Moon into Gemini: The Trickster Says "Really??"

Tuesday night through Friday mornin
Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, February 28
Moon enters Gemini 10:27pm

Wednesday, February 29

Yajrayogini

Moon square Neptune (Pisces) 12:24am
Moon sextile Uranus (Aries) 4:50am
Moon square Chiron (Pisces) 9:35am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 12:34pm
Moon inconjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 4:54pm
Moon opposite the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:13pm
First Quarter Moon:
Moon square Sun (Pisces) 8:22pm

Thursday, March 1
Moon square Mars (Virgo) 3:54am
Mercury (Pisces) inconjuct Saturn (Libra) 1:33pm

Friday, March 2
Moon sextile Venus (Aries) 3:29am
Mercury enters (Aries) 6:40am
Moon trine Saturn (Libra) 8:14am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Cancer 10:05am
Moon square Mercury (Aries) 10:33am
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 12:11pm
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:29pm
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 9:04pm

The Moon flies into Gemini tonight, the Mercury-ruled sign of mutable Air. This Gemini Moon will be at her trickster-ish best, ready to take on all comers, teasing the serious minded, challenging the dogmatic, and turning everything upside down in the quest for new connections and fresh perspectives. Looking at ongoing debates as comic theater, this Moon chortles at the emperor's new clothes.

gleeful satire

Wednesday, the Moon challenges everything we think we know, flowing energy with revolutionary Uranus while upsetting every other planet she meets. Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter, Pluto, and the North Node––all heavy hitters––no one is sacred. Caroline Casey invokes wild Voodoo Dakinis to awaken us all in these times. Today we feel their presence.

Wednesday closes with the First Quarter Moon, the square between the Sun and Moon when our commitment to our New Moon intentions is tested. We're getting the first glimpse of what we wished for: Are we on board?

Thursday, trickster energy continues as the Moon challenges Mars and Mercury, the trickster himself, challenges Saturn the Old Guard. Change is in the air, along with a hefty dose of the unexpected, the irreverent, and the satiric. Where are we taking ourselves too seriously?

Friday morning, the energy shifts into direct action as the Moon flows energy with Venus in wild Aries, Mercury enters Aries, and the Moon flows manifesting power with Saturn. When we embrace creative possibility, let go of certainty, and open to new connections, anything can happen!

The morning's energy boost is brief, though, as the Moon moves into the more emotionally guarded territory of Cancer. Mercury will turn retrograde in Aries in a few weeks as well, offering us time to integrate these new shifts in perspective.

With this Gemini Moon, over the next few days, we put on crazy glasses, look at the world with new eyes, see the wild improbability of everything and nothing, and shift.
     

Moon into Taurus: Earth Connection

Sunday morning through Tuesday night
Eastern Standard Time

Earth abundance

Sunday, February 26
Moon enters Taurus 9:30am
Moon sextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:14am
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 3:36pm
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:18pm
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 10:43pm

Monday, February 27
Moon sextile Sun (Pisces) 1:53am
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 3:55am
Moon inconjunct the North Node (Sagittarius) 5:35am
Moon trine Mars (Virgo) 5:09pm

Tuesday, February 28
Sun (Pisces) sextile Pluto (Capricorn) 2:15am
Moon semisextile Venus (Aries) 9:13am
Moon sextile Mercury (Pisces) 2:46pm
(begin void of course)
Moon inconjunct Saturn (Libra) 8:39pm
Moon enters Gemini 10:27pm

The Moon moved into calm, nurturing Taurus at 9:30 this morning for a day of healing and deep connection with the Earth. The Moon flows energy with visionary Neptune and Chiron the wounded healer today, closing the day by joining with Jupiter. There's an edgy connection with Uranus as well, making this a wonderful day to listen to intuitive messages, especially calls for healing our relationship with our bodies and the Earth itself.

Monday, the pattern of Earth connection and healing continues as the Moon flows energy with the Sun in Pisces, and trines Pluto in Capricorn. An edgy connection with the North Node might leave us wondering whether we should be moving ahead faster, while a flowing trine with Mars in Virgo reminds us that each step on the way deserves our full attention. We're being invited to change, to transform ourselves and how we relate to the Earth.

More gifts

Shamanic practitioner Sandra Ingerman uses the word "transmutation" to describe the process of healing ourselves and healing the Earth.

This process includes visualization, energy work, and shamanic journeying––and also how we eat, drink, sleep and walk on the Earth every day.

With the Moon in Taurus, our attention turns to the practical as well as the ethereal. How are we taking care of ourselves? When we're tired, hungry, in pain, do we offer ourselves the same compassion we might give our children or others around us? This Moon invites us to explore new ways to feel good.

Tuesday, the Sun flows with Pluto, illuminating more openings for visionary alchemy. We might feel a jolt of energy as the Moon semisextiles Venus in fiery Aries, followed by flowing communications from Mercury. Tuesday morning looks like a wonderful time for creative writing, teaching, or communication of any kind.

The Moon–Mercury sextile is the Moon's last classical aspect in Taurus, although she will also make an awkward inconjunct aspect with Saturn Tuesday evening. The Moon is void of course from mid afternoon until she steps into bright Gemini at 10:27pm.

Waking with the Moon in Taurus, we open all of our senses to drink in the world around us. Welcoming healing energy from the Earth, we offer healing in return. This is a time for doing good, and feeling good.
    

Moon into Aries: New Maps, New Territories

Thursday night through Sunday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Thursday, February 23
Moon enters Aries 9:48pm
Mercury (Pisces) semisextile Venus (Aries) 11:01pm
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:18pm

charting a new course

Friday, February 24
Moon conjunct Uranus (Aries) 3:26am
Sun (Pisces) conjunct Chiron (Pisces) 4:06am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 7:55am
Moon semisextile Sun (Pisces) 8:14am
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 9:43am
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 3:31pm
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 5:35pm

Saturday, February 25
Sun (Pisces) sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 5:32am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 6:23am
Moon conjunct Venus (Aries) 2:00pm
Moon semisextile Mercury (Pisces) 4:16pm

Sunday, February 26
Moon opposite Saturn (Libra) 7:52am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Taurus 9:30am
Moon sextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:14am
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 3:36pm
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:18pm
Moon conjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 10:43pm

"The map is not the territory" –– Alfred Korzybski

Tonight, the Moon lights a new candle in Aries, cardinal Fire, the beginning sign of the zodiac and of the Spring Equinox. During this transit through Aries, the Moon weaves in and out of the sky in a dance that touches Fire to Water, Aries to Pisces. Classically, these elements don't mix well. In Celtic and IndoEuropean myth, water holds secret fires that bring intense experiences of illumination. The Moon holds that fire.

Viking treasure hoard

The first aspects during this transit occur when Mercury in Pisces makes an edgy semisextile with Venus in Aries, and, shortly afterwards, the Aries Moon semisextiles Neptune in Pisces. Notice that the creative energies of Venus and Neptune are involved, as well as our mind (Mercury) and feelings (Moon).

In the early hours of Friday, we see another pairing as the Moon conjunct Uranus as the Sun conjunct Chiron. Aries and Pisces again. The Moon will semisextile the Sun and Chiron later Friday morning.

The Pisces New Moon raised the curtain on some new ways to see and experience the world. We still swim in this new ocean, feelings the currents and wondering where we'll be carried. This Aries Moon invites us into a passionate exploration of this new space. What do we want here? What can we do here? Who can we be here?

We need new maps and Aries can help us build them. Always the pioneer, Aries welcomes the chance to chart new waters. We know maps and territories are not the same, and yet we need guidance. We need to find our way around. The Aries Moon lights the way.

This in not an easy stage. The Moon challenges Pluto the alchemist, and connects awkwardly with Mars. Yet through the says of this transit, we see recurring patterns of Pisces and Aries connecting. We're beginning a new and exciting journey.

Sunday morning, the Moon opposes Saturn in Libra. An hour and a half later, she steps into calm and patient Taurus for rest and relaxation. With this Aries Moon, we dive into exploration, ready to reach for whatever treasure we find.
    

Moon in Pisces: Life, the Universe, and Everything

Tuesday afternoon through Thursday night
Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, February 21
Moon enters Pisces 12:30pm

multidimensional superstring universe

Moon conjunct Neptune (Pisces) 1:47pm
Moon conjunct Sun (Pisces) 5:34pm
New Moon in Pisces:
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 5:40pm
Sun semisextile Uranus (Aries) 6:58pm
Moon conjunct Chiron (Pisces) 9:55pm
Moon sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 11:10pm

Wednesday, February 22
Moon sextile Pluto (Capricorn) 5:24am
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 7:41am
Moon conjunct Mercury (Pisces) 7:36pm
Moon semisextile Venus (Aries) 9:08pm
Moon opposite Mars (Virgo) 9:23pm
(begin void of course)
Venus (Aries) inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 11:25pm

Thursday, February 23
Mercury (Pisces) opposite Mars (Virgo) 6:25am
Moon inconjunct Saturn (Libra) 8:23pm
Moon enters Aries 9:48pm
Mercury (Pisces) semisextile Venus (Aries) 11:01pm
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 11:18pm

The Moon enters Pisces midday today, joining a gathering of powerful forces in this most mystical of signs. Neptune, the Sun, Chiron and Mercury await this Moon and have already cast the glamours of Pisces over our world. Today, the tide turns. Now in the last hours of the waning Moon, we hold our breaths as the New Moon approaches and she waxes again.

Pisces lends her energies to poetry, lyrical language, magical experiences, spiritual awareness. Yet theoretical physics seems to have donned a Piscean cloak as physicists reach for a Theory of Everything––which is a very Neptune-Pisces sort of title for a theory, to begin with.

It seems we swim in an ocean of vibrating strings that create not just the four dimensions we're most familiar with, but many more as well.

M-theory, a current favorite, requires 11 dimensions. In string theory, particles have flavor, and some objects are more like membranous connections than things in themselves.

This New Moon invites us into a mysterious and beautiful world very different from the one we thought we knew.

Whether we explore the latest theories in physics, the depths of our own subconscious, or perception-altering mystical experiences, embracing the promise of this New Moon will open doors and windows we never noticed before.

With so many planets clustered in the early or very late degrees of their signs, and the Piscean planets grouped from 0 degrees to 14, all the sky energies are linked to this New Moon one way or another. Check your birth chart, see where this New Moon appears, and understand that new perceptions are emerging here.

Working with this New Moon to set intentions and make wishes, we feel more strongly than ever we're not alone in this cosmos. When the New Moon arrives, and you set intentions for the time ahead, reach out to connect with the allies and guides around you. They are there.

Mars, reflective and retrograde in Virgo, is the only holdout. He gently reminds us to stay grounded and pay attention to details, good advice in these nebulous days. In fact, the Pisces Moon's last classical aspect during this transit is her opposition to Mars on Wednesday night, opening a void of course time that lasts until she enters Aries on Thursday night.

While the Moon is in Pisces, swimming with all the other Piscean planets, except spaciness. Flow with the opening of all those other senses and increase your connections to hidden dimensions. Meditate, pray, journey, envision. Dreaming of all kinds is enhanced. Enjoy!
    

Moon into Aquarius: Sparks on the Water

Sunday morning through Tuesday afternoon
Eastern Standard Time

Sunday, February 19
Sun enters Pisces 1:17am
Moon square Saturn (Libra) 4:22am
(begin void of course)

in the Aethar

Moon enters Aquarius 5:29am
Moon semisextile Sun (Pisces) 5:49am
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 6:33am
Moon sextile Uranus (Aries) 10:15am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 2:16pm
Moon square Jupiter (Taurus) 3:03pm
Sun (Pisces) conjunct Neptune (Pisces) 3:40pm
Moon semisextile Pluto (Capricorn) 9:38pm

Monday, February 20
Moon sextile the North Node (Sagittarius) 12:11am
Moon semisextile Mercury (Pisces) 2:20am
Moon sextile Venus (Aries) 7:28am
Moon inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 2:35pm

Tuesday, February 21
Moon trine Saturn (Libra) 11:17am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Pisces 12:30pm
Moon conjunct Neptune (Pisces) 1:47pm
Moon conjunct Sun (Pisces) 5:34pm
New Moon in Pisces:
Moon semisextile Uranus (Aries) 5:40pm
Sun semisextile Uranus (Aries) 6:58pm
Moon conjunct Chiron (Pisces) 9:55pm
Moon sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 11:10pm

Just before dawn tomorrow (Sunday), the Moon will enter bright, innovative Aquarius. Leaving behind the rocky road of Capricorn, she soars into the revolutionary skies of fixed Air. The key question is how the cool-headed Aquarian Moon will relate to the Water element. With the Sun entering Pisces' ocean overnight and joining Neptune there Sunday afternoon, Water is now a force to be reckoned with.

When Air and Water mix, we can end up in a fog, our thinking as clouded as our perceptions are dim. With Mercury and Chiron now in Pisces, along with the Sun and Neptune, foggy thinking is a definite possibility. If we give way to negative thinking, we can find ourselves lost in a maze of old patterns and feelings with no exit in sight.

This is precisely where the Aquarius Moon can shine, even though her light is dim in these last waning days. In Greek mythology, there were three airs. The highest was Aether, floating underneath the sky god Ouranos. This was the pure, light air of the highest heavens, breathed by the gods and goddesses. Here, thought was clear and unclouded. This is the realm of Aquarius, ruled by Uranus.

a Piscean landscape

As planets themselves for the New Moon in Pisces, the Aquarian Moon blows away the mists and helps us keep our bearings.

These are the last days we have to prepare for the New Moon seed time. This Moon keeps us calm as we decide what needs to be released to prepare for this new cycle.

The Moon in Aquarius strikes generous sparks from Uranus' fire late Sunday morning, amidst a day of edgier connections with Water and Earth. But that infusion of Aries Fire is enough to brighten the Air.

If the concentration of Pisces has you feeling fogged in, imagine this Aquarian Moon sending shafts of sunlight down through the clouds. The surface of the waters glints with sparkling light, and a path forward is illuminated.

Monday, this pattern continues as the Moon shares energy easily with the North Node and Venus in Fire signs, while having more difficult interactions with Mercury in Water and Mars in Earth. Keep thinking of the Aquarian Moon as Aether, whose ancient name also meant "to shine."

Late Tuesday morning, the Moon flows energy with Saturn in airy Libra, and then enters a void of course time just over an hour long. Flowing into Pisces, the Moon now swims to join the other powers ready and waiting for her. The New Moon approaches.

While the Moon is in Aquarius, we rely on her clear thought to steer us through sometimes murky waters, always watching for the glint of those shining lights.
     

Moon into Capricorn: Down to Earth

Friday morning through Sunday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Friday, February 17

Capricorn by ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

Moon enters Capricorn 12:04am
Moon sextile Neptune (Pisces) 12:57am
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:30am
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:21am
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 8:43am
Moon sextile Mercury (Pisces) 11:51am
Moon conjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 3:41pm
Moon semisextile the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:29pm
Moon square Venus (Aries) 8:17pm

Saturday, February 18
Moon trine Mars (Virgo) 9:32am
Sun (Aquarius) trine Saturn (Libra) 11:01am
Mercury (Pisces) sextile Pluto (Capricorn) 4:23pm

Sunday, February 19
Sun enters Pisces 1:17am
Moon square Saturn (Libra) 4:22am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Aquarius 5:29am
Moon semisextile Sun (Pisces) 5:49am
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 6:33am
Moon sextile Uranus (Aries) 10:15am
Moon semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 2:16pm
Moon square Jupiter (Taurus) 3:03pm
Sun (Pisces) conjunct Neptune (Pisces) 3:40pm
Moon semisextile Pluto (Capricorn) 9:38pm

Just after midnight tonight (Thursday), the Moon moves into solid, grounded Capricorn. In this pragmatic sign, we focus on what's real. We're ready to take concrete steps toward our goal. Which is a good thing, because energy is building in Pisces, focusing our attention on the cosmic, the spiritual, and the confusing. Right now, the Capricorn Moon is our anchor.

Capricorn can also connect with Water. Remember the symbol of Capricorn is the an animal with the head and forelimbs of a goat and the tail of a fish. As Deborah Houlding says, "the abyss of the ocean is combined with mountainous terrain" giving this sign the ability to think straight even in the midst of collectively unconscious currents.

Cloud Ocean in Taiwan's Big Snow Mountain

Because the Moon enters Capricorn so early on Friday, most of her aspects will happen that day. This Capricorn Moon will flow easily with planets now in Earth: Jupiter, Pluto and Mars. She'll also connect comfortably with Water: Neptune, Chiron and Mercury.

Contacts with Air and Fire will be more challenging, and a Capricorn Moon can definitely stand her ground. The headlong rush of Uranus and Venus in fiery Aries are put on hold.

Expect an emphasis on patience, steadiness, an appreciation for hard work. Whether the focus is on worldly achievements or spiritual pursuits, Capricorn reminds us that effort brings rewards.

Saturday and early Sunday, the value of the foundational steps of the Capricorn Moon becomes clear. The Sun, on his way out of Aquarius, flows energy with Saturn: We can move ahead with innovative plans today. Mercury sextiles Pluto, offering insights into where our lives need to transform. Then, the Sun enters Pisces, illuminating, however imperfectly, the watery realms of this complex sign.

The Moon's last aspect in Capricorn is a square with Saturn, Capricorn's ruler. We can take this as a signal that our work is not yet done. After an hour void of course, the Moon enters the conceptual heights of Aquarius.

Beginning with the first minutes of Friday, we've got two days to get some serious work done with the waning Capricorn Moon. The seed time of the Pisces New Moon will soon arrive. Don't waste time.
    

Moon into Sagittarius: The Half-Full Glass

Tuesday evening through Friday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Tuesday, February 14

Ace of Swords, Ma'at Tarot by Julie Cuccia-Watts

Moon enters Sagittarius 7:57pm
Jupiter (Taurus) sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:39pm
Moon square Neptune (Pisces) 8:39pm
Moon square Mercury (Pisces) 11:28pm

Wednesday, February 15
Moon trine Uranus (Aries) 12:06am
Moon square Chiron (Pisces) 3:47am
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 3:50am
Mercury (Pisces) semisextile Uranus (Aries) 4:24am
Moon trine Venus (Aries) 10:53am
Moon semisextile Pluto (Capricorn) 11:06am
Venus (Aries) square Pluto (Capricorn) 1:32pm
Moon conjunct the North Node (Sagittarius) 2:07pm

Thursday, February 16
Moon square Mars (Virgo) 5:46am
Mercury (Pisces) conjunct Chiron (Pisces) 9:13am
Mercury (Pisces) sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 11:06am
Moon sextile Sun (Aquarius) 8:07pm
Moon sextile Saturn (Libra) 11:02pm
(begin void of course)

Friday, February 17
Moon enters Capricorn 12:04am
Moon sextile Neptune (Pisces) 12:57am
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:30am
Moon sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:21am
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 8:43am
Moon sextile Mercury (Pisces) 11:51am
Moon conjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 3:41pm
Moon square Venus (Aries) 8:17pm

What an intriguing set of aspects we have for Valentine's Day... the Moon began the day in intense, sexually charged, and also wary Scorpio and ends in sociable, optimistic Sagittarius. This morning's conjunction between Mercury and Neptune scatters stardust over our thinking and lends poetry to our words, and yet the Moon squares off against both tonight. What's going on?

Today we might see two faces of romance: The intensity of Scorpio that can border on obsession while offering deeply transformative connections. The generosity of Sagittarius who welcomes everyone and takes a philosophical approach to life and love. Both are present.

The challenge of both/and!

One gift of Mercury and Neptune together in Pisces could be the ability to hold space for paradox.

Can we see the both/and in all our relationships, and the idea we can grow in depth and love whether our lives follow a traditional script or branch out in unusual directions? The Jupiter-Chiron connection offers healing wisdom and invites patience.

There's a lot going on in Pisces these days, and since the Sagittarius Moon will square all of it, let's look at the "challenges." These are mutable signs, whose hallmarks are transition and flexibility. So when Pisces and Sag square each other, the outcome is as likely to be supportive as difficult.

For example, Pisces is cosmically connected while being a bit oblivious to ordinary reality. Sagittarius grabs Pisces by the hand and invites her back into the circle of real world friends, with real world talk, warmth, and hugs. Sagittarius can be overbearing, certain he knows it all already. Pisces offers gentle reminders to listen deeply and let go of assumptions. All helpful stuff.

Wednesday is energized as Mercury connects with Uranus, and Venus in fiery Aries challenges Pluto in rock-steady Capricorn. The Moon opens the day by lighting fires with Uranus of her own, connecting with Jupiter and Chiron, and then connecting with Venus and Pluto just before their exact square.

Wednesday's last aspect is the Moon's conjunction with the North Node, so this could feel like a make-or-break day. Hold on to the Sagitarrian Moon's optimism and generous spirit; stay present with whatever comes up. Venus and Pluto together can transform relationships, yet with all the Piscean energy around, there's a strong creative vibe in the air. This day could bring a breakup, but is just as likely to offer a breakthrough. 

The Moon squares Mars early Thursday morning, another connection of mutable energies. After the heady energetics of Wednesday, Mars may simply ask the Moon to slow down. Mercury connects with both Jupiter and Chiron, offering sage wisdom and healing.

Thursday brings the waning sextile between the Moon and Sun that signals we're nearing the end of this lunar cycle. The Moon sextiles Saturn a few hours later, reminding us there's work to be done. What can we release before the next New Moon? Mercury is very active right now, so perhaps outmoded thoughts and outworn ideas are ready to go.

The Moon will step into hard working Capricorn just after midnight on Friday (Eastern time), preparing to accept Saturn's advice. While she travels through Sagittarius, we can keep our glass half full, welcome experiences that expand our horizons, and jump into life.
    

Moon into Scorpio: Standing in the Shadows of Love

Sunday evening through Tuesday evening
Eastern Standard Time

Sunday, February 12

shadow heart

Moon enters Scorpio 5:02pm
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 5:36pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 8:55pm

Monday, February 13
Moon opposite Jupiter (Taurus) 12:11am
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 12:28am
Moon inconjunct Venus (Aries) 3:04am
Moon sextile Pluto (Capricorn) 7:44am
Moon semisextile the North Node (Sagittarius) 11:00am
Mercury (Aquarius) trine Saturn (Libra) 1:43pm
Mercury enter Pisces 8:37pm

Tuesday, February 14
Mercury (Pisces) conjunct Neptune (Pisces) 1:46am
Moon sextile Mars (Virgo) 3:06am
Last Quarter Moon:
Moon square Sun (Aquarius) 12:04pm
(begin void of course)
Moon inconjunct Saturn (Libra) 7:01pm
Moon enters Sagittarius 7:57pm
Jupiter (Taurus) sextile Chiron (Pisces) 8:39pm
Moon square Neptune (Pisces) 8:39pm
Moon square Mercury (Pisces) 11:28pm

The Moon enters Scorpionic shadowland this evening, slowing down to connect with Neptune and tell Uranus to call back another time. Positive choices with this combination include mediation, vision work, dreams, and shamanic journeys. Less positive options include zoning out, drifting away, and doing anything to avoid facing fears. The Moon's in Scorpio for the next few days, though, so I recommend staying present.

Monday offers energy for deep healing, as the Moon continues to hold off impetuous Fire. She begins the day with an opposition to Jupiter that calls us to look under the surface of life, not settle for the easy and the obvious. Flowing energy with Chiron the healer and Pluto the alchemist, the Scorpio Moon steps into the cauldron of transformation.

Sadness, by Julia Margaret Cameron

Monday also offers a shift in our thinking and communicating, as Mercury closes his time in Aquarius with a flowing trine to Saturn in late Libra: Here we can send energy to manifest the quirky, innovative plans Mercury's been hatching.

By evening, Mercury swims into Pisces and thoughts shift into the realm of dreams and visions.

Very early Tuesday, Mercury joins Neptune. Monday night, put pen and paper on the bedside table––this is definitely a night for strong dreaming. The Scorpio Moon flows energy with Mars this morning too, so our dreams might have advice for inner work.

The Moon's last aspect in Scorpio is a square to the Sun. Yes, this is the Last Quarter Moon. We're in letting-go territory now. We might awaken on Valentine's Day with beautiful dreams, but a Last Quarter Scorpio Moon suggests this lover's holiday will be tinged with nostalgia, and more than a little darkness.

By evening, the Moon will slip into convivial, open-hearted Sagittarius, so perhaps a day of disappointment will be following by an evening of happiness. Yet, though expansive Jupiter flows energy with healing Chiron, the Sag Moon squares off against Neptune and, later, Mercury.

Maybe we'll ignore the pain and party the night away. Or maybe, this Valentine's, we're offered the chance to let go of old patterns that don't work. No one sees into the heart of darkness better than Scorpio. Before the Moon slips into happy-go-lucky Sagittarius, take the plunge, face the darkness, and let go of the past.
    

Moon into Libra: A Dance with Passion

Friday afternoon through Sunday evening
Eastern Standard Time

Friday, February 10

An Offering to Venus

Moon enters Libra 2:53pm
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Pisces) 3:21pm
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 6:37pm
Moon opposite Venus (Aries) 8:25pm
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 9:30pm
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 10:02pm

Saturday, February 11
Moon square Pluto (Capricorn) 5:22am
Moon sextile the North Node (Sagittarius) 8:51am
Venus (Aries) semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 11:33am
Venus (Aries) semisextile Chiron (Pisces) 5:35pm

Sunday, February 12
Moon semisextile Mars (Virgo) 1:25am
Moon trine Sun (Aquarius) 5:28am
Moon trine Mercury (Aquarius) 12:59pm
Moon conjunct Saturn (Libra) 4:08pm
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Scorpio 5:02pm
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 5:36pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 8:55pm

The Moon enters calm, diplomatic Libra this afternoon. After her edgy transit through Virgo these last days, we might be looking forward to some peace and quiet––but don't count on it. Today's Libra Moon is more devil's advocate than people pleaser. Gentle she may be, and diplomatic, but this Moon is prepared to ask uncomfortable questions on the way to a true, honest balance.

Her first touch is an awkward inconjunct with visionary Neptune, followed by challening oppositions to Uranus and Venus, hanging together in fiery Aries. Then comes more awkwardness with Jupiter and Chiron. How can we keep this many balls in the air without a crash?

Classical dancers at Nrityagram

There's a pattern here: Venus weaves her way through many of today's transits. She's a powerful presence in the sky right now, blazing in Aries and close to revolutionary Uranus.

Our creativity might be shooting off new sparks, or we might meet an exciting new partner, or maybe we'll have a flare-up with the current one. One way or another, passion is in the air.

Today, the Moon enters one of Venus' signs, lovely Libra, so everything she does is touched by Venus. Jupiter is in Venus' other sign, Taurus. Venus opposes the Moon today. And the inconjuncts with Neptune and Chiron in Pisces bring in the other creative force in the zodiac.

This is an invitation into a dance of creative passion. The alchemical force of our desires has the power to make and unmake many things, including ourselves. The steps are complex, but who can resist that compelling music? This is flamenco, not a simple waltz. Join the dance!

Tomorrow continues the alchemical path as the Moon squares Pluto and sextiles the North Node. Where are we resisting the path forward? Can we move through it?

Then notice how Venus reprises the Moon's aspects with Jupiter and Chiron. Now the great lady herself is between the two sages, creating edgy semisextiles as if reaching out a hand to each. We're still in this complex and passionate dance, and also given a head's up that Jupiter and Chiron will soon reach their exact sextile––which, interestingly, happens on Valentine's Day. Passionate healing is a definite possibility.

Very early Sunday, the Moon makes an edgy connection with Mars retrograde in Virgo. There's energy here, and a reminder not to move too fast: Mars is very careful these days.

Around dawn, the Moon flows energy in trine with the Sun, then a few hours later with Mercury. Creative communication is clearly supported! Writing, teaching, planning, concept development––all these will be enlivened now.

Then the Moon meets Saturn retrograde. This helps make things real, and also right. Double check your work, find that balance point, because now we're moving on. This is the last Moon aspect in Libra, before she enters Scorpio's shadowy realm an hour later.

This time through Libra, we might miss a sense of peace and calm the Libra Moon sometimes brings. But would we trade quiet for the passionately creative cauldron we're offered here? Connect with your passions, follow the thread into the maze, light a fire, join the dance.
     

Moon into Virgo: Reading the Fine Print

Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon
Eastern Standard Time

Wednesday, February 8
Moon enters Virgo 12:32pm

carrying water

Moon opposite Neptune (Pisces) 12:50pm
Moon inconjunct Venus (Aries) 1:36pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 4:09pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 6:45pm
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 7:33pm

Thursday, February 9
Mercury (Aquarius) inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 2:08am
Moon trine Pluto (Capricorn) 3:07am
Moon square the North Node (Sagittarius) 6:56am
Venus (Aries) conjunct Uranus (Aries) 9:29pm
Moon inconjunct Sun (Aquarius) 11:36pm

Friday, February 10
Moon conjunct Mars (Virgo) 12:12am
(begin void of course)
Moon inconjunct Mercury (Aquarius) 3:42am
Sun (Aquarius) inconjunct Mars (Virgo) 6:30am
Moon semisextile Saturn (Libra) 2:30pm
Moon enters Libra 2:53pm
Moon inconjunct Neptune (Pisces) 3:21pm
Moon opposite Uranus (Aries) 6:37pm
Moon opposite Venus (Aries) 8:25pm
Moon inconjunct Jupiter (Taurus) 9:30pm
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 10:02pm

The Moon enters Virgo just after noon today, peering cautiously into a world that seems to look rather different after the blazing Leo Full Moon. We move into the waning half of the lunar cycle, in which we first share our gifts with the world and then shift into releasing and preparing for the next New Moon. This Virgo Moon wants to be sure everything's ready, everything's right. This will call for some adjustments, a Virgoan specialty.

Today's Moon opposes visionary Neptune and healing Chiron in Pisces––Virgo finds Neptune and Pisces to be, well, a little vague. She's also forming awkward inconjuncts with Venus and Uranus in fiery Aries––these two are just a little impetuous. This Moon feels most comfortable with patient, grounded Taurus, and so forms a supportive trine with Jupiter.

taking stock

This is a day for checking the details on anything that feels too opened-ended, or leaves you feeling rushed or pressured. With the Moon and Jupiter in grounded Earth, give yourself the time to make sure.

Tomorrow we see a similar mix of pushing forward and pulling back. In the early hours of Wednesday, Mercury in forward-thinking Aquarius is inconjunct Mars moving backwards in careful Virgo. Embracing new ideas without making any mistakes is not usually possible, but these two will wrestle it out.

The Moon flows energy in trine with alchemical Pluto, while challenging the North Node with a square. Maybe the message here is to make sure we've undergone the required initiations before taking that next step on the path.

Thursday evening, Venus reaches her exact conjunction with Uranus, lighting fires of change in our relationships, values, and creative lives. Meanwhile, the Moon forms the same inconjunct with the Sun that Mercury and Mars formed earlier,. We try to balance strong forward movement with keeping all our ducks in a row.

And again on Friday: The Moon and Mars in Virgo move through the same dance with Mercury and the Sun in Aquarius. We're living surrounded by strong currents of change. Aquarius is entranced with the beautiful new ideas, and committed to a vision of a better, more just future. Virgo is concerned with the everyday: we can't build that new world without our health, without tools and resources, and without the detailed knowledge we need.

The early morning conjunction with Mars opens a void of course time that lasts through the Aquarius–Virgo connections, and an edgy semisextile with Saturn, until the Moon steps into graceful Libra on Friday afternoon.

During this Moon transit through Virgo, we look for the balance between grand ideas and ordinary details. We might feel anxious if the pendulum swings too far into "big picture" territory, and calmer when we can focus on chopping wood and carrying water. We find the value in ordinary things.
    

Moon into Leo: Shining Like the Sun

Monday morning through Wednesday afternoon
Eastern Standard Time

Monday, February 6
Moon enters Leo 8:24am

Strength ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 8:35am
Moon trine Uranus (Aries) 12:01pm
Moon square Jupiter (Taurus) 2:23pm
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 3:30pm
Moon inconjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 11:34pm

Tuesday, February 7
Moon trine the North Node (Sagittarius) 3:49am
Sun (Aquarius) conjunct Mercury (Aquarius) 4:02am
Saturn retrograde in Libra 9:03am
Venus (Pisces) inconjunct Saturn (Libra) 2:59pm
Full Moon in Leo
Moon opposite Sun (Aquarius) 4:54pm
Moon opposite Mercury (Aquarius) 5:42pm
Moon semisextile Mars (Virgo) 10:14pm

Wednesday, February 8
Venus enters Aries 1:00am
Venus (Aries) inconjunct Neptune (Pisces) 4:29am
Moon sextile Saturn (Libra) 11:42am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Virgo 12:32pm
Moon opposite Neptune (Pisces) 12:50pm
Moon inconjunct Venus (Aries) 1:36pm
Moon inconjunct Uranus (Aries) 4:09pm
Moon trine Jupiter (Taurus) 6:45pm
Moon opposite Chiron (Pisces) 7:33pm

The Moon entered Leo this morning, striding onstage for the final dress rehearsal before tomorrow's Full Moon performance. Her opening contacts with Neptune and Uranus are strong and flowing, so expect abundant intuitive messages today. Awkward aspects with Jupiter, Chiron and Pluto add some edge to this last rehearsal. Things might be a bit rocky, but that only guarantees a stellar performance.

Tomorrow, the Moon opens the day by flowing fiery energy into the North Node, our path in this life. The Sun and Mercury join forces, sharpening our mental acuity to a fine point. Brilliant ideas form easily, innovation is in the air, but remember the trickster is about too––don't get too wedded to any one model.

Another reminder to step carefully arrives as Saturn stations retrograde in Libra. For the next months, we need to walk our talk, be impeccable with our words, and follow through.

These are always good ideas, but with Saturn retrograde, chickens might come home to roost rather quickly for those who pursue manipulative and shady paths. Venus awkwardly inconjunct Saturn is just one more reminder to stay true to our brightest visions.

Then the Full Moon! This Moon in Leo, sign of the heart, of the light we're meant to shine forth, of our courage and joy, is surrounded by aspects that point to creative inspiration combined with the power to manifest.

This Full Moon illuminates our heartfire, letting us know whether it's burning high and bright, or needs some passionate, playful fuel.

Each opposition surrounding this Moon calls us to balance personal creative vision with the good of our communities. With the Full Moon in Leo, it's vital we are part of that balance. At this Moon, we're not called to self-sacrifice, but to bringing our juiciest, most authentic self on stage.

As if to emphasize this, Venus enters Aries early Wednesday. Our relationships, finances, and creative lives surge forward. We're ready to set the world on fire. An awkward contact between Venus and Neptune reminds us not to move too quickly, while urging us on to action in alignment with our dreams.

A flowing sextile with Saturn closes this Moon transit through Leo, giving power to our ability to manifest. Wednesday afternoon, the Moon enters careful, detail-oriented Virgo. While she shines forth in Leo, we listen to our muses, vow to take action on our heart's desires, and make it so.
    

Moon into Cancer: Coming Home

Saturday morning through Monday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Three of Cups ©Stephanie Pui-Mun Law

Saturday, February 4
Moon enters Cancer 1:04am
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 1:06am
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:44am
Imbolc: Sun reaches 15 Aquarius 5:22am
Moon sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 6:54am
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 8:22am
Moon opposite Pluto (Capricorn) 5:07pm
Moon inconjunct the North Node (Sagittarius) 10:00pm

Sunday, February 5
Moon inconjunct Mercury (Aquarius) 4:17am
Moon inconjunct Sun (Aquarius) 7:12am
Moon sextile Mars (Virgo) 6:01pm

Monday, February 6
Moon trine Venus (Pisces) 4:29am
Moon square Saturn (Libra) 7:30am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Leo 8:24am
Moon semisextile Neptune (Pisces) 8:35am
Moon trine Uranus (Aries) 12:01pm
Moon square Jupiter (Taurus) 2:23pm
Moon inconjunct Chiron (Pisces) 3:30pm
Moon inconjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 11:34pm

The Moon moved into Cancer very early this morning, shifting from the bright, airy connections of Gemini into the slower, deeper movements of her home Water sign. If you woke this morning from dreams of ancestors, nurturing, food, warmth, mother, then look to the Cancer Moon.

We also reached astrological Imbolc early this morning as the Sun reached 15 degrees of Aquarius. Today, as the year turns toward greater light, Aquarian insight is available to us along with Neptunian visions: The Moon's first contact was a flowing, Watery trine with Neptune newly arrived in her home sign of Pisces.

Yes, I wrote "her" for Neptune. The name is a male god, yet Neptune's energy has many feminine, yin qualities. In many cultures, ocean deities are female. The glamour, the lyricism, the dreaminess, the easy contact with emotions and the subconscious––these are yin and feminine, although of course men have and experience them too, just as women have the fierce drives of Aries.

Today's energies are strongly in this Watery, yin arena. The Moon stands in challenge to the quick-acting, direct Uranus, while flowing energy with Jupiter in slow, sensual Taurus as well as with healing Chiron. Opposing Pluto, we experience opportunities for transformation that, floating in this visionary space, might feel easy to sense but tricky to articulate.

newborn lamb

Imbolc is the time of the goddess Brighid, triple goddess of the hearth, of poetry, and of smithcraft, which the ancient Celts saw as transformation at work.

I invoke her today with Stephanie Pui-Mun Law's Three of Cups from the Shadowscapes Tarot, perfect for this day of the Moon, Neptune and Pluto.

At Imbolc, the ancient Celtic calendar shifts from the dark half of the dark half of the year (from Samhain to Imbolc), into the light half of the dark half of the year (until Betaine).

One reading of the ancient meaning of the word "Imbolc" is "in the belly" and we enter a time now when yang energy begins to stir, arising within the womb of winter stillness.

With the Gemini Moon, we gathered lots of new information. Now, we sit with it. We reflect. We feel. We allow. Tonight, the Moon makes an awkward aspect with the North Node, signalling that adjustments are needed in our path forward. Tomorrow, that same aspect with the Sun and Mercury tells us to slow down, notice where things are not comfortable, and adjust. A connection with Mars, retrograde in detail-oriented Virgo, gives us the precision of insight we need.

Early Monday morning, connections with Venus and Saturn offer creative energy just before the Moon steps into Leo's creative fire. As we enter the week ahead, we may find that our time in reflection and stillness gives birth to new passions, new play and new ideas.

While the Moon is in Cancer, we cultivate stillness, allowing time for feelings.
    

Moon into Gemini: Sleight of Hand

Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning
Eastern Standard Time

Wednesday, February 1
Moon enters Gemini 2:15pm
Mercury (Aquarius) semisextile Pluto (Capricorn) 2:38pm

The Greatest Show on Earth

Moon sextile Uranus (Aries) 5:54pm
Venus (Pisces) opposite Mars (Virgo) 6:41pm
Moon semisextile Jupiter (Taurus) 7:47pm
Moon square Chiron (Pisces) 9:40pm

Thursday, February 2
Moon inconjunct Pluto (Capricorn) 7:04am
Moon trine Mercury (Aquarius) 9:41am
Moon opposite the North Node (Sagittarius) 12:37pm
Moon trine Sun (Aquarius) 5:01pm

Friday, February 3
Moon square Mars (Virgo) 10:24am
Neptune enters Pisces 2:02pm
Moon square Venus (Pisces) 3:03pm

Saturday, February 4
Moon trine Saturn (Libra) 12:07am
(begin void of course)
Moon enters Cancer 1:04am
Moon trine Neptune (Pisces) 1:06am
Moon square Uranus (Aries) 4:44am
Imbolc: Sun reaches 15 Aquarius 5:22am
Moon sextile Jupiter (Taurus) 6:54am
Moon trine Chiron (Pisces) 8:22am
Moon opposite Pluto (Capricorn) 5:07pm

Ahhh, the Gemini Moon begins this afternoon, beguiling us into a world of intriguing ideas, scintillating conversations, enlivening connections, flirtatious engagements and tricksterish fun. With Mercury (ruler of Gemini) in Aquarius, the outside-the-box trickster in each of us peeks out, ready to play. Never forget, though, that creative play is all about deep learning.

Mercury gets edgy with transformative Pluto this afternoon, and Venus opposes Mars. These sounds like not-fun––more like challenge and work, actually. With Mercury and Gemini, fun is more about risk than safety. Where can we push the boundaries? Where is the new perspective? Mercury is the patron of thieves as well as merchants and loves question like:

"Which is the greater crime, to rob a bank or to own one?" 

(... a tricksterish quote often attributed to Marx, from Bertold Brecht's Threepenny Opera, Mercury at work again.)

Nouvelle Experience

With Venus and Mars opposite in Pisces and Virgo, we're called on to balance heart and hands, soul and body––to keep our soft-focus, peripheral vision open to magic and mystery, even as we work steadily away at the task before us.

Thursday, the Moon continues her changeable path through Gemini, making her own awkward connection with the Plutonian alchemist as she flows energy with Mercury.

The Moon is opposite the North Node today, but Gemini doesn't sit still. Is she really opposite? Or conjunct? Or both at once? The day closes with the waxing trine with the Sun, a time of seeing our New Moon dreams begin to take shape. With all this mercurial energy about, that shape might look nothing like we imagined. Have fun with it anyway!

Friday, the Moon squares both Mars and Venus, bracketing the entry of Neptune once again, and for good and all, into Pisces. The Gemini Moon reminds us to keep our eye on the ball (Where did that rabbit come from? Was that the Queen of Hearts?) as we enter a new world of dreams and visions.

The Moon's transit through Gemini ends early Saturday with a happy trine to Saturn in Libra, a reminder that while some paths are quirky, full of twists and turns, we can still live our dreams and make things happen. Then, she moves into her Cancerian hearth to celebrate Imbolc.

By the calendar, Imbolc happens now, with the Gemini Moon. Astrologically, Imbolc is the moment the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Aquarius. As we celebrate this time of transition, feeling the stirrings of life in the stillness of winter, we remember that Brighid, the goddess associated with Imbolc, is a triple goddess of the forge, of poetry, and of healing. She contains all the energies we experience now.

With this Gemini Moon, we celebrate sleight of hand, here-today-gone-tomorrow, word play, quick-change artists, and transformations that happen even when we're looking somewhere else.