Big Heart Energy: Reflections from a Leo New Moon and the Depths of Eclipse Season

This post comes to you from the depths of eclipse season, between the potent New Moon and Total Solar Eclipse in Leo and a Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Pisces at the end of the month. The eclipse portal is a potent time energetically, a cosmic reset if you will. Some astrologers believe it is a “course correction” for the soul, where anything not serving your soul’s higher purpose and evolution comes to light, comes forward to be released. Some say it is a powerful time to jump timelines, that by doing the work that is asked of you in the eclipse portal can propel you forward, put the evolution of your soul on fast-track. However you choose to look at it, the energy of these events are strong. They can be uncomfortable, confronting. But from the darkness always comes great healing and a greater light. And this one, is no exception.

The New Moon Solar Eclipse in Leo we experienced just recently was one of the most potent transits of 2026 because it was perfectly aligned with the sun in Leo, and a total solar eclipse. Leo governs our ego. When describing Leo I always use the expression that “Leo loves to have it’s mane stroked.” Leo enjoys being celebrated, Leo enjoys validation. It rules that very human part of us. The New Moon Solar Eclipse may have begun to shine a light on this for you. She encouraged us to ask “where in my life am I seeking or needing validation from external sources?” and is it really serving me? This event bought the ego to the forefront. When the moon perfectly aligned with the sun and blocked it’s light for a temporary moment in time, the Earth was plunged into darkness. Energetically this is so potent. We were invited to go into the darkness. To bring our light inward, to remember what truly sets our heart on fire when we are no longer seeking approval or validation elsewhere.

Leo is one of my favourite signs of the zodiac. Many of my dear friends are Leo and their joy is contagious. Their light and playfulness reminds us of a very important piece of being human. On it’s shadow side, it is constantly “performing",” seeking applause and validation from others. However on the sun side of Leo, is perfect alignment with the heart energy. Leo rules the heart and that, my friend, is where the answers always lie. Our creative, abundant heart energy is the guiding light through this intense eclipse energy. Leo in it’s pure form is bright, child-like, joyful heart energy that is rooted in true self sovereignty rather than conditional confidence built on validation from the outside world.

This eclipse portal is an invitation to reconnect with your heart. All the things that bring you joy, the creativity, the playfulness that you may have forgotten somewhere along the way. Who are you truly in the darkness? When the light goes out and it’s just you and your heart. No one to please or seek validation or acceptance from, no one to “perform” for or seek applause from. What are you saying ‘yes’ to when your heart is telling you ‘no’? What are you prioritising out of ‘productivity’ or ‘service’ rather than joy? That is what this beautiful heart energy of Leo is reminding us, that when we live in true heart-centred joy, shining our light from a place of deep self acceptance and love - THAT is when we are living in true purpose and sovereignty.

On the other side of this eclipse portal we have a Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on August 28th. We begin with Leo - the fire, and we close with Pisces - the water. Reflect on the power of that for a moment. Just as Leo rules the ego, Pisces is our final sign of the zodiac and in Evolutionary Astrology, represents the dissolving of the individual ego and connection with the collective. Pisces reconnects us with universal source, God, your higher self. The shadow side of Pisces however, is feeling lost or overwhelmed by life, seeking escapism, fantasy anything to escape painful reality, martyrdom and sacrificing the self and your own soul energy to “save” others. Can you see the beautiful journey our ego is being invited on in this eclipse portal? Leo is asking us to reconnect with our heart energy, our joy, our inner light. To reflect fully on where we are “performing,’ where we are seeking applause, validation or acceptance from others. Pisces is asking us to see where we are avoiding our soul’s work. Where are we using escapism, disillusion, where are we essentially hiding from what our soul is asking of us? What ideals, self beliefs or thought patterns are shaping our identity or serving our individual ego, and need to be released? The fire asks us to find our light, the water asks us to gently let go.

I had a beautiful, medicinal conversation with a dear sister of mine this weekend. It was a deep reflection on the ego, especially the ego we attach ourselves to as mothers, as caregivers. The seemingly innate people-pleasing tendencies that have been ingrained in us as women. The action of putting everyone else’s needs before our own, serving others, looking after them, the energetic output that goes into growing, nurturing, birthing, feeding, holding a child. And it’s not to say we shouldn’t look after our children or the people in our lives. But the truth is, they way many of us are doing it is leaving us severely depleted - emotionally, physically, spiritually, energetically. How many times are we saying ‘yes’ when our heart is telling us ‘no’? How can we ensure that the very essence of who we are, our soul, our heart, without the ego identity as the “mother” or the caregiver,” is being met and loved upon too? Who even are you without that ego identity? And yes, I wholeheartedly believe mothering and caring for others, is a deep part of our soul’s purpose and work and that it can light your heart on fire and it can bring you some of the greatest joy imaginable. But, it is not all of you. And we reach a point in our mothering and caregiving journey, like where I am finding myself right now, where my children don’t need me in the same way that they used too. They know that I am here, that I am home, but they are growing in independence and seeking their own exploration of the world and honestly, that has been deeply uncomfortable for me. I have realised how much of my ego, my identity is ‘being needed.’ Being the one who holds it together, who fixes the problems (any other 5/1 emotional generators out there with a Libra sun?) I am on a deep journey with this, and it is no accident that this has all come to light under this eclipse energy. My soul is ready to release it. Yes, I can hold space for others, I can support others, because that is huge part of me and my light. It brings me joy and a deep sense of peace and alignment. But I no longer have to do it at the sacrifice of my own heart energy. I am learning that, that part of me, is not all of me.

It all sounds very deep and spiritual and like hard work, I know. But I think what we often forget on our own self development journeys is that it is really much more simple than our mind would have us believe, and actually we don’t need to “look” anywhere or seek out the answers for we are the answer. It lives within us, always. Your soul’s “purpose” or living in “alignment” isn’t as complicated as it seems. It is when we live in true heart centred joy, when we create and play, when we honour our own inner light and what sets our heart on fire (Leo) - not for the applause, validation or approval from others, that we are living in alignment with our purpose. It is then that we are truly serving the collective rather than the individual ego (Pisces).

Written by Danika Smith (Founder of Moon Womb)