Year of the Ox
February 12th begins the Chinese New Year of the White Metal Ox (Taurus the bull). It will be a year of great potential achievement for hard-working and diligent individuals. Bulls rule the world of finance so long-term investments and relationships (Venus rules Taurus) will tend to benefit many this year, especially those born in the year of the Ox (1937, ’49, ’61, ’73, ’85, ’97 and 2009). Hard work will pay off – IF you act responsibly and with discipline. Accountability also matters, so slackers and the lawless may have to “pay the piper”.
It will be an especially lucky year for Taurus and Scorpio (financial uptick), Pisces and Aquarius (Jupiter expansion), but thankfully, the general economy should improve, benefiting us all to some degree. But we will need resilience, dedication, consistency, ethics, and well-thought-out plans in order to achieve the prosperity we seek. Overall, the year will be surprising and challenging as well, so expect to be tested along the way. Remember, character matters.
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury turned retrograde at 26 degrees Aquarius at the end of last month, which will undoubtedly tangle our communications and business dealings for ~3 weeks until February 21st when Mercury goes direct. It remains shadowed (not fully functional) until mid-March. When Mercury is retrograde, machines tend to break down, meetings are often missed, misunderstandings erupt, impeachments fail, yet creativity and innovation can flourish as new ideas pop to mind (Mercury in Aquarius). Jot them down for further development and refinement later.
Mercury will retrogress over the other transiting Aquarian planets: Mercury Rx conjuncts Sun on Feb 8th (mental clarity), Venus on the 13th (love and beauty), Jupiter on the 14th (expanded understanding), and to a lesser degree Saturn on the 20th and 21st (raising doubts) as Mercury stations direct, moving forward again, remaining in Aquarius while conjuncting these same planets all over again into mid-March. Maybe we can figure out what happened during Trump’s tenure and how to fix our country!
New Moon
When Mars (urge to action) crossed Uranus (rebellion and upheaval) in January, mobs brought violence to DC, ransacking the Capitol Building. Such extreme aggression should be pretty well spent as the Moon wanes in early February.
By the 11th the Moon is empty at 23 degrees Aquarius, beginning a gentler lunar cycle with Venus, then Mercury, joining Jupiter to set up a fine time with friends and intimates over the Valentine’s Day weekend as both social planets cozy up to good-spirited Jupiter for a short but well-deserved reprieve. By February 17th Saturn and Uranus form their first exact square of the year, while on the 20th Venus and Mars collide in a discordant square that may upset relationships all over again.
Saturn square Uranus
Saturn square Uranus is the signature astrological aspect for 2021, forming 3 exact squares this year – on February 17th, June 14th and on Christmas Eve. Stodgy Saturn in progressive Aquarius squaring rabble-rousing Uranus in traditional Taurus feels contradictory and confusing. Ask yourself how to innovate creatively while avoiding a revolution, as rules clash with freedom, and revisionist upheaval (Uranus) confronts the status quo (Saturn). Unfortunately, the outrage of January continues to destabilize the USA as Joe Biden’s desire for bipartisanship is thwarted by “the Big Lie” (that his election was stolen) with Neptune continuing to square the Nodes (illusions and disappointment impair destiny). Frustrations will foment radical acts and questionable politics during a tense and troubling year!
Last year was horrid but this year will be stressful too, causing health problems and sudden accidents, so help yourself cope through difficult times with a walk in nature, grow a garden, say a prayer, listen to music, quiet your mind with meditation or ceremony, take hot soaking baths, get a massage, exercise your body, do hard work, and remember to breathe deeply, eat well and get plenty of rest.
The more self-aware you can become, the better you will handle the somewhat depressing nature of this year so that you can move forward productively, despite setbacks, delays and sudden unexpected turmoil. Out-of-the-box thinking will help, and don’t let fear-of-change cripple your forward movement. Instead, realize that what’s rigid, routine or stuck must give way to an inpouring of fresh new ideas and energies, so shed the old skin! Eliminating what’s NOT working in our lives, while incorporating “the new” is the positive side of this otherwise disquieting aspect.
Uranus and Aquarius (which it rules) will bring exciting new technologies and innovative solutions to stoke inevitable change in our societies. But be aware that plans may change at the last minute, due to unexpected happenings, so stay as flexible and unattached to specific outcomes as possible to deter dismay, as matters move forward in surprising ways.
Full Moon
February 27th reveals a gentle Full Moon in Virgo with Sun in Pisces. Uranus trines the Moon, generating intrigue on a Saturday night under the Moon’s glow. But by the following day, the Moon sits atop a grand trine with aggressive Mars and intense Pluto, while being harshly aspected by crazy Uranus and up-tight Saturn and opposed by confusing Neptune. This could awaken an upsetting mix of emotions – anger and excitement blended with sadness, confusion, and uncertainty about the future. Believe in yourself, keep moving forward, and you WILL progress in 2021.