Time to take a deep dive into the astrological waters, and make a f*cking splash because eclipse season is back!

Welcome to the second most controversial time of the astrological year, aside from the three to four times a year the planet Mercury goes retrograde (which will take place this summer from Monday, July 8 — Thursday, August 1, 2019, and just so happens to land right smack dab in the middle of eclipse season).

Like Mercury retrograde, eclipse season has a bad reputation for causing quite an unwelcomed stir. But the reality is, it’s simply misunderstood.

What Exactly Is An Eclipse?

In astrology, eclipses are the radical change makers of the cosmos. They shine a light on the areas of our life where we need to level up and they put pressure on us until we do. Usually, they come in pairs: a lunar eclipse and a solar eclipse. But sometimes, there can be more—which was the case in 2018 when there were a total of three eclipses. However, this season, we’ll have just two: a total solar eclipse on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, and a partial lunar eclipse on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

During a solar eclipse, the New Moon temporarily blocks our view of the Sun from the Earth. If this happens during the day, you would catch a quick glimpse of the sun being obstructed by the Moon’s shadow.

On a symbolic level, solar eclipses bring new beginnings and offer a retreat from the old and familiar. So basically, they are supercharged New Moons. Meaning, they are ideal times to set meaningful intentions, expand your horizons and take action to change or improve your circumstances.

Then around two weeks later, at the Full Moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. When this happens, the Earth actually moves between the Moon and the Sun, blocking a majority of the Sun’s light from reflecting onto the Moon.

This causes the Sun’s light to be refracted, or bent, by the Earth’s atmosphere, and temporarily gives the Moon a reddish color — which is why this phenomenon is often called a Blood Moon.

What Is the Significance of An Eclipse?

Both lunar and solar eclipses are powerful transits that show up to test us by highlighting changes we need to make, challenges we have to face and obstacles we must overcome. Now, that doesn’t mean eclipses always bring chaos, misfortune and confusion. It’s just that they aren’t always comfortable transits because they bring about change in an unavoidable way that can throw a lot of people off. Yet, many times when eclipses show up, they can also bring newfound abundance, prosperity and blessings that initiate a period of major, long-lasting change and transformation.

But ultimately, your experience this eclipse season (and every eclipse season) rests solely on how well you adapt to what happens—positive or negative. So remember:

5 Things You Need to Know About This Eclipse Season—Survival Tips & More (July 2019)

1. You Will Be Tested, and Rewarded If…

If you step up and lean into whatever an eclipse throws at you, you’ll be rewarded for your actions and openness in some way, shape or form. But if you run, you’ll be haunted by what you’re too scared to confront until you summon the courage to get real with yourself, trust the process and surrender to the cosmic forces that be with gratitude for helping you grow and evolve.

2. Embrace the New

The first eclipse of the season is on Tuesday, July 2nd and deals with embracing the new and taking action. It’s a total solar eclipse which makes it more potent than a regular eclipse. And, since it’s in the sign of Cancer, it marks a period of heightened creativity, emotional connection, receptivity, the transmutation of trauma and access to our own inner depths that is both powerful and rare. So if there was ever a time to tap into your emotions, dreams, wishes and goals it’s now. But no matter how it shows up for you, take initiative to make the most of it by inviting some element of newness into your life. Then, watch sparks fly as the universe rushes to your corner to support you in your latest endeavor.

3. Release the Past and…

The second eclipse of the season is on Tuesday, July, 16th in the sign of Capricorn. It’s a partial lunar eclipse and deals with releasing: old patterns and habits but also releasing anything that needs to be shared with the world or others. This includes hidden or known talents, projects, art, music, your true feelings about something or someone, etc. Whatever it is, let it out without hesitation and be transformed by your ability to do what you do so beautifully, artfully and skillfully as only you can do.

4. Drink Lots of Water

There’s typically a noticeable energetic shift that occurs in the two weeks or so before and after an eclipse that can either empower you mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc or have you feeling drained completely—although sometimes it’s both. Either way, make sure you’re properly hydrated to keep your body in balance and to help flush out anything that needs to be released: toxins, anger, sadness, soreness, OR to process all the new momentum you’ve received.

5. Mind Your Business

This one speaks for itself. But you’d be surprised how easy it is to get distracted by what’s going on with other people or the world or whatever else during these complex cosmic times. Gossip, drama, negativity, frivolous internet fodder…these things are noise and should be blocked out as much as possible—especially during any major astrological transit. Truthfully, your energy will be better spent on having conversations of value with other people rather than bonding over negativity or engaging with low-vibrational energy that kills your vibe and brings you down. This can include silly Instagram posts that make you feel like you need to compare yourself to everyone else. Or making unkind comments (digitally or IRL) about someone or something simply because you can. All are merely distractions that will only divert your attention further away from the most important thing in your life: YOU.

And just know, that eclipses have a way of forcing us to recalibrate and turn inward to be with ourselves whether we want to or not. So it’s extra important to be mindful of where you place your energy and attention during this time.

Happy eclipse season all! Shine on and slay strong :)

Want to learn more about astrology? Find me on gram: Naima Abdi (@wholewokesoul)