Wake-up Music
Dates and times are given for U.S. Pacific Time zone.
A barometer
This week brings the symbolism of Aquarius into sharper focus, as Venus joins the Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn in that sign. And the Sun in Aquarius’ clash with Mars on the same day sums up the tension between progress and resistance that characterize the next couple of weeks. The more planets that squeeze into the sign of liberty, equality, and bold goals for the future, the stronger Mars and Uranus in conservative Taurus push back.
The Sun squares Mars (Feb. 1, 2021, 2:33 am PST) at 12.47 on the Sabian symbol 13 Aquarius: A barometer. A barometer is a device that measures changes in pressure, and more colloquially it’s an expression related to gauging change in opinion. Mars is on 13 Taurus, A man handling baggage; this represents, perhaps, the workers of the world, demanding that everyone’s opinion be heard.


Wake-up music
Venus symbolizes what is loved and pleasurable; while it’s in Aquarius (Feb. 1, 2021, 6:05 am PST through Feb. 26), that list includes dear friends who maintain the perfect blend of closeness and distance. It also favors gadgets and electronic gizmos, quirky art, and the kind of music that wakes you up and could never be simply “background music.” Venus’s conjunction to Saturn later in the week is a reminder of the barriers which currently frustrate the in-person socializing so dear to Aquarius’s heart. But Aquarius is also an innovative sign, so Venus is sure to find a way to connect with friends in a way that feels satisfying.


Reflect with honesty
Aquarius tends to feel that its aims are objectively in the best interests of all and that they delineate the very best path to a fair and equitable future. The Sun in Aquarius receives a lot of support and power from other planets in its sign this week. But there is a potential shadow side to Aquarius’ view of progress, and our investment in seeing ourselves as the saviors of freedom and liberty will benefit from a reality check. Enter the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio (Feb. 4, 2021, 9:37 am, 16.06 Scorpio), injecting a healthy amount of self-examination. Scorpio is the sign most likely to engineer a hard fall from grace if our ego gets out of hand, so it’s a good time to reflect with honesty: are we driven entirely by altruism, or is there a touch of power and control in our motivations?
With the Moon opposed, and the Sun square, Mars/Uranus in Taurus, it’s time to be honest about whether we sometimes demand that others change, while staying entrenched in our own ways and mindset. This Last Quarter is the concluding chapter of a Lunar Phase Family that began in Nov. 2018. If you began something new around that time and it hasn’t gotten you quite as far as you’d hoped, now is the time to try one more adjustment before deciding whether to let it go for good.


Marriage license
My image for Venus coming together in a conjunction with Saturn (Feb. 5, 2021, 11:07 pm PST, 5.54 Aquarius) is a couple at the altar – or more precisely, signing their marriage license. In contrast to last week’s passionate conjunction of Venus and Pluto, this conjunction finds the lovers out of bed and at the county clerk’s office. This is love as the basis of a dynasty, the building block in what two people can accomplish together. In Aquarius, they commit to shared values of individual primacy and promoting societal progress.
Where is 5.54 Aquarius in your birth chart? It marks where you’re called, now, to commit to your values, your partners, your friends, and your community in a way you’ve never done before.

Testing commitment
No sooner does Venus conjunct Saturn than, the next day, its commitment is tested by a square to Uranus (Feb. 6, 2021, 7:33 pm PST). This is the equivalent of starting a diet and then, the very next day, having a friend show up at your door with your very favorite dessert. Or committing to a budget for your household, only to have the refrigerator break down the very next day.
In relationship terms, this points to a growing awareness of the need for breathing room as well as closeness. It also highlights ways in which we’re different from a partner or friend – and while that sometimes leads to tension and disagreements, it also keeps things exciting and interesting between us.


Writing and collages © 2021 April Elliott Kent
Jen and I explore all the week’s highlights in our latest podcast episode!