A Solar Eclipse Is Coming, Which Means It’s Time to Write Down 10 of *These*

This Saturday, August 11, the moon will make a partial solar eclipse in Leo—the final eclipse of the year. Because there were already two eclipses recently (another solar and a lunar), this summer was colloquially known as “eclipse season.” To prepare, we’ve put together a quick refresher on what this all means and, more importantly, how it may affect your life—astrologically speaking.

So, what is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse is when the moon stands between the sun and the earth, blocking or “eclipsing” the sun’s light to us on the ground floor (is Bonnie Tyler’s song making more sense now?).

I’ve heard this one is also a new moon? Can you explain?
While all solar eclipses are new moons (the very beginning of the lunar cycle when the moon reflects the least amount of light from the sun, appearing nearly invisible in the sky), most new moons are not solar eclipses. So the August 11, 2018 solar eclipse is a special occurrence.

Got it. So what does it mean for me?
New moons signify hope and new beginnings, and a solar eclipse—even a partial one—only strengthens that energy. Solar eclipses are basically new moons on caffeine. They can bring good news and opportunities and possibilities you didn’t see coming (a relationship, a job offer, etc). TLDR: Solar eclipses reveal hidden potential.

What should I—astrologically speaking—do to harness this potential?
As soon as the solar eclipse hits, at 5:58 a.m. ET, write down ten wishes. They can be short-term goals (i.e. don’t have ice cream for breakfast two days in a row; be kind when your sister asks you to screenshot a menu that she could just Google herself) or pie-in-the-sky ambitions (start writing that short story in your head; research business plans for startup consultancies). Either way, explicitly saying aloud what you want aloud will help you harness the energy of the eclipse for your gain. Think of this as a planting season, not the harvest; so no need to worry about execution yet. It’s hopes and dreams, not designs and schemes (sorry, couldn’t resist the rhyme).

Kiki O’Keeffe is an astrology writer in Brooklyn, New York. You can sign up for her newsletter, I don’t believe in astrology, or follow her Twitter @alexkiki.

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