Important astrological energies for the month of February 2023:
- Ceres in Libra turns retrograde on February 3, 2023. It will remain retrograde until May 6, 2023.
- Full Moon with Sun in Aquarius and Moon in Leo on February 5, 2023.
- New Moon with Sun and Moon in Pisces on February 20, 2023.
Time for Self-Discovery
By Misty Kuceris ©2023
A lot of astrologers don’t use the planet Ceres in their astrological analysis. And, a lot more non-astrologers don’t understand it or know of its existence in their charts. Yet Ceres represents that aspect of our nature where we care about our planet and personal space, as well as understand the need to compromise so we can increase our personal power in situations, especially those situations created by external stress factors. Ceres also represents our relationship with mothers and other women of power.
When the month of February begins, it starts with Venus forming a quincunx to Ceres on February 1st. Both Venus and Ceres represent different aspects of the feminine nature: Venus the passionate and Ceres the rational. When trying to achieve results, Venus indicates how you charm people while Ceres indicates how you strategically compromise. With these planets forming a quincunx, you may need to adjust your approach in trying to resolve situations. You don’t want to alienate others, but you also don’t want to compromise to the point that you can’t achieve your goals. As a matter of fact, today is a good day to pull back and observe how other people are trying to resolve situations with you. By doing that, you’ll know the best approach to use.
Ceres turns retrograde on February 3rd and remains retrograde until May 6th. When Ceres is retrograde, you think about your goals. You determine where you may need to compromise in order to achieve those goals. And you review those areas in your life where you have already compromised to determine if you made the right decision. If you didn’t, you’ll have time during this retrograde period to come up with better ways to achieve your goals.
Since Ceres represents your personal space don’t be at all surprised if you decide to make changes in your home. With Ceres in Libra beauty is important. It’s difficult to tolerate a mess or clutter. While you may not actually start any redecorating during this retrograde period, this is a good time to review design plans, check out color schemes, and see what type of space brings tranquility into your life.
About one hour before the full Moon occurs on February 5th, Ceres retrograde forms an opposition to Jupiter. During the last few days you may have spent your time thinking about achieving your goals, improving your relationships, or even redecorating your personal space. Now you feel a little overwhelmed. There’s a tendency to want it all when Ceres and Jupiter form an aspect. Yet, since this aspect is an opposition and a full Moon is going to occur later in the day, you may want to slow down a bit and “edit” your needs and desires. It may be time to realize your can’t do it all.
With the Sun in Aquarius and the Moon in Leo at the time of the full Moon you would love to just go out and play. But with the full Moon forming a square to Uranus you need to be cautious and not let your enthusiasm overwhelm your sense of safety. What this means is that unexpected events become barriers that prevent you from achieving your goals. It could also mean that you take unwarranted risks which lead to an accident because you didn’t pay enough attention to your surroundings.
However, there is a more positive note to this full Moon. If you pay attention to your environment, you could gain some new insight into situations because you receive some unexpected, but useful information. And, you also see things from a different perspective.
Receiving new information is a large possibility on February 6th when Mercury forms a sextile to Neptune. This is actually the third and last time this aspect occurs in this triad sequence. The first time it occurred was on December 24, 2022 when Mercury was direct. The second time it occurred was on January 2, 2023 when Mercury was retrograde. During the first two times you may have tried to understand a situation. Or, perhaps you needed to approach something in a creative manner. But you were stymied. You just either couldn’t figure it out or you just didn’t have all the information you needed. Today, with Mercury direct, you feel inspired. You have the insight or information you need. Now you can’t understand why this insight didn’t occur before. But in reality, you needed to take time to reflect, perhaps even meditate, on various approaches in a subconscious manner. Neptune can either cloud judgments or Neptune can dissolve barriers which prevented you from solving problems. Today, Mercury forming a sextile indicates that Neptune is dissolving those barriers and you are solving your problem.
Fun is a key word on February 8th when Venus forms a sextile to Uranus. You’re ready to go out into the world and try something new. You find yourself attracted to people that are so different from those you normally relate to. You also understand their point of view, much to your surprise.
It’s not uncommon at all to meet someone new during this time period. Just move slowly if you do. Sometimes as you get to know the person you find the differences just too great and the relationship is unsustainable. But, other times, the person is just the type of individual you need in your life because they are so different.
If you can afford it, this is a great time to begin a new adventure. Taking a vacation to an exotic location. Trying a restaurant with food you normally wouldn’t consume. Going to a museum to see artwork which is outside of your comfort zone. There are just so many different things you can do.
Completing important projects will be easy to do on February 10th as Mercury forms a conjunction to Pluto. You’re able to focus with intensity. You can compartmentalize, ignoring what’s unimportant. You even know where to find the facts to support your efforts. Research is so easy right now.
On a more personal level, you can dig into your subconscious mind and pull out information that has bothered you for years. It’s very common to look for a therapist so you can have help in your quest to understand yourself better. It’s also common for other people to seek you out because they feel you are willing to listen and keep their secrets. They even feel that you won’t judge them even though you are honest about the information they are revealing.
As Mercury moves into the sign of Aquarius and Mars forms a sextile to Chiron a few hours later on February 11th, you value conversations with others. With Mercury now in Aquarius, you are willing to consider different points of view. You’re open to new ideas and discussing them with others. As a matter of fact, with Mars forming a sextile to Chiron, you find these discussions to be very healing. That’s because Mars is in the sign of Gemini which indicates that having conversations with others can be very invigorating.
When Venus forms a conjunction to Neptune on February 15th you want to see the best in situations. You don’t want to see anything negative. As a matter of fact, your approach to life today can be very idealist. While there’s value in looking at situations in a positive way, you don’t want to be so idealist that other people take advantage of your enthusiasm.
Also, because Neptune can shroud information, you need to be cautious when it comes to signing contracts or making commitments. Too often you see what you want to see and not what’s there. It’s possible someone is withholding important information from you. Or, that individual may be deceiving you. Basically, if it’s too good there’s something not so good around the corner with that situation.
The good news is that Mercury forms a trine to Ceres retrograde later in the day. This means that you see things more realistically. And, if you made a decision earlier that doesn’t feel good now, you’ll be able to abort that decision and move on. The reason is that when Ceres is retrograde and forms an aspect to Mercury it’s easier to assess situations strategically. You can determine potential end results. You can weigh your options and decide which direction is best for you at this time.
When Mercury forms a square to the Moon’s Nodal Axis on February 16th, you find yourself viewing life from past events and future desires. With the Moon’s Nodal Axis in Taurus (the North Node) and Scorpio (the South Node) you realize that focusing on your values is very important. You find yourself asking the following questions: Do you value things today because of the way you were raised? Did the lessons you learn as you were growing up help you form your ethical values? Are your belief systems and ethical values from the past still appropriate in your life today? Or, have situations changed? Is it now time to view things from a different perspective? Actually, you’ll find yourself doing more than viewing life and asking these questions. You’ll find that you can also answer these same questions in a way that lets you move on with your life.
You are very optimistic on February 17th as Mercury forms a sextile to Jupiter. You can see the big picture. You realize that changes need to be made and you’re willing to do that. You even feel there’s no reason to hold on to the past. You’re ready to move on. What this means is that you’re able to forgive people for pain they inflicted on you. It just doesn’t matter. You no longer want to judge them. You no longer want to hold on to resentments.
As the Sun enters the sign of Pisces on February 18th, you feel life getting gentler. You don’t feel the need to rush, especially with the Moon forming a conjunction to Mercury at the moment the Sun enters Pisces. While you may be open to new ideas, since the Moon and Mercury are in the sign of Aquarius, you also feel there’s no pressure today. It’s a good day to consider various ideas. It’s a good day to reflect on your needs and just take care of those needs.
You feel very passionate on February 19th as Venus forms a sextile to Pluto. You can focus on your goals. You can use your charm to convince other people to help you. Normally when Venus forms a sextile to Pluto you feel so driven to succeed that you can become a little too aggressive. But with Venus in Pisces, you show a gentle and compassionate side of your nature. As a matter of fact, as much as you want to get your goals achieved, you’re willing to wait a bit if it means there are some people who really need your help.
When the new Moon occurs on February 20th, you find yourself thinking about past events and relationships. Part of the reason is because the Sun and Moon are in Pisces. But another reason is that Venus enters the sign of Aries less than 30 minutes after this new Moon occurs and Mercury forms a sextile to Chiron later in the day.
Pisces represents past events that sometimes entangle us and make it more difficult to move on with life. New Moon time periods are when you want to start new projects and let go of what prevents you from moving on. So today is one of those days where you look at people and situations that are preventing you from moving forward. You need to decide what to do with those situations or people.
As Venus moves from the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries, you realize that it’s important to maintain your identity. You don’t want to lose what’s important in your life. Often it’s too common when Venus is in Aries to avoid relationships because you don’t want to lose your identity. But, the reality is that when Venus is in Aries, you need to assert yourself and stand up for your rights.
With Mercury forming a sextile to Chiron, you understand that standing up for your rights can be very healing. You don’t need to hide who you are. You also find that other people are more willing to be honest with you. For this reason, this can be a good time to resolve old problems and dissolve old hurts. You realize that you don’t have to place or accept any blame.
The energy shifts a little bit when it comes to communicating with others on February 21st. With Mercury forming a square to Uranus, you may receive some disturbing news. This news is unexpected. Either, it’s new information which means that you have to change your assumptions about a situation. Or, it’s a correction of information which you either didn’t hear properly before or where someone tried to deceive you. Now you have the truth. You may find this disturbing, but in the long run this new information is going to help you stay on the right path.
When the month of February started, Venus in Pisces formed a quincunx to Ceres in Libra. Now as the month is ending Venus in Aries is forming an opposition to Ceres retrograde in Libra on February 24th. It’s as if the month is circling back to the energy it started with. But where the initial aspect was a quincunx and this aspect is an opposition, it represents that through making adjustments you are able to make decisions in how to proceed. And, where Venus changed signs between these two aspects, this represents a shift in your attitude. Finally, with Ceres moving from direct motion into retrograde motion, there is a need to reflect on this energy.
At the start of the month it was good to pull back and observe how other people tried to resolve situations that involved you. With Venus in Pisces at that time and Ceres direct, you may have wanted to be compassionate and understand their situation: Anything to maintain peace in the relationship. But in doing so, you may have given away too much that was important to you. Now with Venus in Aries and Ceres retrograde, you aren’t willing to lose your identity or give up what’s important to you. Yes, with Ceres retrograde you’re willing to see the value of the relationship, but only to a point. You’ll compromise only if you maintain your sense of power. Basically, during the month of February you go through a journey of self-discovery. Sometimes you’ll have to compromise. Other times you’ll have to stand up for your rights. Either way, the key will be not to lose yourself in relationships, but rather to be yourself so you can experience the best in relationships.
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