August 2026

Three Big Things

Three major patterns shape this month's sky:

1) The Outer-Planet Minor Grand Trine ("MGT"): A long-running link between Neptune, Pluto, and Uranus facilitates cooperation across the outer planets for the next couple of years, gradually fading. Neptune in Aries is at the center (the “apex”), forming sextiles with Pluto in Aquarius and Uranus in Gemini. It’s world-shaping, but also slow. Geometrically, this makes an isosceles triangle, with two equal-length sides. I'll refer to this pattern as the MGT.

2) Eclipse Season: Eclipses are turning points, moments when the usual heavenly momentum pauses and something concludes or comes to light. Plot twists, crises, and new emphases grab attention. This month's eclipses fall along the Virgo/Pisces and Leo/Aquarius axis.

3) Jupiter Trine Saturn: Growth (Jupiter) and structure (Saturn) are cooperating, making this a supportive stretch for lasting progress. Jupiter and Saturn were closely aspected last fall, from Cancer to Pisces. Their exact trine perfects this month from Leo to Aries, and two more peaks follow in 2027. It's best understood as a two-year transit rather than a single event.

Jupiter represents growth, expansion, optimism, and good fortune, along with themes of justice, law, honor, and dignity. Saturn represents boundaries, responsibility, and the patient work of building something durable; it's associated with hard work and, at times, melancholy. When these two planets form a trine, they cooperate rather than compete: barriers fall away, and progress feels smoother and faster than usual.

I wrote extensively about the Jupiter-Saturn cycle and the trine in October 2025. Read more about the earlier phase.

August at a Glance

06 Sun in Leo trine Saturn in Aries; Venus enters Libra

09 Mercury enters Leo

10 Venus trine Pluto & opposite Neptune

11 Mars enters Cancer; Mercury opposite Pluto & trine Neptune; Venus trine Uranus

12 Total Solar Eclipse at 20° Leo; Mercury sextile Uranus

13 Mercury sextile Venus

15 Mercury conjunct Jupiter

17 Mars square Neptune; Mercury trine Saturn; Venus sextile Jupiter

21 Venus opposite Saturn

22 Sun crosses the South Node in Leo & enters Virgo

25 Mercury crosses the South Node in Leo & enters Virgo

27 Mercury conjunct Sun in Virgo; Lunar Eclipse at 5° Pisces

28 Mercury and the Sun square Uranus

31 Jupiter in Leo trine Saturn in Aries

Aug 1–8

The lunar cycle is winding down after a dramatic Full Moon on July 29, which highlighted the Jupiter-Pluto opposition and fed into the MGT, adding a fourth point to create a basket or cradle pattern. Venus in Virgo square Mars in Gemini added extra friction.

In the first few days of August, the Moon reactivates these transits like a lingering July hangover, while the centaur Chiron stations retrograde in the first degree of Taurus. Expect market volatility as the Moon moves into Taurus on Tuesday and highlights Chiron. There may be news about food, money, or other material resources.

On Wednesday, the Moon squares Pluto, Jupiter, and the Sun. Thursday afternoon brings some relief as Venus moves into Libra, the Moon sextiles Mercury, and the Sun trines Saturn.

Your move: Clear your calendar this month, as much as possible, and use eclipse season as an excuse to rest. It's hot, it's tiring, and you may feel a bit hopeless, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Avoid reactive decisions. Stick to your long-term strategy and wait to see what the coming weeks reveal.

Aug 9–15

Mercury is picking up speed as it moves into Leo, and both Mercury and Venus will activate the MGT's outer planets this week. Venus in Libra goes first, opposite Neptune and trine Pluto and Uranus. Then Mercury in Leo follows a similar path, opposing Pluto, trine Neptune, and sextile Uranus, just as the Solar Eclipse hits on August 12 at 12:36 pm (20° Leo). The week closes with Mercury conjunct Jupiter, amplifying big ideas and bold voices.

Your move: Master astrologer Bernadette Brady has encouraging words about this month's Solar Eclipse based on her years of studying eclipse patterns. She suggests that it can mean breaking out of a seemingly hopeless situation into a more open, options-filled space. A lingering worry may suddenly clear, and once the solution appears, it's best acted on without much delay.

Aug 16–22

Mars squares Neptune on Monday, reactivating the MGT. It's a challenging combination. Mars brings force and speed, and Neptune can represent water, oil, or drugs in mundane astrology. Together they can point toward forceful or even volatile situations rooted in deception or misunderstanding. The Moon's link with Venus in Libra offers some counterweight, perspective, and calm.

Meanwhile, Venus and Mercury connect Jupiter and Saturn, feeding their budding trine. On Saturday, the Sun crosses the South Node into Virgo.

Your move: Given the eclipse energy and Mars-Neptune tension, expect lower energy and possible trouble with motivation or focus. There's also room for peace, joy, and pleasant diversions, so make it a priority to spend time with people and things that restore you.

Aug 23–31

Mercury crosses the South Node into Virgo on Tuesday, catching up with the Sun by Thursday's Lunar Eclipse (5° Pisces, 11:18 pm). Right after the eclipse, the Moon, Mercury, and the Sun in Virgo square Uranus, reactivating the MGT once more. The eclipse chart pairs the dreamy Moon in Pisces against the cautious, practical Sun and Mercury in Virgo, with wild-card Uranus in Gemini complicating things further.

On Friday and Saturday, the Moon goes “void of course” for an unusually long stretch; this can be a good window for quieter, under-the-radar moves.

Finally, on Monday, August 31, Jupiter and Saturn form the first of three exact trines, at 14° Leo and Aries. You may or may not notice the theme directly today. It’s a year-long transit, and the impact may be easier to spot in hindsight.

Your move: Postpone detail-heavy tasks. Give yourself room to BE: mind your basic health habits, and create unstructured time to let your mind wander and jot down ideas. It's an excellent stretch for brainstorming, vision-boarding, and exploring possibilities, but not for executing a precise plan or balancing the books. Watch for overstimulation, exhaustion, and mood swings, since Pisces eclipses tend to be slippery, sleepy, and disorienting.

Golden Hours (Central Time)

Aug 7: The Moon in Gemini forms supportive, flowing aspects with several other planets: a great day for spontaneity and conversation.

Roam if you want to, roam around the world - The B-52s

Aug 8: Good for chores, nothing too complex, but a little of this and a little of that. A solid day for running errands.

Aug 28–29: A distinctive quiet stretch, with little planetary activity Friday afternoon through Saturday: the Moon is void, and no other aspects form until Monday. It may be a welcome pause, and a good opportunity to do something “under the radar” if you need to move without much attention.

Personal Forecasts Available

Astrology is both collective and personal. While you experience these planetary patterns as a world citizen, each person has a unique experience based on the context of your natal chart. If you're interested in exploring personal dynamics, book a session.

If you're in New Orleans, join me for Astrology Night on August 7.

You can sign up for the August 10 New Moon Webinar from anywhere! It is virtual, and a free bonus for Jupiter tier subscribers.

Check my Event Calendar for other opportunities to connect.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay safe!