Soli Lunar Astrology returns us to the original and ancient template of using the seasons, denoted by the Sun sings, coupled with the lunations of the Moon. This balances the masculine and feminine dance of co-creative dance of the heavens in an ever-spiraling kaleidoscope of will and emotion. There are twelve signs a year, three each in the four seasons, and these represent the qualities of the four elements and the solar seasonal flow in the northern hemisphere. Then there are 13 and 1/3 lunar cycles per year, which embodies the irrational and creative cycles of the Moon, emotion, fluctuation, change, and magick that balances the order of the universe with cycles of change. The New Moon always begins the outpouring if the emotions and direction that the planets dance thru as seen from the Earth, and order is always countered with non-linear circles. While Astrology has for a long time sought to explain the circle to the linear aspect of ourselves that seek order and familiarity, the creativity of what unfolds has to do as much with the mystery of the indefinable that goes beyond logic and is the soulmate thereof.

The presence of all that Aquarius indicates weaving high minded idealism and mental/social activation thr groups and futuristic projections. Sometimes we are led to believe that dreaming is not a form of doing but a time wasting and indulgent activity. But these times on the planet, when used wisely, can result in dreaming into existence a whole new world and that is how we are re -seeding the spring with our intentions.

Welcome to the next chapter of Karmic unfoldment and self-understanding called your life. As the Sun enters Pisces around nitefall of 2/18, (pst) we will experience a kaleidoscope of awakwening activity, and your own role and path in that unfoldment has a lot to do with the seeds you have already sown and playing out choices made. But this is a time of dreaming, and each moment has a new seed of potential , and this is the time to fertilize the spring ‘s growth thru insight, awareness, and composting what we have already learned. Take time for reflection and meditation this lunar month and notice the flowers . Remember that energy fuels intention as surely as rain waters all of these flowers into being. What are your dreamseeds?

But this Lunar month, like many before it, actually begins at the end of the last sign, Aquarius, with 5 planets in Aquarius which then pour into Pisces by the next day 2/18). Within a day after the New Moon, both Sun and Moon shift into Pisces joining Uranus, Venus, and Retrograde Mercury in this watery sign of composting karma. So this is a time of dreaming, and this dreaming will magnetize into the potential fires of Spring. This occurs, along with a Solar Eclipse and Astrological new year March 19th.

That’s another story, so stay tuned for next month’s column.

As the presence of Sun at the end of Aquarius sets the tone for this lunation, friends and often radical ideas will stimulate much potential for seeing to the unfoldment of long awaited plans and ideas. There is always the chance for dissipation which could occur by an imbalance of talking and walking that talk. AS little discussion can fuel accomplishment, a lot of talking can fuel a lot of talking. Of course, for water signs like Cancer Pisces Scorpio, it will be full speed ahead but for the rest, it could be a mixed bag with a potential for dissolving your efforts unless backed up by a strong vision and effort.

Mercury entered Pisces early this calendar month, so its long presence in Pisces including the retrograde could be dissolving and lacking in focus. It’s also the stuff that allows dreams to come true, as there is also no resistance from earth plane. This is a great opportunity for mental and emotional cleansing, release from old ideas and concepts. And stimulates the healthy benefits of meditation and visualization. Insight is your birthright.

(in present western society, we culturally embrace a faulty and dangerous concept that rationality and intellect is somehow superior or preferred to emotions and intuition. This facility keeps us focused into precise timing but limits imagination and insight. The periodic retrograde of Mercury can release us from the tyrannical domination of the rational mind, which in fact by its’ imbalanced dominion can do more harm than good, as it has on the planet and socially any time the heart and mind are disconnected. How many of us are conflicted by the diversity of the voices of heart and mind, even in our selves? For further delving into reconnecting these two, perfect for the retrograde Mercury time, come explore Shamanic Lifeskills with us)

Mercury is in the intuitive and non-rational sign Pisces from 2/2-4/11, and retrograde from 2/26-3/19, so for this and many other factors, you can expect the unexpected and that old ideas and solutions may no longer work. Eureka solutions.

Mars entering Aquarius on 2/25 adds to the movement towards social change, even in your personal life.

There is also a Lunar Eclipse this month, on 3/3 at 3:17 pm pst, meaning not visible from this side of the globe. This eclipse occurs under a full moon in Virgo, as Lunar Eclipses only occur at the peak of full moon. The Moon in Virgo at the peak implies that all of this creative dreaming produces potential fruit at this time and after thru a feeling of the satisfaction of accomplishment. %This is a great time for beginning your creative doings for the year, such as gardeni9ng, earth works, a new job or livelihood, and so on. This is a mixed message for mental matters as Moon in Virgo represents a mentalization of feeling, but it’s guiding planet Mercury is in a very intuitive phase so focused mind and feeling is projected thru the lens of intuition. As the Sun conjuncts Uranus during this eclipse, expect solutions and developments to occur out of the blue and unexpectedly, and that is also a time that logjams of our lives may move without warning. Expect this unexpected surprises to continue until at least the end of the lunar month on 3/19, which is a Solar Eclipse. A Solar and Lunar Eclipses are always paired, two weeks apart. Both this Solar and this Lunar Eclipses are expected to be very significant in the lives of you readers, although not Astronomically amazing around here.

In other Astrological news, Venus enters Aries on 2/27. Energizing love and social life with spontaneous fire and sparking the dating/mating attraction cycle known as the Rites of Spring.

As in the late Summer, Saturn (now retrograde) is in opposition with Neptune 2/19-3/9, and again in summer). For those of us who have learned that we are not fully in charge of our own natures and timing, who have let go of the concept of being in charge of all the variables, this can be a stellar time for personal unfoldment. For those of us who wish to micromanage our cosmic destinies, things could become more difficult with timing and impressions or assumptions being off. To attain and achieve immense insight and mastery

of this time, relinquish control and be flexible.

This is also exemplified by the subtle but important Jupiter in Sagittarius in Square with the Nodes. Whatever you choose to do, allow the divine element to choose demonstrate pathways and you may be pleasantly surprised by the results, even if the energy seems somewhat scattered or disorganized. This is especially true at the end of the lunar cycle, when the balsamic Moon in Pisces and other planets in Pisces shower us with the lessons of shadows long forgotten that need to be cleared for our personal flowers to bloom, and for Spring to come again.

Astrology works on many levels and we can peel back the layers to reveal ever-deeper aspects of ourselves and the truth of our being. If you would like to have a more in depth reading of how these and other planetary transits are affecting you, contact me, Mark S. McNutt, for a personal reading.

Mark S. McNutt has been practicing and teaching Astrology since becoming professionally certified in 1972, and is available for personal readings and tutoring, and for group classes and presentations by arrangement. He can be reached at 541-964-5341.

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