New Moon Solar Eclipse in Leo
Dear Friends
We have a very potent solar eclipse for the new moon in Leo tomorrow, 12th August. The Sun and Moon make their exact conjunction at 6.38pm UK time (marking the new moon), and the moment of totality of the solar eclipse is at 6.47pm. These are exciting times with the outer planets making a rare alignment, which can accelerate the process of change and transformation, and with the personal planets Venus and Mercury joining in over this eclipse to form an quite extraordinary aspect pattern. I will go into all of this more below.
Before I get into, though, I want to let you know that I am offering a Free 90-minute Webinar on The Moon’s Nodes on Tuesday 8th September at 6pm. In this webinar, I will discuss in detail the astrological meaning and significance of the nodal axis as the path of a mighty celestial dragon which discloses the deeper mystery of the Sun-Moon polarity, and the cycles of eclipses. We will explore each nodal position by sign and house, and the significance of having planets conjunct the nodes, or in square aspect to them. The webinar is free, but you need to register, in order to attend. And if you don’t think you’ll be able to make it to the live event on that day, register anyway and you will receive a recording of the webinar. Please share this with friends.
The Solar Eclipse / New Moon in Leo
So what about this eclipse? Well, a solar eclipse carries a far more intense charge than an ordinary new moon, and the energy reverberates for longer. It sets the tone for the next six months, until the next eclipse season, and it is also part of a much longer cycle that develops slowly over many years. Because solar eclipses happen on a new moon, they carry a powerful seeding energy that can grab hold of us, with an especially strong force that can act like a catalyst for change and new initiatives. So it is especially important at this time that we connect with our hearts, and with the deepest calling of our soul; that we focus our intention and set our trajectory as clearly as we can for the way that we want things to unfold going forward.
The eclipse will be visible in Europe, with an opportunity to experience the totality in Iceland, and also across parts of Northern Spain. In the UK, we will have the closest experience of totality since 1999, with an appreciable dimming of the Sun’s light especially in the far west of the country which could epxerience up to 95% totality.
Sovereignty, Courage & Authentic Leadership
These are strong times, and with this eclipse occurring in Leo, the integrity of the heart is being tested - can we stand in our love and truth, stand for what is right, even if it threatens our own comfort or security? This is the challenge of this new moon. This new moon calls for us to dig deeper than ever into our hearts, and to stand for the truth of love and sovereign expression, even in the midst of unanticipated change and upheaval. Sovereignty, courage and authentic leadership are key themes of this eclipse, and the way that we give of our hearts in a way that is replenishing of our own power and vitality, rather than exhausting of it.
Giving from the Heart of Love
Leo medicine is generous and expressive. And one of the most beneficial enquiries we can engage in over this new moon is how do we give, and what are we expressing through our giving. Is there an agenda to our giving? Or are we giving truly from the heart of love, where the joy of giving is its own reward? Is our gesture of generosity enough in and of itself, does it complete the circle of giving, or is it conditional upon recognition or favour; when we give, are we actually hanging out for the expectation that we might get something back in return? And if we are, then is this really giving at all? We can talk about give and take, and about things being fair, but if our gift is secretly loaded with “ok, now what are you going to do for me?”.
My Astrology Courses 2026-27:
I am taking enrolments for my Foundation Course in Astrology which starts on Tues 13th Oct 2026. This comprehensive astrology programme will give you all the foundational skills you need to understand the language of astrology and interpret a birth chart. It is delivery in a lively, fun way, and the learning is centred around a study of your own birth chart. The best way to understand astrology is always to apply it to yourself first!
I am also taking enrolments for my Diploma Course in Astrological Studies. It will run over nine months, starting on 10th October 2026. This is a professional training for those who have taken my foundation course (or equivalent training from another school), and is accredited by the Association of Professional Astrologers (APAI).
The Solar Eclipse Chart & Its Aspects
The Sun and Moon are making their conjunction at 20˚of Leo, so anyone with their own Sun, Moon, angles or personal planets close to this degree of Leo or the other fixed zodiac signs (Taurus, Scorpio or Aquarius) is likely feel a particularly type of intensity associated with this eclipse. And although there are no major aspects to this degree in the eclipse, we can see that there are many aspects being made between six of the other planets, all positioned in the early degrees (between 3˚-9˚) of the air and fire signs. The outer planets: Uranus (in Gemini), Neptune (in Aries) and Pluto (in Aquarius) are in the middle of their minor grand trine alignment (3˚-5˚ of their respective signs), which is really accelerating the transmission of powerful transpersonal energies. These forces can seem to be beyond the scope of human perception but nonetheless they impact us in profound ways, as these otherworldly currents of energy stream (apparently unipeded) into our consciousness in ways that can seem overwhelming or disorienting for the senses at times. It is almost as if we are being re-wired in some way, some might say upgraded, and prepared energetically for a new era of human evolution.
And into this pattern, over this eclipse, we have Venus, elegantly positioned at 4˚ Libra in her own sign, making an exact opposition to Neptune, a trine to Pluto and sextile to Uranus. So these outer planet forces are working directly through our capacity to love and relate, through our appreciation of beauty and harmony. Neptune adds a significant devotional element here, as a more transcendental experience of beauty penetrates the soul. With Uranus radical new experiences of love can break through into awareness, while Pluto compels us to look into the shadow areas and mine the dark recesses of our jealousies and attachments, poking into the uncomforatble truths around relating.
On a personal note, I am actually leading a Dance of Venus workshop at Medicine Festival this weekend, where we will be dancing the five-petalled rose pattern that she offers in devotion for the Earth every eight years. I am expecting this to be an especially heightened, powerfully heart-opening experience, so if you happen to be at this festival please come and join us (10am on Saturday morning at The Rose Temple).
And Mercury too, is involved here, as it draws close to Jupiter in Leo, keeping the basket aspect pattern in tact, with Jupiter now moving on and separating from its aspects to the outer planets. So with Mercury lining up with the outer planet aspect figure, these transpersonal energies are streaming in, not just through the heart but also through the mind, making us unusually receptive to radical new ideas (Uranus), transcendent, devotional movements of the soul (Neptune), and deep transformational encounters with power and truth (Pluto).
The Leo Mantra
This is my Leo mantra: “I am as I am, and I shine from the radiant centre of my being.”
Wishing you many blessings for this eclipse, and may your light shine bright.
All the best
John
Click here to purchase my book: Your Zodiac Soul
