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The Sun will enter Pisces II, which Austin Coppock titled The Net, on 28 February at 9:17 am EST. (T. Susan Chang, in her book on the pip cards of the Tarot called 36 Secrets, called the decan Fishes and Wishes in reference to the association with the 9 of Cups. The Sun will be here for ten days and thirty-nine minutes, entering Pisces III the Cup of Blood on 10 March 2026 at 9:56 am EDT (Daylight Saving Time begins in the US on 8 March 2026 and continues until 1 November).
The ancient Greeks gave this decan to a spirit or god or demi-god they named Dolos, whose name means “trickery” or “deception.” In mythology, he was the apprentice to Prometheus, the master creator who shaped humans out of clay and breathed life into them. One day I the workshop, Prometheus made the figure of a goddess, as perfect as any being who had ever been — but he left the workshop before setting the divine spark within her. Dolos made a second figure in the same likeness, almost as perfect as his master’s, but with terrible feet. When Prometheus returned and saw the two figures side by side, he studied them a long time. Then he divided the sacred fire between the two figures, and breathed the divine fire to life inside them both. He named them Truth, and Falsehood.
Which one has the broken feet? The myth doesn’t say.
Pisces II belongs to Jupiter, and the first few degrees of Pisces II are also in the Term of Jupiter. The first few days of Pisces II are about as Jovial as it’s possible for any part of the Zodiac to get — and Jupiter himself is trine, exalted, and in the middle decan of Cancer, the Walled Garden. The Sun is favorably placed and managed to deliver good times and delights under this configuration.
Which isn’t to say that all is well. Mercury is both detrimented and exiled in Pisces — the big-picture systems of belief and the vastnesses of possibility that Pisces invites us to consider, are simply too large for detail-oriented Mercury; this is the part of the Zodiac where they most struggle, and this year they’ll spend February 26 through March 20 retrograde as well — tortuously (and maybe torturously) reviewing and replaying every conversation in an effort to understand either what went wrong recently, or how to fix what went off course.
I’ve also found that this decan is often impacted whenever major events on the Internet affect circumstances in what we laughingly call “the real world.” It’s been obvious to me since about 2006 or so that our online personalities and our offline bodies are actually much more wedded than any of us believe, or we’d like: when someone is a jerk or a troll on the internet, that’s actually part of their real personality — and you should believe in the identity that they show you online, as part and parcel of who they are in physical spaces. It’s a reminder that whacks me regularly upside the head, and we may se it again this year, too — especially as the Sun passes through this decan at a time when more people are cooped up inside and glued to their phones than usual.
The dodeks or twelfth-parts of Pisces II are Cancer, Leo, Virgo, and Libra — paralleling the excitement and nervousness of a performer about to go onstage for the most important gig of their lives. First comes the nervousness and internal liquidity of Cancer, as they bounce around backstage in an unfamiliar greenroom at an obscure club or a stadium of 50,000 cheering fans. Then comes the actual performance, in which the performer is a lion in the ‘cage of the stage,’ swishing back and forth, simultaneously protected and besieged. Then comes the comedown afterward, the review of the performance and the cautious analysis of what went right and wrong. Finally comes the messiness of market forces, as the performer counts the money they took in from t-shirt and CD sales and their percentage of ticket sales — trying to figure out if they broke even.
I’ve written about Pisces II before, in 2020 – 2021 – 2022 – 2023 – 2024 – 2025.
Lunar Eclipse, 3 March 2026
At 6:33 am EST on 3 March 2026, the Earth will eclipse the Moon, spreading a shadow over the face of our nearest celestial neighbor. Ancient peoples watched eclipses with a mixture of awe and horror, and the historical literature warns that lunar eclipses herald disasters to nations and cities … although the same texts don’t say much about our personal cataclysms or catastrophes when eclipses occur.
The eclipse is visible in North and South America, parts of Asia, and Australia. The shadow will first appear on the Moon at 3:45 am; totality will last from about 6:33 am until 7:02 am; and the final shadow will depart the Moon at 9:33 am (all times in EST). This amounts to three hours and 17 minutes, indicating that the effects of the eclipse on the Pacific region’s affairs should last approximately three months and nine days, until 12 May 2026. The Moon’s shadowing occurs at 12°-13° Virgo, promising a similar shadowing of themes of Virgo placements in personal charts during the next three months.
As this is a South Node eclipse, be on the lookout for effects and results signaling LESS of those themes, as well as themes of loss, completions, conclusions and endings. Eclipses in mutable signs like Virgo usually also carry themes of gradual change or of a ‘bumpy road’ of highs and lows during a period of transition; don’t expect the eclipse’s themes to manifest in an all-at-once way, but as a more gradual three-month curvature. Earth sign eclipses also usually indicate financial issues and disruptions in business and agriculture, as well as difficulties for government as a whole.
Because this is a Lunar eclipse rather than a Solar one, the effects may be relatively mild: a slow decline rather than a sudden and dramatic drop off a cliff-face, is more likely.
Dates to Watch
Usually I try to write this section in chronological order, but there’s a lot going on semi-simultaneously. In addition, Mercury retrograde may cause additional effects in your life — read the paragraphs below on the Second House and Fifth House
- The Saturn-Neptune conjunction discussed in the last column doesn’t truly separate until March 4. Until then you can use the poem I wrote for the occasion — and consider the trajectory you think the world is going to be on for the next thirty-six years or so.
- Mercury conjuncts Venus — February 28, 2026 at 12:34 am EST — though Mercury is retrograde, detrimented and exiled, Venus is direct, exalted and a triplicity ruler in Pisces. The result is a powerful mix of creative and loving energy drawing out a secret, inhibited or disadvantaged message. The information may come out as poetry, or as a more-concrete form of artwork which communicates a clear message despite being wordless. While usually Mercury is the more dominant partner in this aspect, here it’s Venus who takes the lead.
- Venus trines Uranus on March 4 — This combination promises a delightful change of routine, or at least the desire to do so. Make a point of getting out of the house and going where the road takes you. At the least, take the long way around to and from your workplace, and stop for an unusual treat somewhere.
- The Sun trines Jupiter on March 5 — A number of historical astrologers categorize this as one of the most favorable (and favorite) aspects – bringing hope, delight and enthusiasm. It’s a day for making peace and harmonizing with others for good and rational reasons. Find joy in stretching your mind to accept new ideas.
- Venus conjuncts Neptune on March 6 and then is Besieged between Neptune and Saturn on March 7, before conjuncting Saturn on March 8. This is the kind of triad of days that presents an exalted vision of how things ought to be, followed immediately by a sense of “yesterday’s ideas will never work, I was a fool to think they could ever be accomplished.” The third day brings on a different sense, though, that of, “I may be a fool, but these are still important ideas and they need to be tested and brought to fruition anyway.” Be prepared to buckle down and work to achieve any insights that emerge in these three days.
- Mercury trines Jupiter on March 8 — bringing good luck (despite their retrograde, exile, and detriment) to efforts to build effective organizational systems. You may find yourself tending toward big picture ideals and grand visions… but under this transit, you may also find yourself filling in enough detail to actually make something happen. Remember that many of the best ideas coordinate with others’ labor: invite your friends and allies to play “yes, and…” to build upon your foundations — but accept that excruciating detail is not unworthy of your notice.
House Delineations
The First House of self and self-presentation is Taurus, ruled by sextile and exalted Venus in Pisces. The other two Earth Triplicity rulers, Mars and the Moon, are square. Uranus is present. Your physical body is likely to feel solid and very much under your control — but you may be aware of upsetting internal or mental changes impressions that neither medical consultation or medication may be able to address. Don’t go hypochondriac, but do take some notes about what conditions appear when.
The Second House of money and possessions is Gemini, ruled by squaring but detrimented, exiled, and retrograde Mercury. The other two Air Triplicity rulers are either sextile but exiled (Saturn) or exalted but retrograde and inconjunct (Jupiter) The Lunar Perigee is present. Financial matters may be somewhat bifurcated, as you try to maintain your usual fiscal discipline, while also attempting to support and aid friends who are falling behind or lagging in their current needs. You may not be able to do both, easily — pay attention to your ongoing obligations, but consider breaking some norms for the sake of one-time gifts of cash where you can. Avoid taking on new ongoing debts such as a subscription service. Mercury’s rulership of this sign may bring disruptions to financial matters like mislaid or delayed bills or payments.
The Third House of extended family and intimate friends is Cancer, ruled by the inconjunct Moon. The other two Water Triplicity rulers are trine and exalted (Venus) or inconjunct (Mars). Jupiter is present, where he’s exalted but retrograde. Meeting with with close friends in hidden or out of the way places, for the secret and difficult but emotionally enriching conversations is always a valuable and lovely experience — doing magic for those same friends is just as important, and more likely to bring contentment and joy. The loving creative experience to connect in some third spot is more likely to be rewarding than the calling-out of bad behaviors in the workplace… or inviting anyone into your home.
The Fourth House of home, household, and parents is Leo, ruled by the inconjunct Sun. The Moon is present. The Fire Triplicity rulers are inconjunct (Jupiter, Sun) or trine but exiled (Saturn). Home and family has a good chance to be a nurturing and loving place, but it’s not a good place to invite friends right now. Go out to lunch or dinner, meet for drinks at a trendy new bar, or check out a gallery; let home be the place for the family (blood or chosen) to highlight and delight in one another’s achievements.
The Fifth House of pleasures and pastimes is Virgo, ruled by the opposing, retrograde, detrimented and exiled Mercury. The Earth triplicity rulers are either inconjunct (Mars, Moon) or opposed and exalted (Venus). The South Node is present. Despite the notes in the Third, Fourth, and Eleventh houses about meeting friends elsewhere, there’s more need for you to be a troubleshooter and “clearer of bad vibes” than someone who delights in their hobbies and pastimes. In the gym, keep detailed records; in the art studio, do more critique of your past labors than invention of new work; in restaurants, study your food before you eat it. Mercury’s rulership of this sign may bring temporary setbacks or difficulties in the pursuit of your hobbies, or show up as difficulties in your children’s lives (particularly as conflict or friction between them and their friends)
The Sixth House of daily routines, pets, and injuries is Libra, ruled by exalted but inconjunct Venus. The Air Triplicity rulers are opposed (Saturn), inconjunct (Mercury) or square but exalted (Jupiter). You’ll need to balance your daily life carefully these next ten days, and put forward a routine mix of short-term activities with friends and colleagues; and time alone to set long-term objectives and perform the work that helps you achieve them. Don’t fritter away your hours doing only the quotidian labor; put some weight onto the long term goals.
The Seventh House of spouse, peer partners, and rivals is Scorpio, ruled by squaring Mars. The Water Triplicity rulers are trine and exalted (Venus) or square (Moon, Mars). Secrets and powerful (but sometimes suppressed) desires may influence your primary relationship right now — whether that’s with a spouse, a significant other, a co-worker, or a rival. The relationship between your work and career, and your emotional connection to these others, may be temporarily sour or toxic — be cautious of letting wealth be the only metric for success in these important kinship ties.
The Eighth House of obligation, duty and legacy is Sagittarius, ruled by inconjunct and retrograde but exalted Jupiter. The Fire Triplicity rulers are either square (Sun) or trine but exiled (Saturn). The Lunar Apogee is present. Obligations, debts, duties and norms may seem heavier than usual; you may be philosophically tempted by arguments to engage in non-payment of taxes to protest current circumstances, or to refuse to pay certain bills. You can do that — but those kinds of institutional systems tend to be unforgiving. Will you need the services they turn off?
The Ninth House of higher learning and long-distance travel is Capricorn, ruled by squaring and exiled Saturn. The Earth Triplicity rulers are either inconjunct (Mars, Moon) or sextile and exalted (Venus). It’s easy to announce travel plans, or exciting new research you intend to pursue, or that certification you’ve decided to get. It’s another thing to actually make plans to do those things: to schedule the classes, put the exam date on your calendar and pay for the seat; or to buy the plane ticket and rent the car and reserve the hotel room. You’ve got the rough outline — everyone’s waiting to hear how it went — now buy in.
The Tenth House of career and professional reputation is Aquarius, ruled by sextile but exiled Saturn. The Air Triplicity rulers are sextile but exiled (Saturn), opposed and retrograde but exalted (Jupiter) or inconjunct (Mercury). Pluto and Mars are present. It’s difficult to advance personal career goals in the face of overwhelming plans to make more money than god and force the competition to their knees. The executive suite and senior supervisors and managers are likely to demand more cutthroat tactics than usual, and consequently will critique both the soft-sell and any plans to rein in the worst hard-sell tactics. Be cautious about believing the hype, or accepting unjustified complaints for the sake of getting along.
The Eleventh House of friends, associates, and allies is Pisces, ruled by trining and exalted but retrograde Jupiter. The Water Triplicity rulers are either inconjunct (Mars, Moon) or present and exalted (Venus). The Sun, Mercury, and The North Node are present. MORE time with friends, more coffee dates, more conferences and conversations, more give and more take, more agreements to work together, more awkward invitations to first dates, more attempts to socialize with neighbors — make a point of reaching out to others, and reconnecting with people you’ve disconnected from, and returning phone calls. Be available, be around, be willing to connect.
The Twelfth House of both obstacles and opportunities is Aries, ruled by sextile Mars. The Fire Triplicity rulers are present but exiled (Saturn), inconjunct (Sun) or square and retrograde but exalted (Jupiter). Neptune is also present. Big plans and exciting new identities may be helping you reach out for new heights and new highs… but you may find yourself grounded by dull and ordinary realities and chores that keep you solidly mired on the floor. Grubby undertows prevent you from soaring; heightened visions want you to strive for grand new possibilities. Recognize that, for now, you have to do both: enlightenment comes only after ordinary life; ordinary life always comes after enlightenment. The kitchen floor exists because you scrub it — but the luminous shine of your life arises because it was properly scrubbed.
Horoscopes
Decan I of any sign (usually covering the 21st of the month to the first of the following month) is free to all visitors; Decan II is only available to Patreon and Ko-Fi.com subscribers; and Decan III is available to Patreon, Ko-Fi, and MailChimp subscribers.
I recommend reading your Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign for best results. I write them with rising sign in mind, but several people have told me they find that they do better with all three.
Taurus: You may find that your personal identity and self-image stands in some contrast with how your colleagues, acquaintances and friends see you — and that people may express their ideas about you in ways that catch you off guard. Your professional attitude may be critiqued as inappropriate, and you may be let go from your employer — but you may also find that you’re asked to do work that’s incompatible with your sense of justice, or honor. Long-term plans deserve your attention, but don’t be dismayed by how hard the road ahead looks at first; find comfort and allyship among your close friends, and in the emotional embrace of home: people love you and will look out for your needs when you ask.
Gemini: A rules-based order will help keep your financial and personal property in the right places — but friends in need may awkwardly request your assistance and for exceptions to your rules. You’ll feel the pull of love and respect, and your current situation may allow you to break your norms temporarily. Yet you should avoid new subscriptions or ongoing payments. Generosity shouldn’t be broadcast to the world, either — let your charity be private and nuanced, rather than general and public. Travel plans may be disrupted; a class or training program may turn out not to be the right fit for you.
Cancer: Connect with friends this week, but don’t be in a rush to claim the bill after your night out on the town together. There’s magic to be made in the overflowing cups, and in the sharing of confidences and the building of community. But just because your fortunes are growing doesn’t mean you should be profligate. At the same time, don’t force your activities to go on someone else’s tab. Let the costs of adventure be shared organically rather than parsimoniously. Professional work may slow to a crawl as long-term visions take priority over short-term needs. Communicate regularly about updates to your travel plans, or you may miss out on critical details.
Leo: A soft and nostalgic spotlight may shine over your house and home this week, even as you find yourself bogged down in someone else’s passion project not turning out the way they want it to be. You may find that it’s time to start tying off loose ends, and working toward detachment from certain professional roles. THat’s not to say that you’re going to be done handling all debts and obligations; you can expect that there will be ongoing communication and a fair bit of fancy footwork needed to complete the “punch list.” Travel may be your next goal, but don’t be in a rush to speed out the door: pack slowly and sincerely, or you may find that you’ve lost important gear forever.
Virgo: Your hobbies and personal delights shouldn’t be subject to this much criticism and grievance, nor your children (if you have them) be the target of so many gripes and disapproval. Yet it may seem that you’ve been targeted, even if it’s not so. While an inward reflection may feel like the right response, a more outward commitment (or re-commitment) to completing jobs, finishing projects, and clearing prior obligations is likely to bring greater success. Some of the tasks may be harder than you thought they’d be — others may open doors to possibilities you long thought impossible or unlikely. Do the work that earns money, first; but make the labor that prevents argument a strong second-place priority.
Libra: Day-to-day planning is unlikely to seem sexy or exciting, but you may find that there are a number of analyst and technical people that are happy to be tasked to creative efforts under your direction and enlightened guidance. It’s less likely to be enjoyable in peer-to-peer relationships, where you’re likely to hear “no” or “that won’t work” more often than “I love your vision and here’s how we can improve on it” — the times favor directing subordinates more than negotiating with equals… and that means praying for patience, immediately. In hobbyist spaces or with your children in their environments, your public comments may earn some unpleasant feedback —not everyone will appreciate your appraisals of their efforts, and there may be backlash: do your best to start and end your remarks with appreciation this week.
Scorpio: Partnership, and the ways that they can be either beautifully transformative or ugly and explosive, may be an important theme of this coming week — and the issue set boiling in your alchemy lab may be money, and how it’s shared and used for the benefit of your household and family. The temptation will be to take a knife to the ties that bind, but it’s important to remember that when a cable under high tension is cut, the resulting release of tension can boomerang back on the cutter; the recoil often unspins the line of many threads at once, as one severed and visible connection becomes many dozens of unseen and fragile connections. Before wielding the blade, offer some slack and relieve the tension.
Sagittarius: Unseen obligations and hidden duties don’t just vanish when you decide to stop doing them, and hidden or forgotten expectations may leap from their hiding places unexpectedly this week. Find contentment and joy in completing what was left undone, even if they usurp your original plans. Financial issues are more easily resolved this week, but private conversations may require developing some damage control formulas. Find and communicate some creative solutions to household difficulties. Put some of your pastime projects on the back burner, too — but keep them simmering.
Capricorn: You’ll be living and learning in the open this week, as you help a spouse, significant other, or business partner overcome some old but no-longer-useful patterns. Expect your own emotional life to get the better of you from time to time, and expect that your usual schedule of after-work routines may be a bit out of whack as unplanned issues force their way into your schedule. Let home be a place of delightful new visions and down-to-earth practical management; there’s likely to be both planned and unplanned expenses that create hardship and may force you to call in air support from friends and allies.
Aquarius: Professional matters should occupy a great deal of attention this week, as orders “from the top” signal specific disparagement of your previous labors, or come across as sweeping broadsides not specifically aimed at you but slamming your endeavors along with everyone else. It would be good to check in with friends and colleagues to get a sense of how these criticisms are meant to land: as a genuine attack, or as a feint designed to achieve some other purpose like holding back a well-deserved pay raise or similar issues. At the same time, be circumspect about revealing too much to outsiders, or mouthing off about your long-term goals. It’s not really time to seek new options, yet, but updating necessary job search documents and building a portfolio of protective information might not be such a bad idea. Check in with a housemate to help gauge the emotional tenor of your current circumstances..
Pisces: Friendship isn’t just a reward for good behavior, but a valid and necessary aspect of human experience, and you’re allowed to have connections with people outside your immediate family circle. Take note of which of these connections feed and grow you, which ones provide satisfactions beyond immediate financial or social benefit — and which ones exhaust your reserves instead of feeding them. Remember that you are neither a vampire, nor a thrall in service to one; friendships ought to be an interplay of give and take, feeding and being fed. If all your extra energy and time goes into providing for others, it may be time to re-evaluate. Find delight in completing a secret project that serves your own fulfillment.
Aries: A long-term friction has begun between your visionary taste, and the facts on the ground of what you can sustain and maintain: what you want to achieve, and what you can currently do, are going to be at odds with one another for a while. Remember that sometimes steady progress toward a desired goal is better than achieving it all at once and not being able to maintain it; there’s more than a few one-hit wonders on the Top 40 music lists, and more than a few pro sports players who only got to play one game. Start thinking about sustainability and a careerist model, rather than being a flash in the pan. This requires developing a larger and more creative model of your future: the next ten days are great for commanding and structuring your creative gifts to reveal the magic words and phrases, and numerical data, that will support such a goal.
Colophon
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If you want to read some of my astrologically-oriented poetry, the largest collection is called A Full Volume of Splendor and Starlight, available through my Etsy shop, and containing poems and hymns to the planets, constellations, decan deities, and Moon Mansion angels. While not astrological, Festae contains hymns to some of the older Roman gods and spirits from the calendar created by Numa Pompilius, the second ancient King of Rome.
I use iPhemeris for my charting software, and screenshot it to make charts. I want to thank the team that develops iPhemeris for the addition of Terms and Decans to their charts. I also use Hugh Tran‘s Physis typeface to craft logos for this blog, as well.
I use Christopher Warnock‘s The Mansions of the Moon as the basis of my Moon placement delineations, and Austin Coppock‘s 36 Faces for much of my planetary delineations. Neither gentleman endorses me.
