Podcast Summary

Healing + Human Potential with Alyssa Nobriga

Episode: Why This New Year Activates the Start of a Powerful 9-Year Cycle
Date: January 6, 2026
Guest: Jill Winterstein, Founder of Spirit Daughter

Overview

This episode explores the intersection of astrology, psychology, neuroscience, and personal growth as we enter the start of a new 9-year cycle in 2026. Alyssa and guest Jill Winterstein discuss how to use these frameworks to set intentions, tap into purpose, navigate change (including the role of technology and AI), work with the energies of the new year, and build a foundation for lasting transformation. They offer concrete tools for harnessing astrological and lunar cycles, integrating nervous system regulation with manifestation, and using self-awareness for relationships and personal development.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Energetic Significance of 2026: Entering the 9-Year Cycle

• Numerological Fresh Start: 2026 is a “1 year” in numerology; it marks the beginning of a powerful 9-year cycle.
  • Jill: "Think about it as the foundation for the next nine years. We're basically dealing with fire and air, which is a lot of action. So things are going to get spicy." (00:03)
• Elemental Forces at Play: The year is characterized by action-oriented Fire and Air signs—Aries, Leo (Fire), Aquarius, Gemini (Air).
  • Jill: "Air reminds us that we're all connected ... And then we also have a lot of leadership coming through in the Aquarius and the Leo, Aries." (03:13)
• Invitation to Reflect & Intentionally Set Direction: Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the previous nine years and use this “reset” as an opportunity to consciously choose their next chapter.
  • Jill: "Reflect on that nine years ... Where have you been? What did you start, what did you finish? Where were your blocks? ... Think about it as the foundation for the next nine years." (02:05)

2. Astrological Trends: Social Change, AI, and Conscious Evolution

• AI and Uranus in Gemini: Major technological shifts continue. The conversation around AI will increase, including regulations, governance, and the role of technology.
  • Jill: "With Uranus and Gemini... that's just all about AI. Here we are, here to stay, and we got to see a glimpse of it. I know I felt like it blew up in 2025, but that was actually just a glimpse." (04:41)
• Pluto in Aquarius: A call for “power to the people,” standing in your truth, and collective empowerment.
• Saturn and Neptune in Aries: Encourages aligning dreams with action and embodying one’s purpose.
  • Jill: "Neptune in Aries is like, okay, let's dream ... and then let's take action on those dreams." (05:58)

3. Using Your Astrological Chart as a Growth Map

• Personalizing Predictions by Chart: Understanding houses, planetary transits, and major chart placements can help tailor goals for career, relationships, and growth.
  • Jill gives practical tips (07:24–12:47):
    • Check your “big three”: Sun, Moon, Rising.
    • Saturn (where you commit), Venus (love/love language), Jupiter (abundance/expansion).
    • Focus in 2026 on: Aries, Leo, Aquarius, Gemini, and for Jupiter: Cancer (first half), Leo (second half).
    • Even empty houses show areas of life receiving energy from transits.

4. Astrology and Relationships: Compatibility & Growth

• Beyond Sun Signs: True compatibility is multidimensional—consider Sun, Moon, and Venus signs.
  • Jill: "I don't believe there's any bad compatibility. Like I think that there's just opportunities for growth, there's mirrors that show up for us." (15:09)
• Growth Edge vs. Harmony: Oppositions and squares in charts can create necessary friction for evolution; harmonious trines bring ease.
  • Jill: "I find with squares, those are those relationships that are, like, super intense, and we learn so much about ourselves" (17:40)
• Elemental Matchmaking: Fire with Fire, Water with Water, etc., but mixing elements creates unique dynamics and lessons.

5. Harnessing Lunar Cycles: Manifestation, Blocks, and Transformation

• New Moons: Prime for setting intentions; subconscious and intuition most accessible.
  • Quote: “New moons are new beginnings. And so that's when we set intentions. And the veil between the conscious and the subconscious is at its lowest during that time.” (19:44)
• Visualizing with the Brain: Imagination and sensory detail primes the mind for manifestation.
  • Jill: “If we don't really visualize a new life for ourselves ... when it starts to manifest, our brain is like, wait, this isn't my normal comfort zone ... We sabotage ourselves." (19:44)
• Lunar Cycle Phases:
  • First Quarter: Friction and self-doubt (“Who do I think I am?” moments).
  • Full Moon: Deep work, integrating shadows rather than trying to release or reject those parts.
  • Last Quarter: Final release and forgiveness—essential for freeing energy for what you truly want.
• Regular Practice: Syncing with cycles creates growth momentum and trains the brain for openness and receptivity.
  • Jill: “I always tell people ... the framework itself is just amazing for personal growth and development.” (25:17)

6. Integrating Coaching, Psychology, Neuroscience, and Astrology

• Nervous System Regulation as Manifestation Foundation:
  • Jill: “You need to have a regulated nervous system in order for you to expand your brain to solve problems, you to see opportunities in front of you. ... If you're stressed out all the time, you're not going to see the opportunities right in front of you to manifest what it is you want.” (28:06)
• Acceptance Over Resistance: Emotions are like children needing a hug—accept, don’t fight.
  • Jill: “Acceptance is huge. Because when we resist things, then they persist.” (30:52)
• Pairing Themes with Astrology: Use relevant zodiac energies (e.g., Taurus for abundance) as timing for focused inner work.
• Neuroscience of Change: Awareness creates space in automatic patterns, allowing new neural pathways for beliefs, behaviors, and outcomes.
  • Quote: “Our neural pathways ... there's a stimulus, there's a response ... We need to create space ... then every time we try a different reaction, we're creating like a little footpath.” (41:32)

7. Eclipses and Mercury Retrograde: Reframing the Narrative

• Eclipse Season: Brings up karmic and soul-level patterns (via lunar nodes)—a time of accelerated growth and confronting/releasing old attachments.
  • Jill: “They really bring up our karmic path ... so they activate the nodes ... and then during an eclipse that gets amplified. And so we start to really see our south node low energies come up." (32:46)
• Mercury Retrograde: Not a period to fear but an opportunity for reflection, recalibration, and personal inquiry.
  • Jill: “I'm trying to change the narrative ... Retrogrades spin the energy of a planet inward. And so Mercury is the planet of communication. And so we have that energy of communication spinning inward into us." (37:11)

8. Debunking Astrology Myths & Emphasizing Growth

• No “bad” signs, compatibility, or transits—challenges are invitations for growth.
  • Jill: "There's no bad energy. We can work with anything. There's no bad compatibility. There's no bad transit.” (45:35)
• Taking personal responsibility (without shame) and practicing forgiveness are keys to true self-empowerment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Brain and New Beginnings:

  “If we don't really visualize a new life for ourselves and we just try and write it on paper and have like a to do list, when it starts to manifest, our brain is like, wait, this isn't my normal comfort zone. And anytime our brain is like, this is new, it runs back. We sabotage ourselves.”
  — Jill Winterstein [00:22]

• On Karmic Patterns at Eclipse Time:

  "Eclipses … bring up our karmic path. … So we start to really see our south node low energies come up. And that's what makes eclipses ultimately super intense, is that energy just amplifies and we're like, oh my gosh, I'm attached to this pattern. It keeps coming up over and over and over."
  — Jill Winterstein [32:46]

• On Acceptance:

  "Acceptance is huge. Because when we resist things, then they persist."
  — Jill Winterstein [30:52]

• On Forgiveness & Manifestation:

  "Forgiveness is the hardest form of release. But we can waste so much energy, anger, resentment, and we need that energy to manifest our life."
  — Jill Winterstein [24:39]

• On Personal Responsibility & Humor:

  “Oh, Mercury retrograde's over. Now you have to blame yourself.”
  — Jill Winterstein, referencing a meme [47:03]

Important Timestamps

• 00:03–03:40: Why 2026 is so significant; elemental and astrological themes.
• 04:41–05:49: Rise of AI, technological progress, and Uranus in Gemini.
• 05:49–07:15: How Aries and Saturn/Neptune bring clarity around purpose.
• 07:24–12:52: Practical astro-coaching for new year planning; how to read your chart.
• 13:25–19:29: Using astrology for relationships and understanding compatibility.
• 19:44–26:55: Working with new and full moons; manifestation mechanics; embracing natural cycles.
• 28:06–32:27: Integrating nervous system work with manifestation; role of acceptance.
• 32:37–36:25: Eclipses explained—personal and collective karmic work.
• 37:11–39:22: Mercury retrograde: reflection, reframing, and practical advice.
• 41:32–45:28: Neuroscience of manifestation and shifting beliefs.
• 45:35–46:12: Debunking astrology myths; there’s no “bad energy.”
• 48:02–53:26: The “big three,” personal stories, using astrology as an empowering framework.
• 53:34–55:06: Jill’s upcoming book and her message of empowerment for all.

Additional Highlights & Takeaways

• Practical Tools:

  • Use lunar phases as structure for manifestation and emotional processing.
  • Pair specific life goals with matching zodiac energies for greater synergy.
  • Regularly assess, release, or revise goals to keep evolving.
  • Practice nervous system regulation for clarity, opportunity recognition, and resilience.

• Holistic, Empowered Message:

  • Astrology, psychology, and neuroscience are not deterministic labels but empowering tools for intentional living.
  • All cosmic cycles and relationships are invitations for healing, growth, and deeper self-connection.
  • Responsibility and forgiveness are essential partners on the path of awakening.

Resources Mentioned

• Jill Winterstein’s upcoming book: Spirit Daughter: Own Your Power. Change Your Life (March 2026)
• Spirit Daughter offerings on lunar workbooks, astrology, and neuroscience-informed manifestation.

For anyone seeking to work intentionally with the energies of 2026 and beyond, this episode offers both insight and actionable guidance for harnessing astrology, psychology, and personal mythmaking to build a vibrant, purpose-driven next chapter.