The Lion’s Pause: Reclaiming and Redirecting Creative Energy During Mars Retrograde
You’ve been cruising along, charged with inspiration, tackling your creative projects when suddenly… bam. Mars goes retrograde. Now what?
When Mars retrogrades—especially in a bold, creative sign like Leo—it can feel like someone hit the brakes on your momentum. But this cosmic pause isn’t a setback. It’s an invitation: to rest, reflect, and recalibrate your energy, particularly your creative energy.
Mars is the planet of drive, passion, and risks—and, among other things, it governs your adrenal glands! Have you been going, going, going and burning the candle at both ends? Your adrenals get taxed, even when you’re doing exciting stuff.
If you need inspiration for how to handle this slowdown, look no further than the lion—one of the fiercest and most respected animals on the planet.
Lions rest for up to 20 hours a day, preserving their energy for the moments that matter most: hunting, protecting their pride, and maintaining their regal presence. Their power doesn’t come from constant motion; it comes from knowing when to act and when to conserve.
Mars Retrograde is your opportunity to embrace this wisdom. From December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025, this transit encourages you to turn inward. Starting in fiery Leo at 6°11', the energy calls you to reevaluate how you use your vitality and creative drive.
What motivates your actions?
Are you pouring energy into the projects that align with your true mission?
By January 6, 2025, as Mars dips into nurturing Cancer, the focus shifts to emotional introspection, reconnecting with your roots, and nurturing your inner child. This is less about pushing forward and more about excavating your emotional foundation to support sustainable growth later on.
Mars will also oppose Pluto on January 2, 2025, highlighting your relationship with raw power and the dynamics between your need to shine and the collective pressures of the hive ideology.
Are you asserting yourself in a way that feels aligned and authentic, or are you running on external validation?
Do you know when to pull back and protect your energy?
These are the questions Mars asks us to sit with during this time.
Reclaiming Your Energy During Mars Retrograde
Mars Retrograde reveals where your energy has been scattered, offering a chance to reclaim it and focus on what truly lights you up.
Mars Retrograde offers a unique opportunity to reclaim energy that might otherwise get scattered. If you’ve been pushing full steam ahead, it’s worth asking: At what cost?
In order to shine brightly, your inner flame needs tending. Here’s how you can work with this transit to reignite your creativity—or refuel to keep it burning bright:
1. Pause the Hustle
Retrogrades aren’t about launching new projects; they’re about revisiting and refining existing ones. Reflect on:
Which projects truly align with my authentic self?
Where am I overextending my energy?
Am I creating for external validation or from a place of joy and fulfillment?
2. Rest as a Strategy
Rest isn’t indulgent—it’s essential, especially during a Mars Retrograde. This is your time to slow down and prioritize recovery, not just for your body but also for your mind and spirit.
But here’s the thing: not all rest is restorative. Mindlessly doom-scrolling through social media or binge-watching shows might seem like downtime, but it often leaves you feeling more drained than replenished. True rest nurtures your energy and helps you reconnect with yourself.
Try these forms of intentional rest instead:
Prioritize sleep and relaxation: Make space for quality rest. No phones in bed!
Engage in restorative activities (bonus if they’re creative!): Spend time in nature, read, paint, or enjoy hobbies that bring you peace.
Let yourself PLAY: Embrace a childlike sense of play and experimentation. Engage in low-stakes creative activities, like doodling, dancing without choreography, or literally role-playing with your kids!
By giving yourself permission to rest—and choosing activities that genuinely replenish you—you’ll refuel your energy reserves and prepare for renewed focus when the time comes to move forward.
3. Address Hidden Anger
One of the lesser-discussed gifts of Mars Retrograde is its ability to reveal anger or frustration that’s been simmering beneath the surface. While these emotions may feel uncomfortable, they hold valuable insights about where your boundaries, desires, or expectations need attention.
During this retrograde, pay attention to:
What triggers your frustration or irritability?
Are there unresolved resentments that need to be addressed?
Have you been suppressing your anger to avoid conflict or discomfort?
Instead of letting anger fester or explode, channel it constructively. You could:
Journal about what’s coming up and explore the root causes of your feelings.
Have honest conversations (when you’re ready) to address misaligned expectations or unmet needs.
Use physical movement, like exercise or somatic practices, to release built-up tension in your body.
Mars Retrograde encourages you to see anger not as a problem, but as a messenger. Once you process and integrate its lessons, you’ll feel lighter, clearer, and better equipped to move forward.
4. Call Your Energy Back
Mars Retrograde is the perfect time to reclaim your energy from anything that feels draining or misaligned. When your energy is scattered, it’s harder to focus on what truly matters.
Ask yourself:
Is there a project that no longer lights me up?
Is there a relationship or dynamic that feels like it’s sucking my life force?
Where am I giving too much of myself without receiving in return?
Mars excels at helping you cut cords. This can be as simple as decisively closing a project, leaving a job, or ending a relationship. You’ll know it worked because you’ll feel a sudden surge of vitality and freedom.
If you don’t feel that shift, it might be worth investigating for sneaky tendrils that could still be holding on. Are you still thinking about the situation, revisiting old emotions, or keeping one foot in the door? Use this time to clean up any lingering attachments so you can fully reclaim your energy.
By calling your energy back and focusing it intentionally, you’ll create space for your passions to reignite and your creativity to flow freely.
Mars Retrograde 2024–2025: Timeline & Themes Cheat-Sheet
📅 December 6, 2024: Mars stations retrograde at 6°11' Leo
🌌 Reflect on: Creative energy, your projects, and authenticity. Are your actions aligned with your true purpose?
📅 January 2, 2025: Mars opposes Pluto (1°8’ Leo vs. 1°8’ Aquarius)
🌌 Focus on: Power struggles and reclaiming agency. Let go of external pressures and fears.
📅 January 6, 2025: Mars retrogrades into Cancer
🌌 Shift to: Emotional introspection, boundaries, and self-care. What nourishes and sustains you?
📅 February 23, 2025: Mars stations direct at 17° Cancer
🌌 Move forward: With clarity and new understanding for your needs, applying the lessons learned.
Addressing the Resistance to Pause
I’ll admit—I feel this transit already and I don’t feel prepared to rest. Here I am, launching my first blog post on my shiny new site, brimming with ideas: finishing the freebie book, outlining the course, inviting summit guests (yes, all of this is happening!).
But I also know that aligning my actions with the planets’ invitations brings ease, flow, and better results. When I resist, burnout—or even external challenges—tends to show up instead.
For me, one of the ways I’m being forced into a slower pace is by my baby daughter’s needs (hello Leo-Cancer!). She’s been less happy being apart from me, so I often need to pause to be with her even when someone else is caring for her.
I’ve also started to feel like I need to rest at night when she falls asleep instead of popping up and getting back on the computer to write or finish the photo book project. So, am I feeling resistance to slowing down? Yes! But I also understand that my energy is being called back into where it’s needed most right now, and that I’ll emerge on the other side better off for it.
That’s the magic of Mars Retrograde: it teaches us how to pull back our energy and redirect it toward what truly matters.
Slowing down with the babes during Mars' retrograde
Personal Alignment
Mars Retrograde isn’t a roadblock; it’s a pause (or a slower pace!) to help you reclaim your energy, refine your direction, and come back to creativity in a new and better way. By the time Mars stations direct on February 23, 2025, you’ll be ready to step forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
And yet—how this all aligns with your personal birth chart will bring a whole other story into the mix! For me, Mars is traveling through my 6th and 5th houses and will trine my Venus in the process. It makes so much sense that my daily routine and care for my baby are being called out…
But what is it for you?
How is Mars Retrograde shaping your path? Every chart tells a unique story, and this transit may be calling your attention to specific areas of growth or realignment. If you’re curious about how it’s unfolding in your life, a personalized astrology session can provide deeper insights and guidance.
If you don’t have your birth chart, you can get it for free here —>
If one of the Mars Retrograde “missions” resonated with you, consider taking it further. Whether it’s reclaiming your energy, addressing hidden anger, or aligning with your purpose, real transformation comes with intention and support. If you’re ready to explore this work more deeply, let’s connect—book a free discovery call to see how coaching might support your journey.
What’s showing up for you this retrograde? Let me know in the comments below!