In the very best of ways, January 2026 is a far cry from January 2025. The first three months of last year felt like cosmic sludge, very difficult energy to work through. Not so now at the beginning of the coming New Year. A completely different page greets us on January 1, 2026. This first month is clear, direct and unburdened by planetary twists. A very good thing too, as New Year’s energy portends how the months ahead unfold.
Crisp and clean, brisk like a winter’s day, January heralds
the breath of fresh air and new beginnings we all seek. The planets do not hold back, leaping right
into a Full Moon in nurturing Cancer the Crab on Saturday, January 3rd. Use
this nourishing energy for some deep self-loving care after the holiday rush.
The Sun is tightly wedged between Valuable Venus and
Motivating Mars in Capricorn at the time of the Full Moon, lending responsible
practicality. You will know beyond the
shadow of a doubt if you can afford something, whether a person or project is
worth your time and energy, and what the long-term effects of your efforts will
bear.
Both Sun and Moon here look out for our best interests
albeit with very different approaches. Where
the Cancer the Crab Full Moon is warm and fuzzy, deeply protective, the Sun and
its pack of Capricorn planets takes a thorough inventory and ask the hard
questions to flesh out what is real and what is not. The Cancer Moon offers a soft space while
Capricorn Sun wards off anyone/thing not good for us. Both protect us. The New Year cosmic combination has our back
and reminds us that there is a larger wisdom at work. Our job is to trust and
follow it.
Days before the Full Moon, Messenger Mercury joined the
Capricorn combo, clarifying and distilling what is ours to manage versus what
belongs to others to do. All four interior planets in this final earth sign of
the zodiac draws a granite line in the sand.
Definitive boundaries are established.
This is not cozy or comforting energy.
Capricorn’s key phrase is: I Use.
Crystal clear, we know what we have in the way of resources and
information. Use these for building and constructing your dream. For Capricorn
is the master architect and contractor.
What is your dream?
With Taskmaster Saturn and Dreamy Neptune at the final
degrees of Pisces, ruler of dreams, you may indeed have distinct visions
calling you. The duo aligns to Radical
Uranus in Taurus affording us both the imagination and wherewithal to bring our
inspirations to life. I call this
combination the Dream maker alliance.
It is hard to understate its value and effect as it is highly, highly
productive.
Think of an artist or scientist who imagines a creation or
solution. They hold their vision in
front of them while applying years of knowledge, training and expertise to
develop and realize their desired outcome.
This dual effort is what the planets deliver to us now. In fact, this energy has been in effect since
November; but by January 2026, we are at peak momentum. Needless to say, take advantage. Seize the
day.
This steady-eddy energy holds firm and fast through the
first two weeks of January. Our groove
is climaxing, like a symphonic crescendo, when on Saturday, January 17th,
Valuable Venus kicks off an inevitable change, and chain reaction of cosmic shifts. Venus, the planet ruling love, money and
relationships, moves from stalwart, reliable Capricorn into unusual and
innovative Aquarius. Here, she harkens
to a completely different drum, anything non-mainstream and unconventional. All
natural cycles turn from one season to another. And boy is life about to shift gears. Big
time.
Just hours later, the New Moon occurs in the final degrees
of Capricorn on Sunday, January 18th.
Capricorn is not just old, traditional energy. It is ancient. Granite.
Think, “older than the hills”. With both Sun and Moon in this final
earth sign, the torch has been passed.
The finish line has been crossed, the door now closes behind us. There is no going back, only moving forward.
Enter Aquarius. Venus
joins Powerful Pluto in early degrees of this avant garde sign, distinctly
marking what was from what is yet to be.
As the planet of values, skills, resources and worth, she points to where we will now devote our time, talents and
treasure. Not only that, Venus heralds a
domino of planetary movement into Aquarius.
In short order from January 20th to the 23rd,
the Sun, Messenger Mercury and Motivating Mars roll into Aquarius, joining
Pluto and Venus, creating a powerhouse cluster.
Fully five out of the ten planets begin cycling through this sign of
upheaval, innovation and rebellion. All
to say: we are fully engaged in the Age of Aquarius now. We play by a different rule book here, and on
unusual playing fields. Expect the unexpected now as Aquarius and its ruler
Uranus govern surprise, shock, anything sudden.
A jazz musician comes to mind.
S/he riffs on their instrument, improvising and daring, leaving the
written composition behind, lifting us into other worlds of sound we could only
otherwise imagine.
How you respond to what unfolds is what matters. Best to roll with the punches. Our on-going
call and response with cosmic stimuli, is the better part of our earthly
education. Regardless of what sign might
dominate the cosmos at any given moment, it is vital to remember that the end
goal remains the same: cause and
effect. What you plant, you reap. Be
sure your intentions are pure and honest.
Generously plant with love and compassion.
This is particularly true as Aquarius is an air sign of
ideas, frequencies, and connectivity. With the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and
Saturn aligning helpfully to each other, our thoughts and words multiply exponentially. In terms of manifestation, our ideas and
words turn into reality at lightning speed. I cannot emphasize this enough as
Neptune enters Aries on Monday, January 26th.
Since 2011, Neptune has been cycling through its own sign of
Pisces, very slowly purifying our lives to align us with our soul
contracts. The past year of 2025 was
also the Chinese Year of the Snake. To
grow and change, snakes shed their skin.
Similarly, Neptune joined by Taskmaster Saturn in watery Pisces has
cleansed and cleared us of anything and anyone not intended for us to carry
forward.
While I do not practice Chinese astrology, I do find it not
the least coincidental that we are moving from Snake to Fire Horse energy in
2026. Neptune moving into fiery Aries,
the first sign of the zodiac does indeed mirror and exemplify this. The Fire
Horse represents speed, momentum, courage and boldness. Likewise, Aries, represents the initial
spark, the Creator. In short, Aries
lights the match and gets the party started. The five planets in Aquarius then spread
the flame.
So you see where we are going?
2025 was the final crescendo of shedding, clearing and
cleansing so we can move into 2026 and the years to follow with a pure, blank
slate to rapidly create, build and enjoy.
Any residual will be too heavy for where we are headed. It will weigh us
down. Thus, the need to wash it away, or
shed.
Neptune will be in Aries until 2039. What will life possibly look like by then? Compare your life now to the one you lived in
2011. Neptune IS the soul, spirit and
consciousness. In Aries, Neptune acts,
moves, engages and accomplishes, based on intuitive, soulful impulse. It is not shy, reticent or hesitant. Especially aligning to Pluto, Uranus and
Saturn for the next two years, Neptune follows divine downloads and directives
and asks questions later.
Slow progress and power dynamics of old are now behind us. We are in for one wild and exciting ride! Welcome to 2026!
Of special note:
Ready for 2026? It is just about here so tune into my 2026 forecast with fellow astrologer Jill Jardine to learn what to expect for the upcoming year: Tune in: www.hilaryharley.com OR www.jilljardineastrology.com/cosmic-scene-podcast/
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Mystical Messages features my monthly astrology forecasts if you prefer listening via podcast. Also featured are cutting edge healing arts practitioners. Tune in and listen through Youtube, Apple or Spotify or hear previous episodes: www.hilaryharley.com
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