Dear Friend and Reader:
As has been mentioned elsewhere — and as you’ve probably been feeling — we’re in a rather ‘edgy’ phase of astrology. This could be coming through several ways — such as needing to express something but never getting the right opportunity; or waiting for key information that feels like it will never arrive; or wanting to get moving with a plan or project but seeing no clear path forward. You can probably describe your own version of it — then again, perhaps struggling to identify and articulate what’s going on for you is a primary factor in the sensation (or maybe it’s just not that strong for you).
We can look to Chiron in the last degree of Pisces and Uranus in the last degree of Aries as the prime suspects for the edginess. To a lesser extent, the asteroid Pallas, in the last degree of Libra, is surely contributing to this overall atmosphere.
Really, though, slow-moving Chiron and Uranus are calling the tune. Chiron will be the first to make its move, entering Aries in just a week and a half, on Feb. 18. Uranus will enter Taurus on March 6. Yet I suspect it may be Uranus that’s generating the stronger buzz right now.
Mainly that’s because Mars is sidling up to it. The Mars-Uranus conjunction won’t be exact until Feb. 13 — almost a week from now. But these are two high-voltage planets in a fiery sign where Mars is strong — and Mars aspects often have a way of making themselves known well in advance of when they’re exact.
Eric mentioned recently that he’s noticed a pattern of Mars acting as the ‘cue ball’ when outer planets are about to change sign, seeming to bump the planet to its next destination by way of making the final major aspect prior to the move. Mars is doing that with Uranus — and it indicates a burst of energy that could manifest as a surprise, especially if you try to avoid expressing any of it in the next week.
Mars and Uranus opposite Pallas in Libra increases the need to be prepared for plans changing on a moment’s notice. This could be especially true in relationship situations — bearing in mind that relationships come in many different forms beyond the ‘significant other’ situation many people think of automatically. There are workplace and business associations, family relationships, creative partnerships, friendships of all stripes.
Sometimes one person asserting their individuality or need for freedom comes as a shock, or feels particularly disruptive, to another person, and this aspect pattern describes that potential. That is not a warning to avoid doing anything differently; it’s just a reminder that flexibility and an open mind could come in handy the next week or two.
It’s also a reminder that other people are responsible for their own responses in the face of your being who you are; and that the more you practice asserting your individuality in creative, constructive forms along the way, the less likely it may be that you suddenly explode in a rash or destructive “I just gotta be me” bomb.
Speaking of dangers like explosions: Mars-Uranus is also classic “fall, crash, shock” accident astrology. Starting now, it’s crucial to be careful with sharp, hot or electrical tools; drive with full focus; have someone to spot you if you need to climb on a high object, even a chair, to get something. Uranus puts particular emphasis on the electrical and electronic theme, and on any kind of technology. This means drive when you drive — no calling, texting, etc.; pull over if you need to re-program your GPS.
Between now and Feb. 13, we have some other aspects that could be quite useful in the approach to the Mars-Uranus conjunction. For example, some sextiles are offering potential traction (but you still need to provide the mental focus and awareness).
Namely, we have the Aquarius Sun in contact with Jupiter in Sagittarius, and Mercury in Aquarius contacting Mars and Uranus in Aries. Both are air-to-fire relationships, bringing mental energy and spirit into harmony. Mars introduces a specifically physical form of energy that’s so important to getting things done in 3-D space.
Some of what’s described here includes the ability to work and play well within groups, good relationships with authority figures, and an idealistic boost for your goals and ideas. You may also feel fired up mentally and ready to work hard, especially on individual projects; or you may possess the extra confidence you’ve needed to take advantage of opportunities.
There’s also the potential to see new, fresh solutions if you tackle old, previously unsolvable problems — especially if you intentionally vary your routine. The thing about these sextiles, however, is that you have to choose to use them to get the most out of what they have to offer.
In the midst of it, Pallas in Libra is exactly opposite Uranus in Aries today. You might try asking yourself: where’s the meeting point between the plan and the new innovation? What constructive means do you have to negotiate and navigate whatever you’re facing — whether you take solo initiative or engage the help of friends?
Finally, I want to point out that Mercury enters Pisces on Sunday at 5:50 am EST (10:50 UTC). This may help to ease any mental pressure you’ve been feeling (such as busy thoughts or getting stuck in an idea that’s not going anywhere). At the same time, this is a very sensitive position for Mercury. While we need more of its empathy and poetic sensibility in this world, it also can be prone to wanting to escape, and wanting to avoid getting hurt or hurting others.
Hopefully you can already deduce how this could complicate a person’s ability to express the Mars-Uranus conjunction. Little white lies — told to someone else or to yourself — are not going to fly if pressure starts to build due to trying to repress what you know you need to do.
What are your instincts telling you? Remember, if you’re feeling edgy, it’s just energy waiting for — or looking for — a way out and a purpose. Even if you’re not sure about walking through a particular door, opening a window could let in some fresh air. Just be focused and intentional as you do it.
Yours & truly,
Planet Waves Monthly Horoscope for February, 2019 (#1236) | By Eric Francis
Aries (March 20-April 19) — In all that you do, it’s essential that you act above board. State your intentions, carry them out, and say what you did. Consult with others when necessary. Your astrology is advising nothing less than total honesty and directness, particularly when you are carrying out professional plans, and when you’re using official power and unofficial power, such as any form of organizing, movement-building or persuasion. It’s typical in such realms to cloak one’s purpose, or to act in ways that are intended to go unseen. Often, a few tricks are considered harmless enough. That’s not going to wash, under the current astrology. Such an approach could harm others, and it could backfire. While a straightforward, straight-shooter kind of approach may be less convenient, it’s also less susceptible to any form of corruption or abuse of your authority. Honesty is the only way to ensure that. Speaking to the friendlier side of the equation, you want your actions to be collaborative, and will benefit from their being so. This will bring in more ideas, and will serve to divide the work and some of the responsibility. Your role can include coordination and also a visionary element; someone has to handle that part, and to ultimately hold the bag. All of this is facilitated by your ability as a communicator. Keep everything on the level — that is, mean what you say, and say what you mean.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Current aspects may have you feeling on edge, as if something is about to happen, but you don’t know what it is, or even have a clue what to expect. This sensation is related to Uranus about to enter your sign, to stay for the next seven years. Yet the anticipation in many ways carries more tension than the experience itself. The 12th house, where Uranus is currently lurking for a few more weeks, can feel like a blind spot within yourself, and this particular planet is a big presence, with a lot of energy, now squeezed into a tight space. So it’s natural enough that you may feel like a whale is about to break the surface. That may be enough to ease your mind, though I suggest you tap into intuitive methods of sussing out the interior and the subtle realms — the most helpful being your dreams. What are they telling you? Your dreams are your most effective method of divination, not of what will happen, but of how you feel below the level of cerebral awareness. Allow your desires, your anxieties, your anger, your needs, and all that kind of stuff, to bubble out to the surface. Work the boundary between the ‘conscious’ and the ‘unconscious’ until it is permeable, such that information can pass back and forth in both directions. Uranus has been transiting through your 12th house since the spring of 2010. This has come with a certain kind of restlessness, and a drive for self-discovery and self-creation, of which you are approaching the full embodiment.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Keep a close watch on a deeply personal situation — and keep it in a private space, where it belongs. It’s not public business; it’s not a suitable topic of discussion among your friends and associates, or at least not at this point. Even if it started there, do what you can to get out of any public discourse and focus the discussion on the specific people involved: what looks like you, and an intimate partner whose identity may not be known to others. All personal material, whether it involves money, sex, pillow talk, family business or any equivalent matter, needs to be handled with the utmost sensitivity over the next few weeks. That means focusing on one-on-one discussions, and taking things as slowly as possible. There is a wider context involved, which goes back further in time than may be apparent, including the potential for this to be a multigenerational issue. When you encounter one of those, it’s necessary to be aware of the fact that bursts of energy, fear, pain, judgment, confusion and chaos can come pulsing down the genetic line. It is, therefore, essential to recognize that when it’s happening, and to be mindful of the present context: what is relevant now; what today’s customs are; and how lives were different 100 years ago. If a sexual matter is concerned, it’s essential (though not always easy) to stand away from moralism, and to allow personal truth to come forth. Nobody is your judge and jury. Not even you.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — On Feb. 18, Chiron enters Aries, the 10th house of your solar chart. This is a promotion for you, an elevation of your reach, and a vesting of your authority. Yet because Chiron is involved, the underlying theme is healing, teaching and service. This is not the typical worldly approach to professional affairs. There is no ambition involved. Your life is not a question of power; your life is a matter of what purpose you are able to serve for humanity (as you define it — beginning close to home), and how you can have that work for you as well. You don’t need to make any decisions at this stage. Rather, hang loose for a while, and get a sense of what options are opening up. Conduct an honest assessment of what your responsibilities are, and how you feel about them. Last year, you may have gone through some kind of confidence crisis related to your professional activities, or your standing in the community. Rethink that and find out what it taught you. Evaluate how you handled yourself in a situation where you had to take charge in some way, which most likely translated to taking responsibility. That’s the thing that so few people want to do in our era. You are being called; you are most likely willing to respond; and you will learn a lot about yourself if you do. Focus on solving problems, and gently — very gently — enacting your highest vision for your life and for the world: one step at a time. One day at a time.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Be bold about adopting a new vision for your life: where you want to go, what you want to do, and ultimately, who you want to be. Though you cannot be someone different from who you are, you can correct your trajectory and veer back in the direction of your true being. Much of what happens in life, from the beginning, blows us off course from who we really are. Various insults and injuries have a way of doing this, and the effects add up. Yet at any time, you can claim your true self, though this is a matter of faith. It’s also a matter of making a commitment to live in reality, not in a fantasy rendition of who you are or, worse, someone else’s fantasy. Chiron entering your fellow fire sign Aries will help you pull focus on your ideas about yourself. Be prepared to give up all that is not true — willingly and generously. You have so much to discover, you would be amazed if you could see it now. It’s also true that you have considerable territory to cross on important work- and health-related matters, yet Chiron’s presence will offer you focusing power like you’ve rarely had in your life, particularly in the past seven years. Focus is the thing that you need the most; scattered and chaotic energy is not your friend right now. Order and organization will serve you well, and save you much time and effort.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — All sex is an experiment, and it often becomes an experiment in love or long-term relating. This is not so much out of idealism but rather because people tend to get attached, and place judgments on encounters that don’t last long (even though these happen all the time). Proceed in the spirit of gaining experience. This is a missing element in our relationships today; the notion of being an expert, somehow spared of the process of trial and error, of learning, of exploring, of that slow work of getting to understand a person. If this happens (and sometimes it does), it’s still not regarded as a virtue in itself. Yet it’s one that will help you immeasurably. Some of the experience you gain will be one-to-one; other facets will involve the dynamics of groups, and the way that they come to consensus and decision. If you’re alert and allow yourself to participate, you will also learn about the way you influence groups and can be influenced by them. Study all of this carefully, and make mental or written notes. You’re in an unusual position to see things that others cannot see, to notice what others miss, and to learn what others may not care so much about. One thing to keep in mind is that you’re more influential than you think, and you can therefore dial back the intensity of your effort. Notice the power that sharing one thought can have. Observe the way one thing leads to another.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Take the chance and express yourself in a way you’re sure nobody will understand and that you think might even be offensive. The idea is not to push others, but rather to push yourself. The fear of “what others might think” is one of the most pervasive and pernicious excuses for not doing what you want. My proposal is that we think of this as challenging a boundary within you, rather than to what is socially acceptable. In every way, you’re being challenged to test what you think makes you feel safe and secure. As the coming weeks and months unfold, this will reach into every area of your life, though the common root they all share involves your family of origin. Children recognize the power of adults in a way that adults almost always fail to recognize, or to remember. And much of that power is waged in the threat of non-acceptance. This keeps kids (and later, adults) bound up in what seems like fear, but which is more accurately described as guilt and shame. The question you now face is not about what you do; in truth, it’s about who you are, and who you allow yourself to be. The greatest challenge you face is to let go of a certain kind of inner rigidity that has a way of ruling your life and obstructing your ability to feel joy, pleasure and love. It will be time for this to end when you say it’s time for it to end, though I promise, this will feel dangerous, at first.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — Between conforming to the expectations of others and exploding in rebellion, there is plenty of space to explore. It would seem, though, that more than you want to revolt, and more than you want to be accepted, you need a definition of integrity that you can abide. This does not mean perfection, though it does mean a kind of honesty that may be alien to you, as there is so much that you prefer not to say. Yet if your chart is describing nothing else, it’s a pressing need for transparency, particularly of your motives and your desires. It’s easier to get what you want, under many circumstances, if you don’t say what it is, or if you cloak it in another story. Yet that’s the very thing that will work the worst for you, and presents the greatest potential for you to hurt others. To be sure, others are vulnerable to you right now, to both your words and your choices. The only way to facilitate your freedom and to protect others is to be real with them, and to be gentle. If you’ve done something wrong, admit it, without asking for forgiveness. Meanwhile, as the Quakers say, tread lightly on the Earth. That’s a good idea any time, though particularly necessary as your ruling planet Mars makes a conjunction to Uranus a little later in the month. Drive in a calm and methodical way, and avoid any deep personal conversation when anyone involved is under the influence of alcohol.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — Community, communication and commerce are related words, and they describe what we humans need to do together. The realm of the ‘common’ is your home right now, the ordinary, the mundane. The people you’ll want to commune with are your neighbors and friends — the people who are like sisters and brothers to you. Be aware you’re likely to be in a lot better condition than many of the people you know, no matter how challenging your life may be at times. You have resources and wisdom that others often lack; you have a sense of perspective. More than anything, your drive for independence gives you more freedom to be yourself than many other people are willing to allow. With Chiron about to enter your fellow fire sign Aries, your drive for self-expression is likely to be the factor that powers your life for the foreseeable future. You cannot suppress this; you must give yourself room to push into new territory, and to claim yourself as who you are, limitations and all. But you won’t know what those limits are until you push them, and when you discover that they move, you may decide to define them differently. You can only find out who you are when you push past the boundaries of who you are not. You of all people cannot be trapped within a false self-concept, and if getting out of that comes with a crisis, it’s one I suggest you embrace willingly, and boldly.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You seem to be struggling with the need for containment, and craving some strong authority to assert itself in your life. Yet you must be the container and the authority; the one who regulates yourself; the one who has control, and the one who keeps track of the passage of time. By extension, the one who can relax the control, discipline and containment that you assert — by choice, through some healthy outlet. Events this month will take you through some emotional ups and downs, as Venus passes through your sign making aspects to many other planets. It will help if you check in with others and tell them what you’re feeling from day to day. You may have to overcome your usual policy of not wanting to explain yourself, and not wanting to open yourself up to being vulnerable by sharing your feelings. However, it will help you to do so, and you will avoid the pitfall of blaming others for how you feel and what you want. Take ownership of your desire, and what you perceive as your needs, and be gracious when anyone expresses an interest in helping you meet them. You may observe in yourself a dual tendency to rely on others for structure and stability and at the same time resenting them for limiting you in some way. Saturn is in your sign, and that means being your own master. Pluto is in your sign, and that says keeping a pulse on your unconscious impulses. Venus is in your sign, and that tells you love and respect are the only way forward.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Try to notice when you’re being reactive. You tend to see yourself as a cool, calm and focused person, which is true enough, most of the time. It’s not true all the time, however, and you will be well served by tracking your inner barometer. Notice when you’re feeling under pressure. Notice when you have something you need to say. Notice when your libido is going through the roof and you don’t understand why. In general, pay attention to yourself, by doing things like tuning in every morning, drinking a big glass of water and contemplating what you remember of your dreams. They will be offering you plenty of useful information this month, and it will reveal how you truly feel about your existence. It’s vital that you take one day at a time, because this month in particular, every day will be different from the next. This may stretch your need for consistency and self-control. Yet you’re going through a phase of your development when you’re letting go of a false kind of influence in exchange for something more useful. And that more useful thing begins and ends with knowing how you feel, and also staying a few steps ahead of yourself. If you notice yourself going into denial — of anything at all — gently wake yourself up and look into the truth of the situation. If you remain awake and alert, you will be a lot happier, you will get more done, and you will catch a glimpse of a greatly improved future life that awaits you.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Among the developments of the next few weeks is your adopting a new approach to money. You have learned a lot the past several years about what works and what does not work. You’ve learned something about your worth, in the spiritual and the monetary sense of the word. Now it’s time to pull focus and use what you know. Cast off any seemingly spiritual notions that there is something inherently ‘bad’ about money. The only thing that can be worthy or not are values, and it’s those you are being called upon to stick to. You know what is right for you; it’s time to use that knowledge. With Chiron entering your 2nd house of personal resources, the time has arrived when you must put all of your assets to work. At the same time, focus on eliminating everything that has outdone its use, everything that no longer serves you, and all that you don’t need. Clear your space of useless things; keep only the tools of your trade that you know you need. Close bank accounts and credit accounts that you’re not using. Get an exact figure of how much cash you have on hand, how much debt, how much credit you have available, and how much is owed to you. The essence of Chiron in the 2nd house is knowing where you stand with yourself, particularly with the sign Aries involved. You are embarking on a courageous new adventure in discovering who you are, and the themes of money and values will be your best friends.