Astrology for Wednesday & Thursday, February 17 & 18

The notable aspect for this year is that Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius (they kicked off a new cycle at their conjunction on last year's Winter Solstice) are squaring (challenging) Uranus in Taurus. More on the meaning in a bit, but three times this year, the square (tension) between Saturn in Aquarius and Mars in Taurus is EXACT - and today is one of them and so are June 14 and December 24.

Saturn in Aquarius square Mars in Taurus represents two fixed (stubborn) signs in conflict with one another. Saturn wants accountability and is pragmatic; Uranus in Taurus creates a revolution in the established order. Change is the only constant, of course, but Taurus tends to like things that are predictable. So does Saturn. Where they are at odds is that Saturn is in the sign of humanity and revolutionary ideas. The ruler of Aquarius is Uranus. Uranus is in Taurus, and it questions the status quo. So there we have it - two fixed signs looking at the way things are done and asking if it is time to do things differently. Neither wholly liking change, but without change the status quo becomes a stultifying rut. Of course, the solutions to what needs changing are diametrically different. Uranus in Taurus is an earthy sign; Saturn in Aquarius is in an air sign. Earth can be suspicious of the practicality of big ideas; Aquarius find solution in ideas and science.

There is a financial side to Taurus - do we need a 2.0 update of our financial system? Do conservative parties need an overhaul - there is talk of a third party being created for traditional conservatives who don't want to be identified with the party of Trump? Saturn is in a democratic sign, Aquarius, that wants to see the best for society as a whole - and is willing to implement policies that benefit the whole.

The Moon is conjunct Uranus in Taurus, amplifying the call to chaos and revolutionizing the established order. The Moon so close to Uranus means that people can rush to revolutionary action on the basis of feelings, not facts. This tendency to put feelings first seemed to be part of the mob mentality on January 6. Frankly, I find that scary. It is easy to put your faith in fantasy when you are putting feelings first.

Mercury is in retrograde now and on June 14. On December 24, it is full steam ahead with Mercury as it is in direct motion. Mercury retrograde is better at reflection than initiation. Often, issues from the past come up for review again. i Mercury in retrograde is more about inside information than public information. All of which make me wonder if this isn't a time for secret communications to right a real or imagined wrong by revolutionary, possibly violent action.

On the subject of Mercury retrograde in Aquarius, the storm that caused electrical outages is an unexpected snafu - and the sign of Aquarius having to do with electricity create a mess. Mercury will go direct on February 20. Temperatures are supposed to rise here where I am over the weekend. Just saying.