Aries, February 2016

In our monthly horoscopes, we provide a more in depth look at what's happening in the sky. You can read the rest of our monthly horoscopes here.

Februarys are funny for you, Aries, because you spend the first half socializing and working your connections and the second half in quiet hibernation. Maybe it's not so weird—the zodiac wheel does reflect the real world; after the Sun parties in social Air sign Aquarius from January 21 to February 19, of course you'll need time to rest, meditate, and reconnect with yourself in dreamy Water sign Pisces, which takes place from February 19 up until your birthday season, starting on March 21!

On February 3, your ruling planet Mars sextiles Pluto. We love sextiles— they're helpful and communicative, but keep in mind that they do require energy on your part. Mars and Pluto have a lot in common; in fact, many astrologers say Pluto is the higher octave of Mars, meaning it amplifies Mars's abilities and traits—like determination and war—and takes them to a higher evolutional level. Yes, Pluto has its shadier points too (manipulation, for example), but we'll talk about that another time. All this is to say: We're happy when Mars and Pluto are getting along well!

The combination of Mars and Pluto on February 3 will find you tapping into your psychic powers in order to transform a situation concerning your career or life's work, debts and inheritances, or your reputation and issues around intimacy and sex. This is a powerful time to discuss these issues and seek help. Whenever Pluto is involved, it's always a good idea to bring in a third, unbiased, party.

Pluto gets more action on February 5 when Venus meets Pluto (both in driven Earth sign Capricorn), activating the sector of your chart that rules fame and fortune. You'll definitely come across as a boss bitch today, Aries. This is an intense and powerful day in your public life, and, in your personal relationships, you'll notice that people are anywhere from jealous of your success to totally in admiration of your ability to achieve your dreams— it all depends on how mature they are.

All kinds of emotions come to the surface on February 6; you'll feel pulled in a bunch of different directions. The Sun in Aquarius will sextile wild Uranus (which is in your sign!), bringing some unexpected good vibes to your friend circle. Communication at work and around money will also be A+, with the planet of the mind, Mercury, in practical Capricorn, trine lucky planet Jupiter in the sign of service, Virgo.

That said, do expect to feel some surprise agitation when the planet of love and harmony, Venus, squares Uranus. You'll be in an impulsive mood (always dangerous for an Aries), so take it slow today. Plenty of helpful things are going on in the sky, so don't crap on it all by being hasty, and please try not to be cocky about your success: It will be very unattractive under this influence because people will wonder, How long will it last with that attitude?

Your ruling planet Mars sees more action on February 7, when the Sun in Aquarius squares Mars and Venus sextiles Mars. Issues around popularity and jealously flare up today (people being jealous of you, of course—Aries people are missing the chip that creates jealous feelings toward others), and you'll be challenged to solve some issues concerning your debts, both financial and emotional. You will feel some tension, but you'll overcome a huge challenge today, Aries! You work best under pressure, anyway.

February 8th's New Moon in Aquarius creates a cool vibe in your social life, inspiring you to meet new people, engage with your community, and work your connections. New Moons bring new beginnings, and Aquarius is the sign of innovation, so I expect your environment will begin working much better for you soon. This is a great New Moon to do some vision boarding under, or create a list of goals. This is also a lovely New Moon to make up with a friend under— you're quick to dump people who suck, Aries, but you do believe in everyone and are always willing to forgive and forget.

More good vibes will flow in your work life, and you'll find yourself slaying your to-do list like a warrior on February 10 when Venus trines Jupiter. Today's vibe is cooperative and optimistic, and you might actually enjoy doing your chores today. You could find some good fortune on your way to toss out the trash or visit the post office.

The workflow keeps its groove on February 13, when Mars sextiles Jupiter, but this time the focus will especially be on you tackling chores that you've been putting off for too long, handling issues with debts and taxes, and managing the other annoying things we all have to handle.

February 13 will also show you if the people you're intimate with can really be there for you during everyday, mundane tasks. If they can love you in your lingerie, can they love you as you scrub the dishes, scoop cat poop, and bitch while being put on hold?

Mercury enters logical Air sign Aquarius on Mercury, so you'll be thinking about things in a super clear and detached way. Venus also enters Aquarius on February 16, inspiring you to approach your relationships with a cool head. Both of these planets are activating the part of your chart that rules friendships, so expect to do lots of socializing, double or group dates, and networking.

Although lots of stuff will be going on for you socially, it would be really smart for you to carve out alone time and focus on getting plenty of rest on February 19, when the Sun enters sensitive and dreamy Water sign Pisces. Pisces is the sign of imagination, and yours will be zapped if you don't get enough rest. Finding balance between sleep, friends, and work will be major during the second half of the month—especially during the Full Moon in Virgo on February 22. This Full Moon will activate the part of your chart that rules your daily habits, routines, and day job.

This is not the time to disregard your health or sacrifice sleep for partying. A healthy work/life balance is out there for you, Aries, but you need to commit to finding it. Dakota Hendrix, a Brooklyn-based witch and fellow Aries, says: "We crash and burn, and that's how we rest!" This is so true and so real, but don't do this to yourself during this Full Moon. Your birthday season is coming up next month, so rest up now and get all your chores done!

One of the other things coming up for you this year, Aries, is that your ruling planet Mars will retrograde from April 17 through June 29. This will find you totally reimagining what your goals are (especially around travel or schooling), rethinking your philosophies, and especially working out issues with debt and intimacy. It's going to be a heavy time, and it could be a major drag— but you can work with the energy by committing to working on these issues instead of trying to rush through them. You want to rush through everything, Aries, but Mars retrograde is the warrior planet's time to turn inward, rest, and rework its goals.

Starting on February 17, pay attention to what's going on in your world around the themes Mars will be working with (school, learning, debts, and intimacy), because some major foreshadowing will be doing down. Do the best you can, Aries—that's all you can do! Be honest, kind, and proactive, and your Mars retrograde will be a productive time of rest and reflection rather than a stressful period where you feel trapped and out of control. Plenty of good opportunities, especially around your career and reputation, are coming this month— make the best of it!