by Teri Parsley Starnes

Teri’s interest with astrology lies with helping people see how following a practice of intention and self-awareness leads to a fuller relationship with Mystery. Astrology is a wonderful tool for this. Her weekly column orients readers to the seasonal energy of
each month’s Sun sign in order to set magical/mindful intention for the lunar month beginning at the New Moon.

Each week Teri will write about the unfolding energies that support and challenge our intentions. The ebb and flow of the lunar cycle resides deep in our souls. Through following the phases of the Moon, we remember the natural cycles that guide us.

Astrologers divide the lunar month into eight phases. These are:
New Moon: Dreaming
Crescent Moon: Beginning
First Quarter Moon: Manifesting
Gibbous Moon: Perfecting
Full Moon: Illuminating
Disseminating Moon: Sharing
Last Quarter Moon: Evaluating
Balsamic Moon: Surrendering

Come follow the Moon as we practice intentional awareness together.

Forecast February 2 – February 8

I’ve often thought the perfect committee would be composed of three essential but different personality types: people who break new ground, those who hold the values and forms together, and those who are able to shift perspective in response to new input. Of course, what I am describing are the three modalities of astrology—the Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable signs. Modality means method of doing things. To keep our committees humming, we need every mode to contribute their piece. This may be true, and still we run into difficulty when another mode is very different from our own. It can be hard to see the value in someone trying to initiate change when you really value forms that have worked in the past. Perspective of the whole can help. That is one of the gifts I think astrology offers. We each have a piece; and there is a right time to assert it.

Every sign has a mode and an element. For instance there are three air signs, one for each modality. Libra is cardinal, Gemini is mutable, and Aquarius is fixed. Each of these signs has a different mode of working with the realm of ideas and social connections—the air specialties. This lunar cycle in Aquarius, we are invited to notice our relationship to fixed air. One way that Aquarians contribute to the committee is by anchoring the forms of thought and social interaction. This can show up as attachment to ideas, dogmatic beliefs about social groups, and strong causes for which we will fight. Underneath these strong and sometimes difficult positions is the authentic desire to honor human inventiveness and what we can do together to make the world a better place. We need Aquarius on the committee. The task is to bring out the Aquarian gifts while being mindful of the Aquarian pitfalls.

Last week, I wrote: “The work of this lunar cycle is to make Aquarius vision more effective through connection to our tender hearts of emotion while planting our feet firmly on the ground of sustainability.” Time for transparency. I have an Aquarius Moon. I am talking to myself about myself. A large part of my life has been seeking to balance vision with heart and groundedness.  I know how difficult this task is. I sympathize if you are finding this a challenge during this lunar cycle, even if you have no Aquarian planets in your birthchart.

We are living in an Aquarian time right now. More and more we connect via the Internet. Social media is having a huge impact on the organization of our social groups. In some ways we are hearing more from others different from ourselves and in other ways we are collecting in more and more homogenous subgroups. Aquarius pushes against both of these realities, always tinkering with how we can connect in more meaningful and progressive ways. Even though Aquarius is fixed, this sign is focused on new, better, different. Thoughts speed up in this pursuit. If we don’t remember our tender hearts and our grounded feet, we just aren’t being effective committee members. This week may start out with some challenges to remaining compassionate and grounded. Practices that encourage large perspective, less reactivity, and more determination may help us through with Aquarian vision intact.

Forecast February 2 – February 8

Moon enters Aries 10:54 pm CST
February 2—Crescent Moon: Beginning. Imbolc. Grab a book of poetry, or better yet, write a poem of your own today. Imbolc festivities include honoring Brigid, the goddess of poetry, by sharing poetry. Let yourself be inspired and be an inspiration to others. The sign and phase of the Moon today supports poetic expression. The Moon is in Pisces most of the day (CST)—a sign prone to poetic reverie especially of the mystical kind. The waxing crescent Moon is always a happy sight. During this phase, the Moon reappears after a period of darkness to herald new beginnings. Imbolc aligns with this phase perfectly. This seasonal holy day is a time to dedicate ourselves to new projects for the year ahead. We are infused with gentle hope for this Aquarian Moon cycle. Remembering the importance of heart and grounded form, it is good to attend to both at this beginning. If your heart is a vessel, how will you fill it? How will you pour it? How will it nourish your New Moon beginnings?

Moon in Aries
Monday, February 3. Today is astronomical Imbolc when the Sun reaches the middle of Aquarius. We are at the core of the Aquarian journey. Hopefully you were able to take some time for yourself yesterday, while the Moon was in Pisces, because this could be a rough Monday. Be ready for unexpected reactions, frustrations or misunderstandings. The Moon in Aries gives us shorter fuses, however if you need a fire under you to truly commit to new projects, this is your day. The Moon contacts Uranus, Jupiter, Pluto and Venus through stressful aspects triggering this jittery configuration we’ve had influencing our lives for some time now. This isn’t new. If you are feeling stress, reflect on what responses you need to shift to make progress. We are being pushed to change. Venus is still at the degree of its station last week. Relationship is a primary place to make new and healthier choices. The dance could be between compromise and standing your ground. How do you know what to choose?

Moon in Aries
Tuesday, February 4. Anything left undone? Use the energy of the Aries Moon making an opposition to Mars in Libra to move things along. With Venus, the relationship planet, now moving forward and Mars in Libra, the relationship sign, approaching its own retrograde journey (begins on March 1), we are seeing our relationships in a new light. This will continue for several months. Discernment is needed to know when conflict is healthy and when it is harmful. Sometimes there isn’t one right answer. Notice how we tend to think there is.

Moon enters Taurus 3:46 am CST
Wednesday, February 5. Taurus Moon aids the intention of grounded structures. Taurus is the fixed earth sign that confronts the fixity of Aquarian air. A healthy give and take between Aquarian theory and vision with Taurean stability and protection gives us more to work with as we engage with the forces of transformation and change running through the world. Enjoy the calm that comes from embodiment. We feel more hopeful today after a couple of days of high-octane energy. Be aware that Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde tomorrow. We will need the patience of Taurus to wait out disruptions in communication and travel. A harmonious trine between Chiron and Jupiter increases empathy but may also mean we are more spaced-out than usual.

Moon in Taurus
February 6—First Quarter Moon: Manifesting. Trust is the operative word for the challenge of this lunar phase. With Mercury stationing retrograde in Pisces today we will have to employ trust when things don’t seem to be working out the way we planned. Perhaps a bigger pattern is being activated. Playful curiosity is a great way to approach Mercury retrograde periods. Mercury stations retrograde at 3 degrees Pisces (emotional wisdom) today, Mercury reenters Aquarius (visionary verve) on February 12. The core of the retrograde cycle happens on February 15 when Mercury joins the Sun; then Mercury will turn direct on February 28. The final stage will be when Mercury goes back through this area of zodiac until March 20 when it returns to the retrograde degree of 3 Pisces. Just because it looks like our plans are falling apart, it doesn’t mean we aren’t serving a larger Aquarian vision. Let us open the doorway to change.

The Moon supports Pluto and Venus today. We feel strong and connected to others. This evening (CST) the Moon opposes Saturn. We feel serious and may take the uncertainty that Mercury stirs up personally, as if we have failed in some way. Look under the surface of self-judgments. Something more important is afoot.

Moon enters Gemini 12:44 pm CST
Friday, February 7. The trickster aspect of Mercury is evident today. With the Moon entering Gemini (ruled by Mercury) we need to be flexible and find the humor in things going awry. After all, you are trying your best. Notice the distinction between mind and heart as this airy Moon squares watery Neptune this evening. Temporary escapism may take off the edge, but don’t numb out entirely. We can learn something valuable.

Moon in Gemini
Saturday, February 8. I am going to hazard a guess that it was not easy sleeping last night. Gemini Moon engages with Uranus this morning, which can feel a bit like being on speed. Notice how busy your mind wants to be. Some of that mental energy is helpful and some of it is a distraction from our hearts and grounded structures. Remember how that is so essential this lunar cycle? What are you noticing?

 

*The Aquarius New Moon began on January 30. See more about the beginning of this lunar cycle at: http://tinyurl.com/mz4ybso

 

Contact Teri at teri@starsdanceastrology and visit her website at www.starsdanceastrology.com