Solar Eclipse in Aquarius + Mercury Retrograde: Your Survival Guide for Feb 17-25, 2026

Today Everything Changes

Right now—February 17, 2026 at 4:11 AM PST (7:11 AM EST)—a solar eclipse at 28°49' Aquarius is resetting your revolutionary potential.

And in 8 days (February 25 at 10:48 PM PST), Mercury stations retrograde in Pisces, adding emotional fog and communication chaos to an already intense eclipse.

If you feel like the ground is shifting beneath you, like old structures are crumbling, like you can't keep pretending everything's fine—that's the eclipse working.

This is Week 2 of our 5-week eclipse season series. Last week, we introduced shadow work. This week, we work with it directly.

What's Happening Today: Solar Eclipse in Aquarius

Solar eclipses are new moons on steroids—new beginnings birthed through sudden endings.

Aquarius energy is:

• Revolutionary, rebellious, innovative

• Collective-focused, humanitarian

• Future-oriented, visionary

• Weird, unique, unconventional

This eclipse asks:

• What revolution is your soul calling you toward?

• Where do you need to break free from others' expectations?

• How can you use your unique gifts for collective good?

• What conventions have been suffocating your authentic self?

But here's the shadow piece: Aquarius can be emotionally detached. During this eclipse, notice if you're:

• Intellectualizing feelings instead of feeling them

• Prioritizing "the collective" while abandoning your own needs

• Using rebellion as avoidance

• Afraid of intimacy or vulnerability

The Saturn-Neptune Conjunction (Feb 20): Dreams Meeting Structure

In just three days, Saturn and Neptune meet at 0° Aries for the first time in 36 years.

This conjunction amplifies the eclipse by asking:

• What dream are you finally ready to build?

• Where have you been all vision, no structure?

• Or all structure, no vision?

• What spiritual truth needs grounded action?

Mercury Retrograde in Pisces (Starts Feb 25): Emotional Fog Incoming

Mercury retrograde is famous for:

• Tech glitches and travel delays

• Miscommunication and misunderstandings

• Exes and past situations resurfacing

• Needing to slow down and review

But Mercury retrograde in Pisces (Feb 25-March 20) adds:

• Emotional overwhelm and confusion

• Difficulty with linear thinking

• Intuition heightened but hard to trust

• Boundaries dissolving

• Creative inspiration but execution challenges

Combined with eclipse season? Expect:

• Old emotional patterns surfacing for healing

• Dreams revealing shadow material

• Confusion about what's real vs. what's projection

• Communication breakdowns around feelings

• Technology fails at the worst times

Somatic Practices for This Week

Practice 1: Grounding Through Aquarius (Head to Feet)

Aquarius rules the nervous system and ankles. When eclipse energy activates your head (overthinking, anxiety), ground through your feet:

1. Stand barefoot

2. Feel the ground beneath each toe, heel, arch

3. Imagine energy moving from your overactive head down through your spine, legs, and into the earth

4. Say: "I am here. I am grounded. I am safe in my body."

Practice 2: The Pisces Boundary Practice (For Mercury Retrograde Prep)

Pisces has no boundaries—it merges with everything. As Mercury prepares to retrograde there, practice energetic boundaries:

1. Sit quietly and imagine a bubble of light around you

2. This bubble lets love in but keeps others' chaos out

3. Practice saying internally: "That's not mine to carry"

4. When you encounter someone's intense emotion this week, visualize your boundary holding

Practice 3: Shaking Out Eclipse Activation

Eclipse energy can get stuck in your nervous system. Shake it out:

• Stand and shake your whole body for 3-5 minutes

• Let it be wild, uncontrolled

• Make sounds if they want to come

• This discharges what your body's holding

Solar Eclipse Ritual: Revolutionary Release

What you'll need:

• Two pieces of paper

• Pen

• Something to burn paper safely or scissors

• Candle

• 30 minutes

The Ritual:

Part 1: What Needs to Collapse (10 min)

On the first paper, write what's ready to end:

• Old identity ("I'm the person who always...")

• Relationships or dynamics that constrain you

• Beliefs about what you're "supposed" to do

• Ways you've been playing small to fit in

• Structures (job, living situation, patterns) that no longer serve

Part 2: Burn It or Cut it up (5 min)

Read it aloud. Then safely burn it or cut it up. Discard safely.

As it burns, say: "I release these outdated structures. I make space for my revolutionary truth. I am free."

Part 3: What Wants to Be Born (10 min)

On the second paper, write what's emerging:

• The version of you that's been waiting

• The truth you're finally ready to speak

• The weird, unique gifts you've been hiding

• The contribution you're here to make

• The freedom you're claiming

Part 4: Seal It (5 min)

Hold this paper to your heart. Say:

"I claim my revolutionary path. I honor my unique gifts. I contribute to collective healing by being fully myself. So it is."

Place this somewhere you'll see it daily.

Mercury Retrograde Prep (Starts Feb 25)

Before Mercury goes retrograde:

• Back up all devices and important files

• Confirm travel plans and appointments

• Have difficult conversations you've been avoiding (better now than during retrograde)

• Double-check contracts or agreements

• Say what needs to be said clearly

During retrograde (Feb 25-March 20):

• Expect miscommunication—clarify everything

• Give extra time for travel and tech issues

• Don't sign major contracts if possible (or triple-check details)

• Use it for review, revision, reflection—not launching new things

• Be extra clear in all communication

Journal Prompts for This Week

• What revolution is my soul calling me toward?

• Where am I conforming to make others comfortable?

• What unique gift am I hiding that the world actually needs?

• What structure (internal or external) needs to collapse so I can be free?

• How can I stay grounded while everything shifts?

When Eclipse + Retrograde Energy Overwhelms You

Seek support if:

• You're experiencing panic attacks or severe anxiety

• Old trauma is surfacing and you can't regulate

• You're making impulsive decisions that could harm you

• Suicidal thoughts arise (call 988 immediately)

• You need help navigating what's being revealed

Next week (Feb 24): We prepare for the March 3rd lunar eclipse and integrate the Saturn-Neptune conjunction. I'll give you practices for releasing perfectionism and healing your daily rituals.

If you're in New York State and need support, book a free 15-minute consultation. I offer virtual somatic art therapy for eclipse season navigation and shadow integration.

You're being revolutionized from the inside out. Trust the process. 🌑⚡