Image by Terri Sharp
Horoscope: February 3 to 9, 2020
Astrologer Pam Younghans writes this weekly astrological journal based on planetary influences, and offers perspectives and insights to assist you in making the best use of current energies. This column is not intended as prediction. Your own experience will be more specifically defined by transits to your personal chart.
Highlighted Aspects for This Week
All times listed are Pacific Standard Time. For Eastern Time, add 3 hours. For Greenwich Mean Time, add 8 hours.
MON: Mercury enters Pisces, Venus sextile Saturn
WED: Mercury sextile Uranus
THU: Sun semisquare Chiron
FRI: Moon opposite Pluto 4:02 a.m., Moon opposite Saturn 7:43 a.m., Venus enters Aries, Uranus square Ceres
SAT: Full Moon 11:33 p.m. PST (7:33 a.m. GMT on Sunday)
SUN: Mercury sextile Pallas, Mercury semisquare Pluto
AS COMPARED to the tornado that was January 2020, the astrological weather in February is much quieter, for the most part. But the issues that have been raised in the past few weeks will be with us for quite a while yet, due to their magnitude and to their important role in our evolutionary process. This month should provide the opportunity to gain some clarity, to see more of the larger picture, and to decide what we want to focus on, that will be most helpful to us in the coming months.
From the astrological perspective, we will be watching the Moon and other planets to see when they "trigger" (reactivate) the energies of the Saturn-Pluto alignment. These are times when we should see new developments related to the original events that occurred in January. This Friday, the Cancer Moon opposes both Pluto and Saturn, at 4:02 a.m. PST and 7:43 a.m. PST, respectively.
THIS WEEK, two planets change signs, shifting our perspective somewhat. Mercury is the first to move, entering mystical Pisces on Monday. Mercury is the planetary representative of our mental state and our conscious, reasoning mind. As it travels through a sign, our overall thinking process can be more influenced by that sign.
Pisces is a very transcendent sign; one of its primary goals is to help us rise above the dramas and traumas of the Earth plane. It is more based in intuition than logic, and more inclined to compassion than judgment.
While the Messenger Planet transits Pisces, it can help us let go of old thoughtforms, old mental concepts that have kept us in a more fearful, less trusting space. We can be more "in tune" with the Cosmos, more open to spiritual and creative insights. We may pick up on what others are thinking more easily than usual, for our sensitivity is heightened. This can also be a very creative time, especially for poets, or those involved in film and photography, makeup and design.
ON THE FLIP SIDE of the coin, Mercury in Pisces can be a time when it's harder to think logically or with clarity. Decision-making can take longer, since it can be hard to feel grounded in this reality. And, our words are more easily misunderstood, primarily because we expect that others are picking up on the nuances of what we've said.
While Mercury is in Pisces, we are well advised to stop and do a "teach back," where we check in with the other person and ask them to tell us in their own words what they heard us say.
Mercury is usually in a sign for about one month, but its transit of Pisces will be quite long this year, and a bit disjointed: It will be in the sign of the Fishes from February 3 to March 4, and again from March 16 to April 10. This is due to its retrograde (backward phase) that begins on February 16, and eventually takes it back for a short revisit of Aquarius from March 4 to March 16.
MERCURY is in favorable aspect to Uranus and Pallas Athene this week. Wednesday is an especially good day for receiving insights through meditation and opening to high-level information from your Divine Self or interdimensional guides. On Sunday, we focus more on finding practical solutions utilizing the insights we've gained.
But, Mercury is in hard aspect to Pluto next weekend, so we may deal with inner or outer conflicts as we try to convey our ideas to others. Opinions on both sides of the aisle are passionate. It will be important to remember how powerful words are, that they can be used as tools to either empower or tear down.
THE OTHER PLANET changing signs this week is Venus. As planetary representative of love, beauty, and values, the sign that Venus transits has a general influence on our relationships and finances.
Venus enters Aries on Friday for a four-week transit of the sign. Given that Aries is known for having courage and self-assurance, these qualities are more available to us as we interact with others, and as we decide what has value to us that warrants an investment of our hearts and monies.
Also on Friday, the dwarf planet Ceres is in hard aspect to Uranus. This can be a time when our individual needs seem to be in conflict with our responsibilities to home and family. With Venus newly-arrived in assertive Aries, we are more likely than usual to face these problems head-on.
OUR FULL MOON for the month of February occurs next weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, depending on your time zone. For those on Pacific Time, the Full Moon perfects at 11:33 p.m. PST on Saturday, February 8; this converts to 2:33 a.m. EST and 7:33 a.m. GMT on Sunday, February 9.
This lunation occurs when the Moon is at exactly 20°00? Leo, opposite the Sun at the same degree of Aquarius. At the time, both of the "lights" (Sun and Moon) are square the asteroid Vesta, and in favorable aspect to Mars.
A FULL MOON is always about coming into balance, finding ways to utilize the positive influences of the two opposing signs that are involved. Leo is a fire sign, heart-based, eager to connect and to be creatively involved in the Now. Aquarius is an air sign, mentally based, independent, and more detached or progressive, focused on the future.
This Full Moon asks us to find our balance between these two polarities, to be both engaged and present (Leo), but also to maintain a certain amount of detachment, that enables us to move and make progress. The hard aspect to Vesta in earthy Taurus suggests that we'll need to set aside our need for immediate gratification, to realize that the transformation that is underway is very deep, and not completed overnight.
At the same time, the trine between the Full Moon and Mars in Sagittarius indicates we have access to new levels of courage and optimism, if we stay present in the moment. We can hold the Aquarian vision of a new, more enlightened future, as long as we realize that our power is in the Now.
ONE LAST NOTE: Mars will be "out of bounds" from February 9 until March 12. We say that a planet is out of bounds (OOB) when its orbit takes it more than 23 degrees, 27 minutes either North or South of the celestial equator, the imaginary extension of the Earth's equator out into space.
When a planet is OOB, it tends to take on more creative and eccentric characteristics. It can act as more of a wild card, in both positive and perceived negative ways. Annie Oakley, the sharpshooter, had Mars OOB in her birth chart. Her way of using her Mars assertiveness didn't necessarily sit well with the strict delineations of what was seen as "feminine" in the late 1800s, but she was a trailblazer who left clear footprints in history as a result.
While Mars is OOB over the next four to five weeks, people can tend to be more driven and ambitious, bold and adventurous. There are some who will manifest the shadow, exhibiting more aggressiveness and anger, selfishness and impulsiveness. But, for those who need permission to act more assertively, or to take a leadership role, this can be an especially productive time.
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This year, your need for new experiences may be in conflict with your commitment to work and to your comfort level with a certain lifestyle. This is your opportunity to find out what is true for you at even deeper levels than before, or perhaps differently than before. We all change as we move through our lives, and thus our commitments must also change. This year you are challenged to discover whether your work is still authentic to you, or if it needs to be modified in some way. (Solar Return Sun square Vesta)
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WEBINAR: MY THANKS to everyone who signed up for last Thursday's webinar! Whether you joined us live, or watched the replay later, I hope you enjoyed the class, and have gained some insights that will be helpful as you navigate the first half of 2020.
If you missed the event, no worries! You can still purchase access to the video replay, slideshow, and calendars. Simply send an email with "Webinar Replay" in the subject line to
For previous weeks of the Astrological Journal, click here.
About the Author
Pam Younghans is a professional astrologer, editor, and writer. She lives in a log home northeast of Seattle, Washington with her beloved animal companions. She has been interpreting charts professionally for over 25 years. If you are interested in an astrology reading, e-mail
