Sunset as watched by Mars rover Opportunity, November 2010. Credit and copyright to NASA.


Mars leaves his home sign of Aries to transit the slower-moving, more sure-footed Taurus on May 11 at 12:03 a.m. PDT / 3:03 p.m. EDT, where he'll remain until June 20. Taurean energy pulls a fast and hard brake to Mars' "ready for action" energy. Mars represents our physical drives, aggression, passions, anger, self-assertion, confidence and the motivation behind our efforts.

In contrast to Aries, where Mars has been for several weeks and where ignition, motion and immediate action are the goal, Taurus is a sign that cares about what sticks around. Taurean energy needs to have a backup plan... sometimes, a backup to the backup :) So, although Mars in Taurus may take its sweet time to get moving along, steps are greatly measured and follow the well thought out plan as closely as the actual situation/s may be playing out.

The period that Mars transits Taurus could very well be a productive time for us, personally as well as in business/at work. What Mars in Aries may have begun, we now have the opportunity to develop so that our efforts to date could be something that have lasting effects. What may have been difficult to initiate during Mars in Aries because there might have been too many ideas or missteps or impulsive acts, could have a chance in becoming a reality with Mars in Taurus at the helm.

Taurean energy is reliable, steadfast, and stubborn enough to be determined in achieving its objectives. Sometimes, however, the stubbornness can be a hindrance in moving things forward, due to not giving others or their ideas an opportunity to truly be heard or considered. Allow Mars in Taurus to make what's already good and great to something that is built to last or something that gains a more profound meaning/importance within your personal world and/or beyond.

Do watch out for the temptation to be lazy, being too comfortable to attempt change, or becoming overwhelmed by the gravity of situation/s. There's movement in little steps. There's impact in small efforts. What matters more is what drives our actions and what motivates our decisions.

As soon as Mars enters Taurus, he quickly aligns with Neptune (compassion/insight) who is happily at home in Pisces. Allow Neptune in Pisces to tap into our deeper self and may our actions truly reflect the change we want to see in ourselves and in our world. Elsewhere in the sky on this same day, a triple conjunction in Aries between Mercury (thought/communication), Venus (relationships/finances), and Jupiter (ideals/opportunities) is also happening. A last push ... a final hurrah for Mercury and Venus before they leave Aries to transit Taurus beginning May 15th.

While in Taurus, Mars will align with the following celestial bodies (all dates reflect North America Pacific time zone; allow +/-2 days for life span of influence):

• May 12 ~ Mars sextile Neptune. covered above
• May 18 ~ Mars sextile Chiron. Sometimes, it's when we are brave enough to allow ourselves to truly feel our pain, our deeply-rooted wounds, without judgements that we are able to release what may have been holding us prisoner. This energy between Mars and Chiron encourages healing within the self, as well as helping others with healing their wounds, but not at the cost of our own growth or well being.
• May 20 to 21 ~ Mercury, Venus and Mars trine Pluto-rx. Let heart, mind and soul reflect our thoughts, words, actions within our relationships and in our interactions. Be aware of where our thoughts and actions are rooted from. The urge to buy may also be great :) Also on May 21st, Sun enters Gemini.
• May 23 ~ Venus conjunct Mars. Last time they met this way was in 2009. The celestial energy surrounding them then is much different than now. There may be a bit more tension now, but that tension can be used to produce something that is positive and encourages growth and harmony.
• May 25 ~ Mars quincunx Saturn-rx. What we must do goes against what we'd like to do. But we are bound to the 'shoulds' and not so much 'coulds'. There is a time and place for our desires. But, alas, today may not be that day.

How might Mars' transit in Taurus manifest in your world? Look to the Taurus-ruled house/s in your birth chart. Match the sign with the house cusp/s on your birth chart. Use the list of zodiac sign below to identify the Taurus zodiac sign on your birth chart then click here for an explanation of Mars transiting those solar and/or natal houses.



Click image to see larger

For those without a birth chart, you may use your Sun sign or Rising/Ascendant sign, if you know it. Look for your Sun and/or Rising Sign below then click here for an explanation of Mars transiting those solar and/or natal houses.

• Aries-Sun or Aries Rising ~ 2nd House
• Taurus-Sun or Taurus Rising ~ 1st House
• Gemini-Sun or Gemini-Rising ~ 12th House
• Cancer-Sun or Cancer-Rising ~ 11th House
• Leo-Sun or Leo-Rising ~ 10th House
• Virgo-Sun or Virgo-Rising ~ 9th House
• Libra-Sun or Libra-Rising ~ 8th House
• Scorpio-Sun or Scorpio-Rising ~ 7th House
• Sagittarius-Sun or Sagittarius-Rising ~ 6th House
• Capricorn-Sun or Capricorn-Rising ~ 5th House
• Aquarius-Sun or Aquarius-Rising ~ 4th House
• Pisces-Sun or Pisces-Rising ~ 3rd House

Alternatively, you may cast your own birth chart at alabe.com for use as reference -- birth date, time, and place required.

Are you celebrating a birthday? Schedule a session for a Solar Return (birthdays) or 3-Chart Package Reading (detailed natal & overall outlook for the next 12 months). Or consider giving a loved one the gift of insight.

Have a question or need a quote for a more customized reading, ask me here.

What significance do planets, signs, and houses have in astrology? Planets have the function, the job to do. The style/manner they will use get that job done is defined by the zodiac sign they occupy. Where in our life the job gets done is determined by the house the planet occupies/transits. So, when Mars (aggression) is in Aries (bold), he is more assertive than when he is in Cancer (sensitive). When traveling through the 10th house (professional life), he may bring his confidence and motivation in matters relating to our career. While in the 11th house (friendships), we may be more inclined to having our social calendar packed with activities. Having the foresight for what may be coming up or receiving confirmation on what may be happening now are ways astrology can be beneficial ... as above, so below.

Related articles:

• Transiting Mars in Natal Houses
• Current Planetary Transits
• Solar Returns Explained ~ your personal year
• Sun in Taurus ~ April 20 to May 21, 2011
• Venus in Taurus ~ May 15 to June 9, 2011

Sunset Watched by Opportunity, November 2010. Credit and copyright to NASA.