What will you risk during the Total Solar Eclipse of Love? Possibilities, not Inevitabilities
I’m using words in this article like Risk, Fun, Joy, Heart, Playfulness and Love, Bravery and Courage because they are associated with the Sign Leo. Leo is a steady burning, Fixed Fire Sign. The Sun is ruled by Leo and offers us life force and life purpose.
(The life purpose of the Sun is different from the Soul’s purpose; however, it all rolls into one as life is lived. And, we’ll leave that topic for another article.)
The Sun represents our Mission. Whatever sign and house the Sun resides in, tells us a lot about what will make us HAPPY. So will the 5th house as it is ruled naturally by Leo, the 5th sign.
Total Solar Eclipses occur during a New Moon and, this August, the eclipse amplifies the Sun and Moon in Leo. During the eclipse period the Moon will block out the face of the Sun creating a shadow that passes across the geography it travels.
You can imagine how we may get an inkling during this Total Solar Eclipse, as the Moon covers the Sun, of a hidden condition or situation in our lives which could mean the difference between being “on path,” happy, in love, loving ourselves or living a life of purpose. We may become aware of a necessary RISK, or the desire to be COURAGEOUS and BRAVE to actualize our Purpose. We may observe a door closing in our lives, an ending, and a new or altered path opening.
Leo rules the Spinal Column
Our health during this Solar Eclipse can also provide some of us information. How is our Vital Energy? Can we observe vibrations in the chest or upper back or spinal column? Our bodies may give some of us further information about Love and our Hearts. Our calves may feel tight when we resist moving forward toward our destiny. (Especially for some who have personal planets in Leo or Aquarius.)
Besides the Sun and the Moon, able-bodied and heart-centered (while in Leo) Mars, supports the intentions of the eclipse with steady fire and an aura of bravery and confidence. Mars in Leo is a big player in the drama of this Total Solar Eclipse of Love. Mars is part of a wide Grand Trine with the Sun/Moon, Saturn and Uranus. Trines can help actions come together quickly — sometimes too speedily, which can trip us up later if we haven’t taken time to consider at least some possible outcomes and have a back-up plan.
Motivates Action
The warrior planet will make, at least from August 19 to September 2, a potent window with opportunity to take action. The range of awareness is different for everyone. Tap into the spirit of audacity, fearlessness and heroics sooner than later. At the same time, consider the risks before jumping into the fire.
Then there is our friend, helper and trickster, Mercury, who is retrograde between August 12 to September 5. Mercury goes direct at the eclipse point in Leo, useful for understanding, making choices and being generous in communication.
The retrograde period is suitable and helpful for digging deep, going inward, but, please, no overboard analyzation or self-criticism, better to care for personal well-being and loose ends.
Use your brain, your body, your heart. Get to know who you are and what your Mission of Love is.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu.
The Details
Lunary Eclipse/Full Moon at 15° Aquarius 14′.
August 12. Mercury Retrograde. 11° Virgo 38′.
August 21. 11:30:10 PDT. Total Eclipse of the Sun at 28° Leo 53′.
August 22. Mars in Leo trines Saturn in Sagittarius. Act unwaveringly from the heart using concrete knowledge and wisdom, so the odds of the risk improve.
August 26. Mars in Leo conjoins the North Node in Leo. Take measures to brighten the path toward your Destiny.
September 2. Mars in Leo trines Uranus in Aries. Perform according to your own individual gifts defeating external conditioning.
September 5. Mercury Direct. 28° Leo 25′. Decisions and information related to the Eclipse time. Some drama? Possibly. Better yet, how about exuding verbal generosity.
Since the July New Moon in Leo I already have an idea about the influence for me. In fact, in a way I feel like I’m writing this for me! I suspect, you may be noticing something in your own life. If not, that’s ok. I’ll explain why in the Eclipse Families section.
At the end of this article we’ll have some Leo fun with some possibilities, but not inevitabilities for you. Where eclipses are most powerful tend to be for countries and nations, also, political leaders. It’s trickier to figure out whether we will be impacted personally.
What will you risk during the Total Solar Eclipse of Love?
The Eclipse Families or Saros Cycle
19 Pairs of Eclipse Families- The Saros Cycles
Every year I learn and absorb more information about eclipses. This information comes from astrologer, Bernadette Brady’s work. There are links to her work in the Resources section.
Not every Solar Eclipse affects everyone the same or even at all.
Not every Solar Eclipse has the same symbolism even if it falls in the same sign, because each eclipse belongs to a family of eclipses.
- the family name is Saros.
- there are 19 Saros family pairs– one for each Node of the Moon, so 38 individual families.
- the children eclipses of the family are born 18 years apart.
- each family has an original birthdate.
- the dates of all the eclipses in the family is called a Saros Series.
- the dates of all the Saros Series is the Saros Cycle.
- 1280 years is roughly the time it takes to complete a series.
That is a lot to absorb. Each family’s has unique symbolism based on the birthdate. That means one Solar Eclipse in Leo is not the same as another.
- On August 21, 1998 there was a 28° Leo 48′ Eclipse.
- On August 21, 2017 there is a 28° Leo 53′ Eclipse.
They look pretty close, right? There are similar possibilities because of the Leo nature. The wrinkle is that those Eclipses are part of two different families. We know this at a glance because they are 19 years, and not 18 years, apart.
- On August 21, 1998 there was a 28° Leo 48′ Eclipse. North Node Family 19. Born in 1331.
- On August 21, 2017 there is a 28° Leo 53′ Eclipse. North Node Family 1. Born in 1639.
Their evolutionary path is quite different. Because these cycles are so, so very long, how can we predict what one will mean for us? Those ideas can be found in Bernadette Brady’s book Predictive Astrology which has a listing of 19 pairs of Eclipse Families.
As a general statement, the 1331 family series, is a more practical Saturnian one, while the 1639 (current influence) family has a more chaotic Uranian flavor, possibly dealing with strong relationship issues, groups, community. There could be light bulb moments, erratic decisions. Information initially received may not be complete or available or even accurate.
Brady writes of an “essence of tiredness or health problems attached to it.” This is why we write, again, consider the risks before jumping into the fire. This may not be relevant to you at all. But it might.
Sounds wishy washy? The cycles are so long and human lives are so short that it makes more sense to consider the sign and the house the eclipse falls in. Then stay present and watchful for what is revealed in your life experience.
A final thought on Eclipse Families. Which one do you belong to? The pre-natal Solar Eclipse.
The pre-natal Solar Eclipse is the last Solar Eclipse prior to own’s birth. This is the closest we can come to aligning ourselves with an Eclipse Family.
I have reviewed for myself, that Solar Eclipses occurring in Family Series: 15 North Node (my pre-natal eclipse family) have been significant times in my own life. That said, the Family Series: 1 North Node, cycle has been significant in the past and feels significant now. Why? Because both families’ eclipses have resonated to personal planets in the birth chart.
Side note: The pre-natal Lunar and Solar Eclipses are used in Medical Astrology. These pre-natal points can be activated during transits and progressions. More in Medical Astrology: Healing for the 21st Century, by Marcia Starck
August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse 11:30 AM PDT
The Possibilities
For fun! Your actual birth patterns, consciousness, psychology and evolution AND your ECLIPSE FAMILY may alter or negate these playful prognostications. (Well, as playful as a Scorpio Moon Astrology website can get.)
Aries Rising/Sun in Aries/Leo 5th House
Let the games begin. It’s full on Leo energy for you! Aries is a pioneer with some more independent than others, ready to jump into the fire without much forethought. This eclipse may reveal a suppressed talent of yours or one of your offspring. Something that even you have not dared to investigate. Careful, cuz it can quickly become dramatic and clean-up may be required. Pay attention to your heart and your friendship network.
Taurus Rising/Sun in Taurus/Leo 4th House
What’s going on at home or in your personal environment? Is it affecting your work or because of the stress of your current position? This eclipse is about your emotional world. Stress from work can be projected through family members. Love every bit of every emotion you have, even the so-called ‘negative’ ones. Then let go, get some rest, so the heart of the matter can be witnessed objectively.
Gemini Rising/Sun in Gemini/Leo 3rd House
Clever social Gemini can never know enough. This Solar Eclipse reveals the heart of the matter with facts, with a dose of fiction tossed into the mix. What is true and what is not? Your current reality may undergo an overhaul. You may explore previously unregistered options. Double check your super-extraordinary senses for love vibes. Your sensitive hands are being rewired to tune into the facts of love.
Cancer Rising/Sun in Cancer/Leo 2nd House
“Hello Cancer, let me introduce you to your special self— your inner self,” says this eclipse. Your values, matters of self-reliance, security, self-love may be part of the Solar Eclipse scenario for you. Are you expressing your life through your value system or others? Is money, debt, risky spending part of the picture? What is your most cherished resource? Can you risk loving yourself, all of your self, inner child, outer child, all parts? Can you think of a down side? I can’t.
Leo Rising/Sun in Leo/Leo 1st House
You are LEO. A creative being in action ruled by the brightest light in the sky— which will be temporarily blocked out by the Moon. Is your own Light obstructed? If there is something you are avoiding or hiding from, then this eclipse could tell you through your physical body, your heart and through instinct. Stand straight, stretch out your spine. Chaos in other people’s lives can be a reflection of chaos inside you, a sign that your sense of purpose is being overhauled.
Virgo Rising/Sun in Virgo/Leo 12th House
During an Eclipse the Sun is hidden. This is more emphasized for Virgo. The mysteries of the hidden realms, from spiritual ones to those containing ancient fears are opened like an exit hatch floating from an old reality to a new one. How that looks depends on how bravely you can BE in limbo, while waiting for illumination of the next vision. Dreaming, meditating from the heart, and caring for loose ends related to health, may serve you better than analyzing or requiring concrete answers.
Libra Rising/Sun in Libra/Leo 11th House
Some astrology books call the 11th house the luckiest house in the birth chart. Is that completely true? Hard to tell. Let’s say it is, for Leo Fun. Could it mean this is a Lucky Eclipse for you? Or is this an eclipse where you come closer to the recognizing the urgent need to act on your deep hopes and wishes… your aspirations? That could feel like a risk especially if Libra energy wants to make sure everyone else is ok about it, before doing anything. Most important— step back, be objective. What talents, what inherent gifts, are personally meaningful? If you do what you love, you are on track.
Scorpio Rising/Sun in Scorpio/Leo 10th House
If any sign was going to have a prominent display of eclipse activity, then it would be Scorpio. Bottom line, the world has a front row seat to any drama — love, profession, home life— that emanates from this Solar Eclipse. Whatever has been brewing in your unconscious or your emotional body, has potential to burst into a steady resolute flame. If the deep material is hidden to you, it may be pointed out by mentors or authorities. Purge out the stressors, embrace your purpose.
Sagittarius Rising/Sun in Sagittarius/Leo 9th House
An eclipse that reveals a new direction of your personal philosophy? If your belief system doesn’t seem to jive with reality, this eclipse could represent the urge to dump your old mental attachments on the side of the road and head down an alternate path to search for Truth. It could be time to start a journey in a sunny, hot place. Maybe you are already there— at drama camp— fighting fires.
Capricorn Rising/Sun in Capricorn/Leo 8th House
This is an eclipse of getting down to the core, to the bottom line. It’s especially intense because it opens up a well of human conditions generically labeled as ‘life and death’ matters: intimacy, sexuality, survival, partnership, births, deaths. Psychological investigation of deep emotional patterns, even secrets, could be revealed. Sure, there could be drama, but what a relief when revelations lead to emotional healing over time.
Aquarius Rising/Sun in Aquarius/Leo 7th House
This is a special relationship eclipse for those under the influence of this Eclipse Family. The trick is to uncover the hidden gift of that special someone. Don’t assume that it is a significant partner; it could be a client, an attorney, a superstar, even a teacher. People close to you will have something going on their lives that insists on revealing itself to you or bringing you into the equation. This information could be useful and liberating.
Pisces Rising/Sun in Pisces/Leo 6th House
Can you truly say that you LOVE the flow of your life? Are you as well as you can be? Are you a master at your craft or your work? Do you receive the recognition you would like for your work? This eclipse can send life into a analytical crisis if you are swimming upstream doing what you don’t want to do. Yep, health issues do reveal themselves for some when a Total Solar Eclipse occurs in the 6th house, but not for all. There have to be other factors present. This is an Eclipse of the Heart. Will you care for yours?
Resources for a Total Solar Eclipse of Love
- Countdown to the Eclipse from TimeandDate.com
- Yearly Eclipse List
- Book Review: Eclipse Expert Bernadette Brady
- Bernadette Brady’s Website Article on Eclipse Families and the Saros Cycle – PDF File
- The Eclipse crosses a swath of North America from the Pacific Northwest in the States to South Carolina. Path of Eclipse from NASA
- All eclipses happen close to one of the Lunar Nodes. This time it is the North Node. Article: Lunar Nodes Sign Change to Leo/Aquarius
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