Monday,August 17–23,

Energy This Week

The energy of the spectacular solar eclipse, which was observed by many, still resonates. What incredible energy was released! At the moment of totality, there was no wind in the Netherlands. It was as if the universe, the Earth, and the birds had briefly come to a standstill to bring the old cycle to a close and make room for the new. It felt like a cosmic changing of the guard.

Post-Eclipse Energies

In the days leading up to the eclipse, the energy felt tense and oppressive. Everything was building toward a climax. During the eclipse, there was a release; the pressure eased, and the energy shifted to something gentle and serene. Many felt a wave of love and gentleness wash over them, which truly made the eclipse a “Total Eclipse of the Heart.”

At a time when the world sometimes feels harsh, divided, and turbulent, the call to return to the power of love is perhaps stronger than ever before. Love for yourself, for one another, and for life. Not as something gentle or fragile, but as one of the most powerful energies we possess. It is precisely from an open heart that decisions arise that are not only good for you, but also contribute to the greater good.

On days when a lot of energy is released, many things come to the surface. You may still notice this this week: old issues resurfacing, old fears being stirred up, headaches, intense fatigue, a racing heart, and other symptoms associated with the energy shift. If you experience persistent or serious symptoms, always consult your doctor; not everything can be attributed to the energy shift.

On the Way to the Next and Final Eclipse in 2026

The energy of the partial lunar eclipse in Pisces on August 28 is already being felt. This is connected to the previous lunar eclipse in Pisces in 2024. The eclipse in September 2024 brought awareness above all else: What is truly mine, what is an illusion, where am I giving too much, and where are boundaries needed? 2024 made you aware of what needed to change and asked you to see through the fog.

The eclipse in August 2026 is a continuation of that process and calls for decisions and letting go. What you began to understand in 2024, you can now truly leave behind or give concrete form to. 2026 will allow you to experience what emerges once you’ve embraced this change.

The sequence of eclipses in August 2026 is symbolically beautiful. First, the solar eclipse in Leo: What do I want? What do I want to create? Who do I want to be? And then the lunar eclipse in Pisces: What do I need to leave behind to make that happen? In this way, the Pisces eclipse can feel like a cleansing of old emotional patterns and expectations, creating space for a new version of yourself.

This is how the process moves from recognition and feeling to choice and action: What became apparent in 2024 will have the opportunity to be truly lived out in 2026. We’ll explore this in more depth in the next update.

Take a break

This week brings a break after all the swirling energies of the past few weeks. Some space to recover, settle in, and take a quiet breath as you prepare for the next eclipse and the full moon. We’re also heading toward the end of summer (and the holidays), which for many means settling into a new rhythm. The energy of Virgo will help you with that.

Lunar phase: waxing moon.

August 23: Sun in Virgo (August 23–September 23)

On August 23, 2026, the Sun enters the sign of Virgo. This transition occurs in the midst of a special period between two eclipses—a sacred space where the old has not yet completely faded away and the new has not yet fully revealed itself.

The Sun plays a special role in this. In astrology, the Sun is the most powerful light in your birth chart. It represents your life force, your inner fire, and your essence—that part of you that yearns to live, to grow, and to be fully present from the heart.

After the fiery energy of Leo, which gave your heart, your creativity, and your unique radiance a boost, Virgo brings you back down to earth. Not to dim your light, but to embody it.

That practical and down-to-earth Virgo teaches you that spirituality isn’t just about grand insights, deep feelings, or moments of enlightenment. Spirituality is found especially in the little things: in how you take care of your body, how you start your day, how you listen, how you eat, how you work, how you rest, and how you stay present in everyday life.

With the Sun in Virgo, the focus shifts to practical action, service, and refinement. Not by trying to do everything perfectly—which is a Virgo trap—but by listening more and more deeply to what feels right. To sense what is pure, what truly matters, to discern what no longer suits you, and to return to simplicity. Small changes can make a big and lasting difference.

The Sun in Virgo invites you not only to feel your inner light, but to live by it. What do you really need? Where is your energy flowing? What can you let go of because it no longer suits you? Which habits support the person you’re becoming?

During this period between Leo and Pisces, a beautiful movement thus emerges:

Leo says: Dare to shine.
Virgo says: Bring this light to Earth.
Pisces says: Trust that you are part of something greater.

It is a journey from the heart to the earth to the soul.

Eclipses can open doors to changes that you cannot fully comprehend with your mind. Sometimes it only becomes clear later why certain things had to shift, end, or be reborn. The Sun in Virgo, therefore, does not ask you to want all the answers. It asks you to be present and, step by step, to listen to what life is telling you.

Maybe it’s something small: a different choice, a new habit, more peace and quiet, a clear boundary, or simply listening more closely to what your body and soul are telling you. Because big changes don’t always have to start big. Sometimes it’s precisely the loving attention you give to the little things that changes your life slowly but permanently.

Honor your light by taking good care of it. Express what you feel. And trust that every small, conscious step will bring you closer to who you truly are.

"How can I take better care of my body? What does it need? And how can I serve my light so that it can continue to shine not only for myself, but also for the world around me?"