Photo by Jordan Steranka, via Unsplash.com.

I’ve observed that Solar Eclipse periods have a peculiar pattern, like a dance.

A Solar Eclipse is like a New Moon, except that it is usually much stronger, and is often beset with more obstacles and challenges. Generally, but not always, it covers an approximately 5- to 6-month period. This longer period is necessary in order to accommodate the lengthy steps and arduous efforts required to implement the change brought about by the Eclipse. Oftentimes, its effects culminate during the last New Moon before the next Solar Eclipse.

The New Moon in Sagittarius occurring on December 7 at 0720 (GMT), is the last New Moon before the Solar Eclipse in Capricorn on January 2019. As such, it is a New Moon of culmination: a time when efforts invested since the past Leo Solar Eclipse last August 11 come to fruition.

Projects that we have started then will reach a critical or peak point now. Any events or new beginnings that occurred during August will be solidified around this time. What was ‘sown’ then will be ‘reaped.’ Naturally, this will be a colorful period: some may celebrate their wins, while others may pack up failed projects. This will also be a period of final evaluations: what was done wrong in the months that passed? What can be saved? What must be abandoned?

The kind of project started then would depend on the House where Leo resides in your natal chart and the sign and House of your natal Sun. However, since the energy concerns the sign of Leo, there may be some connection to romance or dating, fun, creative expression, our hobbies, our hair and fashion sense, children, drama, physical vitality, the heart, our fathers, husbands or bosses, and our pride, but most importantly, what makes us stand out among a group of people.

After the last New Moon before the next Solar Eclipse occurs, we enter a void phase. In this month-long period, we may feel aimless or confused regarding the next steps to take. It is not advisable to begin projects here or make long-term plans, because most of what is commenced around this time will be overcome by the unstoppable changes to be brought about by the next Solar Eclipse. However, it will be a fitting time for us to weigh our options for the future and experiment, so that when the Solar Eclipse finally arrives on January 2019, we will be ready with a more solid blueprint.

Interestingly, the New Moon also coincides with Mercury going direct on December 6 at around 9:00 PM (GMT). Mercury retrograde in Scorpio allowed us to go back, redo, review, or change certain writing projects, tasks, processes, or communications that may have been started during the past year while Jupiter was in Scorpio, or while Mercury was direct in Scorpio (October 10-30).

These may have been matters Scorpionic in nature: sex, secrets, debt, dependence, taxes, sharing, expenditure, luxury, power, psychology, the occult or paranormal. With Mercury’s return to direct motion, the changes are complete, and we are free to move onto other projects, perhaps of a more Sagittarian nature, like beliefs or learning. This ties in quite neatly with the energy of wrapping up as mentioned above.

Overall, we’ve hopefully had a productive time with the Leo Eclipse season, and so we bid this period goodbye, either with a slam of the door, a celebration, or a silent accounting of our wins and losses. Next month, when the Solar Eclipse in Capricorn meets us, a whole new challenge will come our way.