My friend and I went out recently and I was reintroduced to the idea of “covers” being charged at bars.
I’ve been sober for more than two years now and have only recently gotten comfortable with going out again…so the idea of having to pay to walk inside somewhere has taken some getting used to.
The first place we went had a $12 cover, which felt especially steep for my small mountain town, but we knew there was a band playing and our friends were already inside, so it made sense to pay the fee to pass go without much of an eye roll.
Once the set ended hours later, we decided to check out another place instead of going straight home. This bar didn’t have any live music, and most of the current patrons were standing around outside in the cold. Based on the bleak prospects, we were shocked when we were told there was a $5 cover.
My friend and I exchanged glances and decided we didn’t want to pay. We made that clear to the bouncer and they, surprisingly, began negotiating with us– saying we could pay $2.50 instead. That made us laugh…because it wasn’t about not having $5, it was that paying anything didn’t seem worth it to us.
We giggled and awkwardly told the truth: that our beds seemed more appealing than what seemed to be happening at the bar at the time. Again, surprisingly, the bouncer threw up their hands in response and said that they didn’t really care, we could just come in for free.
Thanks, Universe!
The month of February is all about Aquarius, and for the next couple decades, that also means it’s all about Pluto.
We’ve talked about Pluto in Aquarius a bit already, but this month is when we’re really starting to feel its grasp take hold. As ever, notice what house Aquarius rules in your birth chart, and you can apply the themes of that house to the following insights.
Because Pluto is currently sitting at 0° of Aquarius, any planet that enters the sign will have to cross through Pluto first.
I picture Pluto like the bouncers I’m growing accustomed to on the weekends. They’re sitting outside your favorite neighborhood watering hole, protecting the entrance, asking that you identify yourself (honestly, hopefully) and pay them for the privilege of accessing the space they’re safeguarding.
It might be annoying to pay this person/show ID, but ultimately they’ve been placed there to protect what you will meet inside, and are a step to ensuring you’ll play by the rules that they’ve created. Like Aquarius, every bar is unique…but they also have standard expectations. And, like Pluto, you don’t access their secrets for free.
Although, as my friend and I learned recently…there is often room for negotiation.
Pluto can absolutely be assuaged with a bargain, but it will make its presence known either way. It’s up to each of us when facing Pluto’s threshold to decide what we’re willing to let go of in the exchange (or what we refuse).
So. The theme of this month is kind of like standing outside a weird bar (or any other weird establishment of your choosing) and not knowing what’s going to happen inside. You have to give something up to access it– and it’s your decision whether the intrigue or novelty of the future is worth the price being asked of you.
Planets crossing Pluto’s threshold in February:
Mercury: Monday, February 5th
Mercury entered Aquarius on Monday, February 5th, and you might’ve noticed a conversation or two going deeper than you expected. If you were looking for the truth in a situation, it might’ve become more clear around this time.
Because Mercury is an especially quick moving planet, it’ll only be in Aquarius through February 22nd…but make no mistake that the impact will be felt. Especially within the first week of this transit (right now!) the conversations we’re having will feel both especially progressive and deep. Pay attention to what’s being said, and maybe more importantly, what isn’t.
Moon: Thursday, February 8th - Friday, February 9th
We have a New Moon in Aquarius tomorrow and while it won’t be conjunct Pluto (within a few degrees) it did have to cross through the gatekeeper as soon as it entered the sign this morning. The Moon is conjunct Pluto in Aquarius right now, so if you’ve been feeling some type of way today…any moodiness is right on time.
If you have a Moon conjunct Pluto signature in your own birth chart, you carry an emotional intensity that few can rival. These two planets connect approximately once per month and mark a brief moment of opportunity for feelings to be purged. Notice what’s coming up for you emotionally today/tomorrow and take any dark feelings as an opportunity to dive deeper. If you don’t have someone you trust nearby to talk it out, this week as a whole is a great time for journaling your deepest secrets.
Mars: Tuesday, February 13th
Mars enters Aquarius on Tuesday (Mars’ day!) February 13th, and it’s teeing us up for a powerful Valentine’s Day. Mars and Pluto are known as “malefic” planets, so when they combine (only once every twoish years) powerful changes can occur. This can be a signature of danger…so extra caution should be paid if dabbling in anything that could escalate negatively. On a positive note, these planets coming together can create insane friction for hot, transformative sex.
It’s amusing to me that I have people coming to clean my gutters on this date– a service that has been rescheduled twice over the past month. The Universe never fails to make cheeky metaphors apparent to me. I expect this transit to feel like actively cleaning out whatever gunk has been hiding in your proverbial gutters.
Scheduled, rescheduled, or completely unexpected…pathways for forging ahead will be cleared around this time. Staying in your truth will mean staying in your power.
Venus: Friday, February 16th
Venus enters Aquarius on Friday (Venus’ day!) February 16th, and will be the last major player to meet up with Pluto this month. I don’t believe in coincidences…so seeing the planets of intimate connection (Mars + Venus) having these meetups with Pluto THE WEEK OF VALENTINE’S DAY means something. It’s an initiation in love– if you’re willing to accept the terms and conditions.
It’s a safe bet that you’ll be confronted with Plutonian themes over the next couple weeks, and maybe, like me, you’re already knowingly in the midst of a few rebirth processes.
You can face the impending changes with fear, clinging to what you know…or you can sit in your truth and watch the dying process with some sick amount of satisfaction– trusting that what’s disappearing wasn’t worthy of accompanying you to where you’re headed next.
The core of this alchemical process is ultimately about truth, and when you stand in yours (like telling a bouncer your bed is more appealing than his lame bar) you’re likely to be surprised by the Universe’s response.
Raw honesty, which is ultimately about vulnerability, even and especially if it comes as a shock, is the name of this game. And you have to be honest with yourself before you can expect it from anyone else.
Wishing you lots of waived entrance fees and, ultimately, a knowingness that your worth is non-negotiable, this February and always.
Through time and space,
Erin River Sunday