How To Use Mars Retrograde To Create Your Most Aligned Business Plan For 2025
Listen... I know what you're thinking. Another retrograde? Really?
But before you roll your eyes at the cosmos (trust me, I get it 👀), let me share why I'm actually excited about Mars going retrograde from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025.
You see, Mars isn't just any planet - it's our cosmic warrior.
It governs our energy, our ambition, and how we take action in our business.
And its retrograde isn't just happening at any time - it's perfectly aligned with when most of us are planning our 2025 business strategies.
Coincidence? I think not.
If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm all about building businesses that convert consistently without sacrificing our wellbeing.
And this Mars retrograde? It's basically giving us a cosmic permission slip to pause and make sure we're building something sustainable.
Understanding Mars Retrograde: Your Cosmic Strategy Session
First, let's get clear on what Mars retrograde actually means for your business (and no, it's not just about everything going wrong - I promise 😉).
Mars governs:
How we take action in our business
Our relationship with power and leadership
The way we assert ourselves with clients
Our ability to break through resistance
How we use our energy day-to-day
When Mars goes retrograde, it appears to move backward from Earth's perspective. Think of it like a cosmic review period - a time when we're meant to:
Look inward rather than pushing outward
Refine strategies rather than launching new ones
Reassess how we're using our power
Get clear on what truly motivates us
Why This Mars Retrograde Hits Different
This particular retrograde starts in Leo - the sign of authentic self-expression and leadership. And let me tell you, that's significant AF for your business planning.
Here's why:
It's making us look at how we're showing up as leaders.
It's questioning whether our business models actually align with who we are.
It's asking us to examine where we might be dimming our light.
It's challenging us to be more intentional with our energy.
How Your Rising Sign Influences Your 2025 Planning
Let's dive into exactly how this Mars retrograde in Leo is impacting your business planning based on your rising sign.
Not sure what your rising sign is?
Download the TimePassages App.
And here’s a quick “House Snapshot” that you can download and save to your phone:
Aries Rising (Leo in the 5th House)
The fifth house is the realm of creative self-expression, joy, pleasure, and what makes our hearts sing.
Having Leo here doubles down on these themes of authentic self-expression. This isn't just about being creative - it's about allowing yourself to be seen in your full radiance through what you create.
During this retrograde, you're examining your relationship with pleasure, play, and creative risk-taking.
This house also rules romance, children, and speculative ventures - anywhere we put our heart on the line.
For Aries rising folks, connecting to this playful, creative energy is essential for feeling fully alive. You might find yourself reviewing where you've made creativity into a "should" rather than a joy, or where fear of judgment has dimmed your natural exuberance.
Consider:
Which parts of your business truly light you up?
Where might you be playing small with your offerings?
Are you creating for external validation or genuine fulfilment?
How can you bring more pleasure into your daily work?
2025 Planning Focus: Create conditions that spark creativity and protect your joy. Consider blocking out regular "play dates" with yourself where the only goal is enjoyment. This might mean starting your day with movement that feels good, scheduling regular creative sessions where there's no pressure to produce, or building in time for activities that make you lose track of time.
Taurus Rising (Leo in the 4th House)
The fourth house represents our foundations - both literal and metaphorical. It's about home, family, roots, and emotional security.
Having Leo here suggests that creating a strong sense of home and belonging is crucial to your vitality. This isn't just about having a beautiful space (though that matters to Taurus), but about creating environments where you feel emotionally safe to be your full self.
During this retrograde, you're examining your relationship with stability and what truly makes you feel secure.
This house also connects to our ancestral patterns and early conditioning - you might find yourself reviewing family dynamics or patterns you've inherited about safety and security.
For Taurus rising folks, your power lies in creating nurturing spaces that support growth - both for yourself and others.
Consider:
How does your physical workspace support or hinder your success?
What inherited patterns around security need examination?
Where do you need stronger boundaries in your business?
What makes you feel truly grounded in your work?
2025 Planning Focus: Design your environment to nourish your soul, not just your senses. Consider creating morning and evening rituals that help you feel grounded and secure. This might mean designating specific spaces for different activities, establishing clear boundaries between work and rest areas, or creating regular practices that help you feel emotionally anchored.
Gemini Rising (Leo in the 3rd House)
The third house governs communication, learning, and our immediate environment - including siblings, neighbours, and local community.
Having Leo here amplifies your natural Gemini gifts for communication and connection.
This placement suggests that sharing your voice and ideas is essential to your vitality - not just casual chitchat, but communication that comes from your heart and authentic self.
During this retrograde, you're examining how you express yourself and share information. You might find yourself reviewing your communication patterns, learning styles, or relationship with social media and technology.
For Gemini rising folks, it's about finding ways to communicate that feel truly aligned with your authentic self rather than just participating in the noise.
Consider:
How authentic is your voice in your marketing?
Where might you be diluting your message to fit in?
What platforms truly align with your communication style?
How can you make your content more heart-centred?
2025 Planning Focus: Create communication rhythms that energise rather than drain you. Consider implementing regular periods of silence to balance your natural communicative nature. This might mean batching your content creation when you're feeling most inspired, scheduling regular learning opportunities that excite you, or creating boundaries around when and how you engage with information and technology.
Cancer Rising (Leo in the 2nd House)
The second house is about more than money - it's about our relationship with value, worth, and resources on all levels.
Having Leo here suggests that how you manage and generate resources is deeply connected to your sense of self-worth and vitality. This isn't just about making money, but about recognising and honouring your inherent value.
During this retrograde, you're examining your relationship with self-worth and how that manifests in material ways.
You might find yourself reviewing your relationship with abundance, questioning inherited beliefs about money, or reconsidering how you value your gifts.
For Cancer rising folks, there's something powerful about learning to value your natural nurturing qualities and emotional intelligence in practical, tangible ways.
Consider:
How are you valuing your emotional intelligence in your business?
Where might you be undercharging or overdelivering?
What childhood patterns around worth need healing?
How can you create more sustainable income streams?
2025 Planning Focus: Create rituals that help you connect with and celebrate your worth. Consider implementing regular "abundance appreciation" practices where you acknowledge both material and non-material resources. This might mean scheduling monthly "worth dates" with yourself to review your relationship with value, creating ceremonies around financial milestones, or building regular practices that help you feel secure in your worth regardless of external circumstances.
Leo Rising (Leo in the 1st House)
The first house is about identity, self-expression, and how we project ourselves into the world. Having Leo here - your ruling sign in your house of self - creates a powerful emphasis on authentic self-expression.
This retrograde is deeply personal for you, asking you to examine how you show up in the world and where you might be dimming your light.
This isn't about ego or showing off, but about having the courage to be fully yourself.
You're reviewing your relationship with personal power, leadership, and self-expression at the most fundamental level.
For Leo rising folks, learning to embody your natural radiance while remaining heart-centred is key.
Consider:
How aligned is your business with your authentic self?
Where might you be holding back from true leadership?
What aspects of your brand need to be more "you"?
How can you lead from a place of genuine service?
2025 Planning Focus: Create regular opportunities to embody and express your authentic self. Consider scheduling regular "power practices" that help you connect with your natural leadership qualities. This might mean dedicating time each morning to practices that help you feel aligned and powerful, creating regular check-ins with yourself about how you're showing up in the world, or building in time for activities that help you express your natural radiance.
Virgo Rising (Leo in the 12th House)
The twelfth house is the realm of the unconscious, spirituality, and what lies hidden. Having Leo here suggests that your power often works behind the scenes or in unseen ways.
This is the house of monasteries, hospitals, and institutions - places where service happens away from the public eye.
During this retrograde, you're examining your relationship with the invisible aspects of life. You might find yourself reviewing spiritual practices, unconscious patterns, or ways you work behind the scenes.
For Virgo rising folks, there's something powerful about learning to trust what can't be seen or measured, and finding ways to let your light shine even in private spaces.
Consider:
How does your spiritual practice inform your business?
What unseen patterns might be influencing your decisions?
Where do you need more sacred space in your work?
How can you honour both service and solitude?
2025 Planning Focus: Create sacred space for inner work and spiritual connection. Consider implementing regular retreat time or meditation practices. This might mean scheduling regular solitude for deep reflection, creating rituals around connecting with your intuition, or building in time for processing and integration.
Libra Rising (Leo in the 11th House)
The eleventh house governs groups, communities, collective visions, and hopes for the future. Having Leo here suggests that your role within communities is crucial to your vitality - not just participating, but often leading or inspiring groups.
During this retrograde, you're examining how you contribute to and receive from collective spaces.
This house also rules friendships and social networks, but at a deeper level than casual connections - it's about where you find your tribe and contribute to something larger than yourself.
For Libra rising folks, there's something powerful about understanding that your individual light actually strengthens the collective rather than diminishes it.
Consider:
How do you show up in your business communities?
Where might you be dimming your light to fit in?
What collective visions are you ready to lead?
How can you create more meaningful connections?
2025 Planning Focus: Design intentional ways to contribute to and receive from community. Consider creating regular rhythms for both connection and independence. This might mean scheduling quarterly community gatherings you host, building in regular time for collaborative projects, or creating clear boundaries around your energy in group spaces.
Scorpio Rising (Leo in the 10th House)
The tenth house represents our public role, career path, and contribution to society. Having Leo here suggests that being recognised for your authentic contribution is essential to your vitality.
This isn't about fame for fame's sake, but about allowing your true nature to be visible in your work in the world.
During this retrograde, you're examining your relationship with authority, achievement, and public recognition. You might find yourself reviewing your career direction, questioning your relationship with visibility, or reconsidering what true success means to you.
For Scorpio rising folks, there's something powerful about learning to be seen while maintaining your natural depth and intensity.
Consider:
What's your authentic relationship with visibility?
How do you want to be recognised in your industry?
What legacy are you building?
Where might you be hiding your true power?
2025 Planning Focus: Create intentional practices around visibility and professional expression. Consider implementing regular strategic planning sessions that align with your deeper purpose. This might mean scheduling monthly career vision reviews, creating rituals around professional milestones, or building in practices that help you feel confident being seen in your power.
Sagittarius Rising (Leo in the 9th House)
The ninth house governs higher learning, expanded horizons, travel, publishing, and our search for meaning. Having Leo here suggests that exploring and sharing wisdom is crucial to your vitality.
This isn't just about accumulating knowledge, but about finding and sharing truths that light up your soul.
During this retrograde, you're examining your relationship with wisdom, teaching, and expansion.
You might find yourself reviewing your belief systems, questioning your approach to sharing knowledge, or reconsidering how you explore new territories (both literal and metaphorical).
For Sagittarius rising folks, there's something powerful about embodying wisdom rather than just collecting it.
Consider:
How do you share your wisdom authentically?
Where might you be holding back your teachings?
What new territories are calling you?
How can you make your teaching more impactful?
2025 Planning Focus: Schedule regular opportunities for learning and sharing wisdom. Consider creating structured time for both study and teaching. This might mean blocking out quarterly periods for deep learning, establishing regular platforms for sharing your insights (like a quarterly free masterclass for your audience), or building in practices that help you integrate and embody wisdom rather than just accumulating it.
Capricorn Rising (Leo in the 8th House)
The eighth house invites a deep dive into transformation, regeneration, and life's most profound mysteries.
Having Leo here suggests that part of your vitality comes from understanding and working with cycles of death and rebirth - both metaphorical and literal.
You have a natural ability to face what others avoid: the shadow realms of existence, the cycles of decay and regeneration, the profound questions about life's meaning.
During this retrograde, you're invited to examine your relationship with transformation. This includes but goes beyond financial matters like investments, debts, and other people's resources - it's about how you navigate major life transitions and transformations.
For Capricorn rising folks, there's something powerful about fully acknowledging and working with these deeper aspects of existence that actually helps you feel more alive.
Consider:
What in your business is ready for deep transformation?
How do you handle power and resources?
What investments need review?
Where are you resisting necessary change?
2025 Planning Focus: Create sacred space for deep inner work and transformation. Consider scheduling regular "shadow work" sessions where you can process deeper emotional and spiritual material. Build in time for reviewing your relationship with change and transformation.
Aquarius Rising (Leo in the 7th House)
Having Leo in your seventh house means that partnerships and relationships are a fundamental part of your identity - but not in a dependent way.
This placement invites a dance between independence and interdependence, between your unique Aquarian perspective and the dynamic energy of relating.
During this retrograde, you're examining all your significant one-to-one relationships - business partnerships, romantic relationships, close friendships, and even your relationship with clients or competitors.
Mars retrograde here is asking you to explore where you've given away your power in relationships and where you might need to reclaim it.
Consider:
How balanced are your business partnerships?
Where might you need to reclaim your power?
What boundaries need strengthening?
How can your relationships support your authenticity?
2025 Planning Focus: Design intentional partnership practices that honour both independence and connection. Consider implementing regular "partnership reviews" - not just for business relationships but all significant one-to-one connections. Create clear agreements about how you'll work together while maintaining healthy boundaries.
Pisces Rising (Leo in the 6th House)
The sixth house governs service, daily routines, health, and how we refine ourselves. Having Leo here suggests that bringing consciousness and heart to everyday tasks is essential to your vitality.
This isn't just about being of service, but about finding ways to infuse routine tasks with meaning and purpose.
During this retrograde, you're examining how you structure your days and care for yourself while serving others.
You might find yourself reviewing work habits, questioning your approach to health and wellbeing, or reconsidering how you can serve from a place of wholeness rather than depletion.
For Pisces rising folks, there's something powerful about making the mundane sacred.
Consider:
How can you make your daily work more meaningful?
What routines need more heart-centred attention?
Where do you need stronger boundaries in service?
How can you maintain vitality while serving others?
2025 Planning Focus: Create daily rituals that honour both service and self-care. Consider implementing regular reviews of your routines and health practices. This might mean scheduling weekly planning sessions to align your tasks with your energy, establishing clear boundaries around your service to others, or building in practices that help you maintain vitality while being of service.
Making the Most of This Retrograde Period
Instead of seeing this retrograde as a time of frustration or delay, view it as your cosmic business coach giving you permission to:
Review and Refine
Audit your current business practices
Examine what's truly working (and what's not)
Consider where you're spending your energy
Realign and Reset
Get clear on your authentic business vision
Adjust your strategies to match your energy
Set new boundaries where needed
Plan and Prepare
Create sustainable systems for 2025
Design energy-conscious business models
Build in regular reflection periods
Ready to Make 2025 Your Most Strategic Year Yet?
If you'd like support in navigating this retrograde period and creating a strategic plan that aligns with both your business goals and cosmic timing, I invite you to join me for a 90-minute Strategic Planning Intensive.
During our time together, we'll:
Review your current business metrics
Analyse your astrological placements
Create a customized plan for 2025
Develop specific implementation strategies
Click here to book your session and let's make sure your 2025 planning aligns with both your business goals and cosmic timing.
FAQ
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Absolutely! While astrology provides valuable insights, the core principles we're working with here - strategic pause, thoughtful review, and intentional planning - are valuable regardless of your beliefs.
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While it's not ideal for brand new launches, this period is excellent for refining existing offerings, improving systems, and planning future launches. If you must launch during this time, ensure you've done thorough preparation.
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The key is to maintain your essential business operations while creating specific times for strategic review and planning. This isn't about stopping everything – it's about adding in thoughtful reflection alongside your regular activities.
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Actually, this retrograde period provides perfect energy for planning – just approach it as a process rather than a one-time event. Use this time to develop and refine your plan rather than rushing to have everything figured out immediately.
I’m Jazze Jervis
Jazze Jervis is a business coach supporting high achieving service providers to increase their visibility, scale their brands and increase profits with *personalised* strategies, human design and astrology so they can experience “richness” without the sacrifice.
