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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1. Moon is in lively Gemini today, and the energy moves right along. It is, however, a bumpy ride, and the day is likely to be quite stressful. Feelings and desires will be intense, and yet Gemini Moon may have a hard time acknowledging that intensity. Creativity, joy, obsession, and anxiety are all part of today’s bundle. Expression of ideas is easiest for Gemini, but pay attention to underlying emotional content. We may find ourselves running into distractions.

Part of the equation now is the Mercury-Chiron conjunction. Mind meets the Wounded Healer to begin a new one-year cycle. Its primary purpose is protection of vested interests. Money will be a major focus for the next year—and we will see it in new contexts.

Tonight Sun conjoins Neptune to begin a new one-year arts/spiritual cycle. This is a great time to set in motion new artistic, creative, and business projects. Sun will be in that great idealistic space between Neptune and Uranus from now through February 21.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 2. Yesterday’s new beginnings continue to gain momentum. However, the supporting energy is quite different. Moon enters Cancer at 9:03 a.m., and our outlook becomes both more sensitive and more practical. We are willing to work very hard this afternoon and evening, and concentration is excellent. Both today and tomorrow are enterprising days. We bring concentrated energy to our endeavors.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 3. This is a day of success in whatever we undertake. With Moon still in Cancer, matters reflecting family or personal security are prominent. Mars moves into Taurus, and our capacity for hard work increases for the next six weeks. Taurus is also obstinate. We will not give up a project which we start. Perseverance does have rewards.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4. Moon in Cancer gives us another creative morning. At 12:52 p.m. EST, Moon goes VOC. It enters fun-loving Leo at 7:50 p.m. Plan a party tonight.

Chiron remains in our radar for the next few days. Besides Vesta, Chiron is connected with Pallas Athena, the great strategist. Pallas is traveling through Aries now, and her strategy involves meeting challenges, taking new initiatives, and facing competition. This is an excellent placement for helping on the campaign trail. Pallas is now moving across the top of Bush’s chart, aiding him in his election ambitions. The Pallas connections to Mercury-Vesta-Chiron show Bush’s Moon initiative—Mercury communicates it, Vesta funds it, and Chiron loves to take off into outer space.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5. Today we are inspired about people and possibilities, including our own performances. Moon in dramatic Leo connects with visionary Neptune, and we can make stories, music, art. We can let our imaginations soar, and lift our spirits heavenwards. We feel the pull of the magic Full Moon. This would be another great night to party—under the light of the moon. (See below.) Lively energy runs through the night.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6. Full Moon at 17 Leo occurs at 3:47 a.m. EST. During Aquarius time we are immersed in the collective. Leo Moon comes along and says, Hey, how about the individual? Granted, we are all a collection of stars—but I am a special star within that collective, and I shine my own light. Look at me! This is the most humanistic full moon of the year. It is about people, and the appreciation of people, collectively and singly. It’s a great party moon. Plan for a lot of talking, because Aquarius has lots of ideas to share. Friendship is the key.

Neptune is the planet of this Moon—Neptune in all its mystery and grandeur. We bring in spirit in its many guises, and we play with the imagination. Music, drugs, and glamour are Neptunian. (Neptune was in Leo during the roaring twenties.) So are dreams, and vistas of far-off places. Anything we can imagine is Neptunian. This is a very inventive, creative moment.

However, Neptune needs reality checks to be effective in manifesting. And they are here as well. The Moon’s Nodes, opposite one another in Taurus and Scorpio, square the Full Moon. Taurus and Scorpio are about as real as you can get. They relate to resources, energy, and to survival. Along with Aquarius Sun and Leo Moon, they create a fixed grand cross, a very stressful configuration. These are the degrees, signs, and configuration of that Great Solar Eclipse of August 11, 1999, which ran from New York through Europe, the Middle East, and into India, all areas which have been in turmoil since then.

The dichotomy of these fixed signs represents clearly our current struggle for people before profits. Neptune in Aquarius is in the people camp. Jupiter in Virgo, the only other planet closely aspecting the Full Moon, is apt to be in the profit camp.

A grand cross backs us into a corner. We must make a choice, and yet a good choice seems impossible. An option is to think in new ways, and to combine these choices. In this case, using resources for the good of humankind instead of for profits combines it all, but in a new way. This Full Moon’s question is, are we up to that? Do we want it sufficiently to overcome the inertia of our present cultural course of rewarding greed?

Uranus, freshly into Pisces, can help us to learn to value spiritual impulses for the next seven years. Uranus is aided at this Moon by Mars freshly into Taurus, a sign of manifestation. And Uranus will be featured at the New Moon in Pisces two weeks from now, as its momentum begins to build.

In Washington DC, Pluto now is exactly rising, indicating that the power of the Administration will be in full swing. Pluto is well connected to Wounded Healer Chiron and to Strategist Pallas, both discussed above. Leo Moon itself will come to trine Pluto this morning, before going VOC at 12:38 p.m. EST. The morning is a power morning.

Moon is VOC for the remainder of the day.

This moon family began on August 8, 2002, with a huge barrage of propaganda for the Iraq invasion, plus Washington’s non-cooperation with outside inspection. At that time, almost the entire world, except for Tony Blair, coalesced against the U.S. At the quarter moon on May 9, 2003, Bush introduced a resolution to the UN for the U.S. and the UK to handle Iraq’s oil and resources. Indeed, the U.S. greed lines were clearly laid out.

The Sabian Symbol for 17 Leo is:

"A VOLUNTEER CHURCH CHOIR SINGING RELIGIOUS HYMNS. Religion in its institutionalized aspect is the attempt to give a transcendental character to the feeling of community. The fellowship of common work needed for substance and security in a dangerous world is exalted in periodic rituals in which the co-workers participate. At such moments the consciousness and feelings of human beings flow into a common mold in which they become refreshed by the experience of shared values and beliefs. TOGETHERNESS."

The Full Moon goes through Iran and Saudi Arabia.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 and SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8. After an emotional and unusual Full Moon time, Virgo Moon brings us down to earth this weekend. Saturday is an energetic and focused day, when we can get a lot done. Anything which requires attention to detail, such as writing, is favored. (This is my birthday, and I was born with moon in Virgo. It makes me happy that moon is in Virgo again today!) Sunday begins by being fairly laid back, but by evening aggression is picking up, and we may find ourselves involved in an argument. Let it pass.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 9. Moon is traveling through loving Libra, and we start the week on a social note, glad to connect with others. This is a very active day. There will be messages, people, and packages coming and going. Energy is coalescing around Saturn at 7 Cancer for the remainder of the week. Saturn indicates that we are moving into an obstacle or blockage. It could even be bad weather, because Juno is involved. Today may be the time to get things done.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10. Moon continues in artistic Libra, with an easy flow of social energy. There is also an opportunity to raise our consciousness. This is a perfect day for attending to the arts. Susan and I, for instance, are planning to go to the Modern Art Museum. The harmonious energy extends into late evening.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11. Plan to be with people you like and with whom you can be spontaneous, and enjoy the morning. Moon is VOC in Libra until 2:58 p.m. EST, when it goes into Scorpio. With Scorpio we enter three days of emotional intensity. Some people may be making some hard decisions today, and by nighttime we all become more serious. This may be a wakeful night. Relaxation and mind-calming techniques might be useful. As an alternative, we could stay up and work on a project—and sleep late tomorrow, when the vibe is more relaxing.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12. This is a smooth, dreamy inner day. We could, in fact, be lulled to sleep. Use your spare moments to catch up on your sleep today. You might even have some inspiring dreams, for imagination is free to roam. This day could also be extra creative.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13. Last Quarter Moon at 25 Scorpio occurs at 8:39 a.m. EST. During each moon cycle we learn and create something new. If you think of your birth chart, each month the prevailing moon stimulates a different part of your chart (you) as it travels around, and by the end of one year it has covered your whole chart. Towards the end of each moon cycle, there is a period of re-evaluation. We find there are some kernels of wisdom which we want to hang onto, but other developments which we need to release. Last Quarter marks the crux of that time. It is sometimes called a "crisis of consciousness" (a la Dane Rudhyar). It marks the time of consciousness change resulting from the current moon cycle.

With Aquarius, our consciousness change is about how we can better serve humanity. Scorpio can destroy the dead wood which prevents us from following our light.

Connected with this moon is Transpluto, the alchemical energy of resurrection. Out of this month’s creation, something can be reborn. That rebirth is connected with strategist Pallas Athena, in the pioneering sign of Aries. (As I noted earlier, Pallas is now on Bush’s midheaven, his public image.)

This is a time of structuring, or restructuring, a relationship. However, there is some stress or pressure involved.

This Moon is at the degree of the Lunar Eclipse of May 15, 2003. There was much happening at that time, including further Bush bullying of the UN. Bush also filed for the 2004 presidential race at that time. (He’s "eclipsed"?)

Immediately after the moon phase, Moon goes VOC for the remainder of the day. This is truly a time when we can let go. At 6:35 p.m. EST, Moon enters fun-loving Sagittarius, and the night will be both productive and interesting.

The Sabian Symbol for 25 Scorpio is:

"AN X-RAY PHOTOGRAPH. The capacity to acquire a knowledge of the structural factors in all existence. This provides the individual who refuses to obey her society with a depth understanding of what is wrong in the situation she faces. Beyond the powerful feeling of peak experiences, the mind can understand the great Principles of which they were the manifestation. This is STRUCTURAL KNOWLEDGE."

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14. Today there is pressure on partnerships. A major issue is stability vs. independence. The persistent and methodical efforts of Taurus Mars can bring resolution. Moon in philosophical Sagittarius is also a help in alleviating strains. This can be a communicative, intuitive day, and it can culminate with good feelings. Stay with it.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15. Good communication and heightened consciousness mark the morning. Resolve now any leftover tensions from yesterday. Compassion may be the means. Moon goes VOC at 3:20 p.m. EST, and remains VOC until it enters Capricorn at 9:14 p.m. Adventure a bit this afternoon, and be prepared for surprises. Energy may be lively tonight.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 16. This is a three-day weekend for many. Nevertheless, Capricorn Moon today is great for work. We are energized and focused, and can be very productive.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17. And today is a contrast; we have a VOC moon for the entire day. VOC time tends to feel aimless, but Capricorn moon simply cannot be aimless, and we will create our own direction.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18. With Moon in Aquarius, we feel energized. Venus squares Ceres in Cancer today. Within a few weeks, Venus has tense relations with each of the asteroids. It looks like conditions on the home front are being neglected in favor of more exciting challenges. Energy moves well today, and by tonight we are ready for the Sun’s entrance into Pisces as we prepare for New Moon early on February 20.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19. Sun is in Pisces, and Moon continues in Aquarius. This is a very universal combination, and the nitty gritty of mundane life may not be in our scope today. Minds and imaginations can fly. Communication is excellent this morning, and at 12:33 p.m. EST, Moon goes VOC. Let it all go now. Empty yourself in preparation for the New Moon tomorrow.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20. New Moon at 2 Pisces occurs at 4:18 a.m. EST. We begin today a month of revisioning. During the last Aquarius month we got in touch with our ideals. Now we develop the visualizations which will lie behind manifesting those ideals. Our imaginations are very fluid now, and exceptionally sensitive to everything around us. It is all grist for the pictures we are creating which will be models for our activities.

It is particularly helpful now to surround ourselves with things, ideas, and images which positively inspire us. Movies, TV, books, and pictures are extra important now in our lives. Make of all of your life now a collage, a medley of images which reflect how you want to be and to live. Images which we assimilate now will be used that way anyway. Now is the time to make our choices.

Sun and Moon now both conjoin Uranus to stimulate new ideas, new creativity, new ways of seeing the world. This New Moon is really Uranus’ grand sendoff into Pisces, escorted by the King and Queen of Heaven. We truly plant the seeds now for Uranus seven-year trip through Pisces.

Pisces is a spiritualizing sign. We tune into the psychic, nontangible forces of the universe, those forces which provide the matrix for life. If our channels are not receptive to those forces, they can feel very confusing and misleading. One way or another, Piscean forces bring us together. Union is their essence. We can come to ultimately understand that we are all one, and that love is the great leveler.

Uranus is an energy of ideas and of ideals. It has an eye on the future, and is very mentally receptive. We have here a highly mentally receptive planet in a spiritually receptive sign, and the sky’s the limit as to creative possibilities. If we could shift our consciousness into a mode of planetary service, we could begin to envision and to create a "golden" age during these seven years. Both the arts, and new approaches to spirituality, will blossom. Pisces refers to the grand patterns, and one of those is the ecosystem. We could come to understand and appreciate nature’s grand design and our place in it, and invent new ways to live in harmony with it. Possibilities are endless with this synergy. On the other hand, false prophets and purveyors of false spiritualism can thrive in this environment. Key: does a teaching resonate completely with your higher self?

Aspects now are very supportive of the nurturing of this special New Moon energy. We have only one stress aspect, which lasts for the remainder of the month—and it shows a telling story:

That aspect is Neptune in Aquarius square the Moon’s Nodes in Taurus and Scorpio. Those Moon’s Nodes are involved with bodily, earthy survival. On the other hand, Neptune is the cosmic channel. It is concerned with our eternal souls, not our ephemeral bodies. We see here the classic struggle between materialism and spiritualism.

Neptune is Pisces’ ruler, in charge of this show, and thus the God of the Sea, the place where everything dissolves and everything is reborn, has the last word now. However, Mars in Taurus is in a powerful place at the bottom of the chart set for Washington DC. Look for aggressive action from the U.S. to secure its resources.

Moon continues in Pisces through tomorrow. Thus we get a solid start in this unique New Moon expression.

The Sabian Symbol for 2 Pisces is:

"A SQUIRREL HIDING FROM HUNTERS. The individual’s need to both ensure his future subsistence and to protect himself from aggressive social elements. Social processes always cast strong shadows. The individual is never certain of being safe among fellows, once the process of individualization—with its negative aspects, competition, social aggressiveness and greed—forces the breakdown of the organic tribal state of humankind during the archaic ages. The need for SELF-PROTECTION and caution is ever present."

This New Moon rises in Brazil, sets in the Far East, and is overhead in the Mideast.. Mars runs through the U.S. East Coast, Haiti, Latin America, England, France, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Iceland is particularly stressed now.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21. Moon in gentle Pisces squares powerful Pluto this afternoon to give us a jolt of power. In addition, tonight Sun makes its exact conjunction with unpredictable Uranus. Vibrations will be high all day and night. We may want to do something unusual.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22. Moon enters martial Aries today. But it is a sober Aries, for its first aspect is a square with Saturn, who tends to be a wet blanket for Aries’ enthusiasms. With Saturn we often want to do purposeful work, perhaps to build something.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 23. We march right along with Moon in Aries, and spirits high. This is an action day. Perhaps women are featured. We are also building up to the most stressful days of the month, February 24-27, and we may feel a bit of apprehension.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24. Moon continues in Aries, keeping us busy with ideas and with communication. At 1:54 p.m. Moon goes VOC, and at 4:30 p.m. EST, Moon enters sensual Taurus. At about the same time, Mars squares Neptune in the heavens. This is a difficult, potentially debilitating aspect. It is in the U.S. natal chart, and thus the U.S. will be especially sensitive to it. Mars wants to accomplish its aims in a straightforward manner, and Neptune throws all kinds of complications in its path—physical, mental, and psychological. There is a restlessness and a desire to achieve, but at the same time there is subtle undermining. Action can also be fueled by delusion. And betrayal can be part of the scenario. In other words, we are not clear about what we’re doing, and we’re probably fooling ourselves about our motivation.

It’s best now to lie low, evaluate circumstances carefully, and don’t push the river.

Mars now conjoins the North Node of the Moon, at 14 Taurus. There is reaching to gather resources and to fulfill a material destiny. It is Washington’s call, for this Mars/Node conjunction is exactly overhead in Washington at the time of the exact square. Mars marks the peak of a grand earth trine, which gives it a practicality and ease of operation.

14 Taurus is a combustible degree. It is close to the powerful Total Lunar Eclipse of November 8-9, 2003. It is opposite from the Total Lunar Eclipse which will be in evidence on May 4, 2004. Something valuable may well be eclipsed between now and May 4.

The night has aspects which keep us on our toes. This may be a restless night.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25. Moon continues in earthy Taurus with many good building aspects. This is a good time to put any kind of structure in place. The problematic Mars-Neptune energy continues with the addition of Moon, who both connects it with the public, and adds physical expression. Tonight Moon features Mars by eclipsing it. Often an eclipse means simply that—in this case assertive energy being eclipsed. In Taurus, money and finances are likely focal points.

Ceres turns direct today. She is under stress, and we may hear her call out for help in her mission. In Cancer, Ceres wants to provide family security—food, housing, transportation, decent employment, education, health care, and safety. All winter this goal has been very challenging, and right now attention is especially drawn to those problems. They will be in high focus for the remainder of the month.

Ceres turning direct may also draw our attention to the starvation going on in the world, including in the United States.

Moon goes VOC at 9:55 p.m. EST.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26. Moon is VOC in Taurus for the entire day. Usually, things don’t go as planned during VOC moon times. However, we have a strong Mars-Jupiter aspect today, and it will demand action. This is in the wake of the lunar occultation of Mars, and this Mars action may be unusual—especially during a VOC moon time. Notice your energy, and how you apply it.

Tonight we have another high level meeting. Mercury, lower mind, meets Uranus, higher mind, to infuse the mind with new ideas. This combination also ups the amps of our nervous system, and tonight could be wakeful. You might want to have a notebook handy to jot down some of those ideas, for later guidance. This conjunction also begins a new one-year cycle in inventive thinking.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27. Moon enters Gemini at 4:22 a.m., and indeed our minds go a mile a minute today, and maybe our mouths as well. This is a Mercury-Uranus day, very stimulating. Moon affirms their meeting, and then brings the Mercury-Uranus high vibration energy to Sun at First Quarter Moon at 9 Gemini at 10:24 p.m. EST.

This is an auspicious start for the creativity, mental alacrity, and inventiveness of the Mercury-Uranus cycle. First Quarter is when we set much of our new moon cycle in motion. Begin new projects now.

This moon is also the First Quarter of the moon cycle which began with a Solar Eclipse on May 31, 2003. At that time there was a G-8 meeting which was a failure because no other countries agreed with Bush on policy, especially re post-war Iraq.

This First Quarter is very energetic in a number of ways, besides simply being a breakthrough first quarter. For one thing, simply conjoining an eclipse degree, the 10 Gemini Solar Eclipse of May 31, 2003, gives it added significance and continuity.

For another thing, Moon now exactly conjoins the U.S. natal Uranus, which I think of as the firecracker planet, easily ignited resulting in a loud pop. Historically, U.S. Uranus is connected with warlike ventures on the part of the U.S., as well as with development and manifestations of nuclear energy.

A third energy contribution is the midheaven which, in Washington DC, at 9 Leo conjoins the South Ascelli, a star cluster in the constellation of Leo which coincides with Mars-type energy. Vesta, protector of the home front, sits at the nadir in Washington, opposite the midheaven, and projects through it.

And of course we have Uranus’ big debut with this New Moon, and right now the Mercury-Uranus conjunction, all pretty exciting stuff.

I think that for the U.S. government, this configuration represents a new move into nuclear weapons technology.

Refer to the entry of January 29, which shows similar U.S. connections.

The Sabian Symbol for 9 Gemini is

:"A QUIVER FILLED WITH ARROWS. Man’s aggressive relationship to natural life, as a basis for survival and conquest. The bow and arrows represent symbolically man’s ability to extend the scope of his conquest of nature and to kill enemies in order to build a larger base for the collective development of a culture and an organized society. Implied in the symbol of an arrow is the piercing of a target. The mind of man is essentially a trans-piercing power; it goes through the object toward which it is aimed. It seeks to go through and beyond the obstacles on its path, and this usually implies the destruction of the obstacle. At a higher level—as in the Zen practice of archery—the obstacle is the ego. CONQUEST."

9 Gemini also conjoins one of the major fixed stars, Aldeberan, in the constellation of Taurus. It is a bright orangish star, and is sometimes called The Eye of the Bull. Ebertin says that Uranus in conjunction with Aldeberan gives "extraordinary energy and capacity for work."

At New Moon, Uranus lines go through Iceland, Brazilia, Baghdad, Riyadh, Chechnya, the Koreas, and Adelaide, Australia.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 28. Moon continues in lively Gemini. This would be a good day for writing, and for creating specific action plans. We can tune into future vision, as well as knowledge about how processes work. Afternoon and evening are especially good for organizing our thoughts. Or we could just do our errands, and little jobs, and organize our week. We might be awake late tonight with an involvement in something emotional.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 29. Moon is VOC in Gemini for most of the day. Don’t make plans for today. Let your spontaneity loose, and play it by ear. This is a good time to relax and enjoy yourself. At 5:12 p.m. EST, Moon enters Cancer, and the emotional and sensitive water signs reign. We may want to crawl into our nests, and shut the world out.

Ceres and Juno finally have their exact opposition, for which they’re been reaching. We’ve been feeling it approaching during this last week. It shows a conflict between relating and nurturing. Perhaps parenting is an issue. Perhaps we’re feeling a lack of nurturing in relationships. Perhaps people demonstrating for better working conditions are feeling a lack of response from business. Perhaps hungry people do not feel heard.

We have another aspect which has been with us for a couple of weeks. That is Neptune squaring Moon’s Nodes. This brings a strong Neptunian influence into the collective, and we might feel somewhat vague and ungrounded. With Neptune there is a focus on imagination.