Forecast for February

Jupiter and Saturn

Saturn's signs Capricorn and Aquarius are prominent at the moment, with the Sun, Mars, Mercury, Venus and the new Moon in February, all bringing their influence to these areas of life.  This offers strength to these planets as Saturn is currently in its sign of exaltation, however, the strength of Saturn is one of detachment and boundaries, not of abundance and prosperity.  Jupiter is  aspecting Capricorn which does bring a sense of expansion into this area of our life.   This will be felt more as  Jupiter begins to move forward once again in the sign Taurus into the month of February. 

We can expect some mixed results from these transits.  When both Jupiter and Saturn are influencing an area of life, there is a more balanced approach.  The enthusiasm of Jupiter doesn't get carried away while the realistic approach of Saturn has anything to do with it.  The more sober approach of Saturn will not be felt as oppressive when the benevolent Jupiter has a say.  When both of these planets influence a sign there is the possibility of such a balanced approach.  However, they have not been influencing the same signs in the last few months.  Saturn has an influence on Libra, Sagittarius, Aries and Cancer - Jupiter has an influence on Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio and Capricorn. 

When only Saturn looks to a sign, it has the affect of drying that area of life up, slowing it down and making us feel all sorts of delays and obstructions in that area of life.  When Jupiter looks to a sign, it has the affect of expanding it and brings an added depth of meaning to that area of our life.  We grow up in both cases and learn to be more mature about these areas of life. 

When May 31st comes around we will see Jupiter move into the air sign Gemini and this will bring a more balanced life once again.  Jupiter will influence the sign Libra in which Saturn is currently placed and Saturn's sign Aquarius.  It will also influence the sign Sagittarius which has an influence from Saturn solely until then.  The only signs which do not receive both aspects are Aries and Cancer which will be areas of our life through which we will have no choice but to face the hard tasks of Saturn on our own - without the grace of  Jupiter. 

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Mercury enters Aquarius Feb 2nd

Mercury enters a friendly environment in Aquarius and one conducive to the workings of the mind.  However, the planet Mars is primed for an argument and wants to get to the point a lot faster than Mercury would have it.  Mercury is that part of us which loves a good debate without necessarily reaching a conclusion, and certainly not taking any action based on our musings.  Action is the realm of Mars which is finding the going a bit too slow and frustrating in the sign Aquarius at the moment. 

Caution is advised in all of your communications and interactions with the area of life you experience the sign Aquarius.  This is the case for the whole of February and into March, as Mercury will begin a retrograde period in Aquarius also, leading to all kinds of misunderstandings and frustrations when added to the energy of Mars in Aquarius. 

Be mindful of jumping before thinking, as well as arguing with those you have just stepped on in the process.  Keep your wits about you and a good sense of humour to boot; without making a joke of what is a very real struggle with your truth and actions which need to be taken.  Take others opinions into account if possible and test your ability to be flexible where others are involved. 

New Moon in Capricorn Feb 10th

The new Moon occurs at 07.20 on Feb 10th at 27 degrees of Capricorn.  Here the Moon is in the lunar sign Dhanista which is ruled by Mars.  This is also very near the exaltation degree of Mars which is at 28 degrees.  This Mars themed new Moon is also strongly influenced by Saturn which rules the Moon and Mars, as well as the Sun, Mercury and Venus, at this time.  Saturn's influence on all of these planets and this new Moon is one of a necessary restraint and detachment.  We will need to observe the current transits with an open and clear mind if we are to be at peace with the shifting sands. 

Sun in Aquarius Feb 13th - Mar 13th

The Sun enters Saturn's air sign on February 13th in time to make sure we are paying ample attention to this sign which features prominently in February and March.  As the Sun enters Aquarius Saturn is preparing to move retrograde in Libra, as is Mercury in the sign Aquarius itself. 

Aquarius represents our humanitarian concerns which are played against those in power, making all of the rules in Leo.  This time of year highlights these issues, however, this year we have Mars, Mercury and Venus getting in on the act also.  We may see an escalation in violence worldwide, as well as the area of life in which this sign sits for you personally. 

Saturn Retrograde Feb 18th - Jul 8th

When Saturn moves retrograde for four and a half months we can see that there is a general sense of frustration felt, as we are asked to restructure that area of our life.  Libra generally represents the area of relationships and Saturn here represents our responsibilities in relation to one another.  This will be the theme of this retrograde period which begins in February and continues well into the summer.  Issues around our boundaries with one another, as well as being responsible for each other, will be prominent during this transit. 

Look to see the area of your life you experience the sign Libra and what is being affected by these apparent delays.  For those that are experiencing a Saturn period, there is a more intense experience of this sense of delay in life and can be particularly acute during the stationary phases of Saturn around February 18th and July 8th.  This is because Saturn will have crawled to a halt at these times and will result in life feeling like it is stuck.  Be aware that this is the perception and not the reality on another level, as a planet moving retrograde only does so apparently from our perspective.  The presence of Rahu will not allow things to get too stuck of course, as the changing winds of Rahu will whip Saturn up as we head further into the year.  They are coming together in September, so the lead up to this conjuction once Saturn moves direct again in July, will be one to watch for. 

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Venus enters Aquarius Feb 21st

Not being one to be left out of a party, Venus will enter the sign Aquarius on Feb 21st and join the Sun, Mars and Mercury already transiting there.  Though Venus is placed in a friendly environment in Aquarius and one which is conducive to humanitarian concerns, we cannot expect as much from the planet of love while it is with so much company and being combust i.e. too close to the Sun to be visible. 

Venus will no longer be the bright morning star from the end of February, as it moves out of sight and undergoes a transformation from which it will emerge as the evening star in May.  The next few months are therefore a transformational time for our relationships when we add Saturn's retrograde motion in Libra into the mix. 

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius Feb 23rd - Mar 17th

The end of February sees the more familiar retrograde period of the planet Mercury.  It is doing so in Saturn's air sign Aquarius, which will itself, be retrograde in the air sign Libra.  We can expect an added sense of delay and resulting frustration when it comes to the area of life you experience the sign Aquarius and with all that air quality, leading to over-active minds and the resulting tensions.  The mind gets too far ahead of itself when it prepares to move back over recent events and this is expressed in a retrograde period.  As a result the mind can become over worked and needs a break from time to time. 

This mental tension will be added to by the close proximity of the planet Mars in Aquarius.  Patience and yet more patience will be required in the area of life Aquarius represents for you.  A good way to alleviate some of the tension is to develop a sense of humour about the things which are unfolding in your life (or perhaps a lack of anything unfolding), knowing that they may also have to be unraveled in order to be put back together once the retrograde period ends in March. 

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Full Moon in Leo Feb 25th

The month ends with the Moon reaching its fullest in the sign Leo.  It occurs on Feb 25th at 20.26 GMT at 13 degrees of this solar sign and the lunar sign Purva Phalguni.  This lunar sign is ruled by Venus which forms part of the Sun's sign Leo, adding a rather luxurious and, at times,  an overindulgent nature to the mind. 

This is perhaps not such a negative thing when we consider the over-stimulated mind during a Mercury retrograde period in Aquarius and the retrograde period of Saturn.  It may be worth tuning more into the heart and how you feel about what is happening by the end of February, instead of trying to work it all out in your mind.

OM TAT SAT