February 2016 FORECASTS

New Moon in Capricorn Feb. 8
The Moon reaches the Sun's degree - 25 degrees of Capricorn - by the end of the new Moon phase on February 8 at 14.38 GMT. This new Moon takes place in the lunar sign of Dhanista which is ruled by Mars. Mars aspects the new Moon, along with Saturn, bringing pressure to the mind to deal with situations as they arise.

The new Moon is a time to pull back from too much activity, as the mind withdraws and the energy dips so that we can meet with our internal process, before moving out into the world with the waxing Moon cycle in the coming days. 
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Mercury re-enters Capricorn Feb. 8
Mercury re-enters Capricorn on the new Moon day, and receives the aspects of Saturn and Mars while transiting the sign. Our minds are prone to worry and frustration due to these influences, but at least we are looking at the reality of the situation,  and making any necessary adjustments. 

Saturn' s aspect to its own sign, Capricorn, is a time to deal with the situation as it is. It is not a time for escapism or retreat, in the sense that Mercury is asking us to plan ahead and deal with the situations in a practical manner.

Venus enters Capricorn Feb. 12
Venus enters Capricorn just before Valentine's Day and is a time to bring commitment and passion back into loving relationships. This may take the form of a bunch of flowers, of course, or any expression of love which is backed up with committed actions. Saturn supplies the pragmatic approach, while Mars' influence supplies the passion.

Valentine's Day could be expressed in this practical manner, by purchasing something useful for a partner, for example, or setting a date for the wedding, or perhaps expressing how you really feel about that special someone. Mars insists that both of you inject some heat into the relationship. Be sure that you don't experience this heat in an argument over that forgotten gift! And as the Sun is about to move into Aquarius for Valentine's Day, we are reminded that our hearts are big enough, not just for our near and dear ones, but for others outside of our comfort zone too. 

Sun enters Aquarius Feb. 13
The Sun enters Saturn's air-dominant sign, Aquarius on February 13 and joins Ketu placed therein. This begins a period of eclipses next month. The Sun is totally eclipsed by March 8 and into the 9 (more on this next month), as it transits closer to Ketu.  

The Sun represents rulers, leaders; those in power. It rules the opposite sign of the zodiac to Aquarius, i.e., Leo, and while transiting in the sign Aquarius it highlights the need to deny ourselves in order to be of assistance to others, and our world at large. At the stage of Aquarius we begin to become more aware of our place in the grand scheme of things and must negotiate our way with others in mind. Those with the sign prominent in their horoscope are known for putting others' needs before their own, but leaving themselves at a loss in the process. Balance must be achieved through the signs Leo and Aquarius, of course. 

Ketu represents our sense of disillusionment with worldly affairs. For anyone strongly influenced by Ketu this is surely the case. Disillusionment is understandable considering where events are leading the world. We can always become more spiritual in the process. This is not some mystical, unobtainable state of being (as some would have us believe), but simply a recognition of our true nature; the empty awareness in which everything arises, whatever we may label it.

While Ketu transits Aquarius, and exchanges with Saturn in Scorpio, our sense of disillusionment is strongly tied up with our fear. One example, would be the doomsday scenarios which are prevalent at this time. It is no wonder so many seek to check out of the situation entirely, and indulge in 'end of days' types of scenarios. But what if you didn't have the option to even think of checking out physically from this world? Would you eventually find your way to meet with the void that you are at your center; your spiritual nature?

Leaders, and potential leaders, feel the full force of the public's disillusionment which can eclipse their personal need for recognition. In other words, leaders who do not have the public's needs in mind - only there own personal ambitions - will feel the effects of this transit in February and in March during the eclipse itself, which will have a subtle impact on the state of affairs. The subtlety of this impact is what makes it our most important consideration moving forward in 2016. Otherwise, we can get too carried away with the 'real life' dramas unfolding. 
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Diego Velazquez's 1640 painting of Mars. El Prado Museum

Mars in Scorpio Feb. 20 - Sept. 18* (retrograde between April 17 and June 29) *Except between June 17 - July 11, as it transits Libra.
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Mars enters its water-dominant, feminine sign, Scorpio from February 20 and things begin to heat up on the world stage and in our personal lives. How you experience the heat will depend on many factors expressed in your unique horoscope, of course. But from a global perspective we can expect to see more fighting and tensions being played out on our screens, whether in real life events such as war, or natural disasters, or indeed through the many forms of art. Pressure will increase at a country level and personal boundaries will be tested over what is perceived as dwindling resources. 



​Mars joins Saturn already positioned in Scorpio, even though they do not come to exact conjunction (due to Mars' retrograde period between April and June) until August. The possibility of using the strengths of these transits is available if we can negotiate our way through the many pitfalls of such a conjunction. Those pitfalls could be anything from a personal physical injury or illness, to a need to slow down, to feelings of anger and resentment, to feeling exposed and vulnerable, or facing one's fears head on and dealing with our weaknesses. On a global scale, this could mean anything from war, to tighter border controls, to earthquakes and extreme weather, epidemics and sexual scandals.  Scorpio is the natural 8th house of the zodiac which represents obstructions, illnesses, joint resources, sexuality, intrigue and mortality. This conjunction is a tense one. Saturn represents our weaknesses, while Mars represents our strengths. When they come both together in Scorpio, the battle between the weak and the strong is more obvious. Our hidden fears come to the surface, as we seek to strengthen ourselves, while destroying our weaknesses. This creates many dramas in our lives which we need to be mindful of. 

War and natural disasters are likely to increase due to this conjunction. You may experience it as feeling attacked by others who are out to fight their own demons, and may inadvertently include you in their battle. Those with Scorpio as their rising sign need to be especially aware of the possibility of attacking others or being attacked, as is the case for those who deny their own need for a fight. Find strength in yourself, not in taking advantage of others' weaknesses. 

Scorpio deals with our deep-seated fears and insecurity in the face of a perceived threat. There are very real threats to deal with, of course. But, from Mars' perspective, it is more important how one feel's about these threats and whether we find strength in the process. Water signs are predominantly based on feelings, so in Scorpio, Mars is on a mission to build emotional strength. This is often achieved by dreaming up the worst case scenario to prepare for the worst, and a fierce determination to see things through, leaving little room for frivolity. Do this, if you must, but a better solution may be to do the best you can in any given situation, knowing that you did your best with what you've got at your disposal - and then let it go. 

When Mars enters Scorpio we are more willing to do what it takes to find strength. There is no burying your head in the sand in 2016. We do not have the luxury of checking out of the reality of the situation by visualizing utopia. With Ketu, Mars' ally transiting alongside Neptune in 2016, it is time to cut away those illusions to see the reality of what we have created for future generations. With Mars and Saturn coming together for a large part of the year, the good, bad and downright ugly are exposed for us all to see.

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Mars represents hemoglobin.

Those strongly influenced by Mars, i.e., those with Aries or Scorpio as their rising sign, will get a boost from Mars' transit, as if taking an iron supplement. If you can discipline this energy, you can achieve a great deal. Do not expect it to come easily, however. Effort is required on your part. If you took an iron supplement, you would not simply sit around and wait for things to get done, would you? Mars is strong in Scorpio, but tempered by the presence of Saturn. There is a very real possibility of finding the strength you never thought you had, by facing your fears and tackling your weaknesses, but this could just as easily play out with you holding back through fear of the repercussions. During Mars' retrograde period between April 17 to June 29 - spending a brief period in Libra from June 29 to July 11 - Saturn will also be retrograde, bringing a tense environment between April and June. Imagine one foot on the accelerator and one on the break, driving in reverse! This will be most intense leading up to their exact conjunction in August; an extremely volatile month leading up the the next solar eclipse on September 1. There may be many who buckle under the pressure. Hold tight, and stay the course and all your hard work will be rewarded. 

Saturn transits between 15 and 22 degrees of Scorpio in 2016, stationing direct at 15 degrees in August, with Mars joining it in that month also. This makes the middle of the sign a sensitive juncture, but one which is strong at the sign's epicenter. Mars initially moves to 14 degrees of Scorpio by April 17, before backtracking through the first half of the sign until the end of June. It then re-enters Scorpio on July 11, before it comes into exact conjunction with Saturn on August ​23 at 15 degrees.

​If you have any planets, or important degrees, in your horoscope, at 15 degrees of Scorpio then these are transits for you to be aware of, and to work with more skillfully in order to make the necessary adjustments.
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Full Moon in Leo Feb. 22
The Moon reaches the exact opposite position to the Sun in Aquarius - 9 degrees of Leo in the lunar sign Magha - on February 22 at 18.19 GMT. The lunar sign, Magha is represented by a throne and signifies strength and power. It is ruled by Ketu which is placed opposite Aquarius at this time, signifying an idealistic stance which may, or may not, live up to one's expectations. 

Although expectations are high during this full Moon phase, realism does not allow for too much 'pie in the sky' ideas because of Saturn's influence. The Moon's transit alongside Jupiter and Rahu, represent an exaggerated and extorted sense of self which may lead to risk taking and bad judgement. Saturn's influence brings with it more sobering thoughts which keep one's feet on the ground. 

Once others' concerns are addressed with the Sun transiting Aquarius, there comes a time when... well, you may ask: What about me? Leo is all about 'me', after all; the need one has to fulfill a desire which is selfish, but no less relevant.

​During this Leo full Moon we are required to find balance between others' needs and our own heart-felt desires. 
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OM TAT SAT