Supermoon Lunar Eclipse in Leo 🐱 Jan 20, 2019

Photo by Jim Westlake

Sunday, Jan 20 at 9:12pm PST

This full moon is a supermoon and total lunar eclipse! This is the first of three supermoons in 2019, all happening right in a row (Jan, Feb and March – the February supermoon will be the closest and largest supermoon of 2019). A supermoon can be a full moon or new moon, occurring when the moon is at perigee or within 90% of perigee (the point at which the moon is nearest to the earth in her monthly orbit). The full moon in Leo is also known as the Snow Moon. On full moons, Luna rises at sunset, peaks at midnight and sets at sunrise – and this is true all over the world, no matter your time zone. When the sun goes down, this is our cue to head outside and gaze at the moon as she rises majestically in the east. The eclipse will be visible to viewers in North and South America, northwestern Africa and western Europe.

In your mind, see the earth hovering between the moon and the sun, all in a 180 degree line – this is the planetary configuration at each month’s full moon. Trace this line from the center of the earth to the sun, and directly “behind” the sun we find the constellation of Aquarius. Follow this line through the full moon, and we find Leo the lion. Whenever the earth hangs between two planets – as it does at every full moon each month – we have an astronomical/astrological “opposition.” The supermoon lunar eclipse in Leo is an examination of the Leo-Aquarius opposition, and all the ways in which these archetypes complement one another.

Leo-Aquarius junctures unite the right and left brain. A dose of Aquarian rationale suffuses Leo’s heart, propelling us on journeys otherwise impossible. In this episode, we destroy old psychological boundaries. New boundaries suddenly emerge, and these are more helpful, healthier boundaries, not limiting or self-defeating. In redrawing these boundaries, we free ourselves from ideas that have held us captive. Aquarius evaporates binds and bonds and tethers with a wink of his magic turquoise eyes.

Leo rules self-expression. He is pure theatrical fire, like an actor on stage, singing and dancing. Despite his enthusiasm, the lion struggles to venture beyond the confines of himself. Aquarius is a passionate teacher in this respect, and thoroughly confident that his visions can single-handedly revolutionize Leo’s navel-gazing world. With these two cosmic archetypes – equally self-assured and hellishly obstinate – we can accomplish anything. Indeed, Leo and Aquarius resemble one another more than they would ever admit. Together they brew a tonic of freedom laced with healthy detachment, cerebral prowess and breakthrough moments.

Leo and Aquarius are agents of wisdom and self-empowerment. This eclipse reminds us that once we know ourselves, we have endless intellectual and spiritual fuel. Each day brings us closer to liberation and celebration. This is the Aquarian domain, where beloved aliens and nonconformists play. Aquarius takes individual consciousness and weaves it upon the great cosmic loom. Threaded and pressed, our own color fades blissfully into the rainbow.

If you are struggling to understand what is happening at this full moon, you are not unlike Leo and Aquarius, who always need to know. With or without the knowledge, we roar up to the stars with newfound freedom. Inquiring minds burst in a tongue of starlight, and the lion stretches with self-satisfaction.

This full moon forms a loose square to Uranus, ruler of Aquarius. At first this doesn’t seem like a helpful influence, and I admit that I am often guilty of writing off any squares or oppositions as inherently negative. Let’s consider for a moment that squares or oppositions (like full moons) are no better or worse than “harmonious” aspects like conjunctions (or new moons). “Hard” angles like squares are simply different teachers with different lessons. Uranus, when pressurized in a square situation, teaches us a few things. First and foremost: roll with the punches and expect the unexpected. We hear this over and over again with Aquarius/Uranus. Second: reach out to your friends and community. The solution to any Uranian/Aquarian problem always lies within the collective. Third: don’t be afraid to make noise, be loud, turn up the volume. The archetype of Aquarius is an activist, rebel and preacher. Perhaps the solution is a brazen, colorful one – a message, a march.

Not only does the moon form a square, but this full moon is also bookended by squares happening independently between other planets. An hour before the full moon, Venus and Neptune square one another. A few hours later, Mars and Saturn square off. Remember: squares are just different kinds of teachers, tough love kinds.

This eclipse is a total eclipse, or umbral eclipse. The earth’s shadow consists of two parts. The shadow cast directly behind the earth is known as the umbra, and the fainter, fan-like shadow surrounding the umbra is called the penumbra. Penumbral eclipses are considered “partial,” while umbral eclipses provide the classic lunar eclipse experience, with the moon turning deep crimson. Lunar eclipses are often called blood moons due to this change in color.

Full moons are high energy and felt not just the day of, but for days before and after. They heighten emotions and intuition, such as women experience before menstruation. During the full moon, we are more likely to overreact. It is our duty to remain calm and non-reactive no matter what. Non-reaction is the root of all journeys. Let me communicate now that we may feel especially overwhelmed or susceptible at this full moon. Perhaps it goes without saying that the supermoon + lunar eclipse combo packs a serious punch. Stay confident with Leo Yoga. To find your personal moon sign, click here.

Mantra:  I express myself