Monthly Vedic Astrology Forecast

Venus resumes direct motion February 3

Venus began retrograde motion in late December, disappearing from the evening sky, conjuncting the Sun, beginning her new synodic cycle last month, and finally appearing as the morning star. She resumes direct motion at 22° of Jupiter's fire sign, Sagittarius, on February 3. After the 3rd and until 25th of February, Venus will travel through the late degrees of Sagittarius for the third time in 2 months. This could be a very ripe time for moving forward in relationships, beginning or resuming creative projects, and expanding in new directions due to Jupiter and Venus exchanging signs during this time. Venus may have brought you with her through her retrograde cycle, which often gives us the sense of reviewing what has gone before. This month is a great time to take relationships of any kind to a new level, transforming what currently exists based on all that has gone before into a new expression of yourself.

Mars exits Aries (finally) February 4

Mars has been in Aries so long that his transit into Taurus is surely going to signal a change in mood for some of us. Mars entered Aries on July 16, completed a retrograde cycle within that same sign, and is finally moving on to Venus' earth sign. During that time, Mars influenced both Saturn and Jupiter, which can really set the mood to hot, impatient, and volatile. Mars' reputation as an intense warrior combined with his occupation of his own fire sign laid the ground for many of us to feel the effects of that combination in one way or another during the past six months. Mars is associated with power, resources, work, drive, and building. He is the force we access when we need to feed, clothe, and house ourselves. The trade off with wielding this type of energy is that it also comes with aggression, selfishness, and insensitivity. Mars' transit through Taurus may allow us to find some way to balance the force that we use to protect ourselves with the compassion and sensitivity of Venus. Taurus is associated with material objects, the voice, speech, music, art, and beauty, and Mars will lend his initiative to endeavors associated with these things for the next couple of months. During this time, he will aspect only Venus until she moves to Capricorn on February 25th, and the Moon for a couple of days as she passes through Leo, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. While I love Mars, possibly more than anyone, I look forward to turning down the volume on the intensity knob for awhile.

Mercury enters Aquarius February 6

Mercury, entering Aquarius from Capricorn, transits through Aquarius at a breakneck pace this month, from February 6-24. The 'wings-on-the-shoes thing' really speeds one along, apparently. Mercury functions well in both Capricorn and Aquarius, which are adjacent signs, both ruled by Saturn. Aquarius is an air sign, and therefore speaks to our sense of thought, ideas, and philosophy in a Saturn-kind of way. If you find yourself trying to find ways to save the world and ease the suffering of humanity -- often involving self-sacrifice and endurance, it's likely that you're riding with Mercury this month. Mercury is the main factor in our communication; it's the faculty we have to transmit thoughts. Aquarius fosters the concept of 'thinking of others.' This may come to be very useful, especially in light of that 'relationship expansion' suggestion mentioned above. We wonder why Mercury is speeding along so. Is he running away from something, toward something, or just for the joy of running? Could it be that he's heading for a retrograde cycle? More on that next month...

Sun moves to Aquarius February 12

The Sun lends his unmistakable sense of purpose to the Aquarian realms starting February 12. While the Sun was in Capricorn, it was aspected by Saturn from Cancer and by Ketu from Virgo. This may have fostered a more introspective period in your neighborhood, as well. Because Cancer opposes Capricorn, the Sun here is influenced by the watery, lunar nature of Cancer. The Sun's transition into Aquarius may feel to many of us like reaching higher ground. Out of the flood, able to see what's going on around us, we can apply the powerful, warm, abundant energy of the Sun to see how not only ourselves, but also those around us, fare. The Sun in Aquarius will allow us to turn toward others and make stronger bonds in our communities.

Full Moon in Leo February 12

The Moon becomes exactly full at 0° Leo, just as the Sun is moving from Capricorn to Aquarius. The Moon began this current cycle when it was new in the sign of Capricorn, carrying the hard aspect of Saturn from Cancer as mentioned last month. As the Moon reaches full and then begins to wane, we may feel an even further sense of rest and relief as this month matures in its current cycle due to Mars' position having shifted.

New Moon in Aquarius February 27

As the Moon wanes and travels through the latter part of the zodiac, it will meet the Sun at 14° Aquarius on February 27. Due to Uranus also present at the same degree in Aquarius, there could be some sudden, unexpected activity during this time, which is often the result when Uranus' influence comes into play. This conjunction occurs in the lunar mansion called 'Shatabishak' which means "The hundred physicians." This could be a time of medical breakthroughs or personal healing crises. One of the symbols associated with this lunar mansion is a circle enclosing an empty space, which shows the need for both space and containment. The desire for seclusion may arise during this time. This would be a good time to "shake things up" by starting along the path of healing or rejuvenation if that is called for in your life currently. Shatabishak bestows a certain amount of courage, which is often an essential ingredient in making the type of change that it takes to heal an illness or to remedy an unbalanced situation.

Time marches on. Take the time to rest, recuperate, and change gears this month. Enjoy the exchange of Venus-Jupiter this month by celebrating love and relationships.