The Uprising

February 2026 is a seismic month.  There are historic landmark moments which define everything that comes before and then what happens afterward. February 2026 is such a time.

In an era when the word unprecedented has become completely overused to the point of cliché, February gives unprecedented a whole new meaning. We live in unsettled and uncertain times; but if tumult were the name of a month, February would be IT.   I’m no alarmist but anyone unfamiliar with the French Revolution should brush up on their history.

From the get go, the cosmic energy is wild.  Sunday, February 1^st is the Full Moon in festive Leo.  Astrologers often tease that this passionate sign should really be called Look at me Leo… The sign that roars, Leo rules creativity, romance, taking chances, drama, sports, parties and vacations.  It is the good time guy/gal sign.  While Leo rules playfulness and fun, Leo can attract attention through unbridled narcissism for all the wrong reasons.  

Either way, a Leo Full Moon does not take a back seat to anyone.  It is seen and heard. Opposite the Sun in quirky Aquarius, this Full Moon demands attention.  Raising the stakes even higher, this noticeable full moon occurs just days before Radical Uranus turns direct motion.  In other words, it is loaded.  Think: overflowing boiling point.

Here’s why:  Uranus is the change-agent and planet of great awakening.  It rules shock, surprise, breakthrough, revolution, earthquakes and lightning strikes.  As the planetary ruler of Aquarius, Uranus has been cycling retrograde since early September. Now it is shifting gears, moving forward with a thrust that inevitably brings upheaval.  Under the light of a bombastic Full Moon opposite the rebellious Aquarius Sun, Uranus turns direct on February 4^th.  This is not energy to be messed with nor taken lightly.

Adding fuel to the fire, dreamy Neptune just entered fiery Aries on January 26^th, setting up the bonfire. Along comes the feisty Leo Full Moon pouring kerosene all over the wood, then Uranus tosses a lit match onto the pile.  KABOOM. Expect the unexpected is an understatement.

What can you do to minimize the impact on your life and best manage this explosive energy?  Be prepared.  Lay low. Have cash on hand. Stay put. Play it safe. Leave the party early. Trust your gut instinct implicitly. Pack extra supplies. This is not a time to go out on a limb.

With all the fire energy in the planetary mix, make sure appliances are turned off before leaving your house, including the dryer and stove.  Stay ahead of maintenance for your car, furnace, and water heater or any other heat and engine-related devices.

By the end of the first week of February, we may feel we’ve lived a whole year or a thousand lifetimes.  Yes, it is that dramatic.

Where are the other planets while all of this Full Moon drama is happening?  Either stoking the flames and spreading sparks into an immense wildfire OR standing back, removed and detached, watching the scene burn.  It is noteworthy that as Uranus turns direct motion, five planets are in this planet’s rebellious sign Aquarius. All four interior planets cycle through innovative Aquarius:  Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars, along with transformer Pluto.  Aquarius rules groups and public consciousness.  Five out of ten planets in Aquarius is a lot, enough to mark a seismic shift in public awareness and opinion. 

Those who haven’t been paying attention now awaken.  Many now personally feel the impact of decisions foisted upon them by global power brokers. Aquarius rules technology, connection and networks. Social media sparks chain reactions.  Word spreads instantly. Awakened and (often) increasingly angry groups may turn into mob rule, something along the lines of Viva la revolution!  This is a global mood.  Check Iran, Venezuela, and yes, the USA.

Turning the heat up and fanning the flames that much more, Messenger Mercury and Valuable Venus challenge Uranus in Taurus like heavyweight boxers in a ring.  All demand change.  The clash is over how change will occur. Meanwhile, the Sun stands at 15 degrees Aquarius as Uranus shifts forward, commanding world attention. 

Pivotal moments in history mark exactly where we are as incidents occur:  when JFK was shot or when 911 happened.  This is one of those times.  No, it is not hyperbole.

Good thing then when Mercury and Venus enter compassionate, spiritual Pisces on February 6^th and 10^th, gradually joining the lunar north node.  The trio throws water on that raging wildfire and cooler heads prevail through the week ending Friday, February 13^th.  The second week of the month is the one stretch of calm during a highly volatile month, a pause-button window where we can come up for air.

And boy, will we need this break from the frenzy. Take advantage and use this week for self-care and reflection as it is a quiet stretch of the month.  By Saturday morning, February 14^th, Taskmaster Saturn joins soulful Neptune in Aries, injecting fresh kerosene into the raging cosmic wildfire.

Tomes have been written about this one cosmic event in February.  It is historic to say the least. No one alive has witnessed the pairing of heavyweight Saturn and Spiritual Neptune in Aries. The last time it occurred was 1703. For a reference point: America began to colonize. The planetary duo conjoins at 00 Aries, called the Creator Degree, the veritable starting point of the entire zodiac.  Together they mark an entirely new passage where spirituality meets reality.

Key words are:  emergence, frontier, blazing trails, pioneer, blank slate, new beginnings, impulse, spark, fearless, courage, fierce.

Images are: God touching Adam’s finger on the Sistine Chapel; a spark igniting fire; pen to blank page or brush to empty canvas. Each of us are handed exactly that now:  a blank template to create our destiny.

Last year, 2025 was a continuous purge that finally finished in January 2026.  On Valentine’s Day, February 14^th, new thresholds greet us.  On the other side of the open door, brand new opportunities await.  Will you dare cross the threshold and discover what greets you?

I say dare because this passage is not for the faint of heart or anyone with fear of the unknown. The good news is we are all crossing the threshold collectively.   Better to embrace the fresh unknown than cling tightly to what once was. That is surely foolhardy.

What better time for this historic duo to enter Aries than on the eve of a New Moon solar eclipse?!  The first eclipse of 2026 on Tuesday, February 17^th, both Aquarius Sun and Moon demand change, reinvention and innovation. The pair clashes with Uranus over just how change should come to pass. 

They tell a tale as ancient as time itself: the old versus the new, the old wanting life to stay as it is, refusing to let go of custom and tradition, and pushing away calls for different and alternative approaches.

In the push-pull, planetary tug of war, some very great people and noble ideas will be crushed.  The best case scenario is a draw between old and new. Given that the Sun enters Pisces two days after the eclipse on Thursday, February 19^th, there is hope that warring interests will lighten their grip, ease up a bit or even surrender entirely. Such is the nature of Pisces’ flowing influence.

As the Sun joins Mercury, Venus and the lunar North Node in fluid Pisces, aligning to nurturing Jupiter in Cancer, the impact of planets in water signs offers a sufficiently steady drip-drip to finally dampen the wildfire burning earlier this month.

If we know anything about wildfires, it is the purest form of cleansing and clearing.  Fire burns through everything no matter what the fiber or substance.  Time now to assess how far and wide, how deep the fire purified.

The uprising abates. For now, take a beat. And take a well-earned deep breath.

Perfectly orchestrated divine timing delivers Messenger Mercury’s retrograde motion on Wednesday, February 25^th.  For the next three weeks, until the Spring Equinox in mid-March, we are called to turn inward, to reflect, contemplate and meditate.  This is one Mercury retrograde phase that is most welcome after February’s upheaval. Use this sacred pause to consider where to go from here.  Anywhere is possible and the impossible is calling.

Of Special Note:

Is your intuition calling you?  The 3 Wise Women are three veteran metaphysical practitioners offering community, conversation and connection via zoom every first Tuesday of the month @6 pm eastern.  For just $10/session, feel safe among like-minded seekers to ask your wildest woo questions and learn from each other.  Join us!  To enroll: www.hilaryharley.com

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