August is a “9” Universal Month [8 (August) + 1 (2026) = 9] in a “1” Universal Year. This is the end, of something anyway. “9” is the last number in our numerological sequence; it represents the ending of a cycle. This aligns nicely with the astrology of the month, which includes our first eclipse season on the Aquarius/Leo axis and one last eclipsed full moon in Pisces (from the last lunar nodal cycle) – as well as our Sun conjunct to the South Node in Leo for the first time. This is our month to wrap things up, as September is our first “1” month of 2026, representing our new beginning which also corresponds to the number of the year. The more we can get things finished now, the better September will be.
The Set Up
We begin the month with the Sun and Jupiter in Leo, Mercury in Cancer, Venus in Virgo, Mars and Uranus in Gemini, retrograde Saturn and retrograde Neptune in Aries, and retrograde Pluto in Aquarius. By the end of the month, the Sun and Mercury will enter Virgo, Venus will enter Libra, and Mars will enter Cancer. No planets change directions this month.
The Nitty Gritty
August will be dominated by a significant eclipse season that spans the boundary between Leo/Aquarius and Virgo/Pisces. This includes two significant conjunctions as both the Sun and Mercury conjunct the South Node in Leo for the first time during this lunar nodal cycle. This makes for a rocky August with a lot to process.
Lunar Nodes in Aquarius (North) and Leo (South)
Although the switchover of the lunar Nodes happened last month, we will really be feeling it throughout August as we get deeper into Leo season. This is our first Leo season with the South Node in Leo in eighteen years, and we – the collective we – will likely take a major ego hit. Leo season is the time when we are asked to be our truest and most sunshiny selves; the Sun of the Self shines the brightest in Leo, the sign of its domain. It is high summer (for those in the Northern Hemisphere, of course, where modern Western astrology originates) and – to quote one of my OG favorite songs – the livin’ is easy. Leo is made to live the high life, with the very best of everything.
The problem comes from our South Node, which represents – to a greater or lesser degree – what we are supposed to be moving away from. We are at a time in the astrological cycle when we need to think more from an Aquarian point of view, and less like a lion. This isn’t the time for thinking for ourselves, or for being overly individualistic – to some degree, astrology is reminding us that we are all one big community and that we need to work together to make this community better for all of us. Given climate instability and the ongoing crisis throughout the world, this makes a lot of sense.
The lunar nodes represent an overall societal influence; they might not even affect you overly if you don’t have a luminary, personal planets, Saturn, or the lunar nodes in the signs in question. Unless, of course, we are in the signs of the nodes – because that’s when the Sun and Moon line up and create eclipse season.
Because the changeover of the lunar nodes was quite late in July, this will be a mixed eclipse – our solar eclipse will happen in Leo, on our new Aquarius/Leo axis, and the lunar eclipse will happen on our old Pisces/Virgo axis. Both the Sun and Mercury will enter Virgo in the midst of eclipse season, which seems highly significant. We are meeting the new first, but we aren’t done yet, and we will need to return to the old for some final clean up. That lunar eclipse is likely where we will feel the strongest of the month’s “9” energy come into play.
Our Lights: the Sun and the Moon
In a month like this, nothing will seem to matter other than the eclipses. We can note a relatively early trine between our Leo sun and retrograde Saturn on 8/6, which may feel a bit tight and restricting, but should pass unnoticed for most who don’t have a strong fiery presence in their natal birth charts.
Our total solar eclipse goes exact in the afternoon of 8/12 (the lunation is exact at 1:37 and the eclipse at 1:46 EDT/UTC-4:00) at 20° Leo. This is our new energy, and it’s so new in fact that it is born in complete blackness. Remember, a normal new moon is when the Moon conjuncts the Sun; an eclipsed new moon is when the Moon BLOCKS OUT the light of the Sun. Even though the totality won’t be experienced for most of the world, it will still be FELT.
Even if you are not lucky enough to experience the totality – or maybe not the eclipse itself at all – you can still work with this (lack of) light and energy. This is the ultimate seeds stage, the barest of beginnings. It is so new that it doesn’t contain shape or form. It is devoid yet of identity or ego, two things that only occur through the light of the Sun.
This is going to be a heavy hitter, and it may leave you feeling low and strung out. This is the absolute lack of light, sort of like the days around the Winter Solstice, except in the middle of summer where it does not belong. Because it’s the first eclipsed new moon in Leo, it may be overwhelming and unpredictable – hold space for this however you can.
From there, the Sun conjuncts the South Node at 29° Leo on 8/25, and enters Virgo the same day. This is our step backward into our “closed” cycle, a sign that many of us will have unfinished business.
Our partial lunar eclipse occurs on 8/27 or 8/28, depending on your time zone. In EDT, it occurs in the hours immediately following midnight (the lunation peaks at 12:19 and the eclipse at 12:13). It sits at 04° Virgo, tightly conjunct to Mercury. This is a major stellium: Sun at 04° Virgo, Mercury at 05° Virgo, and the South Node at 29° Leo; all opposed to the Moon and the North Node. This opposition forms an exact t-square to Uranus in Gemini. If you need to unfuck the communication side of your life, this is the time to do it. Alternatively, this could lead to some communication difficulties, or astounding breakthroughs – the difference here likely having to do with your own personal relationship to Virgo and Piscean energy.
As always, many astrologers suggest not doing magic during the eclipses proper due to the unpredictability of its effects, but you do you. I certainly have before, and I will do so again. I will write a bit more about eclipse season in the weeks ahead.
Mercury
Mercury exits their post-retrograde shadow at 26° Cancer on 8/6, which will finally sort out some of the fuckery that’s been in play all throughout July and then enter Leo on 8/9. Mercury is never at their best in the fixed signs; watch out for being a verbal bully: just because somebody shares a differing opinion from you doesn’t mean they are wrong. Check yourself before you wreck yourself verbally: is what you are saying kind? Is it necessary? Is it more rooted in ego than facts?
Mercury conjuncts Jupiter at 10° Leo on 8/15; this is a great day to invite big Mercury things into your life. It’s worth noting that they are already also making an ascending trine to retrograde Saturn in Aries (exact on 8/17), so keep it reasonable and attainable.
Mercury enters Virgo on 8/25, the sign of their domain, making this one of the biggest Mercury days of the year. It will also be conjunct the South Node, though, so take care not to be overly critical if you don’t need to be. Mercury remains in Virgo for the rest of the month, making it a good time to do all types of Mercury magic. They form a superior conjunction to the Sun at 04° Virgo on 8/27; a true Mercury cazimi. This is inside eclipse season, though, so stay aware of the consequences of your actions.
Venus and Mars, our personal planets
The general “get along” vibes for the month will shine starting on 8/6 when Venus enters the sign of her domain, Libra, and trines (by sign) Mars in Gemini. Unfortunately, this doesn’t last for long – Mars enters Cancer, the sign of his fall, on 8/11. For the rest of the month, our two planets will be squared off with one another – this should feel somewhat icky and untenable.
Cardinal squares have a lot of energy; this will probably look like constant fights and dis-ease. Venus in Libra will likely try to people-please to keep the peace, but Mars in Cancer is so crabby that they may not be agreeable to much of anything. It is what it is.
It’s just background shit, and it will stay that way with the eclipse season taking center stage. Manage it how you must. I personally would try to stay away from the people I have a harder time getting along with, and schedule less socially.
The other big news of the month is that Venus enters her pre-retrograde shadow at 22° Libra on 8/31; this is the energy which will dominate most of the rest of the year, and we are just setting it up now. This is the “before” stage of our Venus retrograde – which will transit through the end of Libra and the beginning of Scorpio. I’ll touch on this more in the weeks ahead, as well.
Looking Ahead
September will be much easier and is our major breather between eclipse season and our double retrograde (Mercury and Venus), which will take place in October and November.
The Details
8/6 – Venus enters Libra, Sun in Leo trine retrograde Saturn in Aries, Mercury exits post-retrograde shadow 26° Cancer
8/9 – Mercury enters Leo
8/10 – Mercury in Leo square Chiron in Taurus, Venus in Libra opposed retrograde Neptune in Aries, Venus in Libra trine retrograde Pluto in Aquarius
8/11 – Mars enters Cancer, Mercury in Leo opposed retrograde Pluto in Aquarius, Mercury in Leo trine retrograde Neptune in Aries
8/12 – Solar Eclipse 20° Leo
8/15 – Mercury conjunct Jupiter 10° Leo
8/17 – Mercury in Leo trine retrograde Saturn in Aries, Venus in Libra sextile Jupiter in Leo, Mars in Cancer square retrograde Neptune in Aries
8/21 – Venus in Libra opposed retrograde Saturn in Aries
8/22 – Sun enters Virgo, Sun conjunct South Node 29° Leo
8/23 – Sun in Virgo trine Chiron in Taurus
8/25 – Mercury enters Virgo, Mercury conjunct South Node 29° Leo
8/27 – Sun conjunct Mercury 04° Virgo
8/28 – Lunar Eclipse 04° Pisces, Sun in Virgo square Uranus in Gemini, Mercury in Virgo square Uranus in Gemini
8/31 – Venus enters pre-retrograde shadow 22° Libra, Jupiter in Leo trine retrograde Saturn in Aries
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