Winter 2025 - 2026

Winter begins on December 21st at 10:03 AM EST, when the Sun leaves Sagittarius and enters Capricorn, marking the winter solstice. The longest night of the year in northern latitudes, daylight contracts to its thinnest thread; from this point on, light begins its slow, steady return.

It is the oldest miracle in the seasonal wheel — the birth of illumination within the deepest darkness. Winter honors this paradox: that clarity often emerges not from brightness but from shadow; that hope gestates in silence; that a new cycle begins precisely when the world seems most still.

As winter settles in, the world around us sways between celebration and contemplation. Holiday lights shimmer, gatherings fill calendars, and yet beneath the surface, a sober chord sounds. Capricorn pierces illusion. It asks what remains real after the tinsel is removed, what stands firm after the festivities end. We look beyond the glitter and glimpse the stark contours of what still needs attention — responsibilities deferred, structures strained, truths unspoken.

This tension becomes pronounced on December 24th, when Venus squares Saturn just before Venus leaves Sagittarius to enter Capricorn at 11:26 AM EST. Old connections may reappear with uncanny timing, reminding us of who we once were and who we are no longer willing to be. Disappointments in relationships may surface. Inflated expectations deflate; sentimentality dissolves. We may recognize narcissistic tendencies in others — or acknowledge quietly how such patterns have influenced our own choices. Venus’s entry into Capricorn forms a Cardinal Earth Stellium with the Sun and Mars, grounding our interactions in realism and sobering any holiday excess. The tone becomes serious, almost austere: a contrast to the gaiety around us. Practicality rises. Yet the risk lies in pessimism — seeing only limits instead of the quiet opportunities forming beneath them.

Winter continues its tightening on December 30th, when Mercury squares Saturn. As the year draws to a close, many feel the dual pull of relief and apprehension. 2025 ends — a nine-year in numerology, the completion of a cycle — and 2026 begins, a one-year that signals initiation. Yet stepping into a new cycle does not guarantee immediate clarity. The mind may drift toward worry or second-guessing. But this moment, if used consciously, can redirect our thoughts toward the emerging possibilities of the new nine-year arc.

The calendar New Year arrives on January 1st, and with it comes the first energetic fracture of 2026. Mercury squares Neptune early on the 1st, a clouded beginning that blends determination with delusion, optimism with fantasy. Many begin the year with vigorous resolutions while unconsciously woven through them is a touch of narcissism — the belief that desire alone will bend reality.

Later that day, Mercury exits Sagittarius and enters Capricorn at 4:11 PM EST, joining the Sun, Venus, and Mars in a four-planet Cardinal Earth Stellium. The atmosphere sobers noticeably. An adult-like disposition settles in, turning attention to finances: assets, debts, budgets, sustainability, affordability. It is a time to create structure, not dream about it. The concept of a rainy-day fund returns to relevance, echoing the wisdom of earlier generations who built resilience through thoughtful stewardship rather than entitlement.

Affordability remains a defining theme. Immigration surges increase demand; limited housing and high interest rates restrict supply. Even the growing energy appetite of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining strains grids and raises costs. The times, as the saying goes, are a’changing — and winter demands awareness rather than complacency.

The Capricorn Full Moon on January 3rd at 5:03 AM EST when the Sun opposes the Moon brings a cleansing impulse. We may feel compelled to declutter both physically and mentally, to purge what stagnates our space or spirit. A balanced examination of work and personal life becomes essential now. The stressors of the world may push toward workaholism; yet deep winter insists on equilibrium. Longevity requires it.

On January 6th, the Sun conjuncts Venus in the second decanate of Capricorn (Taurus). This alignment encourages refinement — of finances, environments, wardrobes, impressions. Taste skews toward timeless rather than trendy. Relationships, however, may feel transactional unless we consciously infuse warmth.

The next day, January 7th, Venus conjuncts Mars, softening gender polarity and easing interpersonal friction. The masculine and feminine integrate; collaboration replaces conflict. It becomes easier to give and receive without keeping score.

January 9th intensifies momentum. The Sun conjuncts Mars, while Venus opposes Jupiter. Determination increases, but so does overreach. Manipulation, impatience, or forcing outcomes may create backlash. Authenticity must guide the day.

On January 10th, “excess is us.” Both the Sun and Mars oppose Jupiter, inflating confidence to precarious heights. We may assume success without verifying the groundwork. Optimism, if unchecked, may lead to structural collapse. Details matter now more than ever.

Mercury opposes Jupiter on January 14th, continuing the pattern of expansion without anchoring. Wisdom lies in resisting fantasies disguised as plans. Winter asks for discernment, patience, and grounding.

Then comes January 15th, offering blessed integration. Venus sextiles Saturn and Venus trines Uranus, harmonizing past and future. Old wisdom merges with new insight. Serendipitous encounters occur. Financial or relational revelations may clarify the path ahead. Venus maintains the role of messenger between stability (Saturn) and innovation (Uranus).

January 17th–18th becomes one of the winter’s most potent periods. The 17th brings Sun sextile Saturn, Sun trine Uranus, and Venus sextile Neptune — a rare blend of structure, liberation, and enchantment. Venus enters Aquarius at 7:43 AM EST, encouraging authenticity over conformity, individuality over expectation.

The next day, the Capricorn New Moon of the Sun conjunct the Moon arrives on January 18th at 2:52 PM EST. This lunation is a powerhouse. The New Moon conjuncts Mars and Mercury, and by orb, Venus and Pluto. It trines Uranus and sextiles both Saturn and Neptune. Mercury conjuncts Mars and Mercury sextiles Saturn. The sky hints unmistakably at a paradigm shift — the technological revolution gathering force, societal systems reconfiguring, and the old order crumbling with or without consent.

This period feels like slats being laid on a suspension bridge between eras. Foundations shift. Structures reorganize. Individuals awaken to newfound purpose.

January 19th continues the crescendo: Sun sextile Neptune encourages faith; the Sun enters Aquarius at 8:45 PM EST, forming a Stellium with Venus and Pluto; Mercury trines Uranus, and Venus conjuncts Pluto. A mass awakening begins, subtle or overt depending on one’s readiness. The veil of fourth-dimensional limitations thins as the fifth-dimensional now-consciousness grows more accessible. Many feel the unmistakable pulse of destiny.

January 20th reinforces the theme of structural transformation. Saturn sextiles Uranus. Mars trines Uranus and Mars sextiles Saturn. And Mercury exits Capricorn to join the Aquarius Stellium at 10:49 AM EST. Old forms dissolve; innovative ones take shape.

January 21st–23rd electrify the Aquarius field: Sun conjunct Mercury on the 21st, Mercury conjunct Pluto on the 22nd, Sun conjunct Pluto on the 23rd. Mars enters Aquarius at 4:17 AM EST on the 23rd, bringing the tally to five planets in the Fixed Air Sign. A sweeping technological, psychological, and sociopolitical shift looms.

On January 26th, Neptune exits Pisces and enters Aries at 12:37 PM EST for the first time in 164 years [apart from its brief prelude last year]. Spiritual energy becomes active, assertive, warrior-like. Intuition becomes action.

January 27th intensifies purpose when Mars conjuncts Pluto. Determination becomes unstoppable — or destructive if misdirected. This is the furnace in which intentions must be pure.

January 29th offers a softer tone as Mercury conjuncts Venus in Aquarius. Ideas brighten; conversations future-forward; connections stimulate curiosity and innovation.

February begins with the Leo Full Moon on the 1st at 5:09 PM EST when the Sun opposes the Moon. The axis between personal expression and group alignment comes into focus. Narcissism and self-erasure both become temptations. Balance is the remedy.

On February 3rd, Uranus turns direct, accelerating the approach toward the technological horizon glimpsed in late 2025. Decentralized finance, artificial intelligence, robotics — all regain momentum. The undertow against innovation fades. Markets may wobble before recovering.

February 5th brings Mercury square Uranus — travel disruptions, digital malfunctions, misunderstandings. A day requiring stillness in a world demanding speed.

Mercury enters Pisces, a Sign of Detriment for Mercury, on February 6th at 5:48 PM EST, losing precision but gaining intuitive permeability. Logic softens; emotion interprets.

February 8th, Venus squares Uranus — relationship volatility, surprising revelations, abrupt awakenings.

February 10th, Venus enters Pisces at 5:19 AM EST, exalted in compassion, tenderness, and spiritual connection. Sensitivity heightens; boundaries blur.

On February 13th, Saturn enters Aries at 7:11 PM EST. Structure meets impulse. Discipline shapes initiative. The groundwork for a new twenty-seven-year cycle begins.

February 16th delivers tension: Sun square Uranus brings sudden disruptions; Mercury trine Jupiter expands perception but risks excess idealism.

The Aquarius New Moon when the Sun conjuncts the Moon on February 17th at 7:01 AM EST squares Uranus, ushering two weeks of volatility, geophysical agitation, and structural rearrangement. Taoist wisdom applies: bend like a reed or break like an oak.

The Sun enters Pisces on February 18th at 10:52 AM EST, forming a Pisces Stellium. The winter doldrums arrive — emotional heaviness, intuitive richness, contemplative quiet.

February 22nd brings Venus trine Jupiter — indulgence, sweetness, comfort seeking. A balm amid winter’s austerity.

February 26th, Mercury turns retrograde at 1:48 AM EST — the most challenging retrograde of the year. Mercury in Pisces clouds judgment; intuition may mislead; facts dissolve. Avoid major decisions.

February 27th, Mars squares Uranus — extreme volatility, accident-prone energy, sudden disruptions. Awareness becomes protection.

February 28th, Mercury conjunct Venus softens mental strain and heightens empathy. Sensitivity intensifies.

March begins with restlessness, a growing urge to escape winter’s weight. On March 2nd, Mars enters Pisces at 9:16 AM EST, joining the Mutable Water Stellium and enhancing emotional volatility. Energy surges, then dissipates.

The Virgo Full Moon Lunar Eclipse when the Sun opposes the Moon on March 3rd at 6:38 PM EST demands discernment amid emotional swirl. Criticism may rise; clarity requires humility.

March 4th brings Venus sextile Uranus — delightful surprises, serendipitous encounters, sparks of novelty.

March 5th, Sun trine Jupiter — optimism, expansion, opportunity. But Mercury remains retrograde; caution tempers enthusiasm.

March 6th, Venus enters Aries, a Sign of Detriment for Venus, at 5:46 AM EST — a dramatic shift from compassion to self-focus. A Stellium in Aries forms with Saturn, Neptune, and Venus.

March 7th–9th oscillate between vision and confusion:
• March 7: Sun conjunct Mercury; Venus conjunct Neptune — dreams, illusions, heightened imagination.
• March 8: Venus conjunct Saturn — grounding, wisdom, reality checks.
• March 9: Mercury trine Jupiter — optimism or exaggeration; perception swings between extremes.

March 10th brings Venus sextile Pluto and Jupiter turning direct at 11:30 PM EDT — empowerment, renewal, and clear forward motion at last.

March 15th, Mercury conjunct Mars — passionate speech, emotional reactions, impulsivity.

And then winter exhales: the Pisces New Moon when the Sun conjuncts the Moon on March 18th at 9:23 PM EDT sextiles Uranus, and dissolves the final remnants of the old cycle and opens the threshold to spring. Unlike the Aquarius New Moon of February 17th — which was square Uranus and brought palpable disruption — this New Moon invites change with gentleness. The next two weeks encourage us to release the outworn, simplify our structures, and follow intuitive impulses that arise not from desperation but from alignment. The season’s final transformation begins quietly, like ice melting beneath the soil rather than cracking loudly above it.

March 19th carries no major exact aspects, yet many feel the shift unmistakably. After months of inner recalibration, the psyche senses that something is about to open. The atmosphere “thins.” Thoughts drift toward possibility rather than problem. Even those who resisted change earlier in the winter may feel an unfamiliar curiosity stirring. The future leans toward us gently.

Winter 2025–26 closes not as a season of stagnation but as a season of preparation. It has been a crucible, a cocoon, a refining fire. Something essential has shifted, both within and without.

And winter’s voice — patient, ancient, and soft — whispers its final teaching:
The light grows not because darkness recedes, but because you have learned to carry the light within you.

Winter ends not with a single moment but with a slow, almost imperceptible loosening — a soft parting of the season’s veil, a release of breath long held. By the time March reaches its final days, the world is already shifting. The light grows stronger. The air thins. The heart, almost in spite of itself, begins to lean toward beginnings again.

Winter 2025–26 is not an ordinary winter. It is a season of crossing — a liminal passage through which the old cycle dissolved and the new pressed forward, sometimes gently, sometimes forcefully, always with purpose. Its lessons are not abstract. They are lived, felt, embodied. They reshape the inner landscape as surely as frost reshapes a field.

This is the winter that teaches us to see through fog, not by resisting it, but by learning to navigate within it. Mercury’s retrograde in Pisces makes the familiar unreliable, makes facts feel fluid, makes memory porous. But in that fluidity, many discover something deeper: intuition sharpens where logic falters, and the heart learns to trust its own quiet compass.

This is the winter that tests our balance between surrender and discernment. Venus in Pisces dissolves our edges, asks us to feel more openly, love more unconditionally, forgive more freely. Venus in Aries reminds us that compassion is not the same as self-erasure, and that the self must also be honored. Saturn’s slow transition from Pisces to Aries shows us the difference between emotional entanglement and emotional maturity, between drifting and directing.

It is a winter that reveals the early rumblings of a new age.
Pluto in Aquarius whispers of structural revolutions still forming.
Uranus, turning direct, reminds us that the pace of change is accelerating.

Jupiter’s forward motion widens horizons that had felt narrow.
Neptune’s entry into Aries marks the dawning of a new spiritual archetype — the warrior of conscience, the seeker who acts on intuition with courage rather than retreat.

Much of this transformation happens beneath the threshold of visibility. Like seeds germinating in frozen soil, the changes are internal long before they become external.

Winter has always been the season of gestation, but this winter holds a deeper metaphysical charge — the sense of a collective repositioning, a preparation for the technological, psychological, and spiritual shifts of the coming years.

And though the world around us seems fractured at times — though the season brings its share of volatility, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion — winter’s deeper rhythm reminds us that chaos is often the midwife of renewal. The turbulence of January’s transits, the dissolutions of February’s waters, the stirrings of March’s fire all serve a single purpose: to dislodge what is stagnant and awaken what is true.

Winter asks us to release.
Winter asks us to remember.
Winter asks us to realign.

And we do — not perfectly, not always willingly, but inevitably.

For winter is that portion of the year in which life itself seems to pause, to draw inward, to question its own trajectory. It is the season when silence becomes a teacher, when stillness becomes a guide, when darkness becomes a womb rather than a threat. The ancients understood this; they honored the solstice as a sacred turning, a rebirth of light from within the heart of shadow.

This winter renews that wisdom.

We confront our doubts not to be diminished by them, but to see them clearly.
We revisit our past not to revive it, but to free ourselves from it.
We linger within uncertainty not to lose direction, but to find a deeper one.

And then, gradually, something opens.

The Pisces New Moon illuminates the path of release. The Mercury direct station unfreezes our thinking. The equinox ignites the year’s new arc. Together they form a triad — dissolution, clarification, ignition — the timeless cycle through which all creation flows.

The winter teaches us that endings are seldom final. They are transitions, thresholds, invitations. They ask us to carry forward only what remains essential. They ask us to trust cycles larger than any single moment. They remind us that every descent prepares the way for ascent, that every quieting prepares the way for flourish, that every winter is an overture to spring.

Now, as the winter season closes, we carry its teachings like embers — small but potent, capable of lighting new fires in the months ahead. We enter the astrological new year not as the same beings who stood at the solstice, but as those who have been reshaped, refined, reawakened.

We step into spring with a different posture — more aware, more attuned, more willing to engage the unknown with courage and curiosity. The world around us may be shifting at unprecedented speed, but winter strengthens our inner navigation. It clarifies our priorities. It peels away illusion. It prepares us for the great unfolding of 2026 and beyond.

Winter 2025–26 leaves us not with answers, but with orientation.
Not with certainty, but with readiness.
Not with finality, but with possibility.

Its final message is simple and enduring:

Light grows… Spirit stirs… The future waits — and we are now prepared to meet it…