Shifting Societal Structures: The Great Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune
The defining backdrop of 2026 is the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Neptune at 0 degrees Aries on February 20th. These two planets only meet every 36 years, and it signals the start of a long collective cycle. Saturn and Neptune are often at odds with one another. Saturn represents structure, boundaries, and accountability, while Neptune dissolves, idealizes, and obscures. When these two powerhouses meet, reality confronts illusion, and what has been held together by belief alone can no longer stand. Social structures seem to collapse under their own weight. Bernadette Brady called this conjunction, “the depletor,” with good reason. This conjunction is at its most intense this month and will slowly wane through the end of March.
Historically, this conjunction has coincided with profound turning points in Russian history. In 1917, a Saturn/Neptune alignment accompanied the Russian Revolution and the collapse of the monarchy. This same alignment in 1952/1953 marked the death of Stalin and the unraveling of Stalinism. And again in 1989, this same planetary pairing coincided with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the symbolic end of the Cold War era.
On a personal level, this conjunction asks you to get honest about which dreams are ready to take form and which have run their course. Be mindful that the Moon will also join this Aries party the day before. Feelings of burnout, anxiety, or physical exhaustion can surface the 19th and 20th. Take care to listen to your body.
Exalted Empathy: Venus and Jupiter’s Water Trine
One of the most gorgeous moments of this year will happen on February 22nd when Jupiter and Venus trine one another. Both of the benefics will be in their exaltation signs, which gives them incredible juice to make the magic happen.
A planet in exaltation is like someone being placed in the role they were born to play. Their strengths come forward naturally and with ease. Venus in Pisces expresses love through compassion, creativity, and emotional attunement. Jupiter in Cancer expands care, protection, and a sense of belonging. Together they create a rare current of emotional generosity and heartfelt connection that only comes around about once every twelve years. The last time this happened was April 2014.
This is a moment to lean into what feels nourishing rather than performative. Use your strengths to connect with those you love. Time spent with family, chosen or otherwise, carries extra meaning now. Creative work, spiritual practices, and acts of kindness ripple outward more than usual. Practically speaking, this is a day to give thanks, open your heart, and invest energy in relationships that feel safe and supportive. When you lead with sincerity, this alignment has a way of meeting you halfway.
Aligning Authenticity: Aquarius Solar Eclipse 2026
Eclipse season begins on February 17th with a Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, opening a longer story along the Aquarius/Leo axis that will continue unfolding over the next two years. This eclipse sets the tone for shifts surrounding themes of community, belonging, leadership, and how your individual voice fits within a larger collective. Aquarius eclipses often rearrange social networks, future goals, and the ideas that guide decision-making, while Leo’s counterpoint asks where the heart needs more authenticity and creative ownership. It’s a balance of finding your place in society while honoring your native talents.
This eclipse places a strong emphasis on communication. It is a North Node eclipse, showing there can almost be a hunger for information and social context. Intentionally delay judgment to get the sequence of events and reporting correct. Mental and emotional fatigue can be part of this cycle, making it important to slow the pace and address challenges one step at a time rather than all at once. Eclipses want to speed chapters up, but we have the power to control our reactions. This is not an eclipse for rushing ahead, but for sorting information and clarifying priorities. It is noteworthy that this eclipse will align on Trump’s descendant, which can point to a turning point in his personal story.
On the same day, Venus will conjoin the North Node, which adds intensity and focus to matters of relationships and values. This can heighten a need for attachment or finding groups of like-minded people for support. What you invest in now may feel compelling or even consuming.
As the first eclipse in this axis, February 17th highlights where alignment between personal expression and collective contribution needs adjusting. Over the next two years, themes around visibility and shared purpose will continue to evolve, asking for both heart and perspective to stay in balance. This eclipse cycle will wrap up in 2028.
Foggy Facts: Mercury Retrograde in Pisces
The first Mercury retrograde of 2026 begins on February 26th. The planet of communication will station retrograde at 22 degrees of Pisces. This year all the Mercury retrogrades will happen in water signs, giving everyone the chance to reflect on the emotional impact our words make. This year, review what works beneath the surface, uncovering what might have been forgotten, repressed, or quietly avoided. It’s an opportunity to meet communication in the heart space.
The initial retrograde, happening in Pisces, will be the most challenging. This is where the planet of communication is in fall and struggles to find tangible facts in the fog. Facts can blur, timelines soften, and clarity can feel like trying to hear underwater. Make sure you use the 3 weeks to challenge assumptions with intention and listen more than you speak. It’s a good time to journal about the impact, tune into your intuition, and allow insight to emerge gently rather than forcing answers before they are ready.
Monthly Dates of Note:
February 1: Full Moon in Leo. This lunation highlights themes of relationships and visibility. The Sun in Aquarius rules this lunation, and he brings attention to how you show up for others and what you receive in return. Emotions run high around being seen, valued, and appreciated, especially in close partnerships. As the Moon moves forward, she applies to Venus in Aquarius, emphasizing connection, dialogue, and emotional honesty. Look for opportunities for honest, heart-centered dialogue that brings clarity rather than conflict. Lead with curiosity when asking questions and notice where openness can dissolve old patterns.
February 3: Uranus stations direct in Taurus. Uranus turning direct brings momentum back to areas that have felt stalled since the fall. This is the time to simplify issues concerning resource management, security, and long-term stability actively. Changes that felt delayed or derailed get back on track. This station can bring sudden insights or practical shifts that push you out of your comfort zones you may have grown too attached to.
February 5: Mercury in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus. This is a mentally restless and challenging aspect where technology issues can cause a lot of disruption. News can be surprising or unsettling. If your nervous system feels overstimulated, step away from screens and slow the pace of decision-making. Use the Libra Moon to take mindful breaks to appreciate beauty or talk things out with a friend.
February 6/Olympic Opening: Mercury ingresses into Pisces. The mental tone softens as Mercury moves into Pisces. Logic gives way to intuition, imagination, and emotional perception. This is a good time for creative thinking and reflection, but not ideal for precise planning. Details can slip through the cracks if you move too quickly, so double-check important information.
February 8: Venus in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus. If you are looking to shake up routine with your relationships, this is the day to jolt the system. There can be a strong desire for freedom or change, especially if stagnation has become commonplace. Before you make sudden moves in relationships, ground yourself in your values and clarify the shared goals. Breaks are healthy if they are agreed upon.
February 10: Venus ingresses into Pisces. Being exalted in Pisces, Venus softens the month’s emotional tone. This is a Venus who wants to be adored and romanced. Over the next few weeks, empathy deepens and forgiveness comes more easily. Use the time to see other perspectives and lead with understanding.
February 11: Mercury enters its shadow. The Mercury retrograde story begins to form. Themes related to communication, decisions, and plans made now could be revisited later. Pay attention to conversations and ideas that linger, as they may return to the surface during the retrograde.
February 12: Mercury conjoins the North Node. Pay attention to your gut feelings and dreams today. This alignment between the North Node and the planet of communication heightens mental focus and intensifies the need to understand what lies ahead. Important conversations about future plans can hold extra weight today. Talking through your feelings helps give shape to ideas and issues.
February 13: Saturn ingresses into Aries. This marks a major shift for 2026. Saturn in Aries begins a new cycle of responsibility around independence, leadership, and personal initiative that we haven’t fully experienced since 1996. There is a push to take ownership of choices and actions. This transit asks for maturity in how you assert yourself and pursue goals. Saturn has a harder time in this Mars-ruled sign, so pacing yourself is essential to avoid burnout. Although this transit will last until 2028, today you may notice a heightened amount of frustration or a new initiative causing some panicked feelings. Take it one step at a time.
February 15: Sun in Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus. Restlessness peaks again as your ego looks for ways of asserting its individuality. There can be sudden changes in plans or a powerful urge to break free from limitations. Reframe mistakes as useful information rather than a complete failure. Try to roll with the punches today.
February 16/President’s Day: Mercury in Pisces trines Jupiter in Cancer. This is a wonderful day to build community and find the good in others. Emotional understanding deepens, and meaningful conversations build resilience. Look for ways that words can heal, reassure, or strengthen emotional bonds. If looking for a sale, you could score some enormous deals today.
February 17/Mardi Gras: Solar Eclipse in Aquarius + Venus conjunct the North Node. This eclipse opens a new chapter related to community, long-term goals, and future direction. Saturn in Aries rules this eclipse, which gives communication and bold media messages a foreshadowing quality. Pay attention where the rallying power resides, with the North Node and Venus aligning as well. Loyalties have an almost obsessive quality to them today. Lean into experimentation today while being very clear about your underlying values. New beginnings seed now, though clarity may unfold slowly over the coming months.
February 18/Ash Wednesday: Sun ingresses into Pisces. Compassion and dreamy spiritual growth come to play for the next month as the Sun tours the sign of Pisces. What an appropriate astrological event for the start of Lent. This is a season for releasing rigid expectations and embracing the flow of life. Use this month to nurture your inner world, explore themes of forgiveness, expand your creativity, or dedicate time to meditation. Deepening your sense of purpose gets heightened over the next 4 weeks. Listen to the synchronicities the universe sends you.
February 20: Saturn conjoins Neptune in Aries. Today brings the great conjunction of 2026 that will shape the collective landscape for the next 36 years. While Neptune wants to dissolve, Saturn wants to give shape. Historically, this alignment has coincided with major ideological and political shifts, especially in Russia’s story. On a personal level, this may highlight which dreams are ready to take form and which need to be released. Watch the tendency to feel burned out today or feel you need to be braver than you feel inside. Discipline and ideals must work together.
February 22: Venus in Pisces trines Jupiter in Cancer. This is one of my most favorite days of the year where the benefics and the Moon are all working together. The day highlights emotional warmth, generosity, and connection. With the Moon in Taurus, this is a beautiful time to ground yourself with nourishing relationships and comforting rituals. Host a dinner party or make a family recipe passed down through generations. Celebrate the nurturing bonds that infuse your life with meaning.
February 26: Mercury stations retrograde in Pisces. Today heralds the start of the hardest Mercury retrograde of 2026. Miscommunication or reading into things that weren’t conveyed can become real issues today. Make sure you understand and respond to everything that’s being discussed. With Mercury in water, hurt feelings and feeling misunderstood can become commonplace. Slow down conversations and clarify expectations. Use the next three weeks to review, reflect, and reassess rather than start new projects.
February 27: Sun conjunct the North Node + Mars square Uranus + Venus conjunct Mercury. This is an active and charged day with so many aspects in the sky. As your sense of purpose becomes impossible to ignore, you may feel a powerful urge to be seen or recognized. Make sure you express your needs with emotional awareness and temper your words so others can hear your message. Mars and Uranus can create breakthroughs, but the disruption can be too much if it’s not handled carefully. Lean into the Venus/Mercury conjunction and the Moon in Cancer to unite others behind your convictions.
