Astrology Forecast: Feb 23rd - Mar 1st
- Kat Shaw
- Feb 22
- 8 min read
I hope everyone is holding on after the eclipse last week. We did get a rest at the beginning of this week with that Venus trine Jupiter. We get to ride that energy of compassion and creative inspiration a little while longer (through Feb 24th) before the aspect separates. Enjoy it while it lasts, my friends. We have rough spots on the way this week.
If you take nothing else from the energy of this week, keep in mind that we are heading into a Mercury Retrograde in Pisces. Between that and Mars squaring Uranus mid-week, this is a time for patience, caution with communication, and flexibility when plans inevitably shift. It may be difficult to listen to and trust in yourself this time around, especially with Mercury retrograde in watery, emotional Pisces blurring the lines between intuition and confusion.
And remember - Saturn and Neptune are still conjunct at 0° Aries through mid-March. The call to pioneer new territory and make dreams real is still very much with us, even as this week asks us to slow down and navigate carefully.
First Quarter Moon in Gemini (Feb 24)
The first quarter moon is upon us at the beginning of this week. The New Moon eclipse last week asked us to look to our communities, to use rational thought to lead our emotions as we looked toward the things we sought to manifest. Now we are halfway through the cycle to the full moon, and the first quarter sits in Gemini.
Where did your pondering lead you? What are your next steps? In Gemini, this quarter moon highlights communication, gathering information, and making choices. What conversations need to happen? What information do you need before moving forward? This is a mentally active moon; use it to clarify your thoughts and articulate your intentions before Mercury goes retrograde on Wednesday.
Mercury Retrograde (Feb 26, 1:48am EST, 22° Pisces)
Here we are... the moment people are talking about this week. Mercury retrograde is here! This time around it's going to happen in Pisces.
Let's start with the retrograde itself. When we say a planet is in retrograde, we mean that it appears to be going backwards in the sky. It's not actually moving backwards, but from our perspective on Earth, it looks like it is. Astrologically, when a planet goes retrograde, its energy turns inward. Instead of moving forward, we're asked to review, revise, and reconsider.
Mercury rules communication, technology, travel, contracts, and information. So when Mercury goes retrograde, these areas get messy. Miscommunications happen. Technology glitches. Travel plans change. Details get missed. It's not the best time to sign important contracts, make major purchases, or launch new projects. Instead, this is a time to:
Review and revise existing work
Reconnect with old friends or contacts
Back up your devices and double-check everything
Finish projects you started before the retrograde
Be patient with miscommunications and delays
But here's what makes THIS retrograde particularly challenging: it's in Pisces.
Pisces is already foggy, emotional, and boundless. Mercury doesn't function well here even when direct. Pisces wants to feel and dream, while Mercury wants to think and communicate clearly. Put Mercury retrograde in Pisces and you get extra confusion, blurred boundaries, and difficulty knowing what's intuition versus wishful thinking.
Communication might be especially unclear or emotionally charged. You might say one thing and people hear something completely different. Dreams and intuition are heightened, but so is deception (including self-deception). Be very careful about making assumptions or believing everything you hear - check the facts, even when it feels like you should just "trust your gut."
This retrograde lasts from February 26 through March 20 - almost a full month. Take your time, be patient with yourself and others, and remember: this too shall pass.
Mars Square Uranus (Feb 24 - Mar 3; Exact Feb 27)
Late in the week we find ourselves with Mars in Aquarius squaring Uranus in Taurus. Now, I know this one can look a bit scary on the surface, but let's break it down. Knowing what is ahead can help us navigate the energetic flow, yes?
Mars in Aquarius brings us drive for intellectual pursuits and action within the larger community - collective movements, progressive fights, innovative action. Uranus in Taurus means sudden shifts that challenge our stability, shake up our values, and disrupt what felt solid and secure. The square itself creates conflict - it's a hard aspect that brings tension between these two energies.
In this case, there's a kind of restlessness. The conflict between the desire for change (Mars-Aquarius wanting to move, innovate, rebel) and the need for security (Uranus-Taurus disrupting but also protecting stability). There's an impulsiveness that wants to move, change, break free - and that's completely possible, should we strike a balance between that desire and what actually needs to stay stable, at least for now.
This can manifest as sudden conflicts, unexpected events, technology issues, or impulsive decisions. But it can also bring breakthroughs, liberation from what's been stifling you, and the courage to make necessary changes. Channel the restlessness into productive action rather than reactive chaos. If you feel the urge to blow something up or make a sudden major change, pause and ask: is this liberation or just impulsiveness? Sometimes the answer is liberation - but make sure first.
Mercury Retrograde Conjunct Venus (Feb 26 - Mar 1, Exact Feb 28)
Mercury is already in retrograde over in Pisces, which is making communication (especially about our emotions) a bit more difficult. Add this conjunction with Venus on top of it and we see some friction with partners, some need for romantic things... but not being entirely certain what. It also leads to revisiting emotions and looking back on some things with a sense of nostalgia. Which... isn't always the best thing for us in the moment.
This is classic Mercury retrograde-Venus territory: exes or old friends reaching out, feeling sentimental about the past, romanticizing what was rather than seeing it clearly. Be careful about making big relationship decisions or rekindling old flames right now - the Pisces fog + retrograde confusion makes it very easy to see what you want to see rather than what's actually there.
That said, this CAN be a good time to process old relationship patterns, have healing conversations (if you're very careful about clarity), or revisit creative projects you put aside. Just don't act impulsively on feelings that might shift once Mercury goes direct in a few weeks. If you need to have an important conversation, write down what you want to say first and double-check that you're being clear - what feels obvious to you might not come across that way to the other person.
What is a Void of Course Moon?
Think of the Moon as the cosmic "Project Manager" of our daily lives. As it travels through a zodiac sign, it "talks" to other planets (making aspects). The Void of Course period begins the moment the Moon finishes its last conversation in one sign and lasts until it enters the next sign.
It’s a time when the "weaver has dropped her thread." Because the Moon isn't making any new connections, the energy is "adrift."
What to do:
Rest and Routine: Perfect for chores, cleaning, or mindless admin.
Reflection: Excellent for journaling or meditating.
Finish what’s started: Wrap up old projects rather than launching new ones.
What to avoid (if possible):
Big Launches: If you start a business or launch a product now, it may "go nowhere."
Important Signatures: Contracts signed in the void often need to be revised later.
First Dates: The "vibe" might be hard to pin down.
Void of Course Times: Feb 23 – March 1, 2026 (EST times)
Feb 23 - 5:29 pm until it enters Gemini at 9:29 pm
Feb 25 - 6:00 pm until it enters Cancer on Feb 26 at 12:11 am
Feb 27 - 11:21 pm until it enters Leo on Feb 28 at 3:17 am
Closing Reflection
This week asks us to slow down, and honestly, you don't have much choice in the matter. Mercury retrograde in Pisces is going to insist on it - communication will be foggy, plans will shift, and trying to push forward with new ventures right now is like trying to run through water. Add Mars square Uranus mid-week and you've got restless, impulsive energy colliding with the need for caution and clarity.
It's frustrating, I know. Especially with Saturn and Neptune still asking us to pioneer new territory in the background. But here's the thing: sometimes review IS the work. Sometimes going backward is how we move forward properly.
Use this Mercury retrograde to revisit what you started before it began. Check in with relationships that need attention. Process emotions you've been avoiding. Revise creative work. Reconnect with old friends or ideas. And when Mars-Uranus makes you want to blow something up or make a sudden dramatic change - pause. Ask yourself: is this clarity or just restlessness? Is this liberation or impulsiveness masquerading as courage?
The Venus-Mercury conjunction at the end of the week brings some softness to all of this - an opportunity for healing conversations and emotional processing, if you can stay grounded enough not to get lost in nostalgia or fantasy.
This retrograde lasts through March 20. That's almost a month of this energy. Pace yourself. Be patient with miscommunications. Back up your devices. Double-check everything. And trust that what needs to come back around will - old projects, old connections, old clarity that got lost in the fog.
You're not going backward. You're gathering what you need before the next leap forward.
Tarot Card of the Week
Seven of Pentacles
"I pause to honor the work I've done and trust in the growth that's unfolding, even when I cannot yet see the full harvest."
The Seven of Pentacles shows up this week to remind us that sometimes the work IS the waiting. Sometimes growth requires us to step back, assess, and trust the process rather than frantically doing more. This farmer has planted, tended, and now pauses to evaluate the progress - are these efforts bearing the fruit I hoped for? Should I continue on this path or adjust?
With Mercury retrograde in Pisces, this card reinforces the message: this is review time, not launch time. You've been planting seeds (especially with Saturn-Neptune asking you to pioneer new territory). Now pause and look at what's actually growing. What's working? What needs adjustment? What requires more patience before you'll see results?
The Seven of Pentacles also warns against impatience. When Mars squares Uranus mid-week and you feel restless, wanting to rip everything up and start over - this card says: wait. Don't abandon what you've invested in just because you can't see the harvest yet. Growth takes time. Trust takes time. Building dreams into reality (Saturn-Neptune) takes time.
Use this week to assess honestly: is what I'm building aligned with what I actually want? Am I being patient with natural timing, or am I rushing because I'm anxious? The answers will guide you when Mercury goes direct and forward momentum returns.
Weekly Herbal Allies
Rosemary Excellent for mental clarity and memory - crucial during Mercury retrograde when communication and thinking get foggy. Rosemary helps cut through confusion and supports clear thought, even in Pisces waters.
Chamomile Calming and grounding when everything feels restless or chaotic (Mars-Uranus energy). Helps soothe anxiety about slowing down and trusting the process (Seven of Pentacles). Good for emotional regulation during Mercury retrograde.
Vervain Known for protection during communication and travel (Mercury retrograde staples). Also helps with patience and trusting divine timing - perfect for Seven of Pentacles "wait and assess" energy.
Weekly Crystal Allies
Fluorite THE Mercury retrograde crystal - brings mental clarity, helps organize scattered thoughts, and supports clear communication. Especially helpful in Pisces fog where boundaries blur.
Hematite Grounding and protective. When Mars-Uranus wants you to act impulsively and Mercury retrograde has you confused, hematite keeps you anchored to what's real and stable.
Lepidolite Contains lithium, naturally calming. Helps with emotional regulation during Mercury retrograde in Pisces when feelings are intense but unclear. Supports patience and trust in timing (Seven of Pentacles).
Labradorite Protects your energy field during confusing times, enhances intuition while keeping you grounded. Helps distinguish true intuition from wishful thinking (crucial for Mercury retrograde in Pisces).
Need Guidance During Mercury Retrograde?
This week's energy is asking for review, patience, and clarity - but Mercury retrograde in Pisces makes it hard to see through the fog on your own. If you're feeling confused about relationships, stuck on a decision, or unsure which direction to take, a tarot reading can help cut through the noise and provide the perspective you need.
I'm currently booking readings for this week - both video call sessions ($50) and email readings ($35). Mercury retrograde is actually an excellent time for divination work, as the veil is thin and insights come more easily. Let's navigate this confusion together.
Video call readings via Google Meet - $50
Email readings delivered within 24-48 hours - $35
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