January of 2026 gives us some indications of Important themes to start the new year. The first Full Moon of the year is on January 3, at 13 Cancer, the degree of the USA Sun. The Moon is in its own sign, putting focus on the people of the nation. Family, security, and national values are the primary themes of our personal daily awareness with all the personal planets in Capricorn under the Sun’s beams.
1st Full Moon January 3, 2026
Over the first week of 2026, Venus, things of value, and Mars, self-will through action, are both crossing over the heart of the Sun. They are meeting each other in Capricorn, bringing about transforming experiences that “make sense.” Venus and Mars are the archetypal lovers who empower how we bring about the structure of our reality. They meet every two years rejuvenating our creations. At this time, Mars is exalted in Capricorn where it exhibits cautious leadership and promises security, protection, and commitment to its causes. Venus has the dignity of Triplicity, bringing the benefit of connections that seem lucky by being in the right place at the right time. Fortuitous meetings and unexpected good luck can come from this time of early January.
On January 9, the trio will oppose Jupiter, still retrograde. Jupiter rules banking, legal and Judicial structures, this period is likely to see an escalation of crises in financial issues. Precious metal prices are increasing rapidly as the dollar loses value. This year could see a volatile money market, leading to a major reorganization of values, and systems of access to our assets.
Mercury conjuncts Mars on Saturday, the 17th. Words can strike like swords when these two planets join forces. The Moon will be in Capricorn where it is in detriment under the influence of Saturn in Pisces, and Mars, in Capricorn, with the power to orient the focus while being concealed in the Sun’s rays. The Sun trines Uranus adding a rebellious tone to looking toward future possibilities. There is a contrast in the late degrees of protectionist Earth signs completing and moving into the technocratic futuristic ideas from the Air activation coming up in the next month.
Venus enters Aquarius where the energy builds toward individualism, reduces the inhibitions of conformity and self-judgment. The Fixed star Altair sits on this threshold to Aquarius. This planetary movement encourages a spirit of individualism, motivating people to express their authentic selves more freely. Altair’s influence increases the search for the ideal in every part of life with new standards to strive for becoming the portal to the collective vision activation point.
The 18th is the New Moon at 28 Capricorn. Mercury and Mars follow the Sun and will first aspect Saturn, where we recognize and examine the old rules. Then, they move into a trine to Uranus, ending the last degrees of Taurus. We recognize the disappointments of past unfulfilled expectations and let go of the comparison to current reality.
Going into the next week we can start to see future possibilities. The inner planets line up to pass through the initiation powers of Pluto, planet of transformation, at 3 degrees Aquarius. On Monday, the 19th Venus leads the Sun’s line up of reactions of extremes. Mercury, the messenger, meets the Sun on January 21, in the beginning of Aquarius, and they both will conjunct Pluto over the next two days. Strategies and long-range plans take form in secret meetings.
Mars meets Pluto on the 27th. These energies are never easy, but rather often define a period of drama over control, domination, and sometimes destruction. The conjunction of these two brings an increase of martial actions and imposes limits to individual freedoms, “for everyone’s safety.” Pluto, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, and Mercury tightly lined up is impressive because of its invisibility to us, as the Sun’s rays hide them all. This is analogous to a very private meeting of powerful figures behind closed doors.
Also on January 27, Neptune reenters 0 Aries, the sign of New Beginnings, to stay for the next 22 years. The entrance to Aries is on the World Point, influencing sweeping events of international proportions. Global banking shake ups are likely as many nations experience dramatic turns of fortunes. Pluto, Neptune, and soon Uranus will begin lengthy periods of travel in Aquarius, Aries, and Gemini. The slow planets express through the collective by the developments and changes that affect everyone without prejudice. Equalizers.
Neptune has a cycle of 165 years to travel the Zodiac. The last time the world experienced Neptune in Aries began at the very start of the American Civil War. Last Spring-Summer of 2025, we had a brief interlude of Neptune’s expression in Aries, coming close to its conjunction with Saturn. The two planets will complete this joining on February 20, marking a major shift in the greater geopolitical world view.
Astrologers see Saturn as structures in society, governments, and the socially accepted rules of participating within the security of “normal life.” Neptune by contrast, is the idealistic, the image of glamor and celebrity, the illusion of a “free country,” the mythology of religiousness, spirituality, and evolution. As the year ahead unfolds, we are crossing into unfamiliar territory and there will be massive change.
Saturn will enter 0 Aries on February 15, when the Moon joins the line up of planets in Aquarius. There will be an Annular Solar Eclipse at 28 Aquarius on February17. This will be the 5th New Moon at 28 degrees since September. The end degrees of every sign are ruled by either Mars or Saturn, the planets most related to strife and struggle. The monthly themes have put attention on the challenges of economic hardship for Americans who are experiencing the shrinking value of the US dollar. The next New Moon at 28 Pisces will be linked with the fixed star Sheat, which is associated with shipwrecks, and water disasters.
2026 has a few difficult periods ahead. Mercury, which has a cycle of 88 days, will be retrograding in the water signs this year, suggesting potential of storms with flooding. It also sets us up to review each period through our feelings as we find answers by way of our hearts.
Planetary Alignments During the Spring Equinox
During the Spring Equinox on March 20, a notable planetary alignment occurs as the Sun joins both Neptune and Saturn in the early degrees of Aries. This conjunction brings together the energies of illumination, intuition, and discipline, marking a significant shift as the seasons change.
Additionally, Pluto forms a harmonious trine with Uranus, with their midpoint aligning with Neptune. This configuration suggests a period where transformative forces work smoothly with innovation, all under the subtle influence of Neptune’s visionary qualities. The planetary patterns at the Equinox set the stage for dynamic changes and new beginnings as spring arrives.
This combination brings periods that make people struggle to make sense of the world. On one hand, we might say that many people are trapped in the illusion of the matrix. While others are awakening to their own powers of reasoning and understanding the world and those who run it.
The second half of April with the New Moon on the 17th, shows off six planets in Aries, the sign of the individual will. This will really emphasize awareness of how powerful self-worth is in getting what you want and being true to one’s purpose.
2025 has begun as a transitional year where we had the slow, outer planets ingress to new signs temporarily. They all have retrograded back to the late degrees of the signs they were in for significant periods. As they travel directly, more things will seem possible and intentional, moving past old paradigms.
Pluto is staying in Aquarius until 2045. Neptune will stay in Aries until the Spring of 2039. On April 27, Uranus reenters Gemini, staying through May 2033. Saturn will stay in Aries until April 14, 2028. Jupiter spends one year in each sign. It will enter Leo on July 1, 2026. This ignites an emphasis of masculine Fire and Air elements this year. These are signs that initiate action, embrace innovative technologies, and envision new ideologies.
Jupiter in Leo will oppose Pluto later in July, just as the Sun enters its own domain, marking a powerful standoff that may spark events that could be political as well as financial. The Sun and Jupiter both rule gold. With the economic tensions, the summer months could see dramatic changes regarding precious metals, and US trade relationship with China, the country holding the most gold and silver in the world.
Total Solar Eclipse
The chart for the August 12 Solar Eclipse in Leo features a grand trine in Air signs, and trines in Fire signs between Mercury and Jupiter in Leo to Neptune and Saturn in Aries. Neptune stations retrograde on July 7 in sextile aspect to Pluto. Saturn also stations retrograde on the 26th. Mercury stations direct in Cancer on July 24, in a square aspect to Saturn. This is our warning to secure water and be prepared for drought season, and to be attentive to periods of high winds. Events starting from this emphasis on Air and Fire start in a flash!! They are life-changing influences. Sudden and Unexpected.
2026 Preview Tip
To finish the preview with a tip that Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will end 2026 with retrograde phases that will emphasize them traveling through one sign taking them a long time carried into 2027.
On September 11, Venus enters Scorpio. It stations retrograde on October 3, at 8 Scorpio. It reenters Libra on October 27, then stations direct on November 14. It retraces it path through the last of Libra, reentering Scorpio on December 5 and finishing the sign on January 8, 2027. This series could focus on financial markets, and topics relating to women’s rights, including fertility and abortion rights.
Mars will spend a little more than five months in Virgo and the last 20 degrees in Leo. Mars will enter Virgo on November 26. Then it stations retrograde at 10 Virgo on January 10. It reenters the end of Leo, retrograding back to 21 Leo, stationing direct on April 2, 2027. It finally returns to Virgo on May 15. Mars finishes the shadow zone at 10 Virgo on June 9.
Jupiter will share the same territory of late Leo with Mars. Jupiter stations retrograde at 27 Leo, on December 12, 2026. It’s slower retrograde travel takes it to April 13, 2027 to station direct at 17 Leo. It finally enters Virgo on July 28, 2027.
Mars focuses on military activities. While in Leo, it displays courage, strength of defense, and leadership, diplomacy, and bravado. The time in Virgo is more strategic planning, and negotiation.
Whether change comes by the weather, the economy, or the leadership, they could all be factors of a crazy, quickly changing year ahead. Not much of that can we change. We can only roll with what comes and be inventive and resourceful. The thing to put your focus on is building up your family and community relationships. Creating alliances that you can count on is the best advice for 2026. In this year of so much individualism, recognize that what You have to share is the uniqueness of YOU.
Go ahead and Be Somebody!
Best Wishes for a Wonderful New Year.