February 2022 Forecast

“This might be the shortest forecast I’ve ever written,” I said after writing a few paragraphs for February’s dates. But then I knew I couldn’t let that happen.

So, allow me to wax poetic on a couple of personal anecdotes (astrology-related of course) that have come up for me recently before I dive into some dates. (Or you can just skip right down to them below.)

What I find really interesting about this month (as well as most of March, half of April and half of May) is that we have no planets in fire signs except of course for the three times a month the Moon briefly transits Aries, Leo or Sagittarius. I discovered this when I was originally given a C-section date of March 18. Now, being a double Pisces myself, being married to a Sun/Mars in Pisces, I’m pretty familiar with Piscean energy. On March 18, the Sun, Mercury, Jupiter and Neptune will all be in the sign of Pisces… that is kind of a challenge in itself, but to have ZERO fire (not even on the angles for the time I was given) freaked me out. Kurt Cobain’s chart loomed in my head. For me, this world is the toughest it’s ever been (in my lifetime) for a sensitive soul, and to not have any fire (read: fight) in a chart would be such a disservice. And look, my four-year old is so fiery she practically bursts into flames on a daily basis. While she certainly can be very challenging, her fire is mostly a gift. (At least, this is what I tell myself every day after “hosing her down” in the bath.) So, long story short (and given the Mercury and Venus retrograde that has pervaded January – let me tell you – the long story has not yet been resolved), I am determined to hold this bambino in until the Sun shifts into Aries… preferably March 23 with a Sun/Moon fire combo… unless of course this baby chooses her own time and comes when she comes, which to be honest, might be a relief.

(Sidenote: I’m reminded of the time thirteen years ago, I spent picking the ideal marriage chart. I consulted with multiple fellow astrologers and came up with a lovely time. All was going well… the sun was out, my dress was on… I was having a pretty decent hair day, and then… our minister did not show up for the wedding. Gah! As hotel staff tried to flag down another minister from a neighbouring resort, I remember watching the clock tick past that ideal time. At one point about forty minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. It was the best man with this message only an astrologer could appreciate: “Kyle wants to know if you still want to get married.” I had my laptop with me and saw the current chart with that one placement I was trying so desperately to avoid. I threw my hands in the air, and said yes of course. I tried my best. I’m not god. Clearly something else is at play, and we will deal with whatever we’re given. Have we been dealing with that marriage chart ever since? Ooooooh yeah. There have been a few times where we’ve “kind of” joked about getting divorced and remarried again at a different time, but I’m pretty convinced that something else would happen to set us off course again. I’ve learned to do my best with elections, but I also know my place. That’s something every astrologer needs to learn. So, with this bambino, I’ll try my best, but we’ll see what happens, right?)

Now going back to the issue of fire, and my desire for an Aries Sun child… this story brings up two interesting points:

The first – why do we need fire in our charts? Fire is fight. It’s passion and warmth. It’s the ability to get knocked down in this world and get back up over and over again. Fire is associated with the ability to see the future—to get past current difficulties and fight your way out of the darkness and into that light again. Without fire, the life force is diminished; there’s a lack of spark. I have seen this repeatedly with clients over the last decade plus; those who are extremely light on fire have a harder time recovering from difficulties in life.

The second – how far I’ve come! When I decided that I wanted my daughter to have an Aries Sun and Sagittarius Moon (if possible of course), I had a moment where I thought – who are you Melanie? I’m a Sun-Moon in Pisces with a Libra rising. My husband is a Pisces Sun, Libra Moon. (The March 18 date would have been a Pisces Sun, Libra Moon just like him.) When I first discovered astrology, I was so enamoured with water signs (being one myself). As many early astro followers do, I had my favourite signs and my least favourite signs. Aries was one of the signs I struggled with. And it was no coincidence. As a Libra Ascendant, my Descendant is Aries. Most of us spend years of our lives projecting all that “isn’t us” (our shadow sides) onto the Descendant. I was Libra: I was fair, diplomatic and considerate. Aries (the other) in my mind was too me-first, brash and arrogant. Despite having my chart ruler (Venus) in Aries, I had almost totally negated this part of myself. Then life continued to unfold. I met a very Aries-like partner who taught me how to stand up for myself. Life presented me the same lessons over and over again until I learned that I needed to advocate for myself. I need to put myself first, to sometimes be blunt, and to not always worry about other people’s feelings. I started embracing this Aries side of myself, and when I did, I became a much more complete person. (Of course, it helped that my Progressed Sun, Mercury and Venus have all been in Aries for awhile now.)

When I learned about essential dignities in astrology—how happy the Sun is in fire signs, for example, and I saw that the Sun is exalted in the sign of Aries, I totally understood why. I admired my Sun in Aries clients for their strength and fight. They didn’t have the same issues I struggled with every day as a Pisces Sun. When I see my four year old (Leo Ascendant, stellium in Aries and Sag Moon) say “I love Mommy, Daddy, Roxie (our dog) and of course I love myself,” I smile. No one taught her to say this; it comes naturally. I love and envy this now. So, do I want our second little girl to have an exalted Sun in Aries and some fire in her chart to inspire her on a daily basis? Hell ya! After studying astrology for nearly 20 years now, I can say that I’ve definitely reached a special place where there are no favourites. There’s admiration for strong placements and there is compassion, understanding and helpful advice for making the most of difficult placements. I love all signs equally.

So to end my spiel on the next few months’ fire lack, I will say this. As I’ve been doing my clients’ solar returns and noticing over and over again the major fire lack in their charts (my own included – a whopping zero planets/angles in fire), I’ve been telling them—it’s okay to feel a bit beaten down this year… like you’ve been fighting for while now and you just want some peace and quiet now. Keep your fire going with literal fire in the cold months (my gas fireplace in my office is on as I write this) and the beautiful sunshine beating down on your shoulders when we get into the spring/summer. Keep up your healthy routines with lots of supportive immune supplements as a lack of fire in a solar return quite often suggests a lower vitality and compromised immune system. While my solar return is still a few weeks away, I can already feel it, and I’m governing myself accordingly. So perhaps a note for everyone: there are no planets in fire (except the Moon) until March 28 when Mercury enters Aries; and then no fire again from April 12 to May 11.

Okay! Now let’s dive into the handful of important events this month.

Feb 1 – New Moon in Aquarius

There’s a New Moon in Aquarius (12 degrees) on the first day of February. Check the house where the New Moon will fall in your chart, and set your intention based on the themes of that house. New Moons are usually great times for starting new things (although with Mercury still retrograde, I would caution this.) Aquarius is about groups, friends, associations and humanitarian efforts.  Group harmony will play an especially important role over the next month. This is a great time to initiate a new group activity, friendship or anything related to the greater human good. Global networking, united communities, and group meditations are all under the domain of this new Moon.

Aquarius is also known for its ingenious, somewhat unusual and modern energy ruling inventors and astrologers, revolutionaries and eccentrics, electricity and earthquakes.  Aquarius allows you to free yourself of the past and embrace something new and exciting. The more unusual, the better, for Aquarius. So, take a chance. Shake up your routine. See life from a different angle. Free yourself or open your mind in some new way.

The first New Moon of the year is also the Chinese Lunar New Year… this year is the year of the tiger! More specifically, it’s the year of the water tiger. While bravery, confidence and strength are associated with the Tiger, the water element apparently will temper this feistiness.

Feb 3 – Mercury stations direct

Just before midnight (EST), Mercury stations direct. Technically now, all ten planets will be moving in a forward direction with no retrogrades until the end of April. It will, of course, take Mercury a bit to get up to speed. Wait until at least February 9 when Mercury resumes more of a normal speed before starting up any heavy Mercury-ruled activities.

Feb 14 – Mercury enters Aquarius

Mercury re-enters Aquarius on Valentine’s Day, and I like it! Mercury in Aquarius, now travelling at a decent speed, is more open to possibilities, to abstract concepts, to discussing ideas and thinking outside of the box. If you were born with Mercury in Aquarius, you are likely oddly traditional and rigid in some of your thoughts (Saturn-ruler) and then innovative, even off-the-wall unusual in other thoughts (Uranus-ruler). I find that Mercury in Aquarius people (myself included) sometimes have difficulties communicating as their thoughts are travelling lightning speed through their heads at a pace much faster than their mouths can process.

Feb 16 – Full Moon at 27 degrees of Leo

Here’s our Full Moon lunation of the month in the sign of Leo. Full Moons are good times to reflect on the balance we are or aren’t achieving in our lives. Have we gone off course? Here’s an opportunity (and a bright one at that – literally) to get back on track. In the case of an Aquarius Sun and Leo Moon, how successfully are we balancing the needs of the group (of our friends and maybe even humanity at large) with the more personal needs of ourselves? How much are we willing to personally sacrifice for “the greater good”? The Leo Moon reminds us to not lose our individuality in this balancing act.

Feb 18 – Sun enters Pisces

The Sun enters dreamy Pisces today just before noon, and for the next four weeks, we are invited to dream big, dig deep, and tap into our emotional lives a bit more.

If you were born with the Sun in Pisces, you are no doubt sensitive. You feel everything from everyone. When you pass a random stranger on the street, you feel their pain, and it may sit with you for hours or even days afterward. You may have trouble distinguishing where you end and where others begin. This can be confusing, discouraging and even the source of a desire to escape. You may spend most of your life thinking this is what everyone experiences, but they don’t. It’s your gift and your curse. You’re kind and thoughtful and likely have some unique creative or spiritual talents. The Sun in Pisces, however, is a bit of a wet noodle. It’s difficult for you to stand up, to fight for something, to not waffle or deflect. These are abilities you’ll need to nurture by tapping into other placements in your chart as well as learning from the non-Piscean friends around you.

You’re the last of the signs; you’ve been there, done that lifetimes over. This birthday month, try to tap into the best parts of your sign. Forget the self-pity and delusion. Bust out your poetry or painting or latest song. Connect with the wholeness that only a Pisces can bring.

P.S. Just a final note about Venus… While she is now travelling direct, she doesn’t meet up with Pluto until early March, so until we have that final crossover and Venus enters Aquarius, Venus is still pretty intense.

Until next time astro friends,
M

February’s Book Recommendation: