Within the Shamanic Astrology paradigm, Mars symbolizes the Masculine principle in both men and women, and Venus symbolizes the Feminine
. We can all pretty much agree that the gender roles that we grew up with in our culture, are useless especially at this Turning of the Ages. There is currently a lot of confusion about what exactly is “masculine” and “feminine.” Read More
Sharing Circle from 2013 Conference
Most everyone in contemporary culture is wired to look outside themselves for completion, wholeness, and happiness. There is a longing to find the magical “other”, the soulmate, the twin flame, the beloved. This is not a criticism of this longing, as it motivates even autonomous or renunciate individuals to learn more about themselves through another.
It could even be said that the relationship quest is the yoga of our current times. Read More
Some initial thoughts
With the imminent Mars/Sun opposition on April 8, 2014, heralding the beginning of a new synodic cycle of Mars, it’s time to consider the implications. Mars entered Libra on December 7, 2013, and remains in Libra until July 25, 2014, almost an entire 8 months. It is important to note that Mars always stays in a sign a long time when a new synodic cycle is beginning. This happened in 2012 when Mars began a new cycle in Virgo and in 2010 when Mars began a new cycle in Taurus.
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by Daniel Giamario
The Theory
Many astrologers run charts for the Mars Return, either for themselves or their clients. Commonly used, this is a chart of the exact time that transiting Mars returns to its original natal position, and occurs around every two years. However, as explained in Part 1 of the Mars Cycle, the far more important Mars Return event occurs when transiting Mars returns to the natal degree when closest to the date and season of one’s birth (near the birthday).
In the previous article we discussed how synodic planetary returns are part of the great ancient Hermetic and magical project of discovering and discerning how seemingly irrational cycles can reduce to whole numbers. Let us now explore how this works for Mars.
The New Mars Cycle of Libra to Begin April 8th, 2014
On the evening of April 8th, Mars will rise in the East, just as the Sun sets. Technically, this is called the Acronychal Rise similar to when the 
Full Moon rises in the East as the Sun sets in the West. In this case it is Mars rising in the East as the Sun sets in the West or stated another way it is the Sun/Mars opposition. This year, on April 8th, the Sun/Mars opposition is occurring at 18 Libra 56.
This also happens to be the point in the Mars synodic cycle when Mars is closest to the Earth. In contrast Mars will be furthest from the Sun (aphelion) in May-June, 2015. Six days after opposition, on April 16th, 2014, Mars is closest to the Earth, about 57 million miles away and is also at its greatest brilliance from the Earth’s perspective.
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