Writing Our Way Through Messy Times: In Conversation With Astrologer Liz Vazquez

Liz and I discuss the current Mars Retrograde, from origins to integration

On December 6th, the fiery red planet Mars slowed to a stop to turn around, and, as it did, life on Earth became a little more combative and frustrating. This retrograde journey is part of the planet’s two year dance with the Sun, also known as its synodic cycle.

Each cycle has its own story. For us individually — and collectively.

Have you ever had a relationship break off after two years? This could be a Mars story.

Our current collection of stories began on November 17th, 2023, when Mars conjoined the Sun. At this moment we astrologers say that Mars was reborn at the heart of the Sun — the last remnants of the previous story going up in solar flames to set the stage for the new.

The retrograde cycle isn’t the whole story. It’s a turning point.

For many of us, our Mars stories came to a climax around January 15th, when the planet made its opposition to the Sun. This is the part of the cycle where Mars in the sky is closest to Earth, most visible and brightest.

The climax falling into tod…