Meaning of Mars Retrograde in Cancer

Mars leaves Leo and retrogrades back into Cancer on January 6 , a transit that celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas says can be "tough" at this time.

Mars is moving.

The red planet is retrograde again, leaving Leo and returning to Cancer on January 6, where it was originally at 17 degrees in October 2024.

Retrograde is when a planet appears to be moving backwards in space from our point of view on Earth, however, it is simply an optical illusion to the naked eye. Although there is no physical movement, its astrological effects can be felt quite dramatically.

Specifically, Mars retrogrades about every two years (or 26 months) for about three months. However, due to the shadow before and after, the entire period of Mars retrograde lasts nearly seven months.

Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas shares on PEOPLE that Mars retrograde is "most powerful" when it appears to be moving back across the sky, though he'll be sure to note that the "lead and fade" in the months leading up to and following its peak "can still be felt" in all of us.

When a planet is retrograde, Thomas says that "the things it rules tend to go awry" in addition to what is ruled by the sign it's in. For Cancer, he says those themes include "home, family, tradition, ancestors, home, real estate, and parents."

"Cancer is also closely tied to emotions," he adds, explaining that Mars retrograde in this zodiac sign can cause us to experience "delays" around the aforementioned topics or "revisit situations and people" related to those areas.

Thomas also notes that Cancer is associated with “past lives,” so he predicts that “past life connections and karmic entanglements” may come back to us during this time. He says that Mars is also “weakened” in Cancer.

As a result, Thomas suggests this particular transit can be “extremely difficult” as we are “forced to deal with” aggressive and frustrating energies “even more than usual.” He adds, “Our emotions will be what lead us into or out of battle.”

Read on to find out what Mars retrograde in Cancer means for your zodiac sign, according to Thomas!

The meaning of Mars retrograde for zodiac signs

• Aries (March 20-April 19)
• Taurus (April 19 - May 20)
• Gemini (May 20-June 20)
• Cancer (June 20 - July 22)
• Leo (July 22 - August 22)
• Virgo (August 22 - September 22)
• Libra (September 22 - October 22)
• Scorpio (October 22 - November 21)
• Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
• Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)
• Aquarius (January 19 - February 18)
• Pisces (February 18 - March 20)

Aries (March 20-April 19)

Change is coming your way. “ Your ruling planet is diving into different waters ,” says Thomas.

" This can make your emotions and feelings particularly explosive and flammable ." " You may find yourself feeling tense, particularly agitated or overly sensitive in the coming weeks ."

Your personal life could also be affected, with Thomas predicting “friction” around familiar or family issues. “ You may feel like these situations are getting on your nerves ,” he says.

Taurus (April 19 - May 20)

Everything seems to be getting on your nerves at this point, so Thomas says it's " extremely important " to pay attention to your words even when you're feeling stressed.

Why? “ People are paying more attention to you, especially on social media and in your close circle ,” he says. “ Friends, neighbors, and even siblings ” are some examples of people who might be in the impact zone.

“ You may see more conflict or controversy involving these individuals right now ,” Thomas continues. “ A clash of ideas may come up for you, leaving you feeling provoked and frustrated .”

Additionally, Thomas says Taurus may see "delays or challenges" around communication-related endeavors like writing, speaking, or advertising projects. " Go slower so you don't mess things up ," he suggests.

Gemini (May 20-June 20)

Money on your mind, Gemini? During this next phase of Mars retrograde, Thomas predicts "there will be a lot of frustration around financial matters."

He gives a few examples. “ Perhaps you are spending money faster than ever and burning a hole in your wallet or bank account ,” he says. “ You may also find that money is stagnant or running out and people are refusing to pay you .”

During this time, you may feel inclined to "rush into battle" around these financial issues. However, Thomas notes that it's best to "take a step back" rather than rush into the issue.

Cancer (June 20 - July 22)

You're in the middle of the action. " It can feel like you've suddenly hit a brick wall when Mars retrograde returns to your sign ," says Thomas.

" The biggest cosmic storms may be affecting you at this time ," he adds, noting that you may feel frustrated, agitated, angry, and combative at every turn. " Ex-lovers, enemies, and karmic relationships may be coming your way related to passion, conflict, sex, ambition, and desire ."

Leo (July 22 - August 22)

The past month has been particularly rocky for Leo, but starting now, Mars retrograde will leave your sign. Instead, it will move into a zone focused on the "invisible." You may suddenly have to confront hidden enemies — in the form of people who want to do you harm or competitors who are plotting to steal your spotlight.

On the other hand, you may be extremely exhausted, and your mental health may be suffering. Finally, if Leo has been deeply invested in behind-the-scenes projects, they may hit a roadblock now.

Virgo (August 22 - September 22)

Prepare for discomfort, Virgo. " You'll feel the strain on your social life ," Thomas predicts.

"You may actually have to confront friends, people in your social circle or an ex," "This is not the time to get into a fight with them, because you could get thrown off."

“ Social issues and situations involving a lot of people can also cause you stress ,” Thomas continues. “ On the other hand, if you’re working toward a big milestone or aspiration, you may find that it feels a little out of reach .”

Libra (September 22 - October 22)

The start of Mars retrograde may not have a negative impact on you, Libra. In fact, Thomas says you may have "reconnected with many friends and acquaintances" over the past month.

However, as the stars shift, he predicts " cosmic storms are coming your way in your career, life and recognition ." " You may see discord at work or you are in conflict with people in authority at this time ."

“ But you may get lucky if you want to return to previous projects, ambitions or an employer ,” he adds .

Scorpio (October 22 - November 21)

Scorpios could be in luck. " The rest of Mars retrograde is likely to be bumpier for you ," predicts Thomas.

" You've definitely had a rough time this past month. Mars retrograde is now encouraging you to reconsider how you approach expansion, growth, and new horizons," she said. "This can be a great time to revisit places or cultures that are very different from your norm."

However, Thomas said there are also a number of areas that could be "challenging," including media, legal issues, academic issues, immigration and international relations. He advised Scorpios to "prepare for battle."

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

Be careful with money, Sagittarius! "You may see a lot of tension arising around financial matters right now."

“ This could cause you to burn through cash or invest in important big issues. Issues related to assets, investments, debt or inheritance could also arise ,” Thomas predicts. “ You could become combative if your privacy needs are not met .”

Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)

Partnership-related karma could arise for Capricorn. "You may have to come face-to-face with an important partner in love, partnership or business," Thomas predicts.

“ Launching an all-out attack right now would not be wise, as you would almost certainly lose, ” he said. “ Instead, you need to take a step back and have a strategy to manage the mission .”

On the flip side, Thomas says you may also find that past partners "come back to bite you again." If you want to give the relationship another chance, he suggests seeing if you're both "on the same page" before committing.

Aquarius (January 19 - February 18)

Does it seem like your checklist never ends, Aquarius? " Work and productivity can feel overwhelming and draining at the moment ," says Thomas.

“ Some people may also be facing burnout or health issues as a result of this transition ,” he adds. “ Challenges around projects, clients or colleagues may arise as it impacts your work as well .”

Pisces (February 18 - March 20)

Stay away from drama. Many areas of your life may be affected during Mars' retrograde return to Cancer.

" You may see stagnation or tension around love, romance, courtship, hobbies, sports, art projects, children and fertility ," Thomas predicts. " The best thing to do is to take it slow and understand all the issues at hand. This is absolutely not the time to be formal with a lover ."

“ While this can be a difficult period, the best way to harness this energy is to stay away from conflict ,” he added .