The Age of Aquarius
Annular Solar Eclipse - Ring of Fire, VCG via Getty Images
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 7:00 am EST, we will experience an annular Solar Eclipse - a New Moon on steroids - at 28° Aquarius. This will be a “ring of fire” eclipse.
As mentioned previously in my article “Ride the Dragon: The Integration of the Nodal Axis,” eclipses occur when the Sun and Moon form either a conjunction (New Moon) or an opposition (Full Moon) in close proximity to the lunar nodes. In lunar eclipses, the Full Moon is eclipsed by the Earth passing between the Sun and the Moon; in solar eclipses, the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon during a New Moon. This occurs during two periods per year, and is usually in the signs of the lunar nodes, though not always (if the degree of the lunar nodes is near the beginning or end of the signs, an eclipse may occur in the neighboring signs). Astrologically, eclipses act as cosmic, karmic markers along the way to our personal and collective evolution, and whether the eclipsed planet is with the North Node or the South Node indicates if we are growing toward or away from something.
The Dragon Opens Its Mouth
The Star Tarot Card, from The Dragon Tarot; the Star is associated with Aquarius.
This eclipse is occurring in proximity (1o degree orb) to the North Node in Pisces, so it is considered a North Node Eclipse, and indicates that we, as a collective, are growing toward the energy gathered at the eclipse. And that energy is gathered in Aquarius - the sign of the collective good.
The eclipse itself is conjunct Mars and Vesta, both at 19° Aquarius, the eclipse chart’s Ascendant, Part of Fortune, and Part of Spirit in Aquarius, as well as Pallas, Venus, and the North Node in Pisces, which is also conjunct Mercury in Pisces. The rulers of Aquarius - and thus of the eclipse - are Saturn (traditional) and Uranus (modern).
Saturn just entered Aries and is conjunct Neptune - their mind-blowing, epoch-igniting exact conjunction is three days after this eclipse on Friday, February 20, 2026 - and Aries is ruled by Mars, so Saturn and Mars are in mutual reception.
Uranus just turned direct in Taurus, and is in a tight square to the eclipse. This ensures some electric, intense, potentially world-shattering changes, disruptions, or eruptions will likely occur. Challenges to the collective good, potentially volatile ones, should be expected.
Follow along if you dare: Taurus is ruled by Venus; Venus is in Pisces, which is ruled by both Jupiter (traditional) and Neptune. Jupiter in Cancer is ruled by the Moon - which is eclipsing the Sun in Aquarius (back to Saturn/Uranus). Neptune is in Aries, ruled by Mars, which is in Aquarius and conjunct the eclipse.
There is a lot of energy pinging around there, and a lot of it feels volatile, which I think is the point of this eclipse:
Change is coming; expect the unexpected. It might get loud and/or ugly.
But it’s all for the collective good.
Important Aspects to this Eclipse
Opposing this eclipse are the asteroid Magdalena (25° Leo - represents the Divine Feminine), and the hypothetical bodies White Moon Selena (26° Leo - represents our spiritual destiny and personal growth) and Isis-Transpluto
(4° Virgo, conjunct the South Node - represents psychological transformation with a goal of spiritual perfection and self-sufficiency). Together, these are infusing this eclipse with Divine Feminine spiritual energy. When the Moon eclipses the Sun, these energies will be felt in its absence.
Squaring this eclipse are Uranus (27° Taurus), Waldemath Lilith (28° Taurus), and True Lilith (22° Scorpio). This indicates that wild, perhaps unhinged, chaotic, revenge-type events could unfold under this lunation. Issues with electricity, the internet, electronics, computers, and satellites could arise. Even intentional sabotages related to these themes could be at play.
Trining (strongly supporting) this eclipse are asteroid Isis (27° Gemini - associated with love and fertility), Hygeia (24° Gemini - health and hygeine), Pandora (28° Libra - associated with “unexpected consequences arising from ill-considered acts, and negative circumstances for which we have no one to blame but ourselves” (https://alexasteroidastrology.com/pandora/) ), and Uranian object Zeus (26° Libra - associated with power, authority, and leadership).
Sextiling (also supporting) this eclipse are Ceres (20° Aries - I give a wide orb for eclipses), Chiron (23° Aries), Eris (24° Aries), Kassandra (25° Aries - associated with accurate prophecy that is not believed), and the Galactic Center (27 Sagittarius) - the supermassive black hole that everything in our galaxy, the Milky Way, orbits around and represents powerful transformative energy and higher consciousness.
Sesquisquaring the eclipse are Jupiter (15° Cancer - expansive attachment to the past) and Kronos (15° Cancer - representing authority, structure, and societal order).
All this points to a loud clarion call from the cosmos - a new era is incoming.
Some may have a hard time letting go of the old one.
The Aeon of Horus
The Aeon, or Horus, from the Thoth Tarot Deck, #20
Now, I’m not a huge fan of the late Aleister Crowley and his wanton ways, nor his well-documented drug-habit-fueled (apparent, not diagnosed) narcissism and sociopathy, but I do greatly appreciate his Thoth Tarot Deck and its symbolism, and his roots in Hermetic Philosophy. That said, his Thelema-based Aeons do describe accurately the current Age of Aquarius we do seem to be embarking on; specifically, the Aeon of Horus which, according to Crowley, began around 1904, but certainly seems to be picking up speed right about now.
Horus is a child god who represents innocence, new beginnings, and the potential for growth, and his aeon - or astrological age - is “marked by a significant shift in spiritual and societal paradigms, emphasizing self-realization, individualism, and the pursuit of one's True Will. The child god Horus symbolizes this era, representing a break from past dogmas and the dawn of a new age of enlightenment and spiritual awakening.” (from Wikipedia)
Note that the Aeon card is the same as the Judgement card - #20 in all decks - and in most other decks features an angel blowing a trumpet, calling souls to action and allowing themselves to move forward with a release of baggage and renewal or rebirth.
The Judgement card from the Dreams and Divinities Tarot deck, artwork by Carrie Ann Baade, card #20
The Sabian Symbol for the Eclipse (29th degree Aquarius):
A BUTTERFLY EMERGING FROM A CHRYSALIS
This Symbol shows growing, expanding, escaping restrictions and evolving into a more expansive sense of self with bigger and better potentials. Like a butterfly emerging, at times like these, you are often at a crossroads or major turning point and you are likely to be able to realize many of your latent, but promising, potentials. Like an awakening, you are suddenly able to do something that truly reflects you and who you strive to be. This emergence builds for some time; a metamorphosis takes place. Ensure that you take a moment to adjust to new developments before taking flight.
(Positive expression) Slow building of confidence. Coming out into a fuller participation. Growing up and out. Leaving yesterday behind. Leaving restrictions. Blossoming and blooming. Emergence.
(Negative expression) Failing to allow for changes. Feeling like one will never “arrive”. Too much containment and confinement. Unable to move. Being tied to the past. Straitjackets.
Effects of this Eclipse
If you have planets or points between 18-29° of Aquarius and 0-18° Pisces (it’s wide, 10° orb on either side), or 18-29° Leo and 0-18° Virgo, then you could feel a distinct reset button being pressed in your life relating to those planetary themes. With planets or points from 23-29° in the squaring fixed signs - Taurus or Scorpio - or from 0-3° in the squaring mutable signs - Gemini or Sagittarius - you could feel challenged to self-reflect on how your unconscious behaviors prevent you from changing or releasing outdated energies that hold you back in your life.
Eclipses bring in swift and sometimes shocking changes - and with Uranus both ruling and squaring this eclipse, you can expect a whole lot of that.
What To Do:
Set aside time to meditate, journal, create art, or gather with like-minded souls to imagine the ideal kind of world you wish to live in, one that benefits everyone, uplifts everyone, is fair and just, and elevates humanity to a higher level spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. Let that vibration expand your heart and send it out to the collective. Rest and hydrate!
What To Avoid:
Don’t do spellwork, set intentions, or initiate anything new during the 24 hours surrounding the eclipse (12 hours on each side, before and after). Avoid alcohol and hard drugs, anything that clouds your energy or perception. Eclipses take us offline for a short period, and they unveil things we hadn’t seen before. Wait until the energy clears so you can use your energy more productively.
Readings
As always, I am available to discuss how this eclipse or any other transit will affect you or your loved ones’ charts. Please feel free to contact me for a reading.
