august written in the stars: the most transformative manifestation month ahead

if you’ve been part of the homebody club, you may recognize this section as part of the usual monthly post. for august, i decided to do something a little different and break up the monthly homebody club into two segments. the usual almanac with all things monthly folklore will still be delivered to members, but i opted to separate the written in the stars section into it’s own free bonus post because august is such a big spiritual/ astrology month. there is a lot going on in the cosmos, and i feel called to be a vessel to share what’s going on in a digestible way, helping each of us to use this magical energy to their advantage. since beginning to draft this post, i keep seeing so many little signs and synchronicities that felt impossible to ignore, and i felt like the universe was asking me to share whats going on with others so we can all use this magical, transformative energy.

this month is all about finding your calling, letting yourself shine, and using your creative gifts, so to honour that, i wanted to make this segment free this month, so we can all enjoy it.

you don’t have to be super woo-woo to manifest or use the current energy. if you’re not super into astrology or anything, thats okay! let this post serve as a reminder to take stock of your emotional wellbeing, re-assess what you may need to release, and hone in on what dreams are quietly begging for your energy this month and for the last part of the year.

the lions gate portal peaks on 8/8 | july 26th - august 12th

the lions gate portal happens when the earth, the sun in the sign leo, and the star sirius align. in ancient egypt, the rising of sirius was considered the start of the new year. it marked the return of the flooding of the nile river, marking the start of their agricultural season. while the lions gate portal is more new-age, this point in the year was celebrated as a time of rebirth, renewal, and abundance.

the lions gate portal is believed to open a doorway of high frequency energy and a powerful time for manifestation, spiritual transformation and personal growth. the lions gate portal opened on july 26th, and closes with a bang on august 12th, the day of the new moon and total solar eclipse in leo.

the days between the lions gate portal peak of 8/8 and the eclipse on 8/12 are extremely powerful. they are the bridge between the strongest transmission of the year and the eclipse that seals it. you may notice emotions rising to the surface, more vivid dreams around this time, feel clarity, or recognize synchronicities that feel meant to be.

what this means for us, is that whatever you align and call in on 8/8 will be amplified by the eclipse. it’s pretty rare for everything to line up like this, so if you’ve been waiting for a sign: this is it.

the lions gate numerology

the number 8, when flipped is the symbol of infinity, is connected to abundance, manifestation, and inner authority. it’s the number of infinite abundance, and is considered to be the bridge between the material and spiritual realms. 8 is a pathway between the visible and invisible worlds.

when numerology appears twice (8/8) the power is doubled. 8/8 is an invitation to align your inner vision and outer actions. whether we realize it or not, we are always manifesting. you are co-creating your reality. 8/8 asks us to be more intentional with our thoughts, words, actions and vibration. recognize your creative power, and choose to co-create consciously.

8/8/2026 in numerology also adds up to 8. it's considered more rare and powerful than the regular 8/8 because we are getting a wave of abundance reinforced 3 times over.

the planetary lineup

lions gate peaks on 8/8 every year, but the planetary lineup is different each time. this year jupiter—planet of luck and growth—and the sun are both in leo. leo is all about creativity and self-expression. jupiter is placed on 8°of leo, a degree associated with creativity, artistic talent, and turning ideas into reality.

this combo is boosting our urge to create, express ourselves honestly, and take chances on what we truly want. the message: growth doesn’t come from copying someone else—it comes from fully being yourself, following your hearts desire.

the lions gate portal always peaks in the sign of the lion: leo. it offers us an invitation to embody our inner light, and be more receptive to the light you already have in your life. learn from leo and the sun—the sun shines without hesitation (thankfully, it is our life force after all), and we are also placed here to radiate our own light. self expression isn’t indulgence, it’s our responsibility. share your gifts.

let your heart sun shine.

this is the perfect time to:

• commit to a morning routine or practice that involves spending time with the sun and centres morning light

• use the beginning of the month (leo) to really embody your most authentic self, to let yourself shine without apology, and to create systems that ensure you win (virgo).

you can do this any time of the day, but ideally set aside some time in the morning sunlight for this ritual. light a candle, and pay attention to how the flame flickers and burns brightly. take a few moments to centre yourself. sit up tall, imagine your aura and energy taking up as much space as it can. place your hands on your heart and take a few deep, cleansing breaths—each one deeper than the previous.

in your journal, draw an infinity loop (8 on it’s side) with space on each side to write. on the left side, write 8 things you are ready to release. this could be anything, but for some guidance: fears, doubts, limiting beliefs, habits, stories you’ve told yourself. consider what patterns you carry that may not have even been yours to begin—the lions gate portal is a powerful time for ancestral clearing and healing.

then on the right side, write down 8 things you are calling in and manifesting. write them in present tense, and dream big. don’t ‘shop with your wallet’—the universe doesn’t have a budget, it’s fully limitless. they should feel almost too big, you want to be really releasing limiting beliefs, so trust that everything you can think of is possible.

read both lists out loud, saying “i release what is no longer mine, and i receive what has always been mine. i am open. i am ready.” sit with that, taking 8 deep breaths while you let your lists and words settle into your subconscious.

close your journal and set it in the sunlight for a few moments. keep your page to return to on august 12th for the solar eclipse.

each day between 8/8 and 8/12 are powerful, the bridge between worlds is open. each morning, sit in the sun for a few moments and reread your lists. choose one small actionable thing you can do each day that honours your receiving list.

each night, write down what arrived that day. a synchronicity you noticed, a shift in energy. these may not be big, noticeable things, eclipses announce themselves quietly at first.

on 8/12, the total solar eclipse will happen in leo, and so does the new moon.

total solar eclipse | august 12th, 2026 · leo

the sun will be in a total solar eclipse on august 12th at 11:34am to 3:57pm (et). the path of totality will only be visible for part of the north— western iceland, eastern greenland, small parts of northern russia.

despite not being visible to much of the world, the total solar eclipse is the most significant celestial event of 2026. it’s part of the new aquarius-leo eclipse series that began in february of this year, and will continue through 2028. while many of us won’t get a chance to view the solar eclipse, it’s spiritual significance will still be felt.

eclipses are often when we experience karmic beginnings and endings. they disrupt the pattern we know—the typical rhythm of darkness and light. the solar eclipse asks us to stop for a moment, look inward, and pay attention to what is trying to emerge from beneath the surface. they also ask us to confront what needs to be released for that to happen.

with this new moon and total solar eclipse, we are being asked to fully close a chapter before starting the new one. closing one door fully in order to go through the next. the positioning of this solar eclipse asks for a farewell or a sort of sacrifice. you have to let something go before letting something new in.

according to moon omens:

this eclipse marks a beginning, a powerful new chapter. you can look in your own birth chart to see what areas of your chart are ruled by leo. we each have every sign in our charts, even if you don’t see any planets in yours, so don’t be alarmed if it is empty. i’m still learning about this, so i encourage you to look up your chart. cafe astrology offers a free birth chart.

the leo eclipse will shake up your relationship with your own light, creativity, confidence, leadership and romance. it may change the parts of your life that you feel called to shine in. unexpected doors may open for creative projects, leadership roles and romance. leo is ruled by the sun, and this eclipse is an invitation to redefine what it means to lead, create, and shine. take this as an opportunity to remember how to express yourself from a place of joy, alignment, and playfulness.

astrologers actually recommend against setting intentions on the solar eclipse (which thankfully, we have already set on the 8/8 lions gate portal). instead, take this time to continue releasing and surrendering. ask yourself where you’re still playing small, where you are hiding your light, where you are limiting yourself.

the solar eclipse in leo and then the partial lunar eclipse in pisces later in the month offer us an interruption in the familiar light. it’s a pause that is long enough to reveal that our usual ways of seeing may have hidden. eclipses have always felt mysterious, a reminder that darkness can arrive even in the middle of the brightest day.

let this eclipse be your reminder that being seen is sometimes performance. many of us have learned to show up in the way that feels the most palatable. we shape ourselves to be rewarded, accepted, understood, to avoid conflict. who we are and who we present can drift apart, and that distance starts to blend in until we no longer notice. ask yourself where you have mistaken visibility for authenticity. let that answer unfold over the coming days.

surrounding the solar eclipse you may notice:

• coincidences that feel like they add up to something

• a feeling compelling you to shift paths

• a creative renaissance—remember your creative gifts and talents

• good luck that puts you on a more creative course

what begins now will unfold over the next 6 months or so, possibly longer. the effects will be at play until the january 2027 full moon in leo. but then there’s also kind of a lasting effect because there is another solar eclipse in leo in august 2027, which will carry that energy through the february 2028 leo full moon. basically, the next 6 months will be transformative, and the effects will continue through the next year and a half.

the new moon | august 12th, 2026 · 1:36 p.m ET · leo

we already talked about the significance of the solar eclipse which happens on the day of the new moon. but the new moon is also a day of spiritual significance that happens every month. the new moon occurs when the sun and moon align at the same time, starting a new lunar cycle. this alignment represents an emotional, mental and energetic reset.

astrologically, new moons initiate new beginnings and plant seeds that will unfold over the coming 6 months. the sign of the new moon gives us a clue on how to begin or what area of our lives may be asking for renewal. spiritually, new moons represent soul intention, creation through alignment, and intuition. on the new moon we are asked to listen more than act, align before we initiate anything, and pay attention to our feelings and intuition before we make decisions.

new moons support:

• releasing old emotional cycles

• setting intentions

• beginning new habits or relationships

• resetting

• choosing a frequency

leo is a fire sign whose energy is all about creative self-expression, joy, leadership, and courage. with this being an eclipse new moon, the new moon energy is amplified and new beginnings are intensified.

the leo new moon is a powerful time to reconnect with your inner light. dream big, express yourself creatively, and have the courage to share your gifts with the world.

because the solar eclipse is actually not a great time to set intentions, and we just set our intentions with the 8/8 portal, this new moon is about affirming what we already feel sure of, and honouring our own inner light. sit in a quiet, peaceful spot and spend some time imagining how you want to feel as your dreams come true. assume they already will be coming true (because they will!) and visualize how confident and at peace you will feel. imagine the abundance that will come with with each dream becoming reality.

over the next month, keep a journal to record your affirmations, creative ideas, any synchronicities you notice, and milestones as they unfold. leo reminds us that manifestation isn’t about sitting and waiting for the magic to happen, but rather that we can create the magic by having enough courage in ourselves to pursue it.

vision boarding

on the day of the new moon, spend a little bit of time creating a new vision board. it doesn’t have to be big or totally different from the one you may have made in january, just take some time to reassess what still aligns and feels like a dream that belongs to you vs what doesn’t anymore. focus on goals related to career, personal growth, home, and creative endeavours. ideally make a physical version so you can put the vision board up in a place where you will see it often.

the full moon | august 28th, 2026 · 12:18am ET · pisces

the august full moon is called the sturgeon moon, named after the fish of the great lakes. this freshwater fish was abundant during this part of the summer, and was a food staple for native americans who lived in the area. the sturgeon full moon carries themes of resilience, release, and breaking through—much like the fish jumping and breaking through the surface of the water. the august full moon also represents the transition into harvest season, another shift in nature is upon us.

the energy of the sturgeon moon:

• power

• strength

• release

• break throughs

• flourishing

• resilience

the full moon is a culmination of whatever seeds you planted during the new moon. this time, the pisces full moon is occurring with a partial total eclipse—the 6th of a set of 7 along the virgo-pisces axis. this set began in september 2024, and will end in february 2027. as the 6th in the set, this partial eclipse can serve as a further invitation to make improvements in virgo and pisces ruled areas in our lives and birth charts. definitely look into yours and what they mean or areas in your life that they represent. in general, virgo is very logical and planned, and pisces is very dreamy and intuitive. it’s an interesting balance for sure.

pisces is a deeply spiritual sign, known as the most intuitive of the zodiac. this full moon in pisces dissolves the boundaries between the seen and unseen worlds—our real, physical world, and the “invisible” world of intuition, dreams, emotions. much like with the solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse, even a partial one, amplifies the themes and energy of the full moon.

so this month we have the lions gate portal, a new moon and solar eclipse, and a full moon with partial lunar eclipse. meaning each of these already spiritual times are amplified.

pisces lunar eclipses are some of the most spiritually significant events in astrology, illuminating themes of faith, surrender, intuition, compassion and artistic expression. on the virgo-pisces axis, we are asked to balance the practical everyday reality with our spirituality and creative dreams. don’t just dream it, make plans and take action to be it.

with this being the sturgeon full moon in pisces, there is a lot of fish and water symbolism going on. consider what may be rising up from the deep within you or your life. what is ready to leap up from the water? the pisces moon is watery and fluid—it softens edges and dissolves boundaries.

this moon carries themes of:

• heightened dreams

• psychic sensitivity and divination

• creativity

• compassion

• intuition

• emotional healing

crystals for the full moon in pisces:
amethyst (pisces birth stone, spiritual connector), selenite (calm, clarity, peace, protective), moonstone(intuition, psychic receptivity), aquamarine (courage, clarity, soothes eclipse emotions).

for the pisces full moon, we are going to lean fully into the watery energy. draw a bath, and add some sea salt for cleansing (you don’t need a lot! don’t dry out your skin). set your crystals around the bath. as you soak, imagine the moonlight washing over you, dissolving anything you need to release. let your mind wander, pisces eclipses communicate through dreams and feeling rather than words, so pay attention to any images that come up. after your bath, wrap yourself in something cozy, and write down your visualizations in your journal. empty the bath, and watch as the water circles the drain, imagining it carrying everything you released away with it.

so that’s the magical month of august ahead of us, as written in the stars. don’t let it feel overwhelming. you don’t need to do everything perfectly. the energy is here regardless, and with a little intention you can make it yours. take what works for you, leave the rest. you can make your manifestation practice anything you want it to be.

i truly hope this post finds you right when you need it. my wish for you is that all your hopes and dreams come true. that you will trust your intuition, let go of any fears and doubts, and let yourself shine.

with love, kyla

pss. if you feel called to share, what would letting yourself really shine this month look like?

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