HOROSCOPES:

astrology with Lilith Rocha

Aquarius DEC 22-JAN 20

As the sun/new moon alignment in Aquarius on February 5 double-dates your astrological New Year with the Oriental New Year, make a list while the force is with you of what you want to receive and achieve in the coming 12 months.

With Mercury delivering revolutionary breakthroughs and eureka-type ideas during the first fortnight, your charismatic originality hits superpower status in attracting others on board your latest innovative venture. Plan a Valentine surprise for your nearest and dearest, then use analytical full moon on the 20th to assess what financial ventures are or aren’t performing.

Pisces FEB 20-MAR 20

February kicks off with business-like Venus and change-maker Uranus giving relationships a significant shift, lift or perhaps overdue restructure of terms of engagement – good news for long-term partnerships settled into automatic, bringing a chance to revamp those lovin’ feelings by slipping out of cruise control into something more sparky and spectacular. When the Sun joins Neptune and Mercury for Pisces time on the 20th, your visionary powers are peaking and it’s easy to see how things could ideally be – though trickier to distinguish what you want to happen from what’s actually going on in current reality.

Aries MAR 21-APR 21

Aries rules the head, and with impulsive Mars in your sign for the first half of February, best restrain premature articulation and reflect before you project. This month’s real breaking news is the planet Chiron moving into Aries till 2027 with its emphasis on self-care and the healing decree that if you want others to accept who you are, you need to first accept yourself totally, lovingly, flaws and all. Community-oriented Uranus playing out its last month in your sign wants you considering how you align personal and collective: specifically, the most effective ways of expressing your uniquely individual talents in a communal setting.

Taurus APR 22-MAY 21

February’s first week celebrates the Eastern New Year of the indulgent Earth Pig who loves fine food and fleshy pleasures: sound like anyone you know? Mid-month, Mars blasts into Taurus for the first time in two years to serenade Venus in a fellow earth sign and set up a sizzling star scenario for Valentine’s day. Ditto the rest of the month, but don’t let the pushy red planet powerhouse you into bulldozer mode, especially if someone presses your buttons around the full moon on the 20th. Stay focussed instead on Mercury’s ongoing learning curve around communications, teamwork and technology.

Gemini MAY 22–JUN 22

Your stellar weather report for making the most of the current climate suggests taking care of business that requires a logical, practical mindset during the first half of February when your ruling planet Mercury is keen, resourceful and on the ball. At new moon on the 5th set intentions, list goals and explore alternative options. For the last half of the month, the communication planet in dreamy Pisces inclines your thoughts to meeting, dating and mating; or if you are already there, icing the relationship cake with surprise trimmings. Major caution? Making financial or romantic faux pas due to an overly rose-tinted perspective.

Cancer JUN 23-JUL 23

Jupiter in your house of natural healing is particularly busy this month overhauling daily regimens and coming up with attractive health and fitness plans to put into practice. Tune in on February 5 to the new moon of brilliant realisations for light-bulb insights on how to rejig financial habits and make both paid and unpaid work more productive and rewarding. Trust your intuition, even when you can’t explain it to others. If full moon on the 20th tugs your heartstrings towards wanting to make a difference for others who are struggling, might a volunteer project be the answer?

Leo UL 24-AUG 23

A change works wonders this month, because miracles don’t come about from what you’re familiar with; they arrive from unknown territory, so shake up those routine habits into a more spontaneous groove. Venus in your house of health wants you looking good, feeling fabulous and flirting fearlessly at mid-month Valentine’s: Leo is the sign ruled by the big red heart, after all.

With go-getter Mars accelerating professional ambitions, you might be on fire to get something up and running, but don’t rush: take the time to get it right so you are able to savour the full reveal.

Virgo AU G 2 4 - S E P 2 3

If February’s Aquarian variations have others all over the shop, blowing hot and cold with come here/leave me alone messages, resist the temptation to play life coach because it will pass – eventually. You’re not a Hallmark card/cheap chocolates romantic, so show your quality Virgo love on mid-month’s day of sweethearts and flowers, which also ushers in the year of the Earth Pig: a playful porker who shuns all-work menus for more pleasurable pursuits. The supermoon in your sign on the 20th brings something big and possibly unusual, so stay open to angels in whatever shape they decide to arrive.

Libra SEP 24-OCT 23

Having flashes of insight about what you truly madly deeply want – or don’t? Wondering whether to break the news by telling people what they want to hear, or be honest and risk making waves? The moon of new beginnings on February 5 whispers (or for the hard of hearing, shouts) “Ready, Set, Let Go” of what has run its course so you can move forward. If you can’t quite manage this in one go, the February 20 full moon of closure brings extra opportunities. Mars in epic bedroom mode and Venus in your home zone couldn’t offer a clearer invitation to cozy Valentine’s celebrations chez vous.

Scorpio O C T 2 4 - N OV 2 2

Others are unpredictable this month and perhaps unwilling to commit, but however tempting it is to say what you really think, take a breath before diving off the deep end. More importantly, don’t make big decisions when you’re not at your level-headed best. With Venus in the mood for love, vulnerability’s your most appealing Valentine vibe, so strip off the heart armour and let your guard down. Where problem-solving is concerned, Mercury suggests trying a different approach to your usual laser focus by setting your mind free, letting inspiration come to you and being open to unexpected answers.

Sagittarius NOV 23-DEC 21

As February goes rogue in a whirlwind of wild and wonderful brainstorming, don’t be too overeager to rush brilliant new ideas into production. Let them brew, then try a trial run through the reality filter. Jupiter in the Year of You, plus the Eastern Year of the social Earth Pig combine to draw power players your way and provide plenty of grunt for seeing projects through to completion – though over-spending and get-richquick schemes are both strongly contraindicated for 2019. When Mars relaxes mid-month in your house of healing, so will you as life finally settles to a more measured stride.

Capricorn DEC 22-JAN 20

Rules are made to be broken, and the zodiac’s maverick month invites you to do just that: to colour outside the conventional Capricorn lines and be guided by Uranian spontaneity. Venus in your sign is at her most posh and playful, witty and frisky, so when you are feeling the mid-month love, show your significant other how much you appreciate them by giving those intimate rituals an unexpected twist. The Eastern zodiac year of the Earth Pig could not be any more Capricorn-friendly, allowing you to be as successful as you want to be at a vastly more relaxed and less driven tempo.