February 2020 forecast

​Click here for the video presentation. 

Sidereal Transits

​Venus enters Pisces Feb 2
Mars enters Sagittarius Feb 7
Full Moon in Cancer (Āśleṣā) Feb 9
Sun enters Aquarius Feb 13
Mercury stations retrograde Feb 17
New Moon in Aquarius (Śatabhiṣa) Feb 23
Pluto enters Capricorn Feb 25
Mars conjunct south node (true) Feb 25
Mercury conjunct Sun Feb 25
Venus enters Aries Feb 28

​

Venus in Pisces Feb 2 - 28
Venus moves into its exaltation sign and towards its exaltation degree (27 degrees of Pisces), which is exalted by exact degree on Feb 26. Venus in exaltation brings with it a sense of appreciation and love for life. And we certainly need this in February as it's fragility will be particularly evident because of other, more volatile, transits.  

Mars' transit in Sagittarius, strongly aspects Venus in Pisces. Mars in Sagittarius is triggering events that can be explosive and the threat of war is very real at this stage. It's at times like these that we need Venus; a sense of appreciation and harmony, the ability to see the others' perspective. Venus in Pisces adds a certain poignancy to the uncertain times we live in. 

The day of Venus' exact exaltation is actually the same day as Mars' exact conjunction with the south node and eclipse point, Ketu (Feb 26). Venus in Pisces reminds us that we are all connected, but sometimes we need to be reminded of this through more extreme events that shake us up and force changes in our perception. 

Pisces is the last sign of the natural zodiac. Venus is exalted in the last lunar mansion, Revatī, in this last sign of the zodiac, as we are taken through endings. With losses never far from our awareness, this reminds us to love life and those around us. Because we never know when it's all over. 

Saturn is also aspecting Venus from its home in Capricorn, solidifying our need to keep the faith, even when all seems lost. 
​

Mars in Sagittarius Feb 7 - Mar 22
Mars' entry into the sign of faith suggests there is more threat of war in the coming weeks. Sagittarius is all about beliefs, a key trigger in warring factions, and is opposite Gemini, the sign of facts, trade and travel. While both of these areas of life are impacted by the nodes, Mars now joins them for a bigger shake up.

These dual signs and the transits placed therein are challenging a level-headed approach to how we are thinking and how this impacts how we communicate. 

Mars conjuncts the previous solar eclipse degree (9 degrees of Sagittarius) by Feb 22, and then meets with the south node by Feb 26. The latter part of February has the potential to set things off through attacks, either cyber attacks or bombings. 

While we all don't experience this as intensely as actual fighting, we all experience it to some degree. For a lot of people this is just an awareness of events through watching news reports, but this is still an experience of it on some level. Be mindful of the possibility of getting all fired up about what you believe and how you express it. 

Mars is strong in Sagittarius, but because it is combined with the shadow of the eclipse and exaggerated by Jupiter's concurrent transit, it can become a little too much to handle. Also, Mars is 'out of bounds' at this time as well. From Feb 9 to Mar 2, Mars is beyond what is seen as the limits of the Sun, i.e. greater than 23 degrees and 26 minutes of declination, south of the Ecliptic. 

Here's a diagram by Nick Anthony Fiorenza at lunarplanner.com to help you visualize this phenomenon.

Planets usually stay within the 'zodiac belt'. You can imagine planets moving around the Sun within this perceived belt. When planets move out of this range they are seen to act in more extreme, unpredictable ways. Mars is already quite extreme, known as 'the crocked one' due to its irregular orbits. But when out of bounds, Mars is even more volatile and unpredictable. When this is combined with strongly-held beliefs, then, well...

​Added to the major conjunctions at this time is why I can be fairly certain that it's about to kick off in 2020!

I have previously offered advice about Mars, and suggested you reign it in and pay attention to being overly reactive. I've since rethought that through personal experiences that have actually meant Mars helped me to speak my mind and walk out of abusive situations. Obviously, this is just one person's experience on one occasion, but I do believe, rightly or wrongly, that I have a say in how these transits play out. This is why I use the tag line, 'The future is yours to mould. Here are the ingredients'.

So, for this Mars transit, instead of advising you to reign it in, may I suggest that you pay attention to how far out of bounds you are actually going - and if it is useful. 

You will, of course, come back in line as Mars is 'in bounds' once again in March, just as going overboard teaches us to be mindful of going too far.

The benefit of astrology is taking full advantage of what is on offer, and knowing the timing. When we know that the strength and explosiveness of Mars is upon us, we can use it to get stuff done, to say what we may have been putting off, while knowing that if we go too far, we will have to reign it in eventually. If not, others will have to reign you in! Mars represents the armed forces and police. 

This is not going to be that easy throughout the world, because as much as individuals can make use of these transits more consciously, and productively, no matter how challenging, groups of people and nations express the more unconscious, and sometimes, brutal aspects of these kinds of transits. 

We can be more aware of the potential for destruction, even if it's just a sharp word on your part. And by doing so, you can modify your behaviour as much or as little as you see fit. 
​
​

Full Moon in Cancer (Āśleṣā) Feb 9
The full Moon phase reaches its peak at 07.32 UTC on Feb 9. The Sun is placed in Dhanistha lunar mansion at the end of Capricorn, bringing the worldly concerns and systems that bring security in our societies into contrast with the Moon and our inner need for safety and security. 

Mars is moving through a sensitive degree in the zodiac, at 0 degrees of Sagittarius, as it transitions from Scorpio, and sends an aspect to Cancer and the full Moon therein. Saturn is aspecting from the opposite side of the zodiac as well, and offers a counterbalance that may feel more weighty emotionally. How this may play out in practical terms is those with Cancer prominent in particular will feel the pressure to change relationship dynamics. Whether they feel like doing anything about it or not is another matter.

Full Moon's feel full of emotion and always have the potential of going to extremes. This further emphasizes an explosive February. Hopefully, these explosions are more emotional. 

The full Moon phase in Āśleṣā is tricky. Āśleṣā is a manipulative lunar sign but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Manipulation can be expressed in control of our mental fluctuations through some form of spiritual discipline, for example. Yogic disciplines are an obvious expression of the sign, as are healing practices and cures. However, it is also likely that manipulations of other kinds are relevant for this full Moon phase.  

​

Sun in Aquarius Feb 13 - Mar 13
The Sun continues its trek through Saturn's signs, moving from the earth-dominant Capricorn to the 'airy' Aquarius. In many ways, Aquarius is the most unusual sign of the zodiac. Both Aquarius and Scorpio are co-ruled by the nodes of the Moon, which brings other unusual elements into play that are beyond perception many times. 

Aquarius is ruled by both Saturn and Rahu, the north node. While Rahu shows an unusual personality, it also makes for an interesting mix of boundaries (Saturn) and lack thereof (Rahu). 

You never really know where that boundary lies with someone who is prominently Aquarius. At times, you think you know them and then they will challenge your perceptions. As much as this fixed air sign is about rigidity in thought, the Rahu influence brings out-of-the-box thinking and innovations at every turn. 

Whatever you have in Aquarius by house position, is where you like to set boundaries before blowing them wide open. This mix of energies in the sign can confuse, and we are all confused by this area of life as Neptune has been transiting here since 2009. 

Have you been noticing some vague ideas challenge what is real in this area of your life since 2009? 

The Sun's transit alongside Neptune in February (exact Mar 8), can shine a spotlight on these vague notions.  
​

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius Feb 17 - Mar 10
​Mercury is getting ready for its first retrograde of 2020, in the sign Aquarius. Although Saturn is strong in Capricorn, adding a certain matter-of-fact approach, the facts are likely to be a little obscured at this time, with Neptune's conjunction with Mercury and Rahu's aspect from Gemini.

Mercury is conjunct the Sun on Feb 25, which is it's inferior conjunction, or what is often referred to as a 'new Mercury'. This is the mid-point in the retrograde cycle which begins on Feb 17, as the planet of the intellect and everyday business and travel plans resets itself in the glare of the Sun. 

Be mindful of the lead up to this retrograde as we try to process more data. 

Mercury stations direct on Mar 10, leaving the end of February open for much debate and conjecture. At least we have some insights into the dynamics involved in what is overall a very confusing and volatile period in the year. 
​

New Moon in Aquarius (Śatabhiṣa) Feb 23
The new Moon is at 15.32 UTC, in Aquarius; a sign that gets a lot of attention in February. Mercury is retrograde here, joining the Sun around the new Moon, as things line up for more insights and clarity. 

The new Moon draws our attention inwards, but can scatter our awareness in the process, as the new Moon can do, and as Rahu is aspecting from another 'airy' sign Gemini. 

Keeping focused on what is real, despite a lot seemingly unreal things, will be important during this new Moon phase in Aquarius, as we reset and readjust our intentions by redrawing boundaries of what we can see possible now. The lunar sign involved brings all the elements into play, and things which seem to contradict each other, symbolized by an empty circle. 

While this is a time to go back to the drawing board because of Mercury's retrograde, this new Moon offers us a chance to pause and rethink things, and start again. 

As always, and especially during this Mercury retrograde phase, this new Moon is not necessarily a time to get it done, per se, merely a time to set the intention of what you would like to do. 

There is a ways to go before it becomes completely clear what that is. 

​

Pluto enters Capricorn Feb 25
A big change which occurs in February is not an obvious one, as the noisier transits such as Mars in Sagittarius grab our attention and most of the headlines. That's because Pluto represents hidden aspects which mostly operate under even our own radar. 

Pluto is entering Capricorn briefly in 2020, from Feb 25 to Jun 30, before it re-enters Sagittarius for the remainder of the year. It will return to Capricorn on Dec 30 and for the next two decades. It's initial transit in Capricorn will give us a sample of what's to come as systems are completely transformed on our planet in the coming years. 

These systems are more obviously expressed in work practices and in the outer world, as represented by the sign Capricorn. The last time Pluto transited Capricorn was during the Industrial Revolution which began in 1760 and continued through the transit in Capricorn between 1773 to 1792. 

Change is inevitable when Pluto is involved, but it's not necessarily because we want to change things, of course. Pluto represents the resistance to change as much as it represents the change. But change we must. 

Astrology reminds us that everything is a cycle. We were here before and we're here again. During the previous transit, we saw environmentally damaging technologies overhauled and replaced by new systems that were more sustainable. Sounds like we are due for another overhaul!

This will more obviously play out in governments, banking systems, work practices and democracy, and in changes that future astrologers will write about in their blogs - or upload into some sort of integrated AI technology just by thinking the thought! 

Saturn's concurrent transit in Capricorn also points to a need to be more sustainable and responsible in the changes we are making, as individuals and as a collective

Pluto dismantles what no longer works in this process. 
​

Mars conjunct Ketu (South Node) Feb 25
Just as Pluto moves signs, Mars joins Ketu for an uncertain, and possibly explosive, conjunction. The days leading up to and away from this conjunction are highly volatile, especially around the exact true node conjunction on Tuesday Feb 25, Mars' day.

​Ketu always brings with it a sense that something is fated, as well as a sense that we are more than just our physical bodies. It brings with it a sense of awe; in how extremely beautiful life can be, but also how brutal. 

The past and loss are ever present within a Ketu experience. The past brings with it a sense of it being fated, of course, while loss is a result of the past, because, well, it's over!

We are always coming from somewhere, represented by Ketu, and wish to go somewhere, as represented by Rahu. There are some who prefer to move towards Ketu with open arms, of course, such as someone blowing themselves up for a belief, as they believe that they will receive salvation in heaven. There are also those who pursue Ketu in silent ways, moving their awareness within to be able to see who they truly are, and annihilate anything they are not. 

Because most of us gravitate towards Rahu, we can be blindsided by Ketu, as if taking our eyes off the past brings with it surprises. Even our minds can trick us into denying our own mortality, which is why we always feel shocked when someone close to us dies, even though we know we are all going to die when we rationally think about it. 

If we don't fully acknowledge the past's impact on our present or future self, we are likely to experience it as a complete surprise and unwelcome.

While I do think there will be much that is unwelcome by a lot of people during Mars' conjunction with Ketu in February, there are always ways we can welcome it with open arms.

The most profound way you can bring in the past is to acknowledge that you are not just a physical being but are coming from spirit. The more we can re-orientate and center ourselves in this sense of self, or non-self, a part of us that has always been there, silently watching, the more we engage with the positive expressions of Ketu. 

The less we do so, the more likely we will experience a sense of being uprooted from what we thought was real as events in February challenge the status quo. Ketu is transiting through Mula, the lunar mansion, meaning 'root', at the very beginning of Sagittarius, drawing our attention to the past, uncovering some things we may prefer to keep hidden, as it goes. 

By March, Ketu will transit the previous eclipse degree and offer further disruption and change, which is all part of the process. 

It's time to get to the root of the problem, the core issues, which unfortunately, means these core issues will seem more extreme. Floods, fires, bombings and losses of all kinds on a large scale will force us to deal with the issues, and yes, tune into that thing, or 'no-thing', within us that never changes no matter how extreme it gets. 
​

Venus enters Aries Feb 28
Venus is our saving grace in February. It's exaltation saves the day and we must remind ourselves of this no matter how volatile it gets. Without it's strength, who knows how much more volatile it would have been!

Unfortunately, Venus doesn't linger too long in Pisces, as it moves across the borders of death and rebirth for its transit into Aries. This brings with it a theme of endings and new beginnings, bringing an early sense of spring in some sense. 

Venus is joined by the Moon as it makes this transition, and this reflects our need to begin again by the end of the month. To begin again, we need to be able to say our goodbyes and move on. 

Once Venus moves into Aries, there is a fresh new impetus and a leap year which means we have an extra day in the month!

Traditionally, in Ireland a leap year was called 'Bachelor's Day', a 'tradition allowing women to initiate dances and propose marriage. If the proposal was refused the man was expected to buy the woman a silk gown or, by the mid-20th century, a fur coat' !
- Wikipedia
​
With a leap year this year, and with Venus moving into the masculine-orientated Aries, perhaps its a good time to bring out your own masculine side in relation to your relationship, whatever gender, and go for it!