The New Moon Total Solar Eclipse in Leo on Wednesday 12 August is the opening of a new chapter of reassessing our relationship to our egos. All eclipses fall near astrological points in the sky known as the Lunar Nodes; eclipses that fall near the North Node concern an insatiable desire for or bringing in more of something, and eclipses that fall near the South Node concern releasing and letting things go. Today’s eclipse falls near the South Node, which will be in Leo until March 2028, and is the first of two eclipses we will have in this sign. Leo is the sign that concerns itself with identity, the ego, passion and inner fire, and the Leo eclipses will initiate rapid transformation and accelerated periods of growth in these areas.
Jupiter, the planet of abundance, is also in Leo until July 2027, and on 29 July this year we had a Leo-Sun conjunction, known as a cazimi, meaning we are currently inviting in a lot of Leonine qualities. This could create a push-pull dynamic that could manifest itself as internal battles between the ego and the higher self. Reflect on your relationship to your ego: do you have a sense of self-worth that is separate from the opinions and validation of others? Do you have a low opinion of yourself and put yourself down, or do you mask low self-esteem with arrogance and bravado? True self-worth comes from within and you do not need to compare yourself to or compete with others to maintain it–if you do, these habits could be things you work on letting go of over the South Node’s stay in Leo, or you may find that they are released organically. You may also find yourself releasing outdated identities and anything that prevents you from following your passions and letting your inner light shine with the eclipse/South Node in Leo, and instead bringing in new, more authentic ways of seeing yourself as well as discovering ways to get in touch with your joie de vivre with Jupiter in Leo. You do not necessarily need to “work with” this eclipse: during eclipse season there can be unexpected events, accelerations, course-corrections and synchronicities and occurrences that feel “fated”, and it is enough to simply see what arises in your life. It could be useful to make notes of what occurs in a journal, as there could be hints as to what the South Node in Leo and its eclipses want to teach you over the next year and a half.
Eclipse season refers to the period between now and the next eclipse in Pisces on August 28, and some of the publicity surrounding it can make it feel like a daunting time. However, eclipse seasons needn’t be seen as intimidating: they are periods of rapid transformation and growth. Again, there is no need to “work with” or “optimise” the eclipse in any way other than to be an observer, and it can help to take time out during eclipse season to focus on self-care and mindful activities such as yoga and meditation to keep your nervous system in check during the buzz of the moment. Take heart in the knowledge that although letting go of attachments to old identities and harmful aspects of the ego can feel difficult, it is for your highest good and the greater good of all, and Jupiter in Leo will allow you to create a more healthy and positive self-image, and invite in more passion and joy.
