Friends, we are entering one of the most unusual astrological corridors of recent years. I call it the “Time of Alchemical Distillation” — and now I will explain why.
Imagine an ancient alchemical laboratory. Fire under the retort, water inside, and something invisible is born in the process of their interaction. This is exactly what will happen from December 2025 to June 2026 — Fire will be tested by Water. Your ego, ambitions, and thirst for action will clash with your emotions, subconscious, and karmic debts.
For some, this will be a test. For those who understand the rules of the game, it will be a transformation.
What is happening in the heavens?
Let’s take a look at the cosmic context. I work with the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa), and this is what I see:
Saturn (Shani) is in Pisces for the entire period. This is not just a transit — it is a call for discipline through intuition. Old Saturn has donned the mantle of mysticism and demands that we complete old cycles. Not through force — through acceptance.
Jupiter (Guru) travels through Gemini, the sign of intellect and communication, until early June. But the real magic will happen in June when it enters Cancer, the place of its exaltation, its highest power. It is as if a wise teacher has finally returned to his native temple.
The Rahu/Ketu axis is frozen in Aquarius and Leo. Rahu in Aquarius draws us towards the collective, towards technology, towards the future. Ketu in Leo detaches us from our familiar ego, from our thirst for recognition. It is the eternal battle between “we” and “I”.
And finally, the critical point of the entire period: April 2026.
Mars enters Pisces and connects with Saturn. I call this combination
“Boiling Water.” Imagine: warlike Mars, accustomed to acting recklessly, finds itself in a water sign next to cold Saturn. It’s like throwing
red-hot metal into ice-cold water — there will be hissing, steam, and turbulence. Remember April. We will come back to it later.
The element of fire: from external combustion to internal light
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius — you are used to taking action. You are the ones who ignite, inspire and lead. But in the next six months, the universe will ask you to master a completely different skill: strategic waiting.
The water energy of Pisces, where Saturn is located, will seem to try to “extinguish” your fire. Do not be afraid. The purpose of this process is not to destroy your strength, but to temper your character. Just as a sword is tempered in water after fire, you will emerge from this period stronger.
A small digression for practitioners: the technique of balancing the five elements is described in ancient tantric texts. Over thousands of years, mystics have accumulated a wealth of experience through trial and error and the derivation of stable results. Pancha Bhuta Kriya is one of the most complete and accessible practices of self-regulation. I teach the basics of this technique at retreats in a lively, personal setting. The next one is in March 2026 on Koh Samui, Thailand.
And now — to each sign separately.
ARIES (Mesh)
Ruler: Mars
Dear Aries, this period will divide your life into “before” and “after.” And the key to transformation lies where you don’t usually look — in the realm of the subconscious and completions.
Where is your strength?
The eleventh house is your superpower until June. Rahu feels right at home here (pardon the pun in the context of a fire sign). What does this mean in practice? Your social networks, unexpected encounters with people whom others consider freaks or geniuses, work in IT or new technologies — all of this will bring money. Wishes come true, but on one condition: they must be ambitious and unconventional. Rahu is not interested in small goals.
January 2026 is your window for a career breakthrough. Mars will be exalted in Capricorn, activating your tenth house. This is the perfect time to get a job, launch a project, or make a name for yourself. Use the winter to attack your goals — you won’t have this energy again until next year.
From mid-May, Mars enters your own sign. Your energy will return, your body will be filled with strength, and your charisma will become magnetic. You will feel like yourself again.
Practice for inspiration: Dream Journal
As Saturn activates your twelfth house — the realm of the subconscious, dreams and liberation (moksha) — answers to important questions will come not in meeting rooms, but when you are asleep or in a trance.
Start a dream journal. Before going to sleep, formulate a question — something specific that is important to you. In the morning, without opening your eyes completely, write down the first thing that comes to mind. Don’t analyse it, just record it.
These are not just dreams. These are direct messages from your higher self, which is now actively clearing karmic baggage. Yoga nidra will become your best friend during this period.
Danger zone: April
Now for the difficult part. Saturn in your twelfth house marks the beginning of the Sade Sati period for those with the Moon in Aries. Even if this is not the case for you, you may
feel a strange loneliness, a desire to escape from the world, or face forced isolation.
But the critical point is April 2026. Mars, your ruler, enters the twelfth house and clashes with Saturn. I call this “Yoga of War in the House of Losses.”
What does this threaten? Injuries (especially to the legs), insomnia, sudden expenses, fines, hospitals. Any aggression you show during this period will come back like a boomerang.
My advice: don’t start anything new in April. Lie low. Do charity work or go on a retreat. This is not cowardice — it is the wisdom of a warrior who knows when not to fight.
Summary for Aries
“You are a warrior learning to meditate.”
The first three months of 2026 will give you social unpacking and set beacons in areas where there are resources. Spring — especially April — will require sacrifice: giving up old habits or toxic relationships.
If you weather the April storm with humility, a miracle will happen in June. Jupiter will enter your fourth house — the house of happiness, inner peace, and home. From the depths of the sea, a foundation will rise beneath your feet and bring you peace of mind that you haven’t had in years.
It’s like finding Atlantis. But first you have to dive down.
LEO (Simcha)
Ruler: Sun
Dear Leos, your main challenge is transformation through renouncing the crown. Sounds scary for a sign that is used to shining? I understand. But listen to what I see.
Ketu in your first house makes you “invisible” to yourself. You look in the mirror and don’t recognise your reflection. The usual ways of identifying yourself no longer work. “Who am I without my achievements? Who am I without recognition?”
This is not a crisis. It is a door.
Where is your strength?
Jupiter in the eleventh house until June is classic Dhana Yoga, the yoga of wealth. And here’s the paradox: while you doubt yourself because of Ketu, the universe sends you patrons, rewards and opportunities. And it does so through friends and unexpected channels.
Your task is simply to accept these gifts. Without demanding, without begging, without proving that you are worthy of them. If you feel that you have completely lost yourself in self reflection, there is only one remedy: harsh but temporary asceticism. It will silence the inner noise.
In May, Mars enters Aries — your ninth house of luck and higher meaning. This will bring back your luck, give you the opportunity to travel, and bring blessings from your father or teacher. Hang in there until May.
Practice for inspiration: Deconstructing the Ego
Ketu in the first house is the “dragon’s head” without a body. It creates a feeling of “I don’t know who I am.” Instead of panicking, use the ancient technique of “Neti-Neti” (not this, not that).
When uncertainty rolls in, ask yourself, “Who is feeling this?” Don’t look for the answer logically. There will be no answer — but there will be silence. Your new strength lives in that silence.
Intuition is now more powerful than logic. Trust it. And a little practical advice: wear beige or pastel colours, avoid bright red. This will soften the influence of Ketu.
Danger zones
The eighth house with Saturn is a position that astrologers call “Ashtama Shani”. It slows down the receipt of inheritance, creates obstacles in the treatment of chronic diseases and tests the psyche for strength. Not the best time for risky financial transactions with other people’s money.
Rahu in the seventh house creates illusions in partnerships. People around you may seem strange, behave unpredictably, or be foreigners with a completely different mentality. Do not rush to conclusions — Rahu distorts perception.
April 2026 — Mars connects with Saturn in your eighth house. This is a high-risk area: accidents, burns, conflicts with the tax or insurance authorities. Be extremely careful with other people’s money, loans and anything extreme.
Summary for Leo
“The king who became a sage.”
Your ego centre is dissolving right now, and that can be scary. But in reality, you are undergoing a deep cleansing. Finances will be fine thanks to Jupiter in the eleventh house — money will come through friends and unexpected sources. But health and safety require vigilance, especially in the spring.
June will bring tremendous relief. Jupiter will enter your twelfth house in exaltation, opening the gates to spiritual journeys and the hidden protection of higher powers. You will stop seeking approval from outside and find the sun within.
It’s like coming home after a long expedition. It turns out the treasure was always there.
SAGITTARIUS (Dhanu)
Ruler: Jupiter
Dear Sagittarians, I have some special news for you. You are the only fire sign whose ruler changes sign to exaltation at the end of this period. This means that no matter how difficult the journey may be, the finale promises to be spectacular.
Your focus shifts to two areas: relationships and home life. The outside world will be generous, while the inside world will need some repair.
Where is your strength?
Rahu in the third house gives you what many lack: courage and drive. Your hands are literally “golden” right now, and your ability to write, speak and sell ideas is at its peak. If you are a blogger, copywriter, salesperson or negotiator, this is your time. Short trips will bring success and useful contacts.
Jupiter in the seventh house until June is a real blessing for your personal life. Single Sagittarians may meet not just a partner, but a teacher in human form — someone who will change your worldview. In business, this is a time for lucrative contracts and reliable partnerships.
Remember: right now, you are growing through other people. Not alone.
Practice for inspiration: The Alchemy of Relationships
Right now, the world is your mirror. Every person who annoys or pleases you is an aspect of your own soul that needs attention.
Try the technique of “Active Listening as Meditation.” In conversations, stop preparing your response while the other person is speaking. Immerse yourself completely in their words. Don’t judge, don’t argue internally — just listen.
Why does this work? Because it is through partners (the seventh house) that insights about your Destiny are now coming to you. Ketu is in your ninth house — the house of higher meaning — and it has shut down the usual channels for receiving wisdom. Now, truth comes through other people. You just need to listen.
Danger zones
The fourth house with Saturn is what is called “Ardha-Ashtama Shani.” A heaviness on the heart for no apparent reason. There may be problems with real estate, never-ending repairs, or a cooling of relations with your mother. Your emotional state may be depressed, even if objectively everything is fine.
Ketu in the ninth house can bring disappointment in former ideals or teachers. You begin to question what you have believed in for years. It is
painful but necessary — you are searching for your own truth, discarding the dogmas of others.
April 2026 — Mars connects with Saturn in your fourth house. I call this a “fire in the house” — literally or figuratively. Family conflicts may reach a boiling point. There is a high risk of domestic injuries, car problems, or technical issues in the home.
Tip: Don’t make any decisions in April that could destroy family ties. It’s a storm in a teacup — it will pass. Don’t let it destroy what has been built over the years.
Summary for Sagittarius
“A change of targets and arena for development.”
In the first half of the year, you will actively interact with people, drawing luck from partnerships and social connections. However, your inner home — your soul and family — will require patient repair. Do not ignore the emotional sphere, even if everything seems to be going well on the outside.
Survive the April storm by maintaining relationships with loved ones.
And in June, you will be rewarded: Jupiter will enter the eighth house in exaltation. Sounds scary? For other signs, perhaps. But for Sagittarius, whose ruler is Jupiter himself, this is a time of mystical power. Perhaps an inheritance, access to secret knowledge, or simply intuition that will become infallible.
You will emerge from this period not just wiser — you will emerge more powerful.
Instead of a conclusion: how to survive alchemical distillation
To all fire signs, I want to say one thing: the next six months are not the time for head-on attacks.
Water extinguishes fire if the fire is foolish. But water turns fire into steam — into the force that drives locomotives — if the fire is wise.
Your task is not to resist the water element, but to use it. Emotions, dreams, intuition, relationships — all these are your allies in the coming months. The usual “I’ll manage on my own” and “I’ll push through now” will not work. Something else will work: patience, acceptance, the ability to listen and wait.
Take April quietly. Meet June with an open mind.
And remember: alchemists were not afraid of fire and water. They knew that it was from their union that gold was born.
If you want to delve deeper into the practices of balancing the elements and prepare for this period consciously, I invite you to a retreat in March 2026 on Koh Samui, Thailand. There we will work with the Pancha Bhuta Kriya technique in a live transmission. See you in the new astrological year.
