by Susan DeRyder | Feb 15, 2026 |
The Aquarius New Moon, an Annular Solar Eclipse, lands in a week that is full of astrological events that have the attention of astrologers everywhere. The week beginning February 16 feels like a key stone in 2026, setting the tone for the months ahead that have building momentum. The New Moon/Solar Eclipse chart itself has plenty to ponder on, it’s also impossible to ignore everything else that is going on around it…
February 17
Aquarius New Moon & Solar Eclipse at 28°49” Aquarius at 7:01am ET/4:01am PT
Venus reaches 10° from the Sun, emerging from the underworld
Venus conjuncts the North Node
The year of the Fire Horse begins (Chinese New Year)
February 18
Venus conjunct the Moon for the first ‘gate’ (one of eight) in her ascending journey, the root chakra (still with the North Node)
February 20
Saturn conjunct Neptune at 0° Aries – for the first time in 6387 years!
What Resonates As The Highest Intent?
None of us have been here before, in this particular line up and so none of us can say what these transits are seeding for the collective. What we can do is align ourselves with what resonates as the highest intent for these cycles and the part we can play in collaborating with an intent for the good ofthe Earth and of all beings. Inside of that, there is no doubt the shadow is being revealed, a deep purge of what is old, dead and dying is upon us.
For many it has been a long season, be it Winter in the Northern Hemisphere or Summer in the South. It seems none of us have been immune to entering the deep feeling ground. During the months that Mars and Venus were in the underworld together, every living being on Earth was touched by these planetary energies and each of us had our own experience of that time. Now as Venus rises during this powerful week, we are reminded of the resounding force of forward motion that 2026 has been promising us and it seems this New Moon day is offering us a clear marker for that.
Aquarius Wants Freedom
Aquarius, first and foremost, wants freedom. Aquarius wants higher truth, higher love. And, Aquarius is also a sign of extreme novelty where we can expect nothing but the unexpected. This revolutionary sign takes us from the known into a place where change happens, often times before we have time to resist it.
Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, now at 27°32” Taurus, will be squaring this Aquarian New Moon / Solar Eclipse, offering its utterly wildcard energy to an already unpredictable situation. Uranus is now cruising towards Gemini and will make its final ingress into this sign on April 25 2026. This planet will not return to Taurus for another 76 years. If there’s any work still to be done here, now is this time. This square serves up actional wildcard energy.
Venus Emerges, Potentially Bedraggled
Venus’ feature in this New Moon chart has such a powerful presence. Venus reflects to us the Inner Sacred Feminine. After spending three months in the underworld, she emerges, potentially pretty bedraggled after a long arduous journey. She does not have to wait long to meet with the North Node, together at around 8°51/56 Pisces and with Mercury a few degrees ahead. I have heard Daniel Giamario refer to Mercury as an image of ‘Ninshubur’, Inanna’s (Venus’) trusted attendant and divine messenger. Ninshubur ensured Inanna’s return from the underworld, following instructions with unwavering loyalty. The image of Venus at the North Node with Mercury just ahead like this is striking. The North Node is a holy gateway at the ‘Head of the Arrow’ of the ‘Collective Intent’’ now in Pisces, a sign of care and love for all beings. This is the symbol of the Sacred Feminine Consciousness rising from the ashes standing at the gateway, pointing the way during times of hopelessness and despair. This New Moon is a North Node eclipse, which means that its intent is future oriented. Add this to the rest of the sign posts – we have one way to go from here.
Chiron Approaches Eris
Meanwhile another connection to the Feminine is featured in this chart as Chiron approaches Eris for an exact conjunction on March 19. They are just a few minutes away from being within one degree of each other. I do not have a huge amount of personal experience with Eris, however after doing some of my own research and reading more about the Greek Goddess this dwarf planet is named after, I felt compelled to speak of her here. Eris appears to be an agent of chaos and conflict… an absolutely essential part of the cycle of harmony and balance. We cannot have one without the other. When Eris meets Chiron does it bring about the healing of the Sacred Feminine through something dying first? This echoes and rhymes with many of the other aspects and cycles unfolding right now that we all know about. With Eris, there is little to talk about, it’s just time.
The Pace Doesn’t Slow
The events of February 17 along with the energy of entering the Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of the Fire Horse, asks for us all to pay attention. As always ceremony, ritual and intention around this time will support and guide us into navigating the following planetary movements. Onwards into March and April the pace doesn’t slow. May we all find balance in these times of accelerated transformation, death, rebirth and growth. May we come together to support one another and resist the patterns that pull us away from connection and collaboration. May we remember to take rest and allow ourselves to be receptive to the guidance as it comes.
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