Scorpio, February 2017

On February 3, Venus will enter Aries, activating the sector of your chart that rules routines and rituals. Venus is the planet of love and money, but it also rules style and beauty. While Venus travels through Fire sign Aries, you'll find yourself focusing on how your looks make you feel: Your wardrobe—does it flatter you, and, even more importantly, are you comfortable?—as well as your skin, hair, and nails. You'll also be inspired to pay more attention to how well you take care of your body. What can I say? Venus is vain. This is a wonderful time to hit the spa.

Venus, of course, is also all about worth, value, and cash. While it spends time in Aries, you will consider how you feel about your day job and the responsibilities you take on day-to-day. Venus is not only vain—it's also lazy, even when it's in Fire sign Aries. You'll find yourself wondering if you're doing too much for little.

Venus will be retrograde from March 4 until April 15. This will be an important time for reviewing all the Venusian issues (love, money, style, etc.) in your life, but we'll talk about that in next month's horoscope.

On February 7, Mercury leaves Capricorn and enters Air sign Aquarius, creating a big shift in energy; lots of talk, paperwork, and movement has been happening around you over the last few weeks, Scorpio, but now things will begin settling down. Mercury in Aquarius will be all about you getting focused, especially around issues concerning your home, your private life, and even your family. If you have an important talk with a roommate or family member coming up, logical Mercury in cool, detached Aquarius will create a helpful atmosphere—hopefully. It is eclipse season, so you never know!

The first eclipse lands on February 10 in the sign of the drama queen, Leo. Eclipses are always exhausting and emotional, but this one will definitely be a bit theatrical thanks to Leo's influence. The lunar eclipse in Leo will activate the sector of your chart that rules worldly success and popularity, so expect major shifts to go down regarding your career and your reputation.

Eclipses bring new information to light, so you're sure to make a discovery that will affect which direction you want to go in professionally. A massive climax will take place concerning your public or professional life—are you ready for the next step? Eclipses put us on new paths. Nothing is the same after an eclipse rolls through. This is exciting, but like all changes, it can be scary at first.

Luckily, some good, grounded vibes are in the air thanks to Mercury connecting harmoniously with Venus on February 10 as well. You will have support around you from those who live with you or work with you day-to-day. More helpful energy flows your way when Mercury connects with Mars in Aries on February 16—people will have your back and won't be afraid to fight alongside you!

Speaking of fighting, one of the most intense, confrontational days of the month will take place on February 22, when both of your ruling planets, Mars and Pluto, will challenge each other in the sky. This will be explosive! Mars can be a bully, but Pluto? Pluto is the lord of the underworld—bully is an understatement.

Sure, both Mars and Pluto have positive aspects to them: Mars is currently in Aries, where it's confident and brave, and Pluto is currently in Capricorn, where it's all about transforming structures within society, how we spend money, and how we use our resources. But when Mars and Pluto get stressed out, the atmosphere is stormy, to put it nicely. Watch out for arguments today: mean text messages, nasty emails, and bitchy comments. Be careful during your commute, and definitely expect some delays or some temper tantrums if something needs to be rescheduled.

Power struggles will definitely come up, and manipulative tactics will be employed. Control issues will be major on this date. Work with this potent and overwhelming energy by being honest and kind, refusing to participate in violent dialogues, and bringing in an unbiased third party to help mediate—it's hard to be a controlling, manipulative jerk if some random person is watching you do it! For example, if you're fighting with your partner, drag them to a therapist with you. Powerful transformations and changes can take place today if we find the right ways to address the issues that pop up.

The Sun enters Pisces on February 18, soon followed by Mercury on February 25. Both of these transits will illuminate the sector of your chart that's all about fun, parties, romance, and creativity! Too bad there will be an eclipse on February 26 in Pisces, which will totally intensify everything. Like you, Pisces is a Water sign, and when there's an eclipse in a Water sign, the vibe is weepy as hell.

People will be ultra sensitive during this eclipse, so be gentle with others and yourself. Again, eclipses bring things to light, so expect a massive breakthrough. A magnificent new beginning around romance, having fun, and making art is on the way, even though this eclipse will be very emotional. In fact, the vibe could even be a bit paranoid—blame Pisces! But trust that everything is going down the way it's supposed to. Eclipses bring us closer to destiny, if you believe in that kind of thing, Scorpio.

This eclipse will especially hectic, because also on this day, Mars will meet with Uranus, the planet of shock and surprise. Don't expect anything to go as planned, and keep your schedule wide open. You're going to want to be impulsive, and you're going to rebel against anyone or any situation that's holding you back from doing your own thing.

Also, you might just want to go to bed early—eclipses are very, very draining. The day after the eclipse, February 27, Mars will oppose Jupiter in Libra, which will cause you to deeply need time to yourself in order to unwind and let loose. You're going to want to check out from reality at this point; find a healthy way to do it, like getting a massage or getting lost in a good book.

Does February sound intense enough for you? You'll be a brand new scorpion by the time this month is done. See you in March!