The Aegis
Saturday 27th of December, 2025
Today I’m headed north to babysit my nephew Jake the cat while my sweet Sissy, Agent Fox, is away in New Zealand. We got the sad news that his Uncle Tony had passed away unexpectedly, just a few days before Christmas. The family are obviously all still in a state of shock, however the funeral is scheduled for this week, and Fox is flying over tonight.
As I reviewed my luggage in the final moments before dashing off to the train station, my hand lingered over these two suits that I’d picked up recently from Aunty Jessi’s shop. They’re both made of this beautiful light wool, one in fawn and one in black, and the jackets have these strong tailored shoulders, with a soft unstructured drape through the body.
Whatever possessed me with the idea to lug wool suiting all the way up to town during the middle of a summer heatwave would remain a mystery for now, though I tried to rationalise it by telling myself I’d drop them off to get the sleeves lengthened, and maybe ask the tailor to put some pocket bags in the matching skirts and trousers too. After a quick internal screaming match that my impractical side won, I rolled up the suits and stuffed them into my case, just in time to run out the door.
Once onboard the northbound train, my friend Yvon sent a message to swap out our poolside plans with a beach invite for tomorrow, at a spot down south that I’d always been curious about, but had never explored. I pinged back an enthusiastic “I love this for us”, while resting with the thought of travelling all the way back to where I’d just come from and also, feelings of gratitude for the psychic connection that Yvon and I often share. I put my phone away and settled in for the journey ahead, refocusing my attention and energy towards supporting Fox, and making a mental plan to get him safely to the airport on time.
Under the Aegis
Fox greeted me warmly when I arrived, looking calm and focused though naturally, working with some very real grief. It was only this past June that he and his lovely sister Ebs had made the journey over to New Zealand to celebrate Uncle Tony’s birthday. While surely grateful for the opportunity to develop their relationships, for the memories made, and for the quality time shared with him, the prospect of making the same trip back over so soon, only this time to say a final goodbye, just seemed all too cruel.
However, Fox was ready to meet this moment, and to honour Uncle Tony’s memory. I’ve watched my friend work so hard over these last years. He has always been so emotionally receptive, so kind and so loving, ever since we met 20 years ago, and probably since he was born. The difference is that now, his emotions don’t scare him as much, and he’s made a commitment to loving himself too. Slow and steady steps towards clarity of mind, of body and of spirit. There’s a quiet dignity that follows him around these days, you can tell, even by the way he walks. I am so very proud of my Sissy. Keep your heart open. Keep your chin up.
Now, Fox and I are seasoned professionals at creating space for contrasting feelings to exist at the same time, and we only had a couple of hours together before it was time to head to the airport with Ebs. So, we decided to switch focus, and after a quick catch up sesh, some truth telling and some giggling, we set about packing his luggage, and conducted the obligatory outfit review. It's our tradition before any trip away. “I’m actually not sure what to wear to the funeral, babe? I want to make an effort for Uncle Tony, but my suit is way too heavy, and it’s gonna be boiling?”
Without a word, I leaped over the couch like a gazelle, flung open my suitcase and, amidst a shower of beach towels, underwear and bottles of reef oil, I stood up to reveal the black suit jacket, before plopping it squarely on Fox’s shoulders like a protective mantle. It fits like a glove. Perfect, right down to the sleeve length, no alterations required. Oh my God of course.
With precious minutes to spare, we planned the rest of the outfit. The jacket will be light enough for warm weather, and a simple white raglan t-shirt underneath, Brando style, will complete the look. Once we’ve looked up a dry cleaner near the hotel in New Zealand, I roll up the jacket, pop it neatly in Fox’s suitcase, have a quick cuddle for courage, and then send him out the door and off to the airport.
The Aegis of Athena
Taking a breath, I feel Jake curling around my ankles to say hello. “Finally, Aunty.” he seems to say, rolling his eyes. I pick him up for a kiss, and gently begin unpacking the rest of my exploded suitcase. Amidst the debris of toiletries and balled up socks, I find a copper coloured jumpsuit that Aunty Jessi had bought me as a thank you for cat-sitting her two babies a little while back. I hadn't yet had a chance to try it on, and to be honest I had forgotten that I’d thrown it in my case along with everything else this afternoon.
Once the tunes were on and I’d enjoyed a cheeky spliff to come back down to earth, I decided to have a little fashion parade for Jake and I, and try on the jumpsuit. It's essentially just a tube of fabric, which ties on at the shoulder straps, but something happened to me when I wore it. I began dancing around, rolling my hips and arching my back like some sort of Grecian Goddess at Studio 54. The colour, the fabric, the drape, everything was perfect.
I at once felt beautiful, for the first time in quite a long time, and I sensed a certain power returning within me too. I’m also such a lucky duck, as Aunty Jessi had given me two of them, one in copper, and one in black. “If it's good, get doubles” is a tried and true family credo. Once the silly sister selfies were sent through to Aunty Jessi and the tunes had played out, my eyelids soon became heavy and told me that it was time for bed. I unfurled the pillows and doona to make my nest for the night and drifted gently away, wearing my new jumpsuit like a protective nightgown, and feeling satisfied with all that we had accomplished that day, with Jake snuggled up by my side.
I must've fallen asleep with my phone still blue toothed to the speaker, because I woke up in the middle of the night to its shrill ring tone blaring at full volume. It was Fox. Who should’ve been on a plane, in the air, right now. “Babe. The flight has been cancelled. There’s nothing else available and nothing we can do. I have to come home tonight.”
AQUARIUS SEASON
Tuesday 20th of January, 2026 - Wednesday 18th of February, 2026
Ζεὺς Αἰγίοχος - Zeus, who holds the Aegis, or, Heaven, who holds the thunderstorm
The brilliant mind of Aquarius has a singular objective; To stand up for the rights of the people. It is here that we remember that there is strength in numbers, and hopefully, we remember our humanity too. For the next 20 years, each time a planet enters Aquarius, they must at some point cross paths with Pluto, the Lord of the Underworld and warden of that which has been kept hidden. Each conjunction in the Sign of the Water Bearer sheds further light onto Pluto’s evidence of systemic corruption, excavated during its time spent in Capricorn, and forces us to bear witness to the evils against humanity as perpetrated by the elite.
The collective voice is getting louder, and at the same time the revelations that Aquarius Season has unearthed have been truly shocking, and deeply triggering. For this, I am sincerely sorry if you are in pain. We must always travel under the Aegis of our guides and protectors, and remember that if ever we are in distress we can call on their strength, by blessing our talismans or wearing our mantles. Luckily for us, as Aquarius Season began on the 20th of January, we were all under the Aegis of the Asteroid Pallas Athene, who was present at 28° of the sign, ready and waiting to speak truth to power.
The Aegis of Punk Rock
On the 21st January, Mercury at 29° of Capricorn perfected sextile with Neptune, which was singing its final swan song at 29° of Pisces. Practical Magic was the order of the day, and the messages came through loud and clear for me and Mel K, as we set about cleansing the space for our first event at MIECAT. Our communication was direct, our magical connection tight, and together we were able to invoke our intention of warmth, community care and beauty into physical form until we were set, prepped and ready for the weekend. At the end of the day, Mel K handed me a brown paper bag filled with some beautiful 90s dresses that she thought I might like, one of which you can see above.
On the 22nd of January, we had a Mercury Cazimi, and while committed to limiting my engagement with the relentless 24 hour news cycle, the planet of information exchange was initiated by the Sun at 1° of Aquarius. Now here we go again, we see our Crystal Visions. By the 23rd of January the messenger to the Gods had moved on and was soon conjunct Pluto a few degrees away. The sinister truth of those visions was becoming much harder to bear. Mars entered Aquarius on the same day, speeding up the revelatory process, and urging us to find the courage to face the truth that had been exposed. Soon after, Pluto was Cazimi too. Another initiation by the Sun at 3° of Aquarius, this time illuminating the dankest, most hidden recesses of the collective psyche, but also offering us help to see in the dark.
On the 24th of January, Mel K and I hosted our event and received a tremendous response. Our mission to facilitate community care through creative pleasure had been successfully accomplished. On the 27th, Neptune finally left Pisces for the rest of our lifetimes. As it entered Aries, once and for all, we were summoned to alchemise our unconscious fantasies from the last 15 years into direct action. On the same day, we were once again protected under the Aegis of the asteroid Pallas Athene, who had by this time moved into Pisces and stood in silent vigil, as any residual confusion gradually dissipated.
Then with explosive furore, on the 28th of January we were hit by the direct impact of Mars conjunct Pluto. The shockwaves will reverberate through the collective consciousness for many years to come. No amount of redactions will ever erase the truth. By the 29th, Mercury was conjunct Venus at 14° of Aquarius, with a promise that survivors would finally be handed the mic. By the 31st, information was spreading at a rate of knots. Perceived errors were soon revealed as tactical manipulation perpetrated by the monstrous benefactors of supremacy.
On the 1st of February, my home town of Melbourne held our annual Pride March. I was travelling on a southbound train on my way to set up for a birth chart reading, and while I had to miss out, there were folks of all ages in my carriage dressed in every colour of the rainbow. My heart filled up with joy as they clocked my Cowgrrl Pride t-shirt, and we exchanged smiles of acknowledgement like psychic hugs. The night after and by the light of the Leo Full Moon, I swore an oath that I would clear my schedule for Pride March next year. It is more important than ever that we show up in solidarity, in pride, and in protest. If any more evidence was required, on the 4th of February, Uranus stationed direct at 27° of Taurus. The rebel spirit had arisen from its slumber, and there was no way of knowing what might happen next.
The Aegis of Pride
On February 5th, I had the pleasure of reading Tarot at the State Library of Victoria as part of a remarkable team of talented Melbourne Witches. Tehani, Lady Bijou, Alice, Narny, and I arrived with open hearts and clear minds, and received guests back to back for three hours in the Redmond Barry Reading Room. Venus at 23° Aquarius was sextile Chiron at 23° Aries, guiding us to approach any perceived vulnerabilities in our clients with tenderness and care. I felt immense pride in our efforts that evening and was thankful for the spirits residing in the Library, who made it clear that we were welcome there, that our work was valued, and that we were safeguarded by their presence.
The Aegis of our Coven
By the 8th of February, Venus had moved to 27° of Aquarius and was square to Uranus at 27° of Taurus. This gave the day an erratic edge. Something just didn't feel right. I was booked for another gig, this time reading at Victoria’s Pride Street Party, my 4th year running. Mum and I packed the car in the early morning and headed up to town for bump in. When we arrived, there was an unspoken tension in the air that we picked up on instantly, but we did our best to move through it and carry on with the day. Like every other year, I was booked solid by 11am.
As the humidity got heavier, my first client flippantly told me that agitators had ransacked the site and had attacked some of the stalls in the early hours of the morning. The dull thud of dread punched me right in the guts at the thought of homophobic attacks. Wishing my client hadn't been so clumsy, I swallowed this knowledge and refocused my energy towards delivering the best readings that I could possibly muster.
With the help of my beautiful Mum, we made sure that each and every person that came to see us was wrapped up in a protective forcefield of our love and kindness. We worked hard that day. By nightfall when the weather finally broke, the rain came down in big fat drops, releasing the pressure that had been building since the morning. I stood out in the rain and let it all wash away.
As we were packing our gear, our lovely project manager came to help, and I said “I heard about this morning darling. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?” He assured me that he was, and that it was a group of Queer activists protesting in resistance to the cooperatisation of the festival body. They were disorganised and their vandalism was chaotic, but untargeted. I was ashamed at how relieved I was to hear this. “At least it wasn't bigots.” I said. “I agree with some of their political talking points.” He replied. “But look at the state of the world right now. There has to be room for some relief.”
On reflection, I'm proud that my decision was to amplify the magic of my readings, rather than to react in fear. Mum and I wore our birthday talismans of copper and silk, so I knew that we would be okay, and that everyone who came our way would feel better for having found us. Paranoia is a natural response to trauma. I am very proud that me and my Mum knew exactly what to do in the face of potential prejudice. We banished it with love.
The Aegis of my Mum
I woke very early on the morning of the 13th of February, a few days after Venus had entered Pisces. I would be reading for my lovely friend and Tarot mentor Julia, who works over on Sacred Familiar. We were going to road test a new reading that I am developing called DRAGON, where we work with Evolutionary Astrology techniques to describe past lives using the Lunar Nodes. As I sat outside drinking my morning coffee, an orange fire ball slowly rose in the clear indigo of the Western Sky. It took a left turn, and traced a path through the stars headed in the direction of the Moon, leaving a trail of licking flames in its wake. I was scared at first, but then completely exhilarated. It was too slow for a comet, too precise in its navigation for space junk. Whatever it was, I felt a quiet security underneath its path.
On the 14th February Saturn entered Aries, the Cardinal Fire Sign and home of Saturn’s fall. It is here that the powers of the old guard can falter, and systems of control and structures of hierarchy can begin to show their cracks. When talking about Saturn, I’m always reminded of Kronos, the ruler of the Titan Gods. He refused his succession, until his son Zeus forced his abdication and claimed rulership by brutal force. Long live the King? No thanks. Republic Now.
the Aegis of the Fire Horse
On the 17th of February, a Solar Eclipse at 28° of Aquarius provided a powerful surge of Humanity. As Chinese New Year celebrations took place across the globe, folks of all backgrounds and cultural identities gathered together to write messages of hope and good luck, and to welcome in the spirit of The Fire Horse. Here in Australia, ABC News reported;
“The horse traditionally carries a positive charge, which is linked to success, prosperity and forward motion. But 2026 is different, according to Sydney-based feng shui master Mina Zheng. It comes under the influence of fire, an element that intensifies everything it touches, for better and worse.” The report included an interview with a Chinese immigrant named Beichan. With gratitude in his heart and a melancholy smile, Beichan said, “It feels like home. It’s more like Chinese New Year here, than in China.”
After the News I took myself off to bed, and opened YouTube to watch some of Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre, only to find the wonderful and kind hearted Bailey Sarian in a state of very sincere distress. She was leveraging her platform and any influence she might have to sound the alarm on tactical division as a means of control and exploitation by those in power. Her passion was raw and unedited as she pleaded over and over again, “What are we going to do?” The fire in her belly roared as the tears streamed down her face.
The Tarot card I drew for Aquarius Season has truly proved its mettle. The VI of Wands can feel like we are galloping under the Aegis of some benevolent magical force. We remember that we are wild, and we remember that we are free. The card tells us that while we must take time to celebrate our successes, the trial by fire is far from over yet. Giddy-up. Don’t fall off.
Flashing back to the Omen Days as we continue our journey around the wheel, I wonder what emerged last year back on December 28th, revealing itself as the 3rd Omen? Was Fox able to catch his flight? What will Pisces Season 2026 have in store for us? Both Fox and I have learned that sometimes you have to return back to where you came from, in order to continue on your pathway to healing. If you look at the Omen Days Page again, you can see that the Tarot Wheel is preordained. You’re welcome to sneak a peak at what may be on the horizon or explore what has already transpired. Stop by again on March 21st and as the Sun enters Aries, ringing in the Autumn Equinox here in the Southern Hemisphere, I’ll tell you about what I discovered during this coming Season, and what defenses I might have felt safe enough to lay down.
Happy Pisces Season friends. Keep your chin up.
Pisces Season coming soon
