Mars in Ardra ~ Step up your efforts

Mars, a planet of action and competition, is placed in Ardra in the sign of zodiacal Gemini from September 6th to 29th 2024.

This nakshatra is ruled by Rudra the Storm God, which represents an emotional tempest leading to sudden transformation, and you are not deterred by hard work or difficulty. Ardra is symbolized by a Teardrop, and your actions now are split between heart and head, where deep sensations sit side by side with the desire to cut away from the past. You can see both sides of every proposition, but take care that open-mindedness doesn’t leave you in an indecisive place.

You are also aware of the soft or vulnerable side behind people’s hard exterior, and the Shakti, or special power, here for ‘Effort’ sees Mars offering a practical solution as well as sympathy and encouragement. This quality makes you a potentially excellent coach or counsellor, but be careful of being the one who is left to do a difficult task that others shy away from.

Mars casts its influence on romantic Venus up to September 18th and you may confront an intense or awkward issue with your partner. You are willing to explore love beyond the surface level but read people’s signals and don’t push further than they want to go. A friend or partner’s actions may also confuse you, with a combination of laughter and underlying seriousness, even though this can be a way to deal with difficult business.

Mars and the Moon come together in Ardra on September 25th, and this is a time to let off excess emotion, where you feel lighter and freer after an inner emotional storm.