SignOut

by Lilly Roddy

The most significant event for this month is the first of this year’s three Mercury retrogrades. It begins on February 3 and lasts till the 25th. And if you include the couple of days before and the couple of days after those dates, then you have the entire month.

Mercury retrograde is about looking back at what we have been doing and reviewing our past. This could be career decisions, relationship choices, or simply trying to gain a better understanding of our life path. The problem that people experience with Mercury retrograde is when they try to begin new projects or enterprises. Then, things do go wrong.

Does this mean Mercury retrograde is bad? The answer to that is no. We just have to remember that understanding astrology is much like following the seasons. For example, when the Sun is in Capricorn, it is wintertime here in the northern hemisphere. Do we plant our crops then? No. Do we flail about, wailing that we have no control over our lives? No, we go and get a coat or sweater and wait for the Sun to move into Aries, i.e. spring.

If you were to plant crops in the winter (in Capricorn), when they don’t grow, you’d just have to shrug your shoulders and say, What did I expect? I’d suggest a similar attitude to Mercury retrograde: Accept it for what it is. And the best way to gain the benefits from Mercury retrograde is to clean out those closets, files, lives, bad relationships, family issues, or whatever comes up during the retrograde period for you to take a re-look at.

Days to stay in bed are February 3, the 9th, 12th, 15th, 22nd, and 25th. Days to welcome the dawn are the 4th, 8th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 20th, and 24th. Days to party are the 4th, 9th, 15th, 18th, and 22nd.

Aquarius (Jan. 20—Feb. 18) You are the lucky sign this month with Mercury retrograding in your sign. So, you can expect that you will be the sign most affected. And what does this mean? You are scrutinizing what you have accomplished over the last year, plus what you are going to do this new millennium. You should really take the time this month to deliberate on just what those plans need to be. Many of you are bored with your current life or looking for a deeper sense of contentment. This could mean the completion of some of the paths that you have been on for a while. Relationships, career paths, and friendships could be ending, all at your choice. Minimally, they have to be upgraded. Enjoy the month in contemplation and look for action in March.

Pisces (Feb. 19—March 20) Just when you feel like you are ready to make some decisions in your life, you begin to rethink your decisions once again. Mercury just teasingly enters your sign on the 1st and then backs out on the 6th. Thus, just when you are about ready to act, the universe says, "Maybe you should rethink that!" You begin to feel antsy and impatient about your career after the 15th. You may want to just clean out your workspace and leave. If you do feel that way, you may want to try and wait until the end of the month before you make that decision. Opportunities should open up for you in March. If you can hold still, you will have more choices than you know what to do with. And with the Sun entering your sign on the 18th, you will be ready for some new goals in your life.

Aries (March 21—April 19) Friendships and group associations are your theme for this month. And with Mercury retrograding through this area of your life, expect to hear from those old friends whom you haven’t heard from since they last needed something from you. You are in a social mood and ready to pull together the resources of the groups that you have been connected to. You will go out of your way to avoid conflicts this month. You will do everything you can to be sweet and compliant to get your way. Many will be surprised by your new tactics and totally caught off guard. Your money problems are slowly beginning to lighten up. But don’t invest in that new DVD player just yet. By the end of the month, you are ready for a rest.

Taurus (April 20—May 20) Your thoughts and ideas will be focused on your career this month. Most of you have been really trying to make what you do fit the inner spiritual drive that has been awakened inside of you. And this month, for some of you, you are on the verge of making a decision. Mercury is retrograding through this area of your life. You are definitely going to reevaluate what you are doing, and, mostly, asking if you are happy and fulfilled. If that answer is no, you may be exiting your place of employment on the 9th, 12th, or 15th. You will have to find some sense of renewal even if you are blissfully happy about what you do. Generally, things could just be crazy at work. Keep busy. Moving targets are harder to hit. And the pastures are definitely greener for the bulls and cows by the end of the month.

Gemini (May 21—June 21) Mercury is your ruling planet, and when she goes retrograde, watch out. Everything seems to be sdrxpwkcqbf. This is a great month for you to take a break in the action. After this month, February, it will be extremely busy. And you won’t have a lot of time for a break. This could be a really good time for a short vacation, especially to visit a place you have been before. You are in an intellectually creative time and your brain is drawing on information that you have stashed away for a rainy day. That rainy day is now. Relationships can be adventuresome, hot and wet, combative, or all three. Boredom can take a toll on your relationships this year. Time for renewal in this area or you may need a new lover/partner/significant other/wife/husband/life partner.

Cancer (June 22—July 22) Your solar eighth house of shared resources, sexual activity, and emotional intimacy is where Mercury retrograde is visiting this month. So, what would you like to do first: Start your taxes, visit your therapist, or have a roll in the hay? OK, now for your second choice. You will want to get all of your financial affairs in order this month. There has been a lot of confusion here over the last two years and you are ready to get things together. Your resources have been limited by situations outside of your control. And no matter how hard you have tried, you have been a crab crawling uphill. That all seems to be easier now. Bad money days are Feb. 3 and Feb. 12. If you are paying attention, these are days that you will feel motivated to get things in order. If you are not paying attention, your attention will be gotten for you. Vacation time arrives at the end of the month.

Leo (July 23—Aug. 22) Yes, you have been wanting to hear from those old lovers, rescuers, and paramours with their smoldering sensual looks. When time stood still, nothing would get in the way of dinner at your special place. Ah yes, where are the good old days? They are here this month. If you are in a relationship, time to renew the courtship. Do what you used to do before your partner was your partner. And don’t be surprised to hear from those old flames. Yes, they are still interested and are just waiting for an invitation. If you are not involved, this is not the time to be alone. Call up some old friends and get out there and party. And for those of you in that spiritual retreat mode, a hot tub can be a place for those souls to mingle.

Virgo (Aug. 23—Sept. 22) Mercury is your ruling planet, just like the Gemini’s. And with it going retrograde, you are reviewing your past, cleaning up your office, and settling those inter-office battles. You have really had it with those coworkers who don’t contribute to office efficiency. They will have to get on board or walk the plank. You will not be as understanding as usual, and others may wonder who is this new person coming to work. Activity at home becomes quite a focus around mid-month. And this will be a long-term theme until the end of September. You will be doing a lot of projects around the home. Family issues will have to be addressed. You will be losing your temper more easily. An exercise or diet program my help, along with a course in how to use a handgun.

Libra (Sept. 23—Oct. 23) Where oh where has that youthful creative spirit gone? Time to awaken that inner child from the nap with a kiss from Princess/Prince Charming. You are ready for play and fun. Nothing too serious this month or you will take your sandbox and go home. Responsibility is for anyone else but you. This month is a time of self-indulgence and sensual pleasure. If you have to work, then this is a wonderful time to market yourself, your products, or your ideas. You charisma is strong and could easily draw what you need. Make sure and visit with those people and clients with whom you already have established relationships. Avoid new people unless they want to take you out for drinks and dinner. By the end of the month, you will have to get back to work. You won’t like it, but you have to.

Scorpio (Oct. 24—Nov. 21) Retrograding Mercury is visiting the family this month. And a visit home is expected. So you might as well go and enjoy that emotional button-pushing. Otherwise, they will come and visit you. There is no escape. Resistance is futile. Projects around the old homeplace will take your attention this month. You will be taking on all those honey-do projects that you have been avoiding over the last year. This is the time to have your own family meeting. All is not running so smoothly, but you can easily get things back on track. Escapist activities will show up as your wanting to spend money impulsively. Even if they are for the home, it is really just you trying to avoid the issues at hand. Days you will feel trapped are the 3rd, 9th, 12th and 15th. Try not to overload yourself on those days.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22—Dec. 21) Trick or treat!!! You get a mixed bag of goodies this month. For the entire month, Mercury is helping you reorganize your daily activities. You are taking care of all those small jobs that you haven’t found time for before. And by mid-month you will be ready to do something different, take a trip, or have a challenging experience. During the first half, you should be careful driving, especially on the 3rd, 9th, and 15th. You will be especially impatient on the 15th. Your communication with others will be direct and to the point. And if you have to repeat yourself, it could even be pointed. By mid-month, Mars, the headstrong planet of selfness, personal challenges, and dynamite, will be spending an exceptionally long time in your sign. Usually, Mars is in your sign for about a month and a half every two years. This time, she is there from mid February till mid September. Look for some outlets for this energy so that you don’t rough up those who care about you.

Capricorn (Dec. 22—Jan. 19) Retrograding Mercury is touring your solar second house of money, personal resources, and talents this loverly month of February. And what does this mean for you? Balance your checkbook, finish your taxes before April 15, take care of old debts, and make a general reassessment of what your value is to yourself and others is a start. This could be a great time to consider raising your fees, asking for a raise, or in general expecting more from others. And I said, this is the time to consider this but not the time to act. You have to wait until the end of February until you put these new ideas into action. Even relationships, both business and personal, could be a bit more testy during this time if you feel that you are not being acknowledged or just plain undervalued. The pressure does begin to ease some by the 19th.

Lilly Roddy is a Houston-based astrologer. She can be reached at lillycath@aol.com or www.cybersim.com/hermes.