February 2023: Full Moon in Cancer, Combust Saturn, and other Exciting Astrological Events

Why you should prepare for heightened emotions, surprises, and a powerful outpouring of love and harmony during the initial weeks of this month

Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.

February was named after Februus, an ancient Etruscan and Roman god of purification who was honored and celebrated this month. Purification rituals were performed to enhance fertility and to make way for new creative ventures in the coming springtime. Another Roman god related to the month of February was Febris, the tutelary deity of fevers who was worshiped for good health.

Febris, Goddess of Fevers: Virgil Solis, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

There’s a great deal happening in the sky mirror this month. Here are some of the major astrological events in the first few weeks:

The Waxing Gibbous Moon Will Occur from January 30 to February 5: Time To Push Through Difficulties and Persevere

The Waxing Gibbous Moon phase began on January 30. Gibbous means that the Moon is at least 70% lit up and growing larger and brighter. Western astrologer Dana Gerhardt eloquently describes the Gibbous Moon phase in the fifth installment of her Moon Watching series on Astro.com:

The Gibbous phase asks a lot from us. But it also promises a lot. If we wonder “what's going to happen” at this Moon phase, we may need to brace ourselves for irritations and difficulties. Yet if we approach it as an opportune time for creative action, if we ask “what can I do,” we'll likely accomplish great things. The Gibbous phase presents an exquisite transitional window for strengthening our rickety foundations and smoothing our rough edges…Gibbous teaches not to push, but to persevere.

Saturn Will Be Combust from January 30 to March 5: A Contemplative Time with Tremendous Growth Potential

Saturn will sink into the sunset on January 30 when it moves so close to the Sun as to become invisible. Saturn will remain in this state until March 5. Around this day, Saturn will reemerge in the eastern sky at dawn. 

When a planet comes so close to the Sun that it becomes invisible to us, this is known as planetary combustion according to astrology. I like to think of the combustion cycle of a planet as a time when the planet is visiting the underworld for a period of renewal.

During this time, certain matters that the planet represents for us generally and individually will be undergoing a deeply transformative process. What this means for Saturn will become clearer to us after its conjunction with the Sun on February 16.

Saturn represents the power of our actions, the process of manifestation, and the limits and boundaries of our perception and experience. As the force of fate and the lord of karma and transformation, Saturn symbolizes the pressures and restrictions that are meant to help us learn and evolve slowly over time.

Hence, Saturn is known in Vedic astrology as Shani Dev, the “slow goer.” His vahana (vehicle) is a raven or crow, a magical spirit animal that symbolizes the capacity to know the truth, rise above our earthly problems, and live according to a higher perspective.

By E. A. Rodrigues - The complete Hindu Pantheon, comprising the principal deities worshipped by the Natives of British India throughout Hindoostan, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14548200

When Saturn is combust, our patience and fortitude may be tested, and some may have to face a sense of burden and overwhelm. Yet, Saturn rules Capricorn and Aquarius, where the Sun will be transiting during Saturn’s combustion cycle, so the impact may also be positive, innovative, and even transformative!

Saturn combust the Sun in Aquarius is not so difficult for those who are self-disciplined, who take their responsibilities seriously, and who live a contemplative life. The latter is especially key as the Sun represents our conscious being, whereas Saturn represents what is in our unconscious being (the psychological shadow). When the Sun combusts Saturn, we have an opportunity to merge the two, to plumb the depths in order to make the unconscious conscious, a term that Carl Jung coined which refers to the inner process of deep self-examination and personal discovery.

Ancient Festivals from January 31 to February 2: A Time to Celebrate

We will begin the month of February with the Gaelic fire festival of Imbolc (January 31-February 1), immediately followed by the Christian holy day of Candlemas (or Candelaria), a festival of light celebrated on February 2. Please refer to my previous article about this.

Full Moon Will Occur in the Cancer Constellation and Ashlesha Nakshatra on February 5: Prepare for Potentially Intense Emotions, Spiritual Energy, and Surprises

The Waxing Gibbous Moon will culminate in the Full Moon in Cancer on February 5 at 1:28:32 PM EST. (Use the World Time Buddy to convert this to your time zone if necessary.) Issues with family, females, relationships, or concerns about inner and outer safety and security tend to be highlighted around the Full Moon in Cancer, including the week leading up to it.

The Full Moon will occupy Ashlesha nakshatra. This group of stars falls within the Hydra constellation which is symbolized by a female water snake. In Vedic astrology, Ashlesha is represented by a naga, which is a semi-divine, half-serpent, half-divine being.

Hydra and surrounding constellations, from Urania's Mirror by Sidney Hall (1825).

The serpent archetype represents strong emotions, creative life force, healing, transformation, and rebirth. As the serpent regularly sloughs off its old skin, so when the Full Moon occurs here, we see the possibility of something big shifting within us or our world.

Known as the Clinging Star (or Entwining Star), Ashlesha's intense emotional energy can be hard to shake if we are currently holding onto something negative. Unanticipated or surprising feelings, actions, and events are part and parcel of this nakshatra. These surprises become more impactful when the Full Moon occurs here, as the serpent is emblematic of hidden agendas and surprise attacks.

Additionally, poison and vitriol are significant symbols for Ashlesha, so be aware and cautious around this Full Moon. The need for caution is heightened because Uranus in Aries will form a potentially volatile t-square between the Sun in Capricorn and the Full Moon in Cancer.

The influence of this Uranus-Sun-Moon t-square can be quite unsettling or shocking. Uranus represents seismic activity, storms, and air travel, so in the week leading up to the Full Moon, there may be dangerous storms, travel disruptions, and all manner of eruptions. Yet, in its higher expression, Uranus represents the universal mind, so its aspects may also trigger spiritual awakening, new insights, and divine revelation.

Mercury Will Transit in Capricorn from February 6 to 27, and Conjoins Pluto on February 10: Revisiting the Past and Transforming our Thinking and Communication

Mercury will transit in Capricorn from February 6 to 27. In practical Capricorn, Mercury is realistic, grounded, well-organized, and solution oriented. When it enters Capricorn on February 6, Mercury will return to where it briefly transited around December 27 to 30, 2022. In some cases, for those whose natal charts are directly impacted, an event may occur that reignites or completes what was started and may have stalled around that time.

Mercury will conjoin Pluto on February 10. These two planets will be within an effective orb of influence from February 2 to 13. This combination can activate new understanding and communication (Mercury) related to the hidden or subtle dimensions of life (Pluto). Pluto’s conjunction with Mercury may also indicate upheaval in trading markets or explosive events related to the travel and transportation industries, commerce and trading, technology, and communication systems.

Venus, Neptune, and Jupiter Will Line Up in Pisces from February 15 to March 11: A Powerful Exponential Force of Love, Harmony, and Beauty

Venus, the planet of love, creativity, harmony, beauty, fertility, and wealth, will enter its most favorable exaltation sign of Pisces on February 15. Venus will remain in this sign until March 11. Venus will conjoin Neptune on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces on February 15, and they will be within an effective five-degree orb of conjunction from February 10 to 19. 

Neptune will enter Pisces on February 18. Neptune will remain in Pisces until February 2037. Neptune briefly transited into early Pisces last year. You can read my extensive article on Neptune in Pisces to understand the effect of this lengthy transit. 

Not only is Venus exalted in Pisces, but Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces, and Neptune is its modern ruler according to western astrology. This means that all of these planets are in dignity in Pisces, which indicates great strength and good fortune for the sign of Pisces as well as for Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune.

This planetary alignment suggests a powerful exponential force of love, harmony, beauty, peace, diplomacy, creativity, idealism, inspiration, compassion, and wisdom, which may manifest in all realms of human endeavor, especially those related to philanthropy, justice, spirituality, culture, the arts, and music.

The Sun’s Transit in Aquarius: February 12 to March 14: A New Dose of Purpose and Stability

From February 12 to March 14, the Sun will transit in Aquarius, the sign of the Water Bearer who brings forth healing and spiritual blessings. When the Sun transits into one of the fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius — this is considered an auspicious time when Lord Vishnu brings the world a fresh dose of purpose and stability. Then, the Sun will conjoin the Moon and Saturn during the New Moon on February 20, a few days after the Hindu festival of Maha Shivaratri, the Great Night of Shiva which will occur all around the world on February 18. This is a very special time that I will be writing more about soon.

As you can see, the first couple of weeks of February will be packed with astrological events! Some events (like a combust Saturn and the Full Moon in Cancer) may be challenging. That said, other astrological shifts, such as the positive placement of Venus, Jupiter, and Neptune in Pisces, and Shivaratri on February 18, may uplift our spirits and enhance our creativity. 

I wish all of you a very happy February! Please stay tuned as I plan to post more astrological forecasts for the month of February in the days and weeks ahead.

May there be peace in the higher regions; may there be peace in the firmament;
may there be peace on earth.
May the waters flow peacefully; may the herbs and plants grow peacefully;
may all the divine powers bring unto us peace.
The supreme Lord is peace.
May we all be in peace, peace, and only peace; and may that peace come unto each of us.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti! Peace! Peace! Peace! (The Vedas, trans. Raimundo Panniker)