Frank Martin Don LLC - Professional Intuitive & Astrological Consultant

February begins with a Mercury retrograde which continues on into the 18th of the month when we end the first of this year’s three Mercury retrogrades. Mercury turned retrograde on the 28th of this past month. I, for one, have already felt two indications of a Mercury retrograde. The first was my car needing to be jump started. The second incident was trying to install a software program on my computer and having no success at all with being able to use the program despite the fact that the computer indicated a successful install.

With Mercury retrograde for almost two-thirds of the month, we do have to watch for possible glitches in areas associated with Mercury: travel, transportation, communications and high technology equipment.

Apart from the Mercury retrograde, February begins with one planet in a Fire Sign, four planets in Earth Signs, four planets in Air Signs and one planet in a Water Sign. February starts with three planets in a Cardinal Sign, three planets in a Fixed Sign and four planets with a Grand Cross by Sign in the Mutable Signs. Five planets are in positive Signs and five planets are in Negative Signs.

We start the month with two Stelliums of three or more planets in one Sign: a Stellium in Capricorn transited by Venus, Jupiter and Pluto, and a Stellium in Aquarius transited by the Sun, Mercury and Neptune. If we will take note, and maintain constant vigilance, of the Mercury retrograde, this month of February would be a good one to consider and plan our prospects for the future. Our mind is fertile and we are open to the unique, iconoclastic and even revolutionary. We also have the ability of planning the most effective structure and format by which to realize our plans. The combination of prudence and daring, if held in proper balance, allows us to streamline our operations, prune the ineffective time-wasters, focus on our goals and create a game plan by which to proceed and realize our dreams.

This month allows us to put our spirit into action, although it is important that we go step by step, all the while checking the parameters and making necessary adjustments as we proceed. February is a month when talk can be backed up by methods and strategy.

This month also has Mars having turned direct on the 30th of January and finishing its transit of Gemini before moving back into Cancer next month and its opposition with Pluto at the time of the Pisces New Moon in March.

With Mercury retrograde, Mars direct in Mercury’s Sign of Gemini and the strong emphasis to begin the month in the Earth and Air Elements, we do have to be careful not to create dust bowl conditions. If we are not adept, ideas and thoughts can be spinning around but without any real pragmatism to ground them and turn the abstract into reality.

There could be a great deal of hot air circulating, and in the US this month has Super Duper Tuesday on the 5th, a.k.a. Tsunami Tuesday, Mega Tuesday or Gigabyte Tuesday, the Tuesday when many state primaries are held for the election of delegates to the nominating conventions of the two major political parties in the US. It is interesting to note that this Super Tuesday, a gargantuan of a political day, occurs during a Mercury retrograde, in the dark of the Moon on the day before the New Moon and that the early hours of Tuesday the 5th ends an almost twenty-five hour Moon Void-of-Course. Aaargh!

Back to better things, and that would be the fact that February also starts with Venus conjunct Jupiter on the 1st. The two ‘good guys’ of the planetary realm are together to begin the month. The potential for indulgence and excess cannot be overstated, and at the beginning of the month we all have to watch that we don’t bite off more than we can chew, or the idea that our eyes may be bigger than our wallet or pocketbook.

At the beginning of the month, we also have Mercury conjunct Neptune. Our mind can be filled with sugar plums or other wonderful pleasures, but we have to be careful that we don’t fall prey to wish fulfillment. We could easily buy into thinking the things we want to be real as being real. This energy gives rise to hucksters and tricksters, those people with the gift of gab that can make things seem so wonderful, or so awful, with the idea that they can enhance the wonderful or ameliorate the dreadful.

With the Venus Jupiter conjunction followed closely by the Mercury Neptune conjunction, we need to keep a firm grip on our sensibilities at the beginning of the month. With some of the distressing news circulating, we might easily want to escape into a fantasy world where everything is perfect and everybody appreciative. Nice concept and while visualization is a wonderful tool and technique, it would be wise to maintain a jaundiced eye to balance any tendency toward confusion, illusion or delusion.

Following that Tuesday the 5th, the 6th - 7th gives us an eclipse of the Sun at the time of the Aquarius New Moon which ushers in the Chinese New Year of 4705 and the Year of the Brown Earth Rat. A Rat Year is a year of the beginning of the Chinese Zodiac and concurs with 2008 as a 1 year in Numerology, a year of initiations and new beginnings. The Rat Year offers greater prosperity and the concerns over economic crises can simmer down with even a bounce back in the property / real estate markets. But there can be a greater tendency towards conservative investments rather than speculative ventures. Boom scenarios will take a back seat as people reel from some of the busts that often occur in consequence of excessively booming times.

The Aquarius New Moon on the 6th-7th reaffirms the two Stelliums in Capricorn and Aquarius. Venus in Capricorn sextiles Uranus in Pisces and the New Moon configuration of the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Neptune create a semi-sextile to Uranus. This New Moon gives us the impetus to think outside the box, streamline operations and consider the most expedient ways to accomplish our goals. The importance of both thinking outside the box and utilizing innovative techniques cannot be understated, all with the cautionary flagging of the Mercury retrograde still operating on the 18th. But this New Moon signature does impact the fortnight from the New Moon to the Virgo Full Moon on the 20th – 21st.

Now is a time for us to dream our dreams but to also blueprint and strategize. Although we may want to launch our boats after the Mercury retrograde is done or even later into the Spring period, we can certainly reflect on our intentions and make plans of the ways by which we can effect our goals.

The importance of reality checks during February cannot be discounted. With the transits of Mercury and the Sun through Aquarius, there are times when both will conjunct Neptune. Mercury conjuncts Neptune on the 2nd and again in March. The Sun conjuncts Neptune on the 10th. Around these times, it would be important for us to do a double reality check for we could easily be entranced by possibilities, appearances and our own hopes and wishes. If we don’t want to fall prey to illusions or delusions, then it would be essential that we take the time to do our homework, check the facets of the situations and to apprise ourselves of our resources and capabilities.

On Valentine’s Day on the 14th, the Sun trines Mars. This time can be one of much communication with friends and loved ones near and far. We are likely to be reaching out in appreciation and gratitude of those special people in our lives and those with whom we have shared fond remembrances.

The 17th has Venus exiting Capricorn to enter Aquarius. Our interests in others may now be more an attraction to the character, the quirky, the individual embracing life by marching to their own drummer.

Mercury turns direct on the 18th, ending the first of this year’s three Mercury retrogrades. Although we shall remain in the ‘shadow’ of the Mercury retrograde until the 10th of March, our thinking and our communications should be clearer. We may find some of the problems we encountered while Mercury was retrograding --- travel problems, transportation issues, miscommunications and misunderstandings, and computer glitches --- start to drop away.

The Sun exits Aquarius and enters Pisces on the 19th and in so doing sextiles Pluto in Capricorn. Our destiny may be calling and we may find that our compassion is linked to doing something with purpose. Drawing upon our intuitive sense can help us focus on the fundamentals of our lives, the essence of our being. Our desire for new beginnings can start to take root, especially if we listen to the small voice within.

On the 20th - 21st, we have the Virgo Full Moon and a total Lunar Eclipse. The Sun is within orb of a conjunction to Neptune and the opposing Moon is within orb of a conjunction with Saturn. Both the Sun and Moon are in aspect to Pluto, the Sun sextile Pluto, the Moon trine Pluto. Although we may find the holds of the past strong and unwilling to release us, now is a time for us to do a healthy clearing of the unproductive, worn-out and all old baggage with which we have no intention of moving forward. We may feel somewhat confused, even tentative at this time, and there could be a tendency to draw upon old patterns for support, the old ‘tried and true’ which has been tried but no longer true. Although our vulnerability now could have us feeling like the emperor with no clothes, it is also important that we use this time to do an inventory-taking, realistically consider what is important to us and look at how we can release ourselves from past programs and habit patterns in order to shapeshift into our new future during this year of new beginnings.

On the 24th, the sense of our old identity might be reinforced by the Sun Saturn opposition. If we use the energy wisely, we could blend both a visionary sense of where we want to go with a serious evaluation of the means by which we could get there. Otherwise, we might feel as though we have hit the wall, that our strength wavers and we feel any obstacles to be impenetrable forcing us back into our old identity and the old patterns. Courage may be called for, but part of the courage is to release ourselves from humankind’s old pattern of control over situations and the world and moving into a healthier framework of working with the natural unfolding taking place.

The 26th has Mercury conjunct Venus. Our thoughts are with our friends and we are likely to be celebrating diversity rather than demanding conformity.

This month of February can be an important period of gathering our thoughts, considering our options and creating a focus of how we want to do our lives so that they far greater express real purpose and meaning for ourselves.

As Richard Bach writes in his spiritual classis Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah: Don’t Limit the Is.

February… possibilities and planning stages…

This week has the Solar Eclipse on the 6th – 7th with the Aquarius New Moon and the ushering in of the Chinese New Year of the Brown Earth Rat.

This week is also the second week of this year’s first Mercury retrograde. Are we having fun yet? I know I’m not the only one that has been vexed by this Mercury retrograde, but to mention three of my Mercury retrograde incidents: [1] the need for my car to be jumpstarted. Yes, transportation and travel can have problems during Mercury retrograde; [2] the inability to use a computer program after it indicated a successful installation. With Mercury retrograde in Aquarius we have to watch for computer glitches or other high tech problems. I wonder what that indicates for Microsoft’s bid to buy up Yahoo; [3] a disconnect of a plumbing connection at our rural home that had me under the house for a couple of hours making the reconnection. Mercury retrograde in Aquarius is in the Sign ruled by Uranus, which presently is transiting Pisces, a Water Sign.

To assure me that I am not alone in the vexations of Mercury retrograde, someone sent me an email with a story from boston.com with the headline: ‘Automated calls mistakenly tell parents of student absences’. The story went on to recount that a longtime employee of the Medford school system sent out by error 2,100 messages to parents saying their children were not in class, causing worried parents to descend upon the school district’s schools fearing that their children were missing. Yes, Mercury retrograde is known for its miscommunications and misunderstandings. And this week is the second week of three with Mercury retrograde.

While Murphy’s Law of ‘whatever can go wrong will’ may be the backdrop of the week, let’s celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Brown Earth Rat and its promise of increased prosperity, decreased international violence but with a vigilant heads-up regarding natural catastrophes. This Aquarius New Moon accentuates the Aquarius Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign. Now is a time for us to consider the possibilities for our future and to determine how we can take our life’s journey as the path less traveled, doing our lives in accord with our own unique talents and emphasizing our individuality.

This week also has Venus sextile Uranus at the time of the New Moon, and the weekend closes with the Sun conjunct Neptune. New Year celebrations can be fun events with an interesting circle of friends. Changes are in the air and we may seek to embrace the possibilities while questioning whether we need to master situations or instead be open to the synchronicity of the new paradigm whereby the universe does much of the work and we find ourselves in the right place at the right time. A combination of both will give us our rightful place of being co-creators with the natural unfoldings.

Some pleasant times this week are in store for us, especially if we are willing to stretch and test the waters of new experiences.

Monday, February 4th – Keep It Coming Now – Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Moon Void-of-Course. We started the month with a Venus Jupiter conjunction and we start this week with the Moon in Capricorn conjunct Jupiter and Venus and sextile to Uranus. The sense of good times could be upon us. It may be illusory but what the heck. We can see where we can broaden our pursuits and recognize the right people with whom to connect in order to advance our interests. This day can be somewhat magical. Not only do we have the ability of expanding our scope but we can also think of the most expedient and streamlined methods by which to get things done. This day is one of those days when we cross the threshold and embrace the subjectivity of time, the qualitative aspect of time rather than the quantitative measure of time. Yes, we can accomplish more today in a shorter period of time than would normally take us. This Monday is a good day to make our contacts and connections to further our goals. Let’s just not fritter away our time or our energy on wasteful expenditures. Our desire for change can be strong today. Let’s take care of what needs to be done and then allow ourselves to consider alternatives and options we might wish to develop in the future. The energy is strong in the early hours of the day and then falls off, as the Moon goes Void-of-Course making no further aspects and connections to the planets for close to twenty-five hours as the Moon finishes its transit of Capricorn and before entering Aquarius tomorrow. We may have a thrust of energy to begin the day but then it peters out, so let’s get as much done in the early hours and then go on cruise control later in the day.

Tuesday, February 5th – A Breather or a Misnomer – Moon Void-of-Course. After such a great beginning to the week, Tuesday falls flat. The flattening sensation we might have felt in the latter part of Monday, as the Moon went Void-of-Course making no further connections to the planets as it finishes its transit of Capricorn, continues on into this Tuesday. Yes, for close to twenty-five hours on Monday-Tuesday, the Moon is Void-of-Course and the energy is not there to accomplish much. We are also in the dark side of the Moon just before the New Moon tomorrow or Thursday depending on where we are located on planet Earth. And add to these two energy patterns the fact that we have Mercury retrograde, this Tuesday could be a breather or just a mixed-up day. Interesting to note that this is also the day in the US of Super Duper Tuesday, Mega Tuesday, Tsunami Tuesday or however you wish to term the fact that today in the US there are multi-state primary elections for the delegates to the nominating conventions of the two major political parties for the US Presidency. Hmmm, not a great energy pattern for such a thing. If the two major political parties come close to deciding their Presidential candidates through this Tuesday’s elections, it might not augur the strongest scenario for the election in November. It is a long way from February to November and voter fatigue could easily set in potentially opening the door to an independent run by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. One can only hope, or I should acknowledge my own personal preference. For us, this Tuesday is one not to have great expectations. The energy is not the strongest today and while we may have great intentions yesterday with a thrust of enthusiasm and energy, we might feel today as if we are only waffling about. Later in the day, the Moon exits Capricorn and enters Aquarius setting us up for the Aquarian New Moon, the Solar Eclipse, and the Chinese New Year of the Brown Earth Rat.

Wednesday, February 6th – Lovely Brown Earth Rat – Aquarius Lunation, Solar Eclipse, Mercury, Sun, Venus, Uranus. Wednesday for many of us, Thursday for others of us, gives us the Aquarius New Moon, a Solar Eclipse and the Chinese New Year of the Brown Earth Rat. The words of film legend James Cagney speaking “Why you dirty rat!” don’t apply; this rat is far from dirty, for it initiates the beginning of the Chinese zodiac wheel, tying in with 2008 in numerology being a 1 year. With the Aquarius New Moon and a Stellium of three or more planets in one Sign in Aquarius with the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Neptune in the Fixed Air Sign, this is a time to dream our dreams and allow ourselves to consider the possibilities for our future. We are on the threshold of the old age of linear, sequential reality and a new paradigm of non-linear, asequential reality. Yes, increasingly we are likely to find that we have stepped aboard the magical mystery tour where life does not occur step-by-step but rather things come out of the blue and things can turn on a dime. We’re moving into exciting times and this day and this fortnight allow us to plan and strategize our intentions for the future. In so doing, let’s write our goals in pencil with a large eraser instead of carving our plans in stone. Unexpected situations and changing conditions can alter our plans, shift our direction, and ask us to focus on the process instead of the completion. This Wednesday also has Venus sextile Uranus. Connections with others can provide some wonderful surprises. This day can be one of those days when we ‘bump’ into people, hear from people unexpectedly, and enjoy new contacts with interesting ramifications. Whether we celebrate the Chinese New Year or not, this is a time for us to celebrate the potentials and possibilities.

Thursday, February 7th – Ear to the Railroad Track – Neptune, Mars, Pluto, Moon Void-of-Course. This month has some real whipsaw energies thanks to the length of the Void-of-Course Moons. There are times when we are going great guns with incredible thrusts of energy and other times when the energy seems flat with no energy to move things or much less do anything. Late Monday into Tuesday could have provided one recent instance when the Moon was Void-of-Course for close to twenty-five hours. This Thursday provides another instance. We start Thursday with a great deal of energy, thanks to the Aquarius Moon conjunct Neptune and trine Mars. We may feel that we have a personal Manifest Destiny. We know where we are going and we have the panache and persuasiveness to pull it off. We can accomplish a lot in the early morning hours. Phone calls may provide grist for the mill regarding our plans for the future and plans for get-togethers. We could be talking a blue streak early in the day. Our intuition is attuned and the right words fall into place in our discussions. Our thoughts may be racing with various prospects and our ability to get things done could be impressive. Suddenly, like the air deflated from a balloon, we might feel as though the energy has left us. Yes, despite that early thrust of energy, the Moon then goes Void-of-Course for almost ten hours making no further connections to the planets as it finishes its transit of Aquarius and before entering Pisces. Later in the day, the Moon moves into Pisces where it sextiles Pluto. Some of our ideas and thoughts earlier in the day can now find a format, structure and the most effective ways of accomplishing our goals. Our intuitive sense may help provide an essential and focused means to move from the abstract into practical reality.

Friday, February 8th – The Question of Reality – Saturn, Jupiter. Friday could have us feeling pushed and pulled in two different directions. The Pisces Moon opposes Saturn and sextiles Jupiter. Although we could have a strong visionary sense, we have to be certain to take care of the specifics and be aware of all the necessary details. We could easily get carried away with what we want to do and how we want to broaden our scope. Such an attitude could be meaningless unless we maintain a firm grip on our circumstances and our conditions. If we don’t run ahead of ourselves, today could be a great day to blueprint, theorize, and strategize. We can address our responsibilities, tie up loose ends and then look forward to moving into new directions. If we feel encumbered by our obligations, we might get resentful, feel down about our situations and then look to recreational forms of escapism in order to distract us from our everyday routine. Let’s deal with outstanding matters and then once completed consider ways to enjoy the evening.

Saturday, February 9th – All at Once – Uranus, Venus, Mars. Saturday could have us all over the place. No matter what our plans might be, something unexpected could crop up that alters them. This day has the Pisces Moon conjunct Uranus, sextile Venus and square Mars. We may have things we intend to do today, but we could also find ourselves enticed to do things on the spur of the moment. We want to be free to explore and act spontaneously. We might add on some activities today, social gatherings or community affairs, but this day could certainly see us hopping. We do have to watch that we don’t exhaust ourselves. We could have so much going on that we run ourselves ragged. Since we may be going from one thing to another, it would be important to keep attention on our driving. We might easily get distracted and lose focus, thereby creating the possibility of an accident. Too much is too much, so on this Saturday let’s try to slow it down and realize that we don’t have to do it all, even though we are likely to be tempted to do it all at once.

Sunday, February 10th – Who, What, Where – Sun, Neptune, Pluto, Jupiter, Mercury. Saturday evening, early Sunday morning could have us going full speed. While Saturday gave us the Pisces Moon square Mars, late Saturday early Sunday has the Moon moving into Aries and the Moon square Pluto. The Mars Pluto opposition, exact again on March 7th, is at play and we might find our personal interests in conflict with everything that is going on. We have to be careful that we don’t feel like we’re banging our head against the wall. The Aries Moon squares Pluto and also squares Jupiter. Much of our recent exuberance and our sense of personal ability could seem at odds with the conditions in the world around us. If we don’t draw lines in the sand, then we can think our way out of difficult or confrontational situations. The Moon sextiles Mercury and allows us to see how we can do the necessary tai chi moves to deal with the circumstances in which we find ourselves. This Sunday also has the Sun conjunct Neptune. If we draw upon our intuitive sense and the inner voice within, we can realize that our intentions can go a long ways towards creating our reality. If we feel overwhelmed by the conditions around us, then we might feel confused and even powerless to do anything against the apparent prevailing trends. Why go there? Our reality is often shaped by our disposition. Let’s have a little faith and keep in mind the slogan of the New York Mets baseball team: ‘you gotta believe’’.

This week has some pleasant energies with us able to start things up once we’ve carefully considered them, follow through and bring into greater realization our plans, a great deal of talk and discussions, and a weekend focused on our home and family matters. The week celebrates Valentine’s Day with the Sun trine Mars, and the weekend closes with Venus exiting Capricorn to enter Aquarius enhancing the Aquarian Stellium of three or more planets in the Fixed Air Sign as Venus joins the Sun, Mercury and Neptune.

This week is also the last full week of this year’s first Mercury retrograde. I am getting frequent reports of the vexations caused by this Mercury retrograde --- computer problems, miscommunications, misunderstandings and travel delays and transportation problems. Whenever we are in the midst of Mercury retrograde, and we are in one now, it is important to check and recheck to be certain we’ve covered all the bases and that nothing has fallen between the cracks.

This week talks to different phases and allows us to draw upon the broad palette of our life’s characteristics. We start the week with an emphasis upon our personal interests, find ourselves dealing with acquisitions, revenue streams and expenses during the mid-week, a desire for socializations and chatting up a storm of possibilities during the latter part of the week and attending to home projects and family gatherings over the weekend. The emphasis this week may be on the experiential, the hands-on approach and learning by doing.

Monday, February 11th – Begin Again – Neptune, Sun, Venus, Mars. Monday starts the week with the Moon in Aries. This Aries Moon today sextiles Neptune, sextiles the Sun, squares Venus and sextiles Mars. We are likely to want to advance some of our goals and our dreams today. Even if they are small steps, even baby steps, today is a day to put our energy towards making changes in our lives that allow us to explore activities and situations that speak to us and provide us the opportunity of expressing our individuality and give us room to embrace a sense of freedom and autonomy. Some of our actions may fly in the face of conventional wisdom. If we keep in mind that conventional wisdom is based upon the standards, opinions and judgments of the past and not necessarily relevant for the present much less the future, then we can break the ties that bind and seek areas that have meaning for us. This Monday and this week is one when we might engage the admonition given by Joseph Campbell to ‘follow our bliss’. Let’s begin this week by doing something for ourselves. Although much of the energy now can be both a sense of winter doldrums and negating our personal interests for the greater good, today is a day to look out for ourselves and do something special for ourselves. Like a pebble in a pond, our self-focus can have ripple effects. The more we enjoy life and embrace our own uniqueness, the more we are giving other people the right to be themselves. Let’s be free, let’s be ‘me’ on this Monday the 11th, a day in numerology that is a master number and speaks to the ‘visionary’, that person that can see beyond the parameters of the present and consider options for their future.

Tuesday, February 12th – Fine Tuning – Lunar Grand Trine, Pluto, Saturn, Mercury. Tuesday has the Moon moving into Taurus and creating a Grand Trine in the Earth Element, as the Taurus Moon trines Pluto in Capricorn and trines Saturn in Virgo. Today is a day of manifestation --- of moving things from the abstract and conceptual into practical manifestation and physical reality. Much can be accomplished today. We have the patience, the determination and the concentration on both the big picture and the specific details to virtually move mountains. This Tuesday can be a highly productive day. Our expenditures are well considered and we are likely to get the very most out of our efforts. If we don’t rush ourselves or get distracted by mindless diversions, then this day can be a hugely successful one. The Moon does square Mercury, so it will be important that we don’t get lost in mental meanderings and lose sight of what we are trying to do. Step by step today can lay down some solid foundations and allow us to proceed in a strategic and methodical manner. We can build upon rock and not upon sand today. Even if we feel that we are being too focused on practical, mundane matters, today is a day to do so. We can work with time management effectively, take care of necessary matters and then wrap up outstanding situations in order to have time for other ventures, other adventures. This Tuesday is a primo day if we recognize that it is a day to have nose to grindstone and deal with what needs to be done.

Wednesday, February 13th – Over the Mountain, Across the Sea – Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Sun. We all know the advice of every now and then ‘getting out of our own way’. This Wednesday could be an echo of that suggestion. Have you ever noticed that some people just need to create emotional drama and turmoil in their lives? As though life wasn’t comparable to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride with twists and turns, ups and downs; some people need to aggravate life and living to feel as though they are truly doing life. Aaargh! This Wednesday could be of that sort. While there are some great energies today, we also have temptations that could divert our attention and distract our focus. Today the Taurus Moon trines Jupiter and sextiles Uranus. We can broaden our reach, add more to the mix and even take the time to do things on a spontaneous basis, especially if we made a cogent plan yesterday and moved ahead with our daily obligations. What we do have to be careful about, however, is the Taurus Moon square both Neptune and the Sun in Aquarius. If we feel we are mired in ‘same old, same old’, we could take a leap into the void of exciting and thrilling situations that could seem great at the outset, splendid for our future involvements but turn out to be mere distractions or illusionary quests into the unknown. We also have to watch for other people’s counsel today. Whether well meaning or not, other people could put monkey wrenches in the spokes of our wheels. Other people may be Monday morning quarterbacking our actions and our plans. Other people may have great plans for us that they are unwilling to do for themselves. There are times when things are going smoothly and we just have to stir up the pot to add some spice and adventure to our lives. Life is interesting enough not to ratchet up the extreme measures. It would be wise for us today to stretch and to experiment without diving into the deep end or skyrocketing beyond our present parameters.

Thursday, February 14th – That Special Someone – Sun, Mars, Venus, Saturn, Mercury. No Saint Valentine’s Day massacre today, but a special and quite happy Valentine’s Day. The Sun trines Mars. We’re feeling energetic, ready to go, and looking more at those special relationships in our lives rather than concerned about our daily affairs. This day can be one of those days when we step out of our normal reality, call a hiatus to our routine, and do something special for that special someone in our lives, even if that special someone happens to be ourselves. We start the day with a Taurus Moon which trines Venus. We’ve taken care of our preparations and are ready to have a fun day of appreciating our connections and touching base with our relationships. The Moon then moves into Gemini where it squares Saturn and trines Mercury. Some reconnections with people from the past might provide us a mirror as to how much we’ve changed since our last encounter. We could also find that details not taken care of could trip us up. If we don’t hear from someone that we had expected to, instead of nursing our sense of slights or grievances, why don’t we reach out and touch that someone. The phone lines, emails and other forms of contact may be burning brightly today, as our communications are ratcheted up severalfold. Today is a great day for contacts and connections, taking the time to express our gratitude and heart-felt feelings towards those special people in our lives.

Friday, February 15th – Quixotic Journeys - Uranus, Neptune. Friday has the Gemini Moon square Uranus and trine Neptune. No tilting at windmills today! We might find that we have a great deal on our plate, some of it anticipated, some of it unexpected. Plans could go awry, so let’s keep in mind the importance of flexibility and adaptability, key ingredients for successful living in the twenty-first century. While things may not go according to plan today, it would be important to suspend judgment, get out of our own way, keep in mind that things do in deed work out for the best, and allow ourselves to enjoy the process of unfolding that this day could bring. Get-togethers with friends can be great fun today, but we do need to have a contingency plan. Having people’s mobile phone numbers is essential, for interruptions and delays could affect things going in accord with schedule. We may be champing at the bit, seeking to introduce greater excitement into our lives. As though life during these times isn’t exciting enough! Even if we only consider our possibilities, today is a good day to take into account our options and alternatives. We are never stuck unless we assume and accept that we are so. We don’t have to act on all the possibilities we can conjure up, but it will be freeing and enlivening to recognize all the prospects we could actually pursue.

Saturday, February 16th – Take Five – Mars, Sun, Pluto, Saturn. One of the great classics of modern jazz is ‘Take Five’, a signature piece of Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond. This Saturday could have some of that upbeat and scintillating feel to it. The early morning hours of this Saturday find the Gemini Moon conjunct Mars and trine the Sun. We may feel a thrust of energy to begin the day, ready to stretch our wings, fly and soar with the eagles on high. What a great feeling! What a wonderful prospect! Great in concept but we may find it harder to realize in practical terms. For the Moon then moves into Cancer where it opposes Pluto and then sextiles Saturn. We are feeling the Mars Pluto opposition, which becomes exact on March’s New Moon on the 7th. The push pull and the intensity are ratcheted up. Although we may feel our wings being clipped, we don’t have to go through a crash and burn. Although our initial thrust of energy may be dampened, taking care of things around the house and dealing with family matters in a methodical manner can keep us from creating greater problems for ourselves. Why not spend the morning out and about, having a coffee or brunch out, and then spend the second half of the day taking care of home projects? If we can balance our desires for bring free of obligations and doing those things we want to do with accepting our responsibilities and attending to necessary matters, then we have the best of both worlds --- our head in the clouds with our feet firmly planted on the ground.

Sunday, February 17th – Home Again – Jupiter, Uranus, Venus Aquarius. Sunday continues with the Cancer Moon, which today opposes Jupiter and trines Uranus. Venus exits Capricorn ending the stellium of three or more planets in the Cardinal Earth Sign. Venus enters Aquarius reinforcing the Aquarius Stellium with Venus joining the Sun, Mercury and Neptune in the Fixed Air Sign. Those push pulls between our responsibilities and our desire to be free can be a repeat of yesterday’s sensations. Balance is the key aspect. Negating what we have to do or neglecting what we want to do can make us very unhappy campers. Today is a good day to rearrange our lives in order to streamline our obligations and be more effective with our time. We do have to watch that we’re not taking on more than we would normally choose. People could guilt us into doing things out of some bizarre sense of obligation. Why go there if we are merely going to feel pressured and resentful? As opposed to yesterday when it was suggested that we do something fun, out of the ordinary in the morning hours and then attend to necessary matters; this Sunday is the reverse. Today it would be wise to deal with the basic necessities and then take the time to do things that put a smile on our face. The push pull between our lives as we have habitually lived them and lives that we would like to live in a best case scenario does not have to be a tug of war. It may be a balancing act but we can address both aspects, taking care of our commitments all the while that we are moving to streamline our operations and start to investigate new possibilities for ourselves.

This week continues with the push pulls we have come to experience and even expect. Should we be surprised? Not really, since we are living in a time of great volatility. Yes, life at this time is quite volatile.

And this week has various energy switches to increase the level of volatility. This week has Mercury ending its three-week retrograde cycle and turning direct. The Sun leaves Aquarius and moves into Pisces. We have a Lunar Eclipse with the Virgo Full Moon. The Sun is aspected by Pluto and later by Saturn. Added to all this, we have the daily Moon energy configurations that provide us with some real ups and downs. Yes, this week can have us doing the dance.

We should certainly count our blessings and especially with Mercury turning direct. This Mercury retrograde has brought reports of travel delays with the intense weather conditions creating major tie-ups on various highway Interstates, difficulties with computers and high technology as seen this past week on Monday for users of Blackberry smart phones when they experienced a three-hour outage, and the usual miscommunications with people leaving voicemail messages without leaving their callback number or, as I pointed out in a previous post, the inadvertent and erroneous mass voicemail message calling parents outside Boston by a school district that their children were not in school. I am certain there are other Mercury retrograde scenarios that occurred, but most of these hopefully should be in our past. Although Mercury is turning direct on Monday, the days just before and just after Mercury turns are often punctuated with confusions, misunderstandings, miscommunications, travel issues and the like. And we shall still be in the ‘shadow’ of Mercury retrograde into the early March period. Care still needs to be used in our communications, decisions and expenditures.

If we can navigate the choppy waters, this week allows us to prioritize, strip away elements of illusion, tie up loose ends and prepare for the coming of Spring next month, our time of renewal and regeneration.

Monday, February 18th – Celebrate, Celebrate, Dance to the Music – Moon Void-of-Course, Venus, Mercury direct. Monday is Presidents’ Day in the US, a holiday for some, another shopping sale day for many. The day starts off without a great deal of energy. The Moon finishing its transit of Cancer is Void-of-Course, making no further connections to the planets until it enters Leo. We may start the day somewhat lethargic, unable to get in gear, and feeling like we’re spinning our wheels. Venus has just moved into Aquarius as of yesterday and as the Moon moves into Leo, the Moon opposes Venus. Although we might be ‘up’ for a good time, get-together with friends and wanting to enjoy a break from our routine, we do have to watch for a potential tug of war with other people. We may know what we want to do but we could also be reluctant to go along. People may be somewhat boisterous asserting their own interests and neglecting the concerns of others. And with Mercury turning direct today, the possibility for misunderstandings and miscommunications cannot be underestimated. People may not show up on time, could get lost, or just have a disconnect regarding plans made. It would be wise to use this day to celebrate and to recognize that some of the dark cloud of the past three weeks is passing overhead and away from us. Not only can we be feeling the sense of Mercury turning direct but this sense of endings and beginnings can be reinforced by the fact that the Sun tomorrow exits Aquarius to enter Pisces. This Monday is a day to tie up loose ends, take a hiatus from our routine affairs, and recognize that we are about to step into a new phase of our life’s experience.

Tuesday, February 19th – Visionary Zeal – Sun, Pluto, Mercury, Sun Pisces. Tuesday is the first full day of Mercury direct, and today the Leo Moon opposes Mercury. Our pull may be between our own personal interests and the good of our community. We may feel that we are operating in the best interests of all concerned but we do have to watch an attitude of the patron, the benevolent dictator whereby we know what is right and good for those with whom we are in contact. We also have to be careful that we are not trying too hard. We may be passionate about some future goal, assume that we have the capability and resources to pull it off, but we could also be coming from a sense of overconfidence. The Sun today moves into Pisces, the last Sign of the Zodiac wheel. As it enters Pisces, the Sun sextiles Pluto. If we would restrain any sense of invincibility and overconfidence, then we could use this day to envision where we want to go in our lives and blend both an intuitive sense with a best practices approach to come up with a strategy, methodology and pragmatic means to achieve our goals and realize our dreams. We are likely to feel passionate today. The sense of spirit in action can be strong and nothing we do is likely done in half measure. We do have to be aware that we’re moving towards tomorrow’s Virgo Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse. It is essential that we be aware of the details, address the specifics and pay attention to the particulars before moving forward and avoid rushing headlong without plan, thought or consideration.

Wednesday, February 20th – Going Somewhere, Passionately – Neptune, Mars, Moon Void-of-Course, Pluto, Sun, Lunar Eclipse. Wednesday starts off with a bang as the Leo Moon opposes Neptune and sextiles Mars. Although we are energized and ready to go, we also need to avoid mimicking ‘wrong way Corrigan’, heading off in one direction that turns out to be the opposite direction intended. We could be champing at the bit. If we could slow things down, then we might avoid some costly mistakes. The day does slow down as the Moon goes Void-of-Course for a little over six hours, making no further connections as it finishes its transit of Leo before entering Virgo. As the Moon moves into Virgo, the Moon trines Pluto. If we have restrained ourselves from inappropriate actions and have not blown ourselves out chasing mirages, then we can truly focus on the structure and purpose of our lives by attending to what needs to be done and making sure that we are building upon rock and not solely sand. Late in the day, early Thursday in Europe, we have the Virgo Full Moon, and a Lunar Eclipse. This Eclipse offers us the opportunity to move beyond the old paradigm of service / self-sacrifice, of martyr / savior, of sin / redemption, of the duality of the old paradigm. Now is a time for us to clean house, to look at our conditioning and learned responses, question whether they have served us or have encumbered us, and to clear away the debris of the outworn, the useless and the ineffectual of the past. Increasingly, we have the privilege of becoming co-creators of our lives, of our destiny. No longer do we have to be under the weight of authoritarian beliefs that enforce rules and regulations without nurturing or encouraging the talents and expression of each one of us. We are likely to feel increased passion today. We may not know exactly where we are going, but we are interested in going somewhere, passionately.

Thursday, February 21st – Nose to the Grindstone, Eyes to the Horizon – Saturn, Jupiter. Thursday has the Virgo Moon conjunct Saturn and trine Jupiter. Although Jupiter and Saturn are quite opposite in their influence, the former representing expansion and the latter representing contraction, these two energies can be complementary allowing us to expand, and to do so without limitless expansion that would eventually diffuse the energy but rather to expand within a framework and a structure. This Thursday can be like that so long as we don’t buy into the battle of dualities but instead integrate the two energies. We may have responsibilities to attend to today, and we may be desirous of broadening our scope. We do not have to go into friction to do so. On the contrary, we can deal with our routine affairs, all the while seeing how we can stretch. Thursday is a day when we can take care of the details, concentrate on the specifics and in a step-by-step manner increase our activities and expand our operations. To do so is to appreciate and respect the sense of duality that creates completion. Similar to the Tao whereby we have a circle of two opposites. Within that circle, we have the yang energy on one side and the yin energy on the other side. Within the yang we have the apparent seed of its opposite, the yin energy, and within the yin we have the apparent seed of its opposite, the yang energy. Both are contained within the circle, a geometrical symbol of movement and of cycles. This Thursday is a day for us to use both energies to come to a best practices approach for our lives.

Friday, February 22nd – Slow it Down – Lunar T-Square, Uranus, Mars. Friday has the Virgo Moon creating a Mutable Sign T-Square by opposing Uranus in Pisces and squaring Mars in Gemini. We may be trying to do too much today. Not only do we have to handle those things we have put on our ‘to do’ list, but we could find unexpected situations cropping up that also demand our attention. We might be juggling a lot today with several things either falling between the cracks or a tendency for us to merely gloss over things in order to cover all the bases. Today is a day for us to slow it down, take a deep breath and try to get hold of a pace that works for us. Otherwise, we could get anxious, demanding and critical of other people, or of ourselves. While this day in numerology is a master day and a day of the master builder being the 22, we could waste the opportunity of blending the conceptual with the practical and rush through our day’s events. This Friday is one of those days when we might just have to remind ourselves that haste makes waste. We could handle a lot but we need to find our pace and keep to it.

Saturday, February 23rd – Enjoying the Moment – Pluto, Venus, Mercury. Saturday gives us a Libra Moon, which today squares Pluto and trines both Venus and Mercury in Aquarius. Today is a people day, a day to get together with others, ruminate about our future plans and have sounding boards to bounce off all possibilities. We start the day a little bit off center. We need to watch that we’re not drawing lines in the sand whereby either we ourselves or someone else is placing demands on the other. Let’s cut everybody a little slack today and not get too ramped up about what we feel we should do. This Saturday is a day to cool things down and enjoy some leisurely moments. Hiatus times are essential in our lives. They allow us to step off the track, get a fresh perspective and then without a great deal of input from our usual circumstances, consider where we want to go and what we want to do. The more we can do things on the spur of the moment, the more likely we are to experience serendipity, situations and connections that come about unexpectedly with some wondrous implications.

Sunday, February 24th – Here or There – Sun, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune. This Sunday could feel like we are being pushed and pulled in different directions. With the Sun opposed Saturn we may feel exhausted today, as though the wind had been knocked out of our sails. We need to suspend judgment about our actions or our situation. We could be somewhat hard on ourselves, but it’s likely that we just don’t have the energy. Feeling rundown, we could easily get down on ourselves. We may have various errands to run today. If we could work with time management and streamline our activities, we could save ourselves some running around and might be able to consolidate several different chores. Although we might want to play catch-up today, it is suggested that we take some ‘fun time’ for ourselves. What’s the old nursery rhyme about all work and no play makes us cranky? The Libra Moon squares Jupiter and trines Neptune. We could easily find ourselves on overwhelm if we feel we need to get done everything that we have on our winter round-up project list. Not much fun, so let’s be sure to take some time and do things on a spontaneous level. Special times in contact with a good friend can help us look towards the future, at the horizon instead of being solely obsessed with just what is in front of us.

This week ends February and begins the month of March. Winter may be winding down, but we might also be feeling the collateral damage of winter, feeling lethargic, a little out-of-sorts and even coping with a winter cold or flu bug. At the beginning of the week, our focus could be more towards an internal evaluation that the sense of hibernation often brings. It is a time to be resourceful, to get down to the basics and concentrate on the fundamentals. Far better for us to deal with outstanding matters and issues that need attending rather than avoiding situations that otherwise will only continue to dog us as we come into the Spring. Let’s remember that in the natural cycles Winter is a time to go inward, a contractive time for us to look at what we are doing and how we are doing it. An honest self-assessment can go a long way towards finishing up situations, considering our resources and then devising the whats, hows and wheres of our intended future.

Nature may seem to be in a hiatus phase, but appearances may be deceiving. Now is a time when more is going on below the surface than is readily apparent.

We may be in the planning stages this week, dealing with the past all the while that we are considering, planning and strategizing for our future. Let’s take the time, not push ourselves and appreciate the rhythm and the cycles in our lives and in life itself. This week is a time for us not to rush the river but to check the currents and ready ourselves to launch successfully into our intended projects.

Monday, February 25th – Resourceful Steps – Mars, Pluto, Saturn. Monday starts the week coming off yesterday’s Sun Saturn opposition. We may feel that we have certain matters that need to be take care of, but we might just not have full energy to move things forward. Such a dichotomy could prove frustrating, especially in light of the fact that we start the Monday with the Moon in Libra trine Mars in Gemini. We may awaken to the alarm clock blaring like a factory whistle insisting that we get on the fast track. And the fast track we might be looking at, even if our physical vitality is not one hundred percent. Although we may start the day champing at the bit, in fast forward with a turbothrust, the Moon then moves into Scorpio where it sextiles Pluto and sextiles Saturn. If we can restrain ourselves from any knee-jerk reactions, we could harness this thrust of energy in most resourceful ways. We can effectively prioritize our activities, be productive with our time management and find ourselves working smarter rather than harder. This Monday can be a highly successful day whereby we can blend our intuitive sense with a common sense approach and where we can virtually move mountains using the most expeditious methods. The key aspect to keep in mind for this Monday is to neither set ourselves up with an overwhelming activity list nor give in to a sense of lethargy just wanting to pull the covers over our head and make the world go away. A brisk morning walk can get the blood circulating and the mind more focused and then we can get down to the business at hand in a strategic and well-considered manner.

Tuesday, February 26th – Chess Plays – Mercury, Venus, Sun, Jupiter. As though writing to our present times, Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. This Tuesday could bear great similarity to that sentiment. On the one hand, we have Mercury conjunct Venus in Aquarius and the Scorpio Moon trine the Sun and sextile Jupiter. Our discussions with others can be bright and scintillating. People may prove both interesting sounding boards for our plans and also trigger points for us to consider future possibilities. On the other hand, the Scorpio Moon squares both Venus and Mercury. If we feel vulnerable or as though someone is getting too intrusive, we might close down or lash out. Our tendency today could be to open up in a protective stance. We shall share with others some aspects of ourselves but not those that make us uncomfortable or are too intimate. While heart to heart talks can broaden our perspective and resolve misunderstandings, they need to be done within a comfort zone. Anything too extreme could prove overwhelming and could then contribute to a shutdown. We may be willing to give only so much today. If we take things step by step and don’t steamroll or feel steamrolled, then we can gradually broaden and reveal even more. This Tuesday is a good day to consider our prospects, test the waters and also to err on the side of caution. Let’s not get entranced by the appearance without checking out the substance. Expression followed by review would be a way to balance the ebb and flow of today’s bellows-type energies.

Wednesday, February 27th – Outside the Box – Uranus, Neptune, Moon Void-of-Course. Wednesday is a day that demands adaptability. The day begins with the Scorpio Moon trine Uranus and square Neptune. It would be wise to keep in mind today the adage: ‘if you want to make god laugh, tell god your plans’. We might start the day focused on diversions, distractions, unexpected things that come our way that take us off the track. If we are willing to be flexible, we might realize that our journey is not the intended destination but rather the process of taking the steps and allowing the steps to unfold according to the rhythm of their own process. We might assume that anything that takes us away from our intended focus is either a detriment or an obstacle to our planned activities. If we go there with that attitude, then this Wednesday could prove frustrating. We might then feel as though we are continually banging our head against the wall. Instead of wallowing in despair or playing the victim, we could take a different approach. Like the awe and wonder of a child, we could take the quizzical disposition of curiosity and see where things could lead us. As the day proceeds, the Moon goes Void-of-Course, making no further connections to the planets as it finishes its transit of Scorpio, for sixteen and a half hours. This day may not be the most productive but it could prove instrumental in fine-tuning and assisting us to see alternatives and options we might not otherwise take into account. Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way. This Wednesday could be one of those times.

Thursday, February 28th – Stuck in the Middle, or is it Muddle? – Lunar T-Square, Saturn, Sun. Last Sunday we had the Pisces Sun opposed Saturn in Virgo. On this Thursday we revisit this opposition by means of the Sagittarius Moon creating a Mutable Sign T-Square by squaring Saturn and squaring the Sun. We may feel pushed and pulled in different directions today. We could be juggling a number of different situations. The more we can work in spurts of energy, going from one thing to another to another then coming back to the first thing, the more effective we are likely to be. If we try to go from start to finish on one particular matter, we could either skip over specific details in our rush to get it done or we could get anxious and resentful feeling trapped by our own projects. Today is a day to be certain that we have dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s. We may have tasks we need to perform but resentment or anger would be less than helpful. Let’s do what needs to be done without getting fixated on the completion. Even if we can’t finish everything today, it is far better for us to deal with several things instead of being singularly focused. We may be working from a high level of nervous energy, anxious, perhaps even waiting for the other shoe to drop. Getting out of doors and airing out would give us some breathing room and allow us to quell the nerves. We need to avoid second-guessing ourselves or being overly critical in our evaluations today. This Thursday is a day to lighten up, look at the big picture and take a broad perspective on things.

Friday, February 29th – Leaping Lizards – Mercury, Venus, Uranus, Neptune. Okay, bad allusion, I know, but this Friday is one of those rare days. The Gods must be crazy, you might think, adding on an extra day to February. We are all likely to be gung-ho to get into Spring and here we are anticipating the end of February with an additional day tacked on. Okay, okay, yes, it is a leap year and this Friday is the leaping lizards of the year. Happy Birthday!, leaplings. This Friday can be a day that not only adds a day to this year’s calendar but can also be expansive thanks to the energies. The Sagittarius Moon today sextiles the three planets transiting Aquarius: Mercury, Venus and Neptune. Our thoughts are broad and our discussions upbeat and exuberant. Today is a great day to get together with friends, sit down and hold forth on what’s going on within our social circle and the plans we want to develop in the future. The one thing to watch for is the Moon square Uranus. There could be a few monkey wrenches to the day, so let’s be open to the unexpected. Plans may have to change or we may find that not everyone is on the same page. If we don’t carried away or upset by surprises, this day can be a highly effective one to present our plans and gain valuable support for our projects. Today is a great day to also consider travel plans, where we might want to go on the short-term to break the winter doldrums or where we might choose to go over the summertime.

Saturday, March 1st - Madness – Mars, Pluto, Saturn. Saturday begins March, often referred to as ‘in like a lion, out like a lamb’ as the weather often continues with the blustery, cold winds of Winter to begin the month and the month ends with warmer and quieter climate conditions of Spring. The Madness, or March Madness, often refers to the basketball tournaments played by colleges at the end of their regular seasons. My reference to this 1st day of March as madness is the Moon’s opposition to Mars while the Moon is still in Sagittarius and the Moon’s conjunction to Pluto as it enters Capricorn. We have been in orb of the Mars Pluto opposition since last Autumn, when Mars in Gemini exactly opposed Pluto in Sagittarius. Next week, Mars having moved into Cancer will again exactly oppose Pluto now in Capricorn. The question of whether we have built upon rock or built upon sand is likely to be highlighted during this month of March. And this Saturday may give us a preview. To begin the day, we may be scurrying around, virtually like the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Wonderland, wondering whether we are late for a very important date. We may have errands to run but we might feel the tug of a desire to get off the track, blow out of Dodge and hit the open highways. Nice concept and something for us to consider, to begin the day. Doing something special in the early morning hours can help settle us down into the errands or addressing our ‘to do’ list for the day. For the Moon moves out of Sagittarius and enters Capricorn where it conjuncts Pluto and sextiles Saturn. After a brief morning coffee or brunch, we can use the rest of the day to clean up our clutter, get rid of the extraneous and pare down to the basics. This day may be a day to run our errands and continue with a Winter clean out in preparation for the coming of Spring. But all work and no play is no fun, so let’s be sure to do something in the morning hours that allows us to spread our wings and bask in the enjoyment of our living. Our responsibilities can be addressed after we have a fun interlude.

Sunday, March 2nd – Upbeat and Inspired – Sun, Jupiter. This Sunday can be a pleasant day thanks to the Capricorn Moon sextile the Sun and conjunct Jupiter. We may choose to go out of our way for someone today. It is our choice and we may not feel obligated to do so, but our compassion is there and we’re likely to be feeling good about our abilities and inspired by the bounty in our own individual lives. Even if the world seems crazy at times [at times?], today is one of those days to count our blessings and appreciate everything we have in our lives. Our spiritual side is likely to be strong today. Even if we are not a usual churchgoer or a member of a religious group, we may find that we are connecting with our spiritual side. It may take the form of a walk by the seashore or out in the woods. It might take the form of sharing with someone the meaning of life, the purpose of our lives. It could have us recognizing our accomplishments and preparing for the next step in our journey, our bucket list of what we want to do in our future days. Any way we slice it, this Sunday can have us feeling upbeat and inspired.