*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.
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Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.
As is often the case, the faster moving “personal” planets will be acting as go-betweens for the outer “transpersonal” planets during this time period. The Messenger of the Gods, Mercury, activates the ongoing alignment between the titans of the sky, Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter, asking us to take a deeper look at how we go about achieving our dreams. The Goddess of Love, Venus, does another dance between the planets that can and will rock our world – Pluto and Uranus. She’ll be kicking up the dust of their square now gearing up for their big game next summer. This passion play may seem to be staged from the other side of the looking glass. As time stretches in powerful ways, integrity, resilience and daily reality checks are in order.
Clarity may suddenly appear on February 7th when Mercury catches up to the Sun, passing on the far side away from earth, reaching the “superior conjunction” (or “full Moon” phase) of the Mercury/Sun cycle at 1:03 a.m. This cycle began with Mercury’s inferior conjunction (“new Moon” phase) on December 4, 2011 at 12° Sagittarius. This also marks Mercury’s transition from morning star to evening star. In Aquarius, the heart and mind of the sky may offer us a high tech blueprint to objective reasoning power. With Saturn stationing retrograde at 29° Libra at 9:03 am, we would do well to take advantage of that detached position to learn how to find balance and stability in relationships. Saturn will be retrograde until June 25th when he reaches 22° Libra, during which time we may be asked to revisit all the events he triggered since November 3rd. By 1:54 pm, the full Moon at 19° Leo opposing the Sun at 19° Aquarius could catalyze the theme of this lunar cycle – how to balance, in Dane Rudhyar’s words, the “heroic intensification of personal magnetism” with the revolutionary with a “powerful incentive to social action.” By reaching across the divide to join these opposing fixed energies, the liberator can become king in heralding the future. At 10:01 pm the energy towards relationships will shift as lovely Venus bids adieu to diaphanous Pisces and enters daredevil Aries. Venus here brings her unique talent for reaping bounty from experience to the Aries explorer just setting out on a new adventure. “Venus in Aries,” writes Rudhyar “may develop a prophetic sense which can be used to evaluate both personal and social issues and to inject a quality of wisdom into every act.” Being able to see the end of the road before its been travelled may give the wanderer some pause before embarking on anything with typical Aries impetuosity.
On February 9th Venus conjuncts Uranus at 2° Aries putting yet another unusual spin on the way we approach relations with others. Expect the unexpected in areas of love, wants and desires. We would do well to avoid impulsive behavior in acquiring lovers or anything else of value as we could just as soon become detached from them. Any amount of high level energy or expense put into such efforts should be well considered. Whatever sparks fly will certainly be an enjoyable show in the moment but will require solid logs underneath to sustain a fire. This aspect will remain in effect for about a week and could make it a very fiery Valentine’s Day. The caution light on the evening is the Moon going void-of-course in Virgo at 9:11 pm after conjuncting retrograde Mars. We may feel restless but without strong support for decisive action.
The moon finally gets direction 14 1/2 hours later when she enters Libra on February 10th at 11:54 am giving a social stamp to the day. Shortly thereafter, the Moon opposes Uranus and then opposes Venus adding emotional intensity to their volatile conjunction still operating. Venus is also approaching a square to Pluto who will amplify all her passions, wants, desires and needs. This challenging period, which will reach a peak when Venus hooks up with Pluto in five days, has the potential to shake loose some shocking taboos. Be prepared to let go of anything that is not authentic.
There may not be any exact planetary aspects for a couple of days, but the Moon continues her transits through the sky and the planetary aspects discussed earlier in this article continue to grow and wane. On February 13th Mercury at 29° Aquarius trines Saturn at 29° Libra bringing some mental stability to this potentially unstable period. For any of us out there who are feeling a need to get organized, this is the time to do it. Cool, efficient and steady, Mercury’s perceptual abilities will be honed by Saturn’s meticulous approach to discipline and order. Mercury then leaves intellectually focused Aquarius for stream-of-consciousness Pisces. With the advent of Neptune’s long stay in his home sign of Pisces promising a spiritual resurgence, Mercury here may prime our minds for transformation. As Dane Rudhyar writes: “Mercury in Pisces may be a sort of oracle, uttering deep and mystical statements which ‘just come to her’ and which surge from the treasures of the Collective Unconscious.”
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! February 14th begins with poetry as Mercury conjuncts Neptune at 0° Pisces whispering sweet words of love. Although Saturn’s undertow may temper a complete loss of reason in favor of the vast, mystical realms, Mercury in such close quarters with Neptune will foster acutely sensitive perception that can dissolve even the most rigid walls of thinking that choke off growth. Authenticity will mitigate any penchant for disillusionment. This is a good day to just BeLove. Shortly after waking the Moon at 25° Scorpio makes a third quarter (“crisis of consciousness”) square to the Sun 25° Aquarius bringing us to the climax of this monthly lunar cycle. The Aquarius New Moon was compelling us to take a giant leap into the future. If we haven’t yet done that, we may do it now!
On February 15th the square between Venus at 9° Aries and Pluto at 9° Capricorn becomes exact. Rising passions, or obsessions with others, may reach a peak. This is a first quarter (“crisis of action”) square, which means we may feel the need to act but are uncertain about what action to take. In this case our focus will be on relationships and we’ll feel a need for dramatic change. Some kind of “death” may be required, or letting go. As always, it is helpful to remember that we are fellow travellers on this journey of life and compassion is the fuel that will ensure we all get to our destination together and intact. For several days on either side of this aspect reactive emotions may be irresistible, but if it is at all possible, take a step back from the heat and check in with the Neptune/Saturn/Jupiter configuration for a little intuitive, rational and philosophical help.
Mercury making the rounds to these planets during this period will facilitate an understanding of their archetypal energies and give us a better intellectual grasp of what they are asking of us. Mercury at 5° Pisces sextiles Jupiter at 5° Taurus on February 16th activating the deep thinking module of this configuration that is concerned with applying our natural resources in support of evolutionary growth. The higher mind Jupiter combined in harmonious aspect with the lower mind Mercury creates a sharp holographic tool for assessing what needs to be done. It could also lift our spirits with ebullient conversation.
The Sun at 29° Aquarius makes its last exact aspect while in the sign of the Genius on February 18th with a trine to Saturn at 29° Libra. This is a very good time to embrace Saturn with so many easy aspects to this demanding planet in effect. We may find being disciplined a delight rather than a chore, which could lead to taking on added responsibility or becoming a trusted partner in some effort of material manifestation. While this particular aspect lasts only a few days, it could at least be good for patient groundwork. With Mercury at 9° Pisces sextiling Pluto at 9° Capricorn we may feel compelled to know all about the deep and profound roots associated with any endeavor – helpful preparation for the Sun entering Pisces on the 19th which we’ll cover in the next AstroCast.
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