TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE IN LEO
31 January 2018, 14h30 GMT
Our first eclipse of 2018 takes place on the last day of the first month in the regal and creative sign of Leo. Let’s find out what this is likely to signify astrologically…
MAJOR THEMES
The first Lunar Eclipse for 2018 will not only occur in the same sign as the last solar eclipse of 2017 (Aug 2017), but it will also be both a Blue Moon AND a Super Moon…
You don’t get any more dramatic than a Super Moon lunar eclipse in Leo, frankly! Not only will this Full Moon be very large and prominent in the sky, making it a lot easier to see it take on the blood red colour of the earth’s shadow, but it will also be a Blue Moon.
In essence, Blue Moons are the second of two full moons to take place within the same month. You could say that it is the universe’s way of underlining the need to release/celebrate whatever issue or situation the sign of Leo has come to represent for you since the Leo solar eclipse of August 2017.
Ideally, the best way to do this is to consult an astrologer, who can tell you where the Sun and Moon will be located in your chart at the time of the eclipse. You can also get a rough idea by ordering a natal report, which will show you exactly how the zodiac is divided up by your 12 houses. However, in the absence of that option, you can read my forecast – although more general in scope and interpretation, it will give you some indication of the themes and symbolism at work around this time.
General themes
All lunar eclipses occurs at Full Moon, which always signifies a time of FINISHING OFF/CELEBRATION/CULMINATION. This energy is given a further boost by being both a Super Moon and a Blue Moon.
Consider this eclipse, then, to be a cosmic full stop or exclamation mark – a rather loud and possibly dramatic reminder of what you need to let go of or leave behind. In many ways, it seems designed to emphasise the fact that we have now entered a new year and it is time to draw a line under certain emotional, health or domestic priorities which may have dominated your innermost thoughts and taken up a great deal of your emotional energy during the last half of 2017.
These are likely to have revolved Leo-based themes such as:
- Self expression and individuality
- Self confidence and public masks/personas
- Fame, leadership and positions of power
- Creativity, personal flair and displays of flamboyance
- Playfulness, leisure, children and the ability to relax, kid around and enjoy yourself
However, now with the Sun in the opposite corner of the sky, such themes are now likely to be counter-balanced by factors such as:
- Peer pressure, the needs/demands of friends, social obligations, group acceptance/popularity
- Altruism, social conscience, humanitarianism
- Team playing, group anonymity
- Sublimating individual/ego needs to that of the group/the bigger picture
- Scientific or technical endeavours, fact-based research
- Emotional detachment, the need for a cool head
Remember that at Full Moon, the Sun and Moon are in opposite parts of the sky, which points to the need to rebalance conflicting needs or polarised states such as heart vs head, masculine vs feminine and inner vs outer.
Degree and Sabian Symbol
This eclipse occurs in the 12th degree of Leo, the Sabian symbol for which is:
An evening lawn party.
This has both a social dimension to it (a party) and a rather decadent feel about it – people dressing up, looking to see and be seen; eating and drinking, and partying/enjoying themselves – all of which is very much in keeping with the sign of Leo.
The suggestion of this degree then, is that there may well be a social aspect to events that occur between now and the solar eclipse on 15 February 2018. Perhaps you will spend it with friends, celebrating some sort of personal milestone/success? Given that this eclipse is also very much about endings, it could even take the form of a divorce party or retirement/leaving do – a positive and fun way to commemorate the end of an era or chapter in your life.
Leo is generally a pretty upbeat sign, but one that loves applause and recognition, so the idea seems to be stop and take a round of applause; rest and let your hair down after a period of hard work, or perhaps draw a line under a goal or project you have been working towards achieving over the last six months or so in a constructive way.
Lynda Hill of the Sabian Oracle offers the following interpretations of this degree:
Keywords: Rising above superficiality into receptivity. Enjoying social settings. Formal versus impromptu. Catering. Leisure time. Conversations. Invitation lists. Socializing.
The Caution: Superficiality where things are known but not said out loud. Appearance and social standing too important. Ignoring or evading issues. Political correctness.
Key Aspects
At the time of this eclipse, the Moon will be travelling close to the North Node, suggesting that whatever you choose to work on or let go of now will be for your highest good and so even if not easy or straightforward, should be attempted with sincerity and determination.
The Sun, currently travelling through Aquarius, where it is not terribly happy (traditionally it is said to be in detriment) will conjunct Venus in Aquarius. This means that Venus will be getting it from both sides in terms of an onslught by the luminaries. On the one hand, she will be under the rays of the Sun, which could be interpreted as a female/feminine qualities which are being upstaged/outshone/overshadowed by a prominent or domineering male figure.
On top of this, she and the Moon – usually her planetary ally in cosmic terms – will be opposition – and so essentially at loggerheads. Two females fighting over one male? Or simply one rather glamorous but standoffish female versus one who is emotionally demanding and requires a lot of attention.
Mercury, symbol of thoughts, words, commerce and travel, will also ingress into Aquarius on the same day as this eclipse, giving this particular day a liminal feel to it. It is also possible that this emphasis on Aquarius will mean that although some of us may feel a strong desire to draw attention to ourselves and focus on our own emotional needs, that we will not be allowed to forget our responsibilities to others, and to society now. In other words, it’s not all about me, me, me now!
Fixed Stars
Venus will be orbiting close to the Sun in Aquarius at the time of this eclipse. Venus will be close to the fixed star, Sualochin, which forms part of the part of the constellation of Delphinus, giving us a wonderful image of a dolphin swimming amongst the waves of the waters of Aquarius.
Ptolemy described this constellation as being of the nature of Saturn and Mars:
It gives a simple appearance, cheerfulness, dissembling and duplicity, love of hunting, and sport in general but little happiness. There is a fondness for pleasure, ecclesiastical matters and travel, but danger of suffering from ingratitude. [1]
Sualochin is the star which forms the curved back of the dolphin, which Bernadette Brady sees as being ‘Tantalising but naive,’ which fits well with the childlike but charismatic qualities of Leo, the sign of this particular eclipse.
Geographical position
This eclipse will take place across most of east Asia, Australia and Western Canada – see: 
The eclipse will begin at around 31 Jan, 10:51:13 and last until around 16:08:29 UTC.
For more information, and a diagram of its visibility, visit the NASA website.
Past Precedent
This group of lunar eclipses (Van den Berg Saros no. 124) previously occurred in 1909, 1927, 1945, 1963, 1982, 2000 and will not take place again until 2036.
