This month, life is softened by the soulful, uplifting, healing effects of Neptune and Chiron. Last year these two were in the triple alignment with Jupiter. Jupiter has now moved into the next zodiac sign Pisces, but Neptune and Chiron are still hanging out together in Aquarius. On 17 February these two align exactly (at 26 Aquarius 14) and stay close companions until the end of April when Chiron also moves into Pisces. Much healing is needed to be sure with the recent cataclysm in Haiti and other traumas in many people’s lives through extreme, unexpected or unusual (Aquarius) circumstances.
Here in Victoria, on 7 February we’re observing the first anniversary of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires. Synchronistically, the 7 February anniversary sees Neptune (planet of compassion and healing) return to its discovery degree. In April 2009 Neptune came back home to the exact place in the zodiac (25 Aquarius 53) where humans first discovered it in 1846 and has another visit this month on 7 February (10.29pm AEDT). It comes within a hair’s breadth of this degree in early November 2010 so we might feel its effects again then. For a DVD made by the C*I*A to celebrate all things Neptune in honour of the Neptune Return (which happens only once every approx 165 years) go here.
Neptune helps us see the bigger picture in a soul sense. With Neptune strongly activated during times of crisis it helps us turn to spirituality, acts of compassion, inner contemplation and meditation to ride the waves more easily. All of these Neptunian experiences help us reach beyond the sorrows of terrible stresses and losses. Neptune and its current companion Chiron help us extend forgiveness to ourselves, others, and even to our ‘creator’ or ’source’ for the trials of this mortal coil. They help us find love for and connection with everyone who has ever suffered. They remind us we are all one and never alone. From 7 to 9 February, Venus joins Neptune and Chiron bringing great healing opportunities to our relationships. These are special days for giving and receiving acts of peace, tenderness and kindness, and sharing our hearts and souls.
February started with the tension of the second exact hit of Saturn square Pluto (on 1st Feb), and the after-effects of the January 31 blue moon. Compelling to gaze at, it was 2010’s closest full moon to the earth. Synchronistically the red ’star’ Mars, which was visible next to the full moon, also that week made its closest connection to earth this year. Saturn, Pluto, Mars Retro and an intense Full Moon all combined to create circumstances that might’ve increased frustration over evolutionary growing pains (in our own lives and in the world at large). Fortunately the intensity decreases as the month continues. Saturn and Pluto square for their last time this cycle in August (the first hit was November 2009).
When together, Saturn and Pluto mostly expose unpleasant truths to do with power, control and abuse of authority. They also show us how we unintentionally make our lives hard by holding on to thoughts, beliefs, situations or people that trigger negative thinking. It’s almost as if through an overdose of negative thinking or difficult experiences we realise once and for all what doesn’t work for us. The benefit then of the combined effects of Saturn and Pluto is getting really clear on what makes us feel awful and discovering how to activate our innate determination and strength and to turn our backs on negative patterns.
It’s very nice to know that we have Neptune and Chiron powerfully soothing, clearing and healing any Saturn-Pluto aftermath and even helping us with prevention this month. Neptune and Chiron only hang out together about once every 60 years so how wonderful they’re together now as we go through trying times. Meditation, deep relaxation, healings, soulful music, nature visits, beach walks, water features, negative ionisers, creative immersion, journalling, drawing, singing, dancing… all of these and more (our imagination is the limit) help us stay connected to the pulse of the bigger picture and not get trapped in fear responses to change.
Of course fear is only natural when Saturn and Pluto are fighting it out, but Neptune and Chiron help us find ways through it and into peace, no matter the external circumstances. They remind us that even if in one moment we dip into the worst of our fears, in the next we can dip into the best of ourselves and life’s opportunities. February could be a month where we dance between these extremes. The important thing to remember is that no matter how bad any moment feels, it only takes a few words to call on our higher selves, our connection to the divine and our belief in good things. With Neptune and Chiron so activated, the healing results are not far away.
February also offers us Valentines Day and Chinese New Year (both on the 14th). Hey Tiger! I bet that’ll be said more than once this Valentine’s Day 
The cosmos also offers us the New Moon in Aquarius on the 14th. New Moons are great times for planting the seeds of new dreams. As Aquarius is the zodiac sign of future planning, the 14th is a perfect date for putting out for our biggest hopes and wishes. Aquarius relates to body electrics and vibrational frequencies. When we enter peaceful, focussed, intentional states and really feel the joy of what we wish to create, we change our vibrational frequency to help manifest our dreams more quickly.
February doesn’t have a Full Moon, instead January and March (both blue moon months) have two each, so make the most of February’s only lunation (the new moon on the 14th) for envisioning the most joyful outcomes you can imagine in any area of your life, or the world for that matter (Aquarius is plugged into community, humanitarian and global issues). Happy manifesting!
NB: If you’d like to see a summary of the key dates and events of the month, head to any page on the Radiant Living website as the ‘AstroWeather’ always features in the right-hand column of every page.