Take the Broad View of Events

The February 2007 Forecast

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Past forecasts

W e experience a gratifying climax of planetary energy in February, but we may have to wait until after this month for complete fulfillment. One major event brings culmination, but we have the dampening effect of Mercury retrograde to change the expected timing of events. The standard interpretation is that Mercury moving backward takes our experiences backward as well, hence delays and impediments to progress. However, Mercury is also known to bring about the manifestation of miracles as well, often in a breathtakingly swift time frame.

Mercury Speaks.

            This does not make sense until we look at Mercury at a deeper level. We are reminded of that deeper level when we look at the Tarot card that Mercury rules, the Magician. The Magician is about making our way in the physical world. He has all his tools on the table, and just like the magicians on stage, he brings things into manifestation. We must do the same to succeed in life. The secret knowledge that the Magician teaches us is held in the universal law of focus. The law of focus tells us that what we focus on is what we create. Therefore, if we want to create something different in our lives, we only have to change what we give our attention to in order to change it. Sounds easy, right? Well, it is if we can control our mind. The East Indian mystics liken the untrained human mind to a drunken monkey — not that easy to control! It is only through training and discipline that we develop our ability to manage what we cast our mind upon, what we give our mental energy to. In fact, before we train ourselves, we are only dimly aware of what goes on in our mind. We feel vague sensations, which we interpret as happiness, anxiety, fear, anger. Then we look for immediate experiences to attach these feelings to. A slight sense of ambiguity becomes anxiety about our love relationship; we follow a vague sense of discontent until it becomes all-out anger. We can benefit by training ourselves not to go down those well-traveled trails to negative emotion. In doing so, we reduce our stress, create more harmony in our lives — and create a life that we want to live through our focus.

            Changing our focus may not be easy, but it is certainly within our power to change, and thus we have the power to change everything in our world if this is true. Mercury is our “Trainer-in-Chief”. As it transits the heavens, it brings our attention to various parts of our psyche and the life circumstances we’ve created through it. Where we are clear and well-focused, our experiences are harmonious; where we are muddled and muddied with schemes and formulae or fears and blockages, we encounter difficulties (usually in the “challenge” areas of our astrological chart).

A Time of Wonderful Connectedness

            When Mercury turns retrograde, we hear its voice more loudly and clearly. I always find it refreshing for that reason. I get to find out how I’ve been doing with my focus for the past few months. How much progress have I made? Mercury will let me know. Mercury also carries messages from other planets. (Remember his role as the messenger of the gods?) To find out whose messages he’s carrying, I look at what planets he contacts during the retrograde period. These the planets whose voice he will carry in his own. We get to find out how well we are doing with those planets as well when this occurs.

            An example of this is from the floods in the midwestern US during 1992. If you recall, the Mississippi River Valley became one big, swollen lake. Many homes and human-built properties were destroyed. At the peak of that time, Mercury was retrograde in Cancer, and it (along with the Sun) was opposing Uranus and Neptune, which were conjunct in Capricorn (the sign opposite Cancer). The message that Mercury brought was a big one, appropriate to a planetary event that only occurs once in 171 years. During that time, the US had built a lot of homes and other structures on flood plain and built levees that were inadequate to hold back the “100-year flood event”. Many people had to learn the hard way that the planning was poorly conceived. (This lesson continued with Hurricane Katrina, but Mercury was not involved that time.)

            While usually Mercury makes plenty of significant contacts during its retrograde, this is not the case this time. Peculiarly, it studiously avoids all the other planets, except a mild-mannered sextile to Pluto. While it may reach into your personal chart and grab your attention, it is not carrying extra messages and loaded signals from the other planets out there during its backward travel this time. Its retrograde starts on the 13^th and ends on March 7^th.

Follow the Zig-Zag Path.

            If you experience delay, it may not be just Mercury. Saturn and Neptune may have a hand in it as well. Delays are an important aspect of life, one that gives us breathing room to make sure we’ve got it right. In the I Ching (Chinese Book of Change), it’s called the zig-zag path. It counsels that the quickest way to our goal is the zig-zag path rather than the path we perceive to be a straight line to our destination. The zig-zag path is the one that we are one when we allow the energies of the situations to carry us. To westerners, this can seem like going willy-nilly with other people’s whims and ways — to “wimp out” on the challenges of a situation, or to lose. However, it is more like going with the flow (the Tao, in the Chinese system) than giving in, which means that we keep ourselves open to the moment and look for openings to assert ourselves to direct the flow of events.

Saturn and Neptune — More Similar than You Think

            This is precisely the approach that will work best during February, when Saturn and Neptune energies commingle. Although they say that Saturn appears to be opposite every other planet’s nature, never is that more true that with Neptune. Saturn is the seen, the real, the hard, the tangible. It rules bones, crystals, and lead. Neptune is the unseen, the (seemingly) unreal, the subtle and diaphanous energies of fog and clouds, and the intangible — at least to the majority of people.

            Yet, when looked at from a correct perspective, they are layers of the same essence. Saturn is what is real to the five physical senses; Neptune is what is real to the subtle senses. Each opens the doorway to a universe that is just as structured and rule-governed as the other; however, until we learn to perceive it well, each seems enigmatic and magical.

            When Saturn and Neptune interact in an opposition, the aspect they have now, they seem to be inimical to each other. They contrast and conflict. The hidden world of Neptune seems out of touch with the physical world of Saturn. Yet they are not. Since the opposition is also the contact of illumination, it is now that we can receive full understanding of their interaction and interrelatedness. In fact, once you understand them, you see that they exist as a constant continuum with a dividing line that varies from person to person depending on how perceptive one is. To an energetic healer, the world of Neptune is as real, palpable, and predictable as Saturn’s (visible) world is to us every day as we arise.

              As each world stands in stark profile to the other during this time, it is our opportunity to see how they connect, bleed through to each other, and offer a representation of each other in symbol. This is fantastic time to study archetypes and symbology, for they straddle the divide between these worlds. Through their interconnection, we can see the unseen energetic world through the events of the mundane world. Just like the signal we receive when we get all green lights, the physical world is a rich symbolic system communicating about the hidden reality that lies just beneath the surface.

              All events occurring now can be seen in this way (as, truly, can any event at any time — but now it is more emphasized). This is true even in the political world, where suddenly people are able to read between the lines of the President’s words and see what he is really saying, or suddenly the truth has to come out, as it is with global warming. See where the truth is emerging from the hidden realms in your life. It can be a powerful time of growth, and many people are pushing beyond the envelope of their potential and succeeding in clearing personal and spiritual blockages with incredible rapidity. If you have planets in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), you will be most affected by this blessed event.

            This whole month is saturated with their energies, especially on Thursdays and Fridays through the 16^th, then Wednesdays and Thursdays through mid-March. Peak dates for their interaction are February 8–10 and the 28^th. (See Chart B.) Because the Sun is interacting with them, we experience turning points in each of these planets’ yearly cycles.

Neptune’s New Cycle . . .

            . . . starts on the 8^th, signaling the start of a new round of spiritual growth and learning. It is also associated with health and the use of the imagination, as well as experiences of surrender. Taking note of your focus, interests, and experiences around this time will tell you what you can create through Neptune’s energy over the coming year. Neptune’s cycle reaches its culmination on August 13, when we can experience a corresponding peak in our own Neptunian adventures.

Saturn’s Cycle Is Culminating.

            Saturn’s yearly cycle started last August 7^th. We got a blast of its energy around December 5^th, and now at its culmination we can see what we are creating and take our foot off the accelerator a little. It’s not that continued persistent attention and activity is not required, just that we will notice that we’re doing more “follow-through” than “start-up”. It’s a time of self-assessment as well. How are you doing with Saturn’s cycle so far? Are you accomplishing enough? Too much? If you’re stressed out, you’re doing too much. You’re not letting the universe carry the load enough. If you’re frozen in place, you may not be taking advantage of all that Saturn has to offer you. Try getting yourself in motion, even if it’s doing something familiar and unrelated to your goals. Then you can transfer the momentum to new tasks that are more important to you.

            Your plans will be fulfilled by the end of August, with a major positive turning point in mid-April.

A Rare Event

            As this month starts, you may notice that every planet except Mercury (and the Moon, periodically) has some kind of dignity or debility. Mercury enters its detriment when it goes into Pisces on the 2^nd. So, when the Moon is in Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, or Capricorn, it too joins in; then all the visible planets are in a sign where they have a special affinity or aversion. (The outer planets do not have rulership relationships to the signs.) This is quite rare and gives us additional ways to create meaning in our lives.

Love Is in the Air.

            Even if February 14^th were not the traditional day for lovers, this year there would be significant events in relationships because of the interaction between Venus and Mars. In fact, as the month opens, Venus and Mars are in harmony and will be through the 13^th. After that, we can periodically take advantage of their connection until the 21^st. Ironically, on the 14^th, our love tributes may seem a bit off-key or awkward in some way. Subtlety is the key, and don’t let someone talk you out of what you know. Lovers may be in denial of their love, but this won’t last forever.

A Golden Wave to Ride

            We’ll feel a turning point and fresh energy around the 21^st, and it’s too early to blame it on the spring season. A turning point is also reached on or near this date related to events we experienced around September 7^th and 22^nd. Until then, we can ride the wave of Venus and Mars by putting their connection to use in agreements. While there is likely to be something ambiguous about them, that can be where the creativity of the association comes from.

The Harmonious Side of February

            While I’ve spoken about the challenges we face in February (and the opportunities that lie within them), the harmonies of the month are also very strong. Everything that we experience can come to a positive outcome because of these patterns, principally Saturn’s trine to Pluto. So, even though Saturn and Neptune will bring out life’s mysteries, Pluto will help us solve them to our great advantage. It’s really quite a wonderful set of energies to work with! (See Chart A.)

            Even if this month brings delay, which it very well may not, that gives us more time in this hurry-up world. When we release expectations, then everything that comes through for us is a delightful surprise. Give yourself time to smell the flowers, because there’s no time like now to enjoy life and be happy.

Significant Planetary Events

Saturn is retrograde. Sun and Saturn are in detriment, Jupiter in rulership; Venus and Mars are in exaltation.

Full Moon (Moon opposes Sun)	12°59' Aquarius/Leo	February 2
Mercury enters Pisces (detriment)	0°00' Pisces	February 2
Mars sextiles Uranus	13°00' Capricorn/Pisces	February 3
Sun sextiles Jupiter	14°25' Aquarius/Sagittarius	February 3
Venus conjoins Uranus	13°14' Pisces	February 7
Sun conjoins Neptune	19°30' Aquarius	February 8
Venus squares Pluto	15°19' Pisces	February 9
Sun opposes Saturn ℞	21°39' Aquarius/Leo	February 10
Venus conjoins Moon’s North Node	17°29' Pisces	February 11
Venus sextiles Mars	20°52' Pisces/Capricorn	February 13
Mercury begins retrograde motion (stationary retrograde - S℞)	9°55' Pisces	February 13
Venus quincunxes Saturn ℞	21°21 Pisces/Leo	February 14
Mars quincunxes Saturn ℞	21°20' Capricorn/Leo	February 14
Sun sextiles Pluto	28°29' Aquarius/Sagittarius	February 17
New Moon	28°37' Aquarius	February 17
Sun enters Pisces	0°00' Pisces	February 18
Venus squares Jupiter	28°32' Pisces/Sagittarius	February 19
Venus enters Aries (detriment)	0°00' Aries	February 21
Jupiter squares Moon’s Nodes	16°57' Sagittarius/Pisces-Virgo	February 21
Sun conjoins Mercury ℞	4°13' Pisces	February 23
Mars enters Aquarius	0°00' Aquarius	February 25
Mercury ℞ re-enters Aquarius	30°00' Aquarius	February 27
Saturn ℞ opposes Neptune (2nd of 3)	20°15' Leo/Aquarius	February 28
Mercury sextiles Pluto	28°42' Sagittarius	February 28

All dates are based on Pacific Time.

Blue = harmonious/Red or orange = challenging

Events in bold are more significant.

© Terry Lamb, 2007. Reprint permission is granted if used in its entirety with full credit given to author. Permission to quote portions of this article granted by request.