Aquarius Season & Six of Swords (Jan. 2026)

Your First Tarot, by Victoria Maxwell. Art by Pamela Coleman Smith

Greetings Friends, 

We've made it to 2026... do you feel a shift? In Chinese astrology, 2025 was the year of the Wood Snake, a year for shedding illusions, endings and emotional detox. Beginning on February 17th 2026, we enter the year of the Fire Horse, a time for new beginnings, vitality and freedom. In simpler terms, the snake cleared the path so the horse could run.

But shedding can be exhausting, and our new skin is still tender, so if you're feeling raw right now, you're not alone. Thankfully, 2025 also showed us who our true friends are, our chosen family, those who align with our deepest values and with whom we want to shape our future, which brings us to Aquarius Season. 

 The second decan of Aquarius relates to the Six of Swords in the tarot, a card that speaks to the value of friendship and energetic allies through trying times. In her lovely and accessible deck, Your First Tarot, Victoria Maxwell describes the theme as "moving on & leaving difficulties behind." And we see this expressed in Pamela Coleman Smith's classic rendering of a figure rowing a mother and child to safety after leaving what was once their home. 

Ruled by Uranus, the planet of awakening and collective progress, Aquarian energy reminds us of our inextricable connection and communal power. This is why Aquarians are considered the humanitarians and innovators of the zodiac. The shadow side of Aquarian energy however, is progress without heart, innovation without soul. 

Perhaps, that is the best barometer as we move forward into the new year. If it's disconnected from compassion, is it a future we want to be part of? The Six of Swords says "NO," and steers us toward true peace and liberation. And while we may not always know where we're headed, we can be certain it's in the direction of greater wholeness and love. 

with peace and friendship,  

Lisa