August is Eclipse Season
Tucson local Maria Elena is a Hellenistic astrologer, archetypal tarot guide, licensed massage therapist, and co-founder of Attunement. She sees spirituality as a helpful tool for co-creating a more radically loving world. Private consultations are available at Attunement in midtown Tucson as well as virtually. Learn more at PersephonicTarot.com.
August 2026 is a potent month astrologically because it’s when we enter eclipse season! Eclipse season is a period of roughly 4 weeks that occurs twice a year and is known to bring about significant endings and new beginnings.
This eclipse season is interesting because we are transitioning from a period that began September 2024 related to the Virgo/Pisces areas of our charts and into a period related to the Leo/Aquarius area of our charts that officially kicked off in early 2026 and will continue into January 2028. So, while we are winding down one cycle, a new area of our lives is about to experience massive change. The exact eclipse dates this month are August 12th and August 28th, but you might feel the intensity start to ramp up a week before the first eclipse and last until a week after the second.
The shift from Virgo/Pisces to Leo/Aquarius has our focus moving from issues related to the material and practical (Virgo) vs spiritual and irrational (Pisces) and moving towards issues related to personal power and popularity (Leo) vs collective power and unconventionality (Aquarius). Collectively, we might expect some powerful popular figures to be brought low during this Leo/Aquarius period…just saying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
General eclipse season advice is to buckle up and ride the waves of change as they come. I like to think of eclipse season as a time when much needed course correction can occur (some might call this divine intervention). I might not always like it, but it’s usually in my best interest to accept the change. Most witchy astrologers advise against manifestation or result driven spell work during this time because the energies are so volatile.
Where will you feel this change personally? This depends on how the eclipses are impacting your personal birth chart. Consulting an astrologer (like myself) will give you the most detailed picture of how an eclipse might impact you, but here’s a brief primer to what areas of life these August eclipses might impact most based on your rising sign:
Want to read more about eclipse season? Check out this article on my Substack.
Want to learn how to read your own birth chart? Register for ASTRO 101 under ticketed workshops.
Aries & Libra Rising
You are in the final stretch of a period of change that shifted things in the areas of work, mental and physical health, and the places we retreat to like our dreams, wellness centers, or hospitals. What have you learned about the balance between working and resting over the last year and a half?
You are also entering a period that might shift the way you play, create, and find pleasure as well as who you associate with. Keep up with the activities and people that feel good and let go of the rest.
Taurus & Scorpio Rising
You are in the final stretch of a period of change around the way you play, create, and find pleasure as well as who you associate with. How have your hobbies and social circle shifted over the last year and a half?
You are entering a pretty significant period of change that could touch on all the major pillars of your life, including your career, your personal/home life, your sense of self and identity, and your close relationships. If there’s anywhere you’re feeling stuck or misaligned, use this time to take big swings towards your most precious goals.
Gemini & Sagittarius Rising
You are in the final stretch of a pretty significant period of your life that likely touched all the major pillars of your life, including your sense of self and identity, your close relationships, your career, and your personal/home life. You are not the same person you were two years ago, continue to discover your new favorite version of yourself.
You are also entering a cycle related to your belief systems, thinking mind, education, siblings, and travel. This is a good time to expand your worldview through experiencing your local and global community.
Cancer & Capricorn Rising
You are in the final stretch of a cycle related to your belief systems, thinking mind, education, siblings, your local community, and travel. How has your worldview shifted in the last year and a half?
You are also entering a period of change around your money, your stuff, your values, shared resources, what you owe to others and what others owe to you. It might be tough to hold onto money, or you may find yourself receiving more than expected. Either way, it’s important for you to have a solid understanding of what you consider to be valuable to you.
Leo & Aquarius Rising
You are entering a pretty significant period of change that could touch on all the major pillars of your life, including your sense of self and identity, your close relationships, your career, and your personal/home life. If there’s anywhere you’re feeling stuck or misaligned, use this time to take big swings towards your most precious goals.
You are also in the final stretch of a period focused on your money, your stuff, your values, shared resources, what you owe to others and what others owe to you. How have your values or what you consider to be valuable shifted over the last year and a half?
Virgo & Pisces Rising
You are in the final stretch of a pretty significant period that likely touched all the major pillars of your life, including your sense of self and identity, your close relationships, your career, and your personal/home life. You are not the same person you were two years ago, continue to make choices that feel like the best version of you.
You are also entering a period of change that may shift things in the areas of life connected to your work, mental and physical health, and the places you might retreat to like dreams, wellness centers, or hospitals. So much has changed for you over the last year and a half, now it’s time to build a regular routine that supports you in being your current best self.