The heavens this month are rather mild except for a potential week of strong social unrest from March 8th to March 13th (see below). There are no exact aspects between the slower moving planets and no eclipses. Collectively, we are still under the influence of the Saturn/Uranus opposition that I wrote about in last month’s Lisbon Letter, and will continue to be so for many months to come.

What is important during a “watery time” (and most people live in the waters of the astral plane no matter what the transiting sign of the Sun) is objectivity to our emotional state. This requires our becoming “trained observers,” vigilant to the shifting waters of our instinctual response network, centered in our solar plexus and ruled by the Moon and Mars. The current economic times are challenging nearly everyone’s survival instincts, creating a lot of panic in a lot of people’s lives. If we give into the whirling and swirling of fear thought-forms, we will only bring more chaos into our own and the collective experience. Yes it is a struggle for us all—even the rich are in fear over the potential (and actual) loss of their riches. The Lord Buddha teaches: “Take comfort in the Dharma.” And by tradition He was a Taurus who was born, died, and achieved enlightenment in that sign!

February 18: Sun enters Pisces at 12:46 pm.
February 18: Venus sextile Mars at 10.40 Aries/Aquarius.
What a friendly way for everyone to begin the month of the Celestial Fish! If this sextile connects with your personal horoscope within a degree or two of exactitude, you will no doubt be enjoying the company of good friends and loved ones.

February 21: Sun sextile Pluto at 2.49 Pisces/Capricorn.
A good day for cleaning up, clearing out, and structuring your life.

February 24: Mercury conjunct Jupiter at 11.37 Aquarius.
This is a fine day for contacting good friends and for making plans regarding educational interests. Should this conjunction touch your chart with exactitude, you may wish to examine travel plans, especially where educational group activities are involved.

February 25: The New Moon occurs at 01:36 am at 6.35 Pisces.

February 26: Mercury sextile Venus at 14.00 Aquarius/Aries.
A fine influence for contacting friends and for friendly communication.

March 2: Mercury conjunct Mars at 19.49 Aquarius.
If this conjunction contacts your personal chart, you may feel very inclined to share your opinions in no uncertain terms with the people around you. In general, it is an influence that stimulates communication and movement.

March 5: Mercury conjunct Neptune at 24.43 Aquarius.
In general the joining of these two planets does not make for clear and logical thinking and communicating. It is far more an influence for idealism and day-dreaming.

March 6: Venus goes retrograde at 05.10 pm at 15.27 Aries.Venus is visiting the Ram for a relatively long time. She entered this sign on February 3rd, leaves it briefly for a stay in late Pisces from April 11th-23rd (going direct on April 17th), and then returns to Aries on April 24th where she remains until June 6th. Those of you with important Aries placements will enjoy her gifts of social contacts and potential financial increases. Leo and Sagittarius placements also benefit. Retrograde Venus may incline towards the renegotiation of contracts and agreements. It is certainly not a good time for marriage.

March 8: Mars conjunct Neptune at 24.50 Aquarius.
This is not one of my favorite aspects as it brings out the influence of the Sixth Ray very strongly. This augments astral currents and is very much an influence of the urge to martyrdom, i.e. suicide bombings and other acts of violence in the name of religion and devotion to idealistic doctrines. If this aspect is in close contact with your natal chart, take care that you do not give up your sense of personal power for the sake of yielding to someone else’s needs or demands. Addictions flourish under this contact.

March 8: Mercury also enters Pisces on this day, further diminishing rational communications. In addition, the Sun opposes Saturn at 18.23 Virgo/Pisces, an aspect that opposes authority and challenges social order.

March 10: Mercury sextile Pluto at 03.08 Pisces/Capricorn.
A good day for profound and honest communication.

March 11: Venus sextile Jupiter at 14.59 Aries (R)/Aquarius
A “fun” day if this aspect contacts your horoscope with exactitude.

March 11: Full Moon at 02.39 am at 20.40 Virgo/Pisces.

March 13: Sun conjunct Uranus at 22.36 Pisces.
This is a conjunction that can stir up rebellious and anti-social activity (can be for the good of society as well as for anarchistic aims). When combined with the Sun opposed Saturn of March 8th and the Full Moon conjoining the Saturn/Uranus opposition, it makes for a week of potentially strong social unrest.

March 15: Mars enters Pisces at 03.20 am.

March 19: Mercury opposes Saturn at 17.34 Pisces/Virgo (R)
Not your best aspect for making agreements but it is certainly one for noticing details that have to be worked out.

Until the Vernal Equinox at 0 Aries, best to you from Lisbon!