During the month of February 2020, the outer planets, Jupiter through Pluto, will be in Capricorn or Pisces. This combination of Capricorn/earth and Pisces/water energies is the perfect celestial environment for great new avenues of artwork to be expressed. The sign of Pisces rules the medium of motion picture films. In film and tv, the emergence of the long-cycle tv series with the backing of mini-studios, Amazon and Netflix, has given us a huge new influx of options in home entertainment. Pisces also rules the medium of watercolor and oil painting. In the fine art world, paintings and sculptures made out of recycled materials have a Gaia-centered theme of eco-conservation. Pisces shares rulership of music with Taurus, Libra and Sagittarius. In music, a host of new artists in all genres has come available through internet-based curated “channels.” In dance and theater, seasoned performers are coming back to the live stage to re-create the intimate experience that holds an audience captive like no other. 

The weekend of the 8th and 9th is an especially good time to get out and appreciate the arts under a celebratory Full Moon in Leo. 

Venus enters the passionate sign of Aries at 3:02 p.m. EST on Friday, February 7th. The planet of love and attraction will stay in Aries until March 5th. The sign in which Venus resides indicates where our interests will focus over the next 27 days. Aries rules adventure, allies and entrepreneurship. New discoveries in science as well as military campaigns get their start when Venus is in the sign of aggressive Ram. Relationships born under the sign of Aries are quick to ignite and passionate. Sometimes they are also short-lived. Allow yourself to feel inspired during this time period. You can make a great new start on a project close to your heart this month. Aries Sun sign folks are in their Venus return this month. This means your phone will start ringing with invitations to celebrate your birthday--perhaps even more often than you’d like! Single Aries natives need to get out and about NOW as a potential new partner may be waiting in the wings. 

The Full Moon on Sunday, February 9th takes place at 2:33 a.m. at 20 degrees Leo. This is the first Super Moon of the year during which the Moon is at is maximum closest distance to Earth. The effect of a Super Moon is to make its Leo characteristics stronger. Leo is the joyful leader. This weekend is a time to celebrate life! Take the kids in the family out to play! Whether you’re  skiing or going to the beach, outdoor sports are indicated. Street festivals in warmer climes will see record numbers of visitors as well.  Mars in lively Sagittarius makes a harmonious trine to this Super Full Moon in the sign of the Lion. This weekend is absolutely one for celebration after the somber times we experienced throughout January with so many planets in Capricorn. The Sabian Symbol for 20 degrees Leo is: The Zuni Sun Worshippers. This is a symbol of man’s recognition of higher and natural forces from which he receives his life and strength. Emphasized is his everyday preservation of traditional values in the evolution of new ones. Man feels self- fulfillment in the same moment that he is true to his group tradition. The keyword is Fidelity. When positive, there is absolute realization of the self’s illimitable resources. Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th are days in which to celebrate and give thanks for our own skills and gifts. Get together over these two days with those you are close to allow your own inner child out to play with its favorite mates. Monday the 10th brings another work week. But for today!---it’s time to relax and have fun! 

Mars enters the conservative and hard-working sign of Capricorn on Sunday the 16th where it will remain until March 30th. If you have a tendency toward over-working, you will become a bonafide workaholic during this period! Mars rules motivation and physical strength. Under this transit, earth and water signs, in particular, will feel physically well and able to take on the world. The trick is to NOT over-stress ourselves. On the 22nd Mars will make a harmonious trine to Uranus in Taurus. This is a transit that can bring exciting personal growth and self-discovery. It’s time to find the Mars-ruled courage to break free of inhibitions that have held us back from trying new activities. What’s great about this Mars and Uranus transit however is that in conservative earth signs we can temper our desires enough to be able to make changes without burning bridges. 

Mercury goes retrograde on Sunday the 16th at 7:54 p.m. EST for 22 days until Monday, March 7th.  Mercury is the ruler of communications and transportation. Do your best to have any major business transactions or contracts signed by Friday the 14th in order to avoid the “buyer’s remorse” which often comes up with Mercury Retrograde. If you are taking any road trips between February 16th and March 7th have your oil and basic systems checked. Double check any air reservations and hotel reservations before you depart as well. If you depend on your computer for work, backup your files to avoid any loss of data. In the sign of Pisces while it is retrograde, this Mercury will bring both major difficulties and sublime spiritual connections. 

On the day that Mercury goes retrograde, it is conjunct Neptune, the ruler of the sign of Pisces. 

Pisces rules infectious disease. The spread of the Coronavirus may exceed expectation during this time. Avoid plane travel if you can between February 16th and March 7th.  Pisces rules the waters of the rivers and oceans. There may be a large-scale flood or other type of water disaster such as a monsoon or tornado during this period somewhere around the globe. Victims will find solace in the prayers and assistance sent to them by those more fortunate and by their fellow victims. It is normal to experience extreme low and high moods during a Mercury Retrograde in Pisces period. Moods will rebound again after March 7th when the Mercury Retrograde is past and especially as of March 30th when Mercury emerges from its retrograde shadow (or degree at which it went retrograde.) A Mercury retrograde period in Pisces is time for great reflection. Take advantage of these three weeks to renew your connection to Spirit. 

Happy Birthday Pisces! The Sun plunges into the sign of Pisces on Tuesday the 18th at 11:57 p.m. EST.  The keyword for Pisces is “I believe.”  Your zodiac symbol of the Fishes swimming in opposite directions represents Man’s dual desires: 1) Swimming upward, to return to Spirit/Source and 2) Swimming downward, to individuate through personal desires. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, thus representing the completion of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. As a mutable and adaptable sign, it represents the last days of winter before the spring. Pisces represents creative imagination and makes us all feel a touch more creative this month. Many great painters, musicians, dancers and mystics are born under the sign of the Fish. Psychic activity and the empathy of the healer are also Pisces ruled. This psychic empathy helps us all to tap into information from the Source this month to assist us in our quest for meaning in life. On a cautionary note, Pisces is known for abuse of addictive substances as a way of escape from mundane existence.  It is important for Pisces natives to discover a spiritual outlet to rely upon when they become burned out by the trials of everyday life. Shamanic connection to the Earth, meditation and yoga are Pisces oriented disciplines. These can help us to avoid too much of "the bubbly" and tune in to spiritual frequencies instead. As mentioned earlier, Pisces rules infectious diseases. This year’s Coronavirus has required the CDC to quarantine Americans and other travelers to the U.S. to be held in quarantine for the first time in 50 years.  Anyone from 6 months old to 99 should get a flu shot this season. Flu is airborne and easily transmitted in the colder months when we spend more time indoors with diminished air circulation.  To increase your immunity, try eating a small piece of raw garlic on a cracker with a bit of margarine if you begin feeling fluish. This is especially effective when you feel a sore throat or fever coming on. The natural antibiotic properties of garlic will jump start your immune system. Cover the “aroma” with some mouthwash in the morning. 

The New Moon this month takes place on Sunday the 23rd at 10:32 a.m. EST at 4 degrees Pisces. 

The Sabian Symbol for 4 degrees Pisces is: Heavy Traffic on a Narrow Isthmus. This is a symbol of the illimitability of human relationships. Common self-interest can be shaped for both the individual and a well-integrated community. The keyword is Convergence. When positive, the degree is an unusual gift for organizing common work into a rewarding and effective experience for many. This Pisces New Moon aspects both Mars in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus within an encouraging sextile of 60 degrees on either side. When the Moon sextiles Mars, we are capable of working alone or with others with respect. It is also possible to stand up for our own beliefs and be respected for them. If you prefer to work alone now, make your case with conviction and you will get the green light. The Moon in sextile to Uranus has a different flavor, making us feel restless. A search for excitement can be found with female friends on this New Moon day. Set out on a day trip today with close friends. It feels great to shake things up a bit and see where you land. This is a day for adventure!

Now let’s take a look at the birthday forecast for Aquarius Sun sign natives. Happy Birthday Aquarius! Each year we look to the aspects your Sun makes to inner and outer planets to determine the type of year that awaits you. This year the only major aspects are between your Sun and Uranus (planet of sudden change and improvement) and between the Sun and the Moon at the Full Moon from the 8th of February to the evening of the 9th.  Please note: If you don’t see your birthday included in the aspects discussed, you are not being forgotten or left out. This means that you are blessed to experience a year in the essence of Aquarius. Aquarians born between the 30th of January and the 7th of February and between the 10th of February and the 17th of February will experience an un-aspected year.  With an un-aspected Aquarius year, you are likely to likely to be involved in a number of community-oriented or humanitarian projects. Technological advances made in the world of computers and electronics this year will help you to further streamline your personal communications and your business. Your vision is for a future in which individuals share their knowledge together for the benefit of the community. All in all, this will be a great year ahead! Aquarian Sun sign folks born between the 20th and the 30th of January will experience a year in which their Sun makes a challenging square to Uranus in Taurus. Uranus is the planet of restlessness and a search for freedom. You are no longer content with the status quo in many areas of your life. It is beneficial to seek change for yourself, rather than to have changes imposed upon you. Seek a new job, a new place to live or a new partner. Focus on one major area of your life to make change however. You don’t want to “throw out the baby with the bathwater,” so to speak! The revolution comes from within this year. Be aware that if you do not express your authentic feelings your repressed energy may cause you to be accident prone.  Aquarians born on the 7th and 8th of February will experience a year in which their Sun opposes the Moon to create a Full Moon in the sign of Leo. This will be a year of major culmination for you. You may find yourself at the height of your career right now, accomplishing major goals and working harder than ever to establish yourself as a leader among your peers. If you are in a job that you have held for a long time, it may be good to retire on a high note. You may even question your decision to leave, however, when you are having such a positive year at work! If, on the other hand, the last year has been difficult, the culminating energy of this year may cause you to decide to leave a job where you don’t feel appreciated. In a Full Moon year it’s important that you seek work in an area that you are truly interested in. It’s time to let your own Full Moon shine!