We open in media res, albeit in a small break in the action. The moon is past all of her major aspects this morning, and so the day may begin feeling stuck in the mud, despite all of the momentum provided by last week’s dynamic movements of Mercury, Venus, and Mars. Things should get moving again by mid-afternoon, as the moon enters cardinal Cancer, and by evening will be shining her light onto exalted Venus in Pisces. The highlight on Venus should make it a pleasant night, though the impulse to deal with ongoing projects may feel like it’s intruding on pleasantries as the moon will also run into a square with Jupiter.

This array of aspects persists through Thursday (2/2,) where Venusian concerns may grow particularly hot and heavy, what with her making partile configurations to the nodes, and as she begins to lock into a square with newly-mobile Mars. Whether you’re making art or love here, or if you’re even just taking in culture, there’s a significance here which feels like a balloon of pent-up emotion being popped. Hopefully, it’s all the ecstatic parts or release for you, not another bubble being burst. The actors in this picture also point to the simple truth that making the sweeter things in life happen can take a little effort, and you may feel called on to roll your sleeves up and peel that delicious and juicy piece of fruit. This Venus-Mars square will perfect on the full moon. More on that in a moment.

Friday (2/3) brings a bit of a rollercoaster as the moon finds herself in opposition to Mercury in the morning, Pluto in the evening, and in a soft aspect to Neptune midday. Among other things, the moon represents hearts and appetites, and this will place a big brick wall between her and structured communication – not a productive day for office meetings. Pluto, meanwhile, turns the earth below into concrete; while you know something big is going on beneath the surface of things, it is either impossible to parse out what that is, or so repulsive that you wouldn’t want to. The trine to Neptune is a saving grace on the day, as we’re more likely to go limp and tune out into various comforts. There’s a higher likelihood of missing important messages this day, or flaking on important tasks, so don’t let yourself drift away completely.

Saturday (2/4) could be the fallout to something missed, or it could be a completely new issue, but it’s coming in hot either way. The Sun locks into an exact square with Uranus here, master of revelation and revolution. Surprises are likely, and while I don’t make predictions about such things, it is within expectation that we might see some shocking headlines about big-name figures on this day, especially those of a counter-culture or iconoclastic bent. You may see a smaller-scale version of this in your circle. The effect would be difficult to call given Uranus’ general unpredictability, but given that it’s a square, it’s probably not good: a sudden accident, a reputation-ruining scandal, that sort of thing. Though this aspect is just now becoming exact, it has been locking in for the past week or so.

In fact, as I write this I think of the recent news about Justin Roiland, who would probably fit this bill – if not for himself, then for the characters he gave life and voice to. Looking back on that particular story: the news broke just after the moon made contact with Mercury Rx (significant because the story was actually about a domestic violence allegation from two years prior,) and Mercury had just clicked into an exact trine to the North Node-Uranus conjunction. Then Adult Swim officially cut ties with him just as the Sun (fresh off a conjunction to Pluto) clicked into a square with North Node-Uranus, in what many would consider the minimum orb for the Sun. Worth noting and has been on my mind.

Sunday (2/5) brings us the Full Moon in Leo, which occurs in square to Uranus and the nodes. Whatever I said about Sun-Uranus matters yesterday goes double here. This occurs on the same day that Venus locks into a partile square with Mars (though she’ll be just past it by the time of the actual lunation,) so what was written above about their relationship also gets doubled-down this weekend. It’s a highly-charged day that carries the full boil of influences which have been bubbling up. Here is an excerpt from my Aquarius Season piece:

“The Moon in Leo is a demand for attention, a scream for the sensational amid all of this cold Aquarian logic, a cue for brightly-plumed personalities to take the stage. This lunation takes place square to Uranus and the nodes, meaning it may set some things into motion that can’t be taken back, for good or ill. There is also a trine to the pile-up in Aries: Jupiter, Juno, and Chiron…who will likely lend courage to many trying to project from their diaphragm. The moon will also be sextile to Mars, which should do the same vis-a-vis gumption, but this is also the same time that Mars will be square to Venus. Drama is likely with this moon, but so is self-assertion and self-acceptance.”

The wake of an intense weekend leads into Monday (2/6,) where the asteroids Juno and Chiron become conjunct. Juno asks us to commit, and Chiron asks us to heal. At the same time, Mercury will be making a trine to Neptune, structured logic dissolving as it explores a world of the ineffable. The whole array of aspects feels like art therapy to me. Take that as you will. Mercury also begins to lock into a conjunction with Pluto, a pressurized, airlock gate to the underworld through which we have recently seen both Venus and the Sun pass. More on this next week, but suffice it to say that some deep ruminations may be incoming or already underway.

Tuesday (2/7) has the Moon in Virgo opposing Venus, possibly providing reminders that what we are drawn to is not always what is good for us. Uranus and Mars are still in the mix of influences here, so the heads-up may not be so gentle. Enjoy with care.

See you next Hump Day!