If you were expecting some kind of sun sign nonsense, forget about it. This is real astrology for the real world, not some mystical mumbo-jumbo psycho-babble word salad. If it's real astrology for yourself that you want, you can get it by phone or in print. And if you need help deciphering the astrological glyphs in the graphics accompanying this article, see Astroglyphs: Astrological Symbols Guide. Please note: this forecast is expressed in terms of Universal Time (UT, aka GMT). Location for all mundane charts is set for the Great Pyramid at Giza; the choice being strictly arbitrary in any case. Also please be aware that, while I never change a forecast once it's published, I do post errata to acknowledge typographical errors and the like.

PLEASE NOTE: This month’s forecast incorporates elements of (and refers to) the complete version of my 2019 World Forecast Highlights (34 8-1/2 x 11" illustrated pages); focused, amplified and elaborated with details for the month as appropriate. The full version of my 2019 World Forecast Highlights is available in hard copy by mail ($75) or as a PDF document by email ($50). Orders may be phoned in toll-free anywhere in North America to 800-527-8761, and charged to any major credit or debit card. Orders may also be placed direct from your own PayPal account page to rnolle@astropro.com – or by using the AstroPro PayPal order page.

"Tomorrow changes the face of reality."
-- Philip José Farmer
 

The Skinny

This month’s forecast is late, again. Not only because I’m still catching up on the crush of orders and consultations as usual this time of year, but also because I caught a virus from the grandkids. It’s called RSV (Respiratory Syncitial Virus), and it’s not so bad if you get the regular version, But the one I got landed on me like the proverbial ton of bricks: days of bedrest, lost my voice for the better part of a week, lots of meds. (None of which do more than ease the ordeal, since there’s as yet no vaccine and no cure for this thing.) I’m still far from 100%, but I’m muddling through. Here’s what I managed to put together in the meanwhile.

Another SuperMoon, the year’s first Mercury Max cycle (and then some), a Mars-Uranus alignment, a couple of inner-outer planet conjunctions (Venus-Saturn and Mercury-Neptune) and a new moon on one of the cross-quarter days, aka the Gates of Avataric Descent (the midpoints of the fixed signs): there’s a lot happening in February. Let’s get started.

Geophysical Storm Signals

New and full moon alignments – particularly SuperMoons and eclipses – are the metronomes of geophysical energy here on Earth. They can be amplified by other particular factors, such as Sun-Mercury conjunctions and the Mercury Max cycle. All of this comes together in February, starting with the new moon on the 4th at 15°45’ Aquarius – which falls within a few degrees of the January 30 superior (far side) Sun-Mercury conjunction. While the new moon effect is immediately evident – within the customary plus or minus three day shock window – the Sun-Mercury factor is a bit of a sleeper, in that it’s important, but not right away. I’ll catch up to the latter momentarily. For now, just be advised that February 1-7 will bring the month’s first notable increase in storm and seismic intensity. Moderate to severe (M 5+ earthquakes), notable volcanic eruptions and powerful storms are on tap at times like this.

Sun-Mercury-Earth alignments always point to a heightened potential for solar disturbances, leading to geomagnetic storms here on our home planet. Those storms happen more or less immediately (give or take three days) when it’s an inferior conjunction, i.e. a Sun-Mercury-Earth alignment when Mercury is on the near side of the Sun, between us and the local star.

The inferior conjunction occurs at the high point of Mercury Max. The first Mercury Max cycle this year runs from February 27-April 11, and peaks with the March 15 inferior Sun-Mercury conjunction. (For the lowdown on Mercury Max, see pp. 13-19 in the full version of my 2019 World Forecast Highlights.)

It’s a different story with the superior conjunction, an alignment of Mercury-Sun-Earth (Sun in the middle, Mercury on the far side from Earth). The disturbances raised by this alignment are delayed for approximately two weeks, until the Sun’s rotation brings the conjunction point on the solar sphere around to face Earth. Sure, there may be a brief flare-up at the time of the superior conjunction, but it’s typically short and mild if it’s at all noticeable.

Two weeks after that conjunction comes the plus/minus three day solar storm window. This time around, that works out to February 10-16. (Incidentally, that February 10-16 solar disturbance window includes the February 13 Mars-Uranus conjunction: another sign of electromagnetic volatility here on Earth.)

All of these geomagnetic disturbances essentially grow out of solar storms of one kind of another; be they X-Ray storms, coronal holes, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), plasma arcs, etc. Blasting charged particles out into the solar system – tending to be directed toward our home planet during the February 10-16 storm window, and throughout the whole Mercury Max cycle (February 27-April 11, these high energy solar disturbances coincide with strong geomagnetic storms here on Earth (Kp 5 and up).

Dumping Gigawatts of extra solar energy into Earth’s magnetosphere, atmosphere and crust not only amplifies the potential for stronger and more frequent storms and seismic disturbances, but electrical disturbances as well (Kp5 and up geomagnetic storms and auroral displays; also outages in electrical networks (e.g. power and communications) and the human nervous system. Think scrambled circuits, and you’ve got a pretty good handle on the February 10-16 time span. And if you were born with important features around 29° Aries – where the Mars-Uranus conjunction takes place – then you may be more susceptible than most to these kind of disruptions (Check your chart!)

The last – and probably most important – geophysical stress window this month is the SuperMoon at 0° 42’ Virgo on the 19th (in effect from the 16th through the 22nd). You know what to look for: a rash of moderate to severe (M5+) earthquakes, powerful storms, flood ties and volcanic eruptions.

Mercury Max Returns

February wraps up under the aegis of the year’s first Mercury Max cycle, which begins on the 27th and continues into April. Get ready: March will be a comedy of errors and a whirlwind of activity!

Acknowledgments

All mundane astrological charts as well as eclipse and astro-locality maps are set for the Universal Time (UT) of the event, and calculated and produced using Esoteric Technologies’ Solar Fire Gold Version 7.0.8. Charts are set for the location of the Great Pyramid - a purely arbitrary choice, since location is irrelevant to these charts. Unless sotherwise noted, sky map images are screen captures from the Pocket Universe or Star Rover apps for iPhone, or produced by Starry Night for Windows; storm tracks are screen captures from The Weather Channel app for iPhone; and earthquake maps are screen captures from the QuakeFeed, QuakeWatch or QuakeZone apps for iPhone. Any market images are screen captures from the default iPhone Stocks app, unless otherwise noted. Weather images and storm tracks are screen captures from the Weather Channel app for iPhone.

SPECIAL FEATURE: This month's birthdays of the famous and infamous (with astrological birth charts)

Richard Nolle, Certified Professional Astrologer consultations/orders (AmEx/Discover/MasterCard/Visa) 800-527-8761 data/message 480-753-6261 - email rnolle@astropro.com Box 26599 - Tempe, AZ 85285-6599 - USA www.astropro.com