Unusually Long Mars Transit in Gemini

On 20 August 2022, Mars, a nocturnal, masculine planet, associated with the element of Fire, will move into Gemini. He will stay therein until 25 March 2023. It is very unusual for Mars to remain in a zodiac sign for such a long time as his typical stay in a single sign is usually about six weeks. This prolonged time is mainly due to a singularly long phase of retrogradation, which begins on 31 October and ends on 13 January 2023.

Gemini is the masculine, diurnal, mutable sign of Air. It is ruled by Mercury and represents rapid movement, but also instability. Mars does not have any essential dignity in Gemini, which is not as bad as it can be, but not very helpful either.

Mars and Saturn, also known as the Lesser and the Greater Malefic, tend to be less troublesome the higher their levels of essential dignity are. This is opposed to Venus and Jupiter, the Lesser and the Greater Benefic. The higher their levels of essential dignity, the more beneficial they turn out to be.

Genrally speaking, we can assume that Mars in Gemini will provide additional energy for multitasking, including communication, writing and manual dexterity. Quite often, we will feel excessively mobile, and even restless. Feeling mentally agile and even quick witted at times, we run the danger of focusing our attention on a multitude of different issues.

I also want to point out that there is the danger of harsh criticism, too. If we are not particularly careful, this could get us into arguments or even fights. The best advice during Mars’ stay in Gemini is to try and stay as calm as possible to avoid confrontations of any kind.

As always, the impact this long Mars transit through Gemini will have on the individual depends on its placement in the birth chart. For example, people with Gemini rising will particularly feel the impact of Mars activating their Ascendant repeatedly during the seven months transit.

During his travel through Gemini, Mars will also be conjunct a number of fixed stars. This could also be problematic. The following provides a brief description and the approximate times Mars will be conjunct the individual fixed star:

• Alcyone, central star of the Pleiades (0* Gemini). Robson writes in his The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, that Pleiades with Mars indicate many accidents to the head, loss and suffering through fires. Alcyone will be conjunct Mars around 20 August.

• Aldebaran (10* Gemini). Robson writes that Mars conjunct this fixed star indicates great military preferment but attended by much danger; liable to accidents, fevers and a violent death. There will be three conjunctions during Mars’ stay in Gemini, on 8 September, 23 December (Rx), and 31 Jan 2023.

• Bellatrix (21* Gemini). Robson writes that Mars conjunct Bellatrix indicates strength, energy, success as soldier, surgeon or metal worker, liable to accidents. There will be three conjunctions, on 4 October, 22 November (Rx), and 6 March 2023.
• Al-Hecka (25* Gemini). Robson writes that al-Hecka with Mars makes evil companions, bad habits, sex troubles, and afflictions of a Mars-Venus type. The fixed star will be conjunct Mars on 21 October, 8 November (Rx), and 15 March 2023.

• Polaris (29* Gemini). Robson writes that Polaris causes much sickness, trouble, loss of fortune, disgrace and great affliction, and may give legacies and inheritances attended by much evil. Polrias will be conjunct Mars around 23 March 2023