Eclipse season is here, and with it, one of the most significant lunations of the year.
The August 12th solar eclipse and New Moon can be compared to the opening of a door; the later lunar eclipse and full moon teaches us what we can’t take with us through.
What’s the Deal With Eclipses?
Every month we experience a New Moon and a Full Moon. Every six months or so, those lunations occur close enough to the lunar nodes that an eclipse occurs.
In astrology, the nodes represent points where the Moon’s orbit crosses the apparent path of the Sun. When a New or Full Moon occurs near one of those points, the symbolism of the lunation becomes amplified. Astronomically, eclipses are the result of the Sun, Moon, and Earth aligning near these nodes. Astrologically, they’re viewed as periods where beginnings and endings carry a little more significance than usual.
Not every eclipse is life changing, but they’re worth paying attention to.
I often see fearmongering surrounding eclipses. They have a reputation for bringing an unpredictable energy, and while that’s certainly true, they don’t create chaos out of nowhere. In my experience, they tend to accelerate stories that are already unfolding. If you’re resistant to change or fearful of transformation, eclipse energy may be jarring. If you’re moving in alignment with your goals and doing adequate self-reflection and shadow work, you may find eclipse energy to be a powerful tool.
Total Solar Eclipse in Leo
This eclipse occurs at 20° Leo, continuing Leo’s (probably preferred) place at the center of the astrological conversation.
Leo has a reputation for confidence, performance, and wanting attention, but I think that oversimplification is born of the effort to demonize self-fulfillment and self-respect. At its core, Leo is concerned with authentic self-expression, and much like the sun, shows its gratitude for being at the center of all things by shining warmly on those orbiting its glow.
Healthy Leo expression isn’t looking for applause for its own sake; it’s much more interested in wholehearted participation. It asks, “What happens when you stop asking for permission to become yourself?” and drives fuels a meaningful creative practice.
This eclipse invites us to consider where we’ve been dimming ourselves out of fear. Where visibility has felt too vulnerable; where we’ve hid pieces of ourselves away.
You don’t have to become the loudest person in the room to live a life that honestly reflects who you are.
The Part Where I Tell You This Eclipse is Extra Special
It is, though. Promise. I try to steer away from sensationalizing astrology, but total solar eclipses are worth a bit of extra attention.
While totality is an astronomical distinction rather than an astrological one, it’s hard not to see the metaphor. For a few brief moments, the Moon completely obscures the Sun before the light returns. Few astrological events are so dramatic that we are able to physically see the effects without looking for them. Much like our charismatic Leos, the message of a total solar eclipse refuses to be overlooked. Pair the two together and… you see where I’m going with this.
Reading the Eclipse Through Your Own Chart
General forecasts are useful, but astrology becomes much more actionable when you understand how transits are hitting your own chart.
This eclipse is likely to feel especially significant if you have personal planets or angles near 20° of the fixed signs:
- Taurus
- Leo
- Scoprio
- Aquarius
Different astrologers have varying approaches, but I usually work with an orb of about 4° for eclipses, since their energy is so potent. If you have a planet between roughly 16° and 24° in one of these signs, this eclipse may be worth a closer look.
Even more importantly, pay attention to the house where 20° Leo falls in your natal chart. That’s the area of your life where this New Moon is planting a seed.
If the signs and aspects tell us how the story unfolds, the house tells us where.
Nothing Happens in a Vacuum
My biggest pet peeves in astrology is ignoring the interactions between planets when interpreting transits. In Part II, I’ll explore the upcoming deep partial lunar eclipse in Pisces, and the other transits impacting the two events.
Remember, eclipse season isn’t just about new beginnings. It’s also about what we’re willing to leave behind.
A Few Questions Worth Sitting With
- Where does 20° Leo fall in your natal chart, and what area of life is this eclipse activating for you?
- What part of your life feels ready for a new chapter?
- Is there an area of your life where you’ve been playing smaller than you’re capable of?
- What would authentic self-expression look like if fear weren’t making the decisions?
- Which Leo qualities come naturally to you, and which feel uncomfortable?
- If this eclipse is planting a seed, what do you hope it grows into over the next six months?
