Your horoscope for the week ahead: Two high-energy alignments will give you the tools you need to take action

To the delight of many, both Mercury and Venus have ended their retrograde phases and are moving direct again. The pressure of the past few weeks will now start to ease, and with Tuesday's first quarter moon, the seeds that you have planted since the new moon on Feb. 1 will begin to show signs of blossoming. 

Also on Tuesday, Mars moves into a trine alignment with high-voltage Uranus that will augment his strength and power to bring a lively boost to your mood. The energetic force of this connection will last all week. On Friday, Mercury joins up with Pluto, helping you to focus your thoughts like a laser beam. The intense energy of Pluto will encourage you to dig deep within to find solutions to problems, so you can get organized and put plans into motion. 

If you're up before sunrise this week, your spirits will get a lift from the light of Venus, now appearing as a morning star. Our relationships went through a transition period during the six-week Venus retrograde. With her now taking her place in the morning light, you'll sense the dawning of a new confident and self-determined attitude toward bonds of all kinds. 

The beginning of February also saw celebrations of Imbolc, the pagan festival based in ancient Celtic tradition which marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Winter is not over by a long shot, but spring is now clearly visible on the horizon. Sparrows are singing with more zest and cheer. They are symbols of Venus, whose counterpart in ancient Greek mythology is Aphrodite, goddess of love. It won't be long before they begin building their nests and preparing for mating season. This is the home stretch. 

Here is your horoscope for the week of Monday, February 7, 2022.

Aries

It's hard to get into a relaxed state of mind with so many things hanging in the air. They accumulate until the weight is so heavy that it's difficult to bear. It's the kind of thing that can cause heightened anxiety levels and even shortness of breath. This week, you will feel a surge of proactive energy, allowing you to make steady progress toward easing that burden. You'll be able to restructure your time, catch up on what needs to be done and finally shake that feeling of running from a persistent pursuer. 

Taurus

Sometimes life makes you feel like you're in a circus juggling act. Complicated and convoluted issues are causing confusion, and you are under pressure to square circles and make sense of these absurdities. This week will bring a most welcome opportunity to get away from the madness — at least within your own mind. Indulge in thoughts of escaping to somewhere serene with nothing to do but lounge in the sun and work your way through a giant pile of books. As you battle these contradictory inclinations, you will find the energy to carry on. 

Gemini

You've been through a long period where things felt tedious and lacklustre, and life seemed to be offering a serious dearth of choice. The strange thing is that whatever put you in this position has also put an opportunity to get out of it within your reach. A recent encouraging development is getting very interesting. It holds the possibility of getting to know somebody better or maybe it's opening the door to some sort of opportunity. Either way, the outlook is enviable. 

Cancer

We are surrounded by mysteries. Young children understand this. Think back to when you were a kid: everything was exciting, the world was infinite and you wanted to explore it all. As adults, however, we tend to dwell on the mundane as if it's all that life has to offer. We become creatures of habit, doing the same things over and over with minor variations. In the coming week, you are due to make a big discovery that will make you feel like a child again. A magical, eye-opening experience awaits. 

Leo

Challenges keep us focused and active. They make the world go round. If you find yourself locked in a challenging dispute with someone at this time, it may not seem to be serving a constructive purpose, but give it the benefit of doubt. This situation is quite different. It's not a question of winning or losing: it's educational. You are learning something important about how to stand up for yourself and establish your boundaries. 

Virgo

We live in a world full of increasingly rapid change. Sometimes when we feel we can't keep up with it, we resist. We see it as an enemy. The change that you are experiencing now is deep, significant and overdue — so do your best not to fear it. You are being pushed into it reluctantly, but in essence, it's not a problem. Rather, you are being handed an incredible opportunity. If you seek the truth, it will lead you to a life of freedom. 

Libra

When things go well for us in life, we tend to think we had a stroke of luck — and that we should not tempt fate by expecting another. This week, you may be concerned about pushing your good fortune too far, lest you set yourself up for disappointment. But if you don't push at all, you may not get anywhere. An optimistic expectation will serve you well. Having a brighter glow in your heart will cheer you up and imbue you with the charm and magnetism necessary to influence people and situations. 

Scorpio

Life is taking you along a path these days that's feeling a little monotonous. But there is something distinctly new happening in the background — fresh hope that you are onto a good thing. It appears you may be at the beginning of a positive phase in your life. You are on the edge of your comfort zone, which is a great place to be. It's time to employ the many talents you've been developing over the years. The stars are lining you up for a big benefit.   

Sagittarius

Things have been rather chaotic of late. It's been hard to know exactly what is happening and what your future holds. Making sound decisions has not come easily. Now, there's a sense that things are moving forward after being stymied. The train has left the station, and though it was moving slowly at first, it will pick up some good momentum this week. Do your best to stand back and look objectively at all your choices. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the change in your perspective and the new options that appear.

Capricorn

You could spend time worrying about the future and stressing over what you'll be doing years down the line, but the real time to be concerned with is now. A transition is happening. You've been forced to change an old ideal and have yet to come up with a new replacement. Still, you'll soon look back at what you are going through now and think of it as an exhilarating time. You can only profit from this transition and the discovery you will make. 

Aquarius

Right now, you are trying to make sense of something that is too complex to fully comprehend. It might feel like you're not making progress, but really the opposite is true. You have planted a seed and it's growing. It'll just take a little more time for an exciting new process to come to fruition. This week, you will get evidence that things are moving in the right direction. You need to quiet your mind, relax and enjoy the journey. Something up there has got your back. 

Pisces

If you ever find yourself living in an ideal world, pinch yourself. Ideal worlds are something we strive for but never reach. While it's good to have noble goals, no matter how impossible they are to achieve, somewhere in the inner recesses of your mind there is a voice of authority that prevents you from indulging in tenuous pipe dreams. It's what keeps you rooted firmly to the ground like an oak tree. This will come in handy when you have to make a decision this week about which plan or strategy is safe to follow.