(23 February 2025) The transit picture this week will feature several important alignments. Mars stations direct on Sunday evening (EST) Feb 23 and will now resume its normal forward motion. The time near the station is said to reflect the strongest expressions of Martian energy since the slower-moving planets exert a stronger effect. This could translate into particularly blunt confrontations with little regard for consequences. Interestingly, Elon Musk’s DOGE ultimatum to US government employees to document and justify their work duties has a deadline of Monday at midnight — just a day after this maximum Mars energy. That’s pretty blunt.
Mercury conjoins Saturn on Tuesday morning (EST) at 26 Aquarius. This pairing emphasizes the role of analytic and focused thinking that is best used to accomplishing rule-based tasks such as in mathematics, computer programming, and legal argument. As Elon Musk is fond of saying, “physics is the law, everything else is a recommendation.” Mercury and Saturn are very much the stuff of science and physics as the logical and rational impulse of Mercury combines with the disciplined and structured reality of Saturn. The early week is therefore a good time to undertake these work-related tasks, and any new analytical projects begun at this time should do well over time.
For financial markets, the Mercury-Saturn conjunction could go either way. While Saturn’s naturally malefic energy often coincides with pessimism and selling, its conjunction with Mercury can also lift stocks if other planetary influences confirm. Of the past four Mercury-Saturn conjunctions in Feb 2024, March 2023, March 2022, and Jan 2021, stocks rose significantly in two of the four days of the exact conjunction, while they were flat the other two days. Four cases isn’t much to base an opinion on, but it does mean we should avoid any inherent bias against this conjunction. And the degreewise alignment with Chiron at 26 Pisces could be constructive as well. A modest bullish bias makes the most sense here, if if there isn’t clear evidence for it.
Between the strong Mars energy and the Mercury-Saturn conjunction, the early week looks good for taking action and getting things done.
The second half of the week will be focused on the upcoming retrograde station of Venus on Saturday, March 1. As the planetary significator of pleasure, luxury, beauty, love and women, the period around the retrograde station may see these matters highlighted in some special way. The Venus retrograde cycle will extend from March 1 until April 13, when it resumes its normal forward motion.
This particular retrograde station occurs in sidereal Pisces, Venus’ sign of exaltation. This should benefit Venusian-type activities. The late week and next weekend are therefore good times for arranging pleasant and relaxing social events. Artistic pursuits may also resonate more strongly at this time as aesthetic considerations are brought to the fore. This particular Venus Rx station may receive an additional boost from its conjunction with the Moon on March 1-2.
In terms of financial markets, the effect of retrograde Venus is a contingent one. While the retrograde station has no inherent bias, it can signal a change in trend for markets as I’ve noted in a recent research study. If stocks have been rising heading into March 1, then some kind of pullback afterwards becomes a bit more likely. If stocks have been falling leading into the Venus Rx station, then a bullish reversal becomes much more likely in the days afterward.
However, the Mercury-Rahu-Neptune conjunction on Sunday, March 2 could introduce some confusion, miscommunication and deceit. Both Rahu (North Lunar Node) and Neptune are distorting influences that can interfere with Mercury’s normal rational energy and can disrupt and upend expectations. And since it is debilitated in Pisces, Mercury may be especially vulnerable to corruption during its closest conjunction from about Saturday March 1 until Monday March 3. Innovation and experimentation with unusual forms of analysis could still yield dividends, but there is a risk that efforts will be wasted or otherwise misdirected down blind alleys. Computer systems may be more vulnerable to viruses and outages as well. Scandals may also be more likely to come to light as a result of this unstable triple conjunction. Diseases and epidemics are also symbolized by these planets as Neptune represents illness while Rahu signifies uncontrolled spread and Mercury is associated with nerves and respiration and more generally, with interaction and connectivity.
