Mars, the planet of action, passion, and drive, is preparing to go retrograde from December 6, 2024, to February 23, 2025. We are in the pre-shadow October 4 - December 6. The retrograde will take Mars on a two-sign tour, beginning in early Leo before backtracking into Cancer's nurturing waters. 

It was hard for me to get going this morning. I’ve had it on my mind for a while to re-connect with you, reader. And the time to write was neatly blocked out on my Outlook calendar, starting this morning at 9:00, sharp! But the prevailing winds kept blowing me backward, inward, or sideways.