The Dark Moon, Spring, Mars Retrograde ends + Venus retrograde begins
It’s a powerful time for endings.
A patch of sourgrass near my house
Today was the the last phase of the waning moon (known as Amāvasyā in Sanskrit). The end of the waning lunar cycle always marks a low point in our energies, and this one is particularly worthy of your notice. Why? Because there are a bunch of other transitions that are happening more or less simultaneously.
Most obviously, spring is knocking on our doors! Here in California, the weather has turned very warm lately and I’ve noticed a marked shift in the types of foods that taste good to me.
The days are getting longer, my sleep and energy cycles are shifting, and all the familiar bright spring colors are making themselves known. Vivid yellow sour grass, bright plum and cherry blossoms, and gorgeous white violet magnolias. Do take some time to appreciate these beautiful and fragrant plants.
Lastly, we have two unusual cosmic influences in the form of Mars and Venus retrograde. These occur roughly every 2 years (Mars) and 1 and half years (Venus). More on these later.
Let’s review Amāvasyā a little shall we?
Amāvasyā is a time when the canvas of consciousness is turned away from the light of awareness. It’s almost as if we might wish to “paint” in our lives, but there’s no light to see what we are painting on the “canvas” of our life.
It’s the lunar cycle’s equivalent of the middle of the night when we are mostly deeply asleep. In the Vedic tradition, the moon represents our mind, and amāvasyā is a time best suited for rest, inner processing, and quiet healing and integration. This particular amāvasyā is the one after Maha Śivarātri - the great night of the auspicious destroyer.
Śiva means “the auspicious one” and auspicious means leading to a good result. Śiva is the lord of destruction; the kind of destruction that leads to a good result. For example, the destruction of illness, poverty, or unhealthy addictive tendencies.
Although there is actually a Śivarātri at the end of every lunar cycle, most people only celebrate or are familiar with Maha Śivarātri which happens at the end of winter by the Vedic reckoning. Śiva is the one to go to and set things straight as much as possible before welcoming spring and a New Year.
So hopefully, you had an auspicious night of destruction last night - whether you were formally celebrating or not! In India , Maha Śivarātri is often a wonderful affair of all night temple visits, heartfelt devotional practices such and chanting, and gathering with others to honor the pivotal role of the destructive forces of nature as exemplified by Śiva. Outside of India, things may look a little different, but the fundamental qualities underlying the characteristics of this time remain the same; essentially - it is the end of winter. It is a time to invite auspicious destruction into our life and cooperate with it for the better of all.
Let things end before you begin anew.
Aligning with natural cycles is a powerful way to welcome the full creative intelligence of nature into your life. Tomorrow will be the first day of the waxing lunar cycle, and a good time to start on new beginnings.
Circling back to the retrogrades. Retrogrades are a time when the planets appear to move backwards in the sky relative to their typical pattern. What this means in our experience is that things connected to the qualities of the planets also tend to “go backwards” - unfinished business comes up to be revisited or resolved.
Let’s begin with Mars.
Mars is connected to fire, willpower, drive, ambition, conflict, and the energy to get things done.
Personified he is a warrior in the classic sense, and perhaps a pro athlete or ambitious businessman in the modern sense. When Mars goes retrograde, it is as if the fire element is wonky or off in our lives. This typically looks like low energy, lack of motivation, or open conflict erupting out of tensions that have been brewing for a long time.
Case in point for me locally, the University of Santa Cruz workers are on strike this week.
Mars retrograde ended last week after a long two months or so. Do warriors, pro athletes, or ambitious businessman strike you as the type to want to revisit things and clean up unfinished tasks? No, they want to move forward and accomplish more. Hence this Mars retrograde was a long slog, particularly as it fell in winter and a long portion of it happened in an area where Mars is weak. Not to mention that Mars retrograde is the rarest and longest of all the retrogrades.
We have begun a slow return to normal around Martian themes.
For example, digestion, willpower, motivation to start projects or accomplish tasks, and our capacity to engage in conflict or exert effort.
All of these are important things and all of us have been through a kind of journey these past two months around Martian themes in our life. It will take some time though, and for the next 45 days or so there is still a kind of wrapping up quality around Martian activities and experiences.
Thankfully, it is over though and the warrior within you is beginning to feel renewed and refreshed, and ready to go to battle again - whatever battle might look life in your life.
And what is waiting for us on the other side? Venus retrograde of course!
And so now we are about to begin another retrograde backtracking, only the themes switch to Venusian.
As an element, Venus is water.
As a person, an artist, diplomat, or poet. A sufi mystic or devoted bhakti practitioner.
Venus relates to family, beauty, the marketplace, and enjoying the finer aspects of life.
Venus wants to make money and build alliances so that everyone can enjoy themselves and enjoy life. Venus is flower print clothing, fine dining, and higher art forms. Venus is always involved in things are are sophisticated, elegant, and intricate.
Venus is central in dating and the courtship / leisure / romance aspects of relationship.
Venus loves nice things and for everybody to shower Venus with their attention.
If you are in a romantic relationship get ready to be working some shit out with your significant other over the next 40 days. This is particularly the case if it will your first Venus retrograde together, as is always the case for relationships less than a year and a half old.
Retrogrades are always wonky. Sometimes they can be very difficult, but it is all in how you meet them. Just like spring cleaning or doing your taxes they are an essential part of a healthy and balanced life.
More on Venus retrograde soon. In the meantime, rest well and sink slowly into spring!
Remember all those beautiful spring flowers begging for your attention and appreciation 😉
Best,
Gabe
