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Boots Hart's Monthly Astro Overview

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Boots Hart Astrological Overview Boots Hart provides an overview and synthesis of the major energies, transits and key dates for the month as a whole.

by Boots Hart

Although the calendar turns over on January 1, it takes a bit of time to really get into the "new year, new gear" mode—which makes sense. On the human and humane level, Capricorn is all about tradition and carrying things to completion (i.e., last year's business), while Aquarius is more the signature of innovation, change, modernization and moving into the future. And (oh yes) income, societal doings, human rights, freedom and equality…all that.

So, as the concept of the new sinks in and the month of Aquarius comes upon us, I'm dedicating this year to breaking out of molds, which means a little less conservative reverence and a little more edge, which for those of you who know me personally seems apt, seeing as how I'm an intellectual Goth by nature (i.e., a non-follower-of-the-mainstream).

And in getting to it, let's start with February opening in the wake of a Solar Eclipse with Mercury going direct on February 1 (or really late on January 31 if you're in a western Americas time zone, or Pacific Basin). In conjunction with asteroid Photographica at 20 Capricorn and in opposition to TNO Varuna at 19 Cancer, Mercury presents an "almost" moment. Things Memorable should be going on, Right? But…well, they've stopped a mite short of stunning and/or sterling.

With this Mercury station in the sign of justice, government and commerce (which is to say business, not income) it's likely there's a lot of talk and shuffling going on. But we all know talk is often just talk, and a lot of paper isn't worth the pulp which went into it. So don't expect miracles. In fact, given that it's going to take until February 20 for Mercury to cover the cosmic ground needed to reach the point where it originally went retrograde (7 Aquarius), a good deal of what goes on now is likely to sound like "blah, blah, blah"—variations on themes already heard, with promises being trumpeted that are not as important as getting into gear…which isn't happening yet. Referred to as the "shadow" of a retrograde, this period after a planet goes direct, when it hasn't yet cleared the zodiacal degrees associated with the retrograde, typically manifests as the "working out" of things which arose just prior to and as the retrograde began, which in this case points back to January 11.

One other (giant) note here: since the inauguration of President Obama took place under Mercury retrograde, his is not going to be an administration which shoots from the hip and yes, he is going to have to contend with leftovers from the previous administration. Because all retrogrades also refer to a "turning inward," this suggests the Obama Administration will focus more on domestic issues rather than international matters.

Whether in a natal, corporate, relationship or any other kind of chart, Mercury retrograde is a signature of a need to think things over, do revisions, make sure of one's facts—and listen. To some—particularly those with Mercury direct in their chart—this is particularly frustrating in one's own life. In someone else, it can look like hesitation, indecision, dalliance, judgment or even manipulation. But it's not. In this case, with Mercury doing a turnabout in Capricorn, the question is whether things are in place to move ahead. Solidity and viability ensured now give a better basis for moving forward; even if errors occur or missteps are taken, a good structure will prevent substantial loss. With TNO Varuna around, emotions are running high and the unexpected is to be expected, particularly where oversights of a moral or societal nature may have occurred. Put it all together and this is no time to rush. Work things through and don't count your chickens until they hatch. But at least with Mercury going direct, some things will begin moving again, ending several weeks of feeling like we're being asked to hold our breath.

Yet no sooner have Mercurial wheels begun to turn again, than Venus moves into Aries on February 3 (February 2 for those in the western Americas and the Pacific Basin). The first thing to think about here is that any planet which enters Aries gets "repolarized" by opposition to supermassive black hole M87, the great cosmic feature gracing the gateway to Libra. Those who live in the northern hemisphere think of Aries as Spring, but since in the southern hemisphere Aries connotes Fall, the issue can't be about seasons. And it isn't. It's about shifting gears and changing directions. So expect flips and turnarounds. Expect things which have gone away to reappear, and things which have been going down to go up—and vice versa. Venus in Aries can be a stabilizing force if it causes us to take a good hard look at ourselves, but because we don't always like what we see, it also has a reputation for arrogance, denial and irritable behavior. People often feel rejected or dissatisfied under this influence and try to make things better through making "surface" changes—but that's not the answer. Venus in Aries can be highly productive if we're patient and willing to employ a decent sense of honest proportion and realistic limitation. And don't forget to add a dash of emotional maturity; with Venus kicking off the Aries festivities in the company of asteroid Aphrodite, relationships are a prime territory for acting out, showing off or flaunting one's feathers just to get our own way. So while it may be a lot to ask, do keep your cool—and if you can, try not to forget the various meanings of the word "consideration."  

Financial prudence is another important factor during this Venus in Aries period, especially with Mars entering Aquarius on February 4. Accompanied by a half-bevy of asteroids including Sisyphus (endless toil), Icarus (foolish overestimation or flights of optimism), Atlantis (rebirth through becoming resigned and letting go), Persephone (mandated consequences) and Apophis (destruction survived through faith and perseverance), this assertively minded Aquarian Mars may arouse as many feelings of lack and disenchantment as hope. Yet though despondency may loom and the tasks of the moment seem somewhere between annoying and daunting, once we get into whatever's facing us, we're likely to find it isn't all that hard. It might even be fun! And if you keep an open mind and think things over, you may realize this moment is actually providing you with some new, creative… something which can be profitably used somewhere down the line. Just don't overdo, overstep or overreach. By pacing yourself, you may well avoid the down side of the Persephone message which here suggests that a bit of concerted restraint today may well avoid a double-migraine on the 'morrow.

And lest you think I'm not going to bring up Pluto in Capricorn, dream on! But this month we're going to look at the situation a bit differently—through Pluto's agents, one might say. Coming to us under the transit name Saturn opposing Uranus, this part of the Plutonic long-term shift [ed. note: you can learn more about this Plutonic shift here and here] involves a year-long "revolutionary evolution," which on February 5 comes into exact focus yet again.

What does this mean? Well, we have a couple of hints, the plainest of which is that this exactitude occurs just as Jupiter is activating the degree of Mercury's January 11 station, indicating a change of thought (or life) direction. With life-structure symbol Saturn in retrograde, the full extent of what we can no longer do (or be), and what we need to now do (or be) instead, is really hitting home. The Saturnine status quo is plainly wedged between deepening concerns that current solutions aren't enough to maintain stability (TNO Typhon) and more and more news that just keeps coming down life's pipe (TNO Logos). Even worse, though we'd like to complain that life just continues to throw curve balls (curve ball being a Uranian game), there's a sense of inner knowledge that we all knew better. We knew this was coming, long before we stopped partying and playing with the kids (asteroid Nemesis). And how is this cosmic conglomerate in league with and in service to Pluto in Capricorn? Simple: through Saturn, ruler of Capricorn.

Which only leaves…well, what about Uranus? Ah yes. Aquarius, sign of the marketplace. Income. Society and society's physical and social infrastructure. That's where Uranus comes in, as Saturn and Uranus are the joint rulers of Aquarius—the sign Mars just moved into; the sign Neptune has been rolling through for a decade. And ever since Neptune entered Aquarius (with Moon Triton orbiting in its curiously counter-rotational manner), global prosperity began turning into a planetary greed-fest decorated with death-defying emphasis on looks and showy wealth. That's when ideals began fueling anarchy, atheism and fundamentalism as rights instead of as beliefs. Neptune in Aquarius has manifested as ecological consciousness, and also in unparalleled waste; in fat cats thinking it's okay to get fatter while others starve, and also in equality in commerce, courtesy of the Internet. Because Aquarius espouses freedom from sense as easily as it supports liberation from bondage, Neptune's presence in this sign has supported a sort of elation and simultaneous delusion and dismay across the board: if you're a fundamentalist, you think the world is dissolving in a sea of sin, ignorance or law-breaking. If you're a capitalist, your profits are being subsumed by a veritable sea of red ink. If you're an everyday citizen just trying to have a nice life, you see your efforts and happiness being washed away by wave upon wave of unmanaged societal fractionalization and collapse.

But not to lose hope—where Neptune is, faith grows amidst trials, specifically by eliminating the isolating barriers with which we attempt to protect ourselves. Which, in the end, means the lesson here is a really old one: we're in this life together. There's one planet and we all live here. And though we may have different customs or likes and dislikes, we all want to survive—as do the birds, beasts, bees, fishes and rainforests. We're all chosen to be here. We're all alike in being unique and uniquely precious. And we'd all do a lot better if we'd stop trying to one-up one another, and start to show each other some common courtesy in living, letting live and supporting life.

For some, a great "letting go" moment will come with the Lunar Eclipse of February 9 at 20 Leo. And if that's you, you'll know it—you'll get a clear message that you're really on track as life opens doors, allowing you to enjoy the feeling of having "done it right" promised by asteroid Elatus. And if you're not on track? Well…remember that old story "The Lady or the Tiger"? That's sort of like this eclipse. If you've been too much about you (i.e., more take than give), tread lightly, for there's a fairly daunting group of cosmic commentators clustered in opposition to this eclipse: Damocles (danger in arrogance), asteroid Tantalus (temptation), Chiron (painful necessity), asteroid Minerva (native understanding) and—lo and behold—Neptune. Given the order and degrees implied here, if there is a problem, it concerns an error which focuses on how we can but shouldn't act (guilty choices)…and/or an inner struggle which weighs being "good" against the perils which may arise from being….well, less than good (fear of recrimination).

In any case, this eclipse is likely to manifest as all such lunar eclipses do—in a flurry of emotional tussles, challenges and snafus. Given that Leo's involved, there's the give-versus-take thing, as well as an issue of earning our satisfaction through what we do, not because someone comes along and makes everything fairy-tale-perfect. Respect and self-respect can get confused in such a moment, making it difficult to think things through, but if we try to gauge repercussions and consequences before we speak, act or make that all-important choice, we'll be better off. If the going gets tough, stay cool. And if you think you'll be best off doing nothing—think again. Though lunar eclipses are often high-octane periods, they're also relatively short-lived (about three months long) and can be incredibly productive if you learn from the situation and act knowingly from what you now learn.      

Speaking of choices, what are you doing for Valentine's Day? I ask only because Mercury enters Aquarius on February 14—just as Mars takes its turn rolling over the degree of Mercury's January 11 station, which is the same degree Jupiter came to on February 5. For some this will be a moment of lofty romance, and why not? When you speak of uniting Aquarius and Mercury, for better and for worse really becomes a truism about mortal life. It's not all perfect—but life oft does try us so that we come to appreciate the simple pleasures…and each other, more.     

The last notes for this month concern the Sun entering Pisces on February 18, almost fittingly in opposition to TNO Orcus and asteroid Urania. Known rather disparagingly as "wishy-washy," Pisces is the sign of altruistic trial wherein emotional indecision partners with self-recrimination against longing and a strangely reassuring knowledge that you're no better nor worse than anyone else…in other words, we're all screwy in our own way, if also all just as marvelously, wonderfully human. So may the month of Pisces bring out your originality and inspire you to love yourself and others while laughing more, sweating the small stuff less, relaxing in realization that you can't control fate, and with a little faith in the fabulous nature of everyone's quirks and that we all must find our unique and separate way. With the New Moon at 6 Pisces opposite dwarf planet Ceres on February 25 (February 24 for those in the western Americas and Pacific Basin), a few errors may show themselves up and a few flies may apply to get into your ointment but what the hey—so long as we're breathing, life—by definition—isn't lost.

And that, in the end, is worth living for.

Have a good month!

Boots Hart, CAP  

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