Although you are a gregarious person and love to be at parties and other gatherings, during the first three weeks of February you will have reason to block out the world and work quietly alone. Do so and you'll be highly productive and have much to be proud of later.

A highly potent, friendly solar (new moon) eclipse will arrive on February 6 that will open paths for you. Your creativity will reach new heights, and your strategic thinking will be on target. The caveat is that you must take time alone to muse about things, for the 12th house, so lit up now, is ultimately the house where your best work is done in solitude.

Ideas will rise from the depths of your subconscious. This month, while you work on your artistic efforts, you may feel as though you are channeling them from somewhere ethereal - possibly heaven! A dream you have this month may spark a new direction, or give you a clue about a mystery you've long tried to solve. You will attack projects in a very inspired way, and if you have to rally others around you, you'd be able to do so easily. Just make sure you distance yourself from people who waste your time and who distract you. You won't want those types around now, so work at home if you have to!

There is some indication that you may feel a need to rest more this month. Most people partied in December, but not Pisces. You had a very full plate of career and family responsibilities at that time, so there was not much rest for the weary. If by February you find that you are dragging your little feathers, take time to take better care of yourself. By next month, the pace will increase, and there won't be much chance to relax.

If you need to have a medical or dental procedure it would be a good month to do so. The 12th house, where much planetary emphasis is being focused for you, is the part of the chart that rules confinement to heal one's body or soul. That's why surgery or procedures would be successful.

Let's talk about that a little deeper. If you would like to give up a habit that you know isn't good for you, this would be the ideal month to take those first steps. It could be something small, like giving up too much sugar or stopping emotional eating. Or it could be something more serious, like giving up cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol. Others have succeeded at kicking those kinds of habits, and this month you can, too. If you are contemplating going into rehab, do so on the eclipse, February 6, your ultimate cosmic helper.

Your friends will be a blessing to you all month. Since a special beam between innovative Uranus and fortunate Jupiter will activate your 11th house, your friends will give you the strength you need to see results.

You may also find comfort and sound advice from a support group now, such as AA or Weight Watchers, depending on your needs. Thanks to the superb beam from Mars and all that 11th house activity I just mentioned, you can count on a group to be there to catch you in weak moments. Your family will be there for you as well. With such a wide circle of people around you who love you and who want the best for you, it looks like there's no mountain too high for you to climb and conquer.

There seems to be something important about what you are doing now. Save this thought, and later in the year look back to what you were doing in February 2008.

If you work in a creative field as most Pisces do, I suspect this month will mark the appearance of a new interest or direction, and be one you'll want to embellish in the future. Your subconscious will be a well that will continue to refill - you can ask a lot of yourself now!

The creative process fascinates me, and here's an interesting theory I found to share with you. Social scientists say that creative breakthroughs occur in 90-minute cycles. When you first sit down to begin working on your idea, you won't know exactly where in the cycle you are entering, so it is important that you keep concentrating for at least 90 minutes. If you do, you should be surprised and pleased with results. Try this and see!

This month, your guardian planet, Neptune (creativity) will work well with Mars (action) and be in mutual reception with Uranus (innovation). Honestly, you have everything working for you! You must plan to joyfully experiment with your craft this month!

There will be other implications and possible benefits from the friendly solar eclipse in Aquarius due on February 6. You may be privy to certain confidential meetings that will lead you to bigger opportunities. You seem to have to be mum about those, and rightly so - nothing is "cooked" just yet but will be by month's end or in March. Keep polishing your plan by routing out any flaws, challenging your assumptions, and by making sure all parts of the project stay on schedule.

February will be problematic for launching new ventures for several reasons. You have two major eclipses in February, and those always kick up dust by delivering sudden news. Eclipses have a way of changing priorities and providing a new slant on things that require adjustment.

Also Mercury will be retrograde from the start of the month though February 17. Mercury is the planet of communication, commerce, negotiation, contracts, and shipping. Alas, when Mercury retrogrades, these areas have a way of going haywire. It is never wise to sign papers with Mercury retrograde either.

One talented Pisces clothing designer called today to ask, "When should I ask my production people to deliver my final spring line? I don't want problems!" I suggested she do so on March 7 or the days that followed it, but she said her retailers needed shipments a little earlier. We settled on February 29. I feel it was vital for her to stay away from the whole Mercury retrograde period and also to leave space around the eclipses. She was happy with the final delivery date of February 29 that I came up with, and I am, too.

This time Mercury will retrograde in Aquarius, so guard against possible computer problems that could be prone to come up now. Back up your computer tonight and avoid installing new unfamiliar software if you don't need to do so. Electronics, appliances, machines, or your car may now show signs of wear. One or two may need to go to a repair shop, and I am so sorry to have to tell you that.

If you have an electronic item like an iPod or cell phone that you couldn't live without, tape your business card on the back in case you lose it. Mercury retrograde makes us a little forgetful, so take extra time to collect your things and take an extra glance on the seat of the airplane or taxi before you depart.

Alternatively, you may have a frustrating experience with your cable or Internet service. I noticed weird experiences with my cell phone this week - suddenly it would stop ringing but show that there were seven voice mail messages waiting for me. Things like this happen when Mercury retrogrades (or even gets close to the unset date), but tend to happen even MORE frequently when Aquarius is involved, as it is now.

The month's second eclipse, due February 20, may mark an emotional point with a partner. If you feel your relationship has been shaky to begin with, this point in the month may give you the final push to leave. It is also possible that instead a side to your partner will be revealed that you find very troubling. A full moon lunar eclipse can be jarring - keep your schedule light so that you can attend to whatever comes up.

If you feel your relationship is strong, you can ride out any storm that surfaces, but only if you both are equally committed to the relationship and want to see a positive outcome.

The reason I am not quite as optimistic as I usually am is that Saturn will orbit close to this eclipse, giving it a weighty, heavy, and possibly even depressing overtone. With Saturn so prominent, you will need to be rational, objective, and completely unemotional at this time. Of course, that's easier said than done.

This eclipse will not allow any room for flights of fancy. If you have had unrealistic expectations for the relationship, you will see the reason you will have to drop them now. It may mark quite a difficult moment. As a Pisces, you are not a skeptical soul. You tend to take people at face value, accepting what others profess to be true until you have reason to suspect otherwise. This time, however, you may see troubling signs that someone has not been completely candid with you. The sin of omission is sometimes the very worst because it forever stunts a relationship's growth by keeping the other partner at arm's length.

If a romantic partnership seems solid, it may be that a business partner, spouse, agent, representative, or one-on-one expert you work with (such as an accountant, lawyer, or bookkeeper) concerns you. You may reluctantly see that this person is incompetent and that you need to make other arrangements. It appears the person who lets you down would be a woman or if more than one person concerns you, the problem is traced back to a woman.

No matter what message the full moon lunar eclipse delivers on February 20, once the eclipse delivers its message, you will instantly know what you need to do. You will break off the relationship if you become upset enough. Nothing will be predetermined - you can choose what you want to do.

Keep your health very strong this month, as an eclipse opposite your Sun can be very draining and could wear you down rapidly. It is also known that an eclipse may reveal a health issue, especially if no relationship situations in your life are weak. If you do see that something is wrong, seek a specialist's advice immediately. You have the right emphasis in your chart to give you reason to hope for a cure.

If you have any chronic health issues, such as a fluttery stomach or a cranky ankle that keeps acting up, try to take extra good care of yourself now. Sometimes chronic illnesses flair up near a full moon eclipse and can bring on a bit of stress.

Admittedly, the time around February 20 and near February 24 when Saturn opposes the Sun (nobody's favorite day) will be days that you will need to watch. It's a very tough time of the month, and everyone it seems will be demanding something more from you. Emotionally you may feel overwrought.

Most eclipses bring their messages very close to the date of the eclipse, but others deliver their news one month to the day later or even a month to the day earlier. Astrologers look at bell curves, and in this case, we need a 30-day tolerance.

Look back to January 20 plus or minus four days for a major event, or, if you see nothing, look forward one month to March 20 plus or minus four days to see what happens. Most eclipses will deliver their biggest news on or very close to the day.

If you are born on February 20, plus or minus four days, the eclipse on this date will have special meaning to you. The universe wants you to use your time on Earth well and will quickly pull you out of unproductive relationships that appear to have no future.

In a romantic situation, if you are not loved in equal measure, what good is the relationship? Although sometimes leaving a relationship can be terribly painful, ultimately it can work for good, for you would free yourself to find someone better.

All month there will be a strong emphasis on home and family. For the first time in months, you can make impressive progress on a home decorating or refurbishing project. If you need to move, look at options this month. Mars has been retrograde since November 15, but is moving at strong, swift speed now, a good sign of impending progress in domestic and family matters. With Mercury retrograde, you should not sign a lease, nor buy new furniture quite yet - browse, but make choices either at February's very end, or in March.

Romantically, Valentine's Day may arrive for you two weeks early. If you are invited to an event on February 1, it will be a "must" to attend. With Venus due to conjoin fortunate Jupiter, you will enjoy pampering luxury while surrounded by many dear friends. Among them will be a number of influential people, one of whom will offer to help you, either immediately this month or later. If you have a sweetheart, the two of you will have a memorable, romantic time together at this fete, so go and have fun.

February 1 would also be a perfect day to take a quick trip to a nearby locale together, perhaps to enjoy a day in the country and an evening in a feather bed in a charming country inn. Venus rules your 8th house, so you can expect a warm and sexy weekend, too!

February 6 will be another sensational day for socializing. With Uranus winking at Venus, the evening would bring all the right surprises. Single and unattached Pisces should put a star on this day, for the possibility of meeting someone new is strong.

Valentine's Day should be nice, but in truth I feel you'll like the memories you spin with your sweetheart in March and April more! And if you are one of the Pisces who can't seem to meet anyone special, just you wait and see what is to come! Next month will be a big improvement in your love life. You have every reason to be excited about the future!

Summary

This will be a strategic month, where you can quietly observe and meditate about the direction you'd like your life to go next. You've recently experienced some excellent opportunities in your career, and you may need to now withdraw and think about how you'd best like to handle developments that have surfaced.

Your subconscious mind will be unusually active and a wellspring of creative ideas. For best results, withdraw and work in solitude on artistic projects and for creative brainstorming. If you do, your efforts will pay off handsomely. In fact, you may look back months from now and point to February as the month a new creative direction emerged, one that was to bring you pleasure and critical acclaim.

If you know you are discussed behind closed doors, say, because you have been interviewing for a big position or because you have made an important sales pitch to an important client, you won't hear the outcome of those meetings until after February 19. Don't exert pressure to find out what's happening - all be revealed in good time, no sooner. Actually, delays benefit you now, so you wouldn't want to know any sooner!

In the meantime, you can follow your own agenda, and muse about plans you are holding dear and close to your vest. Mercury now in retrograde will also give you time to deliberate about recent events, without the pressure of having to decide about anything just yet. Mercury will go direct on February 17, but allow the space of an extra week before you make key commitments or announcements. The very end of February or March would be the right time.

The biggest event this month will be the lunar eclipse in your opposite sign of Virgo on February 20. It looks like a partner will concern you at this time. Eclipses always reveal certain truths and when they do, require an adjustment. This eclipse may leave you a bit rattled or overwrought. You will know what to do - your instinct will tell you immediately - but the whole episode can be quite disillusioning. The person in question may be a romantic partner or a business collaborator. Either way, this person seems to concern you deeply at month's end and you may sever the relationship forever. If your birthday falls on February 20 or close to this day, you will feel the effects of this eclipse more directly than other Pisces.

Be comforted in knowing there is no destined outcome - the final decision of what to do will be up to you. If this person is important to you and you want to remain together, you will need to have a serious talk and find ways to fix things. If you leave, it will be a final break - you won't go back. Better days await you, dear Pisces.

Your friends will be very supportive this month, willing to help you in dozens of ways. Need to talk and get advice or tips? Call a friend. At times, your friends' devotion to you may take your breath away. Your family - particularly your parents - will be on your side too, so you really are fortunate to be surrounded with so many loving people.

If you want to make major alterations to your house or apartment, Mars, now strong in Gemini, will help you find beautiful solutions. Mercury will be retrograde, so do research, browse, and ask for written estimates, but don't sign papers this month and don't make major purchases either, not until the last few days of February. By then Mercury will have regulated its orbit and the eclipses will have passed. You will have until March 5 to complete your actions, because after that Mars will move on and your attention will be directed elsewhere.

February would also be a divine month for inviting friends over - everyone will marvel at your entertaining skills. If you are in love, and you stay in love (despite the testing eclipse of February 20), consider whipping up a special candlelit dinner at home for your sweetheart. Your place is where you'll feel happiest and coziest in February.