HOROSCOPES

JAN 21-FEB 19

Happy birthday, Aquarius – progressive February gifts you sudden insights, swift changes of perspective and completely unexpected pleasures. Yes, there is Mercury retrograde’s inevitable glitches and bickering, but there’s also plenty of celestial support for moving through hurt to healing. Pied Piper Mars in the sign of poetic licence makes you very persuasive and if other people’s behaviour seems downright bizarro, well, we all have our peculiarities, don’t we, Aquirkyans? Venus will help you find the best in difficult people or situations (it’s there if you look).

Pisces

FEB 20-MAR 20

Venus enjoying a lush month of sensual indulgence is set to float your love boat, so what could go wrong? That would be mid-month Mercury backsliding through Pisces – which can make your communications confusing to others, who may hear your intuitive take on things as fact, or take your inspired proposals as promises. You mean one thing, they understand something entirely different, so be as clear as possible to reduce mix-ups. When the sun and new moon dance a pas de deux in Pisces on February 24, let your imagination meander – this often drops something lovely into your lap.

Aries

MAR 21-APR 21

As vivacious Venus sashays into Aries for a month-long romp, romance wears a bold new look. And while Mars joining a trio of ambitious planets could torch a burning urge to go, go, go, this month’s Mercury suggests listening to creative inspiration rather than trying to make things happen. Resist pushing for change that isn’t ready to manifest. If February’s combustible chemistry sparks knee-jerk reactions, honour your instincts to withdraw and process triggered emotions. Don’t blow rebuffs out of proportion or buy into anyone’s idea of who you are – adjusting their viewfinder isn’t your call.

Taurus

APR 22-MAY 21

With love planet Venus morphing from dreamy to steamy and lusty Mars joining a gang of heavenly bodies in your sector of adventure and wisdom, February’s a fabulous month to revise your personal love style. And when mid-month’s Mercury retrograde performs an illusion-busting removal of the rosy specs, then ready or not it’s time for an eyes-wide-open look at that situation you’d rather ignore. Once seen it can’t be unseen, but according to Taurean self-help author Dr Wayne Dyer, the good news is that when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change as well.

Gemini

MAY 22-JUN 22

Geminis intuitively understand that love isn’t just for sharing with one special person, it’s a way of relating to everything. And February fizzes with opportunities to play the game of love with everyone, including kids, the elderly and total strangers. Your mind is hot-wired right now to make fresh connections and initiate new projects, but with Mars igniting arguments and drama, this month’s major pitfalls are conversational exaggeration, overblown promises and inflated expectations. But most of you know the Mercury retro drill by now: retreat, review, reflect, reset and don’t believe all you read.

Cancer

JUN 23-JUL 23

Mars moving into your partnership department for the first time in two years reignites relationship fires. Or lights a new flame. Or says sayonara to something that’s run its course – whichever’s applicable. No partner, no problem, because an alignment between Mars and Uranus ensures you’re this month’s attraction magnet even with retrograde Mercury’s edgy personal politics. Restraining sharp remarks and critical observations isn’t easy, but if someone’s antsy consider what that says about how they’re feeling. And if you want more love in your life, the solution’s simple: give more love.

Leo

JUL 24-AUG 23

Mercury taking this month’s interactions undercover into undiscovered territory can be thrilling, confronting or a mixture of both. And with Mars returning after two years to your house of self-care, the backing track to February 9’s annual full moon in your sign has to be Leo Whitney Houston’s version of, “learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”. Valentine vibes combined with Mercury in low gear make this month ideal for reflecting on the roles all kinds of love play in your life, because as Leo Madonna so succinctly puts it: “Love is like breathing, you just have to do it.”

Virgo

AUG 24-SEP 23

When Venus lights February’s romantic candles and ardent Mars pays its every-other-yearly visit to your house of creative play, get ready for a juice boost of confidence and charisma. Which makes you the least likely of all signs to be fazed when Mercury swerves into reverse mid-month and old relationship issues resurface, since planetary retrogrades echo the past. Love’s still in the air, though, so do what you can to keep it there by not letting people’s assumptions or inconsistencies make you cranky; because the more relaxed you are, the more negotiable this month will be.

Libra

SEP 24-OCT 23

As Venus morphing from watery to fiery ignites your heart’s desires, keep in mind that inspiration tends to arrive in stillness, followed by results which manifest through movement. February’s Aquarian variations feature a radical balancing act between dreams and reality, facts and fantasy – challenging aspects, but nothing love can’t overcome. No question that Mercury backtracking while Mars is in go-getting mode feels like one foot on the accelerator while the other pumps the brakes, but this stop-go energy can be usefully applied to decluttering not just stuff, but old attitudes, behaviours and habits.

Scorpio

OCT 24-NOV 22

This February, Venus decrees that when you feel good you look even better, so lavish quality care on numero uno. The quartet of heavenly bodies in your ideas sector advises care in selecting which to take to the next level. And when Mercury scrambles signals mid-month, try to say things in the way you’d want them said to you. Sing rather than sting, because irritable people can’t create a peaceful world; only a compassionate mental attitude can do that. Love is a decision we can all make at any time under any circumstances, and Scorpios have the discipline and determination to do it.

Sagittarius

NOV 23-DEC 21

This month’s personal hotspot for Sagittarians is Venus firing your penchant for flamboyant presentation. A new style-up can be great fun under this transit, producing surprisingly magical results, plus high-octane Mars motoring into your zone of strategy and production could bring a lucrative new opportunity. Practise patience during February’s final fortnight when Mercury back-pedals, details get lost in translation and people take what you say the wrong way. It’s a period when the nurturing company of your innermost circle is often preferable to the madding crowd.

Capricorn

DEC 22-JAN 20

With Venus up close and personal in your home zone, what could be cosier than intimate nesting and entertaining at Casa Capricornia? And when spunky Mars rocks up mid-month to the planetary party already percolating in your sign, single or spoken for, you’re this month’s signature dish. The not-so-fab news is that you might be tempted to act out old narratives, as something you thought was sorted uncovers another layer of the existential onion. It’s advisable to take care of important business before Mercury reverses mid-month and everyone’s discernment heads temporarily offline.