This month has two major eclipses: a new moon solar eclipse in Aquarius on February 6, and a full moon lunar eclipse in Virgo on February 20, reason enough to deem February an important turning point month.

Listen closely to news and ask many questions. Eclipses stir up a lot of information, and with a lot of cosmic dust in the air it would be wise to wait for the dust to settle before you make any major announcements. Your priorities may change, when sudden opportunities arise and certain assumptions are corrected, when revealing information is presented to you. All of this will work for good, but it will create a need to adjust, and to do that you will need time. Be patient. If you wait until next month, a clearer picture of the road ahead will emerge. If you make decisions while the environment is still in flux, you may regret your decision and later have to do some backtracking.

Let's look at your month ahead in detail. The start of February will bring your best time.

The first day to circle on your calendar will be February 1, sure to be a glittering day for your career. Venus and Jupiter will meet then, and this is unusual because these two luminaries meet only once a year. Working together these planets will help you to cause quite a stir about you in your firm or industry. Use this day to start a new job or interview for one, make a presentation, meet the press, make a speech, or do something else to call attention to your good work. Higher ups will notice you and be impressed by you on this glorious day.

Next, a new moon solar eclipse in Aquarius will appear on February 6 in your partnership house, suggesting that you'll be quite ready to formalize a close relationship, whether in marriage or in business. The 7th house, where this eclipse will fall, opens a door, so opportunity will present itself.

Since Valentine's Day falls in February, you and your sweetheart may have a serious conversation about getting married. If you feel ready, you won't see any reason not to do so.

Eclipses are known to speed up timetables, so perhaps you had planned to wed someday, but now an event from the outside your sphere will push you forward to make a commitment sooner. Your lease to your apartment may be up, or an unexpected pregnancy may occur, or a job relocation in a new city could change all that. There could be any number of reasons, but you get the idea - eclipses push us to act immediately, not in the fuzzy distant future.

If you are not serious about forming a more formal romantic relationship under this solar eclipse, you may want to form a business partnership. You may now sign on a business partner, agent, representative, or manager. If you are a literary agent, you may sign a new author, or if you are a publicist or stylist, you may sign a new talent. This house also rules experts you hire, such as a new lawyer, accountant, doctor, architect, or anyone else who would have a direct one-on-one relationship with you.

The February 6 eclipse would be a good time to open talks, to set up the perimeters of the deal and to plan to sign next month.

It appears that certain economic factors will lead you to investigate the commitment you are now considering. I say that because the planet ruling your house of partnership, Uranus, will be traveling in your house of joint financial relationships. In business, your partner may turn out to be an investor who gives you considerable capital. If you are thinking about marriage, the idea of creating more financial security may be especially appealing to you now.

I would suggest you get engaged but not actually married this month, as Mercury will be retrograde in your 7th house of commitment from the start of the month to February 17. It is never wise to make major decisions when the planet of thinking, deliberation, and communication is out of phase, and it's certainly never a time to sign a contract.

After Mercury is done retrograding, we have another big eclipse due, February 20. I am sorry to drop the other shoe, but it is usually better to let eclipses pass, too. (I will give you more information about that particular eclipse in a minute). I would rather you wait until March to wed, if not later.

The same advice would hold if you were about to sign a business partner. It's fine to open talks - you should - but you should not sign papers while Mercury is retrograde, nor near an eclipse.

I have a friend who was due to wed during Mercury retrograde. The invitations were sent, the church and the reception room were booked. It was a destination wedding in Tuscany and she had not realized Mercury would be retrograde on her wedding date until much later.

But being a resourceful soul, my friend had an idea. When she went to get her wedding license in the United States where she lives, she made sure she and her husband did this when Mercury was not retrograde. Once at City Hall to get it, they had a quick, simple ceremony, which became, in effect, the true date of their real wedding. No one knew - and still don't. Later she had her ceremony in Italy. I felt my friend had the right idea there! Whatever aspects are at play on a wedding date are in effect for the life of the relationship or entity created. That's why you really do need the best date possible.

If you are already married, this solar eclipse may affect you, too. Your partner may be making a number of big life decisions this month. Perhaps it concerns his or her career. Or, you and he may be deciding on a different house or city to live. If so, you will see those plans shape up at the new moon solar eclipse.

If you feel your relationship is not strong, you may not want to choose February to begin to argue or to delve into the depths your relationship. The urge will be strong to do so but I feel that your timing would be off. Mercury will be retrograde, so chances are that communication will be filled with static. Also, getting to the truth may be hard because with Neptune so close to the Sun at mid-month, it will be hard to get a clear picture of those facts.

Leo is ruled by the Sun, so solar eclipses have much more power over you than other signs. Happily, this will be an eclipse with lots of positive, happy ramifications. I am heartened by the fact that this eclipse will coincide with a lovely beam between Uranus and Jupiter. Uranus RULES Aquarius, so this really matters. It seems that there will be some sort of lucky financial side to this February 6 eclipse, even if you marry. (One or two gifts you receive may be very generous!)

If you were born on or near August 9, you will feel the effects of this eclipse more than other Leos born at other points of the month. Remember, the February 6 eclipse will work to your favor because basically the aspects are friendly.

As the month continues, the mood will deepen, turning from excitement to one more serious, somber moment. The date to keep your eyes on will be February 20, a lunar eclipse.

This eclipse will fall in your 2nd house of income and possessions. You may lose one source of income, but if so, a new one can take its place if you concentrate on that goal quickly. Eclipses bring circumstances from the outside world in to yours, so if you lose a source of income, do not feel bad. It may have nothing to do with anything you did.

Eclipses usually point to change, and in this case, it may be the end of the road with this particular client or job. Once you open the cradle, the universe will fill it as long as you are eager to do so - you do have to show that intent.

Alternatively you may have to layout quite a large amount of money at this time, possibly to buy something expensive like a house, a car, or other possession. The fact that Saturn is aligned with this eclipse almost exactly tells me that you are taking this moment seriously.

The 2nd house, the place that the eclipse is falling, rules the things you already own, so be very careful not to lose a treasured possession. Put a business card on the back of your laptop computer, your cell phone, or iPod, and a label of your address inside any expensive eyeglasses or sunglasses you own.

I have several cell phones (well, because my daily horoscopes appear on all of them), and this week I lost my little red Sprint phone when it fell out of my coat pocket in a New York City taxi cab while shopping for gifts. A man who got into the cab next found it and immediately looked in my list of phone numbers. He saw "Mom" and called her - Little Mom's helper, Annie, answered the call and quickly called me. Long story short, I got my phone back that very same day. Now I have a business card taped on the back of my little phone. Don't assume you can't get back things that you lose, even in a big metropolitan city. At the same time, don't depend on the kindness of strangers! During Mercury retrograde, make a special effort to keep track of things or to find a way to help others find you if necessary!

In terms of fitness and health, you might have lots to cheer about on February 1. On this day, when Venus and Mars will conjoin, you will have one of your very best times to seriously try to lose weight, or to improve habits that can truly boost the level of your health. February 1 will bring you the right options and encouragement to keep you enthused about your commitment to your health and fitness goals. Make an appointment to see a doctor, dentist, fitness instructor, nutritionist, or other health counselor.

One day when you should absolutely watch your health will be on or near February 24, when Saturn will oppose the Sun. The Sun is your ruling star, so this is an important date. This is due to be a draining day when news is likely to deflate everyone, including you. The best way to deal with this date is to simply get more rest. You can handle anything if you feel bouncy and energetic but not if you've been up all night. Treat yourself well on this date - you'll need the added boost.

At the office, your working conditions are about to become much more comfortable, whether through new and upgraded surroundings, more helpful staff, or a new client, or because management is about to buy better computer equipment that you will enjoy using. No matter what - something seems to have changed, and you'll love the improvements presented.

You'll enjoy the atmosphere of the office now too, and the high morale of co-workers will be partly responsible for that. The excellence of your output will come to the attention of at least one high level person this month, and the work you do will "count" when promotions are given out in early April or when raises are considered at the start of August.

If you want to hire a subordinate, start to interview candidates on February 1 when you'll likely find many who fit your needs. Many outside conditions will be topsy-turvy, however, so wait until month's end or March to make a final decision, especially if you will be interacting with this person on a daily basis.

Romantically, we talked earlier about how this month may bring an engagement just in time for Valentine's Day (or even a little bit before the day). February 14 brings the moon to Gemini, an air sign that will help your fire sign element burn even brighter. Gemini is a trendy, current sign, so you might want to try a new restaurant that has been well received by critics to celebrate your love rather than go to a tried and true establishment. Sure! Why not? Live dangerously!

If you have no special someone, you could meet someone through your work this month. Also, with Mars so friendly, aspecting all the planets in your "let's couple up" sector, you should rely on your pals to make match-ups for you. If you have no special date on Valentine's Day and this pulls at your heartstrings, then call a few friends and go out anyway. Lots of people feel that way. Although it may feel as though everyone out your window has a partner, that's not true. Go out, have fun, have a good dinner with wine. Happy people attract other happy people. Just you wait and see!

Most romantic dates: February 1, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, 23, and 28.

Summary:

This would be an ideal month to think about your close romantic relationship and to decide whether you'd like to make it permanent. If you are dating, the answer may be a straightforward one: "Let's get married!" If this is your desire, an engagement could easily happen just after the beneficial solar eclipse on February 6.

Eclipses always speed up our timetable dramatically, making something we assumed would happen months or even years from now happen instantly instead - something like getting engaged! You are a fixed sign, so you tend to like to plan ahead, but this eclipse won't allow much time for that. Rely on your instincts and remain flexible. Most importantly, let your heart speak for you!

If you are already married, you can still find ways to make your present relationship closer, richer, and more tender. It appears you will both choose a much bigger goal to work on together, a goal you will be excited about initiating soon.

If a romantic relationship is not likely, then it appears that you may be contemplating the formation of a business alliance. This is a great time to open talks, and if you work in a creative field, Neptune's presence will help you further. This could be the time to look for the right agent, publicist, or other professional to advance your career, too. Your new partner or expert you meet now would capture your imagination fully. Feelings would be mutual - your partner will be excited about it, too. At long last, you will know for sure that together you will accomplish much more than you ever do alone.

Although there will be subtle (or overt) pressure to make a major promise or decision instantly this month (on whatever subject you will be thinking about), ask for a little time to mull things over. Mercury, the planet ruling information and communication, will be retrograde until February 18. You need to clearly imagine the road ahead, but Mercury will block part of your view. Hang back until you have all the facts, even if you think you have them all now (you don't.)

The month ends on a somber, sobering note. It appears you will need to send out a hefty check to someone you promised to pay a while ago. It may be a check for next semester's college tuition, a down payment for a house, or payback for a loan your best friend gave you.

The lunar eclipse on February 20 will mark a tough day for many people - for Leo the pressure will center on money. There will be finality about this transaction, so perhaps you will feel relieved after things are settled.

Friends will be supportive gems throughout the month, so if you need someone to give you advice, give a call.