New is not everything
As the Sun hurtles into the future in Aquarius, Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio (February 9, 2026, 4:43 AM PST, 20°46′ Scorpio/Aquarius), standing to one side, arms crossed, suspicious. “What’s so great about the future?” it whispered. “And what – who – will you leave behind on your way there?”
The future is all well and good, but what about the connections we share with others in the here and now? How about the gardens we cultivate today? We’ll enjoy their harvest in the spring, which is already a distant future for many; but Aquarius has their sights set on a future that doesn’t seem to require such a menial, worldly occupation.
Next week’s Aquarius Solar Eclipse is the first in Aquarius since July 2018, announcing that the future is coming. But then again, it’s always on the way. Its boundaries are constantly changing and, by definition, we can never fully reach it. It’s exciting, it’s a dazzling vision of the future, a frontier full of freshness. But the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio whispers, “New isn’t everything. Don’t forget to cherish your old relationships, too.”
Breakfast Pepsi
This week, Venus enters Pisces (February 10, 2026 at 2:19 a.m. PST through March 6). I admit there is a positive bias when Venus is in Pisces: my mother had a Venus placement, and a dearer one never lived. She believed the best in everyone, and those who knew her worked hard to live up to her expectations and avoid letting her down.
But life with her had its quirks. We’ve become accustomed to passing by the living room of our tiny house in the morning and encountering random acquaintances sitting on our couches. We uncovered some of her less-than-ideal financial and eating habits, like mounting credit card debt and washing down Hostess cupcakes with Pepsi…breakfast.
At the time, I felt guilty for being a grumpy, judgmental introvert because I had never lived up to my mother’s example of selflessness. But throughout my life, I’ve internalized some of her lessons—albeit with a few tweaks. For example, on the other side of my second Saturn return, I was able to control my temper better and be more forgiving, which would make her proud. Luckily, I also managed to get out of debt in my life and accept oatmeal for breakfast.
Venus is exalted in Pisces, which means Venus does her best work here. With Venus in Pisces, we are closest to achieving unconditional love and our most tender, generous, and loving selves. So, enjoy Venus in this spiritually aware sign – spend your money wisely, eat nutritiously, and make sure you know who’s sleeping on your couch.
Don’t blame, don’t complain
This week, Saturn enters Aries (February 13, 2026 at 4:12 pm PST) approximately five months after going retrograde in Pisces. By April 2028, it’s the first long-term stay here since 1996, marking the dawn of a bold new era of radical personal accountability. This transformation requires us to stop making excuses and take full control of our lives. Saturn is uncompromising: it asks us to step up, take the lead, and blaze our own trail with discipline and courage. There is no room for blame or complaint here, only a clear call: Be the author, director and star of your own story.
Fortunately, Saturn is close to Neptune on this entry (exactly conjunct next week), providing not only the discipline but also the inspiration that, with hard work, can turn it into a reality. Define what you truly want and start laying the foundation for a life that reflects your deepest desires. What are you building? Where are the boundaries? What are the barriers? How can you become a stronger, braver, more mature version of yourself?
If you were born between April 1996 and February 1999 with Saturn in Aries, you will have your first Saturn return sometime in the next few years. If you were born between 1967-69 and have Saturn in Aries, you will have your second Saturn return. Saturn’s return is an opportunity to take stock and give ourselves a report card of what we are achieving and what we have yet to achieve. Give yourself an honest score, but also have some compassion.
behind the wardrobe
Sometimes we get a little tired of ourselves—tired of facing the same quirks and annoyances every day, tired of seeing the same face looking back at us in the mirror. I’m not talking about a full-blown crisis. In this case, no one would leave their spouse to buy a red convertible. It’s more like those awful Monday mornings when you start a new week at work and you’re tempted to be someone else, somewhere else, doing something completely different.
The alarm clock rang. You shower, drink your morning coffee, brush your teeth, and then walk to your closet to find something to wear. Ugh – you hate all your clothes! Or rather…
Your hand lingers on a strange little number in the back of the closet. You bought it on a whim a few years ago and quickly regretted it. It’s a little weird, the colors are weird and bold. It’s not at all what you normally do – and it’s absolutely perfect. You put it on, check yourself in the mirror, and smile. Then you can go to work with that extra step.
Sun square Uranus (February 15, 2026, 9:02 PM PST, 27°31′ Aquarius/Taurus) Fleeting. It won’t last more than a day or two. But it’s long enough for us to feel a bout of boredom, dissatisfaction, and a burning desire to be someone else, or at least a different version of ourselves.
What’s at the back of your closet? Use this day to change things up and reinvent yourself.
Text and images © 2017-2026 by April Elliott Kent
