Back in the fall of 2020, I kept eyeing January 6, 2021 as an important date. That was when Mars would finally leave Aries for Taurus. I’m not usually so focused upon planets such as Mars changing signs but this felt different.

That’s because owing to the retrograde cycle it underwent September 9 – November 13 of that year, Mars seemed to take up interminable residence in Aries. Usually the warrior planet spends about six weeks in a sign whereas back then it was in Aries for over twenty-seven weeks (!!!)—from June 27, 2020, to that eyed-upon date of January 6, 2021.

What’s more, aka why this also seemed exceptionally important, is that Mars rules the sign of Aries and therefore the warrior planet was quite powerful there, at home in the sign that governs boldness, martial strength, courage, and willful assertion. And so the day when Mars would be at the last degree of Aries—a moment when its Arien sparring, soldiering, and warring qualities would be inflated, expanded, and revved up—seemed like a day to pay attention to.

And it turned out to be.

Like many, I’m still stunned by the events of January 6 (and those leading up to and following it). And I’m still quite in awe that it occurred on this Mars-in-the-last-degree-of-Aries day.

Why am I bringing this up now?

Because on Monday, July 4, Mars will be back at this exact spot, at the last degree of Aries, a placement it hasn’t occupied since last January. That it does so on the U.S. Independence Day feels shocking/stunning.

And while as I sit here writing this the day before (on July 3), we don’t know what may occur early this week. Whether or not there are events that reflect over-the-top sparring energy, I think it will be important to witness the resonance between “then” and “now.” This may show up on the collective stage as well as in our personal experiences as we may find that we are again bearing witness to what was galvanized for us then through the lens of understanding that we’ve garnered in the last year and a half.

With Mars at the last degree of Aries on July 4, a day in the U.S. in which there’s often an outpouring of feelings of patriotic fervor—as well as a questioning of what “independence” actually means—it does seem that spirits will be especially galvanized, passions stoked, activities pioneered, and tempers possibly flared. It feels poised to be a day of fireworks, in more ways than the assumed one. I think that to channel this energy constructively we may personally want to find something into which we can pour our heart and soul, all the while watching out for bouts of impatience, rashes of anger, and overexposure to heat and fire.

(Mars’ outpost in the last degree of Aries has really captivated me, inspiring me to do more research about this zodiacal spot. I wanted to include my findings here but since I wasn’t sure if it was too “in the weeds” and would take away from exploring the invitations of this week, I decided to include it in a postscript below.)

Yet, the week is not just about Mars at the end of Aries, but also it moving into Taurus in the very early hours of July 5. The planet of willpower and assertion will be in this slow, steady, and sensual sign through August 20. During this time, pursuing sensual pleasure, fighting for the sanctity of the earth’s resources, and having a greater concern for strategies that are practical and pragmatic may catch our attention.

Additionally, on July 5, we also have Mercury changing signs, moving from curious Gemini into emotional Cancer. And with this, we may find ourselves more focused upon ideas having to do with fortifying our family and home. We may also feel more sensitive to others’ words, finding that they deeply nourish us or, alternatively, strikingly upset us. Aligning our communication with our feelings and knowing that we may be able to more powerfully convey messages if we take others’ emotions into consideration, feel like important things to consider over the coming weeks.

Wishing you all my best,

xxStephanie

Astrology Highlights

July 5: Mercury/Mars Sextile, Mars enters Taurus, Mercury enters Cancer
July 9: Mercury/Jupiter Square
July 10: Sun/Uranus Sextile

All days reflect Eastern Daylight Time (-4 hours GMT)

A PostScript on the Last Degree of Aries

In pursuing my fascination of the connection between Mars being at the tail end of Aries on January 6, 2021, and July 4 of this year, I felt inspired to look up examples of people who have this Mars placement, who may express or have expressed a pioneering and championing spirit, fighting for their passions and desires. For reference, I also included their Sun and Moon signs, in case you were interested. Here are a few that I discovered:

ee cummings: The poet known for his daring experiments with language, cummings championed the individual and wrote poems (especially in his early years) that were thought to be quite very erotic for the time. (Libra Sun, Aries Moon)

Steve Jobs: The co-founder of Apple, Jobs was a pioneer of the personal computing revolution and with the introduction of the iPhone, he spearheaded the landscape of our modern-day tech-informed lives as we know it. (Pisces Sun, Aries Moon)

Valentino Garavani: The iconic designer who among other feats is known for introducing and popularizing the red dress and having a Pantone color—Valentino Red—named after him (red being the color of Mars and Aries). (Taurus Sun, Cancer Moon)

Simone Signoret: The French actress who, among her many noted performances, was also known for being part of the anarchist Groupe Octobre and supporing the French Resistance. (Aries Sun, Libra Moon)

Napoleon III: The first President of the French Republic who spearheaded a self-directed coup so that he could maintain power after his first term, later declaring himself Emperor of the French. (Aries Sun, Aquarius Moon)

One more note that may of interest. Every year, on April 19 or 20, the Sun is at the last degree of Aries, just before it shifts into Taurus. Some notable events that occurred on this day throughout history include the beginning of the American Revolution (April 19, 1775), the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (April 19, 1943), the ending of the Waco siege (April 19, 1993), and the Oklahoma City bombing (April 19, 1995). On a non-political note (although it’s a cultural event that does comment on politics and society), The Simpsons debuted on The Tracey Ullman Show on April 19, 1987.

Stellar Insights: July 4 - 10, 2022