During the past year, someone popped up uninvited on Facebook, a Virgo, who showed me a different, darker side of life. A perfect stranger who shall remain nameless wrote to me this summer then again in November, asking me for advice. He found me on a Facebook stream and said I looked like a nice person. At first, he appealed to my sensitive, sympathetic Cancer side and I was willing to help, free of charge. But he rambled and made no sense at all. He had apparently been hurt or wronged by many people. He didn’t respond to any of my suggestions. He got mad, turned on me and blocked me so now we can’t write to each other at all. (Fine with me! I was just about to block him.) I have known other people like him. It’s always somebody else’s fault, never his own.
In April 2018 I wrote a summary of astrology and mental illness, as follows.
“A person’s horoscope gives plenty of clues to what makes him tick. All of the signs have their positive and negative qualities but the water signs are more susceptible to mental illness. When the Sun is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces, the person is more sensitive and emotional. Water signs are sympathetic and thoughtful of others as a rule. This can be turned inside out and they can just as easily feel sorry for themselves. Afflictions in water signs produce depression, anxiety, drug or alcohol addiction, bipolar illness or schizophrenia.
The Moon and Mercury are the most important indicators. The Moon rules the brain and the emotions. Mercury rules communications and the active thinking processes. Example aspects that suggest difficulty are Sun square Uranus, Neptune or Pluto, Moon square Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune or Pluto, Mercury square Uranus, Neptune or Pluto. If you are born with any of these aspects, it doesn’t automatically mean you are unstable. Look at the real picture in front of you. You might be well balanced and have everything under control, especially if you have some planets in earth signs, or a well aspected Saturn.
Each planet produces certain effects. Mars: Violence, contrariness, uncontrollable temper, epilepsy. Jupiter: This is a benefic planet, but sometimes produces alcoholism, delusions of grandeur, megalomania. Saturn: Difficulty discussing problems, repression, depression, negative outlook. Some people live under a cloud. I call it the Poor Me syndrome. Uranus: Restlessness, unpredictability, eccentricity, violence, anxiety, paranoia, epilepsy. Neptune: No grip on reality, delusions, fantasies, escapism, lethargy, drug abuse and alcoholism. Pluto: Emotional breakdowns, violence, abuse towards or from others such as rape or domination, sexual problems, drug abuse, reclusive tendencies, suicide, obsession with the dark side of life.”
With limited information from posts, I was able to construct a chart for the person who wrote to me last year. Sun conjunct Pluto in Virgo, Moon conjunct Uranus in Libra, and Saturn in Gemini opposite Jupiter and Neptune in Sagittarius. These difficult aspects manifest many demons in his tortured life. I didn’t have the chance to tell him he also has a multiple Grand Air Trine, which is lucky. It means he has protection from above. Anybody else would have a great life with this set-up. This person could have good luck, opportunity, friends and plenty of help from various sources, if he would stop feeling sorry for himself, change his attitude and open the door.
Mercury stations direct in Aquarius on February 4. Life gets back to a more normal routine. Venus is direct, conjunct Mars in Capricorn, so the love planets may bring a little romantic excitement for some people. There are no retrograde planets this month.
Celestial Almanac: Aquarius New Moon February 1, Leo Full Moon February 16. Chinese Lunar New Year of the Tiger, February 1. Groundhog Day/Imbolc, February 2, the midpoint of winter. Valentine’s Day February 14. Love one another.
Read on for the February forecast. Gong Hey Fat Choy! Put on a red dress and make a wish!
With so much activity in Capricorn, four planets, your career and public life will be highlighted. You are more ambitious now. And you are lucky. Because Mercury is going direct, communications improve. Schedule interviews and make new contacts. With Venus and Mars you might have a romance with the boss, or someone will offer favors, a bonus or new job. Social climbers and gold diggers are favored, but seriously, don’t step on people on the way up.
The planets in Capricorn bode well for Taurus this month. First of all, Mars is in a positive high energy cycle. Your health is good and you have lots of energy to get things done. With Venus, Mercury and Pluto, travel is favored, as well as real estate and business abroad. If you take a trip you might find romance on the high seas or meet an attractive foreigner. Make a wish at the New Moon on February 1. There is good luck in your career. Start a project now.
Both of the lunations (New and Full Moon) are helpful for Gemini this month. With the New Moon, travel is favored, as well as new beginnings of all kinds. The planets in Capricorn favor finances, wills, legal issues and transformation. You might inherit money or property pretty soon. Your ruling planet Mercury goes direct on February 4, which also favors travel. Take that trip you had put off. Communications, publishing and all Mercury activities will resume.
Venus and Mars in your house of relationships could be very interesting. Venus just stationed and turned direct on January 29. Some people will meet their soul mate when Venus stations. It helps to have other transits or progressions going on at the same time. Current relationships are favored. The romance can be re-kindled. This aspect is nice for all friendships and business relationships. The Sun joins Jupiter later in the month and brings optimism and good luck.
The lunations (New and Full Moon) cross the axis of your personal life and relationships. On February 1 you may meet someone new or go on a first date with a friend. It’s time for change and beginnings. You can also start a project. The Full Moon, which is just after Valentine’s Day may bring the flowering of a relationship. Literally, flowers, gifts and sentimental gestures. Do something, like a favor, for a friend. What goes around comes around.
The planets in Capricorn are good for recreation, leisure time and social activities. Go out with friends. Do something with children. Make a Valentine party or a Super Bowl party. Because of Venus and Mars, romance is favored. Someone may make their feelings known to you. Mars gives you a jumpstart. You have lots of energy and your health improves. Work out more or go on a diet. Your ruling planet Mercury goes direct on February 4 which helps communications.
There is a lot going on at home now because of the planets in Capricorn. Relationships with your family improve. Everyone is getting along much better. Romantic couples may move in together or buy a house. There may be a wedding. Because of Venus, this is also a good time to buy new furniture or decorative items. Create a wreath for the front door. Invite people over to watch the Super Bowl. Single people could find love in their own back yard. You never know.
Venus conjunct your ruling planet Mars is very good for relationships and creativity. Generally, the four planets in Capricorn put a focus on neighborhood activities, local travel such as lunch dates and shopping errands, brothers and sisters. Stationing Mercury improves relationships with your neighbors and family. The New Moon on February 1 is a good time to start projects at home and make wishes. You can also close on a house and move in!
Because of Jupiter (your ruling planet) in Pisces, there may be a lot of activity at home, particularly entertaining and family gatherings. Babies may arrive. Have a Super Bowl Party, and don’t forget the Super Bowl Pool. Sag loves games of chance. When the Sun moves into Pisces February 18 and joins Jupiter it will be a very fortunate time of expansion for you, and the other water signs as well. You can go house-hunting or apply for a home improvement loan.
Look at the big picture in front of you and find something to like. Cultivate friendships and professional connections. Venus and Mars are working in your best interests for the next several weeks. Stationing Mercury helps your connections. Mars in your sign, his sign of exaltation, is at his very best. You have lots of energy and focus. If you need surgery this month it will go well. Start physical therapy, or a workout program. Whatever you undertake now will be a success.
At the New Moon on February 1, you may start a workout, a diet or make changes in your appearance. Buy something new like a coat or fancy boots. Just start something! Coming at the same time, Groundhog Day, Imbolc, is on February 2, and that means winter is half over. Mercury going direct moves into your sign later in the month, which is good in many ways. Mercury is exalted here. Make new contacts, schedule meetings or do some creative writing.
Jupiter the feel-good planet is at home in your sign. Have a Super Bowl party. Buy a raffle ticket. You are lucky at games of chance. On February 18 the Sun arrives and joins Jupiter for several days. Enjoy life but don’t eat or drink too much or the pounds will creep up on you. Moderation. This conjunction is one of the best transits of all and will increase your luck ten-fold. There is optimism, new friends, opportunities, and a desire for expansion and adventure.