A Powerfully Introspective and Transformative February

The astrology of February is complex, with three retrogrades of personal planets in either the beginning stages or having just ended, and with the Uranus and Pluto square still quite active, aided and abetted by an opposition/square from Jupiter and a sextile from Pluto to Chiron, the Wounded Healer. Saturn is also quite active, and actively aspected by both Mars and the antithetical planetary archetype of revolutionary Uranus. Due to all these inner planet retrogrades this is a very thoughtful time, when we are more internally focused than usual. We are examining more deeply both our own internal connection within and as well the times in which we find ourselves as this powerful year continues to unfold.

The almost universally feared retrograde of Mercury is once more upon us this month, and definitely corresponds to a more reflective stance. The retrograde begins on the afternoon of February 6th, and ends officially on February 28th; although Mercury is likely to be wobbly for another three weeks after that as it escapes its retrograde shadow, well into March. The retrograde of Mars through the sign of Libra begins the very next day, March 1st. meanwhile, Venus, in retrograde motion all last month, having stationing direct only on the 31st of January, is barely coming out of her own retrograde period and remains in close proximity to Pluto for the entire first week of February.

We have as well a hugely transformative month ahead since the Aquarius New Moon that kicks off the February cycle has Pluto conjunct Venus and simultaneously opposed by Jupiter to within a few minutes of a degree. Combined with the inward turning that is produced in symbolic resonance with the various personal planet retrogrades, and the aspect that Pluto still currently makes to Chiron, it is indeed a time for deep reflection concerning what we are truly up to at the innermost levels of our being. We will undoubtedly discover areas of our lives that need psychological weeding and pruning, perhaps long neglected. We are better able to tune in and to recognize these dark places within ourselves with the impetus of the events that come to pass over the course of an eventful late winter and early spring time period.

Because Pluto is conjuncted by retrograde Venus at the time of the January 30th New Moon that began the current cycle, this symbolism signals also that as we grow and transform, not the least of the areas that deserve our attention are those influenced by the close relationships of our lives. This month represents an exciting and productive period that will be productive of many changes in the manner in which we see ourselves at the deepest possible level, and in consequence the way in which we relate to others around us. Pluto and Chiron remain in close sextile throughout the month, and with the formative Aquarius New Moon at their mid-point. We are therefore dealing with difficult issues of prior wounding as the month continues to unfold, and this is an important part of the story of our ongoing transformation of issues of identity refinement and relationship connection.

When Mercury Retrogrades on February 6th coincident with the First Quarter Moon, its station conjuncts numinous Neptune within a degree, making the onset of the retrograde period of time just a little more confusing and as well suffused with deeper meaning. Neptune is featured later in the month as well. The very nature of prominent Neptune demands that we embrace the paradoxical notion that we might be able to understand soul-level realities as equal in scope to normal practical considerations. If we have the openness to be present for it, an immense mystery is therefore released this month into greater consciousness.