Astrology of the Week Ahead with Chani Nicholas
Astrology of the Week Ahead with Chani Nicholas

The Week of August 17th, 2026: Trusting your intuition between eclipses

August 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

On Monday, Mars moves into Cancer, a sign where the planet of action and conflict is fundamentally uncomfortable. As Chani Nicholas explains, Cancer moves sideways—it is about creating bonds and emotional safety—while Mars is about cutting a direct path. When Mars squares Neptune that same day, the result is a "soggy" confusion: the sword of Mars loses its edge, direction dissolves, and anxiety can creep in because we do not know what to do. This is the fog. And it is only the beginning: on September 1st, Mars will square Saturn, turning the fog into a wall. Between now and then, we are navigating a disorienting stretch where we cannot see clearly and obstacles are building.

Yet the week also holds a fleeting moment of genuine luck. Venus in Libra makes a sextile to Jupiter, creating a condition for relationships to feel fulfilling and for being in the right place at the right time. Nicholas emphasizes that we are in between eclipses—last week's total solar eclipse in Leo began something new, and next week's lunar eclipse in Pisces will close a chapter that has been unfolding for years. This is a turnover period: things are beginning, things are ending, people are coming in, people are going out. The destabilizing effect is real, but so is the opportunity. The key, she says, is to stay acutely aware of the good things flowing in, even as confusion swirls around them.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Introduction: The Paradox of Eclipse Season** - Chani opens by framing the central tension of the week: confusion and loss of control coexist with incredible luck and opportunity, especially during the in-between period of two eclipses.
  • 2 (03:12) **Monday's Contradictions: Mars Square Neptune** - Mars in Cancer squares Neptune, creating a fog of confusion and a feeling of being under threat from within, setting up a difficult astrological sequence.
  • 3 (05:50) **The Good News: Venus Sextile Jupiter** - Amidst the confusion, Venus in Libra forms a supportive sextile with Jupiter, bringing moments of luck, fortifying relationships, and creating serendipitous opportunities.
  • 4 (07:21) **Navigating Confusion: Attuning to Your Gut** - Chani reframes confusion as useful information and advises a deep dive into intuition and bodily sensation, especially given Mars's transit through watery Cancer.
  • 5 (10:40) **Practical Advice: Don't Over-Schedule** - Chani issues a strong warning against over-committing between now and September 1st, as the eclipse season creates power surges and fluctuations.
  • 6 (11:24) **Monday: Mercury Trine Saturn** - A helpful aspect for making long-term plans and having productive conversations that build structure.
  • 7 (11:41) **Friday: Venus Opposite Saturn** - A "tough love" moment in relationships where boundaries are tested and limits are reached.

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Guests on this episode

Chani Nicholas

Show Notes

Episode 296

In this podcast, New York Times best-selling author and astrologer Chani Nicholas discusses the astrology of the week and what it might mean for us all.

The astrology of the week of August 17th, 2026, requires us to stay grounded. Mars (the planet of action) is already wading through the murky, emotional waters of Cancer, and when it squares Neptune (the planet of illusion and delusion), we might feel like our drive and determination gets lost in the fog. Luckily, Venus (the planet of love) sextiles Jupiter (the planet of abundance), offering us added relationship support, so we can anchor ourselves through our community and connections. Plus, Venus’ opposition with Saturn (the planet of boundaries) will let us know if we’ve overstepped or reached our breaking point in certain dynamics. Now’s the time to listen to your gut and respect your limits — overextending yourself will only dial up the eclipse season chaos.

This episode covers:

  • Mars’ square to Neptune on Monday, August 17th

  • Mercury’s trine to Saturn on Monday, August 17th

  • Venus’ sextile to Jupiter on Monday, August 17th

  • Venus’ opposition to Saturn on Friday, August 21st

  • The Sun’s conjunction with the South Node on Saturday, August 22nd

  • The Sun’s entrance into Virgo on Saturday, August 22nd

This episode was recorded on 8/4/2026.

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The music featured in the podcast was created by Latashá.

Astrology of the Week Ahead with Chani Nicholas

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