Solar Eclipse in Leo

By Alex Miller

Another Solar Eclipse is set to rock our world, with all its attendant drama and dis-easement.  These events typically occur twice a year, roughly every six months, rolling gradually backwards through the zodiac in the inexorable march of time.  Eclipses poke and prod, devastate and elevate, and in general produce major change, especially for those of us with chart points connected to the eclipse degree.

The August 12, 2026 meeting of the Sun and Moon (at 20 Leo) coincides with another of the Kite (1) formations that have dominated the skies for months, and is tangentially connected to it.  Astrology is the study of wheels within wheels, and while the eclipse has a focus of its own, the leading patterns of the day will help to determine how it manifests.

In general, a Solar Eclipse in Leo will highlight matters of children, entertainment, the pursuit of pleasure, creativity and self-expression, and romance.  As with all Signs, Leo has a wide scope, and while these themes may emerge prominently in the news, where, how and to whom the eclipse expresses most strongly will be determined by its individual chart placement.

The base of the Kite pattern currently in effect involves Pluto (3 Aquarius), ruling change and transformation; Neptune (4 Aries), ruling spirituality and illusion; and Uranus (6 Gemini), ruling disruption and upheaval, each sextile (60 degrees) to the next, with a trine (120 degrees) linking first and last.  These are in stable relationship for months, and whenever another celestial body travels through early Libra, the Kite is formed, shifting these rather somnolent, not to say benign, linkages into high gear.  At this time, the triggering planet is Venus (5 Libra), which is also exactly semisquare (45 degrees) the eclipse, providing a natural funnel through which to syphon some its energies.  Venus lends an air of grace and favor to the proceedings, but also connects to finances, relationships, and values, all of which are subject to disruption by the linked Kite and eclipse.

A second Kite is formed from the Grand Trine (2) of Venus, Uranus and Pluto in Air Signs, comprised of an opposition (180 degrees) from Pluto to Mercury (6 Leo) and Jupiter (9 Leo).  Volubility is the mixed blessing and curse of this combination, encouraging fluency and continuity in communication (Mercury-ruled), but at the risk of over-sharing, TMI and ceaseless chatter.  The presence of Jupiter here suggests considerable discussion and debate over issues of foreign policy and international relations, and given Venus’ connection to diplomacy, we may see some efforts at resolving ongoing conflicts such as that between Russia and Ukraine, and the US/Israeli war on Iran.

On that note, we might pause here and take a look at how the Solar Eclipse will impact the charts of those leaders and nation states involved in these conflicts.

For the US (3), the eclipse falls semisquare to the nation’s Venus (3 Cancer)/Jupiter (5 Cancer) pairing, and with both these planets relating to money (Venus is said to rule the thousands, and Jupiter the millions), we might find adjustments in financial markets like the Dow Jones.  Diplomacy (Venus) and foreign affairs (Jupiter) are also highlighted.

US President Donald Trump (4) also has a point in that region, also semisquare the eclipse, which is Mercury.  The eclipse is further semisquare his natal Neptune (5 Libra), bringing out the tense square between them, which, at this stage of Trump’s life, could well manifest as mental (Mercury) deterioration (Neptune).  It’s a charge seemingly not unfounded, with apparent increased detachment from political and financial realties in the US, and rhetoric (Mercury) which is clearly illusionary and fraudulently deceptive (Neptune).

For Israel (5), the US’ goad and partner in this war, the eclipse conjoins Saturn (16 Leo), squared (90 degrees) its Sun (23 Taurus).  This suggests a change in government and leadership (Saturn) may be forthcoming, possibly a preview of the country’s general election in late October, when all seats in the Knesset are on the ballot, and a new governing coalition will be formed, perhaps ousting the current administration.  That there may be shocks to the system in store for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (6) is seen in the eclipse’s semisquare to his natal Uranus (4 Cancer), ruler of shocks, surprises, revolts and rebellions, including those at the ballot box.

Iran’s (7) eclipse connection comes in the form of a conjunction with its Ascendant (17 Leo), exactly squared Uranus (20 Scorpio).  Iran’s public image (Ascendant) is already in flux, with the initial US bombings in February killing its Supreme Leader, now replaced by his son, an even more hardline, reactionary figure.  The US and Israel were hoping that their applied pressure would lead to rebellion (Uranus) by Iran’s people, but has instead led to a more extreme (also Uranus) version of leadership.

Moving on to the other major military struggle on the planet, which is becoming enmeshed in the Iran war and threatening to coalesce into one conflict (with Russia reportedly aiding Iran with satellite intelligence about US troop movements, and Iran reciprocating with drone technologies for Moscow to challenge Ukraine’s dominance of this battlefield), we find the eclipse conjoined Russia’s (8) Ascendant (21 Leo) and sesquiquadrate (135 degrees) its Sun, indicating that both the country’s public face and image (Ascendant), and its essential core makeup (Sun) are in flux and subject to major revision.  For Russian President Vladimir Putin (9), the eclipse conjoins Pluto (22 Leo) and squares Jupiter (19 Taurus), threatening his political (Jupiter) power (Pluto).

Ukraine (10) is also under the eclipse gun, with a similar Jupiter (25 Leo)/Pluto (17 Scorpio) square highlighted, also activating Ukraine’s Midheaven (20 Scorpio) exactly, suggesting a focus on its reputation, status, and place in the world, now emerging as a leader in drone warfare.  In addition, a T-Square (11) is formed with Ukraine’s Moon (22 Aquarius) in opposition (180 degrees), representing the populace that has suffered under this war for four and a half years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (12) reflects some of this same energy, with the eclipse conjunct his natal Moon (17 Leo) exactly opposed his Midheaven (20 Aquarius), in a T-Square with Uranus, perhaps an allusion to the advanced drone technologies (Uranus) that are enabling his nation to fight back so successfully.  The activation of Uranus also suggests a shock for Zelenskyy, as for Netanyahu, perhaps in the form of damage to his reputation (Midheaven) and a popular (Moon) revolt (Uranus) of some type, in reaction to his leadership.

Notes: (1) A Kite is a special type of Grand Trine, with one or more points opposing one of the three primary Grand Trine points.  The point in opposition is termed the “String,” and guides the operation and manifestation of the Kite itself.

(2) A Grand Trine is a pattern comprised of three or more points, all equidistant from each other by 120 degrees.  It denotes special gifts or opportunities, but may need a “trigger” in the form of a transit to activate its potential.

(3) United States of America, 4 July 1776, at 5:10 PM LMT in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

(4) Donald Trump, 14 June 1946, 10:54 AM EDT, Queens, NY, USA

(5) Israel, 14 May 1948, 4 PM EET, Tel Aviv, Israel

(6) Benjamin Netanyahu, 21 October 1949, 10:30 AM IDT, Tel Aviv, Israel

(7) Iran, 1 April 1979, 3 PM GMT, Tehran, Iran

(8) Russia, 25 December 1991, 5:19 PM GMT, Moscow, Russia

(9) Vladimir Putin, 17 October 1952, no time available

(10) Ukraine, 24 August 1991, 6 PM local time, Kyiv, Ukraine

(11) A T-Square is a dynamic pattern composed of two or more planets in opposition (180 degrees), each squared (90 degrees) a third.  It represents stress and conflict, with the fulcrum point (at the square) offering a possibility of resolution.

(12) Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 25 January 1978, 2 PM local time, Krivoj Roc, UA

Sources: chart data from serennu.com

Title Image Credit: drawn by Chat GPT