Within hours of its arrival into sensitive, otherworldly Pisces, the Sun will merge with oceanic Neptune for an exact conjunction. Luring us further into the vast, multi-dimensional realms of psychic Pisces will be Mercury and Chiron, the communication planet and healing asteroid, already transiting the mutable water sign. Completion, integration and wholeness are themes often associated with this the final sign of the zodiac. Before forging ahead into the next turn of the wheel, holistic Pisces gives us an annual pause for reflection and release. To make sure that we don’t wander too far off into the worlds of fantasy, this year Mars will be opposing all things Pisces from analytical Virgo, Mercury will snap out of the celestial dreamtime for a breath of invigorating Aries air, before turning retrograde, and a cantankerous Cancer moon will stir things up on March 2nd and 3rd. But none of that should deter us from swimming to the deep end of 2012’s Pisces pool. After all, any upset we perceive is merely some place in our being asking for compassion and closure. Finally, a Grand Earth Trine coming late in the cycle will fortify the insights, Angelic messages and healing energies emerging during the dreamy and daunting days ahead.
The voyage begins at 10:18 P.M. PST on February 18th when the Sun moves into boundless, artistic Pisces. At 12:41 P.M. PST on the 19th, its conjunction with dissolving Neptune will be exact. Much more than a good time to meditate, this is a stellar invitation to venture far beyond the limits of reason. It’s the chance to wade into the waters of our wildest imagination where nothing is impossible. We can emerge from their depths with solutions to complex problems, a sincere desire to heal old grievances and inspired strategies for the path ahead. Even a Mars opposition to thinking Mercury in feeling Pisces on the 23rd will be no match for the exceptional creativity, empathy and sense of Oneness that will abound through the new Pisces moon on the 21st and a Sun Chiron hookup on the 24th. Like returning from a weekend retreat, early March will bring some aspects that may road test our new found state of Zen.
On March 2nd Mercury abandons spiritual Pisces for spirited Aries, and later that day the moon heads into Cancer where it will form contentious angles to Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Saturn and Pluto through the 3rd. Also on the 3rd Mars and the Sun will form an opposition, as will Venus and Saturn on the 4th. Mercury, Uranus and Venus in agitating Aries are probably indicating where we need to be more self-advocating and assertive, and that emotional Cancer moon is up to its own form of instigation, say on behalf of our inner needs. At first glance, this may not seem like the woo woo world of “love and light” espoused by the spiritually inclined. However, when we view any conflict and discomfort that arise at this time through evolved Pisces, we can see a kind of metaphysical acupuncture at work. In this scenario, the Aries needles and Cardinal provocations may be precisely the medicine we need to feel and experience for awareness and growth. After all, that Mars retrograde in Virgo that began in January is also still uncovering old wounds and encouraging healthy expression of our needs. As the toxins emerge, we can look to the Sun, Neptune and Chiron connections in Pisces for messages of understanding, forgiveness and release.
On March 5th Venus moves home to grounded Taurus, heralding the way to a Grand Earth Trine. Whether the goal is physical or financial, medicinal or material, earthly abundance arrives between the 12th and 16th. On the 12th, powerhouse planets Jupiter in fertile Taurus and Pluto in industrious Capricorn form a constructive trine, the final one of a series of three that began last July. The earth sign support continues on the 13th when Venus trines Pluto and lines up with Jupiter. On the 14th Venus trines audacious Mars in fellow earth sign Virgo, and then Mars trines Jupiter and Pluto. Finally, the moon moves into hardworking, ambitious Capricorn on the 15th to close out this highly productive week.
The Mercury retrograde that begins on the 12th, amongst this confluence of planets in earth signs, signals new opportunities to showcase the gifts we already possess. So often we believe that happiness is something to seek out there. This retrograde is a celestial reminder of the gold within. In our most excruciating pain, lies our most profound healing, in our greatest adversity, our greatest strength and in our most formidable challenges, our most meaningful lessons. Under perceptive Pisces care, this retrograde can help us see the hidden treasures buried in our experiences and recognize our talents and resources. As we clear away old blockages, embrace the good and prepare for the new astrological year that will dawn on March 20th, the path to living more peacefully and creativity will be revealed. Dream big, and move gently.