With Mars going retrograde Nov 15 for the next two and a half months, the topic of anger begged to be the main topic this month. The "Red" planet, Mars, rules over ambition and action as well as conflict and aggression so there is a good news/bad news aspect to how it works.

In retrograde motion, we can expect less forward momentum or vitality, unexpected obstacles and resistance to our moves, unclear direction and goals, and actions having unintended outcomes or none at all. Frustration and anger are likely responses to such challenges.

Also, when Mars is retrograde we have an opportunity to revisit key moments of personal history when we felt blocked and helpless. Since Mars is reversing in Cancer and returning to Gemini, the issues revisited are likely to involve family and siblings particularly. Did your older brother push you around? Is your sister always emphasizing your failures? Or perhaps Dad dissuaded you from becoming who you wanted to be.

From mid-November to the end of January is your opportunity to both release the anger of the past and find new ways to deal with anger-causing events that might come up.

Either kind of anger is unhealthy and can cause potentially serious physical ailments - not for the person you are angry at, but for you if you have held this emotion in too long. The adrenal gland, designed to provide us instant energy under "fight or flight" situations, continues to flood your body with hormones when you hold onto your anger. Through time, it results in loss of energy and fatigue. Ask me. I know about this one.

A good strategy for using this time beneficially is to allow yourself to enter a time for downshifting from your driven lifestyle. Caution, thoughtfulness, and patience will help you accomplish any necessary activities. Delay the start of any new projects into February, making use of the intervening time for planning.

Then, consider any stored resentments or past angers with the idea that forgiveness and letting go is in your best interests. Revisit old friends or networks that may have fallen away due to petty disputes. You may be able to reduce the emotional charge that was left inside you, even if you discover nothing in common anymore.

If you feel your temperature rise or find yourself blocked and frustrated, don't force matters. Defuse, relax and ponder whether what you are fired up about is really worth the energy. It just might not be the time to act.