February is an exciting month, and many of our big storylines of 2022 will start to take shape right now. After Mercury goes direct on February 3, all planets will be moving forward. So, expect some momentum for things you’d like to see evolve at this time.

The big highlight of the month is the US Pluto return, and while I know some of you live in other countries, this transit will have a ripple effect on the global economy. Pluto makes a full revolution, returning to the same place every 248 years. Each time a planet returns to the same degree of the Zodiac, we see similar themes. The US started with the American Revolution, which was our early founders’ aim to separate from financial entanglement with England. We could see themes of financial entanglement with corporations, economic justice, and debt.

Because everything is moving forward after February 3, we’ll see a lot of action this month. Plans that have been in the works for some time will get the green light, though this could mean erratic movement for some. It could also mean a build-up of energy that releases all of a sudden.

February is the month of love, with Valentine’s Day right in the middle. This year’s Valentine’s Day could be a story of “They love me, they love me not…” Venus and Mars are dancing with one another all month long. Both are in the sign of Capricorn, which is a sign that takes things seriously. The two meet up on February 16, which could mean commitment in relationships.

I often see this situation in my practice — just before a couple makes a commitment, all of their resistances come up to the surface. Sometimes, they go through a shake-up right before a significant turning point in their relationship. I like to think it’s our way of validating a decision to stick together. We grow through conflict, and it can be cathartic. I could see these types of situations happening throughout the month. Venus and Mercury will be going direct but still in their post-shadow phases. We want to be moving on, but we are still finishing business.

Mars steals the show this month as it moves through Capricorn. It makes contact with most of the outer planets, leading up to a conjunction with Pluto on March 3. 💥

• 2/4 Mars Sextile Jupiter

• 2/6 Mars Square Chiron

• 2/8 Mars Trine Uranus

• 2/16 Venus Conjunct Mars

• 2/23 Mars Sextile Neptune

• 2/25 Mars Square Eris

• 2/28 Mars Trine North Node

Mars is an activator, and it kicks up energy for moving forward. After starting the year with Venus and Mercury going retrograde, Mars wakes us up to what’s possible for the year. At the same time, if your ideas and plans aren’t in the best interest of yourself and others, you could see a green light toward struggle. Don’t act on an impulse or disrupt something good. We can see conflict or violence with Mars transits, especially Mars in aspect with Eris and Pluto, but remember, conflict can instigate change.

The Leo Full Moon on February 16 highlights relationships of all kinds. Because Venus conjoins Mars, we’re moving beyond polarity and differences in relationships to find common ground. We’re thinking more in terms of collaboration than in opposition, but we are also understanding the importance of asserting ourselves with others. We’re also learning to balance contrasting energies within ourselves — balance is the keyword. Both relationship planets are in the stable sign of Capricorn, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we had new commitments this month.

The Sun enters Pisces on February 18 for one of the most interesting Pisces seasons in our lifetime. With Jupiter and Neptune moving through that sign, we’ll become more in touch with our dreams and more spiritually aware.