This February is a month when we may look to radical changes, wanting to focus on our future, while feeling the pulls of our past and any unresolved situations. The energy this month is ratcheted up severalfold and we are likely to be in turbothrust. Whether we can handle the intense energy or whether we fall victim to our impetuousness is a major challenge for each of us. The liability to anger and acting out cannot be denied. We may want what we want and even choose to be belligerent in our dealings. To some degree, people could be acting like little children throwing tantrums if they do not get their way.
Yes, this February can be a challenge regarding our ability to maintain balance, engender patience and let go of any sense of control during volatile and unexpected conditions.
February is a month that speaks to the dark of the winter, and during this winter many of us may have already felt our discontent. February is a time when we look forward to a future different from our past and our present, but February is also a karmic month, a month when we visit in our memories the experiences of our past, and take a reflective walk down Memory Lane. While February is a time to clean up and clear out in preparation of the renaissance promised by Spring with its natural rebirth and renewal, this February is one when few things are likely done in half measure. A sense of ‘all or nothing at all’ can pervade our intentions and our actions.
These times through which we have chosen to journey are interesting times, times akin to the Chinese proverb that some would call a curse: ‘May you live in interesting times’.
There is a paradox of opposing forces during these times.
On the one hand, we have greater consolidation by the powers-that-be. Whether seen in corporate entities or government institutions, there is a contractive, restrictive and consolidating phase going on. The big are getting bigger with a justification of maintaining the status quo by ‘too big to fail’.
On the other hand, these times speak to the power of the person. The illusion of the 1960’s and 1970’s, when the phrase ‘power to the people’ assumed institutional power being handed over to the people, has been shattered. Even under the guise of ‘hope and change’, people have come to realize the truth to the old saying: ‘meet the new boss, same as the old boss.’
The beauty of these tumultuous times lies in the realization that the dynamics and technological advances of these times give greater force to the concept ‘power to the person’.
As individuals we have the tools by which to more fully express our creative talents. We have also come to a recognition that the powers-that-be, no matter their slogans or their sleight-of-hand maneuvers, are more interested in the old paradigm of power, control and authority. As individuals we may need to fall back upon our own resources, our own talents and our own creative abilities. But we have been given the tools and given the awareness by which to be not only self-sustaining and surviving the tumult, but more importantly to thrive and to come fully into our own and to develop our own individual journey.
Power to the Person!
This sense can be accentuated during February of 2011. New ways, some of which come about in the most unexpected manner, seem to open us up ever more to the opportunities of these times. And we are ready.
As we come into February, we may feel as though the restrictions of the past are having less influence on our movement and our push into new terrain.
The Aquarius New Moon on the 2nd of February reinforces the sense of breaking out from old patterns, focusing on our own uniqueness and accentuating our individuality. On the 2nd, Venus sextiles Neptune and Venus squares Uranus while Mercury sextiles Uranus. Increasingly, we may become aware that we don’t have to make things happen, that we don’t have to do it all but that instead the universe offers us some wondrous surprises. We do have to be discerning regarding some of the surprises since even the most tempting of surprises might be more of a challenge than an opportunity. Again, we are being asked to be aware, mindful and discerning regarding where we place our energies and with whom we engage. Although we might receive some startling insights at this time, the question as to what we do with any insights will prove key. Either we might try the old paradigm of control and manipulating things to our will, or more successfully we could be open to the natural unfolding, work with the energies and see what magical, mystery tour it could lead us on.
What we have to be especially careful about, however, is a tendency to rush ahead. Decisions, actions and movements may be assertive, even aggressive, but in such an attitude there could be a certain lack of humility and even closing ourselves off to the variations along the way that can eventually shift our course or change our direction.
There is a great deal of martial energy during the early part of February. Anger, aggressiveness and even hasty actions can be the result of wanting to fast forward and do something, anything, rather than just standing still and allowing things to unfold.
The intensity of this month speaks to continued political unrest among the nations. Concern about food shortages leading to food crises and food revolutions have already begun and are only likely to increase during this month and over the next few months.
Despite the hype of economic recovery, unemployment continues to dog individual lives to the detriment of the well-being of society. And the question as to whether any economic recovery can sustain full employment in a technologically-advancing world may come up with a resounding ‘no’.
Disconnect between the people and the powers-that-be can widen and create an insurmountable chasm. This February and into March could see a significant correction in the equity markets no longer held up by the promises of recovery, or by the increase of money supply, or by corporate hoarding of cash. Promises may ring hollow as problems seem to mount.
Mercury moves into Aquarius on February 3rd, followed by Venus exiting Sagittarius to enter Capricorn on the 4th. Sign shifts of the planetary energies begin and turn the energy up severalfold, beginning with the New Moon on the 2nd and augmented by the Sun conjunct Mars on the 4th, Mercury sextile Jupiter on the 5th, and on the 6th the Sun trine Saturn, Mars trine Saturn and Venus square Jupiter.
Our determination to develop new interests can be ratcheted up. If we will keep in mind the idea of testing the waters rather than plunging head first into the deep end and making long-term commitments to new activities without full examination and due deliberation, then we shall have the opportunity of drawing upon a broader palette and consider what things might be momentary enjoyments or those interests that lead to further and more involved projects a little later on. We may feel energized, feeling as if a new day were dawning. We can sense the wind to our back as we move rapidly ahead, all the while realizing that old matters could come up at any moment to slow us down or divert our attention.
Whenever we go through major changes, it seems as though past matters, whether past situations or people of our past, crop up to challenge our new ways and our new directions.
On the 9th of February, Venus conjuncts Pluto. Our relationships can become a lot deeper and far more meaningful, but some relationships might be jettisoned as no longer holding much purpose for us in the present, much less the future. With our sense of intensity and assertiveness, we are far more interested in depth and passion rather than the superficial or detached.
Mid-February can be quite pleasant although possibly slightly delusional.
Mercury trines Saturn on Valentine’s Day on the 14th. We may look to connect with friends and loved ones, staying in touch, making them aware of our plans and reconnecting with them as if to maintain contact but without entanglement.
On the 17th, the Sun conjuncts Neptune just prior to the Leo Full Moon on the 18th, which reinforces the impact of Neptune and has Venus square Saturn.
A somewhat confusing time, especially in light of the fact that we are moving from the strong Aquarius influence into a heavy Piscean influence. We might make assumptions based upon what appears to be real. But is the image of reality the true reality or just an illusion?
Some people will be confused, some people will be deluded and some people will tune out, step off the grid and turn on to their own semblance of reality. The important characteristic for this time is to take our time, not jump to conclusions or make hasty judgments based upon too little information. Although we might want definitive movement, it would be wise for us to keep in mind the importance during these times of flexibility and adaptability as changing circumstances and shifting conditions warrant.
The Sun moves into Neptune-ruled Pisces on the 18th and Neptune is highlighted again on the 20th with Mercury conjunct Mars and both conjunct Neptune, before Mercury moves into Pisces on the 21st, followed by Mars moving into Pisces on the 22nd, thereby creating a Stellium of three or more planets in the Mutable Water Sign as Mars and Mercury join the Sun and Uranus in Pisces.
The sense of endings could be ever more pronounced towards the end of February. Storm systems could be extreme with heavy amounts of precipitation. Anxieties might be ratcheted up as we feel the impact of karma acting out. We may become more aware of the process of consequences of earlier actions. We could feel more reactive to situations rather than the ability to take a proactive stance. We might even believe that life is happening to us and at us rather than our being co-creators of our life’s journey. Emotions can be strong with wild mood swings, especially if natural disasters grab the headlines and force us to wonder what we have done to ourselves.
Yes, the emperor has no clothes, no matter the hype, the spin or the presentations to the contrary. But the time for an emperor is no longer now. The time of the great teacher has long passed. The time of control has slipped away. We are moving into a new paradigm, a dramatic and radical shift from the ways things used to operate. Although it may feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under us, and despite the fact that some will come forward proclaiming their ability to stem the tides, the times they are a’changing. We might not have the playbook as we cross the threshold of this new paradigm, but humility and willingness to engage hands-on learning will go a long way in the successful journey into this new land.
On the 25th of February, the energies are quite impressive with nothing done in half measure but possibly more an ‘all or nothing at all’ attitude. The Sun conjuncts Mercury, both the Sun and Mercury sextile Pluto and Jupiter squares Pluto. This heavy Pluto influence may give indications of the transformations of these times with evident endings and eliminations. It would be wise for us to be watchful and vigilant to the indications at these times and not feel merely victims to circumstance. The more aware we can be to the signs along the way, the more successful we shall be in what may seem ever more like a scavenger hunt with clues along the way suggesting the appropriate turns and shifts in our life’s direction.
This February is a time to look to our future but also a time to close the door on outdated concepts and outworn activities. We may not be totally clear or fully understand where we are going or what we are doing, but the movement will in deed carry us along.
February… a look to the future, pulls from the past…
