As a backdrop to this Solar Esclipse in Aquarius, on February 13th Saturn entered Aries. (in 2025, Saturn entered Aries briefly and dropped back to Pisces). Last time Saturn entered Aries April 1996 – November 1998. Saturn disciplines the fiery Aries energy. It wants to slow it and shape new beginnings. In Aries it can also crystallize the negative Aries qualities of conflict and cruelty. (for full info on Saturn in Aries, read in Planetary alignments 2026)
February 17 – Annular Solar Eclipse, (Ring of Fire) 28 Aquarius, 4:01 AM PST
Beginning of Chinese New Year – the Fire Horse
Feb 17 – marks an auspicious threshold as the Chinese New Year begins under a Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, just days before the first exact Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Aries on February 20. Eclipses often arrive as wild cards, revealing what has been hidden and accelerating events already stirring beneath the surface. With this eclipse in Aquarius, collective and community matters are brought to the forefront, opening pathways to unexpected breakthroughs and new social configurations.
The Solar Eclipse pulls our attention to a rebirth, a portal into the fundamental changes now taking place in our systems and structures. This is the “Crossing of the Threshold” time, this mid-February, a doorway to a new cycle, with the potency of dissolving the old taking place under the Saturn Neptune conjunction, at zero Aries.
Zero Aries is known as a “World Point’ where the entire globe feels the ending and beginning, the reboot of how we’ve given form to our interrelationships, the structures that define who we are and how we go into the future. The previous Saturn Neptune conjunction took place as the Berlin wall came down and Europe reconfigured itself. A time of dissolving, and dissolution of form, and reforming of the imagery that will lead us into the future.
This Eclipse is especially charged, forming a tense square to Uranus, the planet of revolution, disruption, and awakening. What has been constrained seeks release. What has been controlled strains to move freely, a surge of energy to break away from entrenched systems and rigid authority. This square spikes the new beginning with a counter punch. Forces confront, as the forming of what will be, come from vastly different views and ideologies. Back to the old, or visioning a more consciously held world dynamics.
The Leo Aquarius axis held at this time is remaking the collective to the personal, asking what kind of leadership will open the door to the most beneficial new cycle? Aquarius highlights community, and with Uranus in the mix, its remaking community in response to the over-aggrandizement of the less evolved Leo expression of kingly power. And to that, the Aries point, (where Saturn and Neptune conjunct) indicate the busting forth of a new birth, dissolved and reimagined (Neptune) and checked by reality testing, (Saturn). We have a volatile rebirth taking place, with the dramatic Ring of Fire, Solar Eclipse, being the exclamation point.
A new season is upon us, calling to all of us to participate, not only in our personal rebirth but also a collective awakening, fueled by the powers of Aries, to take a stand and act, to establish a new ground of being for the future.
This alignment is especially potent for the USA and its chart. The Saturn Neptune conjunction, the dissolving and recreating, is taking place in our very foundation, the Nadir (4th house) of the USA chart. Add to that that the eclipse itself is activating the USA Moon. The Moon represents the people of the country. It indicates a door opening to unexpected events that galvanize the people into acting, envisioning, and change.
(for more on this see Susan’s January 2026 talk and her February monthly talk here).
And add to this volatile, powerful birth and new beginning
The Fire Horse Year
These Aquarian themes; rebellion, visionary possibility, community interaction, and technological innovation, interlace with the arrival of Fire Horse energy, amplifying courage, movement, and the instinct to act. At the same time, the Saturn Neptune conjunction in Aries signals the dissolution of old structures and the slow, deliberate reimagining of how the world is built. What no longer holds meaning weakens; what carries vitality desires form. This makes for a powerful and symbolic beginning to the Chinese New Year.
Out of 2025, as the Snake sheds its old skin, on February 17th, 2026, the Fire Horse emerges, movement born not from impulse alone, but from insight distilled during the Serpent year. The Fire Horse trusts intuition, follows hunches, moves decisively, uncovering hidden agendas, and challenging imposed limits. Independent and risk-taking, this energy resists restraint and seeks new direction when the old path no longer aligns.
Fire is the Horse’s natural element, and in 2026 it is doubled, creating a year infused with inspiration, passion, and momentum. This is a potent time for reconnecting with what brings joy, for cultivating creative vitality, and for allowing passion to guide action. This year is a call to courage and passion within yourself for new beginnings. The Fire Horse carries the gifts of warmth, resilience, and healing, encouraging movement, travel, and shifts in perspective that rekindle aliveness. The challenge of this year lies in excess, taking on too much, burning out, or being pulled into unnecessary conflict. Competition can escalate quickly if not tempered with awareness. The invitation is to move boldly, but wisely.
Affirmation for the Solar Eclipse in Aquarius
“I feel into a broader vision for the year ahead, being open and attentive to synchronicities which can guide and create new possibilities. I feel the importance of community and participation. I am aware of letting go of old structures, habits, and ways of thinking, while something new is forming.”
(for the entire February astrological newsletter click here)
Feb 18 – The Sun enters Pisces – Pisces, as mutable water, dissolves the old and reimagines the possibilities to be born. As the last sign in the zodiac, its activity is to bring out the essential from the whole cycle. The Sun in Pisces brings us back to a yin time of month, dissolving winter to set the stage for birthing spring. A time for artists, poets, musicians, spirituality.
Feb 20 – Saturn conjuncts Neptune at 0 Aries – potent birth of a new 36 year cycle. Dissolving outdated systems and structures to reimagine new forms to be foundational. The pairing of opposites, structure and fluidity, discipline and revery, pragmatic and spiritual. How do we blend these opposites in our own lives? (more info on Saturn Neptune conjunction in Aries, read in Planetary alignments 2026
Feb 25 – Mercury goes retrograde at 22 Pisces (goes direct Mar 20, at 8 Pisces) – time to slow down, meditate, retreat and review our quality of life & our deeper emotions, potency of dream messages. Now the collective must also review, reimagine, and feel what is being thought up, communicated and we are asked to take an historical review that helps us understand the dynamics of our country and this time.( https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-happens-when-a-megalomaniac-begins-to-fail/id268213039?i=1000749691645 )
Feb 27 – Mars at 27 Aquarius squares Uranus in Taurus – a day to keep grounded, quick unexpected change in movement, accidents, tension around action and rebellion.
Mar 3 – Lunar Eclipse 12 Virgo/Pisces, 3:33 am PST – Look for the eclipse in the March article!
The Twelve signs for the Solar Eclipse: Sun and Rising Signs
 Aries (Mar 20-Apr 19): Dear Aries, with Neptune now in Aries, and Saturn having entered Aries on the 13th, another layer of complexity fills your month. What’s ending or dissolving in your life? What inner urging or feeling wants to be brought into new beginnings? This is tremendously powerful for you. Is there something just on the edge of being manifested? The Solar Eclipse, on the 17th, in Aquarius, initiates the Year of the Fire Horse. This eclipse, squaring Uranus, the change agent, can bring sudden insight and breakthrough, especially in regards to community involvement, friends, and visions for the future, inspiring both movement and challenge to step into new perspectives.
 Taurus (Apr 20-May 20): Dear Taurus, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th opens a powerful new chapter in your outer life, in career, public standing or what you are aspiring towards. Something new helps to shape your course forward, while Uranus squaring this eclipse shakes up long-standing assumptions about who you are becoming. With Saturn having entered Aries on the 13th, and soon to conjunct Neptune on the 20th, an inner reckoning begins. Old identities are dissolving; unconscious patterns are ready to be named. The Fire Horse year invites you to trust the stirrings beneath the surface and move forward even before everything feels secure.
 Gemini (May 21-Jun 20): Dear Gemini, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th in Aquarius, squaring Uranus, can bring a sudden shift in perspective, a breakthrough that changes how you understand your path. Something previously unconscious comes to your attention. Saturn’s entrance into Aries on the 13th, conjuncting Neptune on the 20th, can loosen old roles you played within groups and communities, and bring something new to the forefront. Neptune dissolves old ideals that no longer feel true. Saturn and Neptune now act together. The Fire Horse year sparks bold thinking and the courage to follow ideas that feel risky yet alive. As Mercury is your ruling planet, its retrograde time is especially important for you. With its retrograde in Pisces, beginning the 25th, its time to slow down, drop deeper, and review what brings meaning and purpose to your journey.
 Cancer (Jun 21–Jul 21): Dear Cancer, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th initiates a new cycle of how you create intimate connections with others. It can bring an inner clearing of old issues. It highlights the deep waters of intimacy for you: shared resources, emotional bonds, and psychological truths. Something new wants to emerge. Your attention to synchronicities, or unexpected events, opens the door. The eclipse’s square to Uranus brings unexpected support, or disruption, from friends or networks. Saturn entered Aries on the 13th, joining Neptune, on the 20th, brings pressure to redefine your public role or sense of responsibility. Something you’ve carried for a long time may be ready to dissolve. The Fire Horse year urges you to move bravely through emotional terrain you may have once not known how to navigate.
 Leo (Jul 22 – Aug 22): Dear Leo, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th resets your relationship patterns, to balance your radiant individuality and needs with the needs and autonomy of others. The eclipse square to Uranus can bring sudden changes in career, life direction, or to your aspirations. Staying alert to that allows clearer choices and actions. Saturn’s entry into Aries on the 13th, aligning with Neptune, on the 20th, opens a longer initiation into new beliefs, new learning, and new horizons. What you once thought was certain may soften, making room for deeper meaning. Committing to new study, or a program of teaching activates a new way of being in your life. The Fire Horse year calls you to lead not from ego, but from authentic heart-centered courage.
 Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22): Dear Virgo, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th encourages opening a new chapter in how you care for your body, and structure your days, while the Uranus’ square brings sudden insights that challenge old belief systems. Your ruling planet, Mercury, helps you notice where small adjustments can lead to meaningful change, especially during its retrograde period, February 25 – March 20th. Saturn having entered Aries on the 13th, joining with Neptune, on the 20th, invites you into deeper emotional insight around dependency, trust, and shared responsibilities. This conjunction meets in the area of your chart defining intimacy and shared finances. The Fire Horse year encourages you to trust intuition alongside analysis.
 Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22): Dear Libra, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th initiates a fresh creative cycle, highlighting your uniqueness, and perhaps, bringing in a new factor, which may appear unexpectedly. You can feel the possibilities as you tune into your heart and its calling. The square to Uranus from the Eclipse can bring sudden emotional breakthroughs or shifts in intimacy. Saturn having enteried Aries on the 13th, brings relationship lessons into sharper focus, while Neptune (just into Aries s well) dissolves illusions you may have held about others. Their conjunction on the 20th invites a new beginning, a review, and realignment in your relationships. The Fire Horse year invites you to choose authenticity with thoughtful consideration of the goals you wish to fulfill. Do you need new strategies?
 Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21): Dear Scorpio, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th resets your sense of belonging and inner security. It’s a good time to pause and listen to what you are needing. This is an investment in your future. With the eclipse squaring Uranus, unexpected changes through relationships can now take place. Are there changes that need to take place, or areas that need redefining? The Aquarius planets activate home and emotional foundations, stirring deep inner movement. Saturn’s entry into Aries on the 13th has asked you to restructure daily habits and commitments, while Neptune dissolves patterns that drain your vitality. With their conjunction on the 20th, a new cycle begins and can be supported. The Fire Horse year invites you to move forward with fearless emotional honesty.
 Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 20): Dear Sagittarius, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th begins a new cycle of learning and expression, a perfect time for deeper attunement to what is giving form to your journey. Are there changes in your thinking that are needed? The square to Uranus shakes up routines or work patterns, creating a fresh way to look at things. The Aquarius planets activate communication and local connections, bringing conversations that may both challenge your assumptions and compliment how you express yourself. Saturn entered Aries on the 13th, adding weight to creative projects or matters of the heart, while Neptune dissolves outdated passions or expectations. The Fire Horse year fuels your innate desire for freedom and bold exploration.
 Capricorn (Dec 21- Jan 19): Dear Capricorn, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th initiates a new relationship with your sense of security and self-reliance. The square to Uranus from the Solar eclipse can bring sudden creative or heart felt surprises, changing your sense of self. Saturn, the planet of mastery and hard work toward achievement, is your ruling planet, being very influential in your life. It entered Aries on the 13th, marking a profound shift toward redefining home, family, and emotional roots, while Neptune (also now in Aries) dissolves old structures that no longer support growth. The Fire Horse year invites courage in creating what is new in your life, which you may have once approached more cautiously.
. Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 17): Dear Aquarius, the Solar Eclipse on the 17th, in your sign, marks a powerful personal reset. A sudden opportunity or change opens doors for you, supporting your sense of sense, and how you feel as you move out in the world. This eclipse’s square to Uranus shakes foundations at home or within the family. What needs reconfiguring? Uranus, your modern ruler, being activated by the coming eclipse, signals that change can be evolutionary, a growth option. Something deep is surfacing to lead you forward. Saturn entered Aries on the 13th, bringing discipline to your thinking and communication, while Neptune (now in Aries) dissolves outdated narratives. Prepare for a new way of thinking as the Saturn Neptune conjunction on the 20th shapes your field of thought. The Fire Horse year urges you to embody your vision with bold, embodied action.
 Pisces (Feb 18-Mar 19): Dear Pisces, Neptune, your ruling planet, aligns with Saturn (on the 20th) as Saturn has entered Aries on the 13th. This accentuates a powerful threshold around values, self-worth, and the talents that are unique to you. Something new is forming around how you regard yourself. What once felt foggy begins to take form. This unique planetary configuration encourages reflection on how you want to share yourself and your talents over the next period of time. The Solar Eclipse on the 17th opens a new spiritual cycle, calling you home to the natural deep feeling and imaginative person you are. Watch for messages from your dreams! With Uranus squaring this solar eclipse, it can bring sudden insights through conversations or unexpected news. The Fire Horse year encourages you to trust intuition and move with courage into the unknown.
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