This Newsletter focuses on the two lunations this month as each makes an emphatic statement with Uranus square the Full Moon in Leo and Saturn conjunct the New Moon in Pisces.
 Best Wishes for 2023
Christine Rothwell
Email: [email protected]

Early Bird Special
For First Year Astrology Classes:
ends on February 17
Year 1 begins on Thursday March 2.
Year 2 begins Tuesday February 14.
The Advanced Group commences on Saturday February 11.

Contents 
February Night Sky
 Mercury and Mars Retrograde loops update
Full Moon in Leo
New Moon in Pisces 2023
Astrology Classes & Consultations  

February begins with all the main planets moving direct. Note: All the dates below are for Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
February 6: Full Moon in Cancer
February 11: Mercury to Aquarius
February 19: Sun to Pisces
February 20: New Moon in Pisces
February 20: Venus to Aries  

February Night Sky [times are all for Melbourne]
One of the loveliest times for observing the planets will be soon after the New Moon in Pisces when Venus, Jupiter and the very new Moon will align in Aries. Look low to the western horizon on the 22nd soon after sunset to see Venus conjunct the Moon and Jupiter.
 Mars is now rising before Sunset and setting around 2am, local time so look to almost directly overhead soon after sunset to see the Red Planet. 
Jupiter is till shining brightly and setting around 11pm. You will find Him about halfway between Mars and the western horizon.
Venus is visible as the Evening Star and you will see Her soon after the sunset, low on the Western horizon. She is currently setting around 9.40pm so She will be visible for about an hour.
 ​Saturn is setting at 9.30 on February 1 so He will soon not be visible in the night sky. You can find Him soon after sunset, very close to the western horizon.
 Mercury has disappeared form the evening sky and will be visible the hour or two before dawn.
 You can use the chart below as a rough guide. The ASC /DESC is the horizon, and the right of the chart is the western sky, the left is the east, hence you can see the Sun has just set in the west and Venus and Mercury will soon follow.

Mercury and Mars Update & the Retrograde Cycles of the Planets
 All the major planets are now moving forward, and Mercury and Mars are completing their time in the retrograde loop. If you have felt that your forward momentum has been somewhat restricted, or that you lacked motivation to get moving, you may find that your energy has shifted.
 Mercury leaves the retro loop February 7, around the time of the Leo Full Moon, completing the retrograde cycle that began at the end of December when Mercury entered the retrograde loop. The first week of February is therefore a natural time to act on insights gained through the retrograde phase: January 7 to 18.
 Mars stationed retrograde on October 31 [AEDT] but will not leave the ‘retrograde loop’ until around March 16 when He reaches 24 Gemini. The time from January 13 onwards is time to start to put into action the plans that we have had the chance to re-evaluate and refine during the retrograde phase from October 31 to January 13. Mars has now gained some forward momentum in His direct motion so you may find it easier to get moving and initiate action, especially where you have experienced blocks.
  
February 6 Full Moon at 16 degrees Leo
 …falls at 5.28 am AEDT. The Full Moon forms a very tight t-square with Uranus [ the ruler of Aquarius] inviting us to be open to change that allows us to be more authentic while avoiding acting out and running away! Uranus always invites  change but in its shadow can activate the saboteur if our quest for greater freedom and authenticity is not coming from the heart.
 
Generally speaking, full moons highlight a sign and house polarity as the Moon opposes the Sun. This full moon emphasizes the Leo / Aquarius polarity and asks us  to reflect on how we balance these two energies. The Leo archetype encompasses the performer and the monarch [King and Queen] while the Aquarian archetype includes the rebel, the reformer, the humanitarian and the social worker. Leo’s challenge is to master the ego while the Aquarian challenge is to be a vehicle for reform and social change.
 
Leo is a fire sign and its special gifts are leadership, charisma and enthusiasm. The full Moon in Leo invites us to become aware of what ‘feeds our fire’ and brings passion into our lives as well as highlighting our need to find and express our special gifts and share them with the world, or at least with those who are near and dear to us. We may all feel the need to be validated and special and this is a gift you can give your loved ones at this time.
 
While this is a wonderful time to validate the people who inspire you, beware of the shadow side of Leo, the Lion who is not validated and resorts to disruptive and attention seeking behaviour.  Try to become conscious or your own needs for recognition and find some healthy outlets for them.  
 

New Moon at 6.05pm on February 20 at 1 Pisces 22 …conjunct Saturn
 This New Moon is a Super Moon [along with the January and March New Moons], with Saturn in a tight conjunction to the Sun and Moon. Saturn is at late degrees of Aquarius and will enter Pisces next month where it will join Neptune – on March 7 - for the next few years.
 
Each year the Pisces New Moon can assist us to open our hearts and minds to the transpersonal and imaginal realms and to re-awaken us to the wisdom of our dreams and the power of love and compassion…to see all life forms as one.  One way of honoring this energy is to take some time out for reflection and attending to our dreams well as connecting with our feelings.
 
With Saturn in a tight conjunction to the New Moon we are being challenged to bring structure and pragmatism to our creative and spiritual pursuits and to ground them in our everyday Saturnian reality. What can we do to manifest our dreams or are we happy to live in the fantasy?
 
This is also a good time to:
set the intention to begin a disciplined practice of inner work: self-reflection / journaling, recording our dreams or meditation. set the intention to work on any escapist or addictive patterns and perhaps seek assistance …if it feels right.  
When Saturn moves into Pisces next month all these themes will become more prominent and this lunation is giving us a taste of the soul work to come.

May the Goddess & God Bless You All
Christine
www.christine-rothwell.com
[email protected]
 
 
2023 Astrology Classes
Beginners through to Advanced Classes
Early Bird Rates available this month ...contact Christine for a brochure.
 
Christine offers an in-depth psychological and mythological approach to astrology. Her classes are suitable for those individuals who are wishing to learn more about themselves as well as those interested in becoming a professional astrologer.
 
All classes are on Zoom. Video files are provided for any classes you miss, and it is possible to enrol for video content only [correspondence] at a reduced rate.
 
First Year/ Beginners’
7pm Thursday, beginning March 2
…focuses on learning how to read / delineate a horoscope and covers the elements, signs, planets, houses, aspects etc.
 
Second Year / Intermediate
7pm Tuesday beginning February 14
…focuses on additional points and themes in the horoscope [ lunation cycle, asteroids, Eris, Medical Astrology, Career] and Dynamic [predictive] Techniques: Transits & Progressions.
 
Advanced Group
 Second Saturday afternoon each month beginning February 11.
The Advanced Classes give you the opportunity to integrate what you have learned through a seminar format that allows exposure to more advanced techniques and psychological perspectives, plus the opportunity to develop your delineation skills.
 
Please  email for a brochure.
[email protected]
Or visit
www.christinerothwell.com
For more information
 
Consultations
are now on Zoom
and are still recorded so the sound file link can be sent to you via email.
 
Gift Certificates are available for most consultations.
 
AN INITIAL CONSULTATION
 explores the soul’s journey as revealed through the personal symbol of the birth chart.  The focus is on the potential inherent in the birth chart and the challenges that need to be embraced to realize this potential.
Also available as an…
In-depth Consultation Two hours to explore both the soul’s journey [see above] and the year ahead. Includes 2 or 4 supplementary e-booklets.

Chart Up-date: The Year Ahead
 Explores the year ahead from a psychological perspective.

Understanding Your Child:
A wonderful gift for new parents and explores a child’s unique needs, motivations, potentials, and challenges.

Relocation: 
Explains how a different location may impact on your psyche. This can be helpful if you are thinking of re-locating and can be included with any of the above consultations.