Imagine being so famous that you escape to the top of a 60-foot stone pillar, and stay there for 39 years? That's what St Stylites did. But even perched above the world, he didn't get any peace - the crowds still flocked to see him! As we settle back into our routines, life's demands make it hard to find moments of stillness and calm. Yet, as the Sun moves towards its conjunction with Venus, we can find a careful balance between quiet sanctuary and the sweetness of human contact.
ARIES
It's the first Monday of 2026 and we're still just beginning this new year. So, what does the bit after the beginning bit look like for you? Much depends on where you're looking. If you're still caught up in the events and dramas of the bit that's finished, you won't be focusing on what lies ahead. While your ruler, Mars, is transiting earthy Capricorn, you can direct your usual excitable energy into longer term projects. So, with so many new options opening before you, make sure that you're directing your gaze towards the future.
TAURUS
There's a natural rhythm and flow to life that we adapt to as best we can. And as individuals we affect the waves of energy around us. If, at the first sign of trouble, we feel overwhelmed with stress, the stress spreads and before we know it, we're experiencing a crisis. As the Sun moves towards a conjunction with your ruler, Venus, you're in a position of power and influence. If you react with calmness to whatever comes your way today, a wave of positivity and enthusiasm will move you away from a source of doubt and anxiety.
GEMINI
It's difficult to imagine what life was like before the internet. It's dramatically altered the way we communicate, work, shop, and access intel. But while things have changed unimaginably on one level, on another, we're still dealing with the same emotions, challenges, and delights. IT advances save us time and energy in our day-to-day lives, but if you want to radically change your prospects, the upgrade needs to begin on an inner level. If you feel positive about what 2026 could bring your way, you'll be delighted with what unfolds.
CANCER
Our lives can change in the blink of an eye. We've all seen the movies: a glance across a crowded room and bingo, eyes meet, and it's love at first sight; the characters are inextricably drawn to one another. What's more, we know this happens in real life too. If you're finding it hard to communicate with someone, forcing your viewpoint isn't going to work. Tune into your sensitivity and step back. Allow yourself some space. This relationship might not have a Hollywoodesque ending, but it can work out surprisingly well.
LEO
As you move further into 2026, you'll grow more and more aware of your untapped potential. Like an oil rich seam, you've got a resource that's been waiting to be discovered. As you tap into it, it will become a source of energy and strength that you can use to build relationships which inspire and support you. You'll find ways to develop the experience you've gained, and use it to carve new ways forward. Hidden in the challenges and difficulties you've recently overcome, there's a path that leads to greater happiness and success.
VIRGO
Ideas that are now unthinkable were normal not so long ago. Smoking, for example, was once thought to be good for our health! And there's no doubt that some of our current habits, which we think of as beneficial, will turn out to be similarly wrong. Still, rather than worrying about what future insights might reveal, suppose you turn your attention to a familiar thinking pattern? Although it may be tempting to carry on just because you're used to it, the start of a new year is the perfect time to let it go and ring in positive change.
LIBRA
We all want to feel safe, stable, and secure. We all want our problems to magically resolve. But... if we ever get close to either of these states of being, what do we do? Yearn for some unpredictability and excitement, and create some uncertainty - which leads to new problems to deal with. We're contrary by nature! With your ruler, Venus, in Capricorn, this is your chance to be less fraught and less drama-driven. But will that make you happy? It's about finding the right balance. And of all the zodiac signs, you're an expert at that.
SCORPIO
Can you cope with a lightning bolt flash of inspiration? Of course you can! It's the perfect moment for a gloomy aspect of your world to be illuminated. Then, you'll be able to see how the darkness has been preventing you from seeing the options available to you. Today, be prepared for an insight that offers you a completely different viewpoint on an ongoing unsatisfactory situation. Even if you're not sure how to respond, take this as a positive. You're finding your way out of a challenge, and into something more satisfying.
SAGITTARIUS
As you journey into 2026, your optimism is growing. It's inspiring you to make promises, both to yourself and to others. So which aspects of your world most deserve your attention? Where do you want to see change? To maximise your energy, it's worth taking time to consider what you see yourself doing in the future. Allow your mind to get creative. This is a chance to leave self-doubt behind and, with a more honest vision of what makes you feel good about yourself and your place in the world, promise to make it happen.
CAPRICORN
As we move into the new year, with the Sun, Mercury, Mars, and Venus in your sign, you're beginning to gather momentum. Options are opening before you and you've got the energy to seize them. It's time to take advantage of the work you've been putting in recently, and enjoy an easier route forward. Don't underestimate your strength and power. You can afford to take the pressure off, let some of your responsibilities go, and allow yourself some time to play. Get creative. Be bold. Make this the start of how you mean to go on.
AQUARIUS
It's easy to look at life and see it as an endless stream of perplexing challenges. But we often create our own confusion. We set off on a specific course, get side-tracked, and are surprised to find ourselves heading in a different direction. And to justify our change of tack, we come up with complicated excuses and explanations. You'll be glad to hear that the plethora of planets in your neighbouring sign brings the ability to focus and take action. If you make plans now, you'll be able to move quickly towards realising them.
PISCES
We make familiar journeys all the time. Whether we're heading to the shops, to work, or to meet friends, we're constantly retracing our steps. Psychologically too, we go over the same old ground. We revisit familiar thoughts, and repeat behavioural patterns; there's something about their predictability that we find reassuring. So, how are you anticipating your route through 2026? if you're expecting to go around the same block, think again. Opportunities to step out of your comfort zone are heading your way. Take them!
