August 8 - 14 | Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon
- Sarah Brynteson
- Aug 7
- 11 min read
Good morning, dear reader! 🌙
This has been a week of endings and new beginnings for our family.
The endings look like having our bathroom project come to a close along with our youngest moving to his new apartment to start his grad school journey towards his doctorate.
The beginings look like the nest becoming very empty for us and watching our youngest getting settled in his new life.
As a parent this is bittersweet. I am so proud of everyting both of our kids have accomplished. They are thriving on their own. They know we are here for them should they need us. That is our role now. We have moved from conductor in their lives to audience member.
It is also part of the journey.
This week our sweet Luna will move out of one cycle and into a new with the Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon. Eclipses happen twice a year. There is a Solar Eclipse and a Lunar Eclipse always two weeks apart.
The first one this year happened with the Aqaurius Solar Eclipse New Moon and Virgo Lunar Eclipse Full Moon. This next one will be the Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon and the Pisces Lunar Eclipse Full Moon.
We are shifting from one axis to another. Just like my husband and I are shifting from one role to another.
You may notice different things coming up for you during this journey. We move from the axis of Pisces and Virgo (Spirtuality and Practicality) to Leo and Aquarius (Me vs Collective). This shift happens every 18 - 24 months and typiclly have an overlap like we are seeing this year as they move from one to anyther.
Not every eclipse will be felt personally to you. Alot depends on where things fall in your chart. Even if you have planets, axis or the Nodes in fixed signs of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus or Scoprio it does not mean it will affect you to the same degree as someone else.
There will be a lot of social media astrologers out there that may make you feel worried or fearful. If that is the case I encourage you to dive into what you feel is most true. It is a powerful time truly. That is why I always reccomend not to activiely try to maifest or let go like we do typically do at hte New and Full Moons.
The energy is chaotic and massive and trying to pinpoint a goal with that much force behind it would be like trying to spray a firehose through the eye of a needle. It may not work the way you want it to.
That is what makes knowing your birth chart so powerful. So helpful. It is truly like opening up the Weather App on our phones to figure out what to wear that day. Truly. It gives information. You get to decide how to use it.
📦 The Bonus Bundle — includes a freebie that shares key words for the houses, signs, and planets. A great starting point!
🌙 Between the Moons on Patreon — self-paced lessons, some as short as 5 minutes, to help you learn your chart at your own pace. There are also opportunities to join a Zoom to go deeper.
📩 Paid Substack — my written New and Full Moon guides every month, the full weekly Cosmic Weather delivered to your inbox, a monthly recipe, and articles in between.
⭐️ Consultations — a more personal way to understand what is going on through your birth chart, your child's chart, or even Celtic Seership. I do not believe in future sight — I believe in helping you with the here and now. The most I ever do with forward-looking work is a Solar Return session to help you understand the energy of the year ahead. Think of it like that weather map — it gives you information so you can decide what to wear. The future will take care of itself. You have the power all along. And if you need help understanding what is available to you, that is exactly where a consultation can come in. 🌟
All can be accessed in my "Link to all Things."
This week has so many different opportunities for us all as we move through the road of life. Shall we dive in together? 🌙
August 8 - 14 | Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon
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Note for all times listed in it will be CT due to where I live. Please convert to your time zone!
✨ August 9 and 10 , 2026 | Gemini moon ➡ Cancer Moon + Mercury in Leo & 25 Hour VOC
As we wake up on Sunday the Moon will have moved into Cancer. With this nearing the end of the current Moon cycle it can heighten the sensitivity and the desire to stay where it feels comfy and safe — or be with people who make you feel that way. This vibe will be with us through Tuesday at 3:38 am CT with a 25 hour, 8 minute Void of Course window in between. More about that in a moment. 🌊
Mercury moves into Leo on Sunday as well — which may lighten the mood considerably. Mercury in Leo can help everyone feel more confident with their words and thinking, and even a little more extroverted. Trying new things, especially if they seem fun, may feel very natural. You may also notice an uptick of wanting to be entertained — movies, great conversations, and yes, possibly the occasional dad joke. 😄
On Monday, Mercury squares Chiron early in the morning — so Sunday could feel like processing old childhood wounds around shining the way you want to shine with your words and thoughts. Be gentle with yourself if that comes up. ❤️🩹
Also on Monday the Moon slips into a 25 hour, 8 minute Void of Course window from 2:30 am CT to 3:38 am CT Tuesday morning. This could bring a bumpy start to the work week. This is the first of two long Void of Course windows this week — so figuring out what helps you navigate today could serve you well later in the week too. Remember — if you do have to start new things during this window, you may just need to revisit them. That is not a bad thing. 🌙
✅ Great for: Meditating, Finishing up existing projects, Taking walks, Resting or napping, Creating a to-do list
🚫 Maybe skip: Starting something brand new, Making major decisions, Being hard on yourself 🤪
During this window Venus will be in a T-Square to Pluto and Neptune — which means you may feel the desire to help a relationship evolve in a new direction, though you may feel confused about what to do at times. If things get hard, looking to see where 4° Leo falls in your chart and leaning into those themes may help. Here is a quick guide by Rising Sign:
♈️ Aries Rising — Children, creativity and joy
♉️ Taurus Rising — Home, family and roots
♊️ Gemini Rising — Communication, siblings and local travel
♋️ Cancer Rising — Finances and material resources
♌️ Leo Rising — Identity, body and self expression
♍️ Virgo Rising — Hidden matters, rest and behind the scenes work
♎️ Libra Rising — Friends, hopes and community
♏️ Scorpio Rising — Career, reputation and public life
♐️ Sagittarius Rising — Faith, wisdom and long distance travel
♑️ Capricorn Rising — Shared resources and transformation
♒️ Aquarius Rising — Partnerships and contracts
♓️ Pisces Rising — Daily routines, health and service
For the full keyword breakdown that lives inside the Between the Moons Patreon and Substack. 🌙
If things get hard, going out to visit people you feel safe with or enjoying a comfort food meal may be exactly what you need. 🍽️🌙
✨ August 11 | Balsamic Leo Moon + Mars in Cancer
At 3:38 am CT the Moon moves into Leo and we begin building toward the Solar Eclipse on Wednesday. We are still in the Balsamic phase though — leading up to this Solar Eclipse it is the perfect time to reflect on what you have learned since the Cancer New Moon and rest as much as you can. If things get hard, figuring out what brings you joy and doing that may be the most helpful thing. 🌙
Right before the Moon shifts, Mars enters Cancer — and this is big "Mama Bear" energy. 🐻 The shadow side is that you may find yourself taking roundabout ways to get what you want rather than going directly for it. While Mars in Cancer has you intuitively feeling what you are passionate about, it can also feel like running into a brick wall — or an ocean wave, as the case may be! Mars will be in this sign through September 27th and inside my Between the Moons membership and Substack I will break down what themes you may see based on the house or houses Cancer is in for you. 🌊
As we get closer to the end of the day it may be helpful to watch your words when it comes to potential power struggles. Mercury will be opposite Pluto today and at the Eclipse — which can look like balancing how you want to shine with your thoughts versus how you want to be seen at large. There is also a beautiful trine that Mercury will have with Neptune that could lead to some inspired ideas, and a trine from Venus to Uranus could bring some expect-the-unexpected energy around your finances or relationships. ✨
Trying to balance it all comes through tapping into your inner joy — and what makes you feel shiny and bright is exactly what the Leo Moon is giving us right now. That may look like watching your favorite comfort movie that tugs at your heartstrings or has you in full belly laugh mode. Either way — lean into it. 🦁🌙
✨ August 12 | Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon
Today is the day. The Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon peaks — and this one is unlike anything we have worked with all year.
First, a reminder about Eclipse energy — it is highly suggested not to actively try to manifest, release, or do intentional magic today. The Eclipse is already doing the work and trying to direct that much energy toward a specific goal would be like trying to grab a specific mailbox out of a tornado — you may just get the cow instead. 🌪️ Your only job today is to be present, pay attention, and trust what is unfolding. Even if it feels sudden, surprising, or unlike anything you planned for — trust it. 🌑
This is a South Node Solar Eclipse — which means the energy is clearing and releasing old identities, old ways of seeking approval, and roles you may have quietly outgrown. You do not have to figure out what those are. The Eclipse already knows. 🦁
What makes this one especially rare is the configuration surrounding it. A Mystic Rectangle, an Envelope, and Kites — all in Fire and Air signs — are happening in the same chart. This does not happen very often. The questions this energy may have bubbling up for you are things like — what feels truly creative to me right now? What or who feels like too much? What idea keeps me excited — and what belief keeps stopping me?
The Leo-Aquarius axis at the heart of this Eclipse is asking us to find the balance between our own authentic self-expression and the needs of the collective. Between shining as an individual and being part of something bigger. You do not have to choose one over the other. The Eclipse is simply asking you to notice where that balance feels off right now. 🌟
If things feel emotional, surprising, or strangely freeing today — that is the Eclipse doing exactly what it came to do. Let it. Go outside if you can. Be with people who make you feel like yourself. Do something that brings you joy. And if you feel nothing at all — that is perfectly okay too. Not every Eclipse lands on the day of. The effects can ripple out over weeks, months, and even years. 🌙
Carry this with you today:
I release the need to perform, prove, or perfect — I am enough exactly as I am, and the Universe is handling the rest. 🌑☀️🦁
Want to go deeper with this Solar Eclipse? The complete Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon guide is available for Between the Moons members and Substack paid subscribers. Inside you will find:
The full astrology breakdown including the rare Mystic Rectangle, Envelope and Kites configuration
Virgo Season overview
Eclipse Season dos and maybe nots
3 journal prompts
3 affirmations
Crystal recommendations
A 3 card spread — to be done the day AFTER the Eclipse
You can join Between the Moons on Patreon for $25 a month or subscribe to my Substack for $13 a month to access the full guide. Both can be found in the Link to All Things. I would love to have you inside! Between the Moons is posted now and Paid Substack on Tuesday 🌑☀️🌙
Or
Sign up for the Paid Substack here:
Directly following the Solar Eclipse there will be a 16 hour, 42 minute Void of Course window. This could help you soak in the Eclipse energy that is being shared with you — a natural built-in pause after such a significant moment. 🌑
✅ Great for: Meditating, Finishing up existing projects, Taking walks, Resting or napping, Creating a to-do list
🚫 Maybe skip: Starting something brand new, Making major decisions, Being hard on yourself 🤪
There is also a beautiful aspect between Mercury and Uranus in the afternoon that could bring some unexpected ideas through. If they do not make sense right away — write them down! Those are often the ones worth keeping. ✨
✨ August 13 - 14, 2026| Virgo Moon + 45 hour 56 Minute VOC
Under a Virgo Moon in Leo Season, the refinement of your creativity becomes the highlight. Those two energies do not always mesh together naturally — and that is okay. It may be helpful to think of ballet and how many repetitions of first, second, third, and fifth position a dancer practices, along with everything else that goes into that kind of dedicated work. With this happening at the beginning of a brand new Moon cycle it may feel like inspired action to organize a creative project or a space in your home. ✨
There are some beautiful aspects the Moon is making to Chiron and Mars that could lead to some healing moments along the way. Just be aware of any critical thoughts that surface — especially the ones directed at yourself. Another beautiful aspect from Mercury to Venus could inspire meaningful conversations with someone you have a relationship with — personal or professional. ❤️🩹
Then at 2:23 pm CT we enter a 45 hour, 56 minute Void of Course window that ends on Saturday at 9:19 am CT. That means Friday could feel very foggy with some expect-the-unexpected energy mixed in. If this feels uncomfortable, lean into what systems work for you — Virgo Moon loves a good system after all! With this happening at the end of the work week it could feel very natural to wrap things up and finish what you started. 🌙
✅ Great for: Meditating, Finishing up existing projects, Taking walks, Resting or napping, Creating a to-do list
🚫 Maybe skip: Starting something brand new, Making major decisions, Being hard on yourself 🤪
🌙 Closing Thoughts
What a week to be alive and paying attention. We moved through the Balsamic phase of the Cancer New Moon cycle — resting, reflecting, and integrating — and then the Leo Solar Eclipse New Moon arrived and changed everything. Not with fanfare or a to-do list. Just quietly, powerfully, and exactly on time. That is what Eclipses do. They do not ask permission. They simply move what is ready to be moved. 🌑☀️
Mars entered Cancer bringing that fierce, protective, Mama Bear energy that will be with us through September 27th. Mercury moved into Leo giving our words a little more confidence and shine. And as we close out the week under a Virgo Moon with a long Void of Course window, the invitation is to let the Eclipse energy settle. Organize something. Finish something. Rest if you need to. You do not have to have it all figured out yet — the Eclipse is still doing its work. 🌙
The Pisces Lunar Eclipse arrives on August 27th. Between now and then — simply be the observer. Notice what is moving. Notice what is shifting. Notice what is showing up that you did not plan for. That is enough. That is everything. ☀️🦁🌙
Until next week 🌑✨
With love and stardust,
Sarah
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