February 2013 Horoscope for Food Lovers

Astrologer Rebecca Gordon offers monthly readings--and recipes for results
by Epicurious

Aquarius
(January 20-February 18)
February looks to be a "look good, feel good" kind of month as Venus, the planet of love and beauty, dances through. You're sure to be a magnetic attractor with that sparkle in your eye and extra kick in your step. Enhance what Mother Nature gave you: Eat vegetables high in antioxidants such as artichokes, potatoes, and kidney beans to keep your skin looking smoother and younger. As Venus stays with you throughout the month, take some other steps to beautify: Revamp your wardrobe, consider a daring haircut. Keep in mind, though, that the purpose of these external changes is to reveal and express a clearer image of who you really are. Don't be surprised if you find someone quite different looking back at you.
Recipe to try:Potato and Artichoke Gratin

Pisces
(February 19-March 20)
It's essential that you take some time out this month for a little R&R. Remember that for a Pisces rest and meditation can be just as productive as work. Tame your proclivity for sweets and carbs by choosing healthier options that are also naturally sweet and filling, like sweet potatoes and winter squash. (The fiber and beta-carotene are extra benefits.) They will be a lovely complement to your month of revitalization, whether that means taking time out for a mini vacation, getting lots of sleep, or heading for the spa to soothe frazzled nerves. You'll want to be fully restored for your birthday. On the full moon of February 25, you may achieve newfound clarity on an important relationship.
Recipe to try:Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Purée

Aries
(March 21-April 19)
Though you are a hot-blooded fire sign, this month the stars urge you to cool down after such a bustling career season and to reconnect to your community. Give yourself the space to enjoy the fruits of your hard-won labor; try foods like magnesium-rich spinach to help you revitalize, reinvigorate, and shift gears. Your social calendar will begin to fill up again; a festive invite on February 6 or 7 will be hard to resist, so just say yes and you will have a fantastic evening out! Venus, the planet of love, has much in store for you on the social horizon and your new connections may become fast friends and possibly more.
Recipe to try:Three-Greens Soup with Spinach Gremolata

Taurus
(April 20-May 20)
Being an Earth sign, you have a keen instinct for business as well as the gift of perseverance to see a project to completion. It is precisely these qualities that you will need to draw upon as the new moon on February 9 will swing open the curtains to Act Two of your professional life. Increase your natural Taurean stamina with high-energy, high-protein foods such as beans, lentils, and peanuts. You've worked hard to get here and it looks as if your income will finally begin to match your creative efforts. On February 16 and 17, you will have the support you need at work, so don't be afraid to delegate when your colleagues really do want to help.
Recipe to try:Curried Red Lentil and Swiss Chard Stew with Garbanzo Beans

Gemini
(May 21-June 20)
Being an air sign and ruled by planet Mercury, you are blessed with strong wits and charm. As Mercury receives an extra boost from Pluto and Saturn on February 12, your powers of communication will be spotlighted, regardless of medium: digital, television, film, radio, or print. The demands for increased mental alertness and memory call for an extra helping of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids: wild salmon, Arctic char, sardines, Atlantic mackerel, sablefish (black cod), rainbow trout, tuna. If you have been honing your craft for some time, a new moon on February 10 will help you find the perfect publisher, venue, or Web site to help your words reach a larger audience. Just make sure all major business is done with before February 23, when Mercury goes retrograde.
Recipe to try:Broiled Trout with Bacon, Onions, and Raisins

Cancer
(June 21-July 22)
At this point, learning new skills and information will not only make you more marketable, they'll also enrich your life in unforeseen yet profound ways. As action Mars travels through your chart's education sector, don't be surprised if you feel the urge to go back to school. Those clean notebooks have pages that need to be filled! Studying and conducting research are demanding work, so try foods that keep you energized and also increase blood flow to the brain, like whole grains, barley, and brown rice. Financial aid or a windfall of cash may be available the week of February 10 if you explore all your resources.
Recipe to try:Mixed Grain and Wild Rice Cereal

Leo
(July 23-August 22)
Being ruled by the Sun, you love to shower others with generosity and affection, though you certainly appreciate the thanks your acts elicit. With Venus gracefully sweeping through the relationship sector of your chart, romance will be written across the sky. It's the perfect month to turn up the heat, especially in the kitchen. Try cooking with aphrodisiacs such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. On February 6 and 7, a good pal may want to make a sweet introduction, so carve out a little time. Already committed? This may be the perfect occasion for you and your partner to spend time with mutual friends. Love will deepen.
Recipe to try:Fried Chicken Masala

Virgo
(August 23-September 22)
You specialize in creating more efficiency and organization in life. Therefore, the new moon on February 10 in the daily work sector of your chart should be welcome news. Even though you aren't necessarily changing professions, there will be a new and impressive project that demands your full attention, and this may require some changes to your current lifestyle. All this means that you need sustained energy levels, so reach for on-the-go snacks that are quick and easy to make--and to eat--like hearty granola. Note that your planetary ruler Mercury goes retrograde on February 23, so have all contractual agreements squared away by then.
Recipe to try:Quick Omega-3 Granola

Libra
(September 23-October 22)
You're ruled by Venus, so expect to be doused with love throughout the month. Take note that February 6 and 7 are both ideal date nights and a whole new romantic chapter starts on the days following February 9! It will be easy to get swept up, but balance is key, and it begins in your body. Help achieve equilibrium by eating alkaline foods such as carrots, beets, and turnips. As for love, cultivate the romance by attending cultural events that allow common interests to mix and mingle.
Recipe to try:Winter Vegetables and Bulgur

Scorpio
(October 23-November 21)
A cluster of stars gather in the home sector of your chart urging you to consider your living environment and the effect it may have on your life. This could easily spark a renovation project or possibly even a move to a more enriching environment. Being an intense water sign, you may need foods that are light and easy to digest: Celery, parsley, and watercress all fit the bill, and can help boost collagen production, too. If you have already decided to move to a new locale, try to land your dream home between February 6 and February 16.
Recipe to try:Watercress, Celery, and Parsley Salad

Sagittarius
(November 22-December 21)
Sagittarians share a passion for adventure, learning, and world travels. Keep optimum health and boost your liver functions with cabbage, famous for flushing toxins out of the body. You're the most daring of zodiac signs, so take this month to get out of your comfort zone and explore a brand new environment. No matter where you travel--whether it's to the slopes or sandy beaches--you'll have opportunities to make new and compelling connections. Your best travel dates will be between February 6 and February 16, and on February 7 Venus and Jupiter will embrace and bring a sense of sweetness to all interactions.
Recipe to try:Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp, Napa Cabbage, and Shiitake Mushrooms

Capricorn
(December 22-January 19)
As a Capricorn, you feel a genuine sense of responsibility to those you work with, and colleagues instinctively know that you've got their backs. You'll also begin to recognize that your coworkers are your staunchest allies and will go the distance to help you. If you recently started your own company, you may finally begin to see profits emerge, thanks to a new moon in your chart's income sector. High-calcium and -phosphate fruits like oranges and lemons are ideal to keep you energized throughout the long workdays. Meetings and negotiations will go exceptionally well on February 12.
Recipe to try:Roast Chicken with Orange, Lemon, and Ginger

Rebecca Gordon is a Manhattan-based astrologer, columnist, and national presenter. As founder of the My Path Astrology School, she has practiced astrology for the past 15 years after an ongoing mentorship with world-renowned astrologist Susan Miller. Gordon is an active member and columnist for ISAR (International Society for Astrological Research). Her astrological services have been retained for events by Condé Nast Traveler, Diane Von Furstenberg, Sonia Rykiel, Laura Mercier, Benefit Cosmetics, Elle magazine, and ABC Television Network. Her practice in sharing astrology is mainly to connect people with their true essence of character and provide multi-dimensional life path guidance. For a list of upcoming events, visit Facebook.

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