Imbolc New Moon and Annular Eclipse
Annular Eclipse - 17 th February 2026 - 12.00 UT/GMT
Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse
The Annular Eclipse occurs over Antarctica, with Saturn in Aries approaching exact conjunction with Neptune, three days later on Feb 20 th . The Saturn – Neptune conjunction has been gradually building and getting ever closer for well over a year.
At the Eclipse, Saturn and Neptune form a Learning Figure with the Moon – Sun conjunction in Aquarius and with Uranus in Taurus, which is widely conjunct Sedna in the first degree ofGemini. Uranus’ involvement in this Eclipse marks a process of breaking open, to awaken us to the true power of the soul. Neptune resonates through the Soul Star Centre, above the Crown chakra, connecting us with our soul’s true purpose. Saturn resonates with the Root chakra, which anchors our soul into our body. So, Saturn conjunct Neptune enables us to receive, absorb and integrate our soul’s purpose into our physical body, so we can manifest the power of our soul’s purpose out in the world. The Eclipse over the South Pole is helping to release whatever resistance we may have to that purpose becoming manifest.
The other major pattern in the Eclipse chart, is the large red T-square, with Ceres conjunct Chiron and Eris in Aries, at the apex of the triangle. These are making squares to retrograde Jupiter in Cancer and to Juno in Capricorn, which are in opposition to one another.
The opposition between retrograde Jupiter and Juno is highlighting the underlying tensions between these two archetypes. In ancient myth, Jupiter and Juno were king and queen of the gods, whose fundamental incompatibility, conflicts and bickering were legendary.
Jupiter was the embodiment of many of the worst aspects of patriarchal control and dominance, fuelled by an attitude of entitlement and having the right to do whatever he wanted. With Jupiter currently going retrograde, many of these worst ‘qualities’ are coming out into the open at this current time.
Juno, on the other hand always sought to uphold the principles of right relationship and the sacredness of their marriage, although she was also adept at getting revenge for Jupiter’s infidelities, and thereby asserting her personal power and integrity.
Ceres’ position, along with Chiron and Eris at the apex of the pattern indicate that deep healing of such ancient wounds and festering resentments is needed.
Chiron’s conjunctions with Eris (in May and October 2025 and again on 19 th March 2026) have been bringing to the surface many such ancient, deeply felt wounds that have persisted for centuries and never been resolved. Ceres’ presence in this conjunction, indicates the need to look clearly and honestly at both sides of these conflicts, before any true, deep and lasting healing can take place.
Ceres represents our responsibility, as children of Mother Earth, to care for and nurture one another. This is not about taking sides but rather about aligning ourselves with what is right and nurturing and calling out what is wrong and destructive. The presence of the mysterious Eris is making it difficult to see clearly what is true and what is misdirection and obfuscation of the truth. Many things have lain hidden in the dark, unknowable past, for far too long.
Such continuing conflicts can have a detrimental effect on the Earth’s energy grids and on the health of Mother Earth herself, if we allow them to persist.
Another Learning Triangle has Ceres – Chiron – Eris square (90°) Jupiter, which is quincunx (150°) to a conjunction of Mars and Vesta in Aquarius, which are sextile (60°) back to Ceres – Chiron – Eris.
The key to healing these deep wounds of the past is dependent upon bringing the fire of the will (Mars) and the fire of the Inner Heart (Vesta) into alignment. When the heart and will are aligned, this enables the will to confront the past with honesty and integrity, and the heart to burn away the dross of the past, through forgiveness and unconditional love. This
Eclipse and its alignments occur on the first day of the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse, bringing the purifying action of fire to first reveal and then burn away the negativity and corruption of the past.
Meanwhile, Pluto in Aquarius stands alone and unaspected. In its pure form, Pluto represents the potential for the manifestation of Divine Will on Earth. Being unaspected
means it is pure and unadulterated by our human hopes, desires, agendas or beliefs. Pluto stands apart from all the dramas that are unfolding, like a council of ancestors, observing and holding a clear intention for the truth to be revealed and to prevail.
For All Our Relations.