February Literary Horoscopes

Aries

The Ram / Courageous, Adventurous, Independent / Domineering, Selfish, Arrogant

They say not to fight fire with fire. When it comes to your love life, you’d better toss that advice out the window! Embrace fire or air signs during the month of love~ Behind door number one? Leo, Sagittarius, and your fellow Aries. Open the second door for Libra, Aquarius, or Gemini, who really counts as two.

As for door number three, I’ll let you discover that reward for yourself:

• And Even Still the Rivers, by Kate Finegan

• Teaser: “I trace the blue inside your wrists with this parched tongue and you smile, say remember when it rained for forty days and forty nights and I say that’s a story, what used to be a nightmare but now sounds like a dream.”

Taurus

The Bull / Loyal, Friendly, Resourceful / Self-Indulgent, Possessive, Greedy

For the most part, February will be a dull month. Try to accept it with some meditation, hot yoga, etc. While you’ll still have fun on Valentine’s Day, it’ll either be unremarkable or spent without the one you want. Speaking of, keep your eyes peeled for all signs water or earthy—we’re talking a five-chili pepper rating for Virgo and Capricorn here.

And read your story pick, of course. This CNF piece is wonderfully written, painfully relatable, and somehow hopeful, all at once.

• Redbud in the time of pandemic (Spring 2020), by Marianne Worthington

• Teaser: “The redbuds are scrappy and hardy at once, teeming with a color found nowhere else in nature, almost blinding in their sudden spring blush.”

Gemini

The Twins / Intelligent, Adaptable, Creative / Moody, Opportunistic, Inconsistent

Moody people like yourself—er, I mean adaptable—often vibe with air and fire signs. This could be trustworthy Libra or fun-loving Leo. So, pursue your romantic interest(s). Try virtual speed dating, send that first text; I don’t think you’ll regret it. Be true to yourself but don’t muzzle that closet romantic in your heart. Much.

If you need a break from romance, though, this mesmerizing read is framed by a different kind of love.

• Chamomile Tea, Undrunk, by Jo Varnish

Teaser: “The first dead mother was mine. Fifty-eight years old and dead seven Tuesdays ago, not from an incurable disease, nor from a car accident.”

Cancer

The Crab / Honest, Generous, Faithful / Insecure, Needy, Crabby

Strut your stuff in February and flash your romantic side. You’ve never been an old hand at the game of seduction, but I know your secret—at your core is an adventurous crab that wants to have some fun. Spoiler alert: You can indulge the most with earth and water signs.

Speaking of indulgences…

• Speaking in Koans, by Vineetha Mokkil

• Teaser: “Maya has an athlete’s body and an assassin’s stealth. Her voice is smoky, with a trace of a Slavic accent. She moved from her lonely Latvian town to London three years ago.”

Leo

The Lion / Cheery, Noble, Imaginative / Demanding, Boastful, Melodramatic

In an ironic twist of fate, your cheery nature will be put to the test. Some of you lions will even be torn between two love interests (hint: they’ll be fiery or up-in-the-clouds). I know, it’s the rom-com moment you didn’t ask for. Valentine’s Day could be spent with McRam, McArcher, or McTwins. It’s like a choose-your-own-adventure story!

But first, pick secret option #4 and read this stunning poem.

• breakfast in october, by Emily Glaze

• Teaser: “Gentle tap of spoon against shell / where feathers stick wet and splayed / a crack. The hard-outer layer splits, spits / pieces, and sound drums deep in the skull /revealing soft yolk, the centre of feeling.”

Virgo

The Maiden / Practical, Diligent, Kind / Obsessive, Self-Righteous, Compulsive

January may have been cloudy, but February is grey with a sprinkle of love. Now, don’t sigh—this isn’t the start of a corny movie. It’s the start of your entire month! Steer into the skid and shed that cool-kid aura. Be a tad vulnerable. C’mon, V-day only comes around once a year.

And no, you can’t hate me. I bring you this awesome story pick.

• Celestial Unbeing, by Alyson Mosquera Dutemple

• Teaser: “He was so lovely in the moonlight that I almost believed that he was a gift, left just for me to find him.”

Libra

The Scales / Compassionate, Trustworthy, Peacemaker / Disorganized, Materialistic, Indecisive

If last month started the good times early, then February will be more of a cool-down period for you. You might even forget about Valentine’s Day. And that’s fine. This year, you won’t be interested in celebrating with chocolate or air and fire signs. Stay true to the course, my friend.

I have just the story pick for you:

• The Sad Song in Every Story, by Mileva Anastasiadou

• Teaser: “I’d say he never gets mad either, yet I now know him well enough to claim otherwise; he gets mad all the time, only he’s good at hiding it. Until he feels safe enough to explode. He’s an endless, recurrent bomb. Never tired of exploding, when the time is right.”

Scorpio

The Scorpion / Purposeful, Charismatic, Cunning / Aggressive, Manipulative, Possessive

Guess what, Scorpio? This month will be all about fun and frivolity. While scorpions like yourself tend to charm the pants off people, you’ll have to get creative during this pandemic (hint, hint). Start with those fluid water signs and grounded, earthy folks.

Your February read is striking, just like you.

• Frost Advisory, by Beth Gilstrap

• Teaser: “I thought the garden would bloom spectacular from the amount of emotion I left in that dirt. Lush. Heavy blooms. Straw mushrooms under the peppers and okra after a good rain.”

Sagittarius

The Archer / Straightforward, Optimistic, Adventurous / Careless, Impatient, Hotheaded

Happy Galentine’s Day! This month, you’ll be all about ladies celebrating ladies. Call your gal pals and shake it on the dance floor (i.e. your living room). Or enjoy virtual drinks from one comfy couch to another. Some of us prefer takeout on Christmas, and Galentine’s over Valentine’s. You do you.

Before you gel with those fire/air signs, though, indulge with a poignant read.

• In Bed, by Wilson Koewing

• Teaser: “Jade was celibate seven years when we met. The reasons were vague, but involved a failed marriage to a classical musician, abuse, divorce and a lengthy period of self-isolation during which she produced stacks of abstract paintings.”

Capricorn

The Mountain Sea-Goat / Traditional, Responsible, Ambitious / Unforgiving, Blunt, Pessimistic

You might think love should be easier to find. Sometimes, you have to go looking, but other times, it’ll crash into you like a ton of bricks. It could be a new coworker, or someone standing six feet away in the checkout line (hey, it could happen). Try and put yourself out there: An earth or water sign could be the peanut butter to your jelly.

Reward yourself with this thought provoking story pick:

• Separation Anxiety, by Hema Nataraju

• Teaser: “I thought it was a wonderful idea. I’ve never liked ripping Band-Aids off. Slow peeling is better.”

Aquarius

The Water-Bearer / Intellectual, Open-Minded, Outgoing / Unpredictable, Self-Conscious, Chaotic

Sorry to give you whiplash, but it’s time to swap those priorities again! February is all about you. The stars will align, the odds will be in your favor, all that jazz. You’ll be romance central for most of the month, too. Whether you meet someone new or a friendship turns into something more, you’ll be on cloud nine with other air and fire signs.

When you come back to Earth, check out this truly sublime read:

• Ghost Heron, by Jack B. Bedell

• Teaser: “The old soul wakes in the top of its cypress tree, beak tucked under wing. It readies its bones for flight knowing the sun will stretch fingers over the horizon line soon.”

Pisces

The Fish / Charitable, Intuitive, Artistic / Timid, Impractical, Indolent

For you, the flavor of February is romance. Get creative and whisk your partner away for some safe but hot n’ heavy dates. Tip: Water and earth signs usually dig the outdoors. If you’re solo, channel that energy into your own happiness. Hey, you deserve to be romanced, too!

Your monthly read is this vivid, moving poem.

• Flying East with Lyla’s Ashes, by George Drew

• Teaser: “Finding my seat, I stowed her snugly / in the storage bin directly over my head, / and as we crossed time zones and into night, / we talked in whispers, illicit lovers on a redeye flight”