February 1st - Imbolc - A celebration of renewal and growth  

Imbolc is a festival of preparing for renewal and growth. It’s symbolic of fertility and ridding of the old, making way for the new. Farm animals have given birth or will have their babies soon. This is the midpoint of the dark part of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden Brighid. Her snake emerges to test the weather, the basis for Groundhog Day. In many places, crocus flowers bloom, a sign of spring to come.

The celebration is also called the Feast of Lights, Feast of Torches, Feast of the Virgin, Feast of the Waxing Light, Festival of the Ewe’s Milk, Festival of Lights, Imbolgc Brigantia, Lupercus, Candlelaria, Snowdrop Festival, Greater Sabbat and Solar Festival:

To learn more about the traditions and celebrations of this day, click this link: Imbolc

February 2nd - Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day, February 2nd, is a popular tradition in the United States. It is also a legend that traverses centuries, its origins clouded in the mists of time with ethnic cultures and animals awakening on specific dates. Myths such as this tie our present to the distant past when nature did, indeed, influence our lives. It is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole.

If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.

The groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day and the days of early Christians in Europe, and for centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

For more on Groundhog Day, follow this link: Groundhog Day

February 14th - St. Valentines Day

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.

But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? 

Find out here:Valentines Day

February 29th - Leap Day  During Leap Years, we add a Leap Day, an extra – or intercalary – day on February 29. Nearly every 4 years is a Leap Year in our modern Gregorian Calendar. 

Why do we need Leap Years?

Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun.  It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days (a tropical year) to circle once around the Sun.  

However, the Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!? 

There are a lot of traditions and superstitions around Leap Year.  For example it is said that women are allowed to propose to men on the 29th of February.  In Scotland it is considered bad luck to be born on the 29th of February. And in Greece it is said to be unlucky for couples to marry on Leap Day.

Follow this link for more fun facts and traditions around Leap Year

 

 

There's a lot of social and spiritual energy getting flung around this month and it starts off with Neptune moving into Pisces on February 3rd, which has not happened for 165 year. This will reconnect us spiritually and intuitively as well as burst those illusive bubbles we have created. We also have relationship planet Venus moving into Aries on the 7th, then aligning with Uranus on the 9th. And this will open the doors of opportunity to meet new friends and explore new relationship possibilities.  

THE SUN

The Sun has been in Aquarius since January 20th and will remain there until February 18th when it starts to shift into a new sign 
When the Sun is in Aquarius, mental agility and socializing are the keywords. Aquarius is the friendliest of Signs -- the Fixed Air Sign of humanitarianism and social gatherings. Ruled by Saturn, Planet of Karma and Uranus, Planet of Individuality and Rebellion, Aquarian energy is a stimulating combination of innovative, futuristic thought and gregarious amiability. This transit is a time for abandoning tradition and forging new techniques and perhaps new paradigms. Aquarius brings people together to work on issues that are beyond the individual, that touch us as a society. Charitable pursuits and progressive ideas come to the fore. With all this community-mindedness and focus on advancement, though, this Air Sign force can seem detached, even aloof or cold. It's not a time for intimacy or quiet reflection -- use this time to turn your thoughts and energies outward.

A good time for:
* Hanging out with big groups of friends
* Enjoying technical gadgetry
* Working for a humanitarian cause           

The Sun then moves into Pisces on February 18th - 
The Sun's entry into the last sign of the zodiac is a step into synthesis. Its presence in Pisces reminds us that the walls that keep us apart from one another are merely illusions. We are all one in the sea of consciousness where the Fishes swim. This oceanic state can be confusing, of course, since we rely on boundaries to maintain our individual identities. Rather than reinforcing barriers to sustain them or tearing them down completely, adding flexibility to the ego lets us seamlessly flow together and drift apart as desired. Reconnecting with spirituality, nature and one another are its sweetest rewards.

When the Sun is in Pisces, we turn inward. Through nurturing a personal, internal peace, we are more able to empathize with others and to reach out in ways we might not often allow ourselves. Pisces, an emotional and intensely compassionate Water Sign, tunes us into the feelings of others on an intuitive level: Subtle facial expressions or turns of phrase can speak volumes during this time. It is a tolerant, patient and sometimes overly trusting energy that, because of its Mutable quality, can take the form and character of the situation in which it finds itself. Pisces urges us to open ourselves up to the experience of interpersonal connectivity, but we must be cautious that our emotional honesty and availability do not get us into trouble. This sensitive influence can be taken advantage of and causes easily bruised feelings. Our will may be more brittle at this time, for we are feeling the emotions of others more acutely than ever.

A good time for:
* Connecting on an intimate, empathetic level with others
* Cultivating your creative instincts and talents
* Daydreaming and paying attention to your subconscious          

MOON

On February 7th The Full Moon is in Leo -
The fiery and fiercely personal Leo Full Moon opposes the chilly Sun in objective Aquarius. This means egos will need attention and hearts will be eager for some dramatic expression. Make sure you allow room for childlike behavior; granted some of it may be overbearing, but the freedom to show one's feelings without restraint may just be worth the trouble. Exaggeration can encourage creativity and also bring buried emotions to the surface where they can be addressed openly. 

The Moon in Leo speaks to our "inner child". It's a warm, generous, whole-heartedly loving position. Pride keeps us from pettiness, but it can also prevent us from opening up and revealing how we are truly feeling. We are on stage, our feelings are grand, and we appreciate some drama in our lives. We are easily threatened by anything that seems to be impersonal. This is a time when we seek attention--when we want to stand out for our special qualities. It's a strong time for romance and any creative activity as well.

The Moon in Leo generally favors the following activities: Creative activities, activities involving children, generous undertakings, undertakings in which personal recognition is desired, and risk-taking.

A need to be the center of attention takes hold in your life now - a craving to give and to be appreciated for your gifts. This can be an expansive, creative, and even romantic phase, a time you'll look back on with pride and fondness.

On February 22nd we have a New Moon in Pisces 
It's a good time to look at where we may be scattering our energies right now. We are not inclined to want to face reality while the Moon is in dreamy, impressionable Pisces. It can be a wistful, sensitive, intuitive, and compassionate time. We are especially imaginative, and our intuition reigns under this influence. Boundaries and walls come down, as Pisces energy merges and blends. It's a time when details are overlooked and feelings defy description.

Your life takes on a kind of mystical quality at the emotional and instinctive levels now. Dreams and illusions, forgiveness, and understanding human frailties: these things arouse deep feelings. The past and the future intermingle, and the barriers between people dissolve - there is the key to the greater psychic and spiritual sensitivity you feel now.

The Moon in Pisces generally favors the following activities: Imaginative undertakings, mystical or spiritual pursuits, inner development, music and drama, going on a retreat, activities involving water.

PLANETS

February 1st -  Venus opposition Mars Retrograde (Venus in 
Pisces, Mars in Virgo) 
Here we have a clash with our receptive, diplomatic side arguing with our assertive, upfront side. The result can be either a battle of wills between Yin and Yang (yours or others'), or a new creative dynamic that brings both into a new balance. This could manifest in the form of relationship issues, financial struggles, or arguments about control. In some instances we may feel that it is time to take some action with plans that we have let sit bumbling away in the background for a while. Those who are more comfortable with the more receptive Yin energy could find themselves feeling unusually sensitive to anyone who is being aggressive or forceful. And those who are more comfortable with the assertive and action oriented Yang energy could feel pressured or manipulated to tone down their energy levels to make them more socially acceptable. In the end it's all about finding a cooperative balance!

 
February 3rd Neptune enters Pisces 
It's not often the Neptune changes signs and the last time it was in Pisces was around 165 years ago! This is a slowly evolving energy that we get from Neptune's journey in it's home sing of Pisces. It brings us to a place where we want to explore our more spiritual, artistic, and creative sides. Neptune and Pisces are also associated with illusion, deception, fraud, fantasy and superstition. Beliefs are very fluid things which can be assumed to be real, yet could be based on misconceptions, biases and false assumptions. In Pisces, it is very tricky to tell the difference between what's real and what's fantasy. The realm of belief can be mutually exclusive from 
that of fact, and the line between them murky and confusing. With Neptune in Pisces, entire collective groups of people could be overcome by beliefs that are based on assumptions that have more to do with defense against fear and panic than with reality or truth. It will be interesting to watch this energy over the coming year as well with all of the 2012 hype.

On a more personal level, Neptune in Pisces could lead you to discover a new expression of higher purpose in your life, perhaps inspired by a renewed sense of connection to something greater than yourself. It can also challenge you to probe deeper into your personal beliefs and test out whether these still fit your experience of life and whether they continue to serve your best interests. You might discover that its time to do a bit of a course correction!

February 7th - Saturn Retrograde in Libra 
This transit is all about rebalancing rules and structure. The planet of order's backward movement brings a time to cultivate discipline, patience and self-restraint. Making up for unmet obligations comes from hard work instead of guilt and shame. Balance in relationships is restored when individuals take responsibility for themselves instead of casting blame on others. Finding peace within is the first key to harmonious partnerships. 

February 7th Venus enters Aries - 
The goddess of beauty in Aries can help us to pick up the pace if we are willing to explore new opportunities and relationships- especially friendships and organizations in the days ahead. Spontaneous attractions and restless relationships are likely with the love planet in impatient Aries until March 5. The urge for immediate gratification could be downright reckless when Venus joins rebellious Uranus on February 9. However, experiencing breakthroughs in alliances, appearance and self-worth make experimentation desirable during this revelatory period. 

February 9th Venus conjunct Uranus (Both in early Aries) -
Under this transit we have a taste for the unusual and the avant garde. We may be itching for a change now on a social or romantic level and Aries brings out that impatient side that could have us being a bit impulsive. But it can also get us moving if w3e have been feeling stagnant. What makes us unique now is more attractive to others under this influence, so emphasize what makes you special. Excitement and newness is valued over permanence in social relationships. We lose our fear of taking risks in love and social situations. Romantic infatuations, gossip, unanticipated opportunities socially or financially are all possibilities. Sometimes this correlates with an unexpected income boost, a surprise visit or social event, a transient or sudden romantic attraction, or unpredictable experiences in matters of the heart. You have a greater need for self-expression, personal freedom, and social excitement. 


February 13th Mercury enters Pisces - 
When Mercury is in Pisces, our thinking processes become visual, intuitive, and imaginative. We are more attuned to the world of emotion, and it colors both our thoughts and our communication style. We guess well, express ourselves with imagery, and make decisions intuitively. Minds meander with Mercury moving through Pisces, going off course to places that words cannot adequately describe. This transit serves poets, artists, healers, spiritual seekers and all those who don't rely on objective evidence to shape reality. Facts may grow fuzzy, but conversations grow tender as intuition becomes the most valuable source of information.   

February 13th Mercury conjunct Neptune (Both in Pisces) 
 - Our intuitive creativity is stimulated under this influence. We might get insights into our own mind and/or into others' behavior. Conscious reasoning can be distorted by subconscious matter, however, so concentrating on cold hard facts can be challenging. Daydreaming, visualization, and prophecy are stimulated. Communications may be unclear, vague, or downright confused. You could be subject to deception. Avoid signing contracts under this influence. 

February 15th Venus square Pluto (Venus in Aries, Pluto in 
Capricorn)  - 
This transit can bring on power games as passions run high and hot, with some hidden agendas. Feelings of jealousy and possessiveness run so close to the surface that others can almost feel the heat, and they are in direct proportion to your fear of losing something or someone dear to you. Avoid starting a new relationship at this time, because it can be characterized by these energies. Some underlying tensions in social interactions (looking for an ulterior motive or an agenda, suspiciousness) and relationships (possible jealousies) are present now. Sometimes, this transit correlates with heartbreak, unreciprocated feelings, or romantic disappointment. Often, financial matters come to the fore. Manipulation and underhanded dealings can color relationships now. Avoid power plays with friends and lovers. 

 
February 17th Mercury sextile Jupiter (Mercury in Pisces, 
Jupiter in Taurus) - This is a favorable influence for short trips, writing, teaching, studying, mailings, interviews, advertising and promotion, submitting applications and forms, and accurate observations. You are inclined to think positively and with growth in mind. Others tend to cooperate with you, and perhaps seek out your advice. You might receive some interesting offers now.

 
February 18th Mercury sextile Pluto (Mercury in Pisces, Pluto 
in Capricorn) 
You possess more insight and psychological understanding than usual during this transit. You are willing to look beyond the surface of things and investigate matters in more depth. Perhaps more importantly, you are more patient and strategic in your decision-making. A revealing conversation or connection to someone could figure now. 

February 23rd Mercury opposition Mars (Mercury in Pisces, Mars 
in Virgo) - Haste makes waste.  Instead of listening to what others have to say, you could end up interrupting them and making assumptions. Alternatively, you could find others doing the same to you. This is not a good day to make important decisions, as your thinking simply isn't clear. You could be quick on the trigger when it comes to verbal reactions to others, and you may seriously lack diplomacy at this time. You might find yourself doing the opposite of what you are told or what you normally think is best! Information that you receive now could lead you to take a wrong turn or action. This is not the best time to take a trip. 


 
What to watch for next month, March 2012

March brings Venus in Taurus, Mercury in Pisces and a lucky Grand Earth Trine, plus Mercury turns retrograde! And we have the spring equinox and daylight savings!

Well my darlings, that wraps up this month's newsletter! Hope you all enjoyed it! Pass it on to anyone who may be interested! And feedback is most welcome so if there are ideas or things you would like to see in my future newsletters, let me know!

In Love & Light
Sherry (ShadowFae)

http://earthspirittarot.com