February Astrology Report 2004

Unless otherwise specified, time zone used is west coast time (PST)



February hosts four conjunctions, 4 squares, 5 ingresses, one occultation, and 1 full and 1 new Moon. Moving forward describes February’s energies. The need to accomplish dominates our motivations. The ever-present (for the next 7 years of the Uranus/Neptune mutual reception) mission to find inventive ways to develop our inner truths, or to free ourselves from old patterns through the power of mind creates new perspectives in every part of our lives. Powerful energies dance in our lives throughout the month, including the exploration of our values and what steps may be taken to support them. Toward the end of the month we may find new insight into expressing our goals in a unique and attractive manner.

2/1 Venus squares Pluto 4:56 AM, 21:31 Pisces/Sagittarius. Use your own values and resources as tools to promote and increase your prestige and potential development through coordinating, connecting and uniting the components of your favorite project. Take charge of yourself and your goals, but remain sensitive to the needs of those within your project.

2/2 Sun conjoins Neptune 1:28 AM, 12:52 Aquarius. Create time to develop your creative and your mystical faculties. Insight into the real motives of others can reveal their true nature. A great time to begin a spiritual quest, or an artistic endeavor – a solitary path that may open to others at a later date. Set a good example and that will attract others of like mind.

2/3 Mars enters Taurus 2:04 AM. Create some time to make a shift into a quieter, soothing, less active mode. Create a connection with previous hectic activities that allows you the freedom to ground yourself without stifling your creativity.

2/6 Full Moon west coast 12:47 AM, east coast 3:47 AM, 16:54 Leo/Aquarius. Focus your awareness on the goals that you have invested energy in, and stay on track. Your integrity may be questioned. Principles as well as details will be under scrutiny, and contacts from the past and possibilities of the future may be important. On the west coast, plans for travel or educational possibilities may fill important needs. Ego and emotion may cause upsets. On the east coast, the emphasis on shared possessions, expenditures or values may bring unusual stress. Make sure that you are thorough in your planning, but leave room for other options.

Mercury enters Aquarius 8:18 PM. Planning for the future is possible, and you may take steps to build trust among your peers that will instill their confidence. Opportunities may reveal themselves that support responsible behavior. Avoid taking shortcuts that may be questionable.

2/8 Venus enters Aries 8:20 AM. Know what you want, and be careful what you ask for. The energy will be available to tune into fulfillment mode. Practice building relationships without expectations to find out who you really are, and to discern others’ true natures.

2/9 Mercury squares Mars 1:07 PM, 4:07 Taurus/Aquarius. Many levels of communication will be perceived, and emotions can bring clarity to a relationship if all involved aspire to honesty. A bridge to transformation can be forged through careful communication and education. Clarify your thoughts and beliefs in order to solidify or release relationships.

2/14 Venus squares Saturn Rx 1:58 AM, 6:45 Aries/Cancer. Efficient use of time and resources can smooth your path. Past responsibilities can be honored in unusual ways. Take special notice of how emotions can ruffle your feathers and trap you in an unproductive mode, and make adjustments to your reactions and responses.

2/15 Mercury conjoins Neptune 9:41 AM, 13:22 Aquarius. This is a good aspect with which to study your beliefs and artistic talents. The power of the mind can be put to use in all life situations. Adjustments may be made to your understanding and attitude that can open you to new possibilities. Projects with sound and reliable people and resources are better than those with a high amount of risk at this time.

2/18 Sun enters Pisces 11:49 PM. The drive to make a mark for yourself may conflict with your need to keep to yourself and develop peace within. Listen to your inner values, and meanwhile collect ideas that support your individuality. Expansion of those ideas at a later date can be more appropriate. Journaling can be a valuable way to keep track of those ideas.

2/20 New Moon west coast 1:18 AM, east coast 4:18 AM, 1:04 Pisces. Intense energy brings the overall stress level up. New projects instituted now may require unexpected modifications necessary. West coast issues may revolve around siblings, neighbors, personal documents, and a myriad of errands and communications. East coast concerns deal with personal values, income, or talents of an unusual nature. This is a good time to economize, budget or increase savings to prepare for a rainy day.

2/21 Sun conjoins Uranus 6:06 PM, 2:47 Pisces. Uniqueness and independence are large issues. Align yourself with those who support the spirit of those principles. Humanitarian projects can be developed using innovative organization and methods.

2/24 Mars squares Neptune 1:31 PM, 13:42 Taurus/Aquarius. Devotion to developing new methods of detecting deceptive practices or transactions can bring rewards. Studying possible future scenarios can lead to valuable artistic projects. Mystical studies may bring breakthrough understandings.

2/25 Mercury enters Pisces 4:56 AM. A good time to study or research religion, metaphysics, cutting-edge healing modalities, mystical or inspirational subjects. Also, studies involving the arts, entertainment, computer graphics, and subjects that are based on emotional realities. Work with your dreams – they may be tomorrow’s realities.

Moon occults Mars 6:05 PM, 14:28 Taurus. Abrupt changes occur in the way activities are conducted. Interruptions in business and other relationships can allow new decisions to be made. Smooth transitions in expanding business or other projects are possible through careful and conscious adjustments to health, nurturing, or care giving.

2/26 Mercury conjoins Uranus 1019 PM, 3:05 Pisces. A connection with the collective unconscious can bring new ideas into usable, practical design. The ideas come fast and furious, and a plan to record them should be implemented.

2/29 Bonus day - Leap Year.



FEBRUARY 2004 SYMBOLISM

February comes from the Latin, Febris (meaning the fever of love), and was named for Juno-Februa, mother of Mars, patroness of the passion, or fire of love. February’s birthstone is the amethyst -- the gemstone used in the rings of Catholic Bishops, and in many rosaries. It symbolizes spirituality, faithfulness, spiritual attunement, temperance, peace, and quietude. It is the stone associated with the 7th Chakra, and has been used as an amulet for breaking bad habits and addictions. Amethysts were used in hand-fastings, showing faithfulness and stability. Valerian, the herb associated with February, quiets the nerves, allays pain, and promotes sleep.

Midway between the four points of the solstices and equinoxes are the Cross-Quarter Days, the fixed points of the natural year, represented in the Catholic Church by the four Gospels, and symbolized by a man (Aquarius), a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), and an eagle (Scorpio). These correspond to the four Pagan fire festivals. About halfway in the Sun’s journey through the fixed sign of Aquarius, is the man-point. The Cross-Quarter Days are all 15 degrees of fixed signs, and support the eighth harmonic division of the Earth’s orbital year. In concept, this correlates to the Lunation cycle, which is an eighth harmonic division of the Moon’s orbital month. The timing of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth varies from the timing of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, which accounts for the offset of the calendar systems.

Eid-al-Adha or “Feast of Sacrifice”, February 1 this year is the most important feast of the Muslim calendar. It recalls Ibraham’s obedience to Allah for being willing to sacrifice his son Ishmael. As the sacrifice was about to be made, a voice from heaven stopped Ibraham and allowed him to sacrifice a ram instead. In this modern culture, Muslim families celebrate by sharing their bounty with their neighbors and with poor families. The festival begins with the tenth day of the Islamic month Dhul-Hijjah, and is the culmination of the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage in Mecca.

February 1 is also the first cross-quarter festival in the Celtic or Pagan calendar: Imbolc, or Oimelc (both pronounced "ee-melc"). It is also known as Brigantia, which corresponds with the festival of the Norse goddess, Brigid (in Ireland, the virgin goddess Bridhe) who embodies the three-fold nature of the goddess, and their powers of healing, smithcraft, & poetry/divination. In Greco-Roman mythology the triune nature of the goddess is maiden, mother and crone, and at the cross-quarter the goddess is transformed from the barren hag of winter back again to the vibrant virgin bride of spring. Imbolc, which means “ewe’s milk”, refers to the first lactation of the year, promising new lambs and a blessed spring. Imbolc is a time of commitment to the waxing Light of the coming spring, and dedicated to purification and cleansing.

February 2 is Groundhog’s day. Tradition tells us if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be another 6 weeks of winter - a correlation to the 46-day penitence of Lent. Candlemas (February 2nd) is the Christian feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary. A Mass is said for the blessing of the candles and the return of the Light, commemorating when Jesus was first presented in the temple. Many Roman Catholics perform a novena (9 days of formal prayer), ending on February 11th: the festival for The Lady of Fatima (which was the name of Mohammed’s daughter). Our Lady of Fatima is said to have appeared in Lourdes near an ancient Celtic healing spring (once in Islamic territory), and is associated with Februa, Greco-Roman goddess of fire, the Sun, and healing.

February 3 is the feast day of St Blase (Blaise) was a martyred Armenian Bishop in the fourth century, who tamed and healed wild animals. On his way to prison, he healed a boy who was choking to death on a fishbone with a blessing that dissolved the fishbone. His feast day celebrates the blessing of the throats, using two candles. He is associated with the Slavic horse-god, Vlaise, champion of animals. Saint Blase is honored as the patron of wild animals, wool combers, and all persons who have ailments of the throat. Four healing miracles have been recorded at his shrine.

This month’s full Moon falls on February 6, St. Dorothea’s Day, a day when snow is traditionally expected. Calling our only satellite “the Moon” is rather unimaginable – rather like calling your feline, the Cat, or your canine, the Dog. Because the Moon’s phases were so closely correlated with the monthly cycles of women, ancient peoples associated it with the feminine, and recognized within it the power of the Goddess. The Romans called the Moon Luna and Diana; the Greeks referred to her as Selene and Artemis; the Norse called her Freya. In the native tradition (notably the Algonquin tribes) each month was named a magical name that culminated at the full Moon to honor and invoke protection from the changing spirit of the Moon. The full Moon in the month now known as February was known as Snow Moon, as the heaviest snows fell in that month.

St. Valentine was a Martyred Roman Priest of the 3rd century. St. Valentine's Day, February 14 holds sacred the number 5 (1 + 4). In ancient times, when a woman wanted to attract a lover or husband, five bay leaves were placed under her pillow on St. Valentine's eve. This holiday has an association with lovebirds, and their first matings of the year. St Valentine is associated with Juno, goddess of maternal and married love, and also with the Norse/Teutonic goddess of Love, Sjofn, who shares this feast day. In Scandinavia, they ran the Labyrinth on this day, as a test of love. Love is like perfume; you can't give it away without getting a little on yourself.

When a cultural/religious calendar is based on the Moon, the dates vary from our present secular calendar, and their holy days are categorized as “Moveable Feasts”. In 2004, February 22 is the Islamic New Year, Muharram; and the Tibetan New Year, Losar is celebrated from February 21 - 23.
Terminalia, (February 23) the day dedicated to the Roman god Terminus (associated with Saturn) whose purpose was to encourage people to honor the boundaries of their neighbors. Statues of the god, Terminus were used as property markers, and may have been the forerunners of address markers, much like European house names.

In 2004, February 24 is Mardi gras, which means Fat Tuesday, aka Shrove Tuesday (shrive: to confess and gain absolution), the final day of “Carnival” which comes from the Latin root, meaning “farewell to meat”. The next day (February 25) is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the Christian season of penitence and renewal in preparation for the festival of Easter. Lent comes from lencten, the Chaldean word meaning “spring” or “lengthening” (of days). In Medieval Europe meat and dairy were to be shunned, and only one meal was eaten - in the early evening. Good deeds and disciplinary behavior were offered in thanksgiving for the sacrifice of The Christ, and in acknowledgment of His death and resurrection. This has a parallel in the 40 days of abstinence that precedes the pagan festival of the fire-goddess of the morning star, Astarte. On Ash Wednesday in the Christian tradition, a cross is drawn on the forehead of the penitent with ashes made from palm leaves that were burned on Palm Sunday, as the symbolism of sorrow, regret, and humility, and a reminder of our humanness, and that we are worthy of redemption. The palm tree is the tree of life in the Babylonian Garden of Eden story, and symbolizes hope for the future. The Hebrew word for palm is tamar, their name for the goddess, Ashtaroth, aka Astarte, Ishtar, and Venus-Hesperos (Evening Star). Astarte rescued and healed a palm tree uprooted from the Garden of Eden by a great flood.

“We do not take possession of our ideas, but rather are possessed by them.
They force us into the arena, where, like gladiators, we must fight for them”

By Heine, from “Sun-Sealed”, by George P. McIntyre, 1893.

Roxana Muise, PO Box 3948, Lacey, WA 98509-3948 USA
Phone: 360/456-7836 - Email: [email protected]
http://www.roxanamuise.com