2026 Yearly Forecast: The Year of Dr. Strange in Training (or "Baby Yoda")

Aquarius New Moon 2026 & Lunar New Year Welcome

Welcome to the Aquarius New Moon of 2026, also known as the Lunar New Year 2026. If you made it through—from wherever you were and whatever you had to get through—congratulations. Please allow me to give you a huge pat on the back and a big hug. If the astrology is any indication, 2025 was no small feat, and every bit of your presence today deserves recognition and celebration.

Reflecting on the 2025 Lunar New Year: The Year of Loki

Looking back to 2025 and the 2025 Lunar New Year forecast, we saw that 2025 was the Year of Loki (of Marvel’s cinematic interpretations), with the yearly mascot Mercury representing a focus on commerce and fast-paced transactions, as well as rapid shifts in the financial markets. We also saw Loki-like characteristics of cunning, deception, cleverness, and self-preservation dominating the collective psyche, alongside the emergence of more mature behaviors rooted in mutuality for the greater good once Loki began to mature, as Jupiter entered Cancer in June 2025. You can review the 2025 yearly forecast here.

Feel free to watch the summary video below, or read on:

Reading the Pulse of 2026: The Aquarius New Moon Chart

And now, heading into 2026, we are once again consulting the Aquarius New Moon chart to put a finger on the pulse of the collective bearings. From the 2/17/2026 Lunar New Year chart, we see Capricorn rising, looking to Saturn/Neptune in Aries in the 3rd house, then Mars in Aquarius in the 2nd, then Uranus in Taurus in the 5th, then Venus/North Node in Pisces in the 2nd, then Jupiter in Cancer in the 7th, and finally the New Moon in Aquarius in the 2nd.

For 2026, the collective finds itself focusing on commerce once again, while reorganizing and redistributing personal resources as planets cluster in the 2nd and 3rd houses. With a Capricorn ascendant looking to Saturn and Neptune in Aries in the 3rd house, the emphasis is on economic transactions and short-term gains that fuel long-term visions. And because Saturn and Neptune look to Mars in the 2nd house, there may also be large expenditures made to support creative visions that are actually aligned with cosmic expansion. The collective wish is long-term stability and the ability to reconnect with the simple joys of life again after years of major shifts. The chart does not suggest that we necessarily get this stability fully realized this year, but the hope and sense of possibility are much stronger than in years prior.

Building the Right Path: Mutuality as the Litmus Test

We are still doing solid work this year to build on new paradigms and values, and the litmus test for being on the right track would be: does what I’m doing contribute to my creative expression while benefiting others at the same time? In 2026, as Saturn and Neptune both transit Aries, many ideas will spark and business ventures will rise, and only those that fulfill the criteria of mutuality will last.

Again, this is a year of investing in the right path, not a year of receiving a return on investment. The “harvest” and fruit we receive this year are the birth of a new personal venture that aligns with cosmic intentions, and the privilege of being able to continue building it without collapse. In other words, intentions that do not align with cosmic intentions will collapse this year. For those who may have an inkling that this could happen with your plans, remember that rejection is the universe’s protection, and there is always time to change course and get behind an alternative vision before the North Node leaves Pisces on 8/18/2026. After that, the “vision board” is set for the next 12 years, as the North Node looks to Uranus in Gemini for the rest of 2026 and into 2027, and we will need to begin negotiating that vision with the material world to make it real.

Setting the Vision Board Before It Sets

So for the first half of the year, before the glue sets on the vision board, examine whether your vision for the next 5–10 years aligns with mutual win-win dynamics and compassion (Jupiter in Cancer in the 7th trine Mercury in Pisces in the 2nd). As you can see, it is very interesting that while Saturn and Neptune in Aries point to personal initiatives and efforts to increase transactional gains in the 3rd house, these two planets nevertheless look to Mars in Aquarius in the 2nd house. This means your gains will need to be reinvested or recirculated back into the collective—meaning they must benefit the collective in some way—or the reinvestment will be made on your behalf through other means.

No matter how you approach it, your partnerships in life, and in all areas of life, must benefit materially alongside you for you to feel the full satisfaction of your creativity and the work you are doing.

Pluto in Aquarius: Rebirth, Individuation, and New Identities

Juxtaposed with the theme of mutuality, with Pluto in Aquarius in the 1st house, be on the lookout for all of us wanting to break out of our previous shells and be “reborn” into something completely new and unprecedented. This is a year in which we may find our friends and loved ones shifting so drastically that we no longer recognize them as they once were. Of course, we are also likely to feel the urge to break out of our own cocoons and individuate in new ways.

This makes 2026 a fantastic year to emerge as a new person with a new identity, take on new roles, and showcase creativity and skills that you have been incubating quietly in the background.

Jupiter in Leo Opposing Pluto: Stepping Into the Spotlight

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, as Jupiter ingresses into Leo on 6/29/2026, it will begin to oppose Pluto in Aquarius, culminating in an exact opposition on 7/20/2026. This aspect gives us the opportunity to integrate our individual talents with collective demands (a.k.a. the signs of the times) and to manifest that integration within the economic marketplace.

This alignment will feel like magic and providence, offering the first signs of fruition to those who have been diligently working behind the scenes. Interestingly, this is also the time to forgo the supposed virtues of modesty and to boldly embrace the publicity that is justified by solid work and mastery of detail. The key point here is this: the opportunity will be given naturally. These opportunities will not prove fruitful if you seek, chase, or advocate for them. If you have been on the right track, the opportunity simply “lands,” asking you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and step into the spotlight.

So how do you ensure that this opportunity “lands” and converges around you? Once again, adjust your vision boards to pass the litmus test of mutuality—not only for mutual profit, but for humanity’s calibration to higher frequencies of compassion and lived experience (whether that is love, health, prosperity, or whichever facet of human life you feel called to revamp). And this can happen in any profession, position, arena of focus, and at any stage of life. Your own connection to what is right for you is the key.

Chiron–Eris and the Escalation of Conflict

Now, a note on war and conflict, including trade wars, litigations, and lawsuits—not only occurring between nations, but also between us and within us personally. As mentioned previously, Chiron will remain in Aries until 4/14/2027, and it is moving toward the final conjunction in the current trio of Chiron–Eris conjunctions on 3/19/2026 (the other two occurring on 5/26/2025 and 10/8/2025).

Here are past examples of Chiron–Eris conjunctions:

• 5/30/1971, 9/7/1971, 3/19/1972 (Vietnam War)

• 4/30/1917, 9/11/1917, 2/20/1918 (World War I)

• 3/30/1863, 9/9/1863, 1/15/1864 (American Civil War)

As you can see, this aspect is not the one that foreshadows conflict or initiates war, but rather the one that escalates, adds fuel to the fire, and ultimately transforms or transmutes the conflict. Chiron with Eris is like throwing salt into an opponent’s wounds: you don’t get surrender, you get a hurt and enraged animal charging back at you in response to pettiness and provocation.

What is particularly interesting when comparing Chiron–Eris in this year’s Lunar New Year chart versus the 2025 Lunar New Year chart is that last year, conflicts centered on homeland and foundational security, as well as the protection of natural resources shared with allies (Chiron–Eris in the 4th house looking to Mars in Cancer in the 7th, then the New Moon in Aquarius in the 2nd). This year, however, we are overtly looking at business and transactional gains without masking economic motives (Chiron–Eris in the 3rd house looking to Mars in the 2nd, Uranus in the 5th, and then Venus in the 2nd). The obvious purpose is to redistribute resources in “creative” ways that allow benefits to be wielded toward ourselves and our allies. On the surface, this actually fits the litmus test of mutuality.

The Twist: Crisis as Catalyst for a New Order

And here comes the twist. According to the chart, the provocation surrounding the Chiron–Eris conjunction around 3/19/2026 culminates in something so drastic that the situation turns and forces the trajectory toward Venus in Pisces in the 2nd house, looking to Jupiter in Cancer in the 7th, which in turn looks back to the Aquarius New Moon in the 2nd. In other words, the provoking event carries the potential to reshuffle alliances, pointing toward new alliances and new world orders that help humanity channel higher frequencies and lived experiences of love—not merely mutual economic benefit.

This trajectory fulfills the year’s requirement for success: whatever unfolds must, and will, elevate humanity to a higher frequency. The course correction will happen whether we are on track or not, and that is both the compassion and the cruelty of Venus conjunct the North Node in Pisces in the 2nd house of the Lunar New Year chart. The escalation of drama, the devastation of the tower moment, and the beauty of a new world horizon are all contained within the quietude of this Aquarius New Moon sky.

Personal Upheaval as Revelation: The Only Way Out Is Through

The advice for those experiencing this shift as a personal and internal revelation? With Jupiter still squaring Chiron and Eris from Cancer until 6/29/2026, the only way out is through. Surrender to the upheaval, and remember that you are shifting too - and that alone can be a source of insecurity for others. Make use of the provocation surrounding the Chiron–Eris conjunction on 3/19 to establish new routines, vendors, and services that support the materialization of your vision board.

Here is a simple example. If becoming slim and fit is on your vision board (with your own personal proviso and justification that it fulfills the criteria of being mutually beneficial and elevating humanity), you begin working toward it, and along the way you encounter opposition and naysayers who throw salt on your wounds and call you vain or a lost cause out of jealousy or projection of their own insecurities. Instead of internalizing this provocation, you use it as natural motivation to “charge” toward a healthier diet, environmentally conscious vendors, and supportive peers who are more aligned with your goals.

Provocation as Proof You’re on the Right Path

This is not rocket science and is simply manifestation 101. What the chart is showing us, however, is that we will encounter people who throw salt on our old wounds—by divine plan, believe it or not—so that new alliances can emerge and elevate the human experience. So think of it this way: if you encounter provocation and friction on your journey during the first half of the year, experiencing mudslinging, name-calling, trolling, ridicule, or passive-aggressiveness for aligning with the new, then congratulations—you are actually doing something right and are on the right track.

Instead of transferring provocation and aggression toward others, direct your energy and effort toward your own transformation and the work required to realize your goals. As Mars transits Aries from 4/9 to 5/18 and our appetite for the fight is heightened, our ability to redirect energy is put to the test. Do we use the energy to squash dissent, or do we use it to support our own realization? Where do you choose to direct that energy?

Before the Glue Sets: Choosing the New Over the Comfortable

In short, keep claiming the vision, and stay alert to the temptation to remain in your comfort zone or choose familiar, prescribed paths to appease old alliances and old world orders. The universe is set on rearranging itself whether we like it or not, and lived experience will split between those who, upon disruption, use the extra charge as motivation to shift toward the new world vision, and those who perceive disruption as further reason to stay put and guard the old. Both responses are valid and meaningful when viewed in the context of individual soul missions and life plans.

The guidance here is to know—or become aware of—where you are in your personal progression and life stage before the window for adjusting the vision board closes and the glue sets after the summer. This way, you enter the second half of the year feeling satisfied rather than reactive. During the first half of the year, reflect on where you would like to be in five to ten years, before the glue on the vision board fully sets.

Jupiter in Leo, the Nodes Shift, and the Rewriting of Power

As Jupiter enters Leo on 6/29/2026, it will retrograde in Leo from 12/12/2026 to 4/12/2027, and then enter Virgo on 7/25/2027. This means Jupiter will remain in Leo for the entire second half of the year, continuously highlighting Pluto in Aquarius. The North Node will also enter Aquarius on 8/18/2026, orchestrating even faster shifts and changes through Uranus in Gemini.

With the South Node backing into Leo on the same date, it heads toward a South Node–Jupiter–Mars conjunction on 11/15/2026. Once again, this speaks to the strategic release of inherited structures in favor of the new. This places us in a temporary state of instability—as old financial ties are severed—but ultimately supports healing and the ongoing development of new sources of revenue.

And as we know, 11/3/2026 marks the U.S. midterm elections. From the 11/11 Jupiter–South Node conjunction chart, we can surmise that an older generation of politicians, ideals, and power centers will be purged and replaced by the new. Regardless of political affiliation, this shift is likely to occur on both sides of the aisle, as new voices with new agendas push out the old—if not through force, then through strategy, popularity, and clever use of AI and social media marketing.

Choosing Wisely Amid an Abundance of Opportunity

2026 definitely comes with challenges. The good news is that as Uranus ingresses into Gemini on 4/25/2026, it will continue to trine Pluto in Aquarius for the rest of the year, delivering constant waves of inspiration through Mercury transits. As a result, new ideas, opportunities, and choice-points are likely to arise continuously throughout the year. The real challenge lies in choosing wisely for the long term among the many options presented.

Remember that Jupiter will remain close to the South Node throughout the second half of the year, conjuncting it on 11/11/2026, 3/1/2027, and 4/19/2027. The opportunities that arise during this time can either invite us to shed the past or lull us back into well-worn paths. Discernment and discretion are therefore essential throughout the year. Instead of resisting this array of opportunities and throwing the baby out with the bathwater, use the Jupiter–South Node conjunction in Leo as a mirror to identify where you may still be clinging to inherited values that seem sensible on the surface but no longer function in the new world (such as “work hard and don’t make a fuss,” “money is the root of all evil,” or “the early bird gets the worm”). From there, find belonging within your own transformation, freedom, and unique expression.

Riding the New Waves Without Selling Your Soul

The choices that align with the North Node–Chariklo in Aquarius, looking to Uranus in Gemini and trining Pluto in Aquarius, are the correct ones. These choices push your evolution forward into the unknown, rather than back into familiar territory. For those willing to take the time to sort through and vet opportunities, forward momentum will become increasingly apparent as the year unfolds, with Saturn–Neptune in Aries pioneering the new.

Just remember that we will be goaded and provoked to choose retaliation and reactivity, which divert our focus and energy away from riding the new waves. Stay aware, and find redirection strategies that are skillful and supportive of long-term success—exercise, hobbies, healing work, inner transformation, education, upskilling, and focused study. There will be a lot of noise, so keep your eyes on the prize.

Also be mindful of the temptation to “sell your soul” for the sake of short-term progress. Excitement runs high in 2026, making it easy to oversell almost anything and still receive buy-in from impulsive energy. Another way this can manifest is through an abundance of offers and opportunities, leading to saying yes to too many things and dispersing energy away from top priorities. These opportunities may all be legitimate and positive, but watch for FOMO, greed, and the compulsion to over-optimize, which can cause you to lose focus through excessive diversification.

Progress this year is non-linear and inconsistent, so a lack of visible returns or steady advancement does not mean you are on the wrong track or need to abandon your path. Be selective with partnerships, vendors, services, and where you invest your time and energy, and work to remain internally balanced.

Eclipse Portals and the Threshold of a New Cycle

A quick note, 2026 promises to be a powerful year, as a solar eclipse occurs on 2/17, followed just three days later by the Saturn–Neptune conjunction on 2/20. These are strong indicators of endings where 28° of Aquarius falls in your chart, and beginnings where 0° of Aries is activated.

Case Study: Prince Harry’s 2026 Relocation Chart in the U.S.

To illustrate these themes, let’s look at Prince Harry’s relocation chart in Montecito, California, derived from his natal chart, to observe his developments in the U.S. throughout 2026. We see that the New Moon Eclipse occurs in his 5th house, looking to Uranus in the 8th and then Venus–North Node in the 5th. This points to a closure of an old way of positioning and staging himself in relationship to the public. As the Aquarius New Moon speaks to the collective, and its placement in the 5th house emphasizes persona, this marks a shift in how he presents himself within the collective sphere.

We also see the emergence of new investors and financial partners (Uranus in the 8th conjunct natal Chariklo) that pivot him toward new roles and a renewed stage presence in the world (Venus in the 5th looking to Jupiter in the 10th). These new opportunities, however, come with new responsibilities, working environments, and routines, reflected by the Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Aries in the 6th house. The caution here is that Saturn–Neptune conjuncts his natal Black Moon Lilith in the 4th, meaning these new beginnings and opportunities may trigger old reflexes—either going all in for his family of origin or pushing completely against them.

Managing Burnout, Expression, and Sustainability

With Black Moon Lilith placed in the 6th house of the relocation chart, there is also a tendency to go all in on new commitments, only to burn out and withdraw entirely later. With his relocation Black Moon Lilith looking to Mars in the 3rd, and then Jupiter–Neptune also in the 3rd, there is a strong inclination not only to express himself without restraint, but also to amplify and expand those expressions to drive a point home.

So while the broader collective analysis emphasizes the importance of cherry-picking opportunities this year, in Prince Harry’s personal chart the concern is not the opportunities themselves—since they align with his North Node and Chariklo and are fundamentally benevolent—but rather his ability to sustain these beneficial partnerships over the long term by remaining grounded in his public presence. For him, success hinges on discernment in language, measured expression, and careful management of press interactions to ensure longevity and stability in these new ventures.

Partnership Dynamics and Public Visibility

Interestingly, his 7th house also looks to Mars, Neptune, and Jupiter in the 3rd house, suggesting that his wife, Meghan Markle, would naturally need to manage her press relations as well in order to avoid implosions for both herself and Harry. If mismanaged, this configuration can manifest as infamy. If handled skillfully, however, Jupiter–Neptune here virtually guarantees astronomical fame for the couple.

Either way, we can expect to see much more of them in the coming year.

The Story Arc of 2026: Dr. Strange, the Apprentice

To tie all of this into a digestible story arc, I offer you this year’s mascot: Mr. Strange in training, before he reaches mastery (as portrayed in Marvel’s Doctor Strange franchise). You have received a new transmission from the universe—forced by life, dragged senselessly away from your comfort zone—onto a new trajectory so that you may anchor a new gift into a new reality. And now, you submit to the beginning of practice and training.

There will be scorn from peers, the Master’s tests of your progress, and internal self-doubt. What ultimately prevails is a fated passion from an unknown source that gives you the stamina to push through difficulty. And remember, temptations and shortcuts will be offered as well. In the film, while Dr. Strange was still an apprentice, he attempted to use advanced magic with the Time Stone and nearly trapped himself in a temporal loop. He would later use the same spell successfully—but not before enduring the rigors of training.

So nurture patience and humility while Saturn remains in Aries until 4/12/2028, allowing time and discipline to temper the follies of youth.

Avoiding the Extremes: Kaecilius and Mordo

Be mindful of your own balance, and take care not to fall into the extremes embodied by Kaecilius (who turned to the dark arts for short-term gains) or Mordo (who followed doctrine with rigidity and could not integrate flexibility). Neither self-preservation at all costs nor moralistic virtue serves our growth this year, and both temptations may arise.

Once again, humility—the recognition that you do not yet know everything—and deference to the “Sorcerer Supremes” around you will serve you well. This awareness allows opportunities to flow naturally toward you, rather than being forced or seized prematurely.

Shared Cycles, Personal Expressions

Of course, the specific details of this story arc will vary depending on how this year’s transits interact with your personal chart (as illustrated by Prince Harry’s example), but the collective process remains similar, expressed through different house-based themes.

Just remember that we are standing at the threshold of several long-term cycles:

• On a cosmic scale, a 165-year cycle (Neptune in Aries)

• On a generational scale, a 35-year cycle (the Neptune–Saturn conjunction)

• On a personal scale, a 17-year cycle (the Neptune–North Node conjunction)

Baby Masters and the Fires of Youth

Passion and excitement are expected and fully aligned with the energies of the next two to three years as Saturn transits Aries. At the same time, the assumption of mastery is premature and can tempt us toward shiny deals with shady fine print. Wherever Saturn in Aries falls in your personal chart, you carry all the makings—the DNA—of greatness, but you are still at the baby master stage.

Think baby Yoda or baby Gandalf: immense potential, zero practice.

Use this “fires of youth” energy to motivate and inspire your ongoing growth, and then apply common sense to weed out opportunities that benefit the short term but undermine long-term progress. And on a more inspirational note, recognize that the potential within you has finally been born into the material world. You are now officially on the path to grow it.

Closing Blessings for the Year Ahead

So that is 2026. Think Dr. Strange the apprentice. Think baby Saturn. Know that you are gifted and talented. Know that you have a meaningful place in the grand scheme of the universe. Hold the humility to understand that you are not yet tested, and the patience to learn from those who have walked the path before you, as you continue to explore your raw potential.

May your new journey be a satisfying and fruitful one in 2026. All my love.

Love & Blessings 💗