Mercury retrograde is here (yes, again) and we become more hopeful and dreamy as we navigate through Aquarius season
Grace McGrade is an intuitive astrologer and priestess based in Los Angeles. She is the co-founder of ASTRAL ORACLES and author of Palpable Magic; a website exploring prose about sex, love, Los Angeles and the occult. Her sessions include natal chart readings, energetic clearing and activations, and tarot readings.
February begins full swing in forward-thinking Aquarius season, enlivening us with visions for the future. We are sparked by the spirit of innovation and individuality, as we leave behind the traditional goal-oriented season of Capricorn. In February, we are eager to explore different ideas and brand new approaches. Aquarius is the water-bearer, the proud humanitarian who seeks to save the world, and as the Sun moves through this sign, we are encouraged to deepen our mission for the planet at large. Hopes, wishes, and dreams are highlighted as we enter the cerebral headspace of the water-bearer, but caution is advised.
The month begins with the first Mercury retrograde of 2021, which will also be venturing through tech-savvy Aquarius, until February 21. As always with Mercury retrograde, communications can be murky, and delays and complications, particularly over the internet, should be anticipated. So remember to triple check your emails and look out for a Valentine’s day “text from an ex”. The New Moon in Aquarius on February 11 encourages all signs to refine their definition of friendships and community, and seek out inclusive spaces (virtual or otherwise) to freely share ideas. We are eager to widen our networks and find a sense of belonging.
On February 17, rebel planet Uranus squares rule-abiding Saturn, creating a tension between the material and the natural. These outer planets promise major global developments. We can expect conflicts of new values vs antiquated traditions in our society. This astrological event promises a clash between forward-thinking ideologies and outdated systems. On February 19, the Sun moves into dreamy, intuitive Pisces – giving us fewer thoughts and more feelings. Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac, and the most connected to everything and everyone – so prepare to feel relatively ungrounded, spacey, but more perceptive to the emotions of others.

ARIES
Slow and steady wins the race, dear Aries, and even though your temper may flare up in February (your ruler Mars is conjunct disrupter Uranus), the more you can exercise self-restraint, the greater the reward. With Mars in money-minded Taurus, you are supported in making financial headway by embracing the new and making future plans. The New Moon on February 11 encourages you to make new friendships that are just as enlivening and exciting as the energy you bring to the table. It’s time to focus less on the ‘me’ and more on the ‘we’ and this is a great opportunity to find your tribe. Be wary of signing contracts and making quick-internet-purchases, as Mercury is retrograding through Aquarius until February 21.

TAURUS
With rule-breaking Uranus in your sign, clashing against the stern energies of Saturn, you are seeking inventive ways to approach adulthood. Whether contemplating your work out in the world or enforcing clearer boundaries with friends, it's important to emanate your truth and stay in your power. Communicative efforts may be murky, with Mercury retrograding through aloof-technological Aquarius until February 21, but you have the change to review the relationships you don’t want to renew. It’s important this month to take inventory of friends and groups and ask yourself if your relationships are on par to your values.

GEMINI
The start of February animates a lot of mental chatter, and Aquarius season can be quite cerebral. With your ruler, Mercury, retrograding through Aquarius, you may uncover some ideas and insights that make you decide to shift gears. Be open to changing the direction you thought you were heading in. Flexibility is your strong suit, so stay attentive to the information heading your way. The North Node is in Gemini for all of 2021, encouraging you to trailblaze and pave your own path. With so much happening in your headspace, the latter portion of February asks you to tune into your heart. Pisces season offers intuitive nudges and time to tune out. You are encouraged to lean into your more receptive side and do more feeling and less thinking.

CANCER
At the end of January, you were forced to somberly examine what relationships can stand the test of time. With Venus and Pluto stationed in your house of partnership, you faced permanent change in this area, so February promises a fresh perspective and the turn of a new leaf in your relationships. Lucky for you, you have the time to come home to yourself and check in with your own energy, establishing a new standard for emotional reciprocity. With Venus moving into Aquarius, you can gather support from plenty of people, virtual or otherwise. This is a good time to check in with your spending habits, as energy exchanges of all types are your theme for February. How can you restore balance to what you give out and what you take in? The New Moon on February 11 is the perfect time to set new intentions for sharing.

LEO
Being the centre of attention isn’t always easy, and with Mercury retrograding through Aquarius this month, you might want to start texting people back before the airwaves get cloudy. Aquarius is your opposite sign, and its cerebral mental way of doing things isn’t really your style – you would much prefer to follow your heart than your head. With Venus entering Aquarius on February 1, your sector of partnership is lit up with many potentials. Partnerships, in both romance and business, are highlighted for you. Despite the attention you will be receiving, there's a tinge of confusion brought about by Mercury retrograde – also in your sector of relationships. It might be time to make some reevaluations about what you are attracting and why. Take caution before leaping into any new flings, or perhaps reigniting one from the past.

VIRGO
Your ruler, Mercury, stations retrograde this month in your sector of health and wellness, asking you to formulate new routines. You are an innate healer, always open to self-improvement, but sometimes you can go overboard. Try to avoid obsessiveness in wellness or WebMD self-diagnosis. This is a perfect time to pause, slow down, and reevaluate the desire to be busy or improving. The Sun’s entry into Pisces on February 19 will assist you in finding balance between the physical and the nonphysical. Pisces is your opposite sign and pushes you to seek less control and surrender to your feelings without judgement. This amps up the momentum in your sector of relationships and can make you feel more empathic.

LIBRA
You’ll be pleased to hear that fun and flirtation is in the air for February. With your ruler, Venus, entering Aquarius on February 1 and taking up residence in your sector of pleasure, you are on the lookout for love. If you have your heart set on a particular Valentine, the stars are working in your favour, and you have the chance to feel seen and adored. Your innate impulse is to please, but make sure you aren't slipping into fantasy and avoiding the fine print. With Mercury retrograding through Aquarius until February 21, communicative efforts can be cloudy – so take caution before sending a text to an ex and double-check your emails. When Pisces season begins on February 19, your creativity will be heightened, so be sure to make the most of it.

SCORPIO
February is a month of surprises, and with war god Mars and disruptive Uranus in your sector of partnership, you may feel challenged by your significant others or colleagues. This energy brings an element of the unexpected to all areas of your life, so try and stay flexible and ride with the waves. You are a fixed sign and can be stubborn, but this activity is all geared to get you on a clearer, more authentic path. There is a strong focus on finding a partner you are passionate about, rather than one who causes disruption and rage. Remember, transformation is your strong suit. With Mercury retrograding through aloof Aquarius until February 21, be sure to try and reply to your messages, and use objectivity and space to make decisions.

SAGITTARIUS
In January, your mind was on money matters, and the Full Moon on February 28 illuminated where you may have been exercising wishful thinking in terms of your wallet. In February, you are encouraged to match those visionary ideas with consistency. Although you are eager to change up your routine, Mercury is retrograde in Aquarius until February 21. This can make travel plans (particularly air travel) difficult. This particular Mercury retrograde is making itself personal for you, so take time to examine how you communicate, both online and IRL. Maybe it’s time to reveal a little more and be open to airing out your emotions without grazing over the details. You deserve to be heard and listened to.

CAPRICORN
It’s time to inspect the level of pleasure and enjoyment you are receiving from your work, dear Capricorn. Although you are the most goal-oriented, money-minded of all the signs, it may be time to imbue more playfulness and creativity in what you do. With Mercury retrograding through Aquarius until February 21, you have the chance to scour the internet for new ways to profit from your existing skills and talents. Remember that during a Mercury retrograde, delays and mixups are anticipated, and in this case in more of a technological manner. There is a strong focus on earning this month, so think about ways you can lean on your existing network to generate more abundance.

AQUARIUS
Happy Birthday, late Aquarians! With both the Sun and Venus radiating in your sign, you are receiving more celestial attention than usual, bestowing you with opportunity left and right. While Venus makes you magnetic and romantic, it may be time to supply yourself with some tender love and care. This is the perfect time to use your charm and charisma to express your genius ideas to a wider audience. You are in the limelight, and although Mercury is retrograding through your sign until February 21 (causing minor delays and mishaps) you have the chance to practice self-mastery by owning your unique skills and talents vocally. When Pisces season begins on February 19, you will be welcoming a slower pace, and asked to lean into your quiet, more intuitive nature.

PISCES
Happy Birthday early Pisces! You can enjoy the first half of February in quiet introspection, contemplating how your life has changed in the past year. It may feel as though friends are sparse, but you are supposed to be focusing on your own individuation and listening to those intuitive nudges. Mercury in retrograde is accompanying this introspective process for you, encouraging you to dig deep and complete shelved projects. Use this time to find a sense of closure and tweak your internal processes. When your birthday season rolls around, the pace will change, and you will be the centre of attention. Clear the stage by bringing out your sense of comfort and confidence in the person you are becoming.