After an extended stay in his home sign of Aries, Mars moves into Taurus on 6 January, staying until 3 March. In the sign of the bull, Mars shows his more sexual side, and he also helps us to put our plans into action in concrete ways. It’s a good time for building, but also for pruning (literally and figuratively).

While Mars is traditionally said to be in detriment in Taurus, he actually gets along pretty well in Venus’ home sign. It certainly presents less of a challenge than the goddess of love’s second home, Libra. True, Mars may be more lover than warrior in Taurus, and if that bothers you – after 2020 – leave a complaint at the front desk.

Early in Mars’ stay, things are pretty harmonious, with a trine to Venus waiting just a few days in. These two relationship planets haven’t been in harmony much in the past year, and the time around the 8th and 9th of January offer an opportunity to move partnerships forward, or to release with relative ease connections that aren’t working.

As we approach mid-January, however, tensions begin to mount. Just after the new moon on the 13th, Mars squares Saturn, an aspect that can feel like driving with the parking brake on. Frustrations are a possibility, but the relative quiet of the new moon should help. A good strategy for this period of time is to focus on a single job and apply concerted effort – multitasking is likely to be problematic.

The Mars/Saturn aspect is likely to feel like a coiled spring (or snake) that quickly finds release. Uranus stations to go direct on the 14th, and Mars meets with him on the 20th, before going on the square Jupiter on the 23rd. The middle of January will be an active time, with an impulsive and impatient kind of vibe. It is a very good time to act on things that you’re sure about, but less helpful for making measured and careful decisions. Still, sometimes it’s better to move in any direction than to stand still (deer in the headlights syndrome), so be gentle with yourself even if you make questionable choices. Oh – and I suppose we might try being gentle with others and their choices, too.

January 20th is also the Inauguration Day in the United States, and a Mars/Uranus meeting as the Sun passes over the point of the Jupiter/Saturn conjunction suggests a dramatic – if not entirely smooth – transition of power.

After taking a few days off, Mars’ next major aspect is a square from the Sun on the first of February. The Aquarian Sun is demanding a big-picture look at the needs of the collective, while Mars in Taurus is thinking a massage might be nice. Balancing responsibilities and pleasure is always a task, and we’re likely to feel it acutely around this time.

An easy feel prevails around the 13th of February, just a day before Valentine’s Day, as Mars makes a sextile to Neptune, with the just-waxing Moon floating through Pisces. Responsibilities are likely to be put aside at this time, and even impassioned intentions may fail to materialize. However, it should cast a nice glow on whatever is left of romance in our Covidian world.

Catch the glow while you can, as Mars and Venus make a square on 19th, just a day before Mercury stations to go direct, ending his retrograde that began on January 30th. Miscommunication in relationships can lead to misunderstandings, as what we want and how we go about getting it conflict.

In fact, communication issues – among lovers and others – may be an ongoing theme of Mars’ time in Taurus this year. The two planets square off on January 8th and February 10th, with resolution to matters perhaps having to wait until March 23rd, after both planets have changed signs.

The last major aspect Mars will make in Taurus is a trine to Pluto in Capricorn on the 24th of February. This aspect, coming with Mercury now direct and a full moon just a few days away, promises to make the end of February an energetic time, with good potential for getting things accomplished.

After more than six months in his home sign of Aries, Mars’ move into Taurus will represent a significant change in our personal and collective energies. He’s likely to present a conservative counterpoint to the more progressive Aquarian energy that is dominant now, but his conservatism will be active and unpredictable.