SOLAR ECLIPSE Leo: Seven of Wands
Sun and Moon 20° Leo- 7 of Wands / Leo III / Mars in Leo
The Solar Eclipse in Leo arrives on August 12th with the Sun and Moon together at 20 degrees Leo, activating the third decan of Leo. This decan is associated with Mars in Leo and the tarot card Seven of Wands, a card that asks us to know what we stand for and have the courage to protect it.
Traditionally, the Seven of Wands depicts someone standing above others while defending their position. The Five of Wands brought the competition. The Six of Wands brought the victory. By the time we reach the Seven, we have something worth protecting.
In my readings, I frequently see the Seven of Wands appear around teachers, leaders, negotiations, and situations where someone needs to advocate for themselves. I've watched this card appear for people negotiating new jobs who ultimately received significantly more than they were originally offered. It doesn't necessarily tell us to fight. It tells us not to underestimate our value.
This makes Mars in Leo an important part of understanding the card. Mars gives us the courage to act, while Leo asks us to lead from the heart and confidently express who we are. Together, they ask us to become clear about what drives us, what we're passionate about, and what we are no longer willing to compromise simply to make ourselves easier for other people to accept.
There is also tremendous support for communication surrounding this eclipse. Mercury in Leo connects harmoniously with Venus in Libra, Uranus in Gemini, and Neptune in Aries, while opposing Pluto in Aquarius. Our words can inspire, negotiate, connect, and create change, but Pluto reminds us that speaking authentically can also challenge existing dynamics. Sometimes finding your voice means accepting that not everyone will agree with what you have to say.
The supportive air energy between Venus in Libra, Uranus in Gemini, and Pluto in Aquarius brings relationships and community into the story. Venus wants connection, Uranus introduces new perspectives, and Pluto transforms the structures we've outgrown. We don't have to abandon our individuality in order to work with others. The invitation is to create relationships and communities where different voices can coexist without requiring anyone to diminish themselves.
At the same time, Venus opposite Neptune asks for discernment. It can be easy to fall in love with an ideal, a person, or even a version of the future that we want to believe in. The Seven of Wands reminds us that compassion does not require abandoning our boundaries. We can remain openhearted while still protecting what we know to be true for ourselves.
Mars in Cancer also connects harmoniously with Chiron and the lunar nodes, adding an emotional layer to this eclipse. Sometimes what we are learning to defend isn't an achievement or external position. It is our emotional wellbeing, our values, our home, our family, or the version of ourselves we have worked hard to become.
Solar eclipses open new chapters, and this one asks us to enter the next chapter with greater confidence in our own worth. The Seven of Wands isn't asking us to become defensive toward the world. It is asking us to recognize what deserves our energy.
You don't have to prove yourself to everyone. You don't have to accept less simply because someone else tells you that you should. And you don't have to lower your standards to make your path easier for someone else to understand.
The invitation of this Solar Eclipse is to know what you stand for, communicate it clearly, and trust yourself enough to hold your ground.
Protect what you've built. Honor what you value. And don't be afraid to ask for what you're worth.