Every so often, a series of two, sometimes three, eclipses come along and, if they have their way, completely rearrange the fabric of our lives. Astrologers say that eclipses are emotionally fraught, mentally draining and can often signal the arrival of shocking news. But they can also wipe the slate clean, offer escape routes from seemingly impossible situations, and bring the kind of life transformations that, looking back, make us think: wow, that’s when everything changed (for the better).
In other words, they’re the ultimate bookend for a new phase of life. And guess what? This month, in August, there’s two of them. First, a solar eclipse in Leo on 12 August. And then, later, a lunar eclipse in Pisces on 28 August. Here’s everything you need to know about these two major celestial events.
What is an eclipse?
A solar eclipse takes place during a new moon, when the moon passes between the sun and the earth, blocking all or part of the sunlight and casting a shadow across the earth. A lunar eclipse occurs during a full moon, when the Earth itself moves between the sun and the moon (I know, a lot to keep up with). As the old astrology joke goes, the end times arrive when the sun moves between the moon and the earth. But don’t worry, that’s not happening this August.
What eclipses mean to astrologers
Eclipses only occur when the moon is in range of one of its “nodes”—two points where the moon’s orbit crosses the sun’s path. In astrology, these nodes are significant: the North node is associated with our destiny and future, while the South node symbolises the past. It’s this alignment with the nodes that transforms an ordinary new or full moon into an eclipse, giving eclipses their life-altering flavour. If you want to dive deeper, it’s worth reading Jan Spiller’s iconic book on the subject, Astrology for the Soul, which goes into the meaning of the lunar nodes (Britney Spears gave it a shoutout on Instagram a few years back!).
A typical full moon brings culminations or endings, but a lunar eclipse draws an even firmer line between one phase of your journey and the next. Similarly, where a new moon symbolises a fresh beginning, a solar eclipse can spell a whole new paradigm. Think: the difference between a new gig and a new career. Or a new lover and a whole new approach to love. Such is the celestial power of eclipse season.
Because eclipses always come in pairs, even when situations come to an end, a new beginning is right around the corner. Doors are opening and closing, and it’s a chance to go all in on changes you might otherwise be afraid to make. The status quo tends to shift during eclipse season, so if everything’s being rearranged anyway, why not go with it? Clinging to the past, or grasping for control by trying to force things to go your way, is the surest way to set yourself up for a hard time this season.
What was special about the 12 August solar eclipse in Leo?
Leo, by way of its solar nature, symbolises transparency and clarity, and with eclipses’ tendency to spill secrets, plus chatty Mercury opposite scheming Pluto at the same time, the skeletons falling out of the closet this month could be shocking. Venus will have just passed her opposition to Neptune, so plenty of people may have their heads in the clouds, head over heels in love, or otherwise lost in their thoughts, before having to come back down to earth and face what’s being exposed.
