The Shadow of the Eclipse
Sunday, August 2 - Monday, August 31, 2026
The “shadow of the eclipse” begins ten days before the first eclipse of a pairing (eclipses usually come in pairs, although threesomes aren’t uncommon), and lasts until three days after the last one.
First thing to note is that the only unaffected day is August 1 - I am personally going to make sure all my bills are paid that day!
Traditional astrologers are very cautious (let’s say) about eclipse season. They advise us not to schedule anything important during these times. Unfortunately, we live in 2026, and we can’t always take an entire month off, just because our local stargazer advises us to do it. So just be aware that anything we start during August is liable to go haywire, and in unexpected ways.
That said - you all know I’m old, right? I can look at a list of eclipses over the past 60-odd years and tell you that some of them affected me, and some didn’t. It’s partly because we have to be very strict about what type of aspect we use (conjunctions only), and about orbs (exact only). Some sources get even stricter: if you have something at 19°59’, and the eclipse is at 20°01’ of the same sign, that doesn’t count.
But even then, even when I’ve had an exact conjunction between a natal placement and an eclipse, I haven’t always felt anything unusual or had anything drastic happen. Maybe if I had prominent Cancer &/or 4th House energy, that would be a different story?
Astrologer Bernadette Brady, in her book The Eagle and the Lark, has valuable interpretive guidelines for eclipses. Her description for this upcoming pair gives me hope:
This Saros Series concerns itself with breaking out of a very negative situation where no hope can be seen to a more positive space containing many options. A worry that may have been affecting a person will suddenly clear. The solution is shown by the Cosmos and needs to be taken up without too much delay.
(Every USian reading that: “oh please oh please oh please” 🙏🏻🤞🏻)
The actual dates are:
New Moon/Solar Eclipse: Wednesday, August 12, 17:37 UTC, 20°02’ Leo (and yes, the Moon goes void of course immediately following)
Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse: Friday, August 28, 04:18 UTC, 4°54’ Pisces (with the Moon going void later that day)
So, be alert and aware, but don’t let yourself get swept up in the drama. Ground and center; breathe; hydrate and take your vitamins as usual.
