8.11-8.17.2026: Eclipse Season
It probably feels like there’s always something big happening with the Astrology (‘cause lately, there kind of always is!), but Astrologers are calling August one of the most energetically potent times of the entire year. We are just reaching the other side of the 8/8 Lions’ Gate portal—which normally feels like abundance and creative upleveling, but for many has instead felt jarring and unsettling this year. Case in point: I received this urgent voice memo from my sister and business partner last Thursday asking me WTF was going on because things felt WEIRD.
So if things have also felt “swirly” for you, you are not alone! And the swirliness is not likely to ease up just yet. This week, just as one portal spits us out, we enter another (or maybe just a continuation of the first?). That’s right, folks. It is officially *eclipse season!* We have a New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Leo on Wednesday followed later in the month by a Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse in Pisces.
If you’re interested, you can read the full Astrology forecast for August from Forever Conscious, but I wanted to particularly highlight what they have to say about this week’s Solar Eclipse: “While Eclipses are powerful times in our year for calling things in, we have to manifest with an open heart so we don’t block the flow or the gifts that the Universe might have for us too. As this Eclipse falls in Leo, there are extra heart activations to be had on this day. Allow the Solar Eclipse energies to open your heart and to remove blocks and barriers that are keeping you stuck. Try to move into a place of feeling, rather than getting caught up in your head. Eclipses are also very karmic events, so pay attention to what transpires not just today, but throughout the month. If big changes arise, trust that they are part of the journey.”
Wednesday’s Eclipse falls at 20 degrees Leo, just a few degrees away from the South Node. If this sounds like complete gibberish to you, feel free to brush up on WTH I’m talking about here. Long story short? This Eclipse is gonna help us collectively let go of some shit related to systems built on egocentrism and toxic individualism. While at the same time encouraging you to be seen and celebrated for who you are on a personal level. We as a collective are moving away from “me-me-me” mindset (the shadow side of Leo energy) and towards reciprocity, collective healing, and community-building (Aquarius energy). But that doesn’t mean we are dulling our shine. If anything, it means you have full permission to dial up what makes you YOU in order to defend and uphold EVERYONE’S right to freedom of self-expression. We can hold both—celebrating our own individuality and self-expression while also lifting up and celebrating others and who they are as individuals. Even if—especially if—they are different from us.
So once again, with this week’s Astrology in mind, I asked the cards “What collective gifts are we calling in during this Eclipse? What are we collectively ready to release? And what Tarot Teacher is supporting us during this transition?”
Pro tip: screenshot or right-click/save this photo and set it as your background image to keep the message fresh in your mind all week.✨
The Six of Cups invites us to rediscover and reclaim the gift of unabashed JOY. Joy is an act of resistance, after all. Use this time to reflect on what you loved to do as a child. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to revisit an old hobby or call up an old friend. Make yourself a throwback meal or treat. Watch a movie that always makes you laugh or happy-cry. The message here is to not only resurrect your own joy, but to also make space for others to find and express theirs as well. Because when we move from a collective space of joy, we drown out messages of hate and intolerance.
Knights tend to imply movement, action, and communication. Wands are associated with Fire energy (which is why they are cleverly depicted as matches in this @playdatewiththeuniverse deck). Wand/Fire energy has to do with our passions, what lights us up, what motivates us, and sometimes—what angers us or causes us to burn so brightly we burn all the way OUT, taking others along with us in our fiery rage. So as you might imagine, the Knight of Wands is about passionate action. In the Release position, it tells us it is time to cool our jets and take action from a more level-headed place. This isn’t to say you should tolerate bigotry or wear yourself down trying to change someone’s mind who you know will never change. But it is an invitation to pause before speaking. To ask thoughtful questions before writing someone off. To apply the balm of the OPPOSITE elements: Air (not to blow on the flame, but to regulate yourself through breath/space/thoughtful communication) and Water (not to douse out the flame completely, but to bring it back down to a manageable size). Release the pathological need to be RIGHT all the time. There is nothing wrong with acting from a place of passion based on your closely held beliefs and values. But anything in excess can become problematic. When we get so fiery about something that we’re ready to “burn it all down,” we are no longer able to be productive. When we shut down a conversation with someone whose beliefs differ from ours rather than act from a place of genuine curiosity, we no longer have an opportunity to connect with or understand them. And we lose the opportunity for them to better understand us as well.
So which Tarot Teacher will be supporting us through this Eclipse portal? The Two of Cups, of course. Two of Cups helps us to notice what’s out of balance and identify what might bring things back into harmony. It invites us to find common ground, to see the humanity in another, and to share our feelings and experiences with the goal of fostering a deeper connection that serves both parties equally. It helps us to see eye-to-eye, to work together towards goals, to give and take in equal exchange. To let down the walls of our heart with someone we can trust completely. So how can you work with this energy? Have a heartfelt conversation with someone you previously wrote off. Allow yourself to be just a smidge more open and vulnerable than you normally would. Gather your loved ones. Share stories, laughter, and maybe a few tears. And perhaps even consider expanding your circle just a little bit wider to let in someone new.
As always, this is a collective reading, so the message may or may not resonate with you. If you are interested in exploring your personal Eclipse message, I have availability for three 1:1 video readings this week. Inspired by the questions posed in Madi Murphy’s Cosmic Rx Weekly Energy report, I’ll pull three cards just for you around these three questions:
What is your heart too tired to keep carrying?
What does your heart want to breathe in instead?
Who are you becoming on the other side of this?
You’ll receive a beautiful video presentation sharing the cards I pulled and how their messages apply to your life. Turn-around time for these video readings is 3-5 days.
If you’re feeling called to dig deeper into this Eclipse energy, I’d love to pull cards just for you!
