Mars retrograde planet

Above is a composite of 42 images of Mars each taken four to eight days apart. The apparent retrograde or backward motion is not due to Mars’ motion at all, but is rather a result of the observer’s (the Earth’s) motion relative to Mars as the Earth "laps" Mars in its faster orbit. At the center of the loop Earth passed Mars, then fell behind it again. All planets show retrograde motion when viewed from the Earth, but Mars’ is the second most rare in that regard. APOD June 13, 2010, © Tunç Tezel (TWAN).

Mars is retrograde 11 weeks every 25½ months or 9½% of the time, and is found in about 1/10th of all charts. Your Mars is retrograde if there is an "Ñ" after its numbers in your chart. Only Venus retrograde is rarer, at 7% of the time. Since Mars symbolizes exteriorizing your energy to go after what you want, the internalizing and delaying aspects of retrogradation are the most problematic in its case. Mars retrograde individuals seem to have a need to turn their desire energies inward to discover their own motivations, perhaps doing things repeatedly until they understand why they are doing them. This can be the result of early life experiences that blocked the normal expression of desire energy and the ability to prove themselves. Freud had Mars retrograde in Libra, fueling his lifelong study of his own and others motivations.