The Leo Solar Eclipse August 21 is a rare second consecutive New Moon in Leo. When the Moon’s shadow blocks the entire spectrum of solar radiation, an opening is created to awaken consciousness to expanded realities. The suspension of electromagnetic energy momentarily disrupts the magnetic field of the Earth and its inhabitants, causing a reconfiguration of our psyche.
The ‘Great American Solar Eclipse’ is the first in 99 years that is visible across the entire continent, spanning from Oregon to South Carolina. This is the first time the path of totality will cover only the contiguous U.S. Eclipses tend to be accompanied by significant world events. The most intense effects are usually on or near the path of the eclipse. Keep your eye on the U.S. In ancient times solar eclipses were associated with the fall of leaders and the death of kings.*(1) Eclipses signal endings and beginnings.
New Moon at 28° Leo
Our Sun, and Moon, and personal planets that are within 4-5° of 28° of any sign will be the most affected by this eclipse. The Aquarius Lunar Eclipse August 7 occurred at 15° Aquarius, and thus affected planets in the range of 10-20° of any sign. We are all impacted by every eclipse. However the degrees help us identify (confirm) the areas in our lives where the influence is the greatest. Actually we just have to look at the events in our lives and monitor how we are feeling, and we already know.
Leo Themes Dominate
Themes related to the Leo archetype include both the unconscious and elevated manifestations of authority, leadership, royalty, and the heart. Psychologically our negative ego tendencies will be exposed — arrogance, childishness, self-importance, and the need to be the center of attention. The transformation of our identity, expansion of soul awareness, and embracing our creative gifts are optimal outcomes.
The Leo Solar Eclipse makes it possible to liberate ourselves from the grip of the unconscious fog that has shrouded our being and closed our hearts. For millennia humans have been hypnotized by ignorance and fear. We have been enveloped in a dark cloud (veil of illusion), which has held us under the spell of falsehoods and prevented us from experiencing our oneness with the Infinite and our connectivity to all life.
It is becoming more and more difficult to operate successfully on Planet Earth in an unconscious state. We can’t be docile, gullible, and blind sheep and survive. We need Aquarian detachment to neutrally observe what is happening and to intuitively tune into what to do. We need an open heart to be grateful for our blessings and to attract and act from love, not fear.
Grand Trine in Fire Element
The Leo stellium (Sun, Moon, North Node, and Mars all in Leo) forms a grand trine with Saturn in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aries. The cooperative tone (trine) of these planets in the fire signs gives us the energy to move forward, supports our creativity, and gives us the focus to take strategic action.
However, we must be vigilant to use the abundant fire energy wisely and not be reckless, over confident, aggressive, or driven by anger. All this fire, in addition to the intensity of the eclipse, imparts a potent emotional charge. We need to deal with emotional triggers before interacting, taking action, making important decisions, and driving a car. Be sure to exercise and do Kundalini Yoga navel exercises to channel your fire for your own healing, empowerment, and upliftment.
Cardinal Grand Cross
A cardinal (active) grand cross further intensifies the eclipse. Together, in square and opposition configurations, Uranus in Aries, Venus and Ceres in Cancer, Jupiter in Libra, and Pluto in Capricorn confront us with the necessity to take action and make decisions about our future direction. We are being supported to decide where we want to go and what we want to do with our lives.
The most intense formation is the opposition between Ceres in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn, which activates hidden anger about past abuse of women, destruction of the Earth, suppression of the feminine, and denial of our feelings and sensitivity. Both men and women must extricate themselves from victimhood and suppression of our emotions. We must find our subtle powers, security, and authority inside ourselves to move forward in the world with self-confidence, self-love, and a radiant projection.
Each one of us has our own wounds and stories, which must be acknowledged and shared in order to find resolution of the past and to free up our energy to move into the future without the weight of this emotional baggage. We can facilitate healing by listening to each other’s stories — without comment, evaluation, judgment, or advice. Consider the idea (a basic principle of non-violent communication), that we simply want and need to be heard by an empathetic heart. We don’t want or need to be fixed. Sincere listening is the salve of love.
19 years Ago and the Next 19 Years
Eclipses occur close to the same degree every 19 years. In 1998 on August 21, there was a solar eclipse at 28 ° Leo.*(2) What were you doing, thinking about, 19 years ago? What seeds did you plant then? How have they grown? The fertile terrain of this New Moon offers us a chance to plant new seeds that will grow for the next 19 years.
It is important to have the courage to cultivate our own seeds and to nurture them with our own light. It can be easy to be pulled into the collective cloud of suffering and to feel overwhelmed by the intensity of fear and anger in and around us. Our challenge is to build our own radiance so that we can help light the way through the darkness for ourselves, others, and Mother Earth.
Each New Moon is about planting seeds, which take time to germinate and grow. Patience is required while Mercury, Saturn, Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are retrograde. Cultivate your inner light and stay tuned to receive more insights and guidance when Mercury goes direct September 5 at the eclipse degree of 28 Leo. *(3)
The Pain of Suppression in the Piscean Age
The power structures in the Piscean Age systematically and purposefully suppressed individual freedoms and creativity. When the individual is not supported and honored by the collective, serious damage results in both our personal and collective consciousness. The pain in the human psyche is evident and very deeply ingrained. For these reasons, many people are depressed, lost, suicidal, and don’t feel like their lives matter.
When the disenfranchised try to prove themselves to a basically uncaring society, they often act out in destructive ways. Those who feel used, abused, unappreciated, left out, and alienated, harbor hostility and join together to create their own groups that give them something to belong to and a chance to revenge their pain.
Both men and women have been betrayed by organizations that they helped to create and gave their time, energy, and life blood to. The current eclipse is part of a massive wake up call. We are being forced to notice how our social, educational, and economic structures are designed to use and abuse humanity by educating us to fit in, to serve the greed machine, and then be discarded when we are no longer useful.
Transition to the Aquarian Age
Exploitative systems naturally close our hearts, feed negativity, and encourage destructive and rebellious behavior. Supportive systems naturally make us feel more alive, open our hearts to ourselves and each other, and make us eager to serve humanity. We are being called to build or reinvent supportive structures with like-minded colleagues.
What if our educational systems were driven by the belief that each individual is valuable and curriculums were designed to help each one of us make our unique contribution to the common good? How would that feel? What would you be doing differently today? How can you now ‘re-educate’ yourself and dedicate yourself living according to your life purpose?
Each one of us needs the support of the collective to (1) identify our social role, (2) boldly experiment and explore original ways to share our gifts, (3) have meaningful and remunerative outlets to participate, (4) encourage us and keep us optimistic, and (5) have empathy for ourselves and each other as we pursue our life journeys.
Courage and Our Journey
One of Yogi Bhajan’s well-known quotes is “It is not the life that matters, it is the courage that you bring to it.” The word courage comes from the French word for heart coeur.
The Leo Lion teaches us about bravery — the courage to follow our hearts and be authentic instead of trying to fit into a mold. The journey of the hero and heroine is to discover and express who we really are. At this eclipse we will define where we are on our journey. The basic stages include (and repeat during our lives).
(1) We hear the call to embark on a new adventure. We are fueled by the necessity to leave familiar territory and venture into the unknown.
(2) We meet both our mentors who help us and villains who test us. These are both inner and outer characters who personify the fears and doubts that we must face. We are gradually transformed by the process of awakening to our own heart as our guide.
(3) We experience a death of our unconscious self and the birth of a more mature and awakened version of ourselves. We receive the grail or ring that symbolizes what we had been looking for all along – our authentic soul self.
(4) We return to our community, where we are now mature and better equipped to serve and offer our gifts.
BTW, With the polarity divide, trying to convince those who are unable to change and wake up is a waste of our precious time. It is time to find our soul team and work together to make our contribution with like-minded collaborators.
Understanding the Purpose of Life
There is a prevalent misunderstanding about the purpose of human life. Many people are trying to figure out how to eliminate or escape serious life challenges. But without challenges, there would be no life. Human life tests us in every way possible, all day, every day. There are so many things that we have to go through to (1) deal with our karma, (2) release negative thought forms and emotional baggage, (3) develop a sense of soul self, (4) find inner strength, and (5) wake up and live our life from love consciousness instead of fear.
Our souls have come to Planet Earth to (1) pay our dues, (2) burn off fear and anger, (3) transform darkness into light, and (4) give and receive love. Our human life is not about finding a path to a free lunch. There is none! Our human life is about elevating our attitude and altitude so we can deal with our life challenges with courage from the heart and enjoy the evolution of our consciousness.
“This life is not for wasting. It is for reaching the wonderland of your own consciousness.” — Yogi Bhajan
The spiritual path awakens us to an elevated human game that takes us beyond unnecessary and self-created struggle and pain. Another reality awaits us, if we are willing to go through what it takes to get there. As we consciously, gracefully, and gratefully embrace our personal journey,
(1) We can find our soul identity
(2) We can know what we came here to do, manifest our destiny, and leave a legacy.
(3) We can live in gratitude that we are more awake.
(4) We can witness that we are in the right place at the right time.
(5) We can see life from a cosmic play perspective.
(6) When the Universe and our soul speak, we follow.
Living from the heart delivers us to a rich and meaningful life!
“The question is not whether you will live and how rich you can be. The question is how much impact you have, how many legacies you leave, how much grace you show, and how much vastness you experience.” Yogi Bhajan
Location Power Points
As the Moon blocks out the Sun, within the 70 mile path of totality, the sky will become dark enough to see the stars. The temperature will drop and crickets will begin to chirp. But no matter where you are during this eclipse, the power point is in your heart. Look at this magnificent view if you can and then sit and meditate and listen to your heart. Let the awakening happen. Give yourself value and enjoy being alive at this pivotal junction in human history.
Heart Shield Meditation
November 10, 1980
This powerful meditation opens your heart to yourself and makes you feel protected and safe in your heart space. It is great to do when you feel vulnerable.
Sit in Easy Pose with a straight spine. Place right hand in active Gyan Mudra (index finger curled under the thumb, the other fingers straight and joined), wrist resting on the right knee. Left arm is bent and relaxed, left hand about 6″ from heart center with palm facing the body, thumb and fingers straight, tense, and joined. Concentrate on the hand as a shield to the heart. For the magnetic field to correspond, the “antennae” must be tense.
To prepare, inhale deeply and exhale completely 3 or more times. Then inhale and begin chanting the mantra with the melody below. The chanting is continuous, i.e. there is an inhale at the end of each full mantra, but no long deep inhale that would interrupt the rhythm.
SAT NAARAYAN WHA-HAY GUROO SatNarayan:TrueSustainer
HAREE NAARAYAN SAT NAAM Wahe Guru: Indescribable Wisdom
SAT NAARAYAN WHA-HAY GUROO Hari Narayan: Creative Sustenance
HAREE NAARAYAN SAT NAAM Sat Nam: True Identity
Continue for 3, 5, or 7 minutes, but don’t overdo it. If you are around other people, you may just whisper it.
COMMENTS: When you feel very tired and feel nothing is coming out, this is a tool. But don’t overdo it! I have given you something which is very sacred and very secret. Over-drinking nectar can sometimes give you a bad belly. So just do it three to seven minutes in absolute calmness. As you concentrate on the shield of the hand, you will feel the heat of powerful energy going through the hand to the heart center. (Concentrating on the head is incorrect.)
from Transitions to a Heart-Centered World, p. 147. (2nd edition)
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References
Austin, Stephanie, What Would Love Do? – The August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, The Mountain Astrologer, August/September 2017, pp. 29-33.
Trinkaus, Emily, Leo Solar Eclipse – August 21, The Mountain Astrologer, August/September 2017, p. 87.
(1) Trinkaus, p. 87.
(2) Austin, p. 29)
(3) Trinkaus, p. 87
