August 2026 Capricorn Horoscope

August sets the stage for a period of introspection and personal transformation, Capricorn. By now, you’re well aware that Venus is retrograde in Leo (since late July, continuing all through August), activating your 8th house of intimacy, shared finances, and deep emotions. This retrograde period is the overriding theme of the month, asking you to slow down and reckon with the matters of the heart and wallet that lie beneath the surface. The cosmic energy is less about new conquests or external achievement, and more about soul-searching and recalibration of your inner world.

Right as August begins, you might feel the somewhat heavy yet potent atmosphere of Venus retrograde. Perhaps July’s end brought some revelations: you may be rethinking a financial partnership, renegotiating debts, or diving into the emotional complexities of your closest relationship. If you discovered an old resentment or fear lingering between you and a loved one, August is the time to address it with compassion and honesty. Similarly, if you realize you’ve been giving away too much power – whether in a relationship or through a financial obligation – Venus retrograde nudges you to restore balance. For example, you might decide to implement clearer boundaries with a partner around spending, or come to terms with a past love experience that has subtly influenced your self-worth until now. This process isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s deeply rewarding. Think of it as emotional decluttering: you’re discarding those old insecurities and heartbreaks that have occupied mental real estate, making room for renewed trust and passion when Venus goes direct next month.

Even with Venus retrograde urging a pause, life of course continues. The Sun spends the first three weeks of August in Leo as well, shining through your 8th house. The combination of Sun and retrograde Venus in Leo really illuminates your inner life. If you normally shy away from confronting your own shadows or needs (Capricorns can be famously stoic), this influence gives you both the desire and creative drive to do so. You might experiment with journaling, therapy, or even artistic outlets to express what you’re processing. Leo’s heart-centered courage can actually make this introspection feel empowering – you’re the hero of your own story venturing into the underworld to reclaim treasure (in this case, self-understanding and self-love). One thing: with the Sun in the mix, some of your private matters could become more visible than you intended. Be mindful if you don’t want certain financial or personal details broadcast. It might be wise to keep certain plans or issues a bit under wraps until you’ve sorted them out internally.

A significant cosmic event arrives on August 12 – a Total Solar Eclipse in Leo, which is effectively a supercharged New Moon in your 8th house. Solar Eclipses herald major new beginnings, often arising from sudden changes or insights. Given the 8th house emphasis, this could mark a turning point in a financial arrangement or a personal transformation. You might decide “enough is enough” in regard to a debt and create a strict payoff plan, or perhaps you receive an inheritance or payout that drastically changes your financial picture. Emotionally, this eclipse could bring a breakthrough: maybe you finally forgive someone (or yourself) wholeheartedly, cutting the chain to an old wound. Or, positively, you could experience a rebirth of intimacy with a partner – like a dramatic event or deep conversation around this time that resets your relationship on a more profound, honest level. Eclipses can be jarring, but they ultimately align us with our path. If something ends around this date (like a financial contract or a phase of a relationship), trust that it’s creating space for a more authentic chapter to begin. Since it’s in Leo, approach whatever comes with an open heart and bravery. You may feel particularly vulnerable during the eclipse window – take time for self-care and don’t force yourself into hectic environments if you feel like cocooning a bit.

Following that powerful eclipse, the energy gradually shifts toward expansion and exploration. On August 16, a Partial Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) in Pisces graces your 3rd house of communication, learning, and local community. This could bring closure or fruition to something that started earlier in the year. Perhaps you finish a writing project, resolve a situation with a sibling or neighbor, or graduate from a short course. Because Pisces rules imagination and compassion, this Full Moon might be quite emotional in a gentle way – you could have a heartfelt conversation that heals a misunderstanding, or feel inspired to speak about something that moves others. Be mindful on the roads around this date; the 3rd house also covers short trips and Mercury (ruler of the 3rd) will still be in retrograde motion until the 23rd. Double-check travel plans and mind your focus while driving to avoid any spaciness that Pisces can induce.

After August 23, get ready to feel a breath of fresh air. Mercury stations direct in Leo on that day, finally untangling those communication and logistical knots tied over the past few weeks. Clarity returns in money dealings and intimate dialogues. Also on August 23, the Sun leaves Leo and enters Virgo, a fellow Earth sign, shifting the cosmic spotlight to your 9th house of expansion, travel, and wisdom. Virgo season for you is typically invigorating. That Venus retrograde heaviness begins to lift as your perspective widens. You’re ready to look outward again, beyond the inner labyrinth, and apply what you’ve learned. The later part of August is excellent for broadening your horizons: maybe you plan an autumn vacation, dive into studying a fascinating subject, or simply feel a renewed optimism about life’s possibilities. With the Sun in Virgo, your practical optimism surges – you see how to turn big dreams into achievable plans.

Adding to this forward momentum, Mars is powering through Libra (your career sector) until early September. You likely started feeling more assertive in your professional realm in late July. Throughout August, Mars helps you make your mark at work. You could be taking on a leadership role in a project, or pushing hard to hit a career milestone. Mars’s energy in your 10th house can make you a bit impatient with delays or authority figures, so channel that drive wisely: demonstrate your initiative and competence but steer clear of unnecessary power struggles, especially around the 22nd when Mars squares Pluto – that day could bring some tension in a boss-employee dynamic or within your own ambition. After that, Mars will shift into Scorpio at month’s end (on the 27th), moving into your 11th house of networking and long-term goals. But that’s more of a September story – suffice it to say that by the end of August, you might already be focusing on collaborative efforts and future aspirations with a determined eye.

Let’s talk about August 28, when the last eclipse of the season occurs: a Partial Lunar Eclipse in Pisces, which I mentioned earlier in context of the Full Moon. This double eclipse month (Solar in Leo, Lunar in Pisces) is significant. Eclipses often work in pairs, and their themes can be connected. The Leo Solar Eclipse (on the 12th) dove into your depths, and this Pisces Lunar Eclipse (on the 28th) brings insights to the surface in your immediate environment and thinking. It’s as if the work you did internally mid-month now leads to a revelation or closure externally by the end of the month. Pay attention to news, conversations, or ideas that emerge around the 28th – they might feel like puzzle pieces clicking into place, providing context or answers to what was stirred up earlier. Because this eclipse is in your 3rd house, a sibling or close friend could be involved, or you might receive a message (literal or symbolic) that has a significant impact. Dream journaling is encouraged near this date; Pisces full moons can bring vivid, guiding dreams.

One more note: Venus, still retrograde, will meet the Sun on August 13 (a point known as “cazimi,” when a retrograde planet is purified in the heart of the Sun). Around that day, you might have a moment of clarity regarding those 8th house matters – an epiphany about what you truly value in love or a brilliant idea about solving a financial issue. It’s like the eye of the storm of the retrograde, a brief illumination. Keep a journal or be extra mindful of your feelings and insights mid-month; they could guide your next steps.

By the time August winds down, you may feel like you’ve traversed a deep emotional journey and come out more enlightened. It’s likely a quieter triumph – not one with fireworks and public applause, but one that is profoundly meaningful to you personally. You’ve shed some old skin, faced some fears, and perhaps rekindled a soulful spark that was dimmed. Now, with Virgo’s grounding influence taking hold, you can apply these inner changes to your outer world.

In essence, August 2026 is a month for the alchemist in you. You’re turning lead into gold emotionally – taking difficult or complex feelings and experiences and transforming them into wisdom, strength, and compassion. Trust that process, even if at times you wonder where the “old you” went. When Venus finishes its retrograde in early September, you’ll step into a new lightness in matters of love and money, carrying the treasures you uncovered this month. Until then, move at the pace of your heart. Rest when you need. Pour yourself into a creative or spiritual practice. And peek outside that introspective cave once in a while to enjoy summer’s sun – nature has a way of reminding you of the beauty and constancy of life amidst personal change. You are evolving, Capricorn, and that is truly something to celebrate.