A Guide Through The Astrological Intensity
No one will disagree that this past week has shaken one’s sense of stability in some way. I’d like to discuss the astrology of now and the coming weeks in the spirit of helping add clarity for people in an otherwise turbulent time. Before sharing the Horoscopes with you for each sign, I’d like to provide some context on the factors contributing to the intensity.
Living in the Shadow of the Previous Mars Retrograde (Dec 2024–Feb 2025)
Mars’ retrograde path often portends the nature of discord in the months to come, even well after Mars retrograde ends. This is because Mars retrograde actually occurs when Mars is closest to Earth, setting the level of initial heat underneath the water, so to speak. This can determine the intensity of the boiling period thereafter as Mars finishes out its synodic cycle (in this case the cycle closes in early January 2026).
On the one hand, you can argue that the Mars-Sun opposition is the peak of Mars’ synodic cycle (which is true), but it can also foment aggression in the ensuing months. One need only look at the Summer of 2001 to see what I' mean: Mars retrograded in Sagittarius that year, aligning with Chiron & Pluto in Sagittarius. Mars, Chiron and Pluto all conjunct in Sagittarius (the sign associated with long-distance travel, faith and beliefs) served as an eerie preface of the horrendous tragedies on September 11, 2001. Uglier Mars retrograde cycles can sometimes fuel more violent sentiments in the collective and these sentiments can percolate in the months following.
The most recent Mars Retrograde cycle essentially began with the assassination of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson at the hands of Luigi Mangione (happening two days before Mars’ official retrograde). The shooting occurred while Mars was opposing Pluto, and Mars proceeded to oppose Pluto for an entire month (two months including the pre-shadow phase). Eventually Mars retrograded back into Cancer, and once it entered its Fallen position it squared Chiron in Aries, with Chiron in Aries representing (among other things) the wounded masculine.
Back in late 2023 on a 10-hour flight home from Croatia, I took the time to scan through all the major transits I could find in 2024, and by the time I peeked into 2025 I felt a strong apprehension. I was relieved honestly that I didn’t have to experience 2025 yet. I saw the Mars retrograde square Chiron in early 2025 and knew it would sow some very wicked seeds.
We are now living in the aftermath of that retrograde cycle and seeing the unfortunate externalization of the internal twisted rage of people like Tyler Robinson. Radicalization doesn’t happen overnight — and sometimes it festers during the Mars Retrograde cycle, which in this instance eerily began with Mangione. Does the astrology suggest we have some kind of wannabe copycat? Events like this manifest in the mind first, and most likely the radicalization really accelerated during Mars Retrograde.
Mars in Scorpio Square Pluto in Aquarius (Sep 22–Oct 1)
I wish I could tell you that the Mars synodic cycle was closing out quietly, but this would be patently false. Mars is in fact entering Scorpio, forming a tense square to Pluto in Aquarius for the first time since January 1798. Mars is strong its Feminine (Yin) sign of Scorpio, however, it can also be vengeful and retaliatory. The square to Pluto in Aquarius (a sign representing collective action and grassroots movements) makes me concerned that radicalized factions and cells could be gaining momentum.
Either way, be very careful not to exacerbate any ongoing tensions from September 22 through October 1 while this square is within the orb of influence. And don’t contribute to the increasingly extremist rhetoric on social media. It seems there’s hardly any middle ground anymore (let’s hope Libra Season can give us some balance).
The Shadow Side of Pluto in Aquarius (2023–2044)
Even though many astrologers have touted Pluto in Aquarius as a harbinger of a wider awakening, this transit has a dark side in that it also intensifies groupthink and the mob mentality. I’ve noticed this especially on social media, where people will often parrot someone else’s sentiment based on faulty information. Suddenly, a misinformed comment that “feels good” is getting thousands of likes and contributing to further division.
Pluto in Aquarius also can lead to extreme detachment and alienation, which makes it all the easier for people to become radicalized. People can quickly fall down this digital rabbit hole and lose touch with reality and in-person connection. This makes it easier for people to dehumanize others, and then suddenly masses of people are celebrating violence as if they’re watching a Twitch livestream. Except this isn’t a video game defined by 1’s or 0’s. This is real life, which too many have lost touch with.
I also fear that people are becoming increasingly nihilistic, which is the number one risk plaguing humanity as I’ve said for over three years. More and more people seem to believe in nothing, and this is helping them justify heinous acts or it’s giving them permission to numb themselves to tragedy.
Pluto in Aquarius ironically doesn’t seem to be promoting independent thought as much as one would hope. It’s more so rallying mass groups of people around extreme ideologies founded on shaky ground. The best thing we can do is stay out of echo chambers and also to participate in the alchemy of relationships.
Mars opposite Uranus (Nov 3–8)
Mars will then oppose Uranus November 4th, with both planets at the critical 0 degree of Sagittarius and Gemini, respectively. This is actually the peak of the Mars-Uranus cycle that began on July 15, 2024. Since Uranus disposits Pluto in Aquarius, I am concerned that harsh aspects between Mars and Uranus such as this could correlate with a higher incidence of political violence (just look at what happened July 13, 2024…).
Oddly enough, November 4th is the date of the New York City Mayoral Elections. One can only hope that chaos is kept to a minimum around that time. This to me this the last transit of 2025 where things could go really haywire, but that might be wishful thinking on my part. This could signify a very rebellious time, with a more fringe faction taking root in some sphere of society. It can also lead to explosive rage or sudden, unexpected aggression.
Given the opposition is activating the Gemini-Sagittarius axis, this could also signal a surprise attack across countries’ borders, or a battle over beliefs.
Ultimately, this is about maintaining your centeredness no matter the extreme situation. The vast majority of spiritual teachings stem from this basic idea that one should pursue everything in moderation, and that inner harmony must be achieved to attract the outcome one desires.
Giving into derision, contempt and hatred will only keep you trapped in a cycle of suffering. There’s no way to add caveats or exceptions to this. You either feed the extremes and watch the pendulum swing or you stay in the center the entire time and get closer to transcendence.
I hope that my content over the past four years has conveyed this essential truth. I really try to stay the course no matter the weather, and I believe this is why my ship has not capsized. Put another way, you can either obsess over the waves or keep your eyes on the horizon…
How Each Zodiac Sign Can Navigate the Upcoming Peaks in Tension
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