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Writer's picturestormiegrace

Mars 2024 Retrograde Alert: What You Need to Know About the Pre-Shadow After the Eclipse

Hey Soulmates,

Remember: Mars steps into pre-retrograde shadow today. ✨ But I've got us covered! Mars 2024 Retrograde Alert: What You Need to Know About the Pre-Shadow After the Eclipse


Mars retrograde pre-shadow starts October 4, 2024


So, what does that mean for us? Well, we’re being invited into a space of deep reflection—a moment where the universe taps us on the shoulder and says, "Hey, there’s something here you need to pay attention to before you charge ahead." I've done a little breakdown of what you can look for in all of your charts below, BUT focus first on your natal chart especially if you are new to astrology!


Mars enters its pre-retrograde shadow at 17° Cancer today, and trust me, this is the perfect time to slow down and start noticing how your energy, actions, and desires have been playing out in your life. What’s happening at this degree in your chart? If you’re not sure, don’t worry! If you don’t have your chart, get one HERE.


Think of it like this: Mars, the planet of action, drive, and sometimes even frustration, is asking us to take a good look at our emotional landscapes, especially where we’ve been protecting or guarding ourselves too fiercely. Cancer energy is about home, family, and nurturing, but when Mars comes through, it can feel like our emotions are on high alert, making us more defensive or reactive than usual.


💡 Here’s what to start watching for:

  • Triggers: What’s been getting under your skin lately? The things you feel protective or defensive about will likely surface in the next few weeks. Pay attention, because these are the themes that will come up during the retrograde.

  • Frustration & Motivation: Where have you been pushing too hard or maybe not hard enough? Mars in Cancer can make us more cautious, but sometimes that caution leads to holding back when we should be stepping up.


This is a cycle that takes us on a journey:

  • Pre-shadow: Now (Oct 4th) until December 6th at 17° Cancer 01′ is all about awareness and watching. What needs your attention?

  • Retrograde (Dec 6 - Feb 23 at 6° Leo 11’- 17° Cancer 01): During this time, we’re asked to slow down, reflect, and rework how we pursue our goals. It’s not about charging forward; it’s about cleaning up unfinished business. And trust me, Mars won’t let us ignore it!

  • Post-shadow (Feb 23 - May 2, 2025 at 6° Leo 11′): Finally, when Mars stations direct, we’ll be ready to move forward again, more aligned with our heart’s true desires, and our actions will have more purpose.


Mars will dance between Cancer and Leo, so get ready to work through both your emotional world and your need to shine. The pre-shadow and post-shadow are in Cancer, but the full retrograde cycle also includes Leo. In Leo, Mars craves to be seen, to express itself, to go after passions with full force. But this retrograde will challenge us to look deeper before we can leap.


🌕 What’s the difference between Mars Rx in transit and in your natal chart?

  • In transit: Mars Rx slows down our drive, asking us to reflect on how we go after what we want. Are you fighting battles that matter, or have you been avoiding something important?

  • In the natal chart: If you were born with Mars retrograde, you already know this energy well. It can make you more contemplative about how you assert yourself, and your desires may feel more internal or take longer to express. But don’t worry, it’s a unique strength when used wisely.

  • Solar and Lunar Returns: If you have Mars Rx in these returns, expect a year (Solar) or month (Lunar) focused on reevaluating your actions and goals. There may be delays, but they are there to redirect you toward something more aligned with your truth.


This Mars retrograde is a chance to reframe your actions. By the time Mars stations direct in February, we should have come to terms with the issues that have been bubbling under the surface. The contemplative stage will be over, and you’ll be ready to emerge, confident in your ability to go after what you want. No more holding back, no more second-guessing yourself—just clarity and purposeful action.


Take a moment today to sit with what’s coming up for you, especially around your sense of emotional safety, boundaries, and desires. What needs to shift? What have you been defending that no longer serves you?


🌟 If you need more insights, check out the video I did with Nicholas Poliminakus on Mars in Cancer where we also cover the retrograde.  Trust me, it’s packed with juicy details to help guide you through this cycle.




Remember, this isn’t a time to fear Mars Rx—it’s a time to embrace the slow-down and come out the other side clearer, more empowered, and aligned with what really matters. You’ve got this, and I’m here with you every step of the way.


With all my love and cosmic support,

Stormie ✨

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