Astrological Highlights and Key Transits of 2026:
December 12, 2025: Eyes of Learning.
In this “Eyes of Learning" annule Astrological review for the coming year Jamie Forbes and MaryAnn Dellinger, will explore key astrological concepts and upcoming transits. Participants will gain practical insight into the year's forecasted changes. We will discuss the key astrological concepts and highlight significant upcoming transits, fostering a deeper appreciation for the dynamic changes forecasted in the year ahead.
Overview
The year 2026 is astrologically distinguished by a strong fire and air energy, setting the stage for dynamic change, innovation, and bold action. These influences suggest a fast-paced year marked by progress, transformation, and the potential for both excitement and upheaval.
Key Planetary Shifts and Transits
· Neptune re-enters Aries (January 26, 2026 – ~2039):
· This long-term transit initiates a new cycle, encouraging visionary action and the pursuit of ideals. While it inspires individuals to manifest dreams, it also introduces the potential for deception and conflict, making discernment essential.
· Saturn re-enters Aries (February 13, 2026 – 2028):
· Saturn’s return calls for disciplined courage and patience. It urges personal accountability and the practical effort needed to transform long-term goals into tangible achievements.
· Saturn conjunct Neptune (February 20, 2026, at 0° Aries):
· This rare generational conjunction is a pivotal event, blending spiritual ideals with practical reality. It signals the dissolution of outdated structures, making way for new ones, and emphasizes the challenge of distinguishing reality from illusion.
Major Astrological Events
· Six-Planet Alignment (February/March):
o The "Six-Planet Alignment" in February/March 2025 was a "planet parade" where Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune appeared in an arc, with Mercury joining on February 28th for a rare seven-planet event, visible in the evening sky after sunset, requiring binoculars or a telescope for Uranus and Neptune, and best viewed with dark skies and clear horizons
o In astrology, a planet alignment (or conjunction/aspect) means planets appear close in the sky from Earth, blending their energies for powerful influence, signaling transformation, new beginnings, or amplified themes like love (Venus), action (Mars), or growth (Jupiter). While "alignment" often means planets in the same sign and house (conjunction), astrologers look at specific angles (aspects like opposition, square) and house placements for detailed meaning, impacting personal lives and global events, acting as cosmic portals for change.
· The notable multi-planet conjunction is predicted in late February and March, acting as a potential reset point that could have significant impacts on personal and collective levels.
· Venus Retrograde through Scorpio and Libra (Late 2026):
· Venus’s retrograde at the end of the year is likely to influence finances and relationships, bringing introspection and possible changes in these areas.
General Astrological Themes
· Dominant Fire and Air Energy:
· The predominance of fire and air signs points to a fast-paced, dynamic year. Initiative, movement, innovation, and communication will be driving forces throughout 2026.
· Transformation:
· Major planetary shifts suggest significant transformation on personal, spiritual, and global levels. Individuals and societies may experience profound changes and new beginnings.
· Potential for Conflict:
· Strong fire energy may increase impulsiveness and the risk of conflicts. Managing anger and reactivity will be important to navigate the year effectively.
· Global Shifts:
· The astrological landscape predicts multipolar shifts in the economy, a turning point in the Ukraine conflict, and advances in cryptocurrencies and AI integration.
Chinese Zodiac Perspective
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, a rare cycle occurring every 60 years. This period brings passionate, dynamic energy that encourages innovation, courage, and transformation, though it may also introduce an element of chaos and dramatic change. Ultimately, this combination is expected to lead to breakthroughs and progress.
Expanding on Transits and Meaning
Neptune entering Aries (2025-2039) marks a 14-year cycle where dreams, spirituality (Neptune) meet raw action, individualism (Aries), inspiring bold spiritual activism, creative rebellion, and a collective awakening for personal empowerment and new beginnings, echoing the visionary shifts seen during the American Civil War (1861-1875) when Neptune last traversed Aries, ushering in eras of significant change, idealism, and mystical art.
Astrological Meaning
· Collective Themes: Expect a rise in spiritual movements, artistic renaissance, and a powerful drive for self-discovery and freedom, challenging old structures with visionary ideals.
· Individual Impact: You might feel inspired to take courageous first steps, embrace your unique path, and lead with your intuition, though potential pitfalls include impulsiveness or ideological clashes.
· Historical Echoes: The last transit (1861-1875) saw the Civil War and major technological/financial leaps (printing press, subway), suggesting this period will bring profound societal shifts.
Past Transit: 1861–1875
· The period when Neptune was in Aries from 1861 to 1875 was a time of radical ideological change and struggles for independence.
· Key historical events and cultural shifts during this era include:
· American Civil War (1861–1865): The war began just two days after Neptune first entered Aries, driven by ideals and the fight over the abolition of slavery.
· Technological Innovations: This era saw the invention of the kineograph (an early "moving picture" device, paving the way for modern cinema), the typewriter, and early genetics research.
· Artistic Movements: The birth of the Impressionist art movement occurred during this transit.
· Political Shifts: Other events include the Franco-Prussian War and the opening of the New York Stock Exchange.
· New Thought Movements: The period saw the rise of spiritualism and new ideas about society, including the spread of Karl Marx's economic theories.
· Current/Future Transit: 2025–2039
· Neptune is entering Aries again for the first time in over 160 years, beginning a new 14-year cycle that will last until 2039.
· The specific dates for the current transit are:
· March 30, 2025 – October 22, 2025: Initial entry into Aries.
· October 22, 2025 – January 26, 2026: Retrograde back into Pisces.
· January 26, 2026 – March 23, 2039: Neptune remains in Aries for the main transit period.
· This new transit is expected to bring a surge of individualism, a desire to break free from old systems, and a cultural shift toward personal empowerment and direct action
Key Dates
Significant Alignments and Transits (2025-2039)
Several major planetary alignments will occur while Neptune is in Aries, highlighting specific themes.
· Saturn-Neptune Conjunction (February 20, 2026): This is a highly significant conjunction at 0° Aries, the first degree of the zodiac. It occurs every 36 years and signals the beginning of a new cycle, focusing on restructuring identity, will, and responsibility, potentially leading to the dissolution of old systems and the rise of new, more individualistic structures.
· Neptune Square Saturn in Cancer (2033–2034): This alignment may bring tension between personal freedom (Aries) and emotional security or family structures (Cancer), leading to potential clashes between personal aspirations and societal expectations.
· Neptune Trine Saturn in Leo (2036–2037): A more constructive period where visionary ideals (Neptune) and disciplined effort (Saturn) work together, supporting creative leadership and heart-driven purpose.
· Neptune Trine Jupiter in Leo (2039): Occurring near the end of the transit, this alignment suggests a period of visionary optimism, spiritual expansion.
· Neptune first touched Aries in March 2025, briefly dipping back into Pisces before settling in Aries on January 26, 2026, where it will stay until May 2039.
The Energy of Neptune in Aries
· High Expression: Visionary leadership, spiritual activism, artistic rebellion, radical self-expression.
· Shadow Side: Romanticizing conflict, burnout, potential for mass delusion or impulsive action.
· In essence, Neptune in Aries calls for courageously manifesting your deepest spiritual truths and personal identity on a global scale, ushering in an era of awakened consciousness and individual empowerment.
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Saturn in Aries (2025-2028) is a significant astrological transit where Saturn, the planet of discipline, responsibility, and structure, moves into Aries, the sign of action, self, and pioneering spirit, creating a dynamic tension between patience and impulsiveness, forcing us to build mature self-authority, set boundaries for our fiery desires, and learn to lead with structured passion, teaching lessons in self-mastery and authentic leadership. This period, especially from 2026-2028, emphasizes discipline in new beginnings, responsible self-assertion, and developing inner confidence rather than seeking external validation.
Key Themes & Meanings:
· Discipline Meets Drive: Saturn's need for order clashes with Aries' impulsive nature, teaching how to channel raw energy into disciplined action and long-term goals.
· Building Self-Authority: It's about taking responsibility for your own path, developing inner strength, and becoming your own authoritative figure, not relying on external institutions.
· Mature Leadership: A time for cautious, responsible leaders to emerge and for implementing structure into new ventures and personal identity.
· Patience & Boundaries: Learning to slow down, think before acting, and setting limits on your enthusiasm to build something truly substantial.
When It Happens:
Saturn first enters Aries in May 2025, retrogrades back into Pisces, and then re-enters Aries in February 2026 until April 2028.
For Individuals:
Saturn in Aries (Natal): Signifies a personality that learns discipline through challenge, often becoming a resilient, assertive, and pioneering individual, though it can also indicate early struggles with self-confidence or authority.
General Transit: Expect themes of personal reinvention
The Current Transit (2025-2028)
· Saturn has begun its transit through Aries, a major shift that hasn't happened in nearly three decades.
· Initial Phase: Saturn first entered Aries briefly from May 24 to September 1, 2025, before retrograding back into Pisces.
· Main Transit: Saturn will re-enter Aries for its main journey on February 13, 2026, and remain there until April 12, 2028.
· Unique Aspect: This transit is unique because Neptune is also in Aries during this time, with the two planets forming a conjunction in February 2026. This alignment can help solidify dreams and manifest visions into reality, combining Neptune's inspirational energy with Saturn's structure and discipline.
Historical Dates.
Historically, the Saturn in Aries transit correlates with periods of significant conflict, challenges to authority, the assertion of independence, and major cultural or technological shifts. The tension between Saturn's need for structure and Aries' impulsive, pioneering energy often results in a push for new systems, sometimes involving struggle or war.
Notable historical events and themes during previous Saturn in Aries transits:
Recent Transits
· 1996–1999: The Rise of the Digital Age and Geopolitical Conflicts
· Geopolitics: This period saw several regional wars and military operations, including the Kosovo War, Operation Desert Fox, and the Kargil War between India and Pakistan.
· Technology: The rapid expansion and commercialization of the internet occurred, with the rise of tech giants like Amazon and Google, fundamentally restructuring daily life.
· Culture: The "Girl Power" movement gained prominence (e.g., Spice Girls, Lilith Fair tour), and pop culture featured strong, independent female characters like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena, Warrior Princess, reflecting the independent Aries energy.
· 1967–1969: Social Upheaval and Exploration
· Social & Political Unrest: The era was marked by widespread anti-war protests, race riots across major U.S. cities, and a general questioning of established authority. The assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, and RFK were followed by the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968.
· War: The Vietnam War escalated significantly, and the Six-Day War occurred in the Middle East.
· Exploration: Technological firsts included the first manned mission to orbit the Moon (Apollo 8) and the first test flight of the supersonic airliner Concorde.
· 1937–1939: The Lead-up to World War II
· Political Shifts: The rise of fascist powers continued, with Hitler taking direct control of the German military and occupying Austria.
· Consolidation of Power: Stalin's Great Purge in the Soviet Union peaked, involving mass executions and imprisonments in the Gulag.
· Disaster: The Hindenburg disaster brought an end to the airship era.
· Earlier Historical Themes
· Revolutions and Independence: The French Revolution coincided with the 1790-1793 transit, seeing the declaration of the First French Republic and the execution of King Louis XVI, challenging old power structures and asserting people's rights.
· Formation of Nations/Identities: Periods like 407-410 CE in Britain involved the Britons rejecting Roman rule and asserting their local customs and independence.
· War and Conflict: Across many cycles, the transit is linked to wars, civil unrest, and battles between different factions or tribes, as the drive for self-assertion and "me first" energy (Aries) conflicts with the need for order (Saturn).
2026 Saturn-Neptune Conjunction in Aries
The Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries, occurring on February 20, 2026, at 0° Aries, marks a rare and significant astrological event. This alignment signals a generational shift, emphasizing the process of turning spiritual ideals into tangible reality. It represents a dynamic interplay between Saturn’s inherent need for structure and order, and Neptune’s longing for dissolution, transcendence, and the breaking down of boundaries. The creative tension between these planetary forces sets the stage for individuals and society to reevaluate established frameworks, dissolve outdated systems, and pursue new beginnings rooted in both discipline and visionary aspiration.
The rare Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries happens in 2025-2026, with the exact peak in 2026 at 0° Aries, marking a new era of grounding spiritual ideals (Neptune) into bold, disciplined action (Saturn) in the sign of initiation (Aries). While they meet in Aries in 2025 (around June/August) and again in 2026, Saturn briefly retrogrades back into Pisces in late 2025, making February 20, 2026, the official, powerful conjunction point, blending structure with dreams for major new beginnings.
Key Dates & Dynamics:
· Neptune enters Aries: March 30, 2025.
· Saturn enters Aries: May 24, 2025.
· First Close Meeting (in orb): June/August 2025 (around 1-2° Aries).
· Saturn Retrogrades to Pisces: Late 2025.
· Exact Conjunction: February 20, 2026, at 0° Aries (The Aries Point).
· Saturn stays in Aries: Until April 2028.
Core Themes
· Manifesting Dreams into Reality: The conjunction provides an opportunity to blend Neptune's creative vision and imagination with Saturn's discipline, hard work, and structure. The challenge is to apply practical, long-term effort to bring abstract ideas and spiritual aspirations into the material world.
· Dissolving and Reforming Structures: Old systems, traditions, and boundaries (Saturn) may become less defined, crumble, or dissolve (Neptune), particularly those related to authority and control. This makes way for the formation of new structures based on new ideals and visions, especially around autonomy and individual willpower (Aries).
· Reality vs. Illusion: This alignment creates potential for confusion, uncertainty, and even major disillusionment as the lines between what is real and what is fantasy blur. A key challenge will be discerning truth from deception and letting go of unrealistic expectations.
· Innovation and New Beginnings: Occurring at the "reset and restart" degree of 0° Aries, the conjunction is a powerful moment for new inceptions and pioneering energy. This can drive innovation, especially in technology and communication (e.g., AI, augmented reality, Neuralink), but requires responsible and realistic action to avoid hubris or potential system breakdowns.
· Spirituality and Compassion: A heightened sense of spirituality and creativity is expected, with a greater emphasis on empathy and social justice issues. There's a call to find a spiritual path that includes practical, compassionate action for the greater good.
Global and Collective Impacts
· On a collective level, the conjunction at the Aries Point indicates global transformation, with historical connections to major events such as the U.S. Civil War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
· Leadership and Governance: The conjunction suggests the potential for charismatic leaders, and it may test the integrity of current leaders.
· National Identity and Borders: Themes around national identity, borders, and potential separatist movements may intensify, requiring a redefinition of alliances and national self-determination.
· Technology and Information Wars: The influence of Saturn/Neptune in Aries alongside Uranus in Gemini suggests advancements and upheavals in technology, possibly leading to more sophisticated online deception and information warfare.
· The 2026 Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries calls for blending discipline with intuition and taking responsible action to align personal and collective lives with higher ideals.
· The effects of key planetary shifts like Neptune and Saturn re-entering Aries, and Uranus re-entering Gemini,
· Significant planetary shifts, including Neptune and Saturn re-entering
· Aries, and Uranus re-entering Gemini, indicate a period of change. This period may involve both global and personal transformation, with an emphasis on action, innovation, and self-reliance.
· Neptune in Aries (fully enters January 26, 2026, until 2039)
Neptune in Aries suggests a time of spiritual courage and the active pursuit of ideals.
· Visionary Action: This shift encourages taking action to manifest desired realities.
· Redefinition of Self: This transit redefines personal identity, promoting authentic expression and self-discovery.
· Potential for Deception and Conflict: There is a potential for overzealous idealism, deceptive leaders, propaganda, and conflict. Discernment is important.
· Authenticity over Aesthetics: This period may see a push for raw truth, direct experience, and inner mastery.
· Saturn in Aries (re-enters February 13, 2026, until 2028)
· Saturn in Aries provides grounding for Neptune's visions.
· Disciplined Courage: This transit requires patience and planning to transform ideas into achievements.
· Personal Accountability: Individuals will face reality checks regarding their ambitions. It is a time to take ownership of actions and develop inner strength.
· Testing of Authority: Traditional structures and authority figures may be challenged. The combination with Neptune could dissolve old systems, but this requires hard work.
· The Saturn-Neptune Conjunction: The conjunction on February 20, 2026, at 0° Aries blends imagination with structure. It signifies the need to apply practical effort to spiritual or collective dreams.
· Uranus in Gemini (re-enters April 26, 2026, until 2033)
· Uranus in Gemini may accelerate the pace of mental and technological evolution.
· Technological and Communication Revolution: Expect breakthroughs in AI, social media, and transportation.
· Intellectual Freedom: This transit encourages breaking from outdated thought forms. It inspires breakthroughs and curiosity.
· Mental Restlessness and Chaos: Rapid ideas and changes can lead to mental overload.
· Authenticity and Freedom: There will be a strong urge to express one's authentic self, leading to changes in social circles and a desire for independence in relationships.
Prepared By Jamie Forbes, with MaryAnn Dellinger, December 12, 2025, for the Eyes of Learning, 2026 Astrological Forecast