Do you believe in omens?

It’s early August 2026 and the eclipses are just around the corner. The first Total Solar Eclipse in Leo is about to occur between 12th / 13th August, while the last Lunar Eclipse in Pisces will happen on 28th August. If there was a time when omens are louder and clearer, it’s now, as the eclipse window is opening.

Reading omens is an important astrological skill that is not much discussed in modern day practice. Omens can help shape our astrological predictions, as they illustrate planetary influences in our visible reality. Understanding the meaning of an omen helps to give meaning to planetary phenomena.

Omens During Eclipse Periods

Most people know that eclipses bring on times of intensity, pressure, heightened emotions, wild urges and the rising of the shadow nature in the best of us. People in power are usually the most susceptible to the transformative forces of the eclipses.

Take for example the recent controversy involving one of the leaders of the astrological field, Steven Forrest, exploding into our awareness one week before the Total Solar Eclipse. Anyone holding positions of leadership are the likely ‘targets’ of change during eclipses. The Sun’s removal of light symbolises an uprising of unconscious shadow material that’s meant to bring the ego (Sun) into balance.

If we can hold our consciousness of upcoming eclipses with high attunement to the sensitivities and turbulence of these times, we’re more likely to undergo the purification and equialibrium process within our internal processing spaces, rather than in the public arena. Noticing omens in the lead up to an eclipse is a very useful strategy for this. It will provide you with a protective warning system if you can recognise the symbols.

Omens received prior to the active eclipse period can indicate when eclipse forces will take effect in your reality. Knowing which parts of your birth chart the eclipses are triggering will indicate what areas of life you’ll feel pressured to change. And, having the right strategies / tools to remediate this event in your natal chart can show you how you can transform the unsettling nature of the eclipses into a powerful cultivation of your authenticity and purpose.

Evidence of eclipse omenology

As an astrologer I always get asked about eclipses. The beliefs that people hold around eclipses are varied; they range from people who actively chase them around the globe to others who avoid their direct rays at all costs. 

The traditional view of eclipses is one of danger; eclipses serve as warnings for times of uncertainty, change and instability over the leadership. 

Enūma Anu Ellil (EAE) is a compilation of 70 tablets containing celestial and meteorological omens by Babylonian sky priests from around 2300 BC.  Rumen Kolev’s article, The Enūma Anu Ellil A Panoramic View (2007), does a fantastic job at summarising these 70 tablets into their various topics. 

Unfortunately, not all of these tablets have been translated, including sections 30-40 on Solar Eclipse Omens (Tablet 38 = Ach, Isht. 10). Only 30% of these 70 tablets have been translated. However, the section on Lunar Eclipse Omens has been translated (Rochberg, sections 15-22) and it’s easy to understand why the astrological tradition starting viewing eclipses in a more negative light than its modern counterparts. 

What the Babylonian Sky Priests Thought of Eclipses

All of these eight passages describe difficult predictions for cities and civilisation including themes of destruction, misery, war, kings overthrown, resettlement, captures, conquerings and downfalls. 

Here are some screenshots from Tablets from the Sippar Library XIIIEnūma Anu EllilXX (Al-Rawi, F. & George, Andrew.2014) showing the translations of eclipse observations and predictions. 

Here is an example of an original clay tablet from Tablet XX of Enūma Anu Ellil (EAE), as well as a transliteration.

When And Where Are Eclipses Important

Of course, not all nations are doomed every six months when eclipses occur. This would be a ridiculous concept. Eclipses are transits, meaning they trigger events that are already destined within a nation or an individual’s chart. One would need to look at these charts to see how likely their demise would be, or not! 

Within the personal sphere, one may not exactly experience the literal destruction, misery and downfall as told by our Babylonian ancestors. However, it is very common for people to feel an increasing intensity and pressure during the month of the eclipses, be it through difficult external circumstances or heightened emotional sensitivities that could cause internal suffering. The nervous system is highly sensitive during the period of eclipses and it is common for people to suffer from anxiety, mental health episodes, dysregulation, stress and poor mental clarity.

You’ll know when big changes are coming for countries and individuals when eclipses fall on their charts in:

• The 1st / 4th / 7th / 10th houses and their angular cusps
• Hard angles to personal planets – Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars
• The same sign as the natal Lunar Nodes
• The path in which your country is located in the world (see more below)

If you think you have one of these trigger points in your chart, consider booking in a consultation to get prepared. The impact of eclipses can last around two years so it’s important to set yourself on a good trajectory.

The path of the eclipse will also activate certain areas around the globe that are highly susceptible to the transformative forces of the eclipses. For example, the Total Solar Eclipse on 13th August 2026 will target Spain, France, Russia, Greenland and Iceland. Currently, Spain and France are under severe and uncontrollable wildfires whilst Greenland and Iceland are being targeted for Trump’s strategic annexing. Simply looking at the eclipse path will indicate the nations and leaders at greater risk of instability. If you happen to live within these countries during the eclipse, you may want to be aware of the broader geopolitical context in which you’re bound within as this will also impact your ability to make choices in your personal life. Here’s a model showing the August 2026 Total Solar Eclipse path, with the red zone showing the where the full eclipse will be visible and the countries most impacted by the eclipse influences (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/globe/2026-august-12).

Examples of Eclipse Omens

The lead up to the eclipses are particularly potent times for omens. Dreams can become extremely active during these times while the environment around you becomes rich with messages if you are able to take notice and know what to look for. I’ve often noticed snakes around eclipse times, be it in the flesh or in my dreams, often sighted by those who have eclipses transiting through prominent parts of their birth charts.

These messages may not necessarily involve you – eclipses will permeate your reality through the people or the environment in your dreaming or waking states. Being vigilant to these eclipse symbols can forewarn you of turbulent times ahead and serve as your call to retreat, detach and ground.

Eclipse Omenology in Action

Here’s an account of eclipse omens I observed over the last weekend, which was less than two weeks from the upcoming eclipse, indicating to me that I was now in what is referred to as ‘the eclipse portal’.

A friend mentioned they were going on an overseas holiday leaving 13th August (the day of the eclipse). Soon after, their old dog died suddenly in an acute incident involving an “implosion in the spine”. In the Vedic astrology realm, the Sun corresponds to the spine and this was an upcoming total eclipse (implosion) of the Sun (spine). When we were burying the dog, we saw a koala – a very rare and special sight which always reminds me to pay attention to messages that might be trying to reach me.

The time of eclipses often coincide with issues to do with the eyes. Over the weekend, a friend shared a story of losing both the lenses of their prescription glasses, only realising this when they returned home and looked at their computer. The Sun and Moon are planetary symbols corresponding to eyes. The Sun, in particular, is related to seeing, sight, insight, clarity and consciousness. In the spiritual practice of my astrological lineage, we recite Surya (Sun) mantras everyday to help us see the chart clearly.  

Eclipses remove the light of the Sun through the involvement of the nodes, Rahu and Ketu, thus symbolising the loss of sight.  This person’s unawareness of losing their lenses (aka sight) points to the delusions, deception, confusion and obscurity of Rahu as well as the illusions and loss associated with Ketu. Mythically, Asura Svarbhānu was caught drinking the stolen elixir of immortality and was consequently cut off at the throat, producing the severed head of the greedy and unfulfilled Rahu, and the severed tail of Ketu, headless and unable to show up in the world. Rahu’s presence was also noted as a friend confided that they discovered a lump in their throat which they were seeking medical intervention with (Rahu being cut in the throat).

Of the people involved in these situations, I know two of them have Aquarius and Leo in across their Ascendant / Descendant axis, so it’s no coincidence that they were the envoys delivering me these eclipse omens.

I’m also reminded of another story from the 2012 Eclipse Festival in Far North Queensland, Australia. While setting up camp, one artist was trying to unhook a trailer from the car and was caught on the trailer as the driver took off. He was propelled forward, causing him to fall and landed with his eye on the tow ball. A very literal eclipse of the eye (Sun)!

Observing all of these events in my reality over the weekend, and knowing that the eclipse was less than two weeks away, I could tell that I had entered the eclipse portal. So what can we do when we recognise this?

Get Your Birth Chart Checked

Consult with a competent astrologer to analyse all the other interactions within your chart that are connected to this eclipse. This will illustrate the dynamic changes being triggered in your life so you can prioritise and make good choices. 

Find Out What Eclipse Remedies Are Available

After diagnosing the eclipse situation in your birth chart, there are many strategies that you can adopt in your life to navigate through this time including spiritual remedies such as vedic mantras. The goal of all these remedies is to help you cultivate an authentic and purposeful life.

Self Regulate & Detach

Once the eclipse portal has opened, emotions and irrational urges can run high. Being aware of this period of time can help you to consciously separate your internal self from the craziness of your external surroundings, allowing you to untangle yourself from any drama.

Retreat & Purify

It’s important to cleanse yourself, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually during the times of eclipses. Use this time to spring clean your home and get rid of unwanted things. Maintain strong energetic hygiene by not being around too many people. Stay away from substances or people in unconscious states. Whatever you do during an eclipse is magnified and cemented into your life for the next 6 to 18 months.

Spiritual Cultivation

Eclipses are potent times for spiritual cultivation – use these windows to design your life with fulfillment and intention through a committed practice and devotion.

Start taking notice of your omens

Whether it’s an eclipse or not, omens are an important part of an astrologer’s toolkit. Similarly, if you’re someone that gets astrology readings regularly or occasionally, your ability to recognise omens is what makes your session land with clarity, resonance and meaning. 

It’s often easier to observe omens during eclipses because the messages are so strong and tangible in our environment. So why not practice this now and see what reaches you – you might be surprised how much intelligence is around you as you go about your day.