Big Energies in the Last Half of February 2026
It's been quite a year so far. The energy is palpably different from anything in the past and we are on the threshold of more changes as we move into the last half of February. I have been struggling with how to address the astrology of the time, because it is a lot. Not surprising, of course because that truism "as above so below" is a truism for a reason. The planets are reflecting the huge energy shifts we are all feeling. My hope is to offer a "head's up" to help make sense of what we are experiencing. While the upcoming eclipse and Mercury retrograde will have separate posts as usual, I want to offer a slightly longer term perspective.
It's important to remember that astrology, above all else, is an energy system. Planets are specific types of energy; signs offer a field of potential as to how that energy gets expressed. In an individual chart, the houses show the areas of life that receive or focus the planetary energy. That said, it's important to recognize that no event operates in a silo. Energies interact. Fields influence fields. Much like the waves in the ocean, each one distinct, but also part of and contributing to larger currents operating at different levels.
The second half of February starts with a Solar Eclipse in Aquarius on 2.17. This eclipse falls at 28 degrees, 50 minutes of Aquarius - really close to the final, aka anaretic, degree of the sign. In fact, all of the New Moons since 9.21.25's Solar Eclipse have been at or very close to the final degree of the sign they were in. Proximity to that last degree indicates it is time to wrap up the themes of that sign. We are done with it, getting ready to move into the next sign and take the wisdom and insights we gained from our time in the sign we are leaving. The final degree of each sign is where the decision of what to carry forward on the journey and what to leave in the past happens.
So, September's New Moon/Solar Eclipse was at 29 degrees of Virgo, signaling, among other things, that old Virgo patterns were finishing up. Virgo is here to make things more efficient, to improve the system so it works better. But Virgo can anxiously pursue perfection rather than improvement and get so caught up in the minor details it looses sight of the bigger picture. That leads to overwhelm and collapse and the purpose is never fulfilled.
October's New Moon was at 28 degrees of Libra. Libra themes of relationships and keeping harmony were highlighted. Old, ineffective patterns of relating to others were undeniable. Self-denial masquerading as compromise in order to keep the peace was no longer sustainable. Time for a new approach to relationships.
November and December's New Moons in Scorpio and Sagittarius, respectively, were also at 28 degrees of each of those signs. Again, old patterns of intimacy, being accountable to important others, and sharing resources (Scorpio) and beliefs, ethics, justice (Sagittarius) were being released, or at least opportunities to revise them were presented. What we did with those opportunities was up to us.
Now we are in a whole new year. January's New Moon was very close to the anaretic degree of Capricorn at 28 degrees, 44 minutes. Our career, our ambitions and reputation were the themes. What about your approach to the things of Capricorn needed to be ended so new expressions could take root?
Now we are looking at another Solar Eclipse at 28 degrees 50 minutes in Aquarius on February 17. Our ways of connecting with others, forming communities, and our desires for the future are the focus here. Next month's New Moon in Pisces on March 19 will be the last one to land at 28 degrees. Our spirituality will be the theme then, emphasizing how we integrate our divinity, our soul's wisdom, and express compassion while maintaining healthy boundaries. How can we hold the awareness of ourselves as both separate waves and also part of the larger ocean?
Essentially, each New Moon since the last eclipse season offered the chance to shed old patterns and plant seeds for new expressions of that particular sign.
A few days after the upcoming Solar Eclipse on 2.17 we have the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune at 0 degrees of Aries. While Saturn and Neptune meet up every 36 years or so, (the last time was in 1989 in the sign of Capricorn), they have never met at the very first degree of the zodiac, 0 Aries, at least as far as recorded history has noted. The last post on the Full Moon in Leo discussed this conjunction. It is hard to overstate its importance. It is essentially a reset for the planet (0 Aries is the initiatory degree for the whole cycle of the zodiac.) Aries starts things, it is the "I am", the wave realizing it is a wave, a separate entity from the ocean.
What will we as a planet start? It's up to each of us. That is the essence of Aries - independent, courageous, idealistic, confident. Aries is yang energy, a formidable will that refuses to be quiet. How will this transit express? What will it look like? Unclear. Sorry. But remember, there is no precedent for this, which makes it that much more important. It is the start of a whole new cycle for sure. Aries is a pioneer. It breaks new ground. Neptune is the planet of spirituality, of dissolution. It can be foggy and ethereal, compassionate and service oriented, but also get mired in victim/martyr roles, forgetting its power. For the past 14 years it has been in Pisces, its home sign, comfortably floating, dissolving boundaries and exploring consciousness. Saturn on the other hand, is all about boundaries and structures. Dreamy Neptune lives in the world of its creation. Saturn is having none of that. When they meet up on February 20 they will blend their energies. Neptune's creativity and connection to higher realms will be able to anchor into the material world. Saturn's practicality and critical eye will soften. How will you demonstrate your compassion and connection to your spirit?
Because this is such a big combination of energy at a potent point, it might not express as bells and whistles during an event. In fact, it is likely that whatever starts under this conjunction might not be readily apparent. That something starts is not in question. A seed will be planted. An energy unlike any other will be birthed. But it is possible that this won't be some huge event. Mars, the ruler of Aries and in general, an initiatory energy, will activate this point in mid-April when int crosses into Aries. That may well be the time we see the result of what this transit starts. Regardless of how this conjunction manifests in February, something related will show up in April. That is just how Mars works.
We end February with Mercury going retrograde in Pisces starting February 26. (Get your tech and vehicles serviced now) This year Mercury will be retrograding through the water signs (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio). When Mercury retrogrades through water signs it offers opportunities for us to revise how we communicate our feelings and how we interpret emotions. Mercury is the planet of communication and information processing. Mercury is all about data, logic, and facts. In water signs, Mercury is learning how to receive information from many different sources, especially from intuition. It will learn how to operate from both heart and mind. At least that is the hope.
All the personal planets have been passing through Aquarius, making contact with Pluto at 3 degrees of Aquarius. This was discussed in the Full Moon in Leo post. The point being this succession of connection to Pluto by each of the personal planets and culminating with the Full Moon in Leo showed us patterns that were unsustainable, much like the New Moons discussed above. Only in this circumstance, it dealt directly with our energy expression, rather than the themes of the signs being highlighted. How we expressed our purpose (Sun), dealt with our emotions and cared for ourselves (Moon), how we expressed ourselves and used our mind for learning and interpreting information (Mercury); how we expressed our values and form relationships with important others (Venus), and how we expressed passion, anger, will, and our physical energy (Mars) were all up for review when Pluto was conjuncted by each personal planet in turn.
Now these planets are slowly leaving Aquarius and moving into Pisces. Mercury shifted to Pisces last week. Mercury in Pisces can find using words a challenge. Watery Pisces operates at a slower pace and interprets information using different tools than just the logical mind. This coming week Venus will join Mercury in Pisces, adding a romantic perspective to relationships and values. Venus likes being Pisces. The Moon will enter Pisces right after the Solar Eclipse, and the Sun moves into Pisces the following day. Mars remains in Aquarius until the Lunar Eclipse on March 3. The point is that as the personal planets leave Aquarius for Pisces, we will be more inclined to soften. Kindness is accessed more easily. However, it's important to hold your boundaries. Flowy water energy tends to be lax about boundaries. That is where the tendency to feel victimized arises in Pisces. Watch any over giving, oversharing, or codependency. Healthy boundaries are always the answer.
Peeking ahead, April has Uranus moving into Gemini and Mars activating the 0 Aries point. In July we have Jupiter moving into Leo. There are other shifts happening then as well, and all will be addressed as the year proceeds. For now, it is important to take things one step at a time. Deal with what is on the horizon, for that will influence how the future unfolds.
As has been noted frequently, this year has all the outer planets shifting signs in a short period of time. As these slow outer planets move, they spend a great deal of time retrograding back and forth. When they move to a new sign,(which is a very big deal), it takes a few times moving into and then retrograding back into the previous sign before they fully move into the new sign. That was what happened in 2025. Pluto was just settling into Aquarius after its 20 year transit through Capricorn, but Neptune and Uranus moved into Aries and Gemini, respectively, for a few months, then went back into their previous signs to complete any unfinished business before moving into the new signs for the duration. Neptune enters Aries, as noted above. Uranus moves into Gemini in April where it will stay for the next 7 years. Further, Saturn and Jupiter, the bridge between the outer, generational planets and the personal planets are also shifting signs this year. Saturn moving into Aries with Neptune and Jupiter moving into Leo in July. The deck is being shuffled.
Lots of astrologers are talking about all of these moving parts. Big changes, unprecedented shifts, collapse of old patterns and structures. And for sure, this is happening. It's undeniable that the external seems chaotic. There is a lot of noise. It can be hard to stay grounded and centered when the outer is so off kilter. But despite the appearances, these outer planets, the ones that influence the collective and the world at large, are supporting each other. They are forming flowing, supportive aspects between themselves. Pluto in early Aquarius, Uranus (when it moves into Gemini in April) and Neptune in early Aries are bringing opportunities as they are sextiling each other. Sextiles are supportive aspects. We need to take advantage of them; they don't just drop things into your lap, but they are inherently full of potential for ease and growth. They are positive energy relationships. They don't challenge each other the way squares and oppositions do. To me, this is a bright light. No matter appearances, these energies which are at the foundation of all the changes happening are not random nor are they putative. They are forming a net of support. They are offering opportunities to each of us to show up as a new version, a version that is anchored in both our mind and our heart; our body and our spirit. The world is restructuring and we are restructuring how we move in the world, how we share ourselves, build community, collaborate, and create. How we live our purpose, demonstrate our values, share our resources, love our families, friends, colleagues and neighbors, shine our light. We are at choice and at cause. Astrology is an energy system; so are you. What quality of energy are you choosing to express?
