On August 12th we get a total solar eclipse in Leo, around twenty degrees of the sign, and this one is personal. A solar eclipse is a new moon on overdrive, so this is a fresh start. And because it lands in Leo, the fresh start is about you. Who you are, how you show up, and who you are becoming.
This is the first of the two eclipses this month. If you want the full overview of the season, I put it all together in this breakdown of eclipse season 2026. Here I want to zoom in on the Leo eclipse itself.
A new beginning for your identity
Leo rules the self, confidence, creativity, and the version of you that other people actually see. A new moon eclipse here plants a seed in exactly that soil. For a lot of people this shows up as a real shift in how they carry themselves. A little more bossed up. A little more willing to take up space.
Jupiter is also in Leo right now, and Jupiter expands whatever it sits next to. So this is not a small, quiet beginning. This is the universe turning up the lights on you and saying, your turn.
Who you are becoming, and what you are outgrowing
The lunar nodes recently moved onto the Leo and Aquarius axis, and an eclipse near that axis always works both ends at once. On one side you are stepping into who you are becoming. On the other, you are releasing an old identity that you have quietly outgrown. Some story about yourself that used to fit and does not anymore.
Here is the piece of advice I keep giving people for this one. Act like there is a camera on you. Not in a fake way. In a, how do I actually want to be seen, what kind of person do I want to be, kind of way. Then become that on purpose.
A few more moving pieces
Two things to keep in mind around the 12th. Mars moves into Cancer on August 11th, right before the eclipse, so this is not the moment to rush headlong into a brand new romance. Take your time with anyone new for the next couple of months. And Venus moving into Libra brings a strong dose of balance and good karma, especially in relationships and anything to do with fairness.
The tarot that echoes this eclipse
If I had to pick the cards that match this Leo eclipse, it would be The Sun for visibility, joy, and being seen, and Strength for the quiet confidence of controlling your own inner voice. And once the eclipse dust settles, The Star is the healing and hope that follow. Pull those three and you basically have this whole moment in front of you.
This eclipse is not asking you to become someone new. It is revealing who you already are underneath the old story.
Two eclipses this month, remember. Once you have sat with this one, read what comes next in the Pisces lunar eclipse on August 28th. And to see exactly how it lands for your sign, read your weekly tarot reading, or pull three cards on the homepage.
Want to read your own eclipse energy in the cards instead of waiting for someone else to do it? That is what I teach inside the Ultimate Tarot Masterclass.