What you need to know about Eclipse Energy

Eclipse season begins this week on Wednesday, August 12th with the New Moon Eclipse in Leo. Now for many people that may call up some anxiety, because of the reputation that eclipses have. They are known to be chaotic, bring up messy things from the past, and often trigger us in some way, shape or form. And frankly, that is annoying and anxiety producing. It’s hard to be dysregulated and it’s hard to not be able to push the hard stuff off to some later date, but it is necessary. Eclipses create powerful periods of time for deep transformation, release, and initiation. They do this by not allowing you to pull away from the shadow work in front of you. You can’t push it off and you can’t ignore it, so you either sit in that struggle or you work through it.

Let’s start off with what an eclipse does energetically. Eclipses act like the Universe’s built-in correction system. Values and ideas on a societal and global level are on a pendulum that swings between opposing ideas: control and freedom, individuality vs community, independence vs partnership etc. When we begin leaning too far in one direction ie: too focused on individuality or too focused on criticism, an eclipse cycle occurs and helps us shift our perspectives again. We can understand what cycle we are working through by looking at what signs the North Node and South Node are in. The North Node shows us what energy we are moving towards and the South shows us what energy we are moving away from. The last cycle was centered on the relationship between Pisces (in the North Node) and Virgo (in the South Node). This began in 2024, and asked us to shift away from hypercriticism and perfectionism and enter a space of creative possibilities and compassion. While we are not completely out of that cycle (we have a Lunar eclipse in Pisces later this month and the cycle completes with a Virgo Lunar Eclipse in February of 2027), the Nodes recently shifted on July 26th. The North Node now lives in Aquarius and the South Node lives in Leo until 2028. 

But what does that actually mean? Our collective focus will be shifting towards thinking of others, concern for community and humanity, authenticity, and a redirect toward forward thinking and unique ideas. As this shift happens, we are pulling away from focusing on our personal ego and desires, rigidity and control of others, and a desire to blend in with others. The eclipse happening on Wednesday is a New Moon Eclipse in Leo. This will be a time for you to look at how true your outer identity and your inner self align, and most importantly who you actually want to be. This is where the shadow work comes in. This may be the part of you that you have been avoiding dealing with because it feels too messy, too far away from being a reality, or maybe a part of you feels as though you don’t deserve it or aren’t capable of it. It’s important to really study where this is coming from over this eclipse period. Are there outdated beliefs arising? Tensions with family and friends that are rising to the surface? Maybe a physical injury that is forcing you to look at the way you connect with your body? Be present and open to the lessons that come up. 

The lessons and work that shows up for you during this time will not be completed by the Full Moon Eclipse at the end of the month. These are long term shifts that may take months (even potentially a year or more) to evolve and transform you. Providing yourself understanding, compassion, and belief will allow you to feel buoyed during the emotional turbulence you may feel.

Practices to Support you during Eclipse Season

Clear Your Energy - You will undoubtedly feel off during eclipse season, whether it's because of your own emotional fluctuations or by dealing with the collective energy feeling off. Regularly clearing your energy through smoke, sound, or with Selenite can be helpful, but you can also take it a step further and incorporate rituals into your daily routines. If you love taking a bath, soak in Epsom Salt to clear emotional residue sticking to you, or use a salt or sugar scrub in the shower to help disperse any built up energy.

Take a Break - You don't actually need to say that thing that popped in your head immediately. Eclipses tend to bring out heightened emotions, and you may not actually want to act on the first impulse that crosses your mind. If you can take time away either through stepping out of the room or pausing before sending that text, it will help you to weigh out the options of what you actually want.

Be diligent about Grounding - It's easy to get into your head and mix reality with the negative thoughts in your head. Help yourself see the truth about the situation by grounding back to the present and physical world. This can be done in so many ways like: walking outside barefoot or spending time in nature, wearing and holding onto black, brown, and red crystals, doing breath work, meditating or even listening to grounding tones. You may find that you have to do this multiple times a day or in especially stressful situations.

Expression = Decompression - This eclipse cycle of Leo and Aquarius is heavily connected to the way you communicate who you are and what you feel. So an incredible practice to help with the shadow work emerging is to express it in some way. You can cry, journal, scream, make art, work out, talk to a friend, or any other form of release. Channel the emotions, doubts, frustrations, and fears into something that you let go and release from your body. If you don't, you will feel exhausted and burdened down.

Remember that this is all a cycle, and how you respond to it throughout the next couple weeks may change. Give yourself compassion and understanding as you navigate this phase. You will arise changed and ready to keep moving.