Winter Blah: Lack of Fire Element
You may have felt a lack of “oomph” since January 22nd. This is because there is a lack of elemental fire in the skies. Fire drives our impulses and sense of adventure. It brings a search for meaning and infuses the sense of play into daily being. Sometimes you get stuck in a routine or feel you are just going through the motions in the grey of winter without a sense of hope or excitement. Risks seem unexciting, and procrastination can take hold. There will be a few bright spots as the Moon travels through the fire signs on the 4th – 5th (Sagittarius) 12th- 13th (Aries), 21st – 23rd (Leo). Look to those days for some extra pep in your step. Going a step further, be intentional about building in a sense of play on those days of fiery moons. Play hookey, get some exercise, host a dance party in your living room, or indulge in a spontaneous road trip for an extra dose of joy. Unfortunately, this will lack of fire will persist through March 10th when Mercury ingresses into Aries.
Focused Attention: Stelliums in Aquarius and Pisces
This month sets up two different seasons in the skies. The first is characterized by a spectacular stellium in Aquarius that peaks around Valentine’s Day. February will be a true test of Pluto in Aquarius as the personal planets move into the sign of the water bearer and themes of technology, privacy, information, and the collective begin to show their cards. Survey the field with curiosity as these story lines unfold. This energy will start to melt into a gathering of planets in Pisces right around the third week of the month. Look to the quadrant where Aquarius and Pisces reside in your birth chart to see what themes will dominate your attention. Some will be more focused on things like personal identity while others will be drawn to issues of social expression.
Cupid’s Wounds: Valentine’s Day Challenges
Cupid’s arrows may cause more wounding than love spells this Valentine’s Day. For one, the Moon will be stuck between Saturn and Mars from 10:55 AM – 10:56 PM CST. When our emotions get sandwiched between the two malefics, it can be a lot like having the popular crowd giving you aggressive side eyes and snarky jabs. Insecurities and reactive fault finding could take over, especially with the Moon in Taurus. The second aspect of the day is Pluto can add fuel to Mars’s fire when they connect in Aquarius. Power plays can be hot and misdirected. While this aspect can bring some fireworks in the bedroom, it has the potential to leave one feeling tainted or add an element of fear. If you can, reschedule date night and buy your own chocolates and champagne on the 14th. A much better day would be the night of President’s Day on February 19th or the 21st when Venus will meet up with Mars.
Va Va Voom: Venus Conjoins Mars in Aquarius
Venus and Mars complete their scared dance when they meet up in Aquarius on February 21st. These two planets symbolize relationships – the delicate balance between the feminine and masculine, the “I versus We”, and it combines desire with pursuit. When I have clients who have these two planets conjunct in their birth charts, one of their dominant story lines has to do with their potent sexuality and personal magnetism. Some of the great sex symbols have this exact signature, such as Bette Davis, Eartha Kitt, Patrick Dempsey, and Sting. It definitely provides “It Girl” energy. When this configuration happens in the sky, it gives everyone a boost to spark some chemistry into their own lives. Personal charisma gets magnetized where you can attract what you desire. Think of February 21st as the come-hither gesture from the skies to go after what you want.
Divine Patterns: Double Cazimi of Saturn, Mercury, and the Sun in Pisces
It’s an unusual day when three planets meet up at the same degree on the same day. On February 28th, the Sun will illuminate both Saturn and Mercury at its core at 9 degrees of Pisces. This energy beams success when you realistically assess personal boundaries and communicate your limitations with empathy. There could be a moment of clarity and inspiration when you look at an old problem or get increased responsibility from leadership. In Pisces, it has an air of compassion and acceptance that wasn’t apparent before. It’s like getting a road map in a foggy landscape – suddenly, the strategy and plans feel second nature. It’s a brilliant morning to sign contracts or finalize reports.
Key Dates of the Month:
February 2/Groundhog Day: Mercury sextiles Neptune. Intuition reigns supreme today. Look for ways to connect the dots and follow your gut. Confirmation is worth its weight in gold.
February 4: Mercury ingresses into Aquarius. The planet of communication moves into socially aware Aquarius today. Here, the strength lies in asking the questions, playing devil’s advocate, and finding fault in other’s assumptions. Casual observations can take on a life of their own over the next three weeks. Make sure you are balancing the ah-has with some warm touch though. Communication can become detached from the heart when Mercury sails through this air sign.
February 5: Mercury conjoins Pluto. Keep an eye on the rumor mill today and guard your tongue. Secrets can be revealed bluntly today in large groups. If you need to do a bit of digging into a research project, this aspect can work well.
February 7: Venus trines Uranus + Mars sextiles Neptune. Today favors experimentation. Say yes to things you normally wouldn’t and try a path you wouldn’t normally pursue. There is excitement in the fanciful. Just by being open to possibilities can be a road opener to potential you never saw before. Support comes in the most unexpected ways today.
February 8: Sun squares Uranus. You may need to attack a problem from a different angle today. You learn more about how you solve problems through attempts versus guaranteed solutions. Trust the process and change little things to improve the outcome.
February 9: New Moon in Aquarius. Inspiration moves your goals forward in a big way, but you may need to ruffle some feathers pushing the needle. Move forward with good instincts and faith in your ability to step beyond the status quo. Jupiter is in a lovely sextile to Saturn, showing that others believe in your mission. With Saturn in Pisces ruing the lunation, it is a reminder that discipline is needed when living out your dreams.
February 10/Lunar New Year: Mercury squares Jupiter. Group think and jumping to conclusions can be hallmarks of this transit. Make sure you are asking good questions versus just confirming what you want to hear.
February 13/Mardi Gras: Mars ingresses into Aquarius + Venus sextiles Neptune. If you are going to take a stand, do it with gusto. The planet of action moves into unconventional Aquarius today. Here he knows he needs to put some bravado to his fringed ideas. With Saturn backing the way, Mars isn’t afraid to take a tough stance. Over the next 5 weeks, use your tenacity to disrupt the flow, find the opposition, and ruffle the feathers. Today’s softer aspect brims with sweet sensuality. Indulge in an impractical gift to yourself that livens the senses. Sentimentality goes a long way today.
February 14/Valentine’s Day: Mars conjoins Pluto + Besieged Moon. This aspect could lead to some spicy time in the bedroom, but it could also yield power plays. The Moon in Taurus is exalted, which lends itself to sensuality, but just make sure both parties are on the same page. This isn’t the easiest of holidays. The moon can bring up feelings of loneliness and frustration as it’s stuck between Mars and Saturn for most of the day. If you can reschedule date night to a different day, I would do it.
February 16: Venus ingresses into Aquarius + Mercury squares Uranus. The planet of relationships moves into the sign of the water bearer today. There is security when relationships have a shared vision. Commitment to improvement and a shared direction is key. These individuals have the vision of what is possible and know they can improvise along the way as long as their line of sight is on the distant horizon. Over the next 5 weeks, implore a sense of humor as you blur the lines of what is possible, taking casual acquaintances to deeper friends and confidants to partners. An innocent “what if”, can open doors today.
February 17: Venus conjoins Pluto. Lean into your powers of attraction today. Magnetic Pluto draws others to you to help further your cause. With the moon in Gemini, cast a wide net and explore all the options. There could be some unexpected declarations of devotion today with such a chatty Moon in the mix.
February 18: Sun ingresses into Pisces. When the Sun moves into Pisces, it can be a time of generosity and emotional belonging. The astrology glyph for this sign shows two fish swimming together, but in opposite directions. There’s a lot of action, but it’s not always moving forward – just deeper. These individuals are masters of acceptance. They welcome people from all walks of life and will sacrifice to please others, even when it can be detrimental to themselves. In traditional astrology, Jupiter governs Pisces, which likes big ideas, inspiration, and trust. Boundaries can be difficult for these individuals, as they trust others have the same selfless drive they possess naturally. They long for deeper connections, unity, and knowing they are a part of something bigger than themselves. Over the next month, practice empathy, trust your instincts, and acknowledge the synchronicities in your life.
February 22: Venus conjoins Mars. The power of desire and going after what you want comes to the forefront today. Venus and Mars meet up once every two years. With the moon opposing this configuration, make sure you aren’t going overboard with the dramatics as you initiate something new. Subtlety playing and the power of suggestion can be more seductive. Creative projects get a boost today as well.
February 23: Mercury ingresses into Pisces. The planet of communication doesn’t do his best in the sign of Pisces. While expansive Jupiter governs Pisces, Mercury struggles to discern the important information and details in a soupy mess. However, he is extraordinary at poetry, music, and the arts in this sign. He’s able to convey the gist and overall feeling without getting into the nitty gritty. For the next 2 weeks, take advantage of talking about larger impact on the world, exploring the fine arts, and being receptive to other’s experiences. Mercury in Pisces is an empathic experience that lets you gain perspective by stepping into someone else’s world.
February 24: Full Moon in Virgo + Venus squares Jupiter. This is an emotional day where values and beliefs could feel like they are in conflict. Watch your emotional reactivity and adjust your expectations. Don’t go overboard in your spending or being a “yes man” to appease others. With Saturn so close to the sun, you may need to stand firm in your boundaries. Juggle scheduling to handle all the responsibilities. If you need an emotional break, the Full Moon in Virgo is a friendly reminder to devote time to your own daily practice of well being. Sometimes slowing down and being intentional with smaller tasks can be a spiritual practice. There is ritual and reward when being mindful when expressing appreciation for things you normally take for granted.
February 27: Mars squares Jupiter. If you need to launch a project that requires group support, this is the day to do it. The Moon is in Libra today with a supportive trine to Mars in Aquarius. You have the ear of the people and they feel heard. This is a very exciting day.
February 28: Double Cazimi of Sun, Mercury, and Saturn. Be methodical with your thinking and approach to tasks at hand. Look for the larger patterns and enact your strategy from those data points. Discern and find the glaring mistakes others may have missed. It’s a fantastic day to sign contracts or take on new leadership with projects.
February 29/Leap Year: Mercury sextiles Jupiter. Today is a perfect day for planning a trip or setting out on an adventure. Decisions come easily today.