On this page
In short: Mars is not retrograde now. Its next retrograde runs from 10 January to 1 April 2027 (UTC). In the Vedic zodiac it turns back in Leo (Simha) and, on 9 March (10 March at UTC+5:30), retreats into Cancer (Karka), the sign of its debilitation, where it stations direct beside Jupiter and Ketu. In the Western zodiac it moves from Virgo back into Leo. Astrologers associate Mars retrograde with frustrated drive: shorter tempers, stalled plans, old conflicts resurfacing and energy turned inward. The traditional advice is to redirect rather than force — finish and repair, exercise, cool down before replying — and to postpone aggressive new ventures, quarrels and lawsuits where there is a choice. The run-up (the "shadow") begins on 5 November 2026.
The dates
| Event | Date and time (UTC) | Tropical (Western) | Sidereal (Vedic) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow begins (Mars reaches its future direct-station degree) | 5 Nov 2026 | Leo 20.9° | Cancer 26.7° |
| Mars enters sidereal Leo | 12 Nov 2026, 14:49 | Leo | |
| Mars enters tropical Virgo | 25 Nov 2026, 23:37 | Virgo | |
| Mars stations retrograde | 10 Jan 2027, 13:01 (18:31 UTC+5:30) | Virgo 10.4° | Leo 16.2°, Purva Phalguni |
| Mars opposite the Sun (closest, brightest) | 19 Feb 2027, 15:52 | Virgo 0.8° | Leo 6.5°, Magha |
| Mars re-enters tropical Leo | 21 Feb 2027, 14:16 | Leo | |
| Mars re-enters sidereal Cancer (debilitation) | 9 Mar 2027, 18:43 (10 Mar, 00:13 UTC+5:30) | Cancer | |
| Mars stations direct | 1 Apr 2027, 14:10 (19:40 UTC+5:30) | Leo 20.9° | Cancer 26.7°, Ashlesha |
| Mars re-enters sidereal Leo | 26 Apr 2027, 06:18 (11:48 UTC+5:30) | Leo | |
| Mars re-enters tropical Virgo | 14 May 2027, 14:47 | Virgo | |
| Shadow ends | 8 Jun 2027 | Virgo 10.4° | Leo 16.2° |
The retrograde lasts 81 days — near the long end of Mars's range. The previous one ran from 6 December 2024 to 24 February 2025.
A crowded season
Mars will not be retrograde alone:
- Jupiter is retrograde from 13 December 2026 to 13 April 2027 — see Jupiter retrograde 2026–2027.
- Mercury is retrograde from 9 February to 3 March 2027, so for three weeks Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are all retrograde together.
- Eclipses: an annular solar eclipse on 6 February 2027 (Sun in sidereal Capricorn) and a faint penumbral lunar eclipse on 20 February with the Moon in sidereal Leo, beside Mars at its brightest. See eclipses 2026–2027.
- In sidereal Cancer in March, Mars joins an exalted, retrograde Jupiter and Ketu, coming within about four degrees of Jupiter and three of Ketu around 28 March.
The Vedic reading: from Leo to debilitated Cancer
Mars turns retrograde in Leo, the sign of its friend the Sun, in the nakshatra Purva Phalguni (ruled by Venus: pleasure, romance, creativity). Here Mars is confident and proud; turned back, astrologers read it as pride that is wounded more easily and leadership that meets resistance. At its opposition on 19 February it stands in Magha (ruled by Ketu: ancestors, authority, lineage).
On 9–10 March it retreats into Cancer, its debilitation (BPHS ch. 3), and stations direct in Ashlesha (ruled by Mercury: entanglement, sharp perception). A debilitated Mars is classically read as drive that turns emotional and indirect — anger that sulks rather than shouts, effort scattered by feeling. But the tradition does not stop there: Mars in Cancer is joined by Jupiter, exalted in the same sign, and many astrologers count a debilitated planet's union with an exalted one among the conditions that soften or cancel debilitation (neecha bhanga). Ketu's presence adds detachment and a tendency to act on instinct. The classic reading: frustration that can be turned, with patience, into wise and protective action.
Aspects to watch. From Leo, Mars aspects Scorpio, Aquarius and Pisces (its 4th, 7th and 8th aspects) — the last falling on Saturn in Pisces, a combination astrologers read as friction between haste and patience. From Cancer, it aspects Libra, Capricorn (where Rahu is) and Aquarius.
The Western reading: Virgo back into Leo
In the tropical zodiac Mars turns retrograde in Virgo — drive directed into work, health routines, detail and service — and retreats into Leo on 21 February: pride, creativity, romance, children and the wish to be seen. Astrologers read the sequence as frustration first with work and routine (perfectionism, irritation at small things), then with recognition and self-expression (wounded pride, creative blocks), resolved as Mars stations direct at 20.9° Leo on 1 April.
Mood and mind
The tradition's most familiar association for Mars retrograde is irritability: impatience, shorter tempers and old anger resurfacing; in some people, anger turned inward as fatigue or self-criticism. With Mars debilitated in Cancer in March, astrologers expect emotional reactivity — hurt feelings that turn into sharp words — more than open aggression. These are associations from an interpretive tradition, not claims about how the mind or body works.
The traditional counsel is practical: notice irritation early, move your body, wait before replying, and choose which battles matter. If anger or low mood is causing harm, talk to someone you trust or a professional — that never needs to wait for a planet.
Love and marriage
- Old arguments return. Astrologers associate the period with recurring disputes and power struggles. Patience and calm, direct words are favoured over ultimatums.
- Desire may feel muted or frustrated, and return with force after Mars turns direct.
- Family and home come into focus when Mars enters Cancer in March — the sign of home and mother.
- Weddings are less tied to Mars than to Venus and Jupiter in muhurta, but many astrologers avoid strong Mars afflictions to the chosen muhurta; with Jupiter also retrograde, those with a free choice often look to late April onwards.
- Mangal dosha is judged from the birth charts, not from this transit. See Mangal dosha.
Money, property and work
- Ventures and launches that need force and momentum are traditionally postponed; finishing, repairing and planning are favoured.
- Disputes and lawsuits started now are said to drag or return. Settle or prepare; take legal advice as you normally would.
- Property, land, machinery and vehicles — Mars's significations — are traditionally bought after the retrograde if there is a choice.
- Work brings frustration with authority or slow progress; use the period to rebuild strategy, processes and skills.
This is a tradition's counsel, not financial or legal advice.
Wellbeing
Mars is traditionally associated with heat, haste, cuts and accidents, so astrologers counsel care with driving, sport, tools and fire. That is folklore and common sense, not medicine: warm up, don't rush, rest when tired. Questions of surgery or treatment belong with your doctor.
By Moon sign (Vedic)
Mars spends the retrograde first in Leo (10 January – 9 March) and then in Cancer (9 March – 26 April). The first house number is Leo's house from your Moon; the second, Cancer's. Phaladeepika (ch. 26) counts Mars's transit favourable only in the 3rd, 6th and 11th from the Moon.
| Moon sign (rashi) | House from the Moon (Leo → Cancer) | What tends to come up for review | Classical gochara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries (Mesha) | 5th → 4th | romance, children and speculation — passion runs hot and cold; no risky bets; then home, property and inner peace | mixed / mixed |
| Taurus (Vrishabha) | 4th → 3rd | home, property and inner peace — renovations and family tension need patience; then courage, siblings and effort | mixed / favourable |
| Gemini (Mithuna) | 3rd → 2nd | courage, siblings and effort — good for finishing hard work; avoid needless fights; then money, family and speech | favourable / mixed |
| Cancer (Karka) | 2nd → 1st | money, family and speech — sharp words at home; avoid impulsive spending; then temper, energy and the body | mixed / mixed |
| Leo (Simha) | 1st → 12th | temper, energy and the body — go steady, exercise rather than explode; then expenses, sleep and hidden anger | mixed / mixed |
| Virgo (Kanya) | 12th → 11th | expenses, sleep and hidden anger — rest, release tension, watch spending; then gains, friends and ambitions | mixed / favourable |
| Libra (Tula) | 11th → 10th | gains, friends and ambitions — targets are revised; group disputes possible; then career drive and authority | favourable / mixed |
| Scorpio (Vrishchika) | 10th → 9th | career drive and authority — frustration at work; strategise rather than confront; then father, teachers and beliefs | mixed / mixed |
| Sagittarius (Dhanu) | 9th → 8th | father, teachers and beliefs — arguments over principle; travel plans stall; then shared money, risk and in-laws | mixed / mixed |
| Capricorn (Makara) | 8th → 7th | shared money, risk and in-laws — avoid danger and haste; review loans; then marriage and partnerships | mixed / mixed |
| Aquarius (Kumbha) | 7th → 6th | marriage and partnerships — friction and power struggles; cool down before replying; then rivals, debts and work routines | mixed / favourable |
| Pisces (Meena) | 6th → 5th | rivals, debts and work routines — a classic place for Mars; fight old battles wisely; then romance, children and speculation | favourable / mixed |
By Sun sign or rising sign (Western)
Mars moves from tropical Virgo back into Leo.
| Sun sign or rising sign | Solar house (Virgo → Leo) | What tends to come up for review |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | 6th → 5th | rivals, debts and work routines — a classic place for Mars; fight old battles wisely; then romance, children and speculation |
| Taurus | 5th → 4th | romance, children and speculation — passion runs hot and cold; no risky bets; then home, property and inner peace |
| Gemini | 4th → 3rd | home, property and inner peace — renovations and family tension need patience; then courage, siblings and effort |
| Cancer | 3rd → 2nd | courage, siblings and effort — good for finishing hard work; avoid needless fights; then money, family and speech |
| Leo | 2nd → 1st | money, family and speech — sharp words at home; avoid impulsive spending; then temper, energy and the body |
| Virgo | 1st → 12th | temper, energy and the body — go steady, exercise rather than explode; then expenses, sleep and hidden anger |
| Libra | 12th → 11th | expenses, sleep and hidden anger — rest, release tension, watch spending; then gains, friends and ambitions |
| Scorpio | 11th → 10th | gains, friends and ambitions — targets are revised; group disputes possible; then career drive and authority |
| Sagittarius | 10th → 9th | career drive and authority — frustration at work; strategise rather than confront; then father, teachers and beliefs |
| Capricorn | 9th → 8th | father, teachers and beliefs — arguments over principle; travel plans stall; then shared money, risk and in-laws |
| Aquarius | 8th → 7th | shared money, risk and in-laws — avoid danger and haste; review loans; then marriage and partnerships |
| Pisces | 7th → 6th | marriage and partnerships — friction and power struggles; cool down before replying; then rivals, debts and work routines |
What to do and what to avoid
| Favoured | Traditionally postponed if there is a choice |
|---|---|
| Finishing, repairing, rebuilding | Starting quarrels, lawsuits or ultimatums |
| Steady exercise and physical work | Risky stunts and hasty driving |
| Revisiting stalled plans with a new strategy | Launches that depend on force and speed |
| Settling old disputes | Buying land, vehicles or machinery on impulse |
| Patience at home | Confronting authority in anger |
FAQ
Is Mars retrograde now? No. As of October 2026, Mars is direct. Its retrograde runs from 10 January to 1 April 2027. For today's sky, see the sky right now.
Is Mars debilitated during this retrograde? In the sidereal zodiac, yes, from 9 March (10 March at UTC+5:30) until 26 April 2027, when it is in Cancer — beside an exalted Jupiter.
Does Mars retrograde make people angry? Astrologers have long associated it with irritability and frustration. That is a traditional interpretation, not a scientific finding.
When is the next Mars retrograde after this one? 14 February – 5 May 2029.
Sources
- Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, ch. 3 (Mars's debilitation in Cancer; natural friendships; special aspects) and ch. 27 (cheshta bala) (Santhanam)
- Mantreswara, Phaladeepika, tr. V. Subramanya Sastri, ch. 26 (Mars favourable in the 3rd, 6th and 11th from the Moon)
- William Lilly, Christian Astrology, 1647, Book I, fortitudes and debilities
- Mars stations, ingresses, opposition and shadow; eclipses — computed with the Sunyra engine (astronomy-engine, verified against NASA JPL Horizons); sidereal Lahiri and tropical
Written by Sunyra Editorial. Astrology is a tradition of interpretation; read this as guidance, not a forecast. Disclaimer.
Last reviewed