Chodesh Shevat 5785: You’ve Got To Serve Somebody
CHODESH SHEVAT 5785
(January 30 - February 27, 2025)
It’s Aquarius Season again, with Rosh Chodesh Shevat beginning the evening of January 29. Shevat is the mazal of the D’li, the water bucket. The Bnai Yissachar tells us that as the bucket is the servant of the water, so Israel is the servant of the Torah.
The bucket and Israel are both kelim – vessels. Vessels are made to hold, to carry, and to serve. The D’li of Chodesh Shevat is pouring water (a symbol of Torah), and Israel must serve Torah in the same way. As kelim, from which we serve Torah to the world.
Envision yourself as part of the waitstaff at a gigantic banquet. You’re carrying a large pitcher, and everywhere you go, you ask the guests:
Can I supersize that Torah for you?
Can I top off that Torah for you?
One way or the other: You’ve got to serve somebody. During Aquarius Season, we focus on what’s being served, and how we’re serving it!
The astronomical New Moon at 9 degrees Aquarius comes mid-afternoon, Israel time, on Wednesday, January 29, and Rosh Chodesh Shevat begins at sunset. Mercury is conjunct Pluto in Aquarius, Uranus stations Direct in Taurus, and the Aquarian Sun trines Jupiter in Gemini.
Let’s not forget that although the D’li is the water bucket, Aquarius is the Fixed Air Sign. Air is intellect, thought, ideas and ideals. With the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Pluto kicking off Chodesh Shevat, the Fixed Air energy is intense. Aquarius is revolutionary and wants to change things for the better.
Asher is the Tribal Leader of Chodesh Shevat, the perfect example of a vessel for G*d’s shefa (bounty); tremendous harvests of delicious fruits and grain, which he shared with the other Tribes throughout the land, his brethren. Asher had so much bounty people from other lands came to buy from him. The daughters of Asher were the favorite picks for the wives of the Kohen Gadol throughout the generations. Serach Bat Asher epitomized wisdom and kindness in her approach to breaking wonderful but potentially traumatic news to her grandfather Yacov.
Remember and meditate upon these positive attributes of Aquarius this month: revolutionary change for the better for the good of the people. Bounty and generosity. Wisdom and kindness and people skills.
Venus conjuncts Neptune in Pisces on Shabbos Parshat Bo, and the North Lunar Node follows a few days later. Extreme sensitivity and feelings of vulnerability abound. Be extremely gentle with yourself and stay away from toxic, stressful situations. Don’t expose your nervous system to media bombardment. If you can feed your soul Her actual soul food during this time, all the better. Take a bath, take a swim, cultivate quiet and give thanks for the miracle of your own breath.
Venus enters Aries and Jupiter stations Direct in Gemini on February 4. Retrograde Mars in Cancer squares Chiron in Aries. Ouch! Did someone’s feelings get hurt? The sharp prickly parts are sticking out and its your job to keep yourself from getting stabbed.
The Waxing Half Moon in the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus on Wednesday February 5, squares the Sun in Fixed Air Aquarius. It’s a STUBBORN angle! Aquarius and Taurus have been battling it out for the last several years in their big Saturn/Uranus squares, and the result has been the Revolutionary Conservatism (Saturn in Aquarius) vs. the Radical Establishment (Uranus in Taurus). We’re hearing echos of more of the same. But never fear – both Saturn and Uranus are on their way out of their square in just a few short months.
Friday night Shabbos Beshelach, Venus will reach her highest point in the sky this year in the evening. Venus is sextile Pluto in Aquarius. Saturday 10 Shevat the Aquarius Sun is sextile to Aries. We may feel like we’re learning how to ride the wave.
The Sun conjuncts Mercury on Sunday, February 9. Retrograde Mars in Cancer trines Saturn in Pisces. The tender Cancerian Moon is seen near Mars all evening. Things start to pick up steam. Emotional energy is driving that train!
February 10-11 Mercury and the Sun in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus. Another hit on the Aquarius/Taurus square as mentioned above!
The Full Moon at 24 Leo – Tu B’Shevat – occurs Wednesday, February 12. It’s the Full Moon holiday directly across the Jewish Year from Tu b’Av, sometimes (historically erroneously) called “The Jewish Valentine’s Day”. Just in time for romantic sentimentality, Mercury enters Pisces on Friday, February 14, “Valentine's Day”. When the calendars conspire like that, who are we to argue? There’s nothing hotter than the Full Moon in Leo and there’s nothing more fluid and flowing than Pisces – let it flow, my friends.
The Sun enters sensitive Pisces on Tuesday, February 18, the 20th of Shevat. Those born between the Sun entering Pisces but before Rosh Chodesh Adar are Shevat Pisces people. Because as I’m always saying: there are 36 Celestial Combinations when you overlay the Hebrew and Solar calendars. Much more on that when my book comes out, G*d willing!
The Last Quarter Moon of Chodesh Shevat comes Thursday/Friday, February 20/21, at 2 Sagittarius, with Mercury in Pisces squaring Jupiter in Gemini. Extreme danger of communication misunderstandings, mixed messages, and general confusion. Stay focused on where you’re aiming that Sagittarius arrow of truth, and make sure what you think is true actually is! Deception and perception distortion is at an all-time high.
Mercury trines retrograde Mars in Cancer on February 25. If misunderstanding aren’t resolved, conflict ensues. Avoid if possible!
Mars goes Direct in Cancer on Monday February 28, the 26 of Shevat. With the Moon in Capricorn, there’s no messing around! Mars has been Retrograde since early December, and now he begins his journey back through the latter degrees of Cancer towards his original Retrograde point of of 6 Leo on Shabbos Shemini, Yesod Sh’b’Gevurah in this year’s Sefirot HaOmer count.
The whole Retrograde Mars period which began in December 2024 on Shabbos Vayeitzi and essentially comes around to the original point of Shabbos Shemini is a lesson. In Vayeitzi the family of Jacob is inaugurated; in Shemini the Mishkan (Tabernacle) is inaugurated. In Vayeitzi Jacob endured hardship for the sake of his family and his future, in Shemini Aharon the Kohen Gadol endured heartache for the sake of the future of his people. This retrograde period began with Mars and Leo (protecting the world), back into Mars in Cancer (protecting one’s family), and back again. There’s hardship and heartache and tests of endurance. We’ve been through the wringer!
It’s time to speak some sober truths amid chaos on February 25 when Mercury conjuncts Saturn in Pisces. Then it’s time to make unique magic when Mercury sextiles Uranus on Thursday, February 27, Erev Rosh Chodesh Adar. Dreams come true when we manifest our intentions into concrete reality, but first, we must dream it.
As Chodesh Shevat flows into Chodesh Adar, we return to ask ourselves: What did we serve, and how did we serve it during Aquarius Season? May the water of the D’li you’ve been during this time of renewal and resurrection continue to refresh your soul and to nourish those around you!
