The Astrology Podcast – Leo 2026 Year Ahead Horoscope

Host: Chris Brennan
Guest: Leisa Schaim
Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This special "Year Ahead Horoscope" episode focuses on astrological predictions and key transits that will shape the experiences of individuals with Leo rising (or Leo sun, if birth time is unknown) during 2026. Chris Brennan is joined by astrologer Leisa Schaim for an in-depth look at planetary movements, eclipses, and retrogrades, with an emphasis on personal growth, relationships, career, and finances for Leos.

Major Transits and Key Insights

1. Saturn-Neptune Conjunction in Aries (9th House: Beliefs, Education, Travel)

• Timeframe: January–February 2026

• Shift: Saturn and Neptune leave Pisces (8th house of shared resources) for Aries (9th house).

• Key Themes:

  • Closure of a long-term focus on finances, shared assets, debts, taxes, and inheritance.
  • New emphasis on higher education, religion/spirituality, philosophy, and long-distance travel.
  • Quote (Chris, 01:01): "There's gonna be a lot more focus now on work around higher education, long distance travel, belief systems... religion or philosophy. Astrology also goes there."

• Cautions:

  • Saturn-Neptune conjunction (Feb 2026) creates a "reality distortion field."
  • Need to discern truth from illusion in new beliefs or studies.
  • Quote (Chris, 02:12): "... you may need to be careful if you start to learn new things or ... take on new political beliefs because you may have some challenges telling the difference between what's real and what's not real..."

• Advice (Leisa, 03:01):

  • Be wary of cultish or dogmatic influences.
  • Prepare for structural shifts in worldview or spiritual orientation.

2. Eclipse Season I: Aquarius & Virgo (7th and 2nd Houses)

• Timeframe: February–March 2026
• Aquarius (7th): Relationship Beginnings and Endings
  • New relationships may enter; existing partnerships could change form or conclude.
  • Includes romantic, business, or important one-on-one relationships.
  • Quote (Leisa, 04:26): "...there can be beginnings and endings with ... personal partnership, business partnership... Any major one on one interactions."
• Virgo (2nd): Financial Reset
  • Career changes, new income streams, or closing a chapter in financial life.
  • Quote (Chris, 05:43): "Look for opportunities, especially for new beginnings, where you could set a new foundation to improve your financial status around the time of that eclipse."

3. Uranus Moves from Taurus to Gemini (10th to 11th House)

• Timeframe: April 2026 (with a preview in July 2025)
• End of Career Upheaval:
  • Uranus leaves the 10th house, closing a 7-year chapter of professional disruption or reinvention.
• Start of Social Innovation:
  • Uranus begins its long-term journey through the 11th house, bringing surprises and upheaval in friendships, group involvement, and alliances.
  • Expect sudden changes or departures/additions in your social circles and group affiliations.
  • Quote (Leisa, 08:14): "...it can just represent them or what's going on in their lives where your friends have sudden changes in their lives. But it can also definitely be major changes around how you want to interact with community."
• Social Activism Highlight:
  • Leisa notes (09:40): "It's a great transit for social activism because Uranus is very excitable and wants to do things that are potentially revolutionizing things..."

4. Jupiter Transits: Cancer to Leo (12th to 1st House)

• Timeframe: First half—Cancer (12th); Late June onward—Leo (1st)

• Cancer (12th):

  • Growth through solitude, inner work, therapy, or projects done in private.
  • Improved mental health and overcoming blind spots.
  • Quote (Leisa, 10:37): "It's basically really positive for subconscious things... positive things that come out of doing things on your own, in seclusion..."

• Leo (1st):

  • Personal expansion, renewed confidence, and increased outward focus.
  • Good time for self-improvement, health, makeovers, and launching personal projects.
  • Culmination of private efforts; projects emerge into public view.
  • Quote (Chris, 12:51): "...really gonna feel like coming out of that period of internal work and becoming more extroverted again and reinventing yourself."

• Jupiter-Venus Conjunction:

  • Fortunate period in late June before Jupiter enters Leo; highlighted as an auspicious time for new beginnings.

5. Eclipse Season II: Leo & Pisces (1st and 8th Houses)

• Timeframe: August–early September 2026
• Leo (1st):
  • Major turning points in self-concept, health, and personal identity.
  • Potential new beginnings in self-presentation or appearance.
  • Quote (Leisa, 15:31): "It can be a new beginning or an ending with regard to, you know, bodily habits, exercise routines, even appearance related things..."
• Pisces (8th):
  • Shared resources, other people’s money highlighted.
• Balancing Self vs. Partnership:
  • The year opens with partnership eclipses (Aquarius/7th), and later shifts to self-focus (Leo/1st).
  • Quote (Chris, 16:18): "Maybe you've been putting a lot of time and energy into relationships earlier in the year, but suddenly you feel the need later in the year to ... put more time into yourself..."

6. Venus Retrograde: Scorpio & Libra (4th and 3rd Houses)

• Timeframe: October–November 2026
• 4th House: Revisiting family, home, ancestral issues.
• 3rd House: Rekindling connections with siblings, neighbors, and extended relatives; communication and short trips.
• Themes:
  • People and issues from the past return for reevaluation.
  • Potential to reconcile or revise family and sibling relationships; could involve family members moving in or joint discussions about home.
  • Cyclical: Connects to Venus retrogrades in 2018 and 2010.
  • Quote (Chris, 18:57): "...it can also be neighbors or friends that you grew up with, like going back to and revisiting the place that you grew up..."
• Note (Leisa, 21:35):
  • Night chart Leos may experience this as a highly positive, growth-driven transit.

7. Mars Shadow & Upcoming Retrograde: Leo & Virgo (1st and 2nd Houses)

• Timeframe: September–December 2026 (build-up for 2027 retrograde)
• Focus:
  • Prolonged energy directed toward self and personal finance.
  • Potential for increased drive, assertiveness, or conflict in these areas.
  • Health focus (1st house) and financial/work efforts (2nd house).
  • Quote (Leisa, 22:28): "...you're gonna be putting a lot of effort ... towards these topics ... self ... It can be a health thing. ... Or tension towards these topics."
• Day vs. Night Chart:
  • Day chart Leos: May feel more challenge, irritability; need to manage conflicts, esp. in relationships and finances.
  • Night chart Leos: Likely experience steady, productive effort in chosen areas.
• Warning (Chris, 24:08):
  • Mind potential for heightened irritation or conflict, especially if new relationships started earlier in the year.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Navigating the Saturn-Neptune Conjunction:
  • Chris (02:12): "You may need to be careful ... you may have some challenges telling the difference between what's real and what's not real..."
• On Relationship Shifts During Eclipses:
  • Leisa (04:26): "...there can be beginnings and endings with ... personal partnership, business partnership..."
  • Chris (05:43): "Look for opportunities, especially for new beginnings, where you could set a new foundation to improve your financial status around the time of that eclipse."
• On Uranus Entering the 11th House:
  • Leisa (09:40): "It's a great transit for social activism..."
• On Jupiter's Uplift in the 1st House:
  • Leisa (12:51): "It's really great for things that require attention on you..."
• On Venus Retrograde and Family/Sibling Dynamics:
  • Chris (18:57): "...revisiting the place that you grew up with and therefore reconnecting ... with your old neighborhood or people that were in your neighborhood..."
• On Mars Retrograde's Impact:
  • Leisa (24:08): "...working on self-presentation that is connected with how you make a living..."
  • Chris (24:08): "...you'll find that you have the capacity for more work and for harder work during this time, but that it'll be to good effect..."

Key Timestamps

• 01:01 – Saturn & Neptune move from Pisces to Aries, beginning a new 9th house focus
• 04:26 – Eclipse season I: Aquarius (relationships), Virgo (finances)
• 07:32 – Uranus completes Taurus-10th transit, enters Gemini-11th for long haul
• 10:37 – Jupiter in Cancer-12th: Inner work; moves into Leo-1st in June — self-growth
• 15:31 – Eclipse season II in Leo: Turning point in personal identity
• 17:56 – Venus retrograde in Scorpio/Libra: Family, home, sibling revisitations
• 22:28 – Mars shadow begins in Leo/Virgo: Focus on self and finances, prepping for 2027 retrograde

Summary

2026 is poised to be a transformative year for Leos, with the biggest themes revolving around shifts in belief systems, educational or spiritual pursuits, relationship beginnings and endings, changing social networks, personal reinvention, and important inner work. Major eclipses open and close significant chapters in both relationships and personal self-concept. Key planetary movements promise both liberation and challenges, especially in group involvement and family matters. The year ends with energy building toward personal and financial assertiveness, requiring careful management to maximize progress and growth.

Listeners are encouraged to track their rising sign for the most personalized forecast, remain open to inner and outer changes, and exercise discernment, especially during periods of confusion or heightened emotional charge.

Useful for:

• Leo rising/sun individuals planning their year
• Astrologers or astrology students curious about timing and techniques
• Listeners seeking practical insights on relationships, career, and personal growth through the lens of astrology