At least once a month, full moons crank up the intensity of the moment, causing us to feel more deeply and speak our truth. But approximately twice a year, we get potent full moons that coincide with lunar eclipses. These supercharged events are known to fuel gasp-worthy shake-ups, creating shifts that have likely been brewing for some time.
Eclipse seasons happen twice a year and generally encompass two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. Currently, we're in the heart of the first eclipse season of 2022, which kicked off with a solar eclipse in Taurus on April 30. On Sunday, May 15, at 12:15 a.m. ET, we'll get a dramatic lunar eclipse in the fixed water sign, Scorpio.
While this event will be the second eclipse of the year, it's the third in a series that started on Nov. 19, 2021 and ends on Oct. 28, 2023. Read on to learn more about lunar eclipses, as well as specifics about which signs will be most affected by this game-changing astrological moment.
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What Do Lunar Eclipses Mean in Astrology?
Full moons offer the perfect opportunity for going to a sound bath or a meditation class with your most spiritual friends, putting your crystals out to charge, or making moon water. If you're not at this level, maybe you've found that visualization techniques, deep breathing, or yoga classes help you manage the energy of the moment. But unlike regular full moons, lunar eclipses only happen approximately twice a year, and they stir up vibes that are far more intense than the average full moon's energy.
Eclipse energy is so heightened, in fact, that you'd do best to steer clear of involved rituals. You don't want to work with it so actively, because it's simply too tough to harness (think of it as a bolt of lightning or a powerful windstorm). The best way to handle it is to simply step out of its way and let it do its thing, even if it plows down your perfectly laid plans and leaves you with a chaotic mess. Eclipses teach us that there's actually a lesson to be learned — and possibly even a new path forward — once the dust settles.
Lunar eclipses in particular can feel full of upheaval, especially when it comes to your closest relationships. In astrology, the moon represents emotions, while the sun represents our core identity and self-image. When the shimmering moon is at its most full and luminous and is also simultaneously battling it out with an ominous shadow (aka an eclipse), we may be nudged to more clearly see our own shadows — patterns, behaviors, issues — that play out in our bonds with others.
That said, not every lunar eclipse will heighten your emotions and leave your life altered. It really depends on how the astrological event is interacting with your birth chart. You generally feel the eclipse most if it's "hitting" — or matching up with — a part of your chart at a particular angle. To get a sense of how it might affect you, you'll want to familiarize yourself with your big three (your sun, moon, and rising signs), as well as other planetary placements and angles in your chart, such as your Mercury, Venus, and Mars signs.
How the May 2022 Lunar Eclipse Will Affect the Zodiac Signs
People who have placements in any of the fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius — will feel the May 15-16 lunar eclipse more than others. If you want to get even more specific, see if any of your natal-chart placements fall around 25 degrees of a fixed sign. If so, you'll really feel this one.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
This lunar eclipse activates your seventh house of partnership, Taurus, which mainly deals with your one-on-one relationships. It's easy to get caught up in thinking about the other — whether that's your significant other, your best friend, or a business partner — and their needs, expectations, or behavior. But now is your opportunity to think about all of this, in addition to the role you play in your pairing.
If you're not holding firm in your sense of self, or if you've been accepting a situation that's less than reciprocal, it could be time to take a stand. When in doubt, consider what advocating for yourself could mean for your sense of security and inner peace. With the moon making a harmonious trine to go-getter Mars in your eleventh house of networking, you could be empowered — likely thanks to support from your friends — to not only share what's in your heart, but to make major moves to back it up.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
The May 14-15 lunar eclipse falls in your fourth house of home life, Leo, so you'll be reflecting on all the foundations in your life. You tend to be buoyant and optimistic even when faced with darkness or toxicity from loved ones, but you could find that you can no longer put off healing long-held emotional wounds.
Whether it's hurt that you've been carrying since childhood or a disagreement with a loved one that you're currently working through, this moon will spur you to express your deepest feelings. And, as the eclipse will be connecting with action-oriented Mars in your eighth house of emotional bonds, you'll manage to make the most of the moment if you embrace vulnerability and intimacy.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
With the lunar eclipse lighting up your first house of self, Scorpio, this moment can feel like a lot, potentially taking an emotional, mental, and physical toll. But at its core is an opportunity to think about how you're showing up for yourself and pursuing your long-term ambitions.
You can think of the first house as the sector that oversees your personal brand and passion projects, as well as how you present yourself in the world. This lunar eclipse could very well be a watershed moment in which you get clarity on how move forward. And because the moon will form a sweet trine to go-getter Mars — the planet of action and one of your co-rulers — in your fifth house of self-expression, you can channel even the most overwhelming emotions into creativity and productivity.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
The lunar eclipse falls in your tenth house of career, Aquarius, so you are undeniably at a turning point — or potentially a major finish line — in your professional path. It could be that you're finally saying goodbye to a higher-up who doesn't deserve your energy, or you're moving into a more senior-level position on the job. Either way, you're on your way to being more publicly acknowledged for consistently putting your nose to the grindstone.
During this lunar eclipse, be sure to be open to what the next chapter looks like, as it's sure to involve change. And with Mars connecting with the moon from your second house of income, any big moves you make now could lead to exciting new moneymaking opportunities.
