This Week in Astrology: February 19 to 25, 2023

This Week in Astrology: February 19th to 25th, 2023

 

February 19-25, 2023

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On this Page:

This week’s Moon
phase
Planets in signs and by aspect
Retrogrades
This week’s astrology calendar
Timing with the Moon
Romance & Relationship Report
Daily Trends

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The NEW MOON occurs on Monday, February 20th, 2023, at 2:06 AM EST. 

The New Moon in Pisces marks the beginning of a new cycle, occurring very early Monday. The Aquarius New Moon cycle ends and the Pisces New Moon cycle begins.

The New Moon in Pisces is a good time to commit to personal goals that express the positive energies of the sign of the Fish. These include taking a leap of faith, accepting imperfections in ourselves and in others as a different kind of “perfection,” starting a project that requires imagination and visualization skills, consciously putting time aside for peaceful and rejuvenating activities, and sharing a dream with another.

With this potent Pisces energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives.

This New Moon is somewhat serious and reasonably cautious as the Sun is coming away from a Saturn alignment. We seem to have our responsibilities in mind, but we’re also picking up steam in the faith or inspiration department. Venus is at the very end of the sign of Pisces–it will enter Aries within minutes after the New Moon–suggesting an ending in the social or financial department could power or drive our new beginnings.

This phase of the Moon occurs at 1 degree and 22 minutes of Pisces, affecting people born with personal planets and points at approximately 27 to 30 degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius) and approximately 0 to 5 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces) most significantly.

Alternate chart with additional bodies (Chiron, asteroids, Eris, etc.):

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(Times are Eastern)

This week: The Sun is in Pisces; Mercury is in Aquarius; Venus is in Pisces to the 20th, when Venus enters Aries; Mars is in Gemini.

The Sun is in Pisces from February 18-March 20. With the Sun in Pisces, we are guided by altruistic feelings. We are less motivated to do than we are to feel, imagine, and dream. A “what will be, will be” attitude reigns, and we are guided by a sense of universal correlations. Pisces rules empathy, selfless love, devotion, and wisdom. Its shadow side can include self-pity, a feeling of being victimized by life, passivity, and elusiveness.

While we may not always verbalize our feelings and impressions during this cycle, they’re strong and motivating. We prefer to believe and trust, giving things/people the benefit of the doubt until they prove us wrong. We might often tune out problems or conflicts rather than tackle them head on, hoping they will iron themselves out. Prosperity flows when we’re connecting with our heart, being kind, and helping others. The need to withdraw or retreat to restore our energy is strong from time to time.

Mercury is in Aquarius from February 11-March 2. When Mercury is in Aquarius, we are hungry for knowledge and open to new and original ideas. We begin to think outside of the box, and our thinking becomes more progressive and objective. Our communication and thought patterns are spontaneous, somewhat fragmented, reasonable, objective, and liberal. This is a time when inventive thinking is at a peak.

We’re reasonable, finding it easier to separate intellect and emotion when assessing a situation. Although progressive-minded and receptive to new studies and information, we are not quick to sway from our ideas and beliefs. During this cycle, we take more interest in thinking that’s daring or original. As we envision a better future, we can come up with truly interesting ideas and concepts.

Venus is in Pisces from January 26-February 20. Venus in Pisces is tender and affectionate, although hard to reach, as there is a longing for something that is difficult to define and hard to satisfy. Borders and boundaries blur under Venus in Pisces. The shadow side of this position is allowing ourselves to be deceived because we want to believe, as well as evasiveness. We should watch for falling in love with an idealized image of something or someone. It’s also important to watch for avoidant or indirect behavior.

Venus is exalted in Pisces and does well in the sign. It’s devoted, compassionate, exceptionally giving, and capable of sacrifice. We might refer heavily on our intuition with our finances and love life during this cycle. We gravitate to–and appreciate–unusual, tossed aside, poetic, artistic objects, situations, and people. We seek activities that move, inspire, or touch us.

Money may slip through our fingers, or we could ignore or overlook some of the practical elements of our lives now. However, finances improve if we connect with our otherworldly talents, imagination, desire to heal and serve, or sense of mission.

This transit is not particularly strong for resolve or determination, but it’s good for adaptability and increased understanding or acceptance.

Venus is in Aries from February 20-March 16. With Venus in Aries, love is spontaneous and direct. The chase is very exciting to us under this fiery influence. We are bold, fresh, and a little impatient when it comes to matters of the heart. We don’t look back with Aries energy. We are not interested in saying sorry or dwelling on the past–it’s a brand new day! It’s time to make things work right now.

Aries is known for a love of the chase and the conquest, but Aries love can be longstanding as long as it remains relatively fresh. Aries is blunt–there’s no sugar-coating with Aries. This can sting, but rarely is Aries energy mean or petty. Saying it like it is is important to the sign. Desires are strong and expressed spontaneously, enthusiastically, and directly. Aries prefers to seduce rather than be seduced, to chase rather than be chased.

While Venus is in Aries, we gravitate to Aries-like activities, pleasures, pastimes, and objects of interest. Our tastes can veer toward action, new enterprise, conquests, courageous or daring acts, and so forth. We can be somewhat impulsive with our money or entertainment choices.

Our interests can be insistent and strong, but possibly short-lived. It’s not the best time for holding onto money. We might pour our resources too quickly into new ventures or projects but tire of these things just as rapidly.

Mars is in Gemini from August 20, 2022-March 25, 2023. [This is much longer than usual due to a Mars retrograde cycle from October 30, 2022-January 12, 2023.]

In Gemini, Mars is versatile and flexible but not especially determined or focused. We should watch for becoming so scattered that we’re ineffective. However, it’s an excellent period for diversifying our interests and understanding the power of our communications.

It’s an excellent time for strategizing and devising useful tactics to achieve our desires and goals. We’re resourceful and clever, and we know how to use words effectively.

Perhaps most notable during this period is our tactical skills. We know how to maneuver things to get our way. We use words to charm and express anger. We’re very talkative, and animatedly so, when passionate and enthusiastic about a topic.

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Jupiter is in Aries.

Jupiter was in Aries from May 10 to October 28, 2022 before it retreated into Pisces. This was part one of two, with the second and final part in progress, occurring from December 20, 2022, to May 16, 2023. Read more about Jupiter’s transit of Aries.

 

Saturn transits Aquarius from March 21 to July 1, 2020, and from December 17th, 2020, until March 7, 2023. Read about Saturn’s transit of Aquarius.

Uranus is in Taurus.

Uranus transits Taurus from May 15, 2018, to November 6, 2018, and then from March 6th, 2019, until 2025/6. We approach money and personal possessions in new ways and learn to free ourselves from certain material constraints. Innovative ways to make ourselves comfortable emerge. We’re less inhibited about expressing sensuality, self-love, body love, and pampering. Above all, we’re challenging what we previously valued during this cycle.

There can be abrupt changes with money, valuables, possessions, and income that lead to a reshuffling of priorities or values. Income might come from non-traditional sources or ventures. In general, we’re bringing progressive ideas to the world of business. New ways of doing business, as well as making, viewing, and handling money, are likely. Our income and the energy we put into making money can be variable.

Romance & Relationships

Venus is in Pisces from January 26-February 20. Like Aquarius, Pisces love is universal. However, Pisces draws no bounds in love. With Venus in Pisces, we have compassion (and perhaps attraction) for those who are left out, overlooked, or victimized. We are self-sacrificing, and we have a hard time setting up borders. The walls go down, we have a hard time saying no (especially if our compassion is engaged), but we are also prone to avoiding all that makes us feel uncomfortable.

Wishful thinking is one expression of Venus in Pisces. We can too easily believe what we want to believe. People can be hard to pin down, and love is hard to define under this influence. Pisces never sees the world in black-and-white terms. Rather, Pisces sees all the colors of the rainbow. With the goddess of love in Pisces, our love is all-embracing, we are able to forgive and understand, we are seducible and seductive, and we show compassion to our partners.

Venus in Pisces is tender and affectionate, although hard to reach nevertheless, as there is a longing for something that is hard to define and hard to satisfy. Borders and boundaries blur under Venus in Pisces. The shadow side of this position is allowing ourselves to be deluded, as well as evasiveness.

Venus is in Aries from February 20-March 16. In Aries, love is spontaneous and direct. The chase is very exciting to us under this fiery influence. We are bold, fresh, and a little impatient when it comes to matters of the heart. We don’t look back with Aries energy. We are not interested in saying sorry or dwelling on the past. It’s a brand new day! It’s time to make things work right now.

Aries is known for a love of the chase and the conquest, but Aries love can be longstanding as long as it remains relatively fresh. Aries is blunt–there’s no sugar-coating with Aries. This can sting, but rarely is Aries energy mean or petty. Saying it like it is is important to Aries. Desires are strong and expressed spontaneously, enthusiastically, and directly. Aries prefers to seduce rather than be seduced, to chase rather than be chased.

This week: On Sunday, the 18th, we seek a deep love in which we can merge souls and personalities with our lover. We are quite devoted to our partners, and we seek such devotion in return. A Venus-Pluto sextile supports intimacy, understanding, and depth in our connections.

The following day, Monday, we can be skittish with connecting, however. It’s not as straightforward to appreciate or enjoy companionship as we may see it as infringing on our independence.

On Saturday, the 25th, while we’re not necessarily saying the right things, we’re ready to grow through our missteps or through awkward moments.

Venus, the Goddess of Love: Highlights in the Coming Week:

Venus in Pisces A martyr complex, a love for the underdog, a search for your soul mate: such are the experiences associated with the new cycle you’re now just beginning. A yen for soul-stirring romance, a weakness for the weak, and a tendency to idealize people and relationships … very aesthetic, very other-worldly.

Venus in Aries Romance at the drop of a hat is part and parcel of the cycle you have just begun. Winning the hearts of others can be a challenge you’re eager to accept – and the thrill of the chase might be most of the fun. Is it the pursuit of happiness – or the happiness of pursuit?

Venus conjunct Neptune February 14-15. New and fresh beginnings on romantic levels characterize this transit. Heightened sensitivity to, and awareness of, beauty and spirituality. We are easily influenced, seducible and seductive, and given to strong powers of imagination. We are more attuned to the world of beauty and romance. Gentleness with others is the best way to harness this energy. A “magical” time on a romantic and social level, but it could also be a confusing or illusory influence as well. Psychic openness and compassion.

Venus parallel Neptune February 14-15. Heightened sensitivity to, and awareness of, beauty and spirituality. We are more attuned to the world of beauty and romance. We more naturally embrace compassion. Psychic openness.

Venus contra-parallel Jupiter February 16. We’re optimistic and ready to take a chance or give someone or something the benefit of the doubt. We are able to make the best of a situation now. Watch for overextension. It’s best not to overstate or make big promises based only on the good mood of the moment.

Venus sextile Pluto February 18-19. Subtly powerful and uplifting time for romantic/sexual relationships. New insights into relationships and love. Strong attractions.

Venus semi-square Uranus February 19-20. Uncertainty about the desire to be close to someone. Freedom versus closeness. A desire to experiment in the romance department may be fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying or frustrating.

Venus semi-square Mercury February 25-26. Communications between lovers are superficial and unsatisfying, and perhaps awkward. Superficiality in romantic expression may exist now.

Venus parallel Jupiter February 28. We are charitable with others and have a stronger desire than usual to find meaning in our relationships. There may be some overstating or overindulgence now, however.

The Void-of-Course Moon this Week:

Void-of-course Moon on Sunday, February 19th, from 9:01 PM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a conjunction to Saturn), until the Moon enters Pisces at 11:56 PM EST.

VOC Moon on Tuesday, February 21st, from 11:05 PM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a sextile to Pluto), until the Moon enters Aries the next day, Wednesday, February 22nd, at 12:14 AM EST.

VOC Moon on Friday, February 24th, from 2:22 AM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a square to Pluto), until the Moon enters Taurus at 3:29 AM EST.

February 2023:

 

Timing with the Moon – Better Periods this Week for Electing New Initiatives

It’s important to note that there are more factors to consider in addition to the windows listed below. The following windows are starting points. For example, you generally don’t want to elect a new venture when a very challenging aspect is applying, and it’s preferable to elect a time when a particularly positive aspect hasn’t yet perfected (is applying rather than separating).

The Moon is waning this week until the New Moon on the 20th, which is generally considered unfavorable for new beginnings, with exceptions. After the New Moon on the 20th, the Moon is waxing, which is generally considered favorable for new beginnings, also with some exceptions. (See Best Time to Start a Business for more details).

According to principles of timing with the Moon, there are no clear windows of opportunity this week.

See also the following articles and tables: Timing with the Moon and Opportunity Periods with the Void Moon for times and techniques.

Planetary Stations & Sign Ingresses:

Dec 20, 2022, 9:32
AM Jupiter enters Aries
Dec 21, 2022, 4:48 PM Sun enters Capricorn
Dec 23, 2022, 4:31 AM Chiron Direct
Dec 29, 2022, 4:32 AM Mercury Rx
Jan  2, 2023, 9:09 PM, Venus enters Aquarius
Jan 12, 2023, 3:56 PM, Mars Direct
Jan 13, 2023, 1:31 AM, Juno enters Aries
Jan 18, 2023, 8:12 AM, Mercury Direct
Jan 20, 2023, 3:29 AM, Sun enters Aquarius
Jan 22, 2023, 5:58 PM, Uranus Direct
Jan 26, 2023, 9:33 PM, Venus enters Pisces
Feb  3, 2023, 2:15 PM, Ceres Retrograde
Feb  7, 2023, 11:43 PM, Vesta enters Aries
Feb 11, 2023, 6:22 AM, Mercury enters Aquarius
Feb 16, 2023, 9:31 AM, Pallas Direct
Feb 18, 2023, 5:34 PM, Sun enters Pisces
Feb 20, 2023, 2:55 AM, Venus enters Aries
Mar  2, 2023, 5:52 PM, Mercury enters Pisces
Mar  7, 2023, 8:35 AM, Saturn enters Pisces
Mar 11, 2023, 11:16 AM, Juno enters Taurus

See also: Astrology of Today – an overview of the day (this takes you to my other site, Astrology Cafe).

See also: The Astrology of 2023 – Overview.

Note: Times given are Eastern Time (ET).

 

This Week’s Calendar

This Week’s Aspects

Venus sextile Pluto. If we seize the opportunity, this is a good time for both finances and relationships. The feelings are impassioned, but not in an offensive or unpleasant way. We are focused and confident, and we appreciate depth of feeling and authenticity in our dealings with others.

Venus semi-square Uranus. Unusual attractions (to people and things) can have us acting on a whim. We may deal with freedom versus closeness issues in our relationships. Avoid impulse buys at this time, and hold off on decision-making with regards to finances. Some instability, restlessness, and rebelliousness is probable in romantic relationships. We may not see eye to eye with a loved one, and we could be taken off guard by unexpected events. This is not a favorable aspect for beauty treatments because they could have unexpected results.

Mercury sextile Chiron. This is an excellent period for opening up communications with others, as we are more sensitive than usual and more willing to listen. Getting our point across is easier, as it’s not only about which words we choose to communicate, we intuitively express the meaning and intention behind the words. We can effectively use words to heal and comfort just now. We are also more open to new ways of looking at problems or at life in general.

Mercury square Uranus. Our senses are stimulated, and we could have sudden flashes of insight or fresh new ideas. However, our ideas are not always received well by others and we can be scatter-brained. It’s a challenge to deal with routine matters or monotonous tasks under this influence. Tasks may be left undone or interrupted. This is not a good time to be understood, so we may want to hold off presenting our ideas for the time being. New information can surface now that upsets the status quo, but can also act to stimulate our minds into new ways of thinking.

Mercury trine Mars. Enthusiasm and energetic communications are likely now. We are productive and take “busy-ness” in stride. We are alert and aware, and can easily turn ideas into workable projects. Our communications are refreshingly direct and to the point, although not especially sympathetic. Our minds are sharp and quick.

  Saturn semi-square Chiron. There can be fears now of not being competent or effective enough to meet our responsibilities, or we could find it hard to strike out on a unique path, again due to fears or insecurities. The desire to break from the status quo is strong, but we may not have the necessary confidence to do so temporarily.

Note: Times given in the table/calendar above are Eastern Time (ET).

Daily Trends Calendar

See below for day-by-day forecasts and planets in signs. See also Transit to Transit aspects.

See also: Astrology of Today – an overview of the day – Astrology Cafe.

See also: The Astrology of 2023 – Overview.

Astrology Chart of Today/Now in my Free Report section shows the current chart with interpretations.

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What’s In Store By the Stars – Daily Astrology Trends

(as featured on the site’s main page and in our Daily Trends Calendar)

See also the Astrology Trends Calendar that includes these daily trend overviews and other astrological events such as ingresses, stations, and lunations.

FEBRUARY 19

Today’s Venus-Pluto sextile gently breaks down barriers, helping us with new insight into our needs for love, comfort, or pleasure and our money situation. Or, we take a comfortably strategic approach to these affairs. Our feelings are more focused and intensified in a generally pleasant and positive way. In fact, we seek depth of emotion and authenticity in our dealings. The Moon spends most of the day (until 11:57 PM EST) in Aquarius, and we gravitate to unusual and different activities.

The Moon is void from 9:01 PM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a conjunction to Saturn), until the Moon enters Pisces at 11:56 PM EST.

FEBRUARY 20

The New Moon occurs early today–at 2:06 AM EST–in the sign of Pisces, and it’s a time for a new beginning or fresh start. We’re gathering the inspiration to take a leap of faith. With this potent Pisces energy, we have the chance to make important changes in our lives in the weeks ahead. We’re motivated to carve out time for peaceful and rejuvenating activities or to entertain a dream and perhaps share it with someone special. With the Sun separating from an alignment with Saturn, we have our responsibilities in mind, but we’re also picking up steam in the faith or inspiration department. Venus is at the very end of the sign of Pisces as this New Moon occurs–it enters Aries 50 minutes later–suggesting an ending in the social or financial department could power or drive our new beginnings.

Venus transits Aries from today until March 16th, and we are bold, fresh, and a little impatient regarding matters of the heart. We don’t look back–we’re not interested in saying sorry or dwelling on the past. Our desires are strong, and we express them spontaneously, enthusiastically, and directly. Our tastes are simple, but we can feel the need to fulfill them urgently in the weeks ahead.

Today’s sextile between Mercury and Chiron is strong for opening healthy dialogues. We approach problems holistically, and our problem-solving skills are high. This transit brings subtle but enhancing energy for communications.

FEBRUARY 21

The Moon spends the day in Pisces, aligning with Neptune and bringing on a need to unwind, go with the flow, or accept and forgive. While this Moon position is gentle, today’s Mercury-Uranus square can add abruptness and tension to our thinking patterns and conversations. Our senses are hyper-stimulated. There can be sudden flashes of insight or fresh new ideas, but our plans may not come together well just yet. We may be impatient with routine matters or monotonous tasks. Disorganization or bluntness with our communications is likely. Information can surface now that upsets the status quo. Even so, this transit can also stimulate our minds, encouraging new ways of thinking.

The Moon is void from 11:05 PM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a sextile to Pluto), until the Moon enters Aries the next day, Wednesday, February 22nd, at 12:14 AM EST.

FEBRUARY 22

The Moon moves into Aries and Mercury harmonizes with the sign’s ruler, Mars, bumping up enthusiasm. Our communications are refreshingly direct and to the point. We can have a strong desire to do something with our ideas, learn, teach, or discuss. We are exceptionally alert and aware, and there is excitement or energy in our conversations. Putting our ideas into motion can be satisfying. We also feel more passionately about our interests and discoveries.

The Moon continues its void until it enters Aries today at 12:14 AM EST.

FEBRUARY 23

Saturn forms a semi-square with Chiron today–the first of three perfections; the other two are to come on August 15th and November 25th. During this minor challenging longer-term transit, there can be fears of not being competent or effective enough to meet our responsibilities. We could find it hard to strike out on a unique path, again due to fears or insecurities. The desire to break from the status quo is strong, but we may not have the necessary confidence to do so temporarily. Today’s Moon is in enterprising, assertive, and direct Aries, and we’re looking to start fresh and pioneer.

FEBRUARY 24

The Moon leaves go-getting Aries early today, at 3:29 AM EST, when it enters deliberate Taurus. The Moon aligns with the North Node, and we’re learning to pull away from stress and be more content, patient, and self-satisfied. At the same time, today’s Sun-North Node harmony encourages us to aspire to our goals, rise to a challenge, and grow and improve. We’re in good shape to strengthen and support one another and, in the process, build trust. Further, a Venus-Mars quintile is excellent for seeing relating patterns and using them positively to encourage creativity and excitement.

The void Moon occurs from 2:22 AM EST, with the Moon’s last aspect before changing signs (a square to Pluto), until the Moon enters Taurus at 3:29 AM EST.

FEBRUARY 25

The Taurus Moon today is an even-tempered position, and we seek comfort, harmony, familiarity, security, and pleasure. We are primarily concerned with our practical or material goals under this influence. There can be a stabilizing of our feelings. However, with today’s transits, we’re taking the best of the traditional and progressive worlds and using them to make updates that improve our lives. The need to do our routines just a bit differently can arise. It’s best to put few restrictions on projects and keep our options open.

 

If it’s your birthday today, see our feature, If Today is Your Birthday Forecasts, for a free forecast for the upcoming year.

Moon Signs This Week:

When the Moon is in Aquarius

Attraction to all that is new and unusual, and an instinctive need for improvement, characterize the Moon in Aquarius. Reactions are more intellectual than emotional, and interactions are more impersonal than personal, under this influence. This is a time that promotes social gatherings, dealing with group ideals and goals for the future, brainstorming, new ideas, and progressive changes. We are open to new methods of doing things and we have our eye on the future. It can be hard to stick to schedules now, as personal freedom is most important to us.

The Moon in Aquarius generally favors the following activities: Unusual or radical undertakings, social pursuits, group projects, trying something new, joining a group.

When the Moon is in Pisces

 We may not want to face reality while the Moon is in dreamy, impressionable Pisces. It can be a wistful, sensitive, intuitive, and compassionate time. We are especially imaginative, and our intuition reigns under this influence. Boundaries and walls come down, as Pisces energy merges and blends. It's a time when details are overlooked and feelings defy description.

The Moon in Pisces generally favors the following activities: Imaginative undertakings, mystical or spiritual pursuits, inner development, music and drama, going on a retreat, activities involving water.

When the Moon is in Aries

We're motivated by a strong desire to start fresh. A gut instinct to begin something new is with us now, as well as the gumption to do so. Our pioneering impulses are strong, and we feel energetic, spontaneous, and enthusiastic. We may also be tactless and impulsive now. Excess energy is best channeled into physical activity.

People can be more self-motivated and also self-focused while the Moon is in Aries. It's a competitive rather than cooperative time. Accidents and tempers flaring are more likely than usual. This period is one of more personal courage.

The Moon in Aries generally favors the following activities: Quick actions that yield immediate results. Undertakings that involve the self and the personality. (Staying power may be lacking). Self-assertion, taking on challenges, beginning short-term projects.

When the Moon is in Taurus

We are motivated by the desire for serenity, security, peace, and comfort. The Moon is at her most sensual and constant in Taurus. Our basic impulses are to relax, resist change, and "stop to smell the roses." Life slows down a little, and we get comfortable. We may also be inclined to stubbornness and materialism under this influence.

While the Moon is in Taurus, people can be emotionally constant but inflexible. It's a time of stronger focus on personal needs and comfort levels, and a period of more common sense and attention to practical matters.

The Moon in Taurus generally favors the following activities: Substantial and material actions that yield solid results. Financial activities, and those involving personal possessions, applying for a loan, beginning a potentially long-term relationship, music, home decor.

 

Upcoming Weeks: Calendars

 

 

What’s In Your Forecast?

Take a peek at the year ahead with in-depth Future Forecast Reports from Cafe Astrology.

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BACK TO THIS WEEK IN ASTROLOGY MAIN/CURRENT

See also:

The Astrology of 2023 – Overview

Monthly Calendar

This Month in Astrology

This Month’s Ephemeris

This Month’s Transits