The Luckiest August in 14 years
August has me like:
August is my month. As in, my birth month.
I’ve always loved August. In a lot of ways, I really feel like an August baby. It’s the peak of summer heat (give me all the sun) and, back in my school days, the height of reading and relaxation. I still dream of my first summer in college when it struck me that I would likely never have a summer vacation again. I’d be working, or there would be some other obligation. And I was right! So that whole summer I just read library books in the sun and ate watermelon (a splurge 🤑) while drinking buckets of ice water. Then, I’d stay up late binging Futurama and Heroes with the windows open listening to the crickets and frogs in the marsh.
Save for my following summer, where I studied and worked in Ireland (foreshadowing) and went back to my roots as the first American-born in my family to visit our family in Greece, it was the dreamiest summer I’ve ever had.
I’ve gotten off track. All this to say, as much as I adore August, I don’t know that I’ve ever related to most of the traits of a Leo. Leos are always toted as creative, confident, bold, outgoing, social. The creative part, okay, but ya girl is an introvert to the CORE. I could hole up and not leave my house for months on end and be my best self.
Then, Nutmeg came along. Another Leo in the house! (I will sob on her birthday this year as she is turning 5, so she’s about halfway or more through her life). That girl embodies Leo. Sassy, confident, demanding of attention.
I’ve actually related far more to the traits of Virgos. Perfectionist, organised, detail-oriented. Coincidentally (or not) I was very premature. So I was originally destined to be a Virgo. But I kind of like this middle ground of Type A who has creative 10 projects on the go at any time and basks in the sun like a lizard whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Lughnasadh: Hello, Autumn
Funnily, one of the adjustments I still have the hardest time making since moving to Ireland is the drastic difference in the seasonal calendar. If you go by the old Irish calendar, it’s actually a hell of a lot more accurate to how we experience seasons here. So August is actually the start of autumn, rather than the end of summer.
Imbolc (1 February): beginning of spring
Bealtaine (1 May): beginning of summer
Lughnasadh (1 August): beginning of autumn
Samhain (1 November): beginning of winter
What is Lughnasadh?
The word Lughnasadh comes from the Old Irish Lughnasad, meaning roughly “the assembly (or commemoration) of Lugh”. Lugh is a powerful figure in Irish mythology associated with skill, craftsmanship, kingship, and light. The tradition goes that Lugh established the festival in honour of his foster mother Tailtiu, who cleared the plains of Ireland for agriculture and died after exhausting herself from the work. Lughnasadh became a time to honour the land, celebrate the first harvest, and gather communities together through feasting, games, music, and storytelling.
When is Lughnasadh?
Lughnasadh traditionally begins on 1 August, marking the start of autumn in the old Irish seasonal calendar. Unlike our modern seasons, which are divided by meteorological or astronomical dates, the Celtic calendar followed the rhythms and changes of the natural world. That’s why it feels so much more accurate to the local climate.
Lughnasadh was the point when people began to notice summer slowly giving way to autumn: the first harvests were ready, berries were ripening, evenings were growing shorter, and the land was moving from a season of growth into one of gathering and preparation. The Irish name for August, Lúnasa, comes directly from this ancient festival.
The shifting Seasons
I’ve been noticing this transition, myself. For the last 2 weeks of July, I saw the leaves starting to change. Our heat wave has passed (blessed through it was) and now the nights and early mornings, especially, are so much cooler. The gloomy days are muggy but cosy. I’m getting up before the sun. And, by my books, we’re 4 weeks away from my house being an explosion of pumpkins. Which I’m always very ready for.
As a sun-loving, pumpkin-obsessed Leo, August really is the best of both worlds for me in Ireland. But this year, it’s exponentially better.
The Luck of the Planets
I guess I already have the luck of the Irish - living over here, citizenship in hand, and native Irishman legally tethered to me. But now, that luck is about to get a whole lot more amplified, thanks to Jupiter.
Jupiter is often called the planet of luck, expansion, abundance, and growth. And while I love the idea of a giant cosmic force dropping good fortune into my lap (my friend once told me that she only somewhat believes in the devil because she’s never met someone so unlucky as me), that’s not really how this energy works. Jupiter is less about random luck and more about opening doors, creating opportunities, and encouraging us to grow into something bigger than we thought possible.
And last month, Jupiter made one of its biggest shifts in years.
After spending the last year in Cancer, a sign associated with home, family, emotional security, and putting down roots, Jupiter has moved into Leo. This is a completely different energy, and it’ll last a little over a year.
When in Leo, all of the lovely luck and abundance of Jupiter is amplified by all the things Leo represents: confidence, creativity, courage, and the desire to be seen. Talk about a dynamic duo!
It’s considered a particularly powerful placement because Jupiter only returns to Leo roughly every 12 years, making this a once-in-a-cycle moment for embracing more joy, self-expression, and boldness.
Which feels pretty fitting for August.
Leo is the sign of the sun, and it’s all about stepping into your own light. It’s about creating something because you love it, sharing your ideas before they’re perfect, and allowing yourself to take up space without apologising for it. So basically, Jupiter in Leo is all about believing in yourself enough that you’re willing to go after the things you thought were out of reach.
Which, full circle moment, feels very connected to the harvest season, too.
You don’t plant a seed in the morning and pick a pumpkin by dinner. Unless you go the pumpkin patch that very same day. But here in Ireland, we don’t have (good) pumpkin patches. Oh, how I dream of opening an American-level pumpkin patch / corn maze / apple orchard complete with hay rides, pumpkin donuts, and other delightful seasonal treats. Side note: I hiiiiighly recommend Pumpkinheads, if you haven’t read it. It’s the literal cutest. You might’ve heard of some of Rainbow’s other work, like Eleanor & Park or Fangirl, but this one really takes the cake for me.
Okay, again, off track.
The things we celebrate in autumn are celebrated because of the time we patiently waited for them to grow, and all of the effort we put in to nurture them in the meantime before anyone could see the results. So basically, all of this Jupiter talk is really just a reminder that the ideas, dreams, and projects we’ve been nurturing (or are ready to nurture) are ready for a little more sunlight.
Creativity, Confidence, and Coming Into My Own
And then, of course, there’s Leo season itself.
I have so many exciting creative projects happening this month. Commissions, product launches, and fun little projects for the craft goblin that lives inside of me. I’m excited to soak up this energy and bring some of the many (MANY) ideas in my brain to life. I’m going to use up this transition period to make as much as possible.
Which will bring me nicely into Virgo Season.After all the fire and confidence of Leo comes Virgo with its lists, routines, organisation and very real, “okay, but how are we actually going to make this happen?” practicality.
Until then, if Jupiter is bringing a little extra luck along the way? I certainly won’t complain.
See you next month for pumpkin season x