Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the relative quiet of January. In February we will have the first of four eclipses in 2017 and Jupiter goes retrograde. Let’s look at them in the order that they happen.

Jupiter, the planet of expansion, optimism, faith, and seeming good luck, starts his four-month retrograde motion on February 6^th at 1:52 a.m. He’ll be at 23⁰ Libra, the sign of relationship, balance and fairness, and he’s on the other side of the zodiac from Uranus, who is in Aries, the sign of spring, new beginnings and self (or Self depending on how you use the energies). This may be a time to look inwardly (retrograde) to balance (Libra) our thinking about relationship (Libra) and how we can express ourselves in that context (Aries). Libra is also about fairness and peace at any price. How do we assert and take care of ourselves (Aries) in balance with the needs of others (Libra)? These are questions that we can look at within ourselves during this retrograde period.

The first eclipse of 2017 is a lunar one, on February 10^th at 7:33 p.m. The Moon will be at 22⁰ Leo. Attention all those of you with planets in fixed signs (Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio), who may have been feeling neglected over these past months with so little fixed energy. We’ve arrived! Fixed energy is feminine by nature, and sustains that which is initiated by cardinal signs. Fixed signs can also be very stubborn and get stuck in ruts (in their own thinking and/or feeling). Leo, fixed fire, is focused on the expression of the individual and Aquarius, fixed air, is focused on the group. In some ways, they are similar to the Aries/Libra axis, fire and air in opposition. This eclipse offers the potential to end our feelings of unworthiness (Leo) and instead use Leo’s creative energy for the benefit of humanity at large (Aquarius).

A solar eclipse ends the month (February 26^th) at 9:56 a.m. The Sun will be at 8⁰ Pisces. This is the last of the series of eclipses in mutable signs. Mutable energy, as I’ve written elsewhere, is changeable, multi-talented and unsettled. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, which is currently in her own sign. Pisces is a sign of divine homesickness, perceptive, psychic, dreamy and not always realistic. A solar eclipse represents a significant new beginning. It can be used to do a better job of translating our dreams into reality; it can also remind us that this is not all there is, especially for those with planets in Pisces, Virgo, Gemini and/or Sagittarius.

Hope you have a great February!

Peace and abundant blessings,

Margaret