The Solar Eclipse On August 21 Will Change Everything

By now you've probably heard about the major August 21 total solar eclipse at the Leo new moon. You know, the first one to be visible in North America since 1991? The one with sold-out viewing parties and all-night dance festivals and $2,000-plus per night Airbnbs in the Oregon Outback? No joke, kids, it's going to be an event.

For a brief window of time this August 21, those savvy enough to have reserved a campsite will see the Moon basically block out the Sun. Before this, the heavens will also deliver a lunar (full moon) eclipse on August 7. Alas, that one arrives at 2:10 p.m. EDT, so not so much a spectacle to behold in the skies.

In astrology, the moon represents the feminine archetype of the mother. It also governs what we as humans need to feel safe and comfortable; it is the astro-arbiter of our emotions. (For some stunning self-revelations, we suggest running a natal chart to look up your moon sign and discover your emotional blueprint.)

The Sun, on the other hand, is classically associated with the masculine realm and the father. It also rules the ego (it's the center of the solar system that everything revolves around, after all). In a birth chart, the Sun reveals the sources from which we draw our power and energy.

At 2:30 p.m. EDT on August 21, the feminine Moon will block out the patriarchal Sun, like, "Nevertheless she persisted!" In a year that will no doubt be immortalized as The Patriarchy Gone Wild, this is insanely significant. Could it be another prompt from the cosmos for the divine feminine to rise? (Like a Women's March on the solar system, if you will.)

We also have to consider the zodiac signs that the eclipses fall in. From February 2017 until January 2019, these lunar events will fall on the Aquarius-Leo axis, illuminating the tug o' war between these two opposing signs.

The lunar (full moon) eclipse on August 7 falls in "power to the people" Aquarius, a community-minded energy that can be radically progressive or straight-up populist, depending on how it's used.

This eclipse could mobilize the masses and potentially deepen the divide that's already been cleaved between left and right. Or it could also serve as a unifying wake-up call, reminding the humans of Planet Earth that we need to band together for survival's sake, especially given the alarming realities of climate change.

Aquarius governs technology, the internet, and science. Will this full moon's beams expose the cybercriminals behind the election hacking and Russia scandals?

Be sure to protect all your sensitive data—and maybe switch up your personal server to a VPN (virtual private network) to keep your web browsing and preferences away from hackers and data miners.

The solar (new moon) eclipse on August 21 arrives in Leo, the sign of glamour and the gilded royal. In 2017, we've seen the many ways the power corrupts as authoritarian leaders rise to prominence around the globe.

We're also seeing a new breed of conscious leaders step forward to shift the tide. And given the feminine moon's very visible appearance, this eclipse could be the wake-up call for women to step into leadership roles or for governments to adopt legislation that protects and serves the female population.

Deeply Freudian and buried feelings will be on blast during these eclipses, especially the total solar eclipse on the 21st since the moon will be on parade. Did you even have a clue you were upset about that situation? Nope. But eclipses have a funny way of ripping up the rugs where we've buried our pain.

During the lunar eclipse on the 7th, we can lean in to Aquarius' high-minded cool: What is the cosmic lesson in the pain? Doesn't everything happen for a reason? It's all karmic growth!

Aries: Keeping your maverick spirit alive while still being a team player.

Taurus: Pursuing major goals without losing heart and soul.

Gemini: Speaking your truth without drowning out other perspectives.

Cancer: Keeping things straightforward and simple instead of getting lost in the complex weeds.

Leo: Curbing people-pleasing and looking for win-wins instead.

Virgo: Becoming curious about people who think differently instead of judging them.

Libra: Standing your ground in the face of groupthink.

Scorpio: Learning to be competitive AND compassionate—love thy "enemies."

Sagittarius: Learning to enjoy the process instead of fixating on the grand goal.

Capricorn: Exploring the shadows instead of judging by the surface.

Aquarius: Remaining grounded in your own life, even while in relationship.

Pisces: Trusting your intuition instead of giving the wrong people "one more chance."