This month Mercury does some magic tricks for us, Venus and Jupiter bring special blessings and we enter the Age of Aquarius, as the song from the musical "Hair" states. The lyrics are based on a prophecy by the French astrologer, Nostradamus. According to his prediction, an alignment of Mars and Jupiter (‘the scepter’) will signal the final end of war and the beginning of a millennium of peace.

On Feb 17th Mars and Jupiter conjunct in Aquarius with the North Node,  our evolutionary direction. Also together in Aquarius we find our wizard friend Mercury, Jupiter’s Queen Juno, the shaman Chiron, the sea king Neptune and the Sun. Aquarius facilitates harmonious group connection, Jupiter in Aquarius is the egalitarian king of the round table adeptly expressing the will of the people. Mercury in mutual reception with Saturn brings opportunity for effective and practical expression of Aquarian ideals. The Moon in the 7th house trines Venus in Aries: Love steers the stars.

Feb 1- Communications and Commerce Mercury Prometheus February begins on a magical high note as Mercury goes direct and returns to the morning sky like Prometheus bringing fire to mortals. Each 1 day is a day of the Magician, Key 1 in Tarot. Mercury is the planet of the magician and magic is brought down to Earth in this Aquarian Mercury cycle.

Feb 2-3 – Quickening New Life Candlemas / 1st Quarter Moon Bright new concepts are quickened to life in the fires of this Candlemas, the cross-quarter day honoring the Celtic goddess Brigid and the Catholics’ St. Brigit. The Irish summoned the goddess of fire to chase away winter. Imbolc / Candlemas also honors Demeter who carries her torch into the underworld in search for her daughter Persephone now. The 1st Quarter Moon cuts across the night sky calling us to cut free of old ways and open to the new and true. This Moon brings Change.

Feb 3-7- Open-Minded and Imaginative Moon Out of Bounds North During this time people are more open-minded, free and imaginative. New ideas are more easily and successfully shared. This time is ideal for business meetings, announcements and social gatherings.

Feb 8-9 - Open to Receive Gate of Inspiration / Urania Muse A Gate of Inspiration occurs every 40 days beginning at the Spring Equinox The 9 Gates of Inspiration are the Stations of the 9 Muses. This one is the muse Urania who inspires astronomy. Prior to a Gate of Inspiration whatever is blocking inspiration is revealed in the time before. Moving through the gate, we let go of old fears and doubts to become more present to the spiritual power and promise of the new time.

Feb 9 - Illumination Sun in Aquarius Full Moon This Full Moon is especially powerful with the Moon in Leo in a Mystic Triangle with Eris / Persephone and the Sun at the Gate of Inspiration. It can’t get much more magical than this cosmic combo. Each Full Moon is a time of revelation and an opportunity for healing body, mind and soul. Spiritual energies continue to flow through the three days following the Full Moon.   Feb 11 – Cosmic Balance Time Moon at the Equator / Lunar Zero Point North Lunar 0 Points are cosmic balance times great for meditation or creative imagining. Moon at the Equator moving North is like Spring Equinox in the year. This is a good time to initiate or to put new ideas on the air. The magic window opens from 5:15 - 7:15 pm.

Feb 14 – Choose Your Partner Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day appears to have arisen from the desirability to partner during winter carnival in order to stir to life that vital force the ancients symbolized in the dragon. According to the old formula, the bigger the dragon we awaken during Carnival and train during Lent, the more creative energy will be available to us in the Spring and Summer growing seasons.   Feb 16-21 –Energize the Unconscious Moon Out of Bounds South When the Moon travels the ‘underworld,’ our inner world is illuminated and the unconscious is energized. Individual, group and global patterns of belief and behavior become revealed and may more easily be reformed. This is a time to go beneath the surface, time to do research, change habits and renovate our inner life.

Feb 20-22 – Make a Wish and Party Balsamic Moon / Carnival The Balsamic Moon or ‘Wishing Moon’ is the best time for putting wishes on the air and bringing people to mind for healing. Wishes made now often come to fulfillment at the Full Moon (Mar 9). One of the most spectacular sky shows this month occurs just before dawn on Feb 22 when the tiny Balsamic Moon can be seen close beside Mercury, Jupiter and Mars.

Feb 23-25 – Time to Look Within Dark of the Moon While generally unfavorable for most outward activities, these three days are ideal for gaining insight through looking within. The spring flows freely when we slow down, take time off and go inward. This is also a good time to clear (smudge, clean etc.) the home to make way for the new lunar cycle.

Feb 26-28 – A Time to Sow Crescent New Moon A wonderful new tide comes in with this Pisces New Moon, offering many opportunities for bringing needed change to realize our hopes and dreams. The nature of this lunar cycle is written in the celestial pattern of the Feb 24 New Moon. In this chart Sun and Moon conjunct Deneb, the star of the Lovers, brings great promise for developing relationships. Mars at mid-Aquarius (Ace of Swords) empowers new world leaders to choose and act rightly.

Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who uses tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients realize natural talents and understand personal myths. He may be reached at 704-375-3759 or email [email protected].