When the goddess of love and beauty is aligned with the god of the underworld, passion escalates and relationships may feel more intense. The concept of control—maintaining it and/or releasing it—comes into focus, with a feeling of all-or-nothing enveloping romantic and/or creative pursuits.

When Venus and Pluto dance as they will today, desire—whether it be sexual or a deep yearning to truly reveal oneself to another—is the name of the game. Buried feelings—those we’ve turned a blind eye towards or just didn’t want to express—are drawn forth and emerge from deep within.

Usually when planets are in opposition, our first instinct is to identify with one of the planets and project the energies of the other onto another person (or other people). For example, we may feel that we are being sweet, loving, and beyond reproach (Venus) and that it’s our partner or friend that is being secretive, manipulative, or wanting things to change in a dramatic way (Pluto), or we may play the role of Pluto while projecting Venus onto them.

Yet what planetary oppositions teach us is that, in fact, we are likely both—in this case both the one who desires harmony (Venus) and the one who desires transformation and honesty (Pluto). Where oppositions lead us is towards the illumination it takes to be able to integrate seemingly disparate sides of ourselves.

For clues on the themes and patterns that may present themselves, consider back to February – May 2009, as this was the time period when Venus and Pluto were in a related alignment. Issues that are arising around this current time may reflect an unfolding of those that came to light last year at that time.

Have you felt as if you’ve been in touch with your friends, family, and colleagues, but out of touch with yourself? If so, today’s a great day to tune into your needs, notably that of your body. Check in and see how you’re feeling on a physical level and whether a certain type of food, exercise, or wellness activity would be well suited for recharging your energy. If you’ve been living in your mind for the last little while, take the opportunity today to find the ground beneath your feet.

Tuesday, February 2

Today, shadows are especially important.

It’s Ground Hog’s Day in the U.S., a folkoric holiday during which shadows are not a coveted occurrence. That’s because if the designated groundhog sees its shadow, winter is supposed to last for six more weeks but if it has a shadowless experience, spring weather is said to be around the proverbial corner.

Shadows may also come into play today as the Moon (the signifier of our emotional being) aligns with Pluto. Deep-rooted Pluto represents the aspects of ourselves that we repress and cast into darkness—or often use as fodder for projections upon others; Carl Jung termed this the “shadow.” The Moon/Pluto alignment may inspire the constellation of shadow issues and potentially assist us in take back associated projections. Today, if we find ourselves being excessively judgmental or recognize that we are continually irked by a specific quality in others, it may be productive to take a look to see whether the attribute expressed is, in fact, one that lives inside of us that we are not giving voice to and embracing.

Wednesday, February 3

Today, with Mercury, the planet of communication, aligned with the North Node, a point that represents our destined path, I would like to share with you this insightful and relevant quote from the Buddha:

“The mind is everything. What you think you become.”

Thursday, February 4

Feeling feisty? Is there something brewing inside that needs to vent in order to prevent a boiling over of emotions that need release?

Today’s a good day to reflect within to see whether there’s something that’s been bothering us that we’ve not allowing ourselves to express. Rather than judging it, compassionately allowing it to give voice can go a long way towards contributing to a sense of peace and joy.

Friday, February 5

Feel like you’re swinging from two poles, that of detachment and attachment?

On one hand,  there’s a pull towards detachment and maintaining an even keel in the face of the world’s comings and goings.

On the other, there’s a magnetic attraction towards attachment and deeply connecting with the emotions stirred up by the challenges you and others face.

What to do? Which one to follow? How about both, just going with the flow of where the waves of the day take you. Likely, this approach will allow you to find a middle path and a harmonious steady state.

Saturday, February 6

The day unfolds with a whirl, zig, and zag as the Moon connects to Venus, Uranus, Mercury, and Neptune all in the course of four hours. We may awaken to a desire to infuse our day with a new experience that will inspire our mind through its ability to connect us to a different expression of grace and beauty than we are used to.

Sunday, February 7

Do you know that song “Up, Up and Away” by the Fifth Dimension? I don’t know about you, but I love that song and have ever since I was a child. Every time I hear it—or even just think about it—it brings a huge smile to my face and injects a sense of levity in my heart.

What’s this song have to do with today? With the Moon in ebullient Sagittarius, and dream-chasing Neptune aligned with beauty-provoking Venus, it’s as if this gleeful sunshine-pop song may very well be one of the anthems for this day.