Compromise, if not the spice of life, is its solidity. It’s what makes nations great and marriages happy.”

— Phyllis McGinley

Mars, the planet of action, war and aggression has spent a mighty long time in the airy-fairy sign of Libra (since December of 2013 to be exact). Mars is not traditionally a happy soldier in the sign of making things pretty and sweet (for obvious reasons). It’s hard to get your fight on when you’re worried about what the other person will think of you. It’s hard to be a warrior when you’re too concerned with being likable and pleasing. It’s not easy to forge ahead with your instincts when you’re waiting for permission or feedback from the other.

Mars in Libra is very “other” oriented. As Liz Greene says, it’s “Mars in a dress.” It likes to prettify the uglier side of war and conflict. Mars in Libra seeks balance, compromise and harmony. It’s the sign of the peaceful warrior.

Now that our action planet is direct, the energy is redirecting to push forward  again. Mars has been retrograde in the sign of the Scales since March 1 and is finally getting ready to march forward into his home turf of Scorpio on July 25. Use the time between now and then to work on your relationship with the art of compromise and negotiation.

Where do you need to bend a little before the connection breaks? Mars and Libra favors balanced and equal collaborations. What’s better than pairing up with someone who has what you lack and finding the beautiful art of putting your combined strengths together. As long as both parties are equally committed and pulling their weight, Mars in Libra flows gracefully and every act becomes poised and beautiful.