Last week proved eventful. In the wake of that big Full Moon in Leo, a chunk of the sun was ejected from one of its poles, causing some sort of solar whirlwind. The US Government has shot down a few objects that they are calling UFOs, not currently ruling out the possibility that they could be extra-terrestrial, which seems like a pretty big sneak preview into Pluto’s imminent ingress into Aquarius. And lastly, a little inside baseball: the conjunction of Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn caused a (metaphorical) firestorm in the astrology community, reigniting a dormant-but-spicy, decades-spanning scholarly debate; if it’s nothing that you particularly care about, dear reader (and unless you’re a professional astrologer, why would you?) just know that it’s a very heady debate (Mercury) reaching back into antiquity (Capricorn) to discern the origins and usages (Capricorn) of what many purport to be the progenitor (Capricorn) of a multitude of related systems (Mercury) that are used to cast and read an astrological chart (Mercury.) Check out Chris Brennan and Deb Houlding’s socials if you care to know more, and maybe don a hazmat suit if you want to lurk the comments sections. And if this is not resonant, I still wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve seen other hot-topic debates crop up out of the woodwork again – the controversy over the release of the new Harry Potter game comes to mind, itself being just an old controversy playing out anew.

Anyway, let’s get to the here and now.

We talked at length last week about the Venus-Neptune conjunction, which was clicking into place throughout the week. Today it is exact at 24 degrees Pisces, and we find ourselves immersed in the mixology of these two planets of deep, intoxicating feelings. Venus is what we are drawn toward, attracted to, luxuriate in, and Neptune represents the universal. Allowing oneself to dissolve into fantasy, the spiritual, or even just a warm bath seem like good possible currents to get pulled along, inhibitions be damned. However, given some of the other conditions of the day, there are probably several things to deal with before you take some time for either self-care or the dreamy ecstasy of ego death. The Moon in Sagittarius casts a square to this configuration, which could throw a dogmatic shade on impulses toward revelry, especially as the Sun-Saturn conjunction is tightening (more on this later.) Mercury will also be squaring the nodes on this day, meaning that there may be some admin to be done before it’s time to relax, perhaps an important conversation to have. It may also speak to the gravity of irresponsible things done under the influence, so tread carefully and fasten your safety belt before the ride begins.

The Sun-Saturn conjunction becomes exact the following day, Thursday 2/16. This influence has probably been felt throughout the past week or so, and was certainly a topic in last week’s column: “[This conjunction] may leave some feeling like a certain structure or order is being back-burnered, overshadowed. Planets in close proximity are subsumed by [the Sun’s] power, even in scenarios like this where Saturn is strong and the Sun is weak. The Sun may take on some of Saturn’s qualities temporarily, which could lead to an authoritarian streak in some, an innovative, humanitarian streak in others.” On Thursday, however, we get a condition known as cazimi, where as planet is visible in the eye of the Sun and the drowned-out signal is instead temporarily amplified. Saturn in its place of strength will come through loud and clear today, speaking truth to law and order, to civics and progress. Speaking of progress, our personal gains may come into focus today, as both the Moon and Mercury make aspects to Jupiter, likely casting aspersions on our current rate of growth while causing us to think about how we can do better. The Moon’s involvement is a motivating-but-vexing square while will pass by the evening, but Mercury’s influence will tighten and become its most intense the following evening, on Friday 2/17.

Friday will also see the Moon run across Pluto, potentially drawing up secrets and deeply-buried feelings, especially given its sextile to the Venus-Neptune conjunction. If unseen influences are placing a level of control or restrictions over your personal enjoyment, this transit may invite you to examine whether or not that must be. You may also see an echo of Mercury’s transit of Pluto last week, and anything its psychopompic influence may have unearthed.

Saturday (2/18) sees the Moon cross over Mercury in Aquarius, casting an alien gaze at our hearts, as though feeling must be processed in code. Though ironically, our minds may feel sluggish and motivation may be in short supply, as the Sun is in the final degree of Aquarius, putting vitality is on its last leg. Still, we may get slapped awake by the moon crossing over the nodes, potentially triggering Uranus and some unexpected situations we could be called upon to deal with. The Moon will catch a helpful ray from Mars if we find ourselves called upon to gather ourselves, roll up our sleeves and get the job done.

The Sun enters Pisces on Sunday, 2/19, and a Pisces Season article is forthcoming. For now, suffice it to say that the Sun is generally a little happier in Pisces than in Aquarius, has a little more sense of self and self-interest even if the boundaries of identity are porous, even melty. Pisces’ association with Jupiter means that it is often equated with Jupiter’s drives to expansiveness, to the spiritual, and its designation as the Mutable Water sign means that it is often left with the question of what to do with its wealth of feeling. This makes Pisces the sign of both pastor and poet, not necessarily trying to make sense of it all but most certainly trying to express it all, to experience it all, to act on the heart. Of course, your mileage may vary and this description does not fit every Pisces, as a birth chart is much more than just where your Sun resides. Still, this description will likely color the solar month; we can further add that since Jupiter is in Aries, this period may take on a tone of competitiveness, of drive to accomplish, of assertion of a more pronounced persona.

The day is also colored by the moon’s passage over Saturn, pinging issues of order and control from earlier in the week and applying rigor to feelings and appetites. Venus is in the last degree of Pisces today, making a potentially beneficial contact with Pluto. “Potentially” if deep examination over what is pleasurable and why is appealing, or has caused any grief that should be worked through. Venus’ anaretic degree and proximity to Neptune may make it difficult to concretely define these things, but there’s a chance to get the ball rolling.

That night will also be the New Moon in Pisces. Though it is in a different sign, this lunation happens right on top of Saturn, heralding Saturn’s imminent movement into Pisces and calling on us to conclude any business we have with his current position of strength in Aquarius, its power to organize, set goals, structure teams, see the big picture that could lead to lasting change. We have until the Full Moon in Virgo on 3/7 to do so – this is truly the last call for Saturn in Aquarius until the year 2050. The lunation also occurs close to the nodes, calling us to look hard at what doesn’t fit the plans and pictures we see for our futures, and thus must be ejected, and to a more limited degree, what should be added.

Venus enters Aries’ just after the new moon, on Monday (2/20.) While Venus’ time in Pisces made the alluring feel effortless, Venus in Aries inverts that. It may be more brash, more glitzy, more attention-getting, but these are generally artifice. Venus in Aries is traditionally the sign of the tomboy, though the unfolding flux in the rhetoric around gender identity might be cause for redefinition here. Either way, Aries is ruled by Mars, driven to accomplish and to root out problems. Mars is a severing energy. Venus is a connecting energy. Thus, Venus is usually thought to be less comfortable in Aries, though natives here put great effort into the appearance of comfort. There may be the confidence of someone who has it down to a science (Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor are all Venus in Aries natives,) but it’s different than the person with a strong Venus who never had to try much at all.

Monday also sees Mercury move into a square with Uranus, a hostile aspect that will become exact the following day, on Tuesday 2/21. Mercury is truth, research, conversation; Uranus is revelation and earth-shattering surprise. There is a higher-than-likely chance of having your mind blown during this transit, and of the scientifically-curious poking their nose in the wrong bear cave. Expect the unexpected! And if there’s something you really don’t want to see, just expect it and it might not happen at all! Uranus always throws you a curveball. But if the irrefutable finds you, you must accept it, or that same curveball will crack your skull.

Think happy thoughts! Until next Hump Day!