major rethinks and reorientation of current projects are also often required.

The December Solstice

The December solstice will occur at 17:47 (or 5.47pm) Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on December 21, 2009. It is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences. Its date varies from December 20 to December 23 depending on the year in the Gregorian calendar. For an observer in the northern hemisphere, the December solstice marks the day of the year with the least hours of daylight but for the observer in the southern hemisphere it marks the longest day of the year in terms of daylight hours.

People across the world, in every culture, have assigned a great deal of meaning to this journey of the Sun. Vast amounts of mythology, including important religious and social customs, have accumulated around it. At the time of the Winter Solstice (to be exact, just as the solstice ended), people celebrated the birth of the Sun as he began his life-giving journey north on December 25, now most widely celebrated as Christmas Day. The solsticial period lasts some three days as a rule, so when the Sun begins to rise earlier again after three days at its lowest ebb, it has been cause for jubilation since prehistoric times, for it symbolizes the rebirth of the divine spirit of life.