This will be an important month to think about money. You are known to be a wise money manager, and this coming month you will have an opportunity to show how well you do. Financial news should make you happy now, thanks to friendly planets that will offer you many opportunities to earn more, and also possibly be given a large one-time bundle of money. This month won’t only be about focusing on money – you will have a chance to travel too, and give your life balance.

As you begin February, you will still be under the influence of the very supportive new moon in Aquarius, 8 degrees, that came by January 27 and lit your second house of salary and earned income. A new moon opens a door of opportunity for ten days, so you have a chance now to increase your income. Indeed, the start of February will be the best of 2017 for asking for a raise, or if you are self-employed, for gently raising your rates. This new moon may also help you generate side income if you look for it. This new moon is in Aquarius, so areas of gain may emanate from the digital world and the Internet, all kinds of science, and social sciences, including not-for-profit and humanitarian work. Astrology comes under Aquarius, so if you are accredited, you may be able to expand your work through teaching, writing, or counseling.

Your big moment will come at the lovely lunar eclipse in Leo 23 degrees on February 10, a full moon to crystalize a financial situation that will emphasize your eighth house of other people’s money. This eclipse will be outstandingly positive for you and may leave you breathless. Eclipses bring on sudden news, often out of the blue, and they speed up timetables dramatically. The eighth house includes large funding that is usually beyond the average person’s resources, so funds are sought to fulfill a dream, such as to go to college or to buy a house. It also rules money given to you, say, through inheritance, or won in a court case. Here is a list of the types of financials that you might be thinking about this month, for one of the following is likely to light up for you: credit, bank and student loans, child support, tax refund, mortgage and refinance plans, prize winnings, inheritance, commissions, royalties, court settlements, grants, bonus, cash advance – you get the idea.

If you have an idea of what the eclipse might focus on, it might not be that, but rather be something not in your field of vision. Because Uranus will play a big role in this lunar eclipse, even if you think you know what is likely to happen, chances are, something else will occur. You will have a touch of luck, so you might want to buy several charity raffle tickets. If you do, don’t spend too much, because I am not sure from where your good fortune with money will come from. If you are lucky, you will be lucky – you need not push the envelope. I don’t want you to lose money by buying too many raffle tickets, for your bounty could arrive from a different area of your life.

This is a full moon, so something financial is coming to culmination now. You may be negotiating benefits with a new company if you are interviewing for a new job. Alternatively, you may sell a house and receive a generous profit, or sell a screenplay that will have the possibility of becoming quite a hit. The full moon in Leo brings in the possibility that you will sell something artistic that you have created – music you composed, a photographic body of work, an idea for a Broadway play, or a portfolio of beautiful illustrations. I list these ideas just to get you thinking.

The reason I am so excited about this lunar eclipse is that Saturn, your ruling planet, now in your behind-the-scenes, confidential sector, will reach out to Uranus, planet of sudden and unanticipated news, now in your house of home and real estate. Both planets will signal to the full moon eclipse, each 120 degrees apart, forming a golden triangle in the sky, the most harmonious aspect possible in astrology. I feel you will be outstandingly lucky with real estate matters. Keep in mind that an eclipse can deliver news within a week of its appearance, or when Mars hits the degree of the eclipse, which will happen, coincidentally, this month on February 26. Also, some eclipses deliver their news one month to the day before it arrives (that would have been January 10, plus or minus four days) or one month to the day after the eclipse (March 10, plus or minus four days. Most people feel an eclipse on time (70 percent), fewer notice news before (10 percent), and slightly more people hear news later (20 percent).

If you need to buy a house or condo, or sell one, it appears you may hit a very lucky opportunity this month, especially at the lunar eclipse February 10. This you may be involved in a major decorating plan. I say that because Mars entered your area of home (fourth house) on January 28, to stay until March 9. Mars always brings a certain amount of noise (sometimes in the happy sense), so it appears workmen or moving men will be there, or if you are not moving or doing work on your space, then you may be entertaining this month and giving an important party. Or you may host a guest and fluff the pillows in your guest room or on your living room couch.

There is no doubt that aside from financial considerations, you will be thinking about a property matter too. I would like you to do as much as you can THIS month, for next month, Venus will be retrograde, and among the various parts of life Venus rules, she has some dominion over money and profits. Venus will retrograde from March 4 to April 15, and after Venus goes direct, she will not reach full power until May 18. You see why this is your month to make tracks and get as much done as possible. There is one other reason to concentrate, this time on your career. Venus is the natural ruler of Capricorn’s house of honors, awards, and achievement, so if you are interviewing for a new position, or hoping for positive publicity, you want to get all that sewed up in February. You may hit snags in March, April, and part of May. This is why we study astrology, so we can make plans to maximize our chances of success.

I will talk more about Venus retrograde next month, but suffice to say, Venus rules beauty and design, so if you are involved in a decorating project, make your biggest choices now. Because Venus rules beauty and attractiveness, do not do plastic surgery next month while Venus is retrograde, and don’t make any radical, dramatic changes to your looks then either. If you must, do it now

Venus just entered your home sector too and will remain there a very long time, until June 6. Venus will enjoy being with her lover Mars, for together they form a classic combination that is known to spark the spark of first love. For you, your most romantic place will be where Venus and Mars are found, at your home. For Valentine’s Day, you might want to whip up a beautiful special dinner for you and the one you love, complete with flowers, champagne, and candlelight. If you have children, see if your mother or sibling will take your children so you can have a romantic night.

By the way, if you are disappointed that either you or your partner has to work or travel on Valentine’s Day, I actually like the preceding weekend, February 11-12, better for a celebration of your love than February 14. The transiting moon will be in Virgo over that weekend, a far better place for you than Libra, the place the moon will be on Valentine’s Day.

There are two days I want to point out to you: February 21 and 23 are extra special and both involve meetings. Mercury rules contracts, so either day would be perfect for doing that. On February 21, Mercury will be in conversation with Jupiter, indicating profits are to be made. This day would also be ideal for having an interview for a new position or a promotion. Also, give a presentation, hand in a manuscript, or give a speech. Communication-oriented projects, such as the debut of a new app or high tech device, will do well on this day. In general, on February 21, do all you can to advance your standing in your career and further your reputation and influence.

Now we come to another big moment of the month, the solar eclipse in Pisces 8 degrees on February 26. This eclipse may give you a chance to travel a short distance, and if you do go, it is likely to be a memorable trip. Eclipses set up life events we long remember. If you do travel, choose a place near water, ice, or snow, as Neptune, the planet ruling the seas and all things watery, will be very prominent. Neptune will also stimulate your imagination, and because this part of your chart rules writing, if you are working on a novel, or if you are an artist or illustrator, you will feel very inspired to do lyrical, poetic work.

Sometimes an eclipse in the third house, as you will have, causes you to have to sign papers. If that describes you, be careful about what you sign, and have a lawyer go through the paperwork with a fine-tooth comb. Neptune can cause confusion or fog certain clauses, so you will want to be deliberate and careful about all you put your signature upon.

Your first order of business as you enter February should be to ask for a raise. The new moon of January 27 opened a door wide for you to get your increase, but you must ask in the first few days, for you won’t want too much time to pass between that new moon of January 27 and the day you decide to open talks with management. The ruler of that new moon, Aquarius, is Uranus, and Uranus will be beautifully aligned with Saturn, indicating you can now build a feeling of great security from the moves you take now.

This month holds two eclipses, and the first, February 10, will be a full moon lunar eclipse in Leo, switching your attention to other types of funds may need to fulfill a dream. It may be that you may need a mortgage to buy a house, a student loan or university financial aid to go to college, or venture capital to start a business. You might want a home improvement or auto loan or a line of credit for your ongoing business. If you are in talks about a new position, you may be hammering out talks about such things as commission, year-end bonus, health insurance, flex time, or vacation, and those talks will go exceptionally well.

Matters related to an inheritance, stocks and bond portfolio management, insurance, and other such funds should show gratifying improvement if you huddle with your trusted financial advisor. Jupiter, giver of gifts and luck, now in a rare tour of your tenth house of professional prestige, is boosting your professional profile, and Jupiter will see to it that money will flow directly to your door. Eclipses are the most dramatic tool that the universe uses to create important change, and dramatic life events often happen at eclipse time, ones that you may long remember.

Your home or family will be top of mind too all month, as you have Mars lighting that area of your chart, giving you the impetus to make improvements there that you’ve been meaning to do. Venus and Mars, the cosmic lovers, are now in your home sector and will make that area of life very sweet indeed. The end of February would be perfect for giving a stylish a party.

If you are moving, or making design choices for a design project or a renovation, Venus will see to it that you find beautiful selections to your home. Think about freshening up your guest room to invite friends or family over. In terms of family, Mars’ presence in your home sector might be putting a big focus on the care of one of your parents.

You have plenty on your agenda, but the new moon solar eclipse of February 26 will open up your schedule for a quick trip. Choose a place near water or snow, as you will have the Sun, new moon, Neptune, and Mercury, all crowded in Pisces, a sign ruling the sea and all bodies of water. If you would rather go to a paradise island for sun and surf, that location would please you, too. It appears you are gearing up for weeks of increased travel.

Eclipses bring life events that you may long remember. The time near February 26 would likely bring the need to sign certain papers. Don’t rush, for with Neptune so prominent, a certain fact or clause will be either missing, confusing, or obscured. Have your lawyer take a first look at any paperwork you want to sign. You will be glad you took the extra time to do so.