Welcome to Indy Maven’s astrology column coming by way of Kelli Jenkins, better known around Indy as one of the Spellsisters. Check out their website and Instagram feed for even more info from the world of horoscopes and tarot, or to book a private reading.
August 2026 Overview
The day you plant the seed is not the day the flower blooms, and nothing grows if you don’t tend to it. Farmers work around the clock and only get a few opportunities for harvest. And yet, we seem to think we can just decide we want something and then expect it to simply appear.
James Nasmyth, ca. 1873
We tend to think that we can just set an intention and then the thing should automatically happen. It can seem like things aren’t working out for us when we don’t see an immediate shift. But it’s unlikely you can have $200 in your bank account one day and just magically wake up with a million sitting there the next.
More clarity is available, if you’re looking for it. But the thing is, nothing really ever happens immediately. Everything takes time. Long term change is happening, but you can’t always recognize it from up close.
Luckily, this month’s astro-vibes give us the momentum we need to keep it moving, and the creative spark to strategize and adapt as needed. This is the month where inspiration meets action, and words hold true power. We have the opportunity to see ourselves in relation to the things we want more clearly. Ideas have the potential to truly bloom into something real.
Hartmann Schedel, 1493
Big illumination is possible now. August could bring an epiphany that clarifies a situation and shows you what you truly want out of it, if anything at all. Changing your mind isn’t impulsive, even when it’s unexpected. You just have the clarity that acts like a beacon, lighting the path forward. And you definitely can’t stay where you don’t fit, because any feelings of discomfort or discontent intensify and become impossible to ignore. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.
Life is constantly being quietly rearranged in the background, but this month’s eclipses speed everything up. It’s all gas, no brakes. This new understanding is a tool that enables and empowers you. Once you see what’s been hidden from you, you can move forward appropriately. And this month, once you implement the changes, things seem to progress at warp speed.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS MONTH
August 3 — Chiron retrograde in Taurus ⚷℞♉︎
Reassessing how you think about your desires is an act of self-love that gives you the freedom to move forward without guilt.
August 6 — Venus enters Libra ♀→♎︎, Sun in Leo trine Saturn in Aries ☉♌︎▵♄♈︎
Charm, confidence, and courage are peaking. Use this to fall in love and set ambitious goals.
August 9 — Mercury enters Leo ☿→♌︎
Words, thoughts, and intention hold so much power. Be bold and be the main character.
August 11 — Mars enters Cancer ♂→♋︎
Sentimental feelings might bring you a little summertime sadness. Don’t let a sour mood get you so in your feelings that it knocks you off course.
August 12 — New moon in Leo/Solar Eclipse ☽♌︎
A heavy door blessedly slams shut. A new one opens, highlighting opportunities for self-improvement and pleasure.
August 22 — Sun enters Virgo ☉→♍︎
New season approaching. Take time to get organized and plan for fall.
August 25 — Mercury enters Virgo ☿→♍︎
Mercury joins the sun, grounding our thoughts and making it easier to communicate clearly.
August 27 — Full moon in Pisces/Lunar Eclipse 🌕♓︎
A storm is brewing. Take the day off and prioritize rest.
Birthday Royalty <3 LEO (July 23 – August 22)
This month brings change that feels fated, like it has the potential to define your next era. You are primed to shed old skin so you can step into your new self. Your closest people could feel confused, or maybe even threatened, by changes in you, so tread lightly. Believe in the path you’re following, but don’t light any fires or burn bridges.
Tarotscope | Wheel of Fortune: You are so incredibly lucky, nothing can stop you. But maybe it should–it won’t be any fun if you have to do it alone.
NOW FOR THE REST OF YOU...
Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
You start this month feeling separate, wanting to be quiet and alone. It’s a necessary, significant period of reflection, which ultimately leads to extraordinary clarity about who you are right now. This month is emotional, but it’s good. Even if you can’t see it, something has shifted. It’s all clicking into place.
Tarotscope | 3 of Pentacles: It makes more sense with the missing piece.
Libra (September 23 – October 22)
Jupiter is in Leo, activating your eleventh house of community. You feel particularly magnetic and capable of attracting relationships that could become meaningful partnerships. Just in time, something new and exciting lights up your social sphere, giving a special partnership the potential to flourish.
Tarotscope | 6 of Wands: You’ve been feeling worn down by something for a while, and now you’re moving on.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
The Solar Eclipse in Leo is hitting your tenth house of career, bringing the potential for recognition or new beginnings in your work. It could feel emotional, but positive. Even if this is a shift that’s wrapped in ugly packaging, it’s ultimately for the best. It all leads to something better.
Tarotscope | Knight of Swords: You will be changed for the better, even if it comes as a shock.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
You’re feeling cerebral and philosophical this month as your life evolves and your perspective changes. Something good in your life is about to get so much bigger. Be excited. Take that trip. Enroll in the class. Say yes to something you’re afraid of. If you’ve been questioning your direction, these are the things that bring clarity.
Tarotscope | Eight of Wands: If you’d had to guess, this was not the direction you would have expected things to go.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
You’re moving into a new chapter, but privately. It’s a big deal, but not something you’re ready to share with the world. You’re receiving an upgrade, although it might not look like one at first. This month reveals an opportunity to influence something you thought was way outside your reach. Even when they don’t seem receptive, people are listening to what you say.
Tarotscope | Ace of Swords: Speak up, confidently. The right people will be listening, so know that what you have to say matters.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
Someone new enters the picture. This is a pivotal, fated meeting that deeply inspires you, romantically, professionally, and/or creatively. The way you’re feeling now has the potential to bring ideas that will catapult you in your career or personal life. Write things down, listen to your inner voice, and pay attention to your dreams.
Tarotscope | The High Priestess: You couldn’t possibly have any clue right now how what you’re doing will impact your life in the future.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
You seem to have been processing and releasing the same emotions for months. This is the month you finally truly move on from what you’re done with. Set yourself free. You have felt this before, but this time, you know what it really means. Time for you to actually put it to bed.
Tarotscope | The Devil: Are you attached to this story? Cut yourself free and move on.
Aries (March 21 – April 19)
You need to do some independent exploration, even if that means toiling or crafting. This is what’s going to help you figure out the next step. It feels like you’ve been puzzling over a missing piece for a while, but you’re not going to discover new things by internalizing things. If you have an idea, now’s the time to press play and start to make it real.
Tarotscope | 3 of Wands: All the research amounts to nothing if it never inspires action.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
You’ve been carrying a burden that isn’t yours for a long time. It might feel like that’s easier, like it prevents conflict when you just take care of it, but it’s time to loosen your grip. This thing that isn’t your problem is going to continue feeling like your problem until you stop taking responsibility for it.
Tarotscope | 7 of Wands: It’s time to come clean. Release yourself.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Your words, thoughts, and writing can be especially impactful this month. For you, this could mean a change to the way you talk about yourself or your work. It could be a writing project you’ve been considering. Either way, you’re at a turning point. Tell the story you’ve been carrying.
Tarotscope | Page of Wands: You’re perfectly poised to be heard and understood.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
You feel especially protective of the people closest to you this month… which can make you come off as defensive when you speak up. When you feel compelled to speak up, use this energy to advocate for what you or your people need, rather than fence-sitting or fighting about it.
Tarotscope | 5 of Swords: This isn’t a power struggle. Turning it into one will leave you feeling dissatisfied even if you get what you want.
Photo of the Spellsisters by Schwebach Photography.
Follow the Spellsisters on Instagram @spellsisters and schedule a Zoom reading or purchase gift cards here.
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