Gird your loins! Eclipse season officially kicks off with a New Moon Solar Eclipse in the dazzling sign of Leo, stirring up big emotions that inspire us to review and re-imagine how we see ourselves, how we show up authentically, and what we have to give.
This is the first Eclipse in the Leo and Aquarius series, opening a fresh 18-month chapter that will unfold deep into 2027.
What does an Eclipse “series” actually mean?
Eclipses occur whenever there’s a New or Full Moon near one of the lunar nodes (points in space calculated on the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth) in the sky. These two nodes, called the north node and south node, change signs just like planets do. When they move into new signs, we begin a new series of lessons in the areas of our birth chart associated with said signs. The collection of eclipses in the same signs are all part of the same series.
The north node points to the future and is associated with growth, destiny, and the potential you're meant to develop in this lifetime. The north node pulls you forward, and is currently in the sign of Aquarius.
The south node points to the past, revealing what you've overcome and patterns of thought and behavior that are holding you back. The south node pulls you to release something, and is currently in the sign of Leo
Eclipses push us to make something begin or end. Put simply, they are the universe’s way of forcibly aligning you with your own personal fate.
Sometimes we unknowingly push back on this agenda, blocking our own blessings and clinging to things that have outlived their course. This is where the Eclipse reputation for being “chaotic” and "unpredictable" comes from because they create situations where their reality can no longer be ignored. In my personal experience, Eclipses always force those long-overdue, hard conversations, pushing me to take action on something I can no longer put off.
This Eclipse falls near the south node, where an old version of you has reached its expiration date.
This is a New Moon Solar Eclipse, where a new version of you is ready to grow.
Leo’s Influence
Solar power rules as both the Sun and Moon align in the sign of Leo. Just like the mighty lion whose presence is commanding, we are fired up to shine our light.
The work of Leo gives us a big heart-centered reset. A moment where we strip away the drama and inflated egos so true, vulnerable self-expression can take center stage. Allowing us to take a chance to show what’s on the inside to the outside world.
Leo is the cheerleader we feel safe getting praise and admiration from. It’s the friend pushing us to never back down and never give up. Leo keeps us fueled with childlike joy and play, turning our creativity into a super power we can use to navigate this Eclipse.
And before you think, “but I’m just not a creative person.” There is no such thing! To breathe is to create life. To imagine is to create wonder. Creativity, at its core, is simply knowing what you love and filling your life with more of it. More time with loved ones. More flowers in your garden. More ways to help others. More thoughts that are your own. It isn’t just paintbrushes and crafts, it is part of the process of discovering exactly who you are.
That is exactly what this New Moon in Leo is asking of you: to discover who you truly are at your core. This New Moon in Leo grants us an inner knowing that what we initiate now is meant to be, using our creativity as the very release we need to find our way.
Leo offers us a new lens to look through. One built on total authenticity. Under this Eclipse, we release the parts that feel performative so we can make room for the brave, the bold, and the solar energy that burns through us, creating a fresh start where we feel stronger, more vital and alive.
This New Moon Solar Eclipse takes place on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 at 1:36 PM ET.
New Moon in Leo Ritual
Many sources out there will say rituals are ill advised under an Eclipse because the energy is chaotic and unpredictable. I say–do whatever the hell feels right to you. This Eclipse is all about releasing the old to make room for the authentic, and I personally believe a little meditating and journaling can only help you discover that.
Start by setting the energy
Begin this ritual before the peak of the New Moon if you can. If you have a carnelian crystal, hold it while meditating. Imagine the spinning crimson colors of the crystal melting into you, infusing you with strength, courage, and control as you meditate on what you wish to transform.
Grab a pen and paper
Write the next chapter of your life as if it were in a story book and you are the main character.
Be as imaginative and inventive as you like. Focus on how your creativity and how you show yourself love plays into the narrative. Leo lavishness allows you to be magnanimous, bold and unapologetically yourself. Sharing your fullest expression of what you want to become is part of the medicine.
Save it for later
Seal up your letter in an envelope and revisit it during the next New Moon in Leo to reflect on your journey and how far you've come.
