A Seasonal Astro-Soul Check-In with Jonni & Marielle

Winter always feels like the cosmos asking us to get very, very quiet. To stop performing our lives and start actually living them. But this winter is different.

I’m back in conversation with astrologer Marielle Croft, and what she’s tracking feels less like seasonal shift and more like the final deep breath before a dive into completely new waters. We’re talking about planets out of bound (yes, that’s a thing), an interstellar comet showing up right on cue, and the cosmic equivalent of moving houses while the old one is still full of boxes.

This isn’t just winter but the edge of an entirely new era. And it starts with one last chance to get our inner house in order before everything changes.

Jonni: Marielle, here we are at the doorstep of winter, and I have to say, the energy feels different this time. Like we’re all collectively holding our breath. The Winter Solstice arrives December 21st. What’s the cosmic weather looking like?

Marielle: The Winter Solstice lands on Sunday, December 21st at 7:05 am PST, when the Sun leaves Sagittarius for Capricorn. What’s striking is the atmosphere feels more like reconstructing than moving forward. There’s a sense that some tweaking is still necessary, like we’re still adjusting things before the real shift happens.

Jonni: “Reconstructing”. Hmmm…I love that word. It’s not destruction or stagnation. It’s that awkward in-between where you’re taking things apart to put them back together better. What’s creating that feeling astrologically?

Marielle: At the solstice, the Moon is also in Capricorn with Mars exalted in this sign. Capricorn’s ruler, serious Saturn, is keeping a strong hand on what might develop. But to really understand this, we need to look at the New Moon that happens just before the solstice on December 19th.

Jonni: Okay, let’s back up. What’s happening with this pre-solstice New Moon?

Marielle: At the New Moon, the Sun and Moon are at 28 degrees Sagittarius, forming a square to Saturn-Neptune at the end of Pisces. Any New Moon represents a new beginning, but this one is specifically inviting us to review our philosophy of life, belief systems, and our general principles. Are they open and flexible, receptive to learning? Or are they rigid and limiting?

Jonni: This feels like such an essential question right now. Like the universe is asking, “Are you thinking for yourself, or are you outsourcing your inner knowing to social media, culture, or whatever’s trending?” Where’s our centre?

Marielle: Exactly. Are we centring and reviewing from our deeper intuitive self, or are we giving that power away to external influences? This New Moon sets that tone, and by the time we move through the solstice, the Moon is still close to the Sun but now in Capricorn in Saturn’s domain.

Jonni: So we’re being asked to get serious about our inner authority. To really examine what we actually believe versus what we’ve been told to believe. That’s not light work.

Marielle: No, it’s not. And it’s essential preparation for what’s coming. You see, 2025 has been a transition year. We haven’t seen much visible progress in world affairs because we must first close the old “files” before engaging with new ones. We’re saying goodbye to the Pisces Era and growing roots in the Aquarian Era.

Jonni: I love this metaphor. It’s like moving houses; you found the new place, you know you’re moving, you might even spend time there cleaning and painting, but you’re still living in the old house. You can’t really settle into your new life until you’ve completely closed the door on the former one.

Marielle: That’s exactly it. The world’s been observing the remaining shadows of the Pisces era, the troubles and crises in many parts of the world. But nothing is feeding these anymore. They can’t go on forever. It’s like a survival cry of attachment to power. Meanwhile, something else is growing in the global womb that will progressively emerge as a new culture starting in 2026.

Jonni: So this whole winter is essentially our last chance to do the inner work, sort through what we’re keeping and what we’re leaving behind, before the moving truck arrives in February?

Marielle: Yes! The slow-moving planets—Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn—have been at the end of their signs for the past 4-5 years. Their impact is global, marking the end of a cycle. In February 2026, they move to the beginning of new signs, marking the emergence of a NEW cycle: the Aquarian Era.

Jonni: Wait, hold on. February? That’s when the real shift progressively starts happening? What exactly is moving where?

Marielle: In February 2026, Saturn and Neptune will leave Pisces to go into Aries. The first degree of Aries is the most powerful in the entire zodiac. It’s the official beginning of any journey coming into existence. It’s so powerful it’s called “God’s degree.”

Jonni: “God’s degree”. Well, that’s not subtle. (Though honestly, I appreciate when the universe just comes right out and says it.) What does this mean for us mere mortals here?

Marielle: Neptune is about vision and inspiration, but also deception and illusion. Saturn is about structures and discipline, but also rigidity. Both planets can show their best sides or their shadows. What we might see starting in February is that people will no longer support leaders who don’t come from wisdom and common sense. New leaders will progressively gather support, sometimes from unexpected groups. That’s how the new culture begins to test the waters.

Jonni: So we’re going to see a kind of natural sorting where authenticity and wisdom start to matter more than performative leadership or empty promises. I have to say, that gives me hope. What else is shifting in the spring?

Marielle: In April 2026, Uranus leaves Taurus for Gemini. Uranus was deeply uncomfortable in Taurus, in fact, it’s the most challenging sign for Uranus. We’ve seen climate change, droughts and floods destroying farmland, economic crises, housing prices skyrocketing. All Taurus concerns.

Jonni: So Uranus in Taurus was basically chaos in all our earthly structures of food, shelter, money, and resources. Everything that’s supposed to be stable became wildly unstable.

Marielle: Yes. But Uranus moving into Gemini will work in harmony with Pluto in Aquarius and Saturn-Neptune in Aries. We can expect lots of new ideas, inventions related to technology, new ways to farm like urban farming in multi-story buildings, for example. And crucially, in Gemini, Uranus is about collaboration. Groups will be much more efficient than people remaining individualistic.

Jonni: Okay, so winter is our prep season for this massive shift. But you also mentioned something called planets “out of bound”? That sounds either very technical or like something from a sci-fi novel. (Please tell me it’s interesting.)

Marielle: It’s fascinating! The Sun and all planets normally stay between two markers—the Tropic of Cancer in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn in the south, both at 23.5 degrees. But sometimes planets venture beyond that boundary. When this happens, they’re “out of bound.”

Jonni: And what does that mean in human terms?

Marielle: The planet isn’t submitted to the usual “rules” anymore and can express with more freedom. For example, Mars out of bound could become a wild daredevil, choosing danger over safety. If managed properly, it could lead to extraordinary realizations. The planet’s usual character becomes exacerbated when out of bound.

Jonni: So it’s like the planetary version of “I’m done playing by the rules; watch what I can do.” That could be brilliant or chaotic, depending on how we work with it.

Marielle: Exactly. And most of December, we’ll have personal planets—Venus, Mars, Mercury, even the Moon—taking turns out of bound. On December 3rd, this created a Grand Trine in water signs with Moon and Mercury out of bound.

Jonni: Okay, translate “Grand Trine” for those of us who aren’t astrology nerds. (I mean, I know what it is, but let’s pretend I don’t.)

Marielle: A Grand Trine is an equilateral triangle formed from planetary connections between three different zodiacal signs, thus forming this geometrical figure – aka Grand Trine. It’s the most harmonious, mature, desirable connection between planets. Here we have Mercury in Scorpio, Jupiter in Cancer, and Saturn-Neptune in Pisces. A few other planets align with this Grand Trine as well, which amplifies the power even more.

Jonni: And what does this watery, harmonious, amplified energy actually do?

Marielle: The water signs bring mystical vision and inspiration. The Kite’s tip—Moon-Uranus in Taurus—suggests that this vision will lead to new solutions and inventions focused on caring for people better. Groups creating housing to end homelessness. Urban farming to feed the hungry. The only limit is imagination.

Jonni: So in the dark of winter, when everything looks dormant, there’s actually this fertile inner ground expanding the power of the heart toward more love and care for humanity. I’m not gonna lie, that makes me teary. We need that so much right now.

Marielle: In the darkness, the seeds are germinating.

Jonni: Now, I have to ask about this interstellar comet situation. Because when you first mentioned 3I/Atlas, I thought you were making up a sci-fi reference. But it’s real?

Marielle: It’s very real! The “3” means it’s the third such body entering our solar system in recent years. “I” stands for Interstellar. And Atlas refers to the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System. This comet has travelled through our universe, gathering frequencies and atmospheres from many spaces, circling our Sun, and on December 19th, the same day as the New Moon, it passes closest to Earth.

Jonni: Wait, an interstellar visitor carrying mysterious frequencies from across the universe shows up on the New Moon right before the solstice? The universe really does know how to make an entrance.

Marielle: Nobody knows what frequencies it might be bringing. But it’s worth tuning in to see what might be revealed.

Jonni: So basically, we have cosmic permission to sit outside on December 19th with our binoculars and our open hearts and see what downloads we receive from a travelling comet. I’m absolutely doing this.

Marielle: I recommend it!

Jonni: What about Mercury retrograde? Please tell me we’re not dealing with that during the holidays.

Marielle: Mercury begins its first retrograde of 2026 on February 28th through March 20th, remaining in Pisces the whole time. It’s inviting us to meditate more, choose silence over speaking too soon, and observe before deciding.

Jonni: So we get through the holidays without Mercury retrograde chaos, but by late February, right when all these planets are moving into new signs, Mercury says “hold up, let’s reflect on this before we rush forward.” That’s… actually perfect timing.

Marielle: It is. And we should mention Jupiter continues its retrograde in Cancer through March 11th, 2026, encouraging care for family and community. Neptune has completed its retrograde December 10th at the end of Pisces, so introspection, meditation, and choosing inner wisdom over external triggers.

Jonni: There’s something about this whole winter that feels like one long invitation to go inward. To stop reacting to the noise and start listening to what’s real.

Marielle: That’s exactly what it is. Uranus continues retrograde through February 4th in Taurus, paying attention to resources. And Pluto, already in Aquarius, is patiently waiting for the other slow planets to join in forming a Grand Trine that will completely change the culture we know.

Jonni: Is there a particular lunation we should watch for?

Marielle: January 3rd, 2026. A Full Moon with Capricorn leading—Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars all in Capricorn—across from a beautiful Moon in Cancer conjunct exalted Jupiter. Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all out of bound. There’s a feeling that family, community, the land are becoming majorly important.

Jonni: “The truth is found in nature.” That’s what I’m hearing. Like after all this cosmic complexity, the answer is beautifully simple: return to what’s real, what’s rooted, what actually nourishes us.

Marielle: Returning to the basics is the best rule of thumb for this lunation.

Jonni: Now, I know we have eclipse season coming up in the new year. What should we be watching for there?

Marielle: On February 17th, 2026, we have a New Moon at the end of Aquarius with an annular eclipse of the Sun. The Sun and Moon form a square with Aquarius’ ruler Uranus at the end of Taurus. Since a New Moon begins a one-month cycle, it seems that a certain level of crisis may emerge around this lunation that will unfold throughout that month.

Jonni: Crisis, okay, that’s a loaded word. What kind of crisis are we talking about?

Marielle: Crisis around finances and people’s needs could be a major topic. With Sun-Moon and Uranus all at the end of signs, we’re at the end of a system or situation. A need for new actions, new ideas, and new projects will become more evident and even urgent. This could be part of the reforms that will progressively take place throughout 2026 and beyond.

Jonni: So the eclipse is basically forcing the issue, like “you can’t pretend the old systems are working anymore, here’s your wake-up call.” Sometimes crisis is just clarity arriving uninvited.

Marielle: Exactly. And then on March 3rd, 2026, we have a Full Moon with a total eclipse of the Moon in Virgo, with the Sun in Pisces. We find many planets in Pisces—Mars, Sun, Venus, and Mercury retrograde. Mercury rules Virgo where the Moon is. There seems to be lots of good intentions with very few efficient players to further the expected results.

Jonni: Oh, that’s interesting. So we’ll have all this beautiful idealism and vision in Pisces, but not enough people on the ground actually implementing it? That sounds frustratingly familiar.

Marielle: Yes, but what stands out is the empowerment of communities. Some humanitarian groups may begin to stand out with their philosophy for peace and love. There are high ideals being nurtured during this time, some realistic, others not. But people may really see advantages to being part of groups, in collaborative projects. People supporting people.

Jonni: So even with the gap between vision and implementation, something important is happening: people are remembering that we need each other. That isolation isn’t the answer. Collaboration is.

Marielle: That’s the gift of this eclipse season. It’s showing us what doesn’t work anymore, but also pointing us toward what will.

Jonni: Here’s to the holy work of winter, the composting of old worlds and the germination of new ones. And to trusting that even when we can’t see what’s growing in the dark, something extraordinary is taking root.

Marielle: That’s beautifully said. And I truly believe that the more consciously we move through this transition, the more we can participate in shaping what emerges. May we all greet the new era with open hearts and ancient wisdom. And wishing you and our readers the best for this season and a great year 2026. See you again in the spring.

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If you’ve been feeling like 2025 was a strange holding pattern, like you were supposed to be moving forward but kept getting stuck in review mode, congratulations. You were doing exactly what this year required: closing files, sorting through beliefs, and preparing your inner ground for something entirely unprecedented.

This winter is your last chance to get clear before the new era arrives. Not in some distant, abstract future. In February. That’s two months away.

So here’s your winter assignment: Get quiet. Get honest. Get ruthless about what you’re carrying into 2026 and what you’re leaving in the compost heap of 2025. Tune into that interstellar comet on December 19th and see what frequencies want to find you. Spend time with the people who feel like home. Return to the land, to nature, to what’s real.

The age of performance is ending. The age of authentic presence is beginning.

And you get to be one of the conscious ones who crosses that bridge with your eyes wide open and your heart fully engaged.

Welcome to the edge. And to winter. Welcome to the last quiet moment before everything changes.

Jonni