Get ready for things to slow down (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Mars is a powerful planet ruling over our ambitions, passions, sexual energy, and vitality. It makes us thrum and fight and love and challenge. It drives us forward, when we are acting from the heart especially.
Like most planets, it has a retrograde season (when it looks as though it is spinning backwards, due to orbital speeds, and its influences are reversed). Mars goes into retrograde October 30 until January 12, which is a lengthy spell.
You might, during these few months, feel a general ‘slowing down’ kind of energy in yourself and your life. Less is more. Things that once burned brightly take on more of a mellow glow.
It’s time to relax a bit, see how things go, let stuff take it course, and replenish your energies, ready for Mars to get back on track in January, bringing new ideas and vitality to 2023. We can’t go at 100mph all year round, everything has a season, and this is the season to chill more.
What can you work on during this retrograde? What will change for you most noticeably?
Ahead, you’ll find your star sign’s tarot horoscope for this planetary period, with a card drawn and its meaning for you explained.
Aries
March 21 to April 20
Let go of the things that are holding you back (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Aries for Mars retrograde: Eight of Swords
Meaning: Let the old ways die out. Let bad habits cease. Let limiting self beliefs crumble. Let everything go this retrograde and see what remains – no pressure.
Like a snake shedding its skin, the Eight of Swords sees you releasing and expelling whatever no longer serves you well.
2022 has been a big year, much has changed, so have you. In order to adopt a new outlook you need to relinquish your grip on your current one.
Evolution. Progress. Change.
Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries
Taurus
April 21 to May 21
Move on (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Taurus for Mars retrograde: Six of Swords
Meaning: The Six of Swords is a departures card. This autumn/early winter, you are going to move on from something which has simply run its course, come to a natural ending, reached a conclusion.
It could be a relationship, a role, a location, a situation, or an activity.
It’s over. And it’s okay. You’re not really sad, you’re keen to see what’s next.
First of all, close this down consciously and overtly, then you’re free to explore new realms.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus
Gemini
May 22 to June 21
Get in tune with how you really feel (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Gemini for Mars retrograde: King of Cups
Meaning: You’re working on your feelings and emotions, which sounds a bit vague, but it’s all with the intent of recognizing them in more detail and with greater honesty, so that you can act on them and address them in real time.
You do have a tendency to suppress things, pushing on regardless. Slow down with the compassionate King of Cups and tune in to how you really feel about things.
Let yourself be honest. And take this seriously, you should use your feelings as a guide to your decisions.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini
Cancer
June 22 to July 23
Get ready for big things (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Cancer for Mars retrograde: The World
Meaning: A lot of things have run their course. 2022 has seen the ‘finale’ of many life acts and stages. You’ve been successful, reached new peaks, completed various levels. It’s good but it’s also time to take stock, acknowledge things have gone as far as they can… and start to daydream about the next challenge/ambition/vision.
The World promises you whatever you wish for! Create an inspiring vision of the future this winter that you can start manifesting in 2023. You’re ready for big things.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer
Leo
July 24 to August 23
Streamline ahead of 2023, Leo (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Leo for Mars retrograde: Two of Swords
Meaning: Your priority this retrograde is to round up and prioritise all of the outstanding and hanging-over decisions or choices you’ve delayed or ignored in 2022 and make up your mind on them all.
Clear the decks of half finished stuff or half baked plans. Decide what you’re working on and what you’re letting go of.
Get your decks in order, ready for 2023. Don’t drag all of the stuff you’ve dallied with in 2022 forwards. Make cuts. Streamline. Focus. The Two of Swords brings cutting energy.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo
Virgo
August 24 to September 23
Hit the pause button and take it easy (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Virgo for Mars retrograde: Ten of Wands
Meaning: You are so very ready for this quieter phase of 2022 and, literally, I am advising you do as little as possible.
The Ten of Wands has you headed for burnout if you carry on at the pace, and with the weight, you’re carrying on at. Enough. You do too much, think too hard, pile on extra pressure, take on things which don’t really belong to you.
Total permission, Virgo, to kick back, say no, withdraw from stuff you don’t enjoy, and take a significant timeout to reboot and restore your vibe.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Disengage from drama, Libra (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Libra for Mars retrograde: Seven of Swords
Meaning: Use this hiatus and winter to gently let people and situations fade and go which actually bring you nothing but trouble.
Disengage from the drama. Stay in. Don’t answer the calls to action. Let them be and see what happens.
The Seven of Swords suggests these spiky little situations will wither themselves out, leaving you free to move on unscathed in 2023.
You have got into some tricky patches with some shady people. Disentangle yourself.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra
Scorpio
October 24 to November 22
Review how you’re spending your time (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Scorpio for Mars retrograde: Two of Wands
Meaning: Scorpio, the Two of Wands suggests you’ve started quite a few new roles, things, adventures in 2022 and that you should use this retrograde to assess their success so far, to determine what comes top of the list in 2023.
You can’t do everything. You need to identify your ‘big rocks’ so you can organise your time and energy as 2023 kicks off, and you know what your ambitions are.
Take this time to review, ponder, get feedback, imagine and meditate. Good choices now will make 2023 a success.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio
Sagittarius
November 23 to December 21
Look how far you’ve come (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Sagittarius for Mars retrograde: Strength
Meaning: 2022 has brought real challenge and you’ve had to overcome some major hurdles and self doubts.
You have proven yourself a stronger player than you ever thought you were. You have handled stuff you really dreaded facing.
Take a pause this retrograde, Sagittarius, and embrace the developments you’ve made.
Acknowledge this growth. Reap the emotional and intellectual benefits of having made such amazing progress in so tough an environment. Bed in your new-found wisdom and confidence, and life will feel easier from now on.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius
Capricorn
December 22 to January 21
Reflect and prepare (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Tarot card for Capricorn for Mars retrograde: The Hermit
Meaning: You like a quiet time as it enables you to return to your ever-present drawing board and make new plans, or upgrade the existing ones.
The Hermit sees you in firm planning mode this retrograde. You are taking your ambitions seriously and pressure-testing them. You’re working out how to get where you want to go in 2023. You are calculating the next steps and what’s involved.
You enjoy this kind of reflection and preparation. It’s analytical and satisfying. Get stuck in and make plans you can’t wait to action in 2023.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn
Aquarius
January 22 to February 19
Focus on your relationships, Aquarius (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Tarot card for Aquarius for Mars retrograde: Two of Cups
Meaning: Zoom in on your closest relationship(s) this retrograde and spend the time you would’ve spent tearing off doing god knows what with loved ones instead.
Be present. Listen. Pay attention. Do nice things. Pour some time and attention into the people closest to you, with the supportive and loving Two of Cups and everything will feel a little brighter, warmer, more loving and hopeful this winter.
You are wealthy with good people!
Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius
Pisces
February 20 to March 20
Go with the flow (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)
Tarot card for Pisces for Mars retrograde: Three of Wands
Meaning: Less planning and more doing. Go with the flow this autumn/winter. Say yes and see what happens.
Don’t overfill your schedule or make too many plans. Leave room, leave things baggy so you can react to spontaneous and unexpected events and get involved.
The Three of Wands shows lots of interesting things will come your way but you’ll need to react positively and quickly. Get yourself in a position to do so.
Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
Kerry King, the tarot queen, uses tarot and star sign wisdom to create inspiring forecasts and insights, with over 25 years fortune telling experience, and many happy clients all over the world. You can book a personal, written reading, which comes as a beautifully illustrated brochure, through Etsy or join her new Tarot Club and get weekly forecasts and more for £5 a month.
MORE : Your star sign’s tarot horoscope for the month of October 2022
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MORE : Uranus retrograde lets you focus on your ‘big rocks’ – what each star sign needs to know
Get ready.
