Mars is Direct…So NOW What?

Your horoscope for this heated transit

What: Mars DIRECT in Cancer

When: Feb. 23 - April 18, 2025

Who’s Impacted: EVERYONE, but esp. Cardinal signs and water signs.

Takeaway: No more retrograde! The planet of heat, action and aggression is once again moving forward through the protective water sign, initiating a super slow onward motion.

Let’s be real: So far, the first quarter of 2025 has—for lack of a better word—sucked. And it’s largely (though not entirely) due to Mars Retrograde. Since Dec. 6 2024, the red planet has been backpedalling through Leo, which saw a retreat of your confidence, assertion, and energy levels. Since Jan. 6 2025, in the U.S. (politics), Mars Retrograde in Cancer has coincided with an about-face of courage, forcefulness, and leadership. Many people (in power) haven’t shown the spunk, mettle, or fortitude to stand up for what’s right, let alone fight against what’s wrong.

That is, unfortunately, how a Mars Retrograde in Cancer transit shows up on the world’s stage: a lack of courage and transparency from leadership. On a personal level, the nearly two-month long Mars Retrograde in Cancer transit may have left you feeling like your energy, motivation, courage, and assertion have also flown the coop. The good news? On Feb. 23, Mars stations direct—meaning it’s leaving the sluggish, confidence-zapping retrograde in the sand. The not-so-good news (ie: the un-sugar-coated reality of it)? Things aren’t going to suddenly blast off, bringing a surge of confidence, pep, or assertiveness to your door.

Still, this is good news for the rest of 2025—especially as we head into Venus Retrograde, Mercury Retrograde, and Eclipse Season. Which, if you’re wondering, starts March 1! (You can grab your 2025 Rising Sign Reading to understand what Venus Rx means for your sign.) It ultimately means the things you’ve been hemming and hawing about, the plans you’ve been wanting to put into motion, the actions you’ve been too afraid to take, are much more supported than they were at the beginning of the year.

Mars Retrograde in Cancer Meaning in Astrology

Mars is the action, agitation, and assertion planet. It rules over all that moves and motivates you, from your energy, excitement, and efforts to your ends and goals. Mars is the bringer of heat. It’s the planet that inflames, irritates, pierces, prods, and makes you “see red.” Mars’ transits can then reveal how we—as a collective—get fired up, either in anger, motivation, or to champion something. When it’s retrograde, all that stuff is 10x harder to muster. Courage and confidence wane. Energy levels and motivation fluctuate. Plans fizzle.

I’ve been telling clients in their 2025 Astrology Readings that Mars Retrograde was prime time for cutting away the emotional sludge getting in the way of you going after what you want. Maybe that “sludge” was Imposter Syndrome, scarcity mindset, fear of the unknown, or just a pervasive trepidation about actually going after your goals. Whatever it was and however it landed for you, Mars Retrograde in Cancer slowed everything down so that you, me, and everyone else could reflect on the plans, goals, and work that were worth the emotional investment. Hopefully you did that! If not, don’t worry: there’s still time, as Mars stays in Cancer until APRIL 18.

In Cancer, Mars uses your emotions, instincts, imagination, security (and more) to agitate, excite, and eventually motivate. And retrogrades coincide with reflections, reviews, and reassessments. Feelings—esp. insecurities and fears—can be fuel with Mars in Cancer. Which can be both a good thing and a not-so good thing. Because when you feel emotionally charged about a goal, project, or passion, you’re 10x more likely to scuttle towards it, worries be damned; but when you feel too much or doubt too much, you can act irrationally. Or, in the case of this retrograde, not act at all.

So, Mars isn’t its usual fiery, forceful self when it moves through Cancer. (It’s technically in its detriment!) The red planet, which loves to be forward, forceful and direct, expresses its vigor in a more surreptitious and defensive manner. It becomes even more surreptitious when retrograde, because Mars’ decisiveness is inhibited, its courage stifled, its fire doused by a wet blanket. Mars wants to fight because Mars wants independence and direct, targeted action. Cancer, however, is moody, indirect, and defensive. So, the main issues with this transit—especially the retrograde—have revolved around passive-aggressiveness, fear-based motivations, misdirected emotional energy, and lack of self-belief / action.

Mars Direct in Cancer Meaning