The Leo New Moon Solar Eclipse: Stop Performing, Start Expressing

Sometimes there are New Moons that feel like someone walked into the room, turned off all the lights, + asked in a quiet, spooky, but wise voice:

"Okay... but who are you when nobody is watching?"

The August 12, 2026 Leo new moon at 1:37 PM EDT is one of those.

This isn't just a new moon in Leo. It is also a total solar eclipse, occurring at approximately 20° Leo. In the United States, the partial eclipse will be visible across portions of the country, including as far south as North Carolina. (NASA Science)

Astrologically, this is a fascinating one, because Leo is the sign of the sun + during a solar eclipse, the moon temporarily moves between us + the sun, briefly obscuring the very light that Leo is here to teach us how to embody.

Symbolically?

I mean come ON.

First... What Is a New Moon?

A New Moon happens when the sun + moon occupy the same area of the sky from our perspective on Earth.

The illuminated side of the Moon is facing away from us, so the Moon appears dark.

For thousands of years, humans have associated this dark phase with beginnings, potential, planting, preparation, + the unseen stages of creation.

Metaphor incoming!!!!: Think of new moons as planting a seed. You put it into the soil, water it, wait + wait some more.

For a while, it looks like absolutely nothing is happening, but underneath the surface, something is.

THAT’S the traditional new moon energy: Something is beginning before you can see evidence of it.

A solar eclipse adds another layer because the moon temporarily blocks the sun from view.

Humanity has been absolutely fascinated by these moments for thousands of years.

The History of Eclipses

Imagine living before telescopes, electricity, + modern astronomy.

You're outside in the middle of the afternoon and suddenly the sky starts getting dark.

The temperature changes, light becomes strange, animals may behave differently, the sun, which appears to rise every single day with incredible reliability, suddenly disappears.

OF COURSE people thought something enormous was happening.

Ancient civilizations developed sophisticated ways of observing + predicting eclipses, while also giving them enormous cultural and spiritual significance.

Ancient Chinese traditions included stories of a celestial dragon consuming the Sun. Norse mythology described wolves pursuing the Sun + Moon. Ancient Mesopotamians closely observed eclipses + sometimes interpreted them as omens, particularly concerning rulers. The Maya developed remarkably sophisticated astronomical systems that allowed them to predict celestial events.

Across many Indigenous cultures, eclipses have also been approached as sacred celestial events, although traditions differ tremendously between nations + communities. There isn't one universal "Indigenous eclipse belief."

Today, we understand the astronomy behind eclipses.

But I think there is something worth preserving from humanity's ancient fascination with them.

An eclipse reminds us that something we assume will always be there can temporarily disappear from view + then the light comes back.

That's pretty beautiful symbolism for anyone moving through a season of change if you’re askin’ me.

So Why Does This Leo New Moon Feel Different?

Leo is ruled by the sun.

The sun represents vitality, identity, visibility, creativity, warmth, leadership, self-expression + the experience of being fully alive.

Leo energy asks us to take up space, create, play, lead, express ourselves, + let ourselves be seen.

But here's where I think this particular eclipse gets really interesting.

Because the question isn't just:

"Are you ready to shine?"

It's:

"Who are you when nobody is clapping?"

That's a very different question.

We live in a world where visibility can very easily become performance.

We perform productivity, success, wellness, confidence, authenticity. We post the accomplishment, check the likes, announce the transformation, wait for someone to tell us we're doing it right (raising my hand).

Eventually, it becomes difficult to tell the difference between expressing yourself + performing yourself.

This eclipse offers an opportunity to notice that distinction.

Not because the eclipse is magically forcing you to change, but because moments of interruption can make things we normally overlook much easier to see.

The Energy of the Leo New Moon

If I had to put this entire lunation into a handful of themes, I'd choose:

✨Authenticity

✨Creative courage

✨Joy

✨Heart-centered living

✨Confidence without performance

✨Releasing outdated identities

✨Becoming more comfortable being seen

Leo is fixed fire, which means this isn't frantic, impulsive fire.

There is staying power here.

Leo wants to create something that comes from the heart + then stand proudly behind it.

But the shadow side of Leo can become approval seeking, prideful, start comparisons, become defensive, become attention seeking, or need to prove that they are special.

Whether you have a prominent Leo placement or not, we can all become susceptible to these shadows during this new moon (but also all of the good stuff too!)

sometimes the person who looks the most confident is actually the person most terrified that they're not enough which is why I don't think this new moon is really about becoming more confident.

I think it's about becoming less dependent on external evidence that you are worthy.

What You May Feel Around This New Moon

Everyone experiences astrology differently, + there is no scientific evidence that a particular New Moon causes specific emotional or behavioral changes.

But within astrological symbolism, Leo themes can bring questions around visibility, identity, creativity, recognition + self-expression to the surface.

✨You might suddenly want to change your appearance.

✨You might feel called to finally share something you've been hiding.

✨You might have an idea for a creative project.

✨You might feel restless with an identity that used to fit.

✨You might suddenly realize that you've been doing something because you wanted to be admired for it, not because you actually wanted the experience itself (… called out. It’s me)

✨You might feel both incredibly inspired + strangely vulnerable.

✨You might want attention.

And tbh?

That's not inherently bad. Wanting to be appreciated is human!

Leo's lesson isn't that you should stop wanting recognition, it's learning how to recognize yourself before anyone else does.

You may also notice the opposite.

You may suddenly become very aware of where you're afraid to be seen.

Where you worry you're too much, too loud, too ambitious, too emotional, too confident, too different.

Sometimes the discomfort is simply showing you where you've been conditioned to shrink + pointing out where you have healing work to do.

The Spiritual Lesson: Stop Performing. Start Expressing.

This is the sentence I'd put at the top of my journal during this New Moon:

Stop performing. Start expressing.

Performance asks:

"What will make people approve of me?"

Expression asks:

"What feels true?"

Performance asks:

"Will they like this?"

Expression asks:

"Do I like this?"

Performance asks:

"How will this look?"

Expression asks:

"How does this feel?"

And that distinction matters because your worth does not increase when more people see you nor does it decrease when fewer people do.

You are allowed to create because creating feels good.

You are allowed to dress beautifully because you enjoy it.

You are allowed to be proud of yourself before someone else tells you that you should be.

You are allowed to want more without needing to prove that you deserve it.

You are allowed to be visible without turning yourself into a product.

The Eclipse Connection: What Happens When the Light Goes Out?

This is where the symbolism gets really juicy.

Leo is associated with the sun, a solar eclipse temporarily obscures the Sun.

So rather than asking only, "How can I shine brighter?" I think this eclipse asks:

"What remains when the external spotlight disappears?"

If nobody liked your post, would you still love what you created?

If nobody complimented your outfit, would you still feel beautiful in it?

If nobody knew you were successful, would you still want the life you're building?

If nobody praised you for being a good person, would you still choose kindness?

If nobody was watching...

Would you still choose yourself?

That is the work.

How To Work With This Leo New Moon

Personally, I wouldn't approach this like a typical "write down 25 manifestations + demand the universe deliver them" new moon.

This is an eclipse which is much more interesting when we allow some room for the unexpected.

Instead of trying to control exactly what happens next, I'd use this lunation to become more honest about what you actually want, what you've outgrown + what you've been doing for approval.

🌙Put Your Hand On Your Heart

Before writing an intention, put one hand over your heart.

Ask yourself:

"Is this desire coming from love, or from proving something?"

Leo traditionally rules the heart, so this creates a beautiful physical reminder to lead from the heart rather than from comparison.

Maybe you want the promotion because you're genuinely excited about the work.

Or maybe you want it because you desperately need someone to finally recognize your worth.

There is no shame in either answer, the point is to know the difference.

🌙Leave Some Empty Space

If something unexpectedly falls away during eclipse season, resist immediately replacing it.

We are incredibly uncomfortable with empty space.

A relationship ends and we immediately look for another.

A project finishes and we immediately start something else.

A job disappears and we panic because we don't know what comes next.

But spiritually, empty space can be incredibly valuable because sometimes the most aligned thing you can do is let the space exist long enough to discover what actually wants to fill it. + that’s one of the most exciting part!!!

Don't confuse emptiness with lack. Sometimes emptiness is preparation.

🌙Clean Your Mirrors

Before the New Moon, clean a mirror in your home.

Yes, technically this is just housekeeping, but mirrors have carried symbolism around self-reflection, identity, beauty, truth + self-perception for centuries.

As you clean yours, think about the stories you have been using to define yourself.

"I'm not creative."

"I'm too much."

"I'm not the kind of person who..."

"People like me don't..."

"I'm only successful when I'm working constantly."

"I'm not confident enough."

You don't have to replace every belief with a shiny affirmation.

Just ask:

"Is this actually true, or is this simply a story I've gotten used to seeing?"

Let the mirror become a physical reminder that seeing yourself clearly is different from seeing yourself critically.

🌙Take One Selfie You Will Never Post

I LOVE this one for Leo.

Take one photo of yourself that you have absolutely no intention of posting.

No editing it for engagement, checking whether you look "good enough," sending it to anyone.

Just take the picture because you exist, you liked your hair that day, the sunlight was beautiful, your child made you laugh, you felt powerful, you felt like yourself.

Sometimes the most healing audience is yourself.

🌙Start an "Unexpected Magic" Page

Instead of only tracking manifestations, start a journal page called:

Things I Didn't See Coming.

Write down the unexpected conversation, opportunity you couldn't have planned, person who appeared at exactly the right moment, ending you didn't anticipate, idea that came out of nowhere, realization that changed your perspective, or thing that didn't happen that you thought absolutely would, etc.

This isn't about turning every coincidence into a cosmic sign, just about practicing the art of noticing.

Because one of the most beautiful things about eclipse symbolism is that we don't always know what the next chapter looks like while we're standing inside the transition. The clarity comes afterward.

A Leo New Moon Diffuser Blend

For this particular eclipse, I wanted something that feels radiant without being frantic.

Diffuse:

3 drops Believe - confidence, possibility, courage + trusting yourself.

2 drops Orange - associated in many spiritual traditions with abundance, creativity + optimism.

2 drops Frankincense - brings the grounding + brings the energy inward

Your Leo New Moon Ritual

If you want one simple ritual to bring all of this together, here's what I'd do.

Light your diffuser, clean your mirror, take a shower or bath, put one hand over your heart.

Ask yourself:

Where am I performing instead of expressing?

What would I choose if nobody could applaud me for it?

What part of myself am I ready to let be seen?

What am I ready to stop proving?

Then write down whatever comes up.

You don't need to immediately make a five-step plan.

You don't even need to know exactly what happens next.

Just tell yourself the truth.

The Big Takeaway

This New Moon isn't asking you to become someone different, it's asking you to become more honest about + comfortable with who you already are.

And because it's paired with a total solar eclipse, there may be pieces of the story you can't see yet.

That’s okay.

Because Leo's greatest lesson isn't:"Look at me."

It’s: "I know who I am, whether you're looking or not."

Your light doesn't become more valuable because someone else notices it.

Your creativity doesn't become more legitimate because it performs well.

Your life doesn't become more meaningful because other people approve of it.

You don't have to perform for your place in the light.

You already belong there.

Muah muah muah!

Suzy