The Tamesis
The second new moon of 2026 will darken the sky in Aquarius on February 17, 2026. Astrologers call it ‘extraordinary’ because it’s actually a eclipse New Moon in Aquarius – The first solar eclipse in Aquarius in nearly eight years and the start of eclipse season. What’s more, it happens on the same day as the Lunar New Year, welcoming us into the Year of the Fire Horse. So a lot of changes are happening. What this means to you personally:
What is a solar eclipse?
“An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the sun’s, blocking out most of the sunlight and making the sun appear like a ring,” explains Rachel Ruth Tate, astrologer at Casino Analyzer.
Astrologically speaking, “This solar eclipse, the first in Aquarius since July 2018, marks the transition to major endings and beginnings in the Aquarius realm of our lives, a transition Pluto has already begun since entering Aquarius in November 2024.”
At its core, eclipse season often brings sweeping changes—whether in our personal, professional, or love lives. They offer opportunities for liberation and profound transformation, strengthened by the energy of the Fire Horse. The door of karma closes and new paths gradually open. Old patterns will also be broken during this time. In this case, what you tolerated before—rationalizing or deferring in some way—can no longer continue. The energy of Aquarius invites revolution, innovation, and liberation, while the energy of Fire Horse invites you to create momentum with courage and freedom. In the midst of it all, the Solar Eclipse invites you to hit the reset button and new opportunities are at hand.
Overview of the next 18 months
“Indeed, the lunar nodes have not officially left the Pisces-Virgo axis…” Tate added. In layman’s terms, this just means that the changes brought about by the eclipse will happen gradually over the next 18 months. It’s not like you’re going to wake up on February 17th a completely different person.
“This eclipse is a preview of what’s to come over the next 18 months,” Tate said. “Venus, the planet of love, lust and joy, will be conjunct the North Node when the eclipse occurs, which means we will feel it deeply. Expect to be struck by a desire for more, and a determination to achieve it at all costs.”
How the new moon encourages permanent change
“The closest thing to this new Saturn eclipse is a square to Uranus, the queen planet of discord and upheaval, which is completing its seven-year journey in the fixed earth sign Taurus. Notice the consistency? Taurus is one of the signs of Venus, and the benevolent planet itself appears on the North Node of Destiny.”
If all of the above is hard to decipher, what you need to know is that this eclipse “heralds permanent changes in the heart and soul.” In other words, the changes you see over the next 18 months will be more than just experiments. It may change the path of your life. But be careful because…
Fantasy and reality can become blurred
“A few days after the eclipse, on February 20, new moon Saturn will be conjunct Neptune, the planet of chaos and illusion, which means it will be difficult to distinguish fantasy from reality,” Tate added. “Which opportunities are real and which are just smoke and mirrors? This will be extremely difficult. Many of us may feel disoriented when something that seems solid evaporates before our eyes.”
