Summary
Full Moon in Cancer/Ashlesha February 5
Mercury Transits Capricorn February 6 - 27
Sun Transits Aquarius February 13 – March 14
Venus Transits Pisces February 15 – March 11
New Moon in Aquarius/Shatabishak February 20
Rahu (Mean node) Enters Ashwini Nakshatra February 21
Mercury Transits Aquarius February 27 – March 15
March 2023 Headlines

Summary

For an in-depth analysis of specific planetary placements, please continue with the full planetary forecast.

Full Moon in Cancer/Ashlesha February 5

As January 2023 becomes February, the Moon is waxing, coming into its moment of fullness at 23 degrees Cancer. The new Moon on January 21st marked a turning point after a few turbulent weeks at the beginning of our new year 2023.

With the first big planetary event of February being a full Moon in its own sign of Cancer, it could be a signal that February will be supportive of moving forward with confidence, faith, and determination. After some recent turbulence, we may enjoy some mental peace and clarity.

The Moon is naturally receptive and reflective, becoming sublimely so as it exactly opposes the Sun on Sunday, February 5th. The Moon will be at 23 degrees Cancer in the nakshatra of Ashlesha while the Sun sits at 23 degrees Capricorn, in the nakshatra of Shravana.

The full Moon affects the sign where it sits, as well as bringing energy to the sign opposite, where we find the Sun. The rulers of those two signs, as well as the rulers of the two nakshatras, are highlighted by this moment of reverberating light. This brings attention to the indications of these ruler planets. Cancer and Capricorn bring forth the themes of vulnerability (Moon) and pressure (Saturn.) The nakshatras represented are Ashlesha (Mercury) and Shravana (Moon), which are both sensitive, mental nakshatras.

This is a great time to shed light on how we mentally and emotionally react to the difficulties and pressures of life. Find new tools that help you deal with challenges and understand the ways you may in fact be undermining your own efforts.

This configuration shows a balanced and mature state of perception, allowing us to consciously respond both emotionally and intellectually to challenges represented in current situations. Take a powerful but humble stance that allows you to act with skill and compassion.

Mercury Transits Capricorn February 6 - 27

We get by with a little help from our friends, and Mercury is one of the greatest friends. With Mercury shifting into Capricorn for a three week jaunt, we may find that our friend is able to help a bit more.

It was particularly difficult to access that flexible, intelligent, and cheerfully analytical energy while Mercury transited Sagittarius starting in early December 2022. This was largely due to the intense aspect coming into Sagittarius from retrograde Mars. To compound this, Mercury went into retrograde phase from December 29th through January 19th.

By the last week of January, Mercury was moving toward the latter degrees of Jupiter's fire sign, loosening up the tight aspect that Mars was providing and gaining speed to his normal pace of movement.

When Mercury moves to Capricorn on February 6th, we'll have the remainder of the month to allow ourselves to reorganize and get our trajectories recalibrated to our proper courses. Capricorn is a welcoming environment for Mercury as it is a friendly sign, lending practical and foundational energy to the indications of Mercury: communication, currency, writing, education, health, digestion, and service.

By moving to Capricorn, Mercury escapes the difficult aspect of Mars as well as the turbulent effects of Rahu, which should further add to a welcome sense of calm. If you've felt like its been a challenge to think clearly and that your ability to discern has been lost, have heart and refocus. We'll be back online soon!

Sun Transits Aquarius February 13 – March 14

As Mercury gets comfortable in Capricorn, the Sun will be transiting to Aquarius from February 13th through March 14th. We see this transit each year around this time, but in 2023, we get to see the Sun conjoin Aquarius' lord here, Saturn, longtime enemy to the Sun.

The Sun, who is champion of our individual, unique, and heartfelt expression, faces the balancing of individual and collective requirements as he transits the two contiguous signs of Saturn each year. For the past three years, Sun met Saturn in Capricorn. For the next three, it will be in Aquarius where Sun passes by Saturn.

For a bright guy like the Sun, the air sign atmosphere could be a bit more shiny than the earthy Capricorn. The Sun aspects his own sign of Leo from Aquarius, which makes for an interesting potential power play. Aquarius has a co-lord, the eclipse causing Rahu. Shadows tend to interfere with the pure light of the Sun, so Aquarius time from mid-February to mid-March each year is appropriate for a humble self-checkup to make sure that we are harmonizing with the rest of the world and not taking more than our share of the buffet.

The exact meeting with Saturn comes on February 16th, when the Sun spends a day at 4 degrees Aquarius in the last pada of Dhanistha nakshatra. Sun and Saturn interactions generally tend to be tense due to underlying ego issues that cause harm, rejection, and long-term family grudges. If these themes come up during this month, it could be a good time to either let go with forgiveness for the benefit of all or to humbly work through issues that can't be let go.

Dhanistha nakshatra carries the energy of both Saturn and Mars, allowing us to establish boundaries and to mete our power in a rhythmic way that propels us forward and keeps us focused, much like the shaman's drum does for those who are journeying inward.

May all who celebrate Shivaratri enjoy the celebrations that come each year when the Moon is nearly new and the Sun is transiting Kumbha rasi (Aquarius.) Shivaratri, or “night of Shiva,” will be February 18th, 2023.

Venus Transits Pisces February 15 – March 11

As the Sun joins Saturn in Aquarius, Venus prepares for departure. On February 15th, Venus enters into the watery final sign of the zodiac, Pisces. This is a notably auspicious transit due to Venus' exaltation status in Pisces combined with Venus sharing space with Jupiter in his own sign.

The last transit like this was from April 15th through May 7th, 2011 and was somewhat muddled by other planets in Pisces. This time, it will be our two gurus only, Jupiter and Venus, both well dignified.

Pisces is relatively free of harsh negative aspects at this time. This could be a sweet period where the universal energy of completion that flows into creation of new form is flowing strongly. Finish up educational projects with grace during this time, preparing for new connections and positive expansion. Connections with teachers or students could be fruitful during this time, as well as medical or legal actions.

This is also a great combination for those who create music. Open up to the inspiration of Venus combined with the expansive spaciousness of Jupiter. For those who have Pisces prominent in their charts, it could also bring some positive situations or outcomes.

New Moon in Aquarius/Shatabishak February 20

After the auspicious full Moon of February 5th, the Moon wanes its way through the quieter size of the zodiac and then begins to pass through the gamut of planets that begins in Capricorn.

By February 20th, the Sun reaches 8 degrees Aquarius where the Moon joins and disappears into the blazing light for a moment of rest. For the mountain zone in the US, this moment comes just after midnight on February 20th in the 4th pada of Shatabishak nakshatra.

The Moon rules tides and flows and we can often feel our physical and mental energy ebbing away as the Moon wanes. The day leading up to this moment can be well spent in a quiet, non-taxing way in order to accommodate this natural phenomenon of low energy.

Shatabishak nakshatra is ruled by the planet Rahu and by the deity Varuna, who rules the waters. This new Moon is in the final pada, or quarter, of this little zone of the zodiac, which invites us to find the spiritual meaning behind that which is troubling us. The symbol for Shatabishak is a large circle of “100 healers”, which implies that there are many remedies, fixes, repairs, and cures available to us in diverse forms.

It should be noted that Saturn, currently in the early degrees of Aquarius, will be just four degrees from this conjunction of Sun and Moon. Saturn carries the reputation of bringing sorrow, suffering, and decline. The search for remedies is real and desperate for many. This new Moon may indicate the need to widen the net and open up to alternative courses of help and healing.

Rahu (Mean node) Enters Ashwini Nakshatra February 21

The Rahu-Ketu axis shifted into sidereal Aries-Libra in April 2022. As we enter February 2023, that leaves us about half way through this transit. The axis shifts again, moving in natural retrograde motion, at the end of October 2023. Remember that the wobbly nodal axis can be measured in two ways. “True” node calculation accounts for the wobble and can even show us the days when the nodal axis goes in direct motion. “Mean” node calculation smooths that wobble, showing us the nodal axis always in retrograde motion.

For this example, we will be considering the mean node calculation. On February 21st, while still within the sign of Aries, Rahu will be moving from Bharani nakshatra to Ashwini nakshatra. Surely those who have Ashwini nakshatra prominent in their natal horoscopes may begin to experience some enhanced churning as Rahu concentrates his energy on the first section of Aries.

Another interesting observation is that with Ketu already transiting through Libra/Swati, this puts Rahu and Ketu into a nakshatra exchange through end of June, when Ketu recedes into Chitra. Just like the signs have a planetary ruler, so do the nakshatras, which are even smaller divisions of the zodiac. Ashwini is ruled by Ketu, where Rahu will be transiting and Swati is ruled by Rahu, where Ketu is currently transiting.

This four month stretch for Rahu and Ketu, who are already moving and working in tandem through the zodiac, will have the added benefit of each occupying nakshatras that are ruled by the other, which can make both of these shadowy planets rather powerful. Since we regard Rahu and Ketu as forces for change, ready or not, this could be leveraged by those who are actively enacting change. It should also be kept in mind that the abrubt and unexpected action style of the nodes could become even more so. Let's get ready to get ready! For something!

Mercury Transits Aquarius February 27 – March 15

After Mercury's time in Capricorn, he ascends into Aquarius, joining Saturn and the Sun from February 27th through March 15th. This will bring Mercury back into combustion with the Sun, which happens quite frequently to the messenger planet.

The flexible and communicative skills of Mercury could come in handy during this time as he can neutralize the enmity between the Sun and Saturn in the name of getting things moving.

March 2023 Headlines

Full Moon in Leo March 7th
Venus joins Rahu in Aries March 11th (could be exciting)
Mars exits Taurus March 12th, finally
Sun and Mercury move to Pisces mid-March
New Moon in Pisces March 22nd