July 26th/The week ahead: Melancholy. Today, Saturn turns retrograde in the sign of Pisces. Saturn will be retrograde from July 26th to December 10th. This shift puts a strong Saturn energy around the coming week. Saturn, specially in Pisces, promotes a sense of melancholy. So we are thinking a lot about the past, how things used to be and what we liked about it. Mundane, the combination of this Saturn and the Full Moon on Wednesday (29th) can bode for some interesting developments or strong declarations.
August comes very energetic this year. We have the second round of Eclipses for 2026 this month, something big on its own. But we also have some other interesting trends, continued from July, coming into play this month. Notably, the Uranus-Neptune-Pluto alignment happening right now.
This aspect promotes major change and volatility in the world. It is a long term influence, with us for the next few years. It becomes important when in a tighter orb (and stronger), as it is right now and for the coming months. The combination of this influence, and the Eclipses, this month can lead to a very notable moment.
Going into some other points, and stealing a bit from my July Predictions:
The Full Moon this month, on the 29th, will happen in the nakshatra Shravana. This star relates to hearing, listening and receiving messages. This Full Moon will be conjunct Pluto and opposing Jupiter. Also forming aspects to Neptune and Uranus. Overall, this can be a trigger similarly to the Jupiter aspects on the 20th. It can be a time of powerful declarations and conflict between major players in the world.
Finally, the last point about July will be Venus entering Virgo on the very tail end of the 31st. Virgo is the weakest sign for Venus, being the point of debilitation for the planet. This can promote disagreements, conflict and a hard time finding compromise or common ground.
Venus will be in Virgo from July 31st up until September 2nd, so the entire month of August will be englobed by issues of disagreement. Something to look forward? Notably, this will not be the best moment for negotiations or agreements.
Besides saving myself some time, I bring back these two points for their importance. First, the Full Moon remains an important influence in the first weeks of August. So these developments or powerful declarations can happen in early August.
Second, the Venus in Virgo factor is an important one, as it tends to promote disagreements. So discord, conflict and quarrells can arise a lot this coming month. Third, the combination of the two can show a month of conflicts and trouble.
Events in August 2026
- 29/07/2026 10:36 Full Moon in Shravana 12°16’16” Capricorn
- 31/07/2026 23:58 Venus in Virgo
- 02/08/2026 13:22 Mars in Gemini
- 03/08/2026 15:48 Chiron retro 06°38’08” Aries
- 06/01/2027 07:55 Chiron direct 02°01’37” Aries
- 05/08/2026 10:24 Mercury in Cancer
- 06/08/2026 22:44 Sun trine Saturn exact 20°24’37” Cancer 20°24’37” Pisces R
- 10/08/2026 14:09 Venus trine Pluto exact 09°43’09” Virgo 09°43’09” Capricorn R
- 10/08/2026 18:02 Venus opposition Neptune exact 09°52’45” Virgo 09°52’45” Pisces R
- 11/08/2026 17:50 Mars trine Rahu exact 06°08’11” Gemini 06°08’11” Aquarius R
- 11/08/2026 21:20 Mercury opposition Pluto exact 09°41’24” Cancer 09°41’24” Capricorn R
- 11/08/2026 23:39 Mercury trine Neptune exact 09°51’27” Cancer 09°51’27” Pisces R
- 11/08/2026 23:46 Venus trine Uranus exact 11°05’49” Virgo 11°05’49” Taurus
- 12/08/2026 13:46 Solar Eclipse in Ashlesha 25°54′ Cancer
- 12/08/2026 16:48 Mercury sextile Uranus exact 11°06’50” Cancer 11°06’50” Taurus
- 13/08/2026 12:23 Mercury sextile Venus exact 12°34’58” Cancer 12°34’58” Virgo
- 15/08/2026 07:23 Mercury conjunct Jupiter exact 15°55’09” Cancer
- 16/08/2026 22:29 Sun in Leo
- 17/08/2026 05:53 Mars square Neptune exact 09°45’31” Gemini 09°45’31” Pisces R
- 17/08/2026 11:27 Mercury trine Saturn exact 20°07’03” Cancer 20°07’03” Pisces R
- 17/08/2026 12:16 Venus sextile Jupiter exact 16°23’59” Virgo 16°23’59” Cancer
- 21/08/2026 08:43 Venus opposition Saturn exact 19°57’55” Virgo 19°57’55” Pisces R
- 22/08/2026 10:02 Mercury in Leo
- 22/08/2026 17:01 Sun opposition Rahu exact 05°33’19” Leo 05°33’19” Aquarius R
- 25/08/2026 02:58 Mercury opposition Rahu exact 05°25’38” Leo 05°25’38” Aquarius R
- 27/08/2026 13:04 Sun conjunct Mercury exact 10°13’03” Leo 10°13’03” Leo
- 28/08/2026 00:13 Lunar Eclipse in Shatabishak 10°37′ Aquarius
- 28/08/2026 03:25 Mercury square Uranus exact 11°23’14” Leo 11°23’14” Taurus
- 28/08/2026 18:19 Sun square Uranus exact 11°23’39” Leo 11°23’39” Taurus
- 31/08/2026 18:17 Jupiter trine Saturn exact 19°27’09” Cancer 19°27’09” Pisces R
Finally, getting into some August factors, we have Mars entering Gemini. It is not the best sign for Mars, also not the worst. But Mars in Gemini promotes energy and enthusiasm in the sign that always has energy, enthusiasm and curiosity. This influence can promote exploring, discovering and learning.
Mundane, Mars in Gemini promotes intellectual fighting. This can deal with prominent debates, social media quarrels and discussions.
Another interesting point is the double factor of Venus in Virgo and Mars in Gemini, promoting passion in both of the mercurial signs. There is a strong Mercury factor in the air this month. It is a strong moment for communication and learning.
Around the 8th-13th, we will have Venus aligning with the outer planets, already in their own previously mentioned alignment. So those dates can be an important trigger for events, as well as time for passionate discussions and strong feelings. This is even more notable as we will have a Solar Eclipse on the 12th, very close to this aspect.
The Solar Eclipse will happen at 25° Cancer, in the nakshatra of Ashlesha, on the 12th. The Eclipse will happen with a trine to Saturn, which will add color to the already strong energies of Ashlesha. This star deals with trickery, deceit, scams, vengeance, poisoning and medical matters.
Affecting both Europe and North America, this Solar Eclipse could deal with strong political clashes and turmoil. Changes in power, specially in parliament or similar government branches are a possibility now.
Another possibility, that some astrologers might highlight, is some kind of medical emergency or new disease. Personally, I don’t think this will be it, but I find it worth mentioning so you can understand the mindset behind those claiming this.
The post-Eclipse haste will have some exciting days around the 16th and 17th. The Sun will enter Leo, with a gandanta transition between Cancer and Leo. This can lead to emotional outbursts and a complicated day. Similarly, the 17th will have an exact square between Mars and Neptune. This can show misguided action, cowardly attacks and passive aggressive trends. Again, this goes along with other mentioned points about conflict in August.
The middle and final portion of the month are mostly a build up, with the in-between of the Solar and Lunar Eclipses. It’s a tricky period to describe. Could it be an eventful moment? Maybe. Mostly, there will be a sense of anxiety and tension, with some uncertainties and shocks along the way.
The Lunar Eclipse will happen at 10° Aquarius, in the nakshatra of Shatabishak, on the 28th. This is an interesting Eclipse, as at 10° it will align with the outer planets also around these same degrees. Uranus specially will sit at the mid-point of the Eclipse. This puts a strong Uranian energy for this Lunar Eclipse.
This can promote change, transformation, sudden and unexpected developments. Late August and early September can be a clear moment of change and shock in the world.
Summary
Mundane
As with any time Eclipses happen, August can be a hectic and surprising month. Eclipses are the big triggers of transformation in astrology, so the month ahead can be a very volatile time in the world. Along for the ride, we have the Uranus-Neptune-Pluto alignment that I discussed last month, which similarly shows a key moment of change in the world.
Early August has the power of a Full Moon combined with the relational issues of Venus in Virgo, so it can be a time of disagreements, broken commitments and overall problems relating to others. Diplomatic issues, big aggressive declarations and overall conflict can be triggered through this.
Around the 12th, with the Solar Eclipse, in a very political star we can have prominent political clashes coming into play. Medical issues can also be prominent around then.
The combination of Mars in Gemini and Venus in Virgo can lead to a very discourse heavy month. This shows fighting through words. So expect big declarations, bluster, strong debates and public clashes.
As most of August is in-between Eclipses, there can be some sense of tension and anxiety, with a lot of volatility and change along the way. The 28th, with the Lunar Eclipse can end the month on a feisty note, with unusual developments and some shocks.
Notable dates in August:
- 3rd
- 8th
- 10th
- 11th-12th
- 16th-17th
- 21st
- 28th
Personal
On a personal level, this is the final round of Eclipses with Rahu in Aquarius, this transit is all about unlocking our inner rebel. This end of 2026 has this urge for change. We want to take bold steps, make moves that usually seem uncomfortable to us, and overall break free from restrictions.
The Solar Eclipse, on the 12th, can deal a lot with a shock or something that forces us to see the world in a different way.
The Lunar Eclipse, on the 28th, can also deal with shocks; but in a more mellow way. It’s more about breaking free and growing, rather than being surprised. In a way, creating your own shock rather than just watching one happen.
With Venus in Virgo and Mars in Gemini we have a strong cerebral energy in the air. This is a great month to think, analyze and exercise our intellect. Writing or journalling are great aides now.
Finally, I recommend checking my guide to Eclipses so that you can see if any of your planets will be affected by the August Eclipses.
Note
I just made an editorial discussing some of the current mundane factors, giving a wider outlook than just the month ahead. A recommended reading.
Also check back later in the month, as I will make more detailed texts on the coming Eclipses.
We are more than due for an editorial, it’s been a while. I usually do these inside my monthly predictions, but this time I have so much to discuss, that I think it deserves a standalone post. This text is, in a way, a continuation and review of my 2026 Predictions published last December, as well as some new insights.
On Astrology Itself
Astrology is in a bad moment.
Saturn in Pisces transit:
29/03/2025 until 02/06/2027
19/10/2027 until 23/02/2028
Saturn always puts a damp on whichever sign it touches. Pisces rules spirituality, imagination, meditation, other worlds and this openness to the unusual. Naturally, astrology has taken a downturn, along with religion and similar subjects. I notice this from my own enthusiasm, as well as the repercussion of astrology in general with others.
As with any transit, it shall pass. And we will see an improvement in these Pisces subjects, specially in 2028.
As a side-note, I can already smell someone reading this and nodding negatively, “Aquarius is the sign of astrology, not Pisces“. Kinda. Maybe. It Depends. Not really.
Aquarius deals mostly with the scientific method, the pursuit, practice and usage of astrology. All important things. But Pisces shows the actual enjoyment, dealing with the absorption of spiritual knowledge or openness to hearing it.
In a way, Aquarius deals mostly with the astrologers themselves, while Pisces deals with the complete process. The astrologer, the person getting advice, and the exchange between them.
Looking back, I’d say that 2023-2024, with Saturn in Aquarius was the height of low quality astrology. People complain about AI slop, but human slop is unsurmountable. I remember getting sent TikTok and Instagram astrology content, around that time, and it was all utter junk. Stuff made for clicks, based on nothing but the fact that those people needed to create some content for their profiles.
Why was that? Saturn restricts. Aquarius is the scientific method or proper practice. The birth of slop! Similarly, as Saturn in Pisces reduced the profitability of this, many of these profiles have moved on into other projects or the next big thing. Saturn in Aquarius made it harder to practice and make it, Saturn in Pisces makes it harder to profit from it.
Le monde aujourd’hui: The World
Obviously, we have a few wars going on. The ongoing Ukraine War, as well as the new Iran War.
Starting from the already discussed Saturn, we move into a new sign, Aries. On one hand, Saturn tends to restrict. On the other hand, Saturn is debilitated in Aries, which can create the opposite effect of excesses in regards to Aries subjects.
Looking back at the last Saturn in Aries transit, around 1998-2000, we had some notable conflict like the Kosovo War. The years after the transit saw more wars, and more notable wars, like Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.
Through that, I’d say that we are likely to see more conflict in the coming years, specially in 2028. I believe it will be something new, not necessarily the two mentioned in the beginning.
But on them, and more into the present, next month we have the second round of Eclipses for 2026. A Solar Eclipse on the 12th of August, and a Lunar Eclipse on the 28th.
Eclipses are big triggers for world affairs. A recent example was last September, after the Lunar Eclipse on the 7th we were all shocked with the Charlie Kirk assassination.
For next month, the Solar Eclipse will happen Ashlesha a star that deals a lot with trickery and deceit. That eclipse will also happen with a trine to Saturn. A traumatizing event can come out of this influence, in my view.
The next Lunar Eclipse, later in the month, will happen at 10° Aquarius. Remember how I mentioned in my July Predictions about the importance of these 10° right now? Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all transiting around those degrees in their respective signs now; forming an alignment.
During the Lunar Eclipse, Pluto and Neptune will both be around 9°, while Uranus will be at 11°. Not exactly 10°, but still very close. Uranus sits in Taurus, so it will be in the mid-point between the Sun and the Moon during the Lunar Eclipse.
As Uranus deals with changing and uprooting, this Lunar Eclipse can be an important trigger. Themes of isolation, disease and healing will be prominent under this influence. There is a strong outcast or outsider energy being promoted. Unusual results, or unusual change, can arise around this Lunar Eclipse.
Trump
For a key figure in all of this, Trump, things are a mixed bag. First of all the Ketu transit in Leo is hard, with him being a Leo ascendant. Ketu in the 1st promotes a downturn in life, specially in regards to public image and perception. For Leos, specially, Ketu is a very complicated transit; as it gets in the way of the bluster and personality associated with them.
Ketu entered Leo on May 18th 2025, and it will transit there until December 5th 2026. For Trump, there was a clear downturn for him when this transit started, specially in June 2025. Broken promises and a broken base all led to major issues starting around then.
The coming Lunar Eclipse, at 10° Aquarius, will affect his 6° Leo ascendant. So a major development can happen in the coming weeks/months.
Still, there is a mixed bag, with some upturns for him in the longer term. Jupiter will enter Leo on Halloween (Oct 31st), staying there until January 24th next year. Jupiter brings luck, good fortune and general upturns in the 1st house. Similarly, as noted above, the negative Ketu transit will end in early December.
So you remove one negative and you add a positive, this tends to show some upturns for him around the coming December-January period.
Mars and Venus
On September 18th, Mars will enter Cancer. This is the sign of debilitation for Mars, promoting a weak behavior for the planet. This can deal with pointless aggression, conflict or misguided actions. Mars will stay in the sign until around November 12th.
On October 3rd, Venus will go retrograde. This is a fairly rare transit, with Venus being the planet that retrogrades the least. Venus will go direct on November 13th. Venus retrograde tends to promote disagreements, trouble establishing rapport or common ground. It can also bode some economic downturns or bad trends in the speculative markets.
The interesting point here is the combo, of both happening simultaneously, between October 3rd and November 12th. That’s an entire month.
With that in mind, October can be a rather chaotic month of conflicts, fights and disagreements. Blustering and exaggeration will be prominent, and causing trouble. Some economic issues could be highlighted around the time as well.
Conclusion and the big picture
The world is in an odd place right now, as we have the outer planets prominent, specially Neptune which is the planet of confusion on his own. This triad of Uranus-Neptune and Pluto promotes a lot of volatility, change and odd developments. Mundane, it can be a time of surprises and weird shifts.
On a personal level, we finally get the courage to make some important changes and decision. We can take unusual detours, new directions and feel a rebirth of sorts. It is a great moment to learn and grow.
For astrology, this is a dork age. Saturn in Pisces puts a damp on things well into the coming two years. It remains a valuable guide and endeavor, but the recognition, popularity and enthusiasm will be lacking in the near future.
And for me? I will keep writing this stuff. Maybe less than before. Maybe slower than before. Maybe later than usual. But I will keep writing it.