Image by Norja Vanderelst
Horoscope: February 17 - 23, 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.
TUE: Sun enters Pisces
WED: Mercury sextile Pallas Athene, Mercury semisquare Saturn
THU: Jupiter sextile Neptune
FRI: Mars trine Uranus, Mars square Chiron, Sun semisquare Jupiter
SAT: Sun sextile Uranus
SUN: New Moon 7:31 a.m. PST, Venus square Jupiter, Mercury semisquare Pluto
IF WE ARE OPEN to receive, the cosmos offers us gifts of spiritual uplift this week. The most notable planetary event is a harmonious Jupiter-Neptune aspect that perfects on Thursday – but the stage is set when the Sun enters contemplative Pisces on Tuesday, painting the backdrop in soothing pastels.
The month of Pisces encourages us to spend time in reflection and release. It is a month that calls us to be more in tune with our higher self and inner guidance, as well as our creative muse.
The astrological twelfth month is also a time to review the past year, to garner its wisdom, and to let go of what has been. It is a time to surrender to the flow of life experience, to release our attachments, and to transcend limiting perspectives. We are clearing out the old so that we are ready for the astrological New Year, which begins when the Sun enters Aries at the March Equinox.
JUPITER AND NEPTUNE are in sextile aspect this week, which simply means that they are separated by exactly 60 degrees, and in compatible signs: Jupiter is in Capricorn, an earth sign, and Neptune is in Pisces, a water sign. Earth and water are mutually supportive – earth provides the form that holds water, and water provides nourishment to the earth.
The complementary nature of this affiliation is enhanced because the two planets are on similar wavelengths – in fact, before Neptune was discovered and given the title, Jupiter was considered the planetary "ruler" of Pisces. These planets are like good friends who share similar values, may occasionally disagree, but always have each other's back.
WHEN PLANETS are in sextile aspect, it represents an opportunity, an unlocked door that we can choose to open. Favorable circumstances exist that we can take advantage of, if we are willing to apply ourselves.
Neptune is the planet of spirituality and inspired creativity. It supports transcendent experiences that help us to rise above the mundane, to open our hearts in compassion, and to gain a more metaphysical perspective. Neptune's influence is very pure right now, since it is traversing its natural sign of Pisces.
Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion, into both physical and philosophical realms. It encourages us with optimism, hope, enthusiasm, and good humor. While in Capricorn, Jupiter inspires us to aim higher, to be more ethical and mature, and to focus on the broader perspective that will enable us to achieve our goals.
WHEN JUPITER AND NEPTUNE work in harmony together, as they are this week, we can take advantage of their combined support to expand our lives in meaningful ways, especially in the realms of spirituality or creativity. With Jupiter in Capricorn, this expansion may also be related to our greater life purpose, career, and goals.
Remember that water (Pisces) feeds earth and earth (Capricorn) provides water with structure. This week, the energies are especially conducive for bringing an ideal or a dream into form. It is the perfect time to ask ourselves:
- How can I utilize more of my spiritual perspective or artistic nature in my chosen career?
- How can I expand my contribution to the world, in ways that are aligned with my highest integrity and my soul's purpose?
- How can I soften my need to achieve and accomplish, so that I can experience a more peaceful and joyful Now moment?
- How can I create a stronger form for my spiritual practice?
- How can I integrate my spiritual ideals into my longer-term goals and life purpose?
- What goals can I set that will enhance my spiritual practice or creative process?
- What new mountain am I ready to climb, that will enhance my life's meaning?
- In what ways can I become a stronger role model of compassion, forgiveness, and understanding?
These are just some of the doors that stand unlocked, ready for us to open and walk through this week.
It is also exciting to note that this week's Jupiter-Neptune sextile is the first of three to occur in 2020. The other two will perfect on July 27 and October 12. From start to finish, this gives us a full eight months to manifest the expansion we now envision.
ANOTHER powerful aspect this week is the Mars-Uranus trine that perfects on Friday. Mars represents the action principle, and how we pursue our desires. Uranus symbolizes both the freedom to move in accordance with our most authentic Self, and the ability to break free from limitations or "shoulds." With both these planets in earth signs, we can assume that we'll be experiencing tangible but positive changes that propel us in new directions.
This influence will be with us for several days, as both Mars and Uranus are direct and will be within "orb" (range) of the exact aspect for most of the week. Our experience of this trine is also enhanced by the Sun, which is positioned at the midpoint between Mars and Uranus. (A midpoint is the point in space half-way between two planets.) Having the Sun in Pisces is especially helpful, as it will enable us to surrender to the process rather than getting caught up in the "what ifs."
ASTROLOGER John Sandbach has written that the Mars-Uranus midpoint represents: "Sudden and unexpected actions. To find one's own independent and unique way of doing things. To be assertively rebellious. To be impulsive in one's actions, and/or to act erratically. Inspired action. The breaking out of old forms and patterns and the creating of new ones that offer more freedom and which more clearly reflect the true self."
He also explains that when the Sun activates that midpoint, we can feel an especially strong need "to pursue our goals in our own independent way, to be able to experiment in life."
Lots of potentials here, especially when we combine this influence with the Jupiter-Neptune effect that is so strong this week.
A COUPLE of cautionary notes: Mars is in hard aspect (square) to Chiron on Friday. This means that we may encounter some lingering self-doubts and insecurities that we'll need to heal before we feel confident enough to take the Big Leap into the Unknown.
And, Venus is square Jupiter next Sunday. This aspect is rarely very troublesome, but it's worth being aware that we could tend to overestimate our resources, or take a relationship for granted.
THE NEW MOON occurs on Sunday, February 23, at 7:31 a.m. PST. The beginning of a new lunar cycle is usually a fortuitous time to begin a new project, so we may want to time our actions accordingly. However, Mercury will be retrograde, so take plenty of time to meditate and receive feedback from others before making major decisions.
The lunation occurs when the Sun and Moon align at 04°28? Pisces, and both are strongly sextile Mars and Uranus. Everything we touched on earlier, about the midpoint of Mars-Uranus, is applicable for the entire lunar cycle that begins next Sunday.
And, the Sun and Moon are close to retrograde Mercury in the New Moon chart. This leads us consider that new ideas we conceive now may, like yeasted bread dough, show best results if first allowed to "proof" before baking – perhaps until Mercury stations direct on March 9.
IF YOU are taking note of when the Moon triggers the various planets in Capricorn, here's the list for this week. For a few hours around these times, emotions are more strongly focused. We may be powerfully aware of the deep changes that are occurring within and around us:
- Moon conjunct Mars: Tuesday, Feb 18, 5:16 a.m. PST
- Moon conjunct Jupiter: Wednesday, Feb 19, 11:50 a.m. PST
- Moon conjunct Pluto: Thursday, Feb 20, 12:07 a.m. PST
- Moon conjunct Saturn: Thursday, Feb 20, 6:18 a.m. PST
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IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS THIS WEEK: This year provides opportunities for you to take new risks, especially those that are aligned with your authentic self. This can be a very inspired time of your life, when your intuition is heightened and you feel free to follow it. You are ready to break free from old patterns of self-denial or martyrdom, and to follow your muse. While others may perceive you as being more selfish than usual, you actually are realizing that true Unconditional Love does not mean self-sacrifice, but instead holds the energetic space for others to make their own choices. By accessing your enhanced inner knowing, you will know when it is right for you to act, and what actions to take. (Solar Return Sun sextile Mars, sextile Uranus)
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WEBINAR REPLAY: During my "After the Tornado" webinar a couple of weeks ago, I reviewed pivotal events in January and then explained the planetary energies we'll be working with through June 2020. In many ways, the class is a bit like an elongated NorthPoint Journal, just giving a longer-term view.
If you missed the class, no worries! You can still purchase the video replay, along with a pdf of the slideshow and calendars showing the planetary aspects. 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
