Sagittarius Astrocast February 2008

February 2008 Astrocast

Key Events:

New Moon: 02/07/2008 (Annular Eclipse)

Full Moon: 02/21/2008 (Lunar Eclipse)

Mercury Direct: 02/20/2008

RX Planets: Saturn until 05/03

So how does it feel, Archers, to have Pluto out of your 1st House? As it enters mine, I already feel its affects and as that bad boy sets his sites on my natal Sun, I definitely am bracing myself. Nonetheless, I've been told by an astrologer whom I deeply respect that Pluto teaches us a lot about the use of our personal power and various other things. As I've said before, I think of him as the astrological Roto-rooter. He may dig up your yard and make what appears to be a horrendous mess, but when all is said and done and the grass grows back, you're no longer afraid to flush the toilet. You may now look forward to once more enjoying the green grass rather than the mud with the possible exception of those of you who were born right around December 21 who may still be feeling some of the effects. At least being out of your sign should help some. Don't get too comfortable, though, because he'll be back for a short sojourn between June and November due to retrograde motion. So if there's anything you didn't quite fix yet, you get a second chance.

As the god of the Underworld moves into your Natural 2nd House of possessions, finances and pleasures, the experience will be quite different. He'll still be the zodiacal Roto-rooter, but now it should have a focus that is slightly less personal. Nonetheless, all those 2nd House items have a heavy impact on your life and lifestyle. While Pluto meanders through this part of your life the effects will be felt. Pluto excels at finding the hidden flaw. If there is anything amiss in any of these areas it will definitely be brought to you attention. The good news is that Pluto help us get to the root of things; he is a master researcher and imparts those skills to us. If your finances are ailing he will show you why, even if his teaching style is to rub your nose in the consequences. You can make the experience easier by consciously raising your awareness to this part of your life. If there is anything superficial about how you see the "things" in your life, examine it closely. Remember that planetary transits are intended to teach and instruct. If you don't need the lesson, it passes you by like a spring storm as opposed to a hurricane. Once you learn what you're supposed to learn and assimilate it into your life you become immune to future transits, like an astrological flu shot. Bear that in mind and look for the lesson first and foremost.

So, on to what to look for in February. Except for the Moon, which obviously makes her pass through the entire Zodiac on a monthly basis, there are currently no planets in Fire Signs this month. The vast majority of activity lies in Air and Earth Signs. Since deep, philosophical ponderings are among your favorite things, there should be much to enjoy about this month's aspects. Mercury, the communication magnate, starts the month out retrograde, but this will only last until February 19. He'll spend the first week of the month in close quarters with Neptune, both of whom are in Aquarius, your Natural 3rd House of thoughts, ideas, neighbors, and short journeys. The energy from retrograde planets is largely internalized or focused on unfinished business. Mercury RX is an excellent time to rework, edit, redo or rethink any projects you have in progress. Moving forward at this time isn't favored, but perfecting existing work is. Neptune can provide inspiration and insights that you may have missed the first time through. His influence comes with an advisory, however, that reality is not his forte. However, if you scrutinize his rumblings there is usually something imaginative there you can use. This boost to your imagination will last roughly for the first week of the month.

Concurrent with this Mercury - Neptune partnership is a trine with Mars, who's currently in Gemini, your Natural 7th House of relationships. He recently came out of RX himself and is anxious to move forward. While RX he probably stirred up some suppressed anger you'd been toting around for a while. If you didn't deal with that yet, then you probably will now. Make sure you use that Mars energy in a positive way; this should be entirely possibly with a nice, harmonious trine. Since Mercury is all about communications, Neptune about inspiration, and Mars about drive and energy, it should be a good thing for communicating within your relationships. Now is a good time to talk about your ideas and plans and throw some effort and activity into the one-on-one relationships in your life. Remember that these aren't only those of the romantic variety, but also include close friends and relatives as well as business partners. The first week of the month is thus the time to put some ideas into motion that relate to those closest to you.

The New Moon on the 7th is also in Aquarius, lending further emphasis to this astrological action. Bear in mind that this is not your typical New Moon. As a friend of mine would say, this box of cereal has a surprise in it. To get to the point, this New Moon involves a solar eclipse, which gives it a whole lot more punch. New Moons tend to usher in new themes, and this is more than likely all that mental activity with a relationship flavor. A New Moon eclipse is even more powerful in that its effects will last until it culminates approximately six months later with a lunar eclipse. This definitely implies some measure of importance to activities in this area.

Between February 6 - 9, some annoyance may come into play that takes you by surprise. This is likely to originate at home and throw some sort of nuisance into the mix of things you're trying to get done. It could be an unexpected repair (not surprising with Mercury RX), small family crisis, or other garden-variety nuisance. Naturally, you can blame this on Uranus, planet of surprises, disturbances and unexpected events who's hanging out in your Natural 4th House of home environment. This shouldn't be long-lasting or horribly serious, just one of those speed-bumps we all have to deal with from time to time.

During this same time period, i.e. from February 1 - 6, a very favorable aspect will be in progress in Capricorn, your Natural 2nd House of possessions and so forth, the same domain recently invaded by Pluto. The two planets traditionally viewed as benefic, Venus and your Sign Ruler, Jupiter, will be getting it on, so to speak, in that neighborhood, which should bode quite favorably. Venus watches over both your love life and your finances and Jupiter expands what he touches, so since this House includes such things as your finances, this would probably be a good time--no, excellent time-- to take a look at them and perhaps do some rearranging, budget planning or what-have-you. Of course, if it's in perfect order and you know it, then perhaps not, but then at the least you may want to at least buy a lotto ticket, just for fun, and see what happens. Remember that Mercury RX is a great time for redoing and reworking, so all of this indicates that taking care of financial planning of any description now would be a very good idea. As a Fire Sign you more than likely are a pretty spontaneous person and live from day to day without spending too much time worrying about tomorrow. You know, like Scarlett O'Hara's famous words, "Tomorrow is another day." This is not to say that this lovely aspect won't benefit you "today," as it may do exactly that, but if you look at the astrological big picture, it's also a great time to take a serious look at your long-term budget, determine and plan for any major purchases you may need to make in the coming months, and get it all together. Believe me, if there's anything in this category that is about to crater, Pluto will see to it that it does, so you're well-advised to be prepared.

The astrological scene is somewhat quiescent mid-month, then picks up again around the 20th when the Sun slips into Pisces and the Full Moon shines from Virgo, your Natural 10th House of career and reputation. This is another eclipse, but of the closure variety, that is likely to indicate the culmination of some effort in this part of your life. A few degrees away, Saturn is currently transiting this house. Saturn isn't exactly the astrological party boy, but rather is known for delays, restrictions, and boundaries. Awareness of our responsibilities and obligations are another one of his fortes. Between February 22 - 27, Saturn will be opposite the Sun, which is likely to call attention to these traits as they apply to your career and public image. Again, if there is anything that requires some improvement, you're likely to encounter something at this time that calls attention to it. Since Saturn is retrograde, this may not be immediately obvious to you, but may rumble around in your subconscious for a while. Nonetheless, tune your superior intellect into this possibility and see if you can identify what needs to be done in this venue. Saturn will be there for a while, like until November 2009 (more of less, considering retrogrades may bring him back), but the sooner you figure it out the better. Gee, lots of action in your house of finance and some tutoring in your house of career. Think there's a connection? Do the math.

Venus slips into Aquarius on the 18th, then a few days later on the 22nd you'll get another favorable boost to your communication skills as the goddess of love and Mercury converge in your 3rd House, which is beginning to look a lot like a zodiacal Grand Central Station. This will be in effect through the end of March, so you can bask in this one for over a month. This is another one of those sweet aspects that will greatly enhance your thoughts, give you general warm fuzzies, and make others more receptive than usual to your thoughts, ideas, ponderings and possibly even some of that pontificating that you're so good at. Now is the time to promote whatever you came up with earlier in the month that you identified as an idea whose time has come. Around the 29th, a blip of some sort may come along that appears at first to be a big opportunity or some such, then the bubble will burst and it will go away, but other than that, look for more good things to come to pass during the time.

There's a lot of action out there this month, some overt and some covert. Much of it appears to be in the mental arena, which is one that is quite comfortable for you. Work on those relationships, take a good look at your finances, both short and long-term, and also put some thought into your career and whether it might be time to head off in a different direction. Propose at least one toast to the fact that Pluto is out of your 1st house (at least for a while), then use what you learned from that to prepare a bright path for the future.