Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse - An Evolutionary Leap into the Future and A Radical Break from the Past
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 7:01am EST
New Moon collage by Emily
The Aquarius Solar Eclipse is an extra-powerful New Moon, a seed-planting for a new 19-year cycle. Aquarius is the energy of acceleration and quickening and this Eclipse propels you into a new life direction, an evolutionary quantum leap in a possibly unexpected trajectory.
Eclipses catalyze significant endings and beginnings, and your new direction may require a dramatic separation from the past - whatever no longer feels authentic, connected, and aligned with your vision and values. Aquarian arenas up for transformation include friends, groups, community, issues of belonging and alienation, radical individuality, creativity, and giving your gifts to the world.
Reinforcing the initiatory potential of this Eclipse, Saturn, traditional ruler of Aquarius, just entered Aries on February 13, marking the start of a new life chapter. Aries is not only the first sign of the zodiac - the vitality and courage it takes to launch a new path - it’s also the sign of the self, the I AM. What new identity is ready to be born, who would you need to become in order to live your highest dreams for the future?
Saturn is now in close proximity with Neptune, both at 0° Aries - the very first degree of the zodiac. Their precise conjunction will occur just three days after the Eclipse, a massive reset and birth of a new reality, and the collapse of old systems and structures. The previous Saturn-Neptune conjunction, in 1989, featured the fall of the Berlin Wall fell, the dissolution of the USSR, and a series of (mostly peaceful) revolutions in Eastern Europe.
On a personal level, the Saturn-Neptune conjunction inspires a more fluid and expansive expression of self, a dissolution of old, limiting definitions of who you thought you were or were supposed to be. An invitation to become a conduit for divine will, open and surrendered to how the mysterious flow of Life wants to create through you moment by moment.
Aries is fast and fiery, but the Saturn-Neptune conjunction calls for slowing down, listening deeply, and paying attention to subtle cues from your dreams and intuition. Inspired action arising from alignment with your divine self vs. unconscious, survival-mode reactivity.
Uranus, modern ruler of Aquarius, closely squares the Eclipse, amplifying the “electric shock” potential - a quantum blast into the future and a radical liberation from the past. “Expect the unexpected” and “Out of chaos comes creativity” are the Uranian mottos. Flow with change, follow the synchronicities, and stay present and open to new possibilities and opportunities.
Aquarius and Uranus both rule the nervous system, and these transformational eclipse energies can feel disruptive, chaotic, anxiety-producing and dysregulating. Lean into the higher expression of Aquarius - conscious breathing, detaching from the drama to see the higher perspective, and cultivating your own harmonious, loving frequency.
Rather than getting sucked into collective freak-out about the future, stay focused on YOUR future vision, and know your power as a co-creator of the collective dream.
For more insight into what this new moon means for YOU, find the house in your birth chart that contains 28° Aquarius. The areas of life signified by that house are where transformation is stirring, there’s powerful energy for seeding a new beginning, and where you’re invited to:
detach from what no longer feels aligned or authentic;
connect with what’s sparking your excitement about the future;
take the risk of expressing more of your individuality and creativity;
tune into the big-picture perspective and your inner truth;
and take steps to experience more freedom, community and friendship.
I go into all the Virgoan details about how to work with these powerful planetary energies in my 52-minute New Moon audio transmission, available to paid subscribers on Substack. You can gain immediate access to the recording, and all future New & Full Moon recordings, by becoming a paid subscriber ($16/month or $155/year). Founding subscribers ($185/year) can also join me for a monthly livestream, and receive my Pluto in Aquarius webinar as a gift!
