ebruary is a month to watch for subtleties. Not that everyone will be acting so subtly, but it might be easy to miss the real message we’re being given. The month has a real Neptune/Pisces feel to it, in the skies at least, and I expect we’ll be playing along with this theme down here on Earth.
The month starts off with a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on the 1st. This is a yearly aspect with a sweet feeling to it, although in Capricorn there will be less overt excitement than usual. Still, this is a good day for relationships and love, even if the expression is a little muted. Coming two days after the Mars station in late January, this aspect can help us to make up with anyone we might have (inadvertently) offended.
Better to say what you have to say in person, or perhaps with flowers, because on the 2nd, retrograde Mercury meets up with Neptune. This is a good aspect for dreaming and imagination, but it surely isn’t the day for doing anything practical, and verbal expression is likely to come out wrong.
The 6th is about the most active day this month, as Mercury joins the sun hours before the New Moon Eclipse of the Sun, which takes place at 10:55 p.m. Eastern time (this eclipse isn’t visible from North America). With retrograde Mercury in the mix, confusion is likely to reign at all levels, and in fact Neptune himself is only four degrees away from this eclipse. We might see some of the results of the eclipse on the 10th when the Sun meets up with the God of the Seas. Although the Sun and Moon are in logical Aquarius, this is a good time to go beyond words and open up to other forms of expression.
The Sun is in a harmonious aspect to fiery Mars, and both planets are in sociable and experimental air signs, on Valentine’s Day, the 14th. Have fun.
On the 18th, Mercury stations to go direct. Although confusion and mishaps can reign throughout the retrograde period, things tend to really get a little screwed up on the day of the station. In fact, you might wait up to a week to do Mercury-oriented things like buying electronics or signing contracts.
On the next day, the Sun enters Pisces, making it official that this is a Neptunian month. The next day, there is a Full Moon eclipse at 10:26 p.m., Eastern time. This Lunar Eclipse is visible over the Eastern portion of North America, beginning at 8:43 p.m. EST, with the greatest covering of the moon occurring between 10:01 p.m. and 10:51 p.m.. For this eclipse, Saturn is just over three degrees away from the Moon, emphasizing the practical manifestations of Virgo. This eclipse asks us to consider what power and authority are behind our plans. Look for significant debates on topics of service, like health care, and wages. Strikes are once again becoming part of our vocabulary, and this eclipse has a real potential to focus us on labor issues.
The Sun meets up with Saturn himself on the 24th. This is a further opportunity to explore, or grind our teeth at, the issues brought up by the eclipse. On a personal level, this aspect can be somewhat depressing, so if you find yourself painting your world in shades of gray, try to keep in mind that Saturn presents one version of reality, but not the only one.
This might be a good time to talk about these monthly forecasts and how they affect each of us personally. Like a weather forecast, they give you an idea about the conditions which are operating on a given day or for a period of time. You can see this most easily by watching the news, or connecting with just about any media. If you can remain objective, you’ll probably also feel the direction things are moving in at work and in social situations.
However, you also have to remember that how you are affected depends on your personal birth chart. Take the aspect that begins February, the meeting of Venus and Jupiter, two friendly and helpful planets. In general, we can expect this will lend a certain grace to the day. We won’t all be singing in fields of flowers, but we shouldn’t be at each others’ throats, either. For some of us, though, this aspect will be very powerful and will give a nice boost. For others, this "nice" aspect is in a difficult position with respect to their birth chart, and it might actually cause a bit of a headache (probably from too much of a good thing, or perhaps getting tied in to an offer that turns out to be less than what it seemed).
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the general mood as described in these forecasts can help you to put your own experience into perspective. As we get deeper into powerful aspects over the next couple of years, we’re going to be focusing less on ourselves in the sense of our individual egos, and moving, or trying to move, towards a more inclusive consciousness. The stars aren’t telling us what we have to do, but they are giving us a series of choices. Try to see your own experience in terms of the larger evolution of consciousness.
If nothing else, it should make you feel a little better about your crabby boss.
Armand M. Diaz, M.A., C.A., is certified as a Consulting Astrologer by the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR). His approach to astrology readings is to create a supportive context for self-exploration, to help clients make decisions which are in harmony with their greatest potential. Armand has studied divination and oracles for more than twenty years, working primarily with the I Ching in addition to astrology. He has published articles on the astrology of politics and social phenomena in Geocosmic Journal , The Astrological Journal, and The Mountain Astrologer. He can be reached at 917-216-1541 or armand@bluemoonastrology.info