By Barry William Rosen | Applied Vedic Astrology
Mars enters sidereal Taurus on June 20 and stays in the sign until early August. Before that, on June 16, Mars steps into the constellation of Krittika, which straddles the end of Aries (26 degrees 40) into the beginning of Taurus (10 degrees 00). Two transits, one continuous Mars journey, and the energy of each section is very different.
Mars in Krittika: June 16 to 30
Krittika is known to Western astronomers as the Pleiades. It is ruled by the Sun and carries a sharp, cutting, purifying fire. The deity is Agni, the divine flame, and the symbol is a razor or a flame. Mars channeling solar fire through this constellation has a tendency to cut through illusion, expose what was hidden, and push us to act on what we have been avoiding. Expect some quick irritations and short tempers from June 16 to 30, but also a kind of clarity. If you are Aries or Scorpio rising, you may feel a strong need to launch something, finish something, or end something that has dragged on too long.
For the markets, Krittika has historically appeared in the down column for silver, gold, copper, and the long bonds. That does not mean those instruments collapse the moment Mars enters Krittika, but the constellation has a documented bearish bias across decades of data. Read this with the rest of your cycle work, not on its own.
Mars in Sidereal Taurus: June 20 to August 2
Mars enters sidereal Taurus on June 20 and meets a very different atmosphere. Taurus is Venus’s earthy sign, slow, sensual, and bullish in financial terms. Mars in Taurus is famously not at its sharpest. The warrior wants to fight, but the sign wants to lie down in the grass. Things often happen here through slow accumulation rather than direct conflict. For some, this is a wonderful transit for sales work, for relationships, for sport, for art that requires stamina. For others, it can blur the dutiful path of Mars into pleasure-seeking, sensual indulgence, or stubbornness. Watch the body and the appetites.
Mars passes through Rohini (Taurus 10 degrees 00 to 23 degrees 20) from approximately June 30 to mid-July. Rohini is ruled by the Moon and is one of the most sensual sections of the sky. Aldebaran is its bright star. This is where warrior energy is most likely to get sidetracked into luxury, accumulation, or security obsessions. If you are Taurus rising you may find yourself in heated relationship battles, but Venus is also active so love quarrels often turn passionate rather than truly aggressive.
Mars reaches Mrigashira around July 23, the constellation known to Western astronomers as Orion. Mrigashira is Mars’s own star, owned by Mars itself, and the energy here is more focused, more outward, and gives the warrior back some of his force.
House Aspects and Mundane Notes
The big aspects to track during this Taurus transit are the 4th house aspect of Mars to Leo, the 7th house aspect to Scorpio, and the 8th house aspect to Sagittarius. The 8th house aspect in particular can be sneaky and create frustration in the bellicose sign of Sagittarius, which is the ascendant of the United States. Watch for an increase in saber-rattling and aggression around exact aspects, and watch your own patience and reactivity during those windows.
Who Feels This Most
A few rising signs feel this more than others. Aries and Scorpio rising natives carry Mars as their chart ruler, so this two-month transit is a chapter rather than a passing weather pattern. Taurus rising natives have Mars in the 1st house and need to watch impulsivity and overheating. Cancer rising has Mars as a yoga karaka and may benefit from his focused energy when channeled into service.
Practical Notes
- Mars in Taurus rewards patience and slow building. Anything you push too hard tends to dig in.
- Avoid major confrontations during the Rohini window if you can choose your timing.
- Sun-related practices help during Krittika. Sun salutations at sunrise are simple and very effective.
- For Mars-driven stress, vigorous walking, sport, or any physical work that uses the body for service rather than for conflict is the cleanest outlet.
Learn to Read These Transits Yourself
Two live courses with Barry are running this summer.
Modern Foundations of Vedic Astrology, Part 1 is already underway and recorded so you can join now and catch up easily. Sixteen live sessions covering planets, signs, aspects, and retrogrades, and four of Barry’s books are included free. Enroll in Foundations.
The new Remedies course, nine Saturdays beginning July 11, is the doorway from knowing what is wrong to actually doing something about it. Gem therapy, remedies for houses and dashas, nakshatras, planets, relationships, finance, and health, woven from classical Vedic practice and the Western modalities Barry has tested across four decades. Early-bird $325 ends June 15. Enroll in Remedies.
Reserve a Seat for the Live Preview Session: Saturday June 27 at 11 AM CDT
Jai Guru Dev.
