Stepping Into New Beginnings – Cacao, Astrology, Journalling, and Reflections

Rosie Marsh
Feb 12
6 min read

Last night my lovely daughter and I sat down for a heartfelt and unplanned cacao ceremony 💕 – just the two of us taking a little time to turn our awareness inwards, to soften and tune into the energies of the universe. There is much change in store for both of us in the year ahead and we similarly value meditation, mindfulness and the importance of self-development practices.

Eleanor led us on a short guided cacao meditation, I put together some astrology-inspired journaling prompts and we reflected with some oracle cards too ✨ It was not only nourishing but so very helpful too - and I wanted to share the astrology and reflective questions with you, in case you feel like journaling or reflecting along with us.

It's fair to say I’ve been feeling the pressure of all this cosmic energy myself 🌌, and I know so many of you have been too. There’s a lot happening at once – endings, beginnings, and deeply reflective energy – it really can feel like a lot.

Taking the time to slow down, ground 🌱 and connect with our own wisdom is so very valuable right now.

Feel free to scroll down directly to the reflection prompts 📓 to connect with this energy – or have a look below to find out more of what all this means first

🌌 Key Astrology Dates – UK

Here’s a simplified look at the cosmic rhythm this month:

• Saturn enters Aries – 13 February ♈

• Saturn meets Neptune in Aries – 20 February  ✨

• Solar Eclipse in Aquarius – 17 February  ☀️ 🌑 (visible as annular eclipse only in Antarctica)

• Lunar New Year – Fire Horse – 17 February  🐎🔥

• Mercury retrograde in Pisces – 26 February to 20 March 🔄 (shadow began 11 February)

• Lunar Eclipse in Virgo – 3 March 2026 🌕

🌌 The Energy We’re Moving Through

The big energies of this month are pretty intense at times and multilayered too:

• Saturn entering Aries ♈️ – After a long Pisces chapter, Saturn enters a new 30 year cycle - calling us to move slowly towards creating real-world structure. We got a feel for this direction last year (mid July to end November) so it won’t feel completely new.

• Saturn–Neptune meet in Aries ✨ – initiating yet another new cycle. Asking us to bring our dreams for ourselves slowly into grounded reality, bringing intuition into measured action, and step into our ‘yes’. Though Saturn is all about manifesting, Neptune in the mix mean our yes involves a releasing or dissolving of something else too.

• Solar eclipse in Aquarius ♒️ 28’ on 17 Feb – We are now in the eclipse portal and this solar eclipse initiates fated new beginnings, calling us into authenticity, and asking us to step into our unique expression. This Aquarius eclipse is a North Node eclipse meaning that this increases the draw towards the future and a new way of being. Modern ruler Uranus is adding energy to the eclipse and perhaps an element of the unexpected too. Where Uranus is activated, it's always helpful to keep our nervous systems ⚡️balanced and remember during eclipses we don’t yet know everything we need to know, so step forward but with faith and knowledge we may need to make changes on the path later on too.

• Fire Horse energy 17 Feb our New Lunar Year - similarly asking us to move forward with, be bold and courageous, shedding the old Snake energy completely 🐍 → 🐎 🔥.

• Mercury will be stationing retrograde in Pisces ♓️ on 26 Feb (and is already in shadow now) – we are walking ground now that we will walk again, so there will be more to understand, learn and realise in time. Notice what’s happening now for clues for what you might later be reflecting on, reassessing, and reviewing. Since Mercury is already in Pisces open to your right brain energy more if you can - feelings, body, dreams, and intuition to help light the way and guide you back again for more realisations before moving forward once more 🔁.

• Pisces transits – though Saturn and Neptune have moved out of Pisces, we are not yet leaving this energy behind. Pisces invites us to connect with our higher self, to trust, and to practice compassion. It encourages surrendering to the flow, allowing for moments of daydreaming or gentle confusion, while staying mindful not to slip into escapism. In this energy, we are called to lead with our hearts, not our heads 🌊🌟. Just remember, this Pisces season will also be a retrograde and review period too.

• Total Lunar Eclipse on 3 March - This full moon asks us to gently let go of what no longer feels aligned. Offering us a chance to notice where our routines, habits, or commitments may need a little clearing, to release consciously, and to make space for what truly nourishes our wellbeing.

• Overall astrological guidance - These many layered and sometimes conflicting energies give an overall feeling that it is now time to step into the new, that which we might have dreamed about but don’t know how to make happen. Trust is needed and higher self guidance is likely to be strong. But we don’t have to do it all at once, in fact, we definitely shouldn’t because this is an energy where the turtle wins the race, not the hare. Slow, steady and reflective. Open to guidance and trust. Willing to review and redo as needed. Beautiful change is coming our way, urging us to step out of fear and open our hearts into the new 🌱.

📓 Astro Guided Reflective Questions + Journaling Prompts

These prompts are designed to help connect with the energy, notice shifts and create a space for gentle, loving self-development:

1️⃣ What were you beginning to feel into last year that you are now ready to step fully into?

2️⃣ What are you ready to say yes to – and what might you need to release as part of that yes?

3️⃣ What do you need to help yourself step into your yes?

4️⃣ If you looked back at your life from the perspective of your future self in 5 years’ time, what message would you give yourself now?

5️⃣ If you could let go of overthinking, worrying, and over-planning – and simply trust yourself and the support of the universe 🌌 – what might happen?

6️⃣ What are you proud of in yourself right now, and what might you be proud of in six months’ time?

Take your time ⏳. Let your answers come naturally, without forcing.

🫖 Connecting With Cacao or Rose Tea

If you want to try a ritual yourself:

• You needn’t have ceremonial cacao (though you can easily buy this online). Perhaps rose tea 🌹 or herbal tea which offer slow, intentional, heart-opening.

• Find a comfortable seat and soften your body. Begin to notice your breath and let your energy to settle and your mind calm.

• Bring the cup to your heart and hold it here - giving thanks to those who helped bring this nourishing drink to you, to those who drink in ritual all around the world giving thanks too, to those who love you and care for you and to Mother Earth for holding you. Gratitude opens the heart.

• Raise the cup to your lips and drink slowly, savouring the taste and the warmth as it travels down through your body.

• Take your attention to your heart space ❤️ and notice what’s arising.

• Then grab your journal or notebook 📓 and let either let your thoughts flow or follow the astrology-themed reflective prompts above.

No overthinking needed – let whatever arises be welcomed as it is.

🍫 More Info / Contraindications for Cacao

Ceremonial cacao is a lovely way to open your heart ❤️ and connect to your inner guidance. It has already been blessed and it’s a lovely practice to pour more love into it as you make it too. Tears can be it’s medicine.

Possible contradictions:

Avoid ceremonial cacao if you have heart conditions, high blood pressure, are pregnant (in larger amounts), are sensitive to stimulants, or taking certain medications (SSRIs/MAOIs).

Rose tea 🌹 is a gentle alternative if you prefer.