newsletter archive: repression & expression (the leo-aquarius eclipse cycle)

Sent: February 11th 2026

It took a minute for the last Full Moon to metabolize for me personally but it feels like a good reminder of how the lunar cycles actually work. The Moon moves through a sign every two and a half days and we tend to move on from these moments quickly but the New and Full Moons color the entire month. Luna is associated with digestion; even if we feel the potency of a lunation at the exact moment of the transit, we spend the weeks before and after digesting its symbolism and turning it into usable energy. At the same time, the Moon is always participating in a larger six-month arc: initiating, culminating, or closing something begun earlier. For this particular Full Moon on February 1st, it’s worth looking back to the New Moon in Leo on July 24th, 2025 to understand what is now peaking. Events from that period are likely carrying a thematic through line with what is surfacing now.

As far as these larger 6 month cycles go, the eclipses take precedent, these are the more obvious and significant lunar cycles at any given moment. We are currently building toward our next eclipse season and nodal cycle, the Solar eclipse will perfect on February 17th at 28º Aquarius. Keeping these lunar cycles in mind, February 2026 is defined by Leo and Aquarius, an axis that often shows us where we are not being totally ourselves. It seems like such a simple thing, to be yourself, but this axis accentuates all the ways in which it is not so simple. To be in the world means that we are to be changed by it, from arrival, we are so affected by every touch, noise, or shift in the air. Just as the world around us can make us, it also breaks us just as well. Leo represents one aspect of the child archetype, the process of exhibiting or creating a Solar identity and Aquarius, the Saturnian confines of the village and the society it is born into.

Pluto is currently sitting in the sign of Aquarius, marking the underworld baptism of the transiting stellium as each planet entered this sign a few weeks ago. Pluto is here to expose the criminal underbelly of a sign and in Aquarius, it brings a deep sense of shame around one’s individuality, demanding that it rejoin the group. With shame, there is separation and self abandonment that follows, a desire to escape what you are; with Pluto, there is always a distinct awareness of survival and this sensation is also built into the fixed modality (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius). These are the signs that represent the material realm that we live in, representing our body needs for food, shelter, and sunlight. Their themes are fixed, i.e. required and unchanging as a price of surviving this world, meanwhile, Pluto “will try to destroy whatever challenges its survival.”* Through this lens, it is easy to understand why there is a burning need to abandon anything about ourselves that could be seen as different, unpopular, or polarizing as these risk being cast out and away from some society or unit. At the very same time, Aquarius rules these outcasts because there is always some other niche group of rejects to join and Leo rules the follow-spot that finds those bold enough to actually be interesting, creating a new influence and perhaps even a new group to go along with that created identity.

I don’t think that Pluto is the one that creates the shame in Aquarius, nor does it seem to create anything in any one of the signs, it exposes what is already buried deep inside and magnifies it. This may be a time where we are being forced to look at the qualities that we have buried inside or chosen to separate ourselves from in order to avoid rejection or destitution. The cost of the separation is likely starting to become greater than the fear of rejection itself. Considering this 20 year Pluto transit paired with the upcoming nodal shift into Aquarius and Leo, I think it is very dangerous to identify too closely with a group opinion, it could very well be the thing that is creating powerlessness and limitation. Similarly, I don’t actually think it is such a bad thing to risk being hated or abandoned as it often signifies that there is some kind of living and breathing power that others are triggered by. When the nodes move into these signs in July, it will be important to engage both this sense of autonomy and resistance to groupthink just as much as it will be important to join in with a sense of community. The nodes are not so simple, we cannot reject one to be consumed by another (even while it may feel that way mid transit), the axis is inseparable at the end of the day.

* Liz Greene & Howard Sasportas, The Inner Planets: Building Blocks of Personal Reality (Weiser Books, 1993) pg. 171

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// EX OR RE PRESSION //

This is an uneclipsed lunation in Leo before a series of major transits begin to reshape this sector of the chart. Beginning in the summer of 2026, the South Node and Jupiter will both move through Leo, signaling a prolonged period of identity clearing, expansion, and confrontation with what has outlived its usefulness. This process is further reinforced by the Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries, which dominates the year and speaks to the dissolution and rebuilding of foundational identity structures. While Jupiter is often framed as optimistic, its upcoming opposition to Pluto at the start of the transit, followed by a conjunction to a retrograde Mars midway, suggests that growth here doesn’t feel particularly easy, this is not whimsical business. Power dynamics, misuse of authority, and the exposure of false or contorted identities are likely themes. Taken together, the activity on the Leo-Aquarius axis points to something meatier than simply discovering who we want to be or which groups we belong to. There is a fervid forging process underway and it's one that asks for sacrifice, honesty, and a willingness to confront the cost of becoming more fully oneself.

From where we sit now, at the time of the last Full Moon in Leo before the nodal copresence and before the first Solar Eclipse in the Aquarius series, the Sun is detriment in Aquarius. Astrology, at its core, addresses our Solar system. The Sun (representative of life force and identity) keeps the planets in motion and in return, they help define the Sun and its identity. Mercury articulates the Self, Venus accomplishes Self love, Mars asserts the Self, etc. As much as it has been important in our culture of astrology to decenter the Sun-sign and learn beyond it, this is only because the other planets, and aspects hammer out this identity more fully, bringing a well-rounded understanding of self. When the Sun is in Aquarius, we find this individual identity harder to access, repression is a good word for this placement. This is a season, and it will be an especially important theme over the next two years of Aquarius seasons, that may orchestrate other people to act out what is being repressed psychologically.

Pluto’s influence in this sign brings the psychological element and Aquarius is, of course, the pacifist. We need to divorce Aquarius from our modern view of the “rebel Uranian” a bit here because while that can certainly be a part of this sign’s daimon, Aquarius is Saturnian first. This is where the repression of identity happens because it feels it has some level of responsibility to everybody else. The Sun in Aquarius has to look outside of itself to the other planets to help express what it cannot see in the darker realm of Saturn. You may find that these Aquarius seasons and upcoming eclipses will reveal exactly what has been repressed within you and that it is instead, acted out by others or in the environment around you. This dynamic becomes a central theme, revealing where identity has been constrained, outsourced, or denied expression; This is the only reason it might seek expression in other places.

// THE FINAL URANUS SQUARES //

Now, while I did just say that we need to divorce Aquarius and Uranus to understand its repressed nature, we are actually having a series of Uranus squares this month, bringing along that “rebel” archetype and initiating unexpected events or epiphanies that intend to awaken us to some of our final Uranus in Taurus revelations. The aspect to Mercury (Feb 5) and Venus (Feb 8) have already completed, but Uranus still has the Sun (Feb 15), the Eclipse (Feb 17), and Mars (Feb 27) to meet with before these planets move into Pisces. These Uranus squares have occurred for every transit to Aquarius since 2020*, so while we are not dealing with anything particularly new, this is the last time we will see Uranus making major aspects– other than its conjunction to Venus in April– before it leaves Taurus for good.

I find the aspects to the Eclipse and Mars to be the most interesting because they are more infrequent than, say, the annual Sun-Uranus aspect. We typically have about 4 Mars-Uranus squares** in one sign over the 7 year Uranus transit as Mars takes about 2 years to orbit the Sun. However, when Uranus entered Taurus, Mars in Aquarius squared upon ingress and then stationed retrograde making two more passes within the first few months of this transit bringing us to 6 total Mars-Uranus squares from Aquarius. These occurred at 0º on May 15 2018, 2º on August 2nd 2018 during Mars retrograde, and finally at 1º on September 18th 2018 after Mars stationed direct. This triplicate set up the Uranus in Taurus transit at inception and has since defined the rest of the transit.

The next squares that followed were at 5º on April 6 2020, 12º on March 22 2022, and 19º on March 9 2024. Looking back on the weeks surrounding these timeframes may illuminate some of the themes that are culminating now. A Mars-Uranus aspect is usually characterized by sudden changes in direction or motivation, accidents or upheaval. They can be somewhat volatile times but ones that seem to have the ultimate purpose of liberating something that needs to move, even if it’s against our wishes, at the risk of opposing something established, or requires us to hold lingering anger or discomfort. Since this is a trackable recurrence, these dates likely tell a story of Uranus and its agenda, what exactly it has wanted to change or liberate over the last 7-8 years, and we are now approaching a grand finale on the 27th.

The eclipse’s square to Uranus however, provides something just as substantial to digest over the course of the next 6 months. This is the nearly completed form of Uranus in Taurus so, for it to act as a catalyst at the time of an already unpredictable and often life altering planetary event, it tells us that we have been prepared for this moment. All of the erraticism, the epiphanies, the separation from systems or values that kept Prometheus bound in the sector that Taurus rules– it has worked on us, opened us up for the next plot twist and potentially major decisions that have to be made in the Aquarian sector. This square between Earth and Air sign is not an easy one. The tangible matters of value or ownership clash deeply with some kind of intellectual property. Looping back around to this idea of Aquarius as a struggle between the village and the outcast, Uranus in Taurus puts pressure on this story to uphold the values it holds most dear even if they go against an established system.

* Though Uranus ingressed Taurus in 2018, its uninterrupted transit began just after Aquarius season in 2019. Mars was the only planet to square Uranus in Taurus from Aquarius in 2018 upon ingress.

** We are only covering Mars in Aquarius square Uranus but note that Mars in Leo offers another 4 squares to this story. The dates for continued reflection are: July 11 2019, July 4 2021, June 26 2023, and June 15 2025.

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// PISCEAN REPRIEVE//

Eclipse season aside, we have a few other planetary shifts coming this week, Venus ingresses Pisces on the 10th, Mercury enters its pre shadow in Pisces on the 11th, and Saturn ingresses Aries on the 13th. We’ve been talking about Saturn in Aries for quite awhile and even had our preview transit May-August of 2025. I’m not wanting to discuss it too deeply in this newsletter but you can find a few recent articles here & here that unpack this transit’s symbolism if you are wanting to prepare.

Saturn’s entrance into Aries signifies an exit from the Pisces sector. Neptune is absent from this sign as of January 26th and now that Saturn is finally taking its high heel off of the mutable sign’s necks, it’s likely that whatever house Pisces rules (and the planets Saturn-Neptune has been aspecting) will start to feel a bit of relief. The culmination of a sign can be most intense and in Pisces, the final sign of the zodiac, there is a weighted emphasis on endings and now we have some planets coming in to aid in this transition. A Mercury retrograde in this sign is so timely, what better way to adjust to the after effects of these hard won Saturn and Neptunian lessons. A house or planet aspected, particularly by planets that transit over several years of our lives, is not the same after that transit leaves. We can try to go back to whatever it looked like before, but I think without a large and unhealthy dose of avoidance, it’s not truly possible. This is structural, foundational work and Mercury’s retrograde coming in will likely clarify what is possible now that this work has been done and provide closure for any lingering loose ends. The pre-shadow period begins on February 11th, questions and confusion arise to be clarified during the retrograde that begins on February 25th through March 20th; direct Mercury will not leave Pisces until April 14th.

Venus will be exalted in Pisces from February 10th until March 6th and this transit is so lovely. It trines its own ruler, exalted Jupiter in Cancer, exactly on February 22nd. Jupiter has been holding things together for quite awhile now and gains support from Venus during what is likely to be a tumultuous eclipse season. Venus will meet up with Mercury retrograde on the 27th, the same day of that final Mars-Uranus square. Since Venus rules Uranus, it adds to the feeling of needing to see something differently in the wake of a shock or change, clarifying our values and relationships as a result.

Overall, I really like the upcoming activity in Pisces– we do have to consider the Lunar Eclipse in Virgo that opens the season, but the inner planets feel incredibly productive and helpful during this time.

Check out your rising sign horoscopes below! Until next time,

Your friendly neighborhood astrologer,

Katie

//FULL MOON & SOLAR ECLIPSE HOROSCOPES FOR YOUR RISING SIGN//

calculate your rising (also known as the ascendant) sign here.

Aries rising:

The Leo Full Moon highlights creative expression, desire, and the need to be seen for who you actually are, not who you perform as. Something culminates around joy, romance, or a personal passion that has wanted more room. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius initiates a reset in friendships, communities, and long-term visions, asking whether the groups you are aligned with can hold your authenticity. Uranus in Taurus in the 2nd house adds volatility around self-worth and material stability, bringing sudden realizations about what you value and what you are willing to risk. With Mars squaring Uranus, insight may arrive abruptly, forcing a change in priorities. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 1st house suggest that this eclipse season is also dissolving an old self-concept, quietly eroding identities that were built for survival rather than truth. You are being asked to inhabit a new version of yourself without a fully formed blueprint yet.

Taurus rising:

The Leo Full Moon brings emotional clarity around home, family, or the private foundations of your life. Something becomes visible about where you feel safe and where you do not. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius activates your public life and long-term direction, initiating a shift in how you are seen or what you are responsible for. Uranus in your 1st house continues to disrupt your sense of identity, often through sudden changes in self-perception or the way others respond to you and with Mars involved, these shifts may feel urgent and connected to this sense of direction and what you want for your legacy. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 12th house indicate a deeper dissolution happening behind the scenes, where old fears, self-sabotage patterns, or unconscious roles are losing their hold. This is an ending that may not be fully visible yet, but it is making room for something quieter and more honest.

Gemini rising:

The Leo Full Moon culminates a conversation, decision, or mental pattern that has shaped your immediate world. Something clicks into place around how you communicate or interpret your environment. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius opens a longer arc around belief systems, meaning, and direction, inviting you to question the frameworks you rely on for understanding your life. Uranus in Taurus square Mars in the 12th and 3rd houses suggests that revelations may arrive unexpectedly, surfacing from the unconscious patterns rather than logic. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 11th house signal a quiet unraveling of old social identities, long-term goals, or group affiliations. Some dreams are dissolving not because you failed, but because they no longer reflect who you are becoming.

Cancer rising:

The Leo Full Moon illuminates self-worth, resources, and what you need in order to feel supported. A realization peaks around value, both emotional and material. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius draws attention to shared resources, intimacy, and power dynamics, initiating a shift in how you engage with dependence and trust. Mars is also in this 8th house sphere and clashes with Uranus in Taurus in the 11th house bringing instability or surprise through friendships or collective ties, potentially revealing misaligned alliances. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 10th house suggest that your public role or sense of purpose is quietly dissolving and reforming. The path forward may feel unclear, but what is falling away was built on obligation rather than resonance.

Leo rising:

The Full Moon in your sign brings heightened awareness around identity and visibility. Something about who you are or how you present yourself reaches a peak, making it harder to hide or minimize. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius resets the landscape of relationships, initiating changes in how you partner, collaborate, or commit. Uranus in Taurus in the 10th house introduces unpredictability in your public life, possibly through sudden shifts in direction or authority. With Mars squaring Uranus, tensions between personal authenticity and external expectations may surface quickly, from the 7th and 10th, it can especially emphasize relationship status changes. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 9th house indicate a dissolution of belief systems or long-held narratives about your future. You are being asked to let go of certainty and trust a more experiential form of meaning-making.

Virgo rising:

The Leo Full Moon activates the unconscious, illuminating endings, grief, or emotional material that has been quietly shaping your inner life. Something is ready to be released. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius initiates a reset in work, health, and daily routines, asking you to reorganize how you live on a practical level. Uranus in Taurus in the 9th house disrupts belief systems or assumptions, often through sudden insights that challenge your worldview. With Mars squaring Uranus, these insights may feel urgent as health and work are requiring more development over the upcoming nodal cycle. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 8th house suggest the dissolution of old survival strategies around intimacy, control, or shared resources. Trust is being redefined, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Libra rising:

The Leo Full Moon brings clarity around friendships, networks, and future goals, revealing where you truly belong and where you may have been compromising yourself. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius initiates a new chapter around creativity, pleasure, and personal expression, asking you to prioritize joy without justification. Mars is in the same sphere as the Solar eclipse facing off with Uranus in Taurus in the 8th house; this introduces the unexpected around shared resources or emotional entanglements, sometimes through sudden realizations about dependency or power. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 7th house point to a slow dissolution of relationship structures that were built on obligation, projection, or endurance. Partnerships are being reimagined at their foundation.

Scorpio rising:

The Leo Full Moon brings visibility to career matters, roles, and public responsibilities, clarifying what has reached its limit. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius turns attention inward, initiating changes around home, family, or emotional foundations. Uranus in Taurus in the 7th house continues to destabilize relationship dynamics, often through unexpected behavior or revelations from others. With Mars activating Uranus, relational tension may spike provoking you to question these inherited roles you've taken on. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 6th house indicate the breakdown of unsustainable work habits, health issues, or expectations around productivity. Your body and nervous system are part of this story, asking for a different structure of care.

Sagittarius rising:

The Leo Full Moon illuminates belief systems, education, or long-term vision, bringing a moment of truth around what you stand for. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius brings shifts in communication patterns, learning processes, and daily exchanges. Uranus in Taurus in the 6th house disrupts routines and work habits, often through sudden changes that demand flexibility. With Mars squaring Uranus, inefficiencies are harder to ignore and they are asking for more shape and clarity. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 5th house suggest the dissolution of old creative identities or narratives around joy and self-expression. What you create next may come from a less performative place.

Capricorn rising:

The Leo Full Moon activates themes of intimacy, loss, or shared resources, revealing where power dynamics have been shaping your emotional life. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius initiates a new relationship with self-worth, income, and personal stability. Uranus in Taurus in the 5th house destabilizes creative or romantic expectations, often through sudden inspiration or disruption. With Mars squaring Uranus, these destabilizing revelations may ask you to assert yourself as an act of self love– what you truly value and your relationship to self worth is being tested this month. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 4th house indicate a deep restructuring of home, family patterns, or inner security. Old foundations or inherited roles are dissolving to make room for something more aligned.

Aquarius rising:

The Leo Full Moon highlights relationship dynamics, showing you what others reflect back and where imbalance exists. The Solar Eclipse in your sign marks a significant identity reset, initiating a new chapter of self-definition. Uranus in Taurus in the 4th house continues to unsettle emotional foundations and inherited roles, often through sudden changes at home or within family dynamics. With Mars activating Uranus, internal shifts may demand immediate external adjustments that align with your updated sense of self. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 3rd house suggest the dissolution of outdated ways of thinking, speaking, or narrating your experience. A new internal dialogue is forming, even if it feels unfamiliar.

Pisces rising:

The Leo Full Moon culminates matters of work, health, or daily responsibility, revealing where your energy has been overextended. The Solar Eclipse in Aquarius opens a quieter chapter of release, rest, and introspection. Uranus in Taurus in the 3rd house disrupts habitual thinking, delivering sudden insights or surprising conversations. With Mars squaring Uranus, mental tension may spike but it's revealing where you've been sabotaging yourself with hidden behavioral patterns. Saturn and Neptune in Aries in your 2nd house indicate a slow dissolution of old value systems and survival strategies. What you rely on for stability is changing, inviting a more intuitive relationship with security.

this week's mood board