Jupiter moves direct today strengthening it’s placement in Cancer and providing opportunity to expand the concept of home both literally and figuratively. It’s a placement that also encouragements generosity and bounty. The Moon is in Sagittarius also signaling expansion of a different kind – one where you’re more adventurous and explorative including exploration of nature, education and learning. Mars in Pisces can be a placement for either escapism or finding your inner strength.
Christopher Robin was sitting outside his door, putting on his Big Boots. As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was about to happen, and he brushed the honey off his nose with the back of his paw, and spruced himself up as well as he could, so as to look Ready for Anything.~AA Milne
Venus is conjunct Saturn creating a space for contemplation and evaluation of relationships. This includes re-evaluating and reflecting on past connections. You may feel burdened by expectation and now is the time to understand expectations are ultimately within us not outside us. This aspect also calls for self-discipline in dealing with constraints. The Moon is trine Neptune and Saturn enabling new routines and habits to be established including ones that also provide refreshment.
Ill habits gather by unseen degrees, As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas.~ Ovid
Especially in the middle of the day, there is a grand water trine with the Sun and Mercury, Jupiter and the Moon. We are more intuitive than usual. This supports having positive feelings and a sense of balance between our purpose and our emotions, our conscious and unconscious minds and our work and home life. The only down side of this combination is a tendency to overindulge. Close relationships continue to be a mixed bag.
Why? It’s an excellent question. But an even better one is… Why not? ~Lara Whatley
Mercury (retrograde) and the Sun are practically on top of each other in the sky today. This gives us the ability to focus intensely, but it limits our objectivity. Jupiter is making a harmonious angle to Mercury and the Sun today which is a very positive influence. What ever we undertake today should go well, and we will be thinking of big picture issues like religion, philosophy and foreign lands. Just remember to not overlook details.
I think I am, therefore, I am… I think. ~George Carlin
Venus, the planet of love and relationships, has entered Aries joining Neptune and Saturn in a tight stellium. The positive combination of Venus and Neptune can indicate a selfless union, or perhaps disappointments in relationships, if we are ungrounded in our expectations. Saturn brings some stark reality to the situation which could be beneficial or could indicate separation from one we love.
It was a mixed bag pretty much all week. ~Tiger Woods
The Moon is void of course today until 11:03 pm EST. Do not make any major decisions until this time passes.
Student 1 shared this with me, it is beautiful so I wanted to share with all of you:
“As the radiant Fire Horse Year dawns on this auspicious Losar, February 18, 2026, may the swift wind of blessings carry you forward like the legendary Wind Horse (Lungta), lifting your prayers to the highest realms and dispelling all obstacles with fiery clarity and unbridled energy!
In the profound tradition of Vajrayana, this is a Princess Mandarava Year, echoing the miraculous birth of the great ḍākinī Mandarava in the male wood-horse year. From the moment she entered this world, she stood upright, and displayed the signs of an enlightened being already awakened. Her life exemplifies fearless renunciation, unbreakable devotion, and the swift attainment of rainbow body through union with Padmasambhava.
In her emanations and blessings, we glimpse the perfect fusion of wisdom and compassion, transforming even the fiercest trials into the path of liberation!
May this Horse Year ignite within each of us Mandarava’s indomitable spirit: the courage to gallop beyond samsara’s illusions, the wisdom to recognize primordial purity in every moment, and the joyful energy to benefit countless beings without hesitation.
To all sentient beings near and far, may your minds be vast as the sky, your hearts warm as sacred fire, your steps swift and sure on the diamond path. May longevity, vitality, merit, and realization flourish like spring blossoms after winter’s thaw. May all obstacles dissolve like mist in sunlight, and may every breath become an offering of awakening!
Happy Losar! Tashi Delek!
In the blessings of Guru Rinpoche, Mandarava, and all the lineage holders, may this year be one of profound transformation and boundless auspiciousness for you and all whom you cherish
Ah!”
Sonia Gomes
PS- I removed the Mandarava mantra from the description to honor Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche’s wish that it not be made public.
This approach protects the integrity of the lineage and ensures the practices remain in their authentic context.
The Sun is trine Jupiter. This transit is for short period but nevertheless take advantage of the optimism and confidence it brings. Be adventurous and open-minded and seek to expand your horizons and identify the values that help you connect to humanity. The Sun is approaching Mercury bringing changes in direction and asking us all to be more flexible. The Moon in Libra can bring balance into daily life routines and in this way can also help balance the excesses we subject ourselves to.
Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds’ wings.~ Rumi
The Moon is Void of Course in Libra from 6.22pm until 11:00pm. Avoid signing contracts of any kind during this period. Find time to connect with your inner self.
Mars is moving forward enough to lessen the challenge of Mars square Uranus which can indicate inappropriate use of force and unexpected physical hardship as well as electronic interference. This is notwithstanding Mercury retrograde which can hamper communication and impact electronics also. Venus offers an antidote to these difficulties: it is sextile Uranus. It’s a good time for social events, outreach and tapping into your innate originality and enthusiasm.
The most difficult thing is to know what we do know, and what we do not know.~PD Ouspensky
The Moon is Void of Course in Virgo from 9.41am this morning until 1.56pm today. Avoid signing contracts during this time. Find time to connect with your compassionate-wisdom nature
Theme:Attending to details and attending to your heart
The placement of the Sun, Mercury and Venus provides continual planetary energy opportunities to connect with your heart and in particular how we are all interconnected with one another, all beings. The Moon is in Virgo. Virgo being the polar opposite of Pisces. Where Pisces embodies the formless realm, unconscious part of us, Virgo embodies the material realm of caring for self and others. It’s also a handy sign for attention to details which is helpful during Mercury retrograde when details can be missed.
Let a soul radiate in every direction love and compassion, and thoughts of hatred can find nothing to which they can attach themselves.~ Annie Besant
Venus is moving closer to Neptune conjunct Saturn softening the energy of this challenging conjunction. In a way Venus provides us with an opportunity to re-evaluate the challenges of this aspect in a more beneficial light while providing healing human connections that aid us at this time. Mars has moved into Pisces bringing a different kind of courage to the battlefield – one of connecting with our heart and feelings. In this placement compassion, love and prayer are potent weapons.
You can say yes, that someone is a bully and someone is a victim. But what is really happening is people are infected with a fever of fear, and it’s spreading all over the world…Please, find a way to pull the fear out of you and make it something useful.~Jetsunma Ahkon Norbu Lhamo
