Astrology With Andy

The Astrology of 2026

We have a lot to cover. Grab some snacks (and your favorite beverage), and let’s get right to it.

First, for those who like to mark important astrological events in their calendars, here are some key dates:

2026’s ECLIPSES & PERSONAL PLANET RETROGRADES

Mercury retrograde:

  • February 26th (25th in some U.S. Time Zones) – March 20th
  • June 29th – August 7th (6th in all U.S. Time Zones)
  • October 24th (23rd in some U.S. Time Zones) – November 13th

Venus retrograde:

  • October 3 – November 14

This year brings four eclipses (two solar, two lunar):

  • February 17: solar eclipse at 28 degrees of Aquarius
  • March 3: lunar eclipse at 12 degrees of Virgo
  • August 12: solar eclipse at 20 degrees of Leo
  • August 28: lunar eclipse at 4 degrees of Pisces

I will share details about these retrogrades and eclipses on my socials as we approach them.

Now, let’s turn to the major planetary aspects taking place in 2026:

SATURN IN ARIES

Saturn briefly visited Aries from May 24th to September 1st of 2025, but it settles into Aries for good on February 13th (where it will remain until April 12th of 2028).

Saturn relates to boundaries, discipline, responsibility, restrictions, laws, limits, structure, and order. It’s the planet of reality checks.

Aries relates to concepts like action, aggression, assertiveness, courage, entrepreneurialism, guns, and war.

Here are some events that occurred the last time Saturn was in Aries (April of 1996 through February of 1999, minus a three-month window in 1998 when Saturn paid a quick visit to Taurus):

  • The United Kingdom passed the Firearms Act (which banned the private possession of all handguns)
  • Australia implemented a large-scale gun buyback program
  • The United States launched the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System that established boundaries around who could legally own a handgun
  • The United States also passed The Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban, which banned people convicted of domestic violence from ever owning firearms.

It’s possible (and likely) that similar themes will resurface during this next Saturn-in-Aries period; not necessarily identical laws, but renewed attempts to define responsibility and provide oversight (Saturn) to all things Aries.

Saturn’s presence in fast-moving Aries very much suggests increased scrutiny in environments where acting fast has historically been rewarded. Leaders (of all types, including political and corporate) who rely on bravado and impulsivity may find themselves facing consequences they previously avoided.

Saturn in Aries favors, and rewards, leadership that demonstrates restraint and is able to pause, assess, and act deliberately. One of Aries’ key lessons during its evolutionary journey is learning that not every opportunity requires immediate engagement. Saturn will enforce that lesson relentlessly over the next two years.

Saturn in Aries will also bring increased regulation (Saturn) to startups (Aries) and gig economies. Saturn’s need for structure can often be helpful in that it can turn a “Wild West” of chaos into a manageable landscape that everyone can easily navigate. Of course, the “flip side” of Saturn is that it can make things more laborious and challenging (in this case, startups and gig economies may find themselves subject to new hurdles, additional documentation, and bureaucratic processes).

Aries also represents the quintessential “fighting spirit.” It’s not the collective advocacy we see with Aquarius (or the idealism we encounter in Pisces), but it’s very much the “enough is enough!” energy that collectively moves us from despondence and the desire to numb our pain away (the less-evolved parts of Pisces) to realizing that if we don’t advocate for ourselves, no one will.

Globally, many people will realize that the institutions (Saturn) they have put their faith (Pisces) in over the last three years are not going to magically save them, and that it is up to them as individuals to fight. This is an awakening, but a sobering one. Saturn in Aries demands that we understand that change begins with ownership, not hope.

In the same way that I am not a “doom and gloom” astrologer, I am also not a “rainbows and lollipops” astrologer. So, while there is nothing to fear (and a lot to look forward to) about Saturn in Aries, I have to mention that there will be growing pains because Saturn in Aries is so inherently paradoxical. That’s because Saturn is the planet of delays, consequences, and earned authority, while Aries is the sign of immediacy, instinct, and action without permission (and “permission” happens to be a Saturn keyword). Saturn wants patience and proof; Aries want movement now (ideally yesterday).

In astrology, Saturn is considered to be “in its fall” in Aries (which is to say that Saturn doesn’t feel comfortable because its usual tools, strategies, and words of advice don’t land too well). That’s why Saturn in Aries periods historically feel tense, combative, and confrontational: order is often imposed on environments that resist it.

I also want to point out that Saturn in Aries does not automatically equate with “more conflict”; it does, however, provide clarity to conflicts. Where Pisces blurred accountability, Aries demands specificity as far as who initiated, who escalated, and who crossed the line.  Saturn insists on causality.

In this way, Saturn in Aries can actually help reduce conflict by the time it wraps up its transit through Aries. And, again, that’s because conflict can become easier to regulate during this transit.

NEPTUNE IN ARIES

Neptune paid a brief visit to Aries from March 30, 2025 until October 22, 2025, but it begins its uninterrupted twelve-year sojourn through Aries on January 26, 2026.

Neptune rules addiction, alcohol, art, compassion, enlightenment, fantasies, dreams, drugs, ideals, spirituality, and water.

As a refresher, here are the themes associated with Aries: action, aggression, assertiveness, courage, entrepreneurialism, guns, and war.

Consider some of the events that happened the last time Neptune was in Aries (1861 to 1875):

  • Opioids (Neptune) are used to treat troops during the Civil War (Aries); many became addicted
  • Formation of the Prohibition Party — essentially a war (Aries) on alcohol (Neptune)
  • The Suez Canal opened, linking the Red and Mediterranean Seas
  • First use of submarines in warfare
  • Introduction of pasteurization — applying heat (Aries) to kill pathogens (Neptune).
  • The 13th Amendment is officially ratified in the United States — compassion toward other human beings (Neptune) is turned into something actionable (Aries).
  • Russia abolishes serfdom (same as above).
  • The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded
  • Formation of the International Red Cross — a pioneering (Aries) organization that helps others (Neptune).
  • The HMS Challenger surveys the deepest point in the oceans
  • Impressionism begins. This art (Neptune) movement is characterized by bold (Aries) colors as well as the inclusion of movement (Aries).

Neptune’s departure from Pisces and entry into Aries marks a dramatic change in how ideals function at the collective level. Belief in and of itself (Pisces) is no longer enough. Compassion (Neptune) must be mobilized (Aries), and dreams (Neptune) will demand action (Aries).

When Neptune is in Aries, there is one clear question: “What are you willing to fight for?” This goes beyond just a question and becomes a marching order of sorts because Neptune supplies an ideal vision while Aries supplies urgency and action. Expect a plethora of pioneering movements to take shape while Neptune makes its way through Pisces (please keep in mind that this is a twelve-year transit that will do its work gradually and in phases; this is not change that will be completed by the end of 2026 by any means, though it will certainly begin this Spring).

The blind spot that must be watched out for is that if ideals (Neptune) are acted upon too quickly (Aries), they can become distorted or absolutist. The unhealthy expression of this energy is clouded judgment (Neptune) being accelerated (Aries).

Also of note: Neptune governs the unknown, the unseen, and the unexplored, while Aries is the pioneer of the zodiac. It’s why Neptune-in-Aries periods so strongly correlate with moments when humanity pushes into environments previously considered unreachable or abstract. I expect that, in this next chapter, this frontier (Aries) energy will play out through Pisces themes: medicine, deep-ocean exploration, and altered states of consciousness (when we say Neptune rules “drugs,” this is really what we’re talking about). Neptune in Aries goes beyond “What’s out there?” and instead jumps right into “okay, how fast can we get there?”

With that in mind, I expect this next chapter of Neptune in Aries to leave us with these signatures:

  • aggressive (Aries!) water (Neptune!) conservation efforts;
  • a high likelihood of international conflicts over access to water and water rights;
  • a new frontier of ocean exploration and discovery;
  • an aggressive push to provide and prioritize mental health (Neptune) resources to the general population.

SATURN AND NEPTUNE MEET

Saturn and Neptune will meet at 0º of Aries on February 20, 2026. Last July, they got super, super close to one another (a mere quarter-degree apart), but the true conjunction (“meeting”) doesn’t happen until February 20th of this year.

Their partnership blends structure (Saturn) and dreams (Neptune), as well as reality (Saturn) and idealism (Neptune). The last time that Saturn and Neptune met (in Capricorn, in 1989), we witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall. The astrology is very literal: an ideological (Neptune) but also physical boundary (Saturn) crumbled.

Since the 1989 conjunction was in Capricorn, it was more slow-burning and institutional. This one is in Aries, which means we can look for:

  • action replacing endless theorizing;
  • the courage to dismantle illusions publicly;
  • idealism that moves people to action.

For a number of reason — including Pluto in Capricorn (which can empower hardline, authoritarian regimes) and Saturn in Pisces (which can result in authority figures putting a cult-like spell on their supporters) — the last few years saw significant global resistance to progressivism.

The meeting of Saturn and Neptune in Aries will bring new political leaders who will usher in a new era of global politics. The political figures and stars who dominated the first half of the 2020s will lose their luster in the second half of the decade, partially because the fantasies and dreams (Neptune) they sold to the masses will be met with skepticism and cynicism (Saturn).

Long-held systems and institutions that are rooted in outdated principles (Saturn) will likely crumble as the populace becomes deeply disappointed and realizes they are holding on to empty hope (Neptune). In the United States, I also expect the meeting of Saturn and Neptune to be the first domino that brings significant healthcare (Neptune) reform.

 Globally, we will see the rise of young political leaders (Aries) who will breathe new life into their political parties. And, increasingly, the long-term fixtures of major political parties will see their relevance and star power fade.

As I always say, nothing in astrology is inherently “good” or “bad”; there are nuances, layers, and complexities. So, while that all sounds promising, we have to also consider the following risks and rocky terrains that can come when Saturn and Neptune join forces:

  • Disillusionment without immediate replacement
  • Transitional leadership that feels unclear before solidifying
  • Systems dissolving at a faster pace than new ones can stabilize
  • Spiritual or ideological authority losing legitimacy (this goes beyond political leaders, by the way… it can indicate belief systems, and “savior narratives” at the collective level that dissolve).

URANUS IN GEMINI

Uranus briefly visited Gemini from July 7, 2025 until November 8, 2025. However, its uninterrupted six-and-a-half-year sojourn through Gemini kicks off April 26, 2026.

Uranus is the planet of shakeups, revolutions, change, and technology.

Gemini is about communication, data, print media, speech, short-distance transportation (cars, bicycles, scooters, etc.), writing, and writing instruments.

These are some of the events that occurred when Uranus transited Gemini from 1858 to 1866:

  • First aerial (Gemini is an air sign) photograph
  • Development and production of first traction engine
  • Production of first gas engine
  • First recording of a human voice
  • Invention (and patent) of attaching an eraser to the end of a pencil
  • Invention of escalator
  • Invention of postcards
  • Invention of quad skates
  • Invention of rotary printing machine
  • Invention of first practical typewriting machine

And here are some of the events that took place when Uranus transited Gemini from 1941 to 1949:

  • The first test flights of many operational military jet aircraft
  • Development, and patenting, of first disposable aerosol (Gemini is an air sign) cans
  • Invention of first “instant” (at that time, 60 seconds) camera: Polaroid. Gemini is ruled by Mercury — the fastest planet
  • Invention of the microwave (very “Gemini,” as a microwave allows for very quick cooking)
  • Invention of the hand dryer (Gemini is an air sign and also rules the hands)

One important thing to note is that Uranus goes beyond innovation; it also accelerates and destabilizes. In Gemini, that energy is focused on how information is received, processed, and transmitted. Gemini multiplies voices while Uranus destabilizes hierarchy. One central theme during prior Uranus-in-Gemini cycles was that information stopped flowing exclusively through centralized gatekeepers.

There is an important challenge. here, though:,and it relates to discernment. As speed increases, verification lags and authority becomes harder to locate. I expect misinformation and disinformation campaigns via artificial intelligence to proliferate massively during this transit (this will be the catalyst for new technology aimed at identifying and penalizing deep-fakes).

I also expect self-driving (Uranus/technology) vehicles (Gemini/transportation) to have a major boom during this era — and for at least one form of transportation to be revolutionized or upended (eg: an increase in high-speed rail systems, a decrease in car ownership) by the time Uranus leaves Gemini.

THE ASTROLOGICAL “SAFETY NET”

I am well aware of the many “the sky is falling!” takes on the astrology of 2026 (not surprisingly, many of these takes are from accounts that also breathlessly warned of Covid returning with a vengeance in 2023 or the stock market tanking to historic lows in 2025; remember that fear, anxiety, and worry make for profitable clickbait).

As I’ve explained multiple times in this post, all of these planetary shifts come with blind spots and speed bumps that we will have to collectively navigate. I want you to be equally skeptical of “we’re all going to ascend to a new timeline of world peace!” messaging as I ask you to be of “disaster is imminent” takes.

But, I want to explain why 2026 offers (what I refer to as) an astrological “safety net” as all these planetary shifts take place.

For most of the year, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto– the three transpersonal, or generational, planets — are largely cooperative with one another. When they clash (as they sometimes do), change tends to feel chaotic, destabilizing, or destructive. When they support one another, transformation can move forward with minimal obstruction.

This alignment is rare because outer planets don’t often “agree” with one another. But, this time, Uranus’ disruption, Neptune’s dissolution, and Pluto’s dismantling are on the same page, which means they all reinforce the same underlying shift. Think of them as being on the same tug-of-war team: Uranus accelerates new systems, Neptune provides the vision and moral narrative, and Pluto supplies the depth and permanence. Whatever emerges while these three are cooperating will have staying power.

Since these three planets are in air and fire signs, they are collectively pointing forward, which suggests that 2026 is about building what comes next. This doesn’t necessarily make the process “easy,” but it makes it meaningful.

ONE IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE UNITED STATES CHART

One thing I am keeping my eye on is an upcoming square from transiting Saturn to United States’ Sun. This happens in two phases. Phase one is from mid-May to early October of 2026. Phase two happens February and March of 2027.

The last time the United States had this transit was from November 2010 to October 2011.

In countries’ charts, the Sun represents its leader. During the 2010 and 2011 transiting square of Saturn to the United States Sun, then-president Barack Obama experienced his lowest approval ratings.

WHO WILL BE MOST AFFECTED BY THE ASTROLOGY OF 2026?

When it comes to forecasting events and experiences through astrological transits for my clients, I mostly focus on the movement of the slower-moving planets: Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Their slower speeds mean that their effects are felt for a significant period of time (as opposed to the moon, which has an orbital period of 28 days and, when it impacts something in your chart, only does so for roughly eight hours).

If you don’t know the placements of your sun, moon, planets, and sensitive angles (Ascendant, IC, Descendant, Midheaven): head to Astrodienst, enter your birth information, and create a free chart. Then, read below to determine if — and when — you will be affected.

YOU’LL BE HELPED BY SATURN IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 6 and 15 degrees of Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, or Aquarius.

If this is you, then those respective months in 2025 will mainly be about solidifying and crystallizing. Even when Saturn is helping, it’s still true to form. In other words, you will be asked to “do the work” and put in significant effort. But, Saturn on your side is a lot like having the best coach training you. You will be put through the paces. However, by the time you are done, you will walk away with a tremendous set of skills.

YOU’LL BE CHALLENGED BY SATURN IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 6 and 15 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn.

While I don’t do “doom and gloom” astrology, I also don’t sugarcoat things. Saturn challenges are a doozy. There’s no way around it. As I tell my private clients, a Saturn challenge has a purpose and a lesson. We aren’t challenged because of “bad karma” or for the sake of suffering.

This simply comes down to Saturn’s role in astrology: the auditor. Saturn wants to make sure everything is running smoothly. And, to make sure that’s happening, Saturn stress tests our lives. Whatever is on its last leg will not make it through a Saturn challenge. This can sometimes be difficult because, prior to the Saturn challenge, it’s easier to live in denial (“okay, so maybe this relationship isn’t the healthiest… and I don’t feel listened to… and we’re both pretty disconnected from one another… but at least we’re not cheating on each other!”). Once Saturn comes along, anything built on a shaky foundation crumbles.

YOU’LL BE HELPED BY URANUS IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 28 degrees of Cancer and 6 degrees of Leo, 28 degrees of Virgo and 6 degrees of Libra, 28 degrees of Capricorn and 6 degrees of Sagittarius, or 28 degrees of Pisces and 6 degrees of Aries.

When Uranus supports your chart, the winds of change blow quite strongly — in your favor. It’s important to remember that beneficial aspects from a planet don’t mean we can avoid a given planet’s archetypal energy; rather, it means we have an easier time integrating it. Supportive Uranus transits also make us seek change and reinvention.

YOU’LL BE CHALLENGED BY URANUS IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 28 degrees of Taurus and 6 degrees of Gemini*, 28 degrees of Leo and 6 degrees of Virgo, 28 degrees of Scorpio and 6 degrees of Sagittarius, or 28 degrees of Aquarius and 6 degrees of Pisces

When Uranus challenges something in our chart, we learn lessons about detachment and going with the flow. Irrevocable change takes place (often times at the hands of others, and the kind of change we have no say over, but nevertheless has tremendous downstream effects). Challenging Uranus transits become a hundred times more challenging if our response is to fight change and maintain everything as it is.

* : Conjunctions from transiting Uranus can sometimes be experienced as beneficial periods of exciting new beginnings and freedom. To determine whether a conjunction from transiting Uranus feels more ‘helpful’ or ‘challenging’ you have to consider the totality of the chart.

YOU’LL BE HELPED BY NEPTUNE IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 0 and 5 degrees of Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, or Aquarius.

True to form, Neptune is the most subtle of the slower-moving planets. Nevertheless, the effects of supportive transits are felt — mainly as a time of increased inspiration, sensitivity, and compassion. Many people often discover an artistic talent or skill during beneficial Neptune transits, too.

YOU’LL BE CHALLENGED BY NEPTUNE IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 0 and 5 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn.

This is the “buyer beware” transit. When Neptune challenges our chart, we must remember that our perception of reality is temporarily skewed. What looks and sounds fabulous now will look and sound much different when the transit is over. I strongly advise against making major life changes and decisions during a challenging Neptune transit to avoid buyer’s remorse down the line.

Challenging Neptune transits are the equivalent of Alice falling down the rabbit hole. The risk of wanting to escape life’s troubles to such a degree that we find ourselves in the midst of an addiction is higher than ever. The best way to navigate a challenging Neptune transit is by ensuring we have things — and people — in our lives that help ground us and provide a realistic perspective of what is taking place. These transits are also often rife with dishonesty and delusion (from others as well as self-inflicted).

YOU’LL BE HELPED BY PLUTO IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 2 and 6 degrees of Aries, Gemini, Libra, or Sagittarius.

I refer to beneficial Pluto transits as “power transits”, because these are the transits that can potentially help us uproot our lives, level up, and become our best selves. This is still Pluto we are talking about, so any changes deployed as a result of this transit will be systemic and life-changing.

As I often tell clients, Pluto’s idea of change isn’t “let’s change the color of the walls in the bedroom!”; it’s “let’s completely demolish this house and build a new one.” For many people, beneficial Pluto transits allow them to finally heal from unresolved trauma and address baggage that has gotten in the way of their evolution and fulfillment. If you’re willing to go deep and transform, this transit can give you the emotional makeover of your dreams.

YOU’LL BE CHALLENGED BY PLUTO IF: you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, or a sensitive angle (Ascendant/Descendant; IC/Midheaven) between 2 and 6 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Aquarius.

Think of a Pluto challenge as a category 5 hurricane that decimates whatever isn’t strong enough to sustain its power. And, whatever is strong enough will nevertheless be put through the wringer. It’s important to understand that challenging Pluto transits have a purpose: to facilitate regeneration. It can be difficult for (most of) us to recognize when something is over or when a cycle has come to an end.

During a challenging Pluto transit, we are faced with that truth. Sure, at first it can be harrowing and a tough pill to swallow. But, Pluto transits are quite long (often times up to two  years) because Pluto then sticks around to supervise the rebuilding process.

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While I aimed to make this last section of the post as thorough and informational as possible, there is a limit to how specific I can get when writing to a vast collective. If you would like to learn what the next twelve months look like for your personal birth chart, please book a year-ahead reading with me.