Happy New Year and welcome to the Stella Starwoman February AstroUpdate!
On February 10th, we celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Black Water Snake. As there are still a few 2013 Moon Diaries in stock (with their smart black and gold snake cover), I’ve reduced the price of these diaries to $19.95 to welcome in the Year of the Snake - click here for more info or to purchase.
The Year of the Water Snake The new moon in Aquarius on the 10 th February marks the Chinese New Year - the Year of the Black Snake or Water Snake. Those born in 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001 are all born in the Year of the Snake. In Eastern philosophy, the Snake is considered to be wise and beautiful, beneficial and sensual. Snakes are determined types with high ambitions, intelligence and drive, and a talent for making and managing money. Snakes will often occupy top positions in the world of business, because they know how to handle clients and land big deals. Snakes possess natural authority, well-developed intuition and a certain style and elegance. Their negative traits include extravagance and a tendency to laziness.
With Saturn in Scorpio throughout 2013, the Water Snake reinforces Scorpionic themes such as; renewal, recycling, reinventing, rejuvenating, restarting, researching and rebirth. This year we’ll be keen to overhaul what doesn’t work and implement what does. There is a resilient, determined nature to 2013 that will help us keep plugging away at problems until we get a result. Whether you want to kick a bad habit, lose weight, opt for a major lifestyle change, overhaul your finances, change careers, lobby for a cause you believe in, or follow your passions where they take you, this is the year to do it!
To welcome in the Year of the Water Snake, it’s a good idea to declutter your home, office or shop. Remove anything that is broken or that you don't like or never use. Get rid of unwanted possessions hidden in drawers or cupboards by selling them or giving them away. These things energetically and emotionally drag you down and keep you from moving forward. You will be amazed how good you will feel when you remove all this 'old stuff' from your life. 2013 will be a year when Snakes can really shine, both personally and professionally and overcome any recent setbacks or obstacles. For the rest of us, the Year of the Snake is a chance to develop our intuition and wisdom. The Snake is the sixth of the twelve animal signs of the Chinese zodiac.
February Full Moon
The February full moon is on the 26 th at 7 degrees Virgo opposite the Sun in Pisces. These two signs complement each other by healing body and soul and helping create a life devoted to a sense of higher purpose. The body is soothed when the soul finds understanding and release. And by integrating the physical and psychic body, we can pave the way for heightened mystical awareness. Virgo is an earth sign with an understanding of the whole cycle of life, a goddess who knows how to honour the smallest details. She offers practical intelligence and the ability to bring things back into balance. This Virgo full moon will help you understand exactly what needs to be changed in your life so you can follow your dreams and create some real life miracles. The Sun in Pisces offers forgiveness and unconditional love for self and others.
Mercury Retrograde
A planet is described as ‘retrograde’ when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac - an optical illusion resulting from the variable speeds of the planets as viewed from earth. From 23rd February to 18th March, communication planet Mercury can be seen travelling backwards through water sign Pisces. In mythology Mercury was the messenger of the gods, able to move from the divine to the earthly plane and back again. He forms a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind.
Mercury retrograde occurs three to four times a year and is known as a time when everything seems to go haywire. Delays, computer problems, broken promises and relationship problems are typical manifestations of Mercury retrograde. Problems with transportation and crucial bits of missing information that prevent us from achieving understanding or "moving forward" are also common during a Mercury retrograde period.
Think of the thrice yearly Mercury retrograde transit as a three week opportunity to get your life back on track and regain integrity. Pay particular attention to gut feelings, hunches and pieces of information that randomly come your way. Avoid starting new projects, but focus on completing or revising existing ones. Spend time daydreaming and meditating and see what comes up. If things go haywire, ask yourself: “What am I trying to learn?” “What is the hidden message behind this event?”
And as Mercury travels backwards through Pisces (psychic insight, healing, compassion and creativity) ask yourself: “How can I tap into my own intuitive and creative powers?”
Featured Sign-Aquarius
From the 20 th January to the 18 th February the Sun travels through fixed air sign Aquarius, noted for its egalitarian nature, progressive ideas and humanitarian bent. Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac with keywords “I am different” and “I am detached”. Aquarians are both radical and immovable at the same time. They will often espouse a social or religious movement such as feminism, Buddhism or environmentalism and then remain committed to it for the rest of their lives. Those born under the sign of the Water Bearer often look to the future and have fine minds and a higher vision for society. Many Aquarians excel in the areas of science, technology and politics. At best they use their cool headed idealism to serve humanity. Negatively, Aquarians can be detached and aloof with a rebellious or fanatical streak. In medical astrology, Aquarius rules the calves, ankles and general circulation. When Aquarians are out of balance they can suffer from varicose veins, sprained ankles, irregularities of the heart action and fluid build-up. The Aquarian colours are turquoise, aqua and silver. Aquarius’s greatest lesson is to learn to care for and relate to individuals rather than groups.
Magic & Manifestation Interview with Stella on Angel Heart Radio
Last June, Kerry Chuttur of Angel Heart Radio kindly offered to interview me about my new book The Seven Secrets of Magic & Manifestation. If you’d like to find out more about the book, about magic and manifestation (and about me - she asked some very personal questions!) you can access the interview at the link below. I’ll just warn you that this is not a ‘three minute Gen Y YouTuber’, it’s a serious in depth look at the book and its contents, philosophy etc. The interview starts at 2 mins 30 secs into the timeline. (And of course if you’d like to buy a copy of the book, you can purchase from my online store or order from your local bookshop (ISBN: 9780646566269)
Kerry Chuttur interviews Stella Woods CLICK HERE to listen
Ruby Rose Magic Good to see that Ruby Rose is enjoying the book! And thanks to Vanessa M for forwarding this image.
Mars in Pisces
Earlier this month action planet Mars moved into water sign Pisces. With its symbol of two fish swimming in opposite directions, Pisces energy moves in mysterious and unpredictable ways. When Mars is in Pisces, dreams and intuition are highlighted, especially for those with water sign planets in their birth charts (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). The Piscean sensitivity picks up all the subtle layers of meaning in life. For artists and creators of all kinds, Mars in Pisces enhances the imagination, provides instinctive understanding and the ability to download ideas and images from the collective unconscious. Those with Mars or Sun in Pisces should find it easier to channel their multi- dimensional creativity into something tangible. Mars will remain in Pisces until mid-March when he shifts into ruling sign Aries to begin another cycle of the zodiac.
2013 Moon Diaries – Only Seven Left Reduced from $29.95 to $19.95
This 2013 Moon Diary from Shekhinah Morgan celebrates the sacred feminine and contains moon mythology and rituals from various cultures combined with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations courtesy of Jude Baderle and Kellie Gough. Produced and printed in Australia with vegetable inks on 100% recycled paper using a carbon neutral process, the diary has a smart black and gold cover and due to its compact size will easily slip into your handbag or briefcase.
February Moon Calendar
Launch projects at the New Moon, bring them to completion in the period from just before the Full Moon to the Third Quarter phase and wind them down and reflect on developments in the week before the next New Moon. The period between the New Moon and the Full Moon is the waxing moon (moon getting bigger and fuller). The period between the Full Moon and the New Moon is the waning moon (moon getting smaller and thinner).
You can use this moon table to select the most favourable days to slow or increase hair regrowth. Full instructions can be found in my Lunar Hair Care guidelines at www.stellastarwoman.com/files/LunarHairCare.pdf but to get you started I’ve marked the best dates for waxing/shaving to slow regrowth in yellow and the best dates to cut hair for thicker, lusher growth in green. If you’re serious about Lunar Hair Care - order your own Moon Calendar from the Stella Starwoman Store then you’ll know exactly what time of day the moon changes from one zodiac sign to the next meaning you can fine-tune your activities with confidence.
Thanks for being part of AstroUpdate. If there’s something you’d like to see featured, or have something you think would interest others, please contact me at stellaw@ozemail.com.au
PS – Don’t forget to check out your February Monthly Stars at www.stellastarwoman.com to see what’s coming up for you this month.
Happy Stargazing Stella Woods