The Mars Retrograde Station 2024: Conflict in Flux

The planet Mars comes to its station retrograde on December 6, appearing to slow its motion, come to a standstill, and change direction.  Planetary stations are optical illusions, created by the triangulation between Earth, the sun, and any third celestial body (nothing ever actually reverses course in the cosmos), but astrologically, they represent important power points where the energies embodied by that planet imbue a particular area of the zodiac for longer than normal.  Focused and concentrated, these stations become metaphoric “turning points” in how that planet’s energies are expressing, affording opportunities to reassess, make adjustments or change direction in the affairs of that planet.

For Mars, named after the Roman god of war, conflict is a major issue.  Mars also rules the military and weaponry, so a stationary Mars could inspire change in these areas as well.  Existing conflicts between nations, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s occupation of Gaza, are all up for review.  US President-elect Donald Trump is fond of saying he could end the war in Ukraine “in a day,” even before reentering the White House; perhaps the Mars station is the day he’ll pick.  With China’s recent unveiling of a new fleet of stealth fighter jets, and a prototype nuclear reactor to power their next generation of aircraft carriers, the South China Sea looks to be another hotspot, sooner rather than later.  And Israel’s “second front” against Iranian surrogate Hezbollah in Lebanon, currently on pause with a fragile ceasefire that began on November 27 just as Mars slowed to its station, could spark a wider war in the Middle East.

All of these “usual suspects” are reflected in the chart for the Mars station, either directly linked to the planet of war, or spotlighted by a connection to the Sun on the day.  But first let’s look at the underpinning structure of the station, which could be a cosmic cautionary tale.  From its station at 6 Leo, Mars is staring down Pluto, directly opposite at 0 Aquarius.  Mars is also the arbiter of violent death, while Pluto, designating raw power, has additional associations with death and destruction, so the combination of these two could lead to some very devastating outcomes indeed.

Further complicating the situation is dwarf planet Haumea 136108, at 2 Scorpio, on the fulcrum of a challenging, dynamic pattern which astrologers call a T-Square, comprised of two planets in opposition (180 degrees), with a third on their midpoint, roughly squared (90 degrees) to each.  Haumea has a metaphorical light side and a dark side, as do most celestial objects.  But in the context of this pattern, with these players, it’s the dark which will most likely assert itself, at least initially.  Haumea transforms (something it has in common with Pluto), destroys (with the ultimate goal here to rebuild), and is capable of drastic action (damage, death, destruction) if thwarted or cornered.  What leaps to mind immediately is US President Joe Biden’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles in their struggle with Russia; if Russian President Vladimir Putin feels threatened or cornered by this development, he might escalate this conflict with the nuclear weapons at his disposal.

The US will play a key role in many of these conflicts, actively or as arbiter, and this is reflected by the appearance of asteroid Washingtonia 886 (for Washington DC) at 10 Taurus, filling in the empty arm of the T-Square to form a Grand Cross pattern, four points equidistant from each other around the zodiac.  Washingtonia here signals the US as of prime importance in what conflicts do, or do not, develop, and how existing conflicts morph or transform, escalating or diminishing.  A mooted action by the US to cut off arms transfers to Israel, due to humanitarian concerns in Gaza, which might have resulted in de-escalation there, has been deferred after signs of increased flow of aid to the stricken region caused the White House to back off from its threat.  But the incident vividly illustrates Washington’s crucial role in global conflicts, even those that do not directly affect the US, as represented by Washingtonia’s inclusion in the Mars station Grand Cross.

For the US chart itself, the Mars station at 6 Leo falls into a precarious slot, midway between its natal Mars at 21 Gemini and natal Neptune at 22 Virgo, semisquare to each.  This could suggest a “slippery slope” (Neptune) of the US being drawn, unwittingly or unwillingly, into a foreign conflict (Mars).  I note with trepidation that the station degree also opposes the nation’s asteroid Troemper 28130 (our celestial referent for Donald Trump) at 2 Aquarius, and that not only does that placement conjoin the US natal Pluto at 27 Capricorn, but it will in turn be conjoined by transit Pluto in 2025, exact from January 31 through March 5, again July to August 20, and finally from December 6 until January 10, 2026. 

This funnels a great deal of energy (Mars) into Trump’s (Troemper) plan to completely transform (some might say “destroy,” but both are Pluto keywords) the American system of government.  But also take note that Pluto is the modern lord of death, and the only other US president with a conjunction to its Pluto was John F. Kennedy Jr, with asteroid Kennedy 7166 at 1 Aquarius.  And we all know what happened to him.

Also of note, a trine to asteroid Taiwan, exact on the US Ascendant of 12 Sagittarius.  This could indicate strong support (trine) for Taiwan, in a very public way (Ascendant), and may indicate where our slippery slope leads us.

Other global entities with asteroid referents having direct contact to Mars at this time include Ukraine and Taiwan, both underdogs facing (or potentially facing) much larger antagonists.  These are represented by asteroids Taiwan 2169 and Kiev 2171 (anglicized spelling of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital), which conjoin each other from 4 and 8 Aries, in trine to Mars.  The trine (120 degrees) is a supportive, generally beneficial linkage, perhaps implying that peace talks could wind down the war in Ukraine (now approaching its third anniversary), or that Taiwan might be spared direct military action from its aggressive neighbor, China.  The possibility that this Mars station could result in decreasing tensions is “baked in the cosmic cake” as well, with peaceable Venus at 29 Capricorn conjoining Puto and opposing Mars, perhaps damping down the fires they promote.

The chart for Taiwan (12/25/1947, no confirmed time) is very activated by this station.  From 6 Leo, Mars opposes Venus at 29 Capricorn, is inconjunct the Sun at 2 Capricorn, trine Jupiter at 13 Sagittarius, squared natal asteroid Taiwan at 9 Scorpio, sextile asteroid Peking at 11 Libra, semisquare asteroid China at 24 Virgo, and semisextile its natal Mars at 6 Virgo.  Whew!  Something is definitely up for the embattled nation in the next few months.  We see both asteroids representing rival Communist China active (Peking, China), as well as its innate connection to conflict (Mars), not an encouraging pattern.  However, the station also stimulates diplomatic Venus and foreign relations-minded Jupiter, so hope is extended for a peaceful resolution.  With Taiwan’s Jupiter conjoined the US Ascendant and the transit degree of asteroid Taiwan, the US may be pivotal in crafting a diplomatic solution.

Ukraine’s chart (6 PM EEDT 24 August 1991; Rodden Rating AA) is almost as active, no surprise given the parlous state of its conflict with Russia.  As with Taiwan, we see a stimulation of its natal Mars, this time by semisquare to 25 Virgo.  But there is also an inconjunct to Uranus at 10 Capricorn, an opposition to Saturn at 1 Aquarius, and a T-Square formed with natal asteroid Russia at 4 Taurus. 

Something unexpected (Uranus) is about to happen, which could prove controversial (also Uranus).  This could be related to the introduction of new military (Mars) technology (Uranus) into the conflict, such as the recent upgrades in weaponry from the US, affecting Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty (Saturn).  President Zelenskyy has recently intimated that his country might be open to accepting certain Russian appropriations of territory, in exchange for a path to NATO membership, and the protections that provides.

Mars is also inconjunct to a grouping of asteroids Israel 7507, Ukraina 1709 and Moskva 787, at 2, 4 and 8 Pisces respectively.  The inconjunct is an aspect of moderate tension, requiring adjustment in approach for success.  Asteroid Israel here may depict the Jewish state’s need to adjust its wartime footing, while Ukraina (named for Ukraine) and Moskva (Russian for Moscow, its capital) together could suggest that serious peace talks between the warring nations do in fact commence.

For Russia (5:19 PM GMT, 25 December 1991, Moscow; Rodden Rating AA), we again see prime activation from the station.  At 6 Leo, Mars is broadly conjunct natal asteroid Kiev at 27 Cancer, opposed Saturn at 5 Aquarius, inconjunct the Sun at 3 Capricorn, trine Mercury at 11 Sagittarius, and squared the MC at 3 Taurus.  Mars with Kiev signals the ongoing war, but the wide separation between them could suggest the conflict is winding down naturally.  The inconjunct to the Sun indicates a need for Moscow to adjust its approach to the conflict, perhaps via serious talk and negotiation (both Mercury).  Mars opposed Saturn, as with Ukraine, could refer to both nations being simply worn out by the privation and loss (both Saturn), and beginning to understand the limitations (also Saturn) of continuing their war of attrition.

Solar connections reinforce the sense that talking to each other, simple communication, could smooth a path to peace.  The Sun at 15 Sagittarius meets up with Mercury, planet of communication, negotiation, and documents such as treaties, ceasefires or peace agreements, at 13 Sagittarius.  This combination throws a spotlight on verbal or written interactions, and a semisquare aspect (45 degrees) to Venus suggests a goal of harmony or accord in what is discussed. 

As with Mars, there is a planetary T-Square in effect here as well.  The Sun/Mercury conjunction opposes Jupiter at 16 Gemini, arbiter of foreign relations and diplomacy, but also tending toward escalation of situations, something not necessarily in the best interests of all concerned.  On the fulcrum is Saturn at 13 Pisces, which represents official governments and heads-of-state generally, but also tends toward restriction, limitation or loss.  Saturn can be withholding, perhaps preventing governments from reaching amicable agreements, but it also indicates longevity and stability, so any agreements which do emerge during this period could be long-lasting and solid.

Global entities which feed into this pattern include Iran (as asteroid Irani 18987) at 13 Virgo, Taiwan (as asteroid Taipei 171381, named for its capital) at 17 Virgo, and China (as asteroid Peking 2045, former designation of Beijing, its capital) at 25 Virgo, which again collude to form a Grand Cross of the planetary T-Square.  Taipei conjunct Peking in this Grand Cross could signal high-level talks between the Chinese and Taiwanese governments, which do not currently have diplomatic relations, with each nation vying to be the “real” China.  The solar presence here throws a beacon on these nations in particular for the duration of the Mars station effects, to last at least until Mars resumes direct motion in late February 2025.

In China’s chart (21 September 1949, no confirmed time), Mars is returning to its natal degree, a powerful moment of connecting with, and resetting, the natal potential of Mars (and martial) energy, including the urge toward conflict.  At 8 Leo in its birth chart, China’s Mars isn’t quite hit by the transit body in the sky before it reverses direction, but the station has the flavor of the Return regardless, and this activation could prompt a more belligerent, not to say bellicose, attitude.  Mars is also squared natal Venus at 7 Scorpio, trine asteroid China at 5 Sagittarius, and appears at the Apex of a Yod pattern (AKA a Finger of Destiny), with inconjunct aspects to asteroids Taipei at 7 Capricorn and Peking at 7 Pisces.  Seeing asteroids representing the respective capital cities of these nations at loggerheads, tied up in a karmic, “fated” relationship with the planet that expresses hostility, is certainly a remarkable celestial framing of the facts on the ground.  The square to Venus may suggest a desire (Venus) for war (Mars), while the trine to asteroid China suggests support (trine) for armed conflict (Mars) in the country at large (China).

For Iran (3 PM GMT, 1 April 1979, Tehran) the Mars station at 6 Leo conjoins natal Jupiter at 29 Cancer, trine its Sun at 11 Aries, exactly sextile the 6 Gemini Moon, inconjunct Venus at 25 Pisces, and sesquiquadrate Neptune at 20 Sagittarius.  This could elevate diplomacy (Jupiter, Venus) over conflict (Mars), based in a desire (Venus) of its people (Moon) to reinvent its core identity (Sun).  That all sounds grand, but the key figure in this combination is Neptune, which can tend toward zealotry and fanaticism, especially in a religious context, and delights in using disinformation or outright deception for achieving its purposes.  But Neptune can also signal empathy and compassion, a willingness to forgive, or simply a recognition of the country’s weakness, with its surrogates, Hamas and Hezbollah, on the run from Israeli arms. 

Speaking of Israel (4 PM EET, 14 May 1948, Tel Aviv; Rodden Rating AA), the Mars station impacts there the least, with a square to natal asteroid Jerusalem at 3 Taurus, a semisquare to Uranus at 24 Gemini, and sextile aspects to both Neptune at 10 Libra and Mercury at 10 Gemini.  The militancy (Mars) of the current government (symbolized by asteroid Jerusalem, its capital) may be eroded (Neptune) by some unanticipated breakthrough (Uranus) or shocking development (also Uranus), leading to serious discussions (Mercury) about resolving their differences in a more peaceable fashion.

If there is a wild card in this diplomatic deck (and there is), it would be those nations with namesake asteroids having connection to Uranus, ruling controversy, volatility, unpredictability, and shocks or upsets to the system.  At 24 Taurus, Uranus is conjoined by asteroids China 1125, Jerusalem 63163 (named for Israel’s capital) and Russia 232, at 19, 20 and 25 Taurus, as those nations most likely to throw a spanner into the works.  And indeed, Jerusalem’s policy toward Iranian surrogates going forward could further unsettle the region, or pour oil on the waters; China’s belligerent glances across the Taiwan Strait could be mere saber-rattling, or lead to an all-out conflict; and with recent reinforcements from the North Korean army, Russia is poised to resolve its conflict with Ukraine, one way or another.  How these conflicts play out in the ensuing four months will be greatly influenced by the Mars station.

Alex Miller

Alex Miller is a professional writer and astrologer, whose website AlexAsteroidAstrology.com offers a trove of info on the role of asteroids in personal and mundane astrology. He is the author of The Black Hole Book (available on Amazon.com) and The Urban Wicca, former editor of “The Galactic Calendar,” and past president of The Philadelphia Astrological Society. His pioneering work with Black Holes in astrological interpretation began in 1991, when his progressed Sun unwittingly fell into one. Alex’s books and writings are available on his website. Alex can also be reached for comment or services at .