Solar Eclipse [28 Leo 52]
London – Monday 21st August (19:30 GMT+1)
New York – Monday 21st August (14:30 GMT-4)
Sydney – Tuesday 21st August (04:30 GMT+10)
If you don’t already know that there will be a Solar Eclipse cutting across the USA from one coast to the other on Monday 21st August, where have you been?
The media are in a frenzy, astrologers are predicting that Trump will go and Bonnie Tyler is supposedly singing ‘Total Eclipse of The Heart’ on a cruise ship as the eclipse takes place! Does it get any more sensational?
The Great American Eclipse
Eclipses have always been big news, partly because they’re visible to the human eye which is unusual in astrology. Plus an eclipse hasn’t crossed the entire United States for many years and this one will. Is it a coincidence that Trump’s Mars at 26 Leo and his Ascendant (rising sign) at 29 Leo sit either side of the eclipse degree?
Mars rules impulse, anger, irritation and we’ve recently seen Trump’s Mars in action with his ‘fire and fury’ threat directed at North Korea plus his refusal to condemn the white supremacists in Charlottesville which has angered many people. If eclipse symbolism is anything to go by, he’s heading for a fall.
A Royal Eclipse
This Solar Eclipse takes place in the royal sign of Leo and it could be a spectacular time for the royals and world rulers. Some will win, some will lose as eclipses often coincide with highs and lows in peoples’ lives. Eclipses seem to be especially synchronous for the leaders of the world and celebrity A-listers.
If you have key planets or angles at 27-29 degrees Leo (also the other fixed signs Taurus, Scorpio and Aquarius), then you’re in the firing line of this eclipse. Will you win or will you lose?
One thing’s for sure, eclipses are not a time to hold on tight but instead find a way to be on the winning team, to take advantage of a changing situation. See what happens in your life during the eclipse, bide your time a short while and then make your big decision.
Eclipses are thought of as game-changers as a shadow falls to reveal what’s over, what’s coming to an end. Once the Sun returns, a new vista appears, often lighting up a new path ahead.
Take Usain Bolt whose birthday is August 21st (1986), the day of the eclipse, and whose Sun is at 28 degrees Leo.
Bolt came to the World Championships in London earlier this month as the world no. 1 sprinter but crashed out in spectacular fashion.
He could only achieve bronze in the 100 m, losing to an Aquarius (Leo’s opposite sign), Justin Gatlin and in the 4 x 100m relay he pulled up with cramp and didn’t complete the race. It was a sad end for his sprinting career but no doubt this won’t be the last we’ll see of him. His ability to entertain in true Leo fashion was a hallmark of his time spent on the track and I’m sure he’ll reinvent himself.
The Uranus Factor
So what about you and me? What does this Solar Eclipse mean for us? Where in life can we start over? Before you leap into action, it is important to note that something or someone can be eclipsed in your life during eclipse season. And yet, it could also propel you to greatness. Take a look at the Solar Eclipse chart below if you know your astrology.
On the day of the eclipse, live-wire Uranus at 28 Aries makes a very close trine aspect to the Sun and Moon at 28 Leo. This feels innovative, inventive, excitable, demanding change. Therefore focus on what’s new, push for reform, make a genius move. Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) are motivators who thrive on being positive and taking leaps of faith.
The eclipse isn’t the end of the planetary activity around 28 degrees Leo/Aries either. The spark that’s generated by this week’s Solar Eclipse continues to flicker or burst into life on the following dates:
- September 2 2017: Mars 28 Leo trine Uranus 28 Aries
- September 3 2017: Mercury Retrograde conjunct Mars – 28 Leo
- September 5-7 2017: Mercury turns direct – 28 Leo
- September 18 2017: Venus 28 Leo trine Uranus 28 Aries
- December 10 2017: Saturn 28 Sagittarius 52 (trine 28 Leo degree)
Events in the first week of September are key as Mars (passion/anger) and Mercury (communication) meet at 28 Leo. Plus, Uranus will return to 28 Aries in April 2018, December 2018 & January 2019. Moves made on the back of this Solar Eclipse could reverberate for some time to come and Uranus is a key player adding a fresh dimension to the eclipse.
Yes, this does exaggerate the unpredictable element associated with eclipses, but Uranus at its best is brilliant, rebellious and original. If you harness this fiery energy well, you can become an agent of change.
Star Sign Guidance
Here’s a quick guide to which area of your life is in the eclipse zone. Read both your Sun sign and your Ascendant for the full picture:
Leo: Self, image, name, your identity
Virgo: Retreat, quiet time, seclusion, service to others, introspection
Libra: Friends, groups, social networks, political agendas, hopes & wishes
Scorpio: Career, vocation, status, your role in the public eye
Sagittarius: Travel, education, learning, your philosopy of life
Capricorn: Joint finances, sex, life’s mysteries
Aquarius: Relationships, your 1-to-1’s both personal & professional
Pisces: Health, work, your everyday lifestyle & routine
Aries: Children, creativity, entertainment, love affairs, luck
Taurus: Home, family, your past, where you come from
Gemini: Communication, siblings, neighbours, your local community
Cancer: Money, resources, your personal values
Eclipse Advice
Tradition states that you’re wise to wait a few days after an eclipse before making a big decision or taking action. This is because an eclipse often brings what’s hidden to light. Meditate on the eclipse, be still, listen to your inner guidance. What’s foreground, significant; what’s hidden, in the shadows? Trust whatever’s bubbling away and set your intentions to be one of life’s winners.
Great article!…
My sun sign is Aries, moon aries, venus and ascendant in Taurus. (4/11/1975).. The week leading up to the eclipse and mercury retrograde has left me feeling tired but has definitely revealed the areas I have to change. Change of job, work einviroment has become too toxic for me to tolerate in the long term. Plus, I know my soulmate is out there…my intuition tells me after the eclipse…all will be revealed. Or at least give me insight on what I need to do.
Thanks, Paulette. Yes, it’s a good idea to take it easy during this eclipse otherwise your energy levels could dip. Self-care & relaxation are important for you especially if you get too hyper, busy at times. Your love astrology gets interesting later this year – October could be fun! Good luck.
Hi Sally
Thanks as always for your highly readable and helpful blog posts. I can comprehend the notion of the effect of an eclipse when it’s in conjunction with a planet, but what if, like me, the aspect is an opposition?
With my natal sun at 29 Aquarius 58’ and in the 5th house, I’m assuming the solar eclipse will have a big impact upon me.
As I’ve doubtless told you before, in 1998 I got divorced and by July 1999 I’d had to leave my beloved job, and move back up to my native Yorkshire with my 2-year old son. I eventually managed to make a new life up here, becoming (much to my amazement) a teacher and changing my career path from marketing, the being made redundant 11 years later. You correctly predicted about 2 years ago that I would find a new post, and that contract lasted until December last year, but I’m now back in a similar situation to 1999, without regular employment and not in a relationship. I have just started to set up a small craft textiles business with a friend, based upon using recycled and waste fabrics, which hopefully will finally make use of my Grand Trine in Water!! (ha ha!). I also have Uranus at 23 Leo, although I suspect the orb is too wide to have an impact-?
I’d be interested to know about how the opposition of my natal Sun to the eclipse might play out. Like your previous correspondent I am also feeling very tired at the moment (I’ve got Venus and Moon conjunct in Aries too!), so I’m taking it easy this weekend! Hope you enjoyed your holiday, by the way!
hi Rachel, thank you and yes, holiday was lovely! You’re looking at a 2 degree orb for the eclipse so it’s the opposition to your Sun that’s most interesting. An opposition from the eclipse is likely to bring something to an end, so think 11th house/5th house – it may relate to a friendship, a group association or a new chapter for your son or a creative project. Good luck with everything.
Hi Sally
Natally I don’t have anything at those degrees. However, my solar return chsrt for this year has north node at 27 Leo and Mc at 25 Leo. Any significance re this?
Thanks for these posts. They are really helpful to translate the astro into our own lives.
Hmm, not sure. Perhaps keep an eye out for new career/vocation opportunities. It would be quite unusual though to influence a Solar Return.
Hi Sally,
It’s my birthday today and total solar eclipse! I have been reading to find out what that might mean for me. I have Scorpio Ascendant, Mars in Taurus, Moon in Scorpio, Uranus in Leo, Venus in Leo. In 1998 big changes started in my life, new career and marriage hit the rocks big time with final separation in July 2000. Upheaval lasted 8 years. In 2008 I started in a new job which I m still in and has been good. Is this going to be a good change or a bad one?
Hope it is not like it was in 1998!
Thank you
hi Mavy, again hard to tell without a birth date. The Solar Eclipse in Leo is often about reinvention when it hits your Sun. Is the Sun connected to your 10th house/career? Maybe a leg up or closing a door to open a new one? Keep a close eye on rumours, new opportunities.
thank you for the reply. Yes the Sun is in my 10th house and my career is what interests me most now. Hope the eclipse is a good influence. Thanks for these posts, really interesting.
Hi Sally
Am a scorpio 01/11/82
I have been trying to do a phd for awhile to leave my current job of 4yrs and found out that i missed the current funding for this year but the week running up to eclipse, i got a call for a contract role which could lead to flexible but very profitable work! The first meeting was scheduled on eclipse day! I cant place my mind on whats ending, whats starting, so confusing! However the eclipse of 1998 i went abroad to study abruptly!
From a solar perspective, the eclipse is in your 10th house of career so this looks promising! You also have a run of Jupiter transits starting in September so I’d say go for it! As you say it could prove profitable and bring in new opportunities. More information may come to light once Mercury turns direct on September 5th. You might not have the full picture until then.
Hi Sally
Forgot to mention
I was born in the afternoon between 13.00-14.00
01/11/82
Dear sally
Does an eclipse hide and conceal things?
Venus 21 degree Leo. Too wide orb.
I only have Minerva 0 Pisces – 1 degree opposite. Venus 21 degree Leo. You dont use asteroids. Happy to hear anything u know.
Thank you kindly
Yes, too wide an orb for your Venus. An eclipse throws a shadow and when it clears a new picture is revealed. So it brings what’s hidden to light.
Hi Sally! Loved your article! Quite explanatory actually… I was wondering though how this eclipse my affect me, or which areas of my life could be affected in this case. I am a Sun Leo, born August 14th with a Capricorn Rising sign. I have Leo in 8th and 9th houses, one of them at 28 degrees like the eclipse, can’t remember which though. I also have Aquarius in house 3 at 28th degrees. As I write this, is Aug 22nd and I am lying down on my bed, on recovery after suffering an accident in the street coming out from work this afternoon. The accident was totally shocking and unexpected of course.. It’s one day after the eclipse and I don’t know if this has something to do with all this celestial activity. Thanks a bunch in advance for your insights Sally!
Blimey, Alexandra, that’s an eclipse shock! I don’t know what other planets are in your chart but being a Sun Leo, this is an important eclipse cycle for you. What’s the accident awakening in you? That might be an odd question but look at what you feel called to do or drawn towards whilst you recover. Sending best wishes.
Thank you so much for your comments ma’am! The accident did awake some thoughts on leaving my current job by early December this year, that is, quit this job and start looking for something more suitable for my expectations. My current workplace is too far away from home, and I have to travel about an hour every day to get there. Plus, there’s this “feeling insecure” in that place, and now that the accident took place, I’m a bit more aware of the fact that my life could be at risk. The accident did not leave very several or important consequences on my body (I was hit by a motorcycle, thrown and fell on the floor, and I have a couple of bruises in one of my legs, that’s it) but boy did it scare me! It was very shocked at the moment since it was very unexpected! Did not see the motorbike while crossing the street as it came out from behind another vehicle, accelerating of course….
As for your question about the planets in my chart, here’s what I found: moon in Taurus; Mercury, Venus and Mars in Leo (but none of them in the eclipse degree, only Mars at 24°53′ which is the closest degree to 28°). I’ve also found that Leo in ninth house is the one at 28°38′. And then, I also have Aquarius in second and third houses. The third house Aquarius is also at 28°38’… Don’t know if all those aspects can actually indicate how the eclipse might affect me…
3rd house rules transport so I’d listen to your intuition. Accidents can be seen as a symbol of a wake-up call and I guess your plans to change jobs are spot on. Good luck with your healing and moving forwards.
Hi Sally- I just love and look forward to reading your horoscopes! I’m curious if you have any more thoughts as to how the August 21st eclipse we just had may affect me? I sure hope it’s positive because my working environment is very toxic and dysfunctional like another reader has mentionred, and it’s very draining both physically and emotionally.
I
My sun is in cancer, moon in Leo, ascendant in aries, and venus in Gemini. My birthday is 7/14/1961. I was born at 11:51 PM. Any insight you have would be wonderful. Thanks & have a great day!
It falls on your north node so it feels like time to step out of your comfort zone and do something wild and crazy! Hope that makes sense to you.
Dear Sally! This is such a great write up on the eclipse…That left me hoping I’ll end up in the winning camp haha… My DOB is Aug.17, 1973, so my Leo Sun is at almost 24 deg… with 29 deg Leo/Aqua IC/MC… meaning this eclipse was smacked between my Sun and my IC…obviously closer to the IC. Not sure if 24 Sun is considered too far from this one – what do you think?? I know the Lunar one we had in February was closer…but not sure how that one affected me to be honest.
Am I right to be happy to see all the good fire aspects, and the transit NN on my Sun? And should I worry given this eclipse’s proximity to my IC?? Either way I am fairly certain big changes are ahead given what transpired back in 1998-2000, as well as 2008-2009!
1998 phase brought HUGE life changes… I broke up a long relationship, fell madly in love with another guy (an Aquarius who was equally hit by the eclipse…in fact we met pretty much on the day of the eclipse in August 1998!!!)… that was long distance and while it was intense and really wonderful, it fell apart within a year or so…I then moved across the world to California, and had a pretty great time there for a while… then in 2008 (!) I decided I needed a change (!) and moved to NYC… took a new job (had the interview for it right around the eclipse mid August) that I still regret leaving… not sure what possessed me but yes,I got really antsy and left it all by June-July 2010…I was missing LA so I just went back, without any clear ideas and concrete jobs in mind… oh and another big thing during that eclipse season, I lost my favorite aunt in 2009, she died in June, she was barely in her early 50s… we were pretty close. and this was the first big life loss for me… so those two eclipse seasons turned out to be both good and bad, overall.
Anyhow, since moving back I’ve been freelancing, I’ve had two concussions, I’ve been depressed, lonely, and so on… all in all, as much as I wanted to be happy back in my beloved Los Angeles, I haven’t had the greatest time… Needless to say, I turned 40 in the meantime and sort of started drawing all sorts of conclusions – where, why, what am I doing with myself… (I think mid life crisis was hitting hard… with no family of my own, no more career drive and passion that I used to have, random health issues etc etc.) All in all it felt like life was sort of passing by me, without me participating much… So since it just went on for too long, and I felt weaker and weaker, I ended up picking myself up and moving back to Europe after almost 20 years… so I can spend time with my parents in their early 70s, other family, some friends… WOW. Boy does it feel strange…I made that crazy move last Summer (of 2016) and while I am happy to be spending time with parents and reconnecting with some old friends, it’s been rather difficult adjusting here, and I am just not sure that this is where I should be… I can’t help but wonder what this IC/MC eclipse wants me to do …whether this actually IS a good time to be at “home” sort of… given the 9th House South Node perhaps it’s better not to worry about running back to “foreign land” at this time… but then again, this was the exact same position of Nodes and the exact same set of eclipses when I first made the big move across the ocean so perhaps it’s fine to go back… I am really not sure!! It’s all very confusing, and I hate that I am this lost. Whenever I knew what I wanted, it all opened up nicely…While i am still here, I’m thinking of connecting some of my old LA biz contacts with local professionals here and organize some sort of a business from it… perhaps that’s a good thing to do in this particular IC/MC eclipse, connect the two worlds…??? Or – could it mean that my old work contacts can be useful? Aaah. Sorry about this long darn essay… I just need new energy and new ideas in terms of work. Overall I need to get my life back on track…wherever I end up living it. So I’m hoping this eclipse will help with that. And perhaps you can shed some light 🙂 Either way, thank you for all your efforts and for this blog. It is fabulous!!!
Interesting story and the big moves in your life seem very linked to the current eclipse cycle. Not surprising with the Sun in Leo conjunct your IC, so it’s about home for you. Interesting that you moved ‘home’ last year as August 2016 was the start of the current Leo/Aquarius eclipse cycle. So I guess that means you’re right to stay in Europe now. Also you have a strong pull in your chart between duty & responsibility, including taking care of your parents, and a desire for freedom & change. Try and balance the two to feel most fulfilled, don’t let one dominate over the other. Good luck moving forwards. best, Sally
Thank you Sally. Guess I am still struggling with finding that balance, will try the best I can. Many thanks for your insight!
Sally! Sorry I’m just realizing how long my post actually is. I understand if you don’t approve/publish it. My apologies again. If there is any other way for you to comment on it, I’ll appreciate it. I will nevertheless continue following and reading the blog. Many thanks!
Thanks Sally, my dob is 22/12/1977 (Alwaye in India). As Leo ascendant will this eclipse cycles bring love to me?