Weekly Astrological Forecast: January 18-24, 2026
Disclaimer: While the transits and horoscopes indicate the general astrological weather, it is in no way indicating positive or negative influences upon your chart. If you want personalized information, you’ll need to book a reading with me.
When power refuses to learn, reality becomes the teacher.
Hi Stargazers!
The stars this week are guiding us into better circumstances. While it is true that many times in our lives we experience awe in moments of promise, there are also times when we experience the Divine within oppression, darkness, and uncertainty. In many ways, that is when it matters, because that is when we need it the most.
That Divine inspiration and guidance can be an idea, a new tactic, friends, or a routine we adopt. It can even be an insight, but no matter what it is, we have to take action. It is not enough to sign up or subscribe. Once we see the light is out there, we need to come near it. We need to act upon the invitation, which can be easier said than done. When we wish upon a star, we then need to follow the light it is guiding us with. Join the Aquarius Season workshop to learn more about this.
Most times, we are plagued with survival mode, over-information, and conditioning, and there is no time to follow our stars or our inner voice because it is "another" thing we have to do. It can get so bad that even good news becomes resented. But this week, we are seeing that we need room to breathe so that we can understand what is going on within us, and then learn about what is going on around us, free of bias, identity attachments, and vain projections that reject any reflection we do not like.
This means, an old reality, tactic, or way wants to collapse. It will counter our ego’s self images of productivity and strength, but if we play our cards right, we can draw upon the humility we are left with after we acknowledge the truth and admit that our worldview is fragile.
As Capricorn Season comes to an end midweek, we see that control is not survival, but an illusion that cannot sustain innovation. Innovation is change and what we really need to survive. The risk is that we stunt our capacity to change and do what so many on the spiritual path do, grasp for relief without transformation.
This is the ego’s favorite move, "fix the consequences, not the cause." But, problems suppressed, rather than healed, rot us from within, and what could have become transformation becomes decay. Even if the pills, the sex, or the control give us temporary relief, without inner transformation they create toxicity and more work in the end.
That extra work is the result of something called “conditional repentance”, where the ego goes back to the old (after a major life event) and only makes changes as long as the discomfort stays away. The pain comes back, and the cycle of crisis-savior kicks in again.
This week is about revealing the cost of avoidance. Authentic liberation (Aquarius) cannot happen inside the system that supported bondage. We need to break free. If you have Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in Aquarius, you are very familiar with the need for air to bring forth something new and that true freedom begins when the old state becomes intolerable. This week, we can tap into the wisdom to change before suffering forces us and to not wait until reality helps us with a slap on the face.
In my weekly write-ups, I refrain from using “astrological jargon” because it really doesn't make sense to people who know nothing about archetypal astrology. But I do indicate my science in the transits. General transit forecasts tell us what is going on in the world and how people are acting in general. Detailed and specific forecasts are of course read in relation to your birth chart. Meanwhile, if you want a more detailed explanation of where these energies are manifesting specifically for you, book an astrology session with me.
Keep in Mind
Aquarius is medically associated with the ankles, circulation, and the nervous system—areas connected to movement, flexibility, and responsiveness. This season often highlights the need for lightness, spaciousness, and adaptability rather than force or rigidity. In the Aquarius exercise from my upcoming new Mindaware App release (iOS), the medical mantra “I am light and buoyant” is used as a somatic reminder of these qualities. If you’d like to explore the daily archetypal influences more deeply, you can access them through the in-app subscription.
Essential Oil of the Moment: Aquarius
As Aquarius season begins, the Aquarius Essential Oil Blend offers a simple way to work consciously with the tone of the month. Grounding cedarwood and patchouli are balanced with bright citrus and floral notes, creating a scent that feels both stabilizing and expansive. Many people use this blend as a sensory anchor during periods that emphasize perspective, collaboration, and openness—whether diffused in shared spaces, worn during reflection, or incorporated into intentional routines. Designed to complement Aquarius themes rather than override them, this blend supports presence, clarity, and conscious engagement throughout the season.
Are You an Aquarius?
If you’re an Aquarius—or if you’re seeking clarity around how Aquarius season may personally affect you—a chart reading can offer insight into where these themes are showing up in your life and what cycles are being activated for you specifically. For Aquarians, this is also the time of your solar return. A solar return reading looks at the year ahead, highlighting major themes, opportunities, and areas of growth as you begin your next journey around the Sun. If you’re interested in body-based or healing support, you can also explore healing sessions, depending on what you’re seeking at this time.
TEACHINGS OF THE TRANSITS
January 18, 2026
Sunday opens within the New Moon in Capricorn window. This New Moon isn’t about starting something new. It’s about realizing that certain strategies don’t work anymore, especially the ones that rely on keeping things vague or waiting for clarity before committing. Right now, delaying decisions creates more pressure than making the wrong one.
January 19, 2026
On Monday, the energy loosens. Mercury trines Uranus and brings flashes of insight—unexpected clarity, sudden ideas, conversations that shift your thinking. Later, the Sun sextiles Neptune to soften the edges, inviting intuition, rest, and subtle emotional healing. This is a day to listen more than act. Pay attention to what lands gently rather than loudly.
January 20, 2026
Tuesday is the cosmic peak of the week. The Sun enters Aquarius, and the tone changes. Perspective widens. Emotional intensity gives way to awareness. Aquarius season asks us to observe rather than react, to zoom out and see patterns instead of getting lost in details. On the same day, Venus conjunct Pluto pulls emotional truth to the surface. Relationships, values, and desires deepen—but only what’s honest survives. This isn’t about drama; it’s about emotional integrity.
Supporting this shift are several stabilizing aspects. Saturn and Uranus work together to help us change what needs changing without burning everything down. Mars adds momentum, but with discipline. This is rare, usable energy—ideal for making changes that actually last. Later in the day, Mercury connects with Neptune and then enters Aquarius, helping thoughts become clearer, calmer, and more future-focused. Conversations become more intentional. Planning feels easier.
January 21, 2026
On Wednesday, the Sun meets Mercury, spotlighting insight and self-awareness. This is a day for understanding ourselves better—why we think the way we do, and how that shapes our choices. Journaling, reflection, or honest conversations can bring meaningful clarity.
January 22, 2026
Thursday deepens the mental process. Mercury conjunct Pluto invites us to look beneath surface thoughts and question old narratives. This is powerful for mindset work, therapy, shadow journaling, or releasing mental patterns rooted in fear or control. It’s not light, but it’s liberating.
January 23, 2026
On Friday, the energy turns outward again. Mars sextiles Neptune which aligns action with intuition—we may feel motivated to act in a way that feels spiritually aligned rather than forced. When Mars enters Aquarius, drive becomes less personal and more purpose-driven. And as the Sun conjuncts Pluto, the week culminates in a moment of empowerment: awareness meets choice. Something internal shifts, and we’re no longer willing to operate from outdated versions of ourselves.
January 24, 2026
Saturday holds all the energy from the week, so it can be heavy or light depending on how your week went. Today is last day of the first month of the year. Tomorrow, review the seeds you set for February. Today, be mindful of the conditional repentance, where the ego goes back to the old and only makes changes as long as the discomfort stays away. Let’s upgrade!
For Ongoing Self-Care
Periods of collective uncertainty can amplify stress and mental overload. Paying attention to rest, emotional processing, and nervous system regulation becomes especially important during times like these. Through Astrolochi®, I offer remote sessions focused on spiritual, emotional, and mental support, including video readings and distance healings. If you’d like more information, you can reach out through ArikXander.com.
Get More From This Work
We’re living in a time of unprecedented access to information. Integration, however, often requires space, intention, and commitment. If this complimentary forecast resonated with you and you’d like to explore these themes more deeply, there are several ways to continue the work—from workshops and sessions to supporting what I share here. Thank you for reading, and for engaging with this work in whatever way feels aligned for you. You can also follow me on @ArikXander across platforms.
HOROSCOPES
♈️ Aries: March 21 – April 19
This week challenges your relationship with power and urgency. You may realize that pushing harder isn’t producing better results—only more resistance. As Aquarius energy builds, you’re asked to act with intention rather than impulse. Insight arrives through unexpected conversations or moments of stillness. Choose strategies that create long-term change, not quick relief.
♉️ Taurus: April 20 – May 20
Stability comes under review. Something you’ve relied on—emotionally or materially—reveals where it’s no longer sustainable. This isn’t loss; it’s clarity. Deep emotional truths surface, especially around desire and self-worth. Let go of habits that keep you comfortable but disconnected from your deeper needs.
♊️ Gemini: May 21 – June 20
Your mind is shifting gears. This week brings flashes of insight that cut through confusion, but only if you stop postponing decisions. Waiting for perfect clarity creates more pressure than choosing and adjusting. Aquarius season helps you zoom out and see the bigger picture. Commit to what feels mentally liberating, not just interesting.
♋️ Cancer: June 21 – July 22
You’re seeing where emotional protection has turned into avoidance. Relationships reflect this clearly now, asking for honesty rather than caretaking. This week supports clearer boundaries and emotional maturity. You don’t need to harden—just step back enough to see what’s really happening and respond from truth instead of habit.
♌️ Leo: July 23 – August 22
Power dynamics soften when authenticity leads. You’re no longer willing to perform strength or confidence where it isn’t real. This week invites deeper awareness around how you show up with others. Let go of needing validation and choose integrity instead. What remains after that shift is far more solid.
♍️ Virgo: August 23 – September 22
Mental patterns are transforming. You may notice where control, perfectionism, or over-analysis have replaced trust. This week supports deep inner work, honest reflection, and releasing thought loops rooted in fear. Innovation comes when you allow yourself to think differently—not harder.
♎️ Libra: September 23 – October 22
Truth reshapes your relationships. If harmony has required you to stay silent or overextend, that strategy collapses now. Emotional depth becomes more important than appearances. This is a week to choose authenticity over approval and to allow connections to evolve—or end—based on honesty.
♏️ Scorpio: October 23 – November 21
This is a powerful reset week for you. Old emotional defenses surface so they can be released. Control loses its grip when awareness grows. What feels intense is also liberating. By the end of the week, you may feel lighter—not because things are easier, but because they’re truer.
♐️ Sagittarius: November 22 – December 21
Insight turns into responsibility. You’re receiving clarity about what needs to change, but the work comes in following through. Words carry more weight now—use them intentionally. Focus beats scattered movement. Choose the path that aligns with who you’re becoming, not who you’ve been escaping.
♑️ Capricorn: December 22 – January 19
As your season closes, an honest reckoning arrives. Some strategies that once ensured success now limit growth. This week shows you that control isn’t the same as strength. Innovation requires humility. Invest your energy in what evolves, not what merely preserves your image of stability.
♒️ Aquarius: January 20 – February 18
Your season begins with awareness and resolve. You’re no longer willing to tolerate systems, roles, or dynamics that restrict your freedom. Clarity replaces rebellion. This is about choosing change before reality forces it. Lead with truth, and let outdated versions of yourself fall away.
♓️ Pisces: February 19 – March 20
You’re clearing emotional and energetic residue. This week asks you to rest, reflect, and release unconscious patterns tied to self-sacrifice. Intuition sharpens when boundaries are respected. Quiet insight guides you toward healing that’s rooted in choice, not obligation.
