Leo Lunar Eclipse: Week of February 9-15

A new week on Planet Earth starts off with a bang, courtesy of Monday’s Full Moon Lunar Eclipse. It works in tandem with the Aquarius Solar Eclipse of two weeks ago. While a solar eclipse tends to usher in new events, often unforeseen, a lunar eclipse removes obsolete situations, people, or energy patterns from our lives. Eclipses are tied to the Moon’s nodes and, as such, are relevant indications of your future direction and growth. Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Neptune, Chiron and the North Node are partying in future-minded Aquarius, while the Full Moon gets eclipsed across the sky in dramatic Leo. See where Aquarius and Leo fall in your natal chart (especially at the eclipse degree, which is 20 degrees of both signs). This is the area of life where you’ll feel a little rock and roll happening. It’s an edgy one, so you may want to get some physical activity to release the build-up. With Neptune tied into the eclipse, dance and yoga would be especially helpful.

Saturn retrograde is the handle in the Fan chart pattern, so it continues to exert a fairly insistent work-oriented energy. In the eclipse chart (cast for Toronto and New York), Saturn retrograde is situated in the 6^th House of Daily Environment and Health. Attend to your mind and body and get them working in sync! The Sun and Chiron make an awkward quincunx aspect with Saturn retrograde, so adhering to rules or sticking to an inflexible schedule may literally feel like a pain in the neck. But sometimes we can’t avoid doing things we don’t especially want to. This aspect requires you to make certain adjustments in your routine. Ask yourself in which situations you tend to withdraw and stop participating. What fears are holding you back from shining your light (Sun conjunct Chiron), and what steps can you take to change that?

Saturn retrograde is in mutual reception and trine aspect with Mercury in the 10^th House of Career. This emphasizes the theme of working hard and getting ahead. However, Mercury is nearing the end of his tour through Capricorn. He hits Capricorn’s final degree on Valentine’s Day. Decision-making becomes more complicated when a planet hits the final degree of any sign. (As an added note: If you’ve made Valentine’s Day plans, you may find yourself wrestling with whether or not to change them in some way.) Apart from Pluto – whose stay in Capricorn will last fifteen years – we won’t have any other planets in this zodiac sign until next December. So Mercury’s one-day stint on Capricorn’s anoretic degree offers you a last chance to try and integrate Capricorn’s productive energy. Still, Venus in Aries (especially in the 1^st House of Self) suggests that the desire for personal pleasure is never far from the surface. But you can use this energy to pioneer a new project, if you feel so driven.

Pluto in Capricorn resides in the 10^th House of Public Life, pointing to career re-structuring for many individuals, especially those working in corporate and financial sectors (Capricorn). For those who’ve been affected by job layoffs, part of re-structuring your career involves connecting with a group that serves a greater interest beyond personal ambition and profit. Venus sextiles Mars, Jupiter and the North Node, and brings an opportunity to relate with others who share a common altruistic vision. If you wish to expand (Jupiter) your circle, you needn’t wait for an invitation. Taking a risk (Venus in Aries) and reaching out may have a big pay-off. Now, there is a fly in the ointment, in the form of a frictional square aspect between Venus and Pluto. You may see or exhibit jealousy, manipulation, or monetary and sexual power plays. Resist getting sucked into drama and trauma.

Despite the squabble between the love goddess and Pluto, they’re each working co-operatively with the South Node through Venus’ trine and Pluto’s bi-quintile. You can call upon your well-honed creative attributes to help further your momentum, and to anchor you in your new reality. It could feel like a whole new way of being for those who have been ejected from their former livelihoods. The artists, actors, musicians, dancers and all creative types in your locale (and beyond) may have something to teach you about moving into the unknown, as suggested by the Sun’s conjunction to artistic Neptune and healing Chiron in humanitarian Aquarius – especially since they sit in the Eleventh House of Groups. This ethereal planetary combo inspires visions of a utopian future. Artistry and fantasy are hallmarks of this energy. If you’re prone to daydreaming (hello Pisces and Neptunian types), put your imagination to use with creative visualizations. This helps manifest your highest intentions. Prayer and meditation are also greatly helpful. On the other hand, as I wrote last week, Sun conjunct Neptune and Chiron can also coincide with a desire to tune out and escape altogether. Or it can show up as the ability to see other people’s pain/illusions/addictions better than you can see your own. The phrase, “Physician, heal thyself,” comes to mind, especially given mythical Chiron’s poignant ability to heal everyone but himself.

Saturn retrograde is still in opposition to Uranus. There’s a reason this tug-of-war energy is with us for a couple of years. Part of its long-term lesson entails breaking free from inertia. Poised as these two planets are, in the Sixth and Twelfth Houses of Health and Unconscious respectively, this eclipse may shed some light on any ways in which you sabotage yourself by giving your power away to others, or by simply remaining stuck in a pattern that has long outlived its usefulness. Anyone even remotely familiar with the upheaval generated by the Flower Power revolution of the 1960’s may be interested in knowing that Saturn and Uranus were in opposition back then, as well. But, whereas Saturn was then in spiritual Pisces, Uranus was in organizational Virgo. Now the two have traded positions, and the chickens are coming home to roost, babies. Boomers and hippies at heart, take note: There’s a lovely article by Jude Currivan about a rare alignment happening on Valentine’s Day. For an oh-so-brief window of time, the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with Mars. Ah, it puts a song in my heart! Beads and flowers, anyone?