2025 was the year of the Snake so if you find yourself slithering into 2026 in bits, you’re not alone. January is the final hurdle, your last chance to shed the cosmic shake-up that was 2025, before grabbing the reins and getting back on the proverbial horse. Yes, 2026 is the year of the Horse. Think of the first month of this year as a reset. A chance to let the dust settle on the disco ball before starting the music and firing yourself up for the year ahead. And believe me, fire up you will. This is the year where we set our hearts ablaze in all the best possible ways. Insert fire emoji, unicorn emoji, heart eyes emoji. You get the picture.
The planets might be playing a bit of a wild card – which we’ll dive into now – but with it being a 1 year, we all get that chance at a new beginning again. A fresh start, igniting our passions and purpose and spreading joy like it’s about to go extinct. As Mary Oliver said in her poem The Summer Day, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Truly though, what is it that you plan to do?
Come Feb 17th we have our first Solar Eclipse of the year in Aquarius, which also happens to be the first day of the Lunar New Year! Hello there Fire Horse and good riddance Wood Snake – that door you’re dreaming of going through is going to blow open so fast you’ll have no choice but to gallop on through. Whatever the Snake helped you shed last year, the Horse will teach you how to embody all those lessons to find the courage to chase that dream.
On the topic of dreams, 2025 was a glimpse of what could be, but there was no chance to anchor, no way to root. We were kind of just left floating along without the buoy. This year though, we’re learning to nurture what wants to grow within us, and this starts with the big Saturn Neptune conjunction on Feb 20th. These planets had a brief flirt with Aries last year, but now they’re meeting up at 0º and this is probably the biggest astrological transit since 2020, and we all know how insane that year was. This is where you can fully step into that dream you’ve had for years. Instead of just daydreaming about it on the beach, Saturn will make sure you take action and make it happen, but patience will be key. Saturn is all about that tough love, so you’ll still need to work for it.
All imagery courtesy of Pexels
With this shift to fire energy, you’re going to want to keep things in check. More illumination, warmth and inspiration, less burn out and rage. And when Uranus moves back into Gemini for the next 7 years on April 26th, life is going to speed up. Don’t fan that fire by going too fast though, even when Uranus tries to disrupt everything. Rather balance the fiery airy pace with some space. Space to move towards your authentic joy, your creative voice, having the courage to be visible in the way that feels most like you. Uranus in Gemini definitely tried to create more conflict in 2025, especially in how we communicate with each other. This year is all about connection and revealing yourself in a courageous way, not losing yourself to the drama. Think real connection, not performative. Walks on the mountain instead of small talk in your dm’s. Dinner parties over doom scrolling. 2026 is bringing back the analogue life. Film cameras at the ready!
When Chiron moves into Taurus on June 19th for a brief few months before it retrogrades back into Aries, we get a sneak peek at what some cosy stability could actually feel like for the world. Too much to ask? Perhaps. Because on June 30th, a mere 11 days later, Jupiter somersaults into Leo for a year of main character energy. The planet of expansion and joy is in Leo until July 26th 2027, so use these 12 months to get centre-stage. Not in an ego-driven “look at me” type of way, but in a way that honours the whole vibe of this Horse year of not being afraid to go after what you want and share the goods with others. And with Leo energy being the ultimate cheerleader, this isn’t toxic positivity we’re talking about, but more VIBES and dopamine dressing.
On July 27th, the Nodes are moving from Pisces and Virgo to Aquarius and Leo. The Nodes shift every 18 months and whatever door you decided to flit through on Feb 17th with that first Aquarius Solar Eclipse, that’s where you want to keep heading during this time. Don’t lose sight of that magnetic energy you felt. Big picture vision and authentic self-expression are biggies over these 18 months. When the Leo Solar Eclipse hits on August 12th, think about which doubts you need to let go of so you can really let yourself sparkle and play.
Hey, don’t think you’re getting out scotch free this year though. Plenty of retrograde moves to add to the fire here. Venus is up to its old tricks from Oct 3rd to Nov 14th in the realms of love. And this year it goes from Scorpio to Libra. There’s no escaping the darker emotions during this time. Our old friends, jealousy, self-doubt, rage…they all want an invite. Let them party for a bit, but just enough time to work through those last dregs of insecurity, before booting them out for good. When Venus slips back into Libra on Oct 25th, you might be tempted to book that haircut or get that new piercing. Don’t do it. Wait for Venus to go direct before making any decisions around your image, lest you end up with the bangs you didn’t ask for.
And last, but not least, Mercury. Oh Mercury, the chief mischief maker of our every year. It will retrograde 3 times in each of the Water signs, bringing up all sorts of emotional and subconscious stuff. Vivid dreams incoming. Feb 26th to March 20th will be in Pisces, June 29th until July 24th is in cosy Cancer, and then the final deep-dive will be Oct 24th to Nov 13th in Scorpio. It’s not all bad though, it’s really just a chance to fully get closer with your intuition so you can move through the year knowing exactly what’s right for you.
So, on that note, refuse to settle this year. Don’t feast on the crumbs and all that jazz. Get on that horse, be your own knight in shining armour and go get it! The astrology of this year isn’t going to hold you back, it’s going to teach you how to loosen up so you can set yourself free. Whatever fell away last year is because it doesn’t fit in with who you are becoming this year. No more waiting for things to align, for your ducks to neatly snuggle up in a row. You’re in charge, you’re creating the ripples for your own deep-seated joy, and if anything is worth saddling up for, it’s that.
Written by Siobhan Lumsden
For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za
