Winter's First Blush
Imbolc's Blessings + February's Auspicious Aquarius Season
Between Winter and Spring is a deep wait, a longing for connection, for touch.
February brings the yearn, an almost erotic ache hoping for the warmth, a prayer for the Seasons to shift. The 1st of February is LITERALLY midway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox; in the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year this marker is known as Imbolc. A vigil for Spring and celebration of Brigid, Goddess of Hearth, Healing, Poetry and Childbirth, Imbolc rituals wishes of warmth, wellness for the living and, yes, visualizations of growth. As fire-and-fertility Goddess Brigid’s lore runs deep into the land, Irish Saint Brigid of Kildare is celebrated 2/1, too, a strategic Christian bait-and-switch + a phenom we’ll be noting re: Love Goddesses and sexuality here on Substack and in our Cum Manifesto Spring issue.
This Winter has been an incubation of ideas that I can not wait to hatch! Thus these moments of focus, gratitude and wonderment further my own Aquarian nature… to lean into IDEAS! And, yes, I always have ideas! Maybe so many ideas it can be impossible to keep up! But Winter provides a stillness that is opportune for jotting down all the things that dreamily saunter through your mind while coziest on the couch. However, the pressure to act upon anything at all has been stunted by the Retrogrades around this time. Luckily, one of biggest planets of positive motivation will be soon direct in Gemini, another Air Sign even more known for its sky-expanse of ideas. (Aquarius’ February Season aspects listed with advice and vibe checks up ahead!)
It’s no surprise that LIGHT is symbolic for the Lunar New Year and other Wintry observances! Daylight is slowly but surely returning to the Northern Hem. Despite the frigidity in the Northern Hemisphere (though not too bad in ATL by any means), we’ve seen afternoon moments of early Spring. Though a fake Spring undoubtedly, we know renewal is on the horizon, enlivening our imaginations for warmer-month romps and happenings ahead. The metaphorical goodness to Imbolc and the wintry lovers’ fete of Valentine’s, though not historically-related, speaks to the idea of unfurling, coming undone. Seedlings shall soon burst forth in the Sun’s kisses as the Earth prepares to transform into the divinity of bloom and green awaits.
In a brief flash of “Fake Spring”, I felt my body and brain activated again in the sunshine, windows open and bird song during my “Mundane Magick” Aqua New Moon sink and bathtub scrubs, the Water-Bearer symbols of my Home blessed by the fresh air. January has been its own kind of structured strategy; February puts ideas to the test; AND the upcoming Leo Full Moon will burn through the bullshit to make space for what is to come, creating a chain reaction that sustains our Strength ‘til Spring. (The Leo Moon will get her own post, but there’s some notes about Aquarius, Venus, Mars and Pluto in the meantime.)
This midway point between the Dark of Winter and the Light of Spring ~and a stirring of the Goddess from a womb-like hibernation~ is much needed, weather aside.
As we prepare for a very, very sticky double Mercury/Venus Rx during the madness of Magickal March while the Fae come out to play, we will NOT want to carry certain gunk into the high-key Vernal chaos of what’s to come. It is important that we still work thru the hard issues of insecurity in home and relationship for the rest of Mars Retrograde in Cancer. We need safe spaces to come back to, we need to know WHO we can trust (as mused for the Aqua New Moon). We need to create or at least imagine our own Love Light that warms us beyond the frigidity of February and into the remainder of the year. Love and care is as vital as the Air we breathe. And I’m talking about more than a Lover or a singular anchor; I’m speaking directly about the importance of Community.
Luckily, Aquarius Season IS a time of mental transformation, an atmospheric terrain of thoughts. Aquarius placements have the capability to conjure an eccentric perspective with artistic interpretation, refreshing and/or uncomfortable depending on your attachment to views. Gaining access to our inner lives with curiosity around emotions is utmost advised. When we approach emotions with interest and inquisition instead of intensity and annoyance, we have a better chance of reframing surrounding situations that may look burdensome at first glance.
Some of us are too used to operating like an island and some of us do not have the know-how to reach out. And the system is happy to keep us in the Dark. The need to shine a Light on resources and safer spaces is desperate as the horrific warnings are all loud and clear with the new Administration. Communal care is already afoot, it always has been, even when we can’t see it or find it. Pluto Aquarius will be on the prowl in innovative way as we move thru these next 4 years. The fortnight ahead is a cocktail of auspicious Aqua Seasonings with the first week of February absolutely sweet, helping us open us to others in ways that we’ve been afraid to in the past.
Aquarius can be kind of cold (or at least appear that way), their analytical guise coolly floating in a separate space. Aquarius is the most rare of all Zodiac Signs and the personality attached seems to really show up as the Weirdo in the Archetypes of Western Astrology. In the story between the Signs, Aquarius Season itself is kind of New Age vibe and 2025 with North Node in Pisces is absolutely aligned for an experimental employ for Aquarius’ first full year in the outlier life-death-rebirth planet of Pluto. Aquarius’ ability to steer the spiritual ship in the all-powerful Plutonian undercurrent facilitates mutual evolution - but first, revolution.
The radical love match of Pluto and Aquarius is not all peace-and-love. Very real resistance is required as Pluto’s Underworld can deeply overwhelm the subconscious collective when its lurking shock-waves reach the surface. January 2025 was a continuous stream of horrible news brought on by the Trump administration with themes of trans healthcare suppression, DEI programs removed, grants and jobs in freeze and ICE aggressively making arrests almost as soon as the Orange Man took official office. One week alone felt like a month and the trigger of this rapid-fire news cycle, that will just keep continuing, has created a familiar hyper-vigilance, a dejavu of panic. Many of us are spiraling with the overload of info as is, even though we know that is the aim ~to cause chaos and confusion~ and it’s normal to be truly unsure of what steps to take.
I know this much from my own Aquarian perspective: Toxic spirituality is NOT welcome. Being apolitical is NOT realistic. WORSE IS SEEING THE TWO COMBINED, an apolitical “good vibes only” witch means nothing to me. Magick for oneself that ignores the rest of the world is grotesque and vapid. I find it annoying that Aquarius is portrayed as “hippie dippie” though the mind-wandering and humanity-advocating similarities track. Aquarius absolutely has the ability to view the overall structure of our society and the ways in which it is absolutely ill, which means looking at classism, oppression and privilege objectively. What are the ways in which we benefit or are harmed from these powerful entities? How can we be more humble about our identities in relation to the larger picture? What ways can we use our efforts to add to justice instead of protecting our egos?
What you focus on grows. Furthermore, I see Aquarius more as an architect, though the space-case can be true. Aquarians can possibly teetering between air-head and AI vibes but it also has the capacity to be a genius mad scientist and wizdominatrix. Veering into the Dark Side is easy due to Pluto in Aquarius. Wandering minds with a tendency to ruminate can easily turn into doom-and-gloom blackholes of Hell, fatalist prophecies awaiting. This is a waste of optimal Aquarius energy! Being mindful to focus on solutions - and not just the problem - keeps us on track.
Before, we get into February’s Aqua Astrology and the Leo Full Moon, announcing TWO Femme Moon events in the next 2-weeks!
SAT 2/8 VALENTINE VISION @ Disco Salon
Queer + Sober Atlanta and The Femme Moon invite you to a pre-Valentine's vision board extravaganza at Disco Salon on Saturday February 8th at 7:30 PM. Complimentary mocktails by Soberish and bubbles by Topo Chico: No spirits here—just spirited concoctions! Delightful bites by A Vegan Taste Better: Delicious savory and sweet options for purchase from our plant-based indie food favorite. Vision boards for the bold: Explore your inner creative child with cute collage activities. We’ve got the supplies, you bring the vision. In this room, every vision is valid! Magical offerings from Root Inward: Candles, apparel, prints, and more. Cosmic cards with Liberated Tarot: Queer, Black, and ancestral insight from local generational tarot reader Maria. Look into your Past, Present and Future with an intuitive peek into your personal pathways ahead. Tattoos by Isaza: Get ink from the Valentine's flash sheet.
THR 2/13 GALENTINE’S @ Argosy in the Brig
"Galentine's" Eve including a mini market and music to benefit Mainline, ATL's beloved independent media outlet. Doors at 8, live music at 9:30, DJ set at 10:30. Solo performance by TWINS and DJ set by Sudie. Sweet station by Salted Butter Society with pre-order for 4" heart-shaped cakes here. Jewelry sale by bauble besties Closet Goblin Shop and Prettiest Lobster. Canna-drink specials by bud buddies Nine Dot (zero-proof, THC/CBD).
RAFFLE FOR MAINLINE INCLUDES:
6” heart shaped cake from Salted Butter Society ($65 value)
Gift certificate from Kiss & Ride ATL ($50 value)
Romantic Desire Reading by Astronaut Pants ($110 value)
Gift certificate, tote and stickers from Videodrome ($40 value)
Hesperidean Love Kit from Cicatrixia + The Femme Moon ($30 value)
Cookbook zine from At Heart Panaderia ($15 value)
Necklace by Closet Goblin Shop ($26 value)
More info on event pages! Both Queer + Sober and Mainline are such amazing resources in ATL (both run by Cancer Suns and good friends of mine) and I am so blessed to collaborate with people who care deeply about making community spaces the way that Birdie and Aja do. Co-hosting events with them both is such a blessing for the 1st fortnight of February and probably one of the best birthday treats I could ask for. And I wish to be part of more community space in 2025, to meet other people, to talk and share and speak openly and be able to laugh and cry as we navigate this incredibly difficult political climate we’ve been thrust into.
As the Pisces North Node will bring up more about spirituality and larger subjects, in both toxic and heart-felt ways, we will see more shadowy sides of our emotional terrain, justifications and break-downs in communication about the abstract. But luckily, in the Imbolc and weather-divinity weekend of Groundhog’s Day (lol), we are starting off the month blessed with Venus in Pisces to give us a truly lovely moment of sweetness and light that we so desperately need before the topsy-turvy of the Winter/Spring spiral begins.
February Aquarius Season Aspects:
2/1 Venus-Neptune Conjunction in Pisces continues, serenading into the new month with a cinematic profundity, wearing rose-coloured glasses with sentimental sweetness. Exalted Venus in Pisces is a Goddess-send; met with home-planet Neptune in Pisces this energy is so strongly spiritual and sweet we could turn weepy! The only danger is glossing over the details we need to attend to but this moment gives us a gratitude for beauty to infuse our lives with more meaning. By 2/3 Venus-Neptune conjuncts the North Node in Pisces for an uplift moment of the Lunar Nodal Cycle we will be experiencing for the next year and a half.
2/3 Mercury in Aquarius trines Jupiter in Gemini for Air Sign optimism and gives a lot of oomph to the Future vision we are building. The same day, Venus enters Aries, the Bad Girl of the Venusian Zodiac who adds so much adventure, courage and swagger. Enjoy her while she’s direct; March’s Venus AND Mercury Rx with the Ram will likely get hot-headed this Spring.
2/4 Jupiter in Gemini goes Direct! If actualization of plans, resources, career and social movement have felt sluggish, Jupiter Rx may be part to blame. Clarity in the creative process returns happily and we are ready to get to work on our ideas.
2/7 Venus in Aries sextiles Pluto in Aquarius for big bold steps towards more autonomous action in our lives.
2/9 Sun-Mercury Conjunction in Aquarius happens on my birthday this year, yay! And I love this pre-Full Moon community connectivity with a collaborative and caring energy - all of my favorite things! This Sunday Aquarius moment is bolstered by a trine of Mars in Cancer to Saturn in Pisces for a dreamy yet cozy boost of help and comfort.
2/10 Mercury in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus, however, where one small hiccup can create a shit ton of problems. Think Mercury Rx energy in a way; make sure to double-check before you go forth on this cumbersome case of the Mondays. Then on 2/11, it’s Aqua Sun’s turn to square Uranus in Taurus, likely confronting some new fresh Hell from the Trump administration around subjects of injustice or oppression. After a dreamy 1st week of February, some of the harder angles of the fighting Aquarius spirit come up for us, reminding us of the mental effort the Good Fight will require.
2/12 The Full Moon in Leo will help balance out the fury and disgust and turn it into a passion to fully embrace who we are, what freedoms we are all entitled to and how to protect those who need our help. Full report next Saturday 2/8!
2/14 Valentine’s gift of Mercury entering Pisces puts a little softness against Venus in Aries’ sass. Mercurial poetry at play on this special day with an emotional intelligence we will need before getting to Retrograde Spring. Pisces Season will start 2/18 in 2025 :)
This was an excellent read. Thank you!
Thx for this ❤️🌠