My friend Clark Moore and I were speaking about the vibe shift of Neptune leaving Pisces and entering Aries last week (Jan. 26). We ended up recording part of the conversation to discuss how this significant planetary change is affecting each of us.

For everyone, don't forget that we're in the middle of a brief period where Neptune is in Aries without Saturn — until Feb. 13. This weekend is the time to dream, expand, and be inspired. Saturn will bring in the infrastructure and reality-check later (which, as we discuss in the podcast, doesn't have to be a bad thing, just a shift).

I'll return with horoscopes for each rising sign to discuss how Neptune in Aries might impact you in the coming months and years. For now, look to the house in your natal chart that contains Aries and notice if you feel inspired to start anew.

Learn more about Clark Moore here and don't sleep on his brilliant Substack, "Wistover".

Deep Divers rejoice! The Rising Sign Horoscopes series returns with a look at how much Uranus has changed our lives since 2018. I begin with an overview of this transit and go through each rising sign in astrological order: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. My goal is to do these voice memos more often, so I'm keeping the writing portion light and the format informal. Feedback welcome and desired as I continue to iterate TWS! I appreciate you all being here, let's get excited for the disruptions ahead in February. If we work with them, they could signify major breakthrough.

February is all about change: short-term, poignant surprises and long-term, systemic overhaul. The long-term aspect is the Saturn-Neptune conjunction that occurs later this month. The short-term surprises will be more tied to Uranus and its themes of innovation, disruption, and shakeups. Uranus is the focus this week in the middle of longer-term changes that are unfolding, interconnected, and overwhelming.

Tuesday: Turn on the surprise innovation machine. Tuesday, Uranus stations direct at 27 degrees Taurus. Today, Uranus will be emphasized as it appears to stop in the sky and begin moving forward in the zodiac again. We only have until late April to finish breaking free in the part of our chart containing Taurus. How are you doing so? In the world, this day, and several others in February, could emphasize Taurus themes of labor, food, earth, nature, and money.

Thursday: Glitches in the matrix. Two days after Uranus stations direct, Mercury in Aquarius squares Uranus. Mercury and Uranus in a difficult combination can feel like a mini Mercury retrograde for a couple days around the connection: schedule snafus, mistakes, and tech glitches especially. Nothing terribly uncommon, but a good date to calendar.

Friday: The final Pisces burst of confusion. After its snafus with Uranus, Mercury enters Pisces where it will retrograde later this month. Take note of what you begin to do (especially after Feb. 11) as you may return to these tasks. Pisces is the sign of Mercury’s detriment and fall, so it doesn’t do well with facts, linear thinking, or details here. Work with this influence (until April 14) by thinking outside the box, writing poetry, and dreaming of the future that’s almost here.

Saturday: Shake-ups in relationships. Right after Mercury squares Uranus, Venus in Aquarius does so too. This day will speak more to the changing nature of relationships in your life, and in the world. We could see alliances suddenly break up or be tested. Friendships re-evaluated or shattered. This happens at least once a year, so it’s nothing to be alarmed by, but it is the last time Venus will square Uranus while it’s in Taurus. How are you connecting with friends and partners in the most forward-thinking way? What systems and tools (Aquarius) help you feel balanced in your personal interactions?

Mercury, Venus, and Mars leaving the Sun’s rays

In January updates, I discussed how we might expect revelations toward the end of January and into February as each of the inner planets left the Sun’s rays. Mercury, Venus, and Mars have been obscured by the Sun's bright light for weeks. As we begin a new month, each of them will slowly be visible after sunset. It’s quite beautiful if you have a view of the western horizon at sunset.

Astrologically, so many planets leaving obscurity will correlate to hidden matters being revealed. And right on time, millions of Epstein files were dumped on Friday (Jan. 30), a time when few people are paying attention to the news. However, as the winter continues, I expect people will pore over these documents and revelations will build toward perhaps shocking conclusions during eclipse season.

I discuss in this week's recording how much the Epstein data dump feels part of the big picture changes of the Saturn-Neptune conjunction: a systemic reset that will impact much of the world. And how could it not? What's being revealed is vile. And yet, it's overwhelming how much news is happening — is it interconnected? Separate? What's even happening? Unfortunately, those are Saturn-Neptune vibes too. My hope is it gets easier after Feb. 20 when they separate.

Mercury-Venus conjunction: accord (for now)

In a brief moment of accord, which I doubt will last sadly, the U.S. Senate passed funding on Thursday to avoid another government shutdown. Mercury is all about laws, communication, treaties. And Venus is about relationships and accord. It was a great symbol of the power of these smaller planets, even as they move quickly away from each other in the coming weeks. I love when the astrology provides moments of hope in the middle of chaos.

Neptune in Aries and the “autoimmune” nature of conflict

Neptune moved into Aries last week, two days after another U.S. citizen was shot by a federal police force called “ICE”. Aries is fire; ICE is cold (we also witnessed an historic cold snap across much of the country east of the Mississippi). What was the most popular book series turned TV in the last decade? “Game of Thrones”, the first book in a series called “A Song of Fire and Ice”. Art imitates life imitates astrology, apparently.

No one alive has lived through Neptune in Aries. But one of the many things we see with Neptune in Aries historically is infighting among citizens of a country (i.e., civil wars), classes of people, organizations, and more.

Neptune is fog and confusion, and in Aries, it creates the fog of war. I like to think of this concept like an autoimmune disease: the “body” doesn’t know what it’s fighting, so it goes after itself. Similarly, citizens of one country clash with fellow citizens instead of fighting “external enemies” during Neptune in Aries.

I’m using scare quotes because all of this sounds, well, scary. And it’s not the only aspect of Neptune in Aries. I mentioned this online last week and it bears repeating: Neptune in Aries will be very different this time than 1861-1875. We have Pluto in Aquarius supporting the collective. (Last time Pluto was in Taurus, not connecting positively to Neptune).

Most importantly, we’re now in an Age of Air since 2020 that’s more about intellectualism, ideology, and human connection. We’re not going to repeat the long, fixed, trench warfare to the 19th and 20th centuries. If conflicts arise, they may be diffuse or sporadic — more the “air” vibe.

That doesn’t mean it will always be easy. Drone warfare is definitely something we can expect in the Age of Air, and that scares me. But is it better than sending millions of people to die on a battlefield? I don’t have the answer, but it’s an example of why this time is different.

Regardless, it was unnerving that the latest execution by ICE happened two days before Neptune entered Aries when Alex Peretti was killed last week. Like the Renée Nicole Good murder, this event gave many Americans (and I imagine non-Americans too) a chill in their spine.

I just have to think things will be different this time. That Pluto in Aquarius will unite people and demand a democratic approach over authoritarian control. Even the North Node enters Aquarius later this year, piling on the democratic ideals. (The North Node left Aquarius in 1860 before the U.S. Civil War began.)

Undoubtedly, the civil conflicts in the U.S. will continue this winter, and we’ll discuss them here. Is it federal power vs. states? What happens to the Bill of Rights? Or is it class warfare: billionaires vs. the rest? If politics worldwide are about urban centers vs. rural areas these days, it seems impossible that we’ll return to state-on-state war like the 1860s. (I can hear you say sarcastically: "Yippee! That's not too bad!")

Saturn-Neptune and major systemic changes

Saturn is reality. Neptune dissolves what it touches. It’s a paradox: while illusions and deceptions are at all-time highs, what's not “real” is also dissolving. We’ll leave the other side with more clarity about what is real, what has value, and start something new.

As I mentioned above, we can see this confusion in the news. In financial markets, ancient assets like gold and silver are moving up and down like crypto coins. The Federal Reserve, a key component of the U.S. and world economy, may not exist how it does today after this Saturn-Neptune. We’ll build something new, and until then, what is real? What was a fantasy? Was Bitcoin a fantasy or is it the future? We won’t have these questions right away, which reminds us that the Saturn-Neptune process is a long one.

I keep repeating this idea because online I keep seeing people say that Saturn-Neptune is shocking or the reason for all changes right now. And while it can correlate to institutions, even countries, seeming to dissolve overnight — if you look back, it’s a much longer process. The Fed, for instance, has been challenged for years.

What’s more shocking or sudden is the Uranus astrology and eclipses, both of which will be emphasized this month. The confusing part is telling which astrology is having which impact. Together, it’s creating this muddy, hearty soup, and to some degree the nuance doesn’t matter. But if you find clarity in the details like I do, know that the long-term infrastructural changes are Saturn-Neptune. And the more shocking, sudden changes are Uranus and the eclipses.

Yes, something is coming to a head as we approach Feb. 20, but it’s not what it seems given the foggy, deceptive nature of Saturn and Neptune together. We have to wait to see how this plays out.

I’ve been working with the astrology by dreaming a new reality or set of possibilities in my life. I keep reminding myself that those goals will take work, but to surrender right now and let the dream expand. When Saturn enters Aries, we’ll have 2+ years to do the work. Sure, don’t fall into a delusion or psychosis, but also don’t stress if now is not the time to put one solid foot in front of the other.

Next Week

Next week we officially enter eclipse season as the Nodes move into the position they’ll be for the Feb. 17 and March 3 eclipses. Additionally, Saturn begins a new 30-year cycle when it enters Aries at the end of the week. I’ll return next week to discuss! Please let me know how the week lands for you in the comments below.

Ned Klein joins The Weekly Stars' host K.M. Garland to discuss the major astrology themes of February 2026 while reflecting on some news events of January as well.

Y’all! New TWS feature: astro calendar alerts! 🌈🎉 Deep Divers get the attached .ics file (scroll to bottom) that includes all major aspects this month. Upload the file to auto-populate your calendar with all-day events that briefly describe the astrology. (If you want to follow my insane Virgo way, I created a separate calendar called “Astro” that I turn off and on as needed.)

Also, for email-only people: don't sleep on the attached podcast! (Listen on the Patreon app as well as Spotify and Apple Podcasts — did you know?). My friend Ned Klein joins me to talk major themes of the month ahead. Please keep me posted in the comments as we navigate this historic month together.

When working with the new calendar tool, remember that astrology aspects can land 1-2 days on either side of most events. For the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto), the bell curve can last one week on either side — or more. Never forget! You can always have a good day, month, or year in your personal life; we all have agency to navigate the global energy.

First, a list of the astrology aspects in your .ics file followed by an essay covering important themes of this month. Below that essay is a week-by-week detail of February 2026.

Feb. 1: Retreat to lead. Full Moon in Leo.

Feb. 3: Disruptions & innovations. Uranus stations direct.

Feb. 5: Glitches in the matrix. Mercury squares Uranus.

Feb. 6: Write poetry. Mercury enters Pisces.

Feb. 7: Relationship shake-ups. Venus squares Uranus.

Feb. 10: Sticky sweetness. Venus enters Pisces.

Feb. 13: A new foundation. Saturn enters Aries.

Feb. 15: Electricity is power. Sun squares Uranus.

Feb. 16: Healing poetry. Mercury trines Jupiter.

Feb. 17: Ground yourself for inevitable change. Solar Eclipse in Aquarius.

Feb. 18: Start Pisces Season!

Feb. 20: Release what is ending. Saturn and Neptune conjoin.

Feb. 25: Slow down. Mercury retrograde begins.

Feb. 27: Caution warranted. Mars square Uranus.

You might be surprised that February technically has less than half the number of major planetary connections as January. (January was jam-packed.) 

While February may not be as “busy”, it actually contains the most important astrology of the year: The Saturn-Neptune conjunction. You may want to review my long-form 2026 forecast as it covers so many important details about February, some of which I didn’t want to repeat in the monthly planner.

Saturn and Neptune were very close throughout 2025, which was a major reason that year sucked (ha!). Their once-in-36-year conjunction correlates to hopelessness, confusion, deception, and a feeling that everything is changing but no one is in control. They make the exact conjunction on Feb. 20.

The good side of Saturn-Neptune conjunctions? The old, the rotting, and the outdated are quickly dissolved or swept away to begin something new. And while that process comes to a head this month, it'll dissipate as the year progresses (especially after March's Mercury retrograde). Relief is coming — hold on!

The other great part of February is that Saturn leaves Pisces and enters Aries on Feb. 13. A pre-Valentine’s Day "treat"! (Scare quotes because this astrology is hilarious: Aries emphasizes the individual on a day of “love”.)

Neptune left Pisces on Monday, and Saturn’s departure will provide even more relief from the wet, foggy, emotional nature of fall 2025. Both planets are also starting entirely new cycles by beginning at the start of the zodiac again. We're in for some fresh starts!

Interestingly, Saturn technically "does worse” in Aries than in Pisces. Saturn is always challenging, especially for people who want to chill and live carefree (me 77% of the time). So it’s not like we love Saturn in any sign. It’s just that Saturn is considered in its “fall” in Aries because it’s such a mismatch of archetypes.

Whenever a planet is in its “fall” (a classical astrology term), there’s usually a trap for that planet. Saturn likes to move slowly and build things that last through hard work. Aries likes to move quickly, break things, and only work in bursts. 

So the primary “trap” of Saturn in Aries is that fast things move too slowly and slow things move too quickly. Plus, Aries impatience can be at an all-time high since Saturn slows down whatever it touches. We might feel frustrated, but I keep coming back to my line from the 2026 Forecast:

Yes, change can be terrifying, especially with unknown consequences. We might trade the nightmare of Pisces delusions for the harsh Aries reality of waking up. But at least we’ll feel alive again.

I’ll dive more into Saturn in Aries and do some rising sign horoscopes for Deep Divers as it approaches. We’ll have Saturn in Aries straight through April 2028. If your rising sign, Sun, Moon, or any inner planet is in Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn, you will feel it more. That’s because Saturn will conjoin, square, or oppose one of those planets or points over the next few years.

On top of Saturn, Uranus is highlighted all month. The first highlight is on Feb. 3, when Uranus stations direct and begins moving forward through the final degrees of Taurus. Uranus is emphasized again on Feb. 17 when the Aquarius eclipse squares the planet of change and disruption.

If you’ll recall, January's New Moon in Capricorn trined Uranus within a degree. That unleashed a huge amount of power, including the largest solar storm in 20 years. I was concerned about earthquakes and we've continued to see a swarm of them, especially on the Pacific Rim, in the weeks since. Hawaii's active volcano Kīlauea has also been, well, quite active.

Since the solar eclipse (also a New Moon) squares Uranus, I have even more caution than the New Moon on Jan. 18. Not necessarily for an earthquake, but for the unexpected, disruptive, surprise-oriented nature of Uranus being activated by a powerful eclipse.

On Feb. 17, we have a powerful solar eclipse in Aquarius as mentioned. It’s the first Aquarius eclipse near the North Node in 18 years. It’s also speaking to the Saturn-Neptune conjunction on Feb. 20 because Saturn is the classical ruler of Aquarius. This is a major change sandwich and a reason I expect February to be so disruptive.

Eclipses are like New Moons or Full Moons on steroids. The literal lights in our solar system briefly go out in one part of the world (see below map). We can measure the geomagnetic impact on ecosystems, animals, and our energy infrastructure. Accordingly, it's no surprise that astrologers have noticed an impact on world events due to eclipses for thousands of years.

The fact that the eclipse is happening over Antarctica, a continent that interacts with all other continents, suggests a global impact alongside the Saturn-Neptune conjunction.

If the last New Moon on Jan. 18 helped us with breakthroughs due to the more harmonious nature of a trine with Uranus, Feb. 17’s New Moon (the solar eclipse) might force breakthroughs. Are you doing the work? Or are you going to be eclipsed? The choice is yours. Do not mess around with this astrology, it is demanding that we up level, change, and innovate our way into the new era.

We could see innovative moments, especially in the tech industry, given that Aquarius is the sign most associated with technology. Pluto is not closely conjunct this eclipse, but it is in the same sign. Pluto is highlighting the long-term evolution of society in regards to technology and democracy.

Soon after the eclipse, Mercury stations retrograde in Pisces on Feb. 25. Just like November, when Mercury retrograded in Sagittarius, the period between Feb. 25 and March 20 could be a time of peak confusion. It's an unfortunate timing for a retrograde right after the deceptive, foggy Saturn-Neptune conjunction.

So! I’m preparing to check all my details for those three weeks. Dot your Is and cross your Ts. If you’re traveling, or doing anything important, move slowly and carefully. It doesn't have to be bad, but it will be confusing, and likely frustrating. It can be a great time to travel if you are willing to move slowly and take time off. Just be aware it will be busy by default.

This Mercury retrograde plus the second eclipse on March 3 will make the end of February bleed into March. Feb. 17 to March 3 could feel like peak chaos or the quiet between storms (sometimes, somehow, both). The March 3 eclipse is a powerful Blood Moon in Virgo which might further add to confusion and loss of detail or facts, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Saving the best for last! On Feb. 22, Venus in Pisces will trine Jupiter in Cancer. This setup is incredibly good on its own. Venus is exalted in Pisces and Jupiter is exalted in Cancer. Exalted planets operate at the height of their power, although they act like favored guests at a dinner party — shower them with praise, but realize they're not quite at home.

Venus in Pisces will bring accord and compassion to world events; Jupiter in Cancer will offer optimism and protection, especially at home. Together, my hope is that they help prevent the worst from the otherwise chaotic and confusing astrology of this month. You may even have the best day of the year around Feb. 22!

Venus and Jupiter could also provide a salve in one part of life, even as other parts of life (notably Aries and Aquarius) are feeling more challenged. Take advantage of the good in February, we'll need it for the last bit Pisces energy when the Sun moves through this sign Feb. 18 to March 20.

Stay grounded, keep your own field clear, stay safe, and be proactive rather than reactive. February is the true start of The Aries Vortex: a massive set of astrology that will begin to change the world. If moments are scary, just remember we now have the collective energy to take action and make change.

Week 1: This week may continue escalating world events that took place in January. This week also features the planet of change and innovation, Uranus, which could correlate to some major twists and turns. Work with the changes to break free from anything holding you back.

🌝 Feb. 1: Full Moon in Leo — retreat to lead. Always entertaining, but sometimes excessively attention-seeking, this annual Full Moon makes sure to stand out. Celebrate all you’ve accomplished since July 24 last year — look to the house that contains Leo in your chart. This is the last Full Moon before eclipse season; if you can, sit back and enjoy it. The Full Moon also lights up Gate 33 in Human Design, which is about privacy & retreat. Leo is bold and animated but the Moon will be opposite planets in Aquarius. That correlates to Gate 33: Aquarians need time alone in order to lead.

❗Feb. 3: Turn on the surprise innovation machine. This day, Uranus stations direct at 27 degrees Taurus. Today, Uranus will be emphasized as it appears to stop in the sky and begin moving forward in the zodiac again. We only have until late April to finish breaking free in the part of our chart containing Taurus. How are you doing so? In the world, this day, and several others in February, could emphasize Taurus themes of labor, food, earth, nature, and money.

Feb. 5: Glitches in the matrix. Two days after Uranus stations direct, Mercury in Aquarius squares Uranus. Mercury and Uranus in a difficult combination can feel like a mini Mercury retrograde for a couple days around the connection: schedule snafus, mistakes, and tech glitches especially. Nothing terribly uncommon, but a good date to calendar.

Feb. 6: The final Pisces burst of confusion. After its snafus with Uranus, Mercury enters Pisces where it will retrograde later this month. Take note of what you begin to do (especially after Feb. 11) as you may return to these tasks. Pisces is the sign of Mercury’s detriment and fall, so it doesn’t do well with facts, linear thinking, or details here. Work with this influence (until April 14) by thinking outside the box, writing poetry, and dreaming of the future that’s almost here.

Feb. 7: Shake-ups in relationships. Right after Mercury squares Uranus, Venus in Aquarius does so too. This day will speak more to the changing nature of relationships in your life, and in the world. We could see alliances suddenly break-up or be tested. Friendships re-evaluated or shattered. This happens at least once a year, so it’s nothing to be alarmed by, but it is the last time Venus will square Uranus while it’s in Taurus. How are you connecting with friends and partners in the most forward-thinking way? What systems and tools (Aquarius) help you feel balanced in your personal interactions?

Week 2: A quieter week astrologically that ends decades of Pisces energy when Saturn finally leaves Pisces for the next thirty years. Don’t sleep on this week, if any calm, it’s only the eye of the storm.

Feb. 10: Love, relationship, abundance overfloweth. As Venus moves into Pisces, its sign of exaltation, we’ll have an important vibe shift that I’m hoping will help create some peace and unity consciousness during this tumultuous moment. Venus will be in a different part of the sky than the eclipse and Saturn-Neptune conjunction, so it might be a side show to the intensity of this month. But it could also help us prevent the worst, especially when it trines Jupiter later in the month. Use this energy for the next few weeks to find accord, make art, love people, and avoid falling into the void.

❗Feb. 13: As you begin to dream new possibilities in your life (Neptune in Aries), how are you laying the foundation for this brave new future? Today Saturn returns to Aries until April 2028. While the intensity, impatience, and potential chaos of Saturn in Aries will be a major theme of the next couple years, I think we’ll all appreciate leaving the delulu, strange, hard, depressing era of Saturn in Pisces, even if the fog doesn’t lift for a few more months.

Week 3: The Aries Vortex and Eclipse Season.

💥 Feb. 15: Another moment highlighting Uranus’ disruption and innovation. Today, the Sun in Aquarius squares Uranus. All of the planets in Aquarius right now (Mercury, Venus, Mars, the Sun, and even the Moon), will make a hard aspect with Uranus in February. That planet of change and disruption is moving through the final part of Taurus. Aquarius and Taurus do not see eye-to-eye, and this could activate Uranus’ potential for major flip-the-table moments. Today, the Sun makes an exact square with Uranus, but it’s really close to the eclipse on Feb. 17 when the Moon will make an exact square right before eclipsing the Sun. Buckle up for a wild week and stay grounded in your own way.

Feb. 16: A moment to dream about abundance with non-linear thinking. Mercury in Pisces trines Jupiter in Cancer. In the middle of an incredibly chaotic week with era-defining astrology, Mercury makes a potentially helpful connection to the planet of abundance and optimism. However, Mercury in Pisces thinks non-linear and in images more than words. It’s not the connection for details, strategy, or negotiations, but it could be dreamy and supportive of families and home. On one hand, I’m concerned this energy will create a flow that could add to the chaos (Mercury in Pisces creates confusion). On the other hand, we’ll take any harmonious astrology we can get this week.

❗❗🌚 Feb. 17: Annular Solar Eclipse at 28 degrees Aquarius. Prepare for radical changes in the days leading up and leading away from Feb. 17. This day is Eclipse Part 1 — solar eclipse in Aquarius at 28 degrees. The eclipse is in a close square to Uranus, which is at 27 degrees Taurus, a fixed sign and at odds with Aquarius. Any New Moon squaring Uranus can be tied to earthquakes and other natural disasters that literally shake things up. But it can also tie to shocking, surprising, or even innovative news. We might see tech breakthroughs and leaders challenged due to the nature of Aquarius. In your life, notice what new journey is beginning in the house connected to Aquarius. While the North Node doesn’t enter Aquarius until July, this will begin a 2-year period of major changes, beginnings, and endings in this part of life for you.

Feb. 18: Pisces season begins. The Sun enters Pisces right after being eclipsed, beginning the final strong amount of planetary Pisces energy we’ll have in 2026. Stay grounded, a Mercury retrograde is coming, and confusion could be added to the chaos.

❗❗Feb. 20: Saturn and Neptune conjoin at 0 degrees Aries. This day is the core of The Aries Vortex and while we might feel this energy for months, years, and decades, the two planets perfect their conjunction today and begin to separate. It will take time, but relief from the confusion, hopelessness, deception, and rapid dissolution of order will begin to resolve.

Week 4: A moment of hope in the middle of it all. But also, the start of a challenging Mercury retrograde.

❤️ Feb. 22: Love in a hopeless place. Venus in Pisces trines Jupiter in Cancer. This day, one of the best of the year, is the astrology I’m hoping prevents the wheels from totally coming off in February. It could be a different story for the Aquarius eclipse and Saturn-Neptune conjunction, but it should lead to more accord, nurturing, and abundance — at least in some part of your life, even if it only offsets the other challenges in February. Do not sleep on this day — plan your favorite activity, be with your favorite people, and do something for you.

⏪ Feb. 25: Mercury stations retrograde conjunct Venus. Mercury, planet of communication, scheduling, and technology, will be creating snafus for the next three weeks or so until March 20. Buckle up, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is about to get even weirder. Trust that the Pisces strangeness will eventually end, but we have one more ride in the astral plane.

💥 Feb. 27: Potential for explosive changes, violence, and using conflict to break free from restrictions. Today is a day packed with power, intensity, and potential for explosive reactions. Sun conjunct the North Node; Mars in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus. Stay grounded (Taurus), stay embodied (Aries), and expect the unexpected. Happening in the middle of Mercury retrograde, it will be worth crossing Is and dotting Ts (see what I did there?).

March Preview: March continues the themes of February as the Mercury retrograde slogs on, adding confusion to an already deceptive Saturn-Neptune conjunction. The good news is we are past the conjunction, and each week, however slowly, we will begin to come out of the void and confusion that have colored so much of astrology since 2023.

I was hoping that the dry, earthy nature of Capricorn season (Dec. 20 to Jan. 19) would help soak up the excessive Pisces energy we had at the end of 2025. I’m now thinking I was asking too much of the Sun’s annual movement through the Capricorn constellation.

Yes, this month has been a palpable vibe shift. Perhaps we left behind the darkest night of the soul during our collective "Heated Rivalry" psychosis over Christmas (tell me you participated and no judgment if you’re still there). But we’re still in the end of the end of the end of so many cycles, it can feel exhausting and weighty.

We can and should surrender to the Pisces endings, but Capricorn is asking us to do more. To set goals. To stabilize our lives and prepare for a bumpy year ahead. Since Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, Saturn’s movement through Pisces has been emphasized, an astrology transit focused on endings.

It’s brutal.

That anticipatory energy of knowing something is about to end, but having to remain in the discomfort of the present moment is a unique experience. I came into this year wanting to get everything done the first two weeks, launch several projects, gut renovate my home, create a new workout plan, and spend time with friends and family. I’ve accomplished maybe 5% of my goals. And we still have ~4 more weeks left before Saturn leaves Pisces.

This discomfort reminded me that we’re still in the year of the wood snake in Chinese astrology. Until Feb. 17, we have some more internal work to do, feeling the bottom of the forest with our skin, and slithering out of sight. In fact, Chinese astrologers say that the difficult “shedding” or letting go process doesn’t happen until the end of the year of the snake. Which is where we’re at now.

So where do we go from here? The good news is that things begin to shift this week as we enter Aquarius season. The bad news is, we might still be exhausted for a new start.

Hopefully yesterday’s New Moon provided some breakthroughs and a feeling of a new start. It connected with so many planets and released such a huge amount of energy, it had the ability to break through sticky feelings and literal blocks in daily life. I found it the first helpful astrology of the new year.

But if you haven’t felt any major changes, or you were expecting more “stamina” from Mars in Capricorn (like me), I want us to think about the core themes of Capricorn a bit more. Yes, Capricorn can provide stamina, but mostly to help us persevere. It’s the sign of essentialism, stability, and structure — in order to survive.

If you want to leave this first part of the year with anything, what essential daily rituals have you added? Or remembered? What can you do to help yourself persevere this year? It doesn’t have to be a big statement or major change, in fact, quite the opposite. I’m leaving yesterday’s New Moon with some quiet, simple tools that I’ll take with me into the new year.

If you’re one of the Capricorn risings I know and the past two weeks have been a Vitamin B shot to the arm; a welcome boost of energy after a slow, muddy fall, then f-yeah. I am genuinely happy for you. And I want you to hold onto the energy you’ve channeled the past few weeks. It will be incredibly helpful for the coming months.

If you’re not initiating anything right now, can you at least take notice of where you’re at this week? Even writing a few sentences will help you so much later this year. Don’t do anything — just notice. It will help you reflect on the changes in your life come the Full Moon in Capricorn this June.

We got this, and I think some of the clarity this week — especially Wednesday — will be a much needed shift into the second part of Q1. Take care and let me know how the astro is landing for you below.

Monday: The New Moon Sunday was closely aspecting almost every planet, and those planets themselves will continue to make contact with each other this week, blasting us into Aquarius season. As a result, Monday is an extremely active day of astrology.

• This week we begin a big shift that will inform the rest of the winter. First, we have the Sun enter the air sign Aquarius on Monday. Right before it does so, the Sun sextiles Neptune in Pisces. If the Sun represents leaders and Capricorn too, plus the sign’s connections to institutions and hierarchy, is there a moment where we are dreaming a new possibility for our world leaders (the Neptune influence)? It’s brief and the Sun sextiles Neptune a couple days throughout the year, so this isn’t era-defining astrology, but worth noticing. At the same time, Neptune could add to the deception and fog around our leaders, especially this week.

• In fact, this is the last week Neptune will be in Pisces for our lifetime. It might feel more intense than ever as Neptune crawls toward the finish line. But by next Monday, the 26th, we’ll officially enter a 14-year period of Neptune in Aries.

• So as the Sun switches from Capricorn to Aquarius, it might be a relief for any of you who also feel like everything everywhere is happening at once. The handoff happens each year, and is one of the more subtle changes between signs because Saturn rules both Capricorn and Aquarius in the traditional system. Still, Capricorn is drier, more essential, back-to-basics. Aquarius wants to innovate and disrupt the status quo; Capricorn wants to stabilize it.

• Yes, by the time we get to Aquarius season, it will be a vibe shift. One-by-one, the closest planets, the Moon, and the Sun will cross Pluto at 3 degrees Aquarius, activating the profound evolutionary effects of that planet.

• The other important aspect — yes we’re still in Monday! — about the Sun changing signs is that we’ll be putting a spotlight on Pluto. Pluto is hanging out at 3 degrees Aquarius, and each of the planets (plus the Sun) will cross it in the coming weeks. That means we’ll activate the public outcry against current leaders, accelerate technology changes, and probably see an increase in social movements.

• A couple hours after the Sun enters Aquarius, Venus will conjoin Pluto for an intense transformation, destruction, and rebirth of our relationships. Then, Saturn will sextile Uranus retrograde, which is a long-term story that began last April, but is saying something about how we balance the old ways with a strong desire for the new. After this transit, the “new” takes over. And then after Saturn, Mars trines Uranus, further activating the planet of change and innovation. How are you taking action (Mars) to break yourself free from constraints that have held you back in recent years (Uranus)? Right after trining Uranus, Mars then sextiles Saturn, which might provide some stability and long-term plans to implement our “breakthrough” moment.

• That’s a lot of aspects for one day! And because all the planets are so close, these aspects were baked into the New Moon I discussed last week and did my first YouTube to discuss with fellow astrologer Margo Amala. Margo’s specialty is financial astrology, and we discussed those themes as well as some astro-mapping of where in the world these active planetary connections might play out.

• TL;dr — we’ve been feeling these planets jostling for attention since the beginning of the year. The Full Moon on Jan. 3 activating them to a degree, and last Sunday’s New Moon even more. They’re the fundamental reason January is so intense, setting the stage for the rest of the year, and helping us understand the hurdles and help coming our way. In Aquarius season, we begin to confront both, and that all begins late Monday (Tuesday in Europe/Australia).

Tuesday: Communicating our dreams. Mercury sextiles Neptune for the last time in Pisces before entering Aquarius the same day. We’ll notice a more innovative, out-of-the-box style of thinking over the next few weeks, and I think we’ll need it. Remember, if you have clarity, then the changes upcoming won’t affect you as much. Like a tree rooted into the ground, you may even enjoy the wind.

Wednesday: Clarity of thoughts and words. Today, as always, is a great day for signing contracts; buying technology — even in the middle of “The Tower” moment we’re approaching (every planet touching Pluto). Every couple months, the planet of communication (Mercury) comes together with the Sun for a moment of clarity in our writing, speech, and thoughts. Today is the “superior” conjunction, which means Mercury is not retrograde. Bonus! The last 10 days of January are definitely intense because of the Pluto activation, but work with this energy if you can. (Mercury cazimi at 1 degree Aquarius.) 

Even though Mercury is now in Aquarius, note that it's still in a pretty close trine to Uranus in Taurus (about 4 degrees). That means the Mercury cazimi could correlate to significant breakthroughs — but also create some chaos with technology, scheduling, or your mind. Things might just feel busy, as they have been all year, but it doesn't hurt to move slowly and intentionally. With care, this day could be a turning point for your year.

Thursday: Evolution and changes since March 2023. Think about how much we’ve evolved since 2023 and taking actions. The day after its cazimi with the Sun, Mercury comes together with Pluto. And Mars enters Aquarius shortly after. When Mercury and Pluto come together once a year, it’s a moment of deep probing and investigation, especially in the part of your chart containing Aquarius. On the world stage, this can often correlate to secrets being revealed or intense questions, communications, and news. With Mars nearing Pluto, the intensity gets dialed up for the rest of the month. Mars is the planet of action and after providing us stamina for the past several weeks in Capricorn, it will change the vibe and become cooler, more aloof, and more process-oriented. Mars can also trigger longer-term astrology cycles like Pluto moving through Aquarius. Buckle up!

Friday: Into the heart of the underworld (ok, that’s a bit dramatic). Once a year, the Sun conjoins Pluto, which is a form of a cazimi (a term that was often reserved for the traditional planets before telescopes). Although we’ve only known Pluto for ~100 years, we can trace through history how potent this day is for highlighting the themes of Pluto. Last year, we had the first Pluto cazimi in Aquarius since the 1700s. It also correlated with the U.S. presidential inauguration. Do we see any reflections of last January when almost every CEO in Silicon Valley walked through the halls of power in D.C.? Pluto is about power (and hidden power) and Aquarius is about technology, so the connection last year between the tech industry and America’s political heart was a sight to see. The Sun also represents leaders and authority, so we should expect to see some major news about the tech industry this week and next. Buckle up.

Next week: Neptune leaves Pisces for Aries on Monday, Jan. 26, for one of the most important astrology moments of 2026. Next week ramps up the intensity of Aquarius season, and as we enter February, Uranus will be the star in the first week. Giddy-up! We’ll ride these waves together.

In the attached recording, my good friend Ned Klein joins me to serve as a captive audience for some big-picture thoughts on 2026's astrology. We had fun doing this long recording (thanks, Ned, for helping me stay focused and linear!) and hope to do more together in 2026.

We began by discussing the big cycles that define the 2020s and explain why February is a pivot year. From there, we discussed Q1 in depth and provide a quick overview of the other quarters. I plan to return with Ned each quarter — at the least! — for more detail on the months ahead.

**

2026 contains many intense moments, one unprecedented planetary connection, and the seeds of a technological renaissance. It may feel like the best of times (if you choose yourself) and the worst of times (if you resist the change).

The world is full of challenges, but I say bring on 2026. Unlike 2025, we firmly pivot into a new era and don’t look back. We leave the muddy, rotting era of earth and water and move into a bold, creative epoch of fire and air. It’s time to finish the demolition we began. While change is uncomfortable, taking action might feel like a relief after years of being stuck.

Stay focused and flexible, especially throughout Q1, July, August, and October. These months will be the busiest. Even during difficult periods, never forget that we have great moments and opportunities to break free. The year’s astrology will reward you if you examine and overcome long-standing patterns that hold you back.

In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the year of the vibrant fire horse galloping into the future. Yes, conflict can arise with this element and animal, not dissimilar to Aries energy in western tropical astrology. But the fire horse also suggests bold, forward momentum. In numerology, 2026 is a 1 year (2+0+2+6=10 or 1 in a nine-digit system). These two systems add confluence to my optimism for 2026, however unpredictable the year will be. In western tropical astrology, planetary patterns forecast that 2026 will be a major year of advancement, even amidst conflict and the destruction of old, broken systems.

Never forget: 2026 can be the best year yet — even if some astrology moments suggest chaos or conflict in the world. That’s especially true if you lean into the Aries themes of relentless optimism, independence, and bravery. Mundane astrology, or the study of world events, is very different from personal astrology. I tend to lean more into the former, so it’s always important to check how the astrology lands for you. In an Aries world, a positive mindset can move mountains.

Beginning with January, we have a dose of stamina to prepare for the year. How can you lean into your personal authority? How are you letting go of codependency and fostering interdependence instead? That’s the key of our shift from Pisces to Aries. January is the time to begin. January is the last full month of the Piscean Age.

January ends with revelations about our leaders and technological advancements. February is the key month of 2026 with an unprecedented Saturn-Neptune conjunction and the first Aquarius eclipse in years. March continues February’s intensity with a second eclipse and might add confusion with a Mercury retrograde. 

April has a moment of sharp conflict (Mars-Saturn conjunction in Aries) but also some potential dates helpful to clean up any mess from Q1. May and June are some of the best months of the year before a twist at the end of June.

July and August are intense as hell but also contain possibility for peak technological breakthroughs and inspiration. The second eclipse season falls in August this year. Fingers crossed September is a relative calm between storms.

October is perhaps my least favorite month of 2026 (besides February) with a double Venus-Mercury retrograde grind that continues into November. November ends with some nice moments. December feels slower and surrendered, but hopefully more spirited than this year’s holiday season.