The Astrology Podcast

Libra 2026 Year Ahead Horoscope

Hosts: Chris Brennan & Leisa Schaim
Release Date: December 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this detailed annual horoscope, Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim walk Libra risings (and Libra Sun signs, if you don’t know your rising) through the astrological highlights and challenges of 2026. With major planetary movements, potent eclipse seasons, and highlighted Venus and Mars retrogrades, the year brings significant shifts especially in relationships, health, friendships, and self-perception. The hosts offer nuanced guidance, key dates, and practical advice—with insights applicable to both day and night chart individuals.

Main Themes & Big Picture (00:00–00:58)

• Focus: Forecast for Libra rising for 2026, grounded in practical astrology and big-picture planetary movements.
• Method: Recommendations aimed primarily at those who know their rising sign, but also relevant for Libra Suns.
• Structure: Month-by-month breakdown of transits and shadowed areas: relationships, work/health, friendship groups, identity, and personal finances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Saturn & Neptune Enter Aries: Major Shift in Relationship Focus

(00:58–06:16)

• Saturn and Neptune move into Aries (Libra’s 7th House: partnerships/relationships) in Jan-Feb 2026, ending a long-term presence in Pisces (6th House: health/work).
• Alleviation of 6th House Issues: Libra risings may feel relief from ambiguous health problems or challenges with coworkers/pets that have persisted since Saturn entered Pisces in March 2023, or even longer due to Neptune's passage (since ~2011).
• Increased Focus on Relationships: Partnerships (romantic, business, or otherwise) come under scrutiny—time for restructuring, setting boundaries, and more serious commitment.
• Potential for Confusion: Exact Saturn-Neptune conjunction in February may blur relationship realities.
  • Chris Brennan (04:12):
    “One of the things you want to be careful about at this time, especially in February, is just make sure you’re approaching things with clear eyes…you may not be seeing people or situations or especially relationships clearly.”

2. February–March Eclipse Season: Children, Creativity, and Mental Health

(06:16–11:52)

• Eclipses in Aquarius (5th House: fun, love, children) and Virgo (12th House: internal world, mental health, hidden enemies).
• Beginnings/Endings in Romance & Creativity: Major shifts around romance, sexuality, creative pursuits, or children. Clear openings and closings—potential for new relationships or creative projects, or children reaching milestones.
• Mental Health and Solitude: Virgo eclipse highlights 12th House themes: introspection, mental health, seclusion, or revelations about “hidden” adversaries.
• Leisa Schaim (09:09):
  “Eclipses in the 12th can be times of greater seclusion…sometimes at the time of dealing with mental health concerns or just being more proactive about your mental health.”

3. Uranus Moves Into Gemini: Expanding Horizons

(11:52–16:46)

• April 2026: Uranus ends its 8th House (shared resources, mortality) transit, entering Gemini (9th House: higher education, travel, philosophy, belief).
• From Loss/Shared Crisis to Liberation/Expansion: Less focus on financial or crisis-driven shakeups, more on radical exploration and learning.
• New Beliefs and Big Change: Potential for “revolutionary” shifts in worldview, travel, and education.
  • Chris Brennan (13:59):
    “Our beliefs about the world start changing pretty radically, especially with Uranus…you might suddenly find yourself attracted to a philosophy that’s so radically different than what you’ve believed up to this point.”

4. Jupiter Highlights Career & Social Networks

(16:46–20:35)

• Jan–June: Jupiter in Cancer (10th House: career, public reputation) boosts opportunities for advancement and visibility.
• June onwards: Jupiter enters Leo (11th House: friends, alliances)—social expansion, new friendships, networking.
• Contrast between work/career success early in the year and greater social involvement/friendship growth later on.
  • Chris Brennan (18:59):
    “You’re just gonna be experiencing luck and good fortune, first in the sphere of career…and then having that shift in the second half of the year to your social life.”

5. Auspicious Venus–Jupiter Conjunction in June

(21:01–21:38)

• June: Venus meets Jupiter in Cancer—optimism and charm amplify career opportunities. Excellent moment for launches or public moves (consider electional dates).

6. Second Eclipse Season: Friendships and Final Work/Health Chapters

(22:55–26:03)

• August–September: Eclipses in Leo (11th House of friends/groups) and Pisces (6th House: health/work) bring both opportunity and closure in these sectors.
• Friendships: Forming important new alliances, or letting go of those that have run their course.
• Health/Work: Final chapter closing out years of upheaval here; chance for closure and a “new foundation.”

7. Venus Retrograde: Rethinking Self & Finances

(26:03–33:21)

• Oct–Nov: Venus retrogrades through Scorpio (2nd House: income, resources) and Libra (1st House: self, body, appearance).

• Reworking Income & Self-Presentation: Time for reflection, revamping how you earn or present yourself. Could affect your sense of self-worth.

• Themes of Makeovers & Revisiting the Past: Physical appearance changes often turn out well, especially for night charts, but best to wait until Venus goes direct for permanent changes.

  • Chris Brennan (28:48):
    “I commonly see people do makeovers when they have a Venus retrograde going through their rising sign...for some people, it may be something about changing your appearance in some way that ends up impacting your income.”

• Leisa Schaim (29:48):
  “It’s usually a good idea to think about the changes you might want to make during the retrograde and then implement them when it goes direct.”

8. Mars Retrograde: Friendships, Conflict, and Solitude

(33:24–38:45)

• Sept–Dec (pre-retrograde build-up): Mars enters Leo (11th House), then Virgo (12th), foreshadowing a nine-month focus where energy, conflict, or action plays out in these areas.
• Friend Group Tensions: Mars can bring strife, impatience, or separation amongst friends. For day charts, more caution is advised—impulsive words or actions can have lasting consequences.
  • Chris Brennan (35:00):
    “Sometimes it can create a bigger rift in your friend groups or with a specific friend than you might anticipate at first.”
• Allies vs. Enemies: Mars’ movement between the house of friends (11th) and enemies/solitude (12th) blurs these lines; beware of conflicts turning friends into adversaries.
• Balancing Social Energy & Seclusion: There may be alternating urges to socialize intensely or to retreat for introspection and self-care.

9. Looking Ahead

(39:23–end)

• The Mars retrograde will stretch into 2027, with September–December 2026 giving Libra risings the first taste.
• Libra’s 11th House (friendships/groups) emerges as the “hotspot” of the year—growth, endings, and conflicts all converging here.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Chris Brennan (04:12, on Saturn–Neptune conjunction):
  “Just make sure you’re approaching things with clear eyes…you may have a hard time telling the difference between what’s real and what’s not.”

• Leisa Schaim (09:09, on 12th House eclipses):
  “Eclipses in the 12th can be times of greater seclusion, whether proactively or otherwise...sometimes at the time of dealing with mental health concerns.”

• Chris Brennan (13:59, on Uranus in 9th House):
  “You might suddenly find yourself being attracted to a philosophy or belief that’s so radically different than what you’ve believed up to this point, that it almost seems like a sort of revolution.”

• Chris Brennan (18:59, on Jupiter’s year division):
  “You’re just gonna be experiencing luck and good fortune, first in the sphere of career…and then having that shift...to your social life.”

• Leisa Schaim (21:38, on electional astrology):
  “Any important actions you want to take or new projects you want to start…if you do it under a good electional chart…that will give you better chances of overall success.”

• Chris Brennan (28:48, on Venus retrograde):
  “I commonly see people do makeovers when they have a Venus retrograde going through their rising sign.”

• Leisa Schaim (29:48, on Venus retrograde advice):
  “It’s usually a good idea to think about the changes you might want to make during the retrograde, and then implement them when it goes direct.”

• Chris Brennan (35:00, on Mars in 11th house):
  “Sometimes it can create a bigger rift in your friend groups…than you might anticipate at first.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–00:58 — Introduction, targeting Libra rising.
• 00:58–06:16 — Saturn & Neptune move to Aries; relationship sector focus.
• 06:16–11:52 — Eclipse season (Aquarius 5th/Virgo 12th): romance, children, mental health.
• 11:52–16:46 — Uranus enters Gemini: 8th to 9th House leap; liberation, belief changes.
• 16:46–20:35 — Jupiter’s journey: Career (10th) to Friends (11th).
• 21:01–21:38 — Venus-Jupiter conjunction in June: career boost.
• 22:55–26:03 — Second eclipse season (Leo 11th/Pisces 6th): friends, final work/health shifts.
• 26:03–33:21 — Venus retrograde in Scorpio/Libra: income and self-reflection.
• 33:24–38:45 — Mars retrograde’s build: friends, groups, and solitude tension.
• 39:23–End — Looking ahead & episode close.

Summary Table: Major Themes by House

| House | Area of Life | Highlighted Transit(s) | Key Dates | Main Effect | |-------|----------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | 6th | Work/Health | Saturn/Neptune out, last eclipse | Jan–Feb, Sep | Closure, relief from longstanding problems | | 7th | Relationships | Saturn/Neptune enter Aries | Jan–Feb | Restructuring, boundaries, new seriousness | | 5th | Children/Romance | Aquarius eclipse | Feb–Mar | New beginnings/endings in love/creativity | | 12th | Mental Health/Rest | Virgo eclipse, Mars retro | Feb–Mar, Dec | Contemplation, solitude, mental health focus | | 8th | Shared Resources | Uranus leaves Taurus | April | End to financial/mortality shakeups | | 9th | Philosophy/Travel | Uranus enters Gemini | April ongoing | Radical worldview change, new opportunities | | 10th | Career | Jupiter in Cancer | Jan–Jun | Growth, visibility, achievement | | 11th | Friends/Groups | Jupiter & eclipses, Mars retro | Jun–Dec+ | New alliances, endings, intense group energy | | 1st/2nd | Self & Finances | Venus retrograde | Oct–Nov | Makeover, self-worth, possible finance links |

Final Takeaways

• Relationships are the theme of the early year, with significant restructuring due in love, business, and partnerships.
• Career and social networks see growth and expansion; capitalize on the first half for career, the second for new friendships.
• Self-reflection, makeovers, and financial review are highlighted in autumn due to Venus retrograde.
• Friendships require careful handling—tensions may arise, but also great new beginnings.
• Adaptive flexibility and mindfulness are important—many themes overlap, and endings give birth to beginnings.

For further guidance, listeners are encouraged to consult the detailed electional dates and consider personalized advice based on their own charts.