Full Moon Eclipse in Leo

This is on the 31st January, 1:27 pm UTC.

The moon in Leo will be conjunct the north node, making this a total lunar eclipse – or blood moon. It's also a supermoon – the moon will be at its closest point to earth in its orbit, so it'll appear larger than usual.

It's also the second full moon in January, making it a “blue moon”. As in “once in a blue moon”. Blue moons are not astrologically significant, but the symbolism of something extraordinary and rare fits here, because this eclipse is pretty zingy: a bolt from the blue. You can expect surprising revelations under a sky like this – and lightning inspiration, and shocks and electrical instability in general.

Leo is about drama, showmanship, creativity, joy, self-expression. Feeling special, being in the spotlight, being the star of your own show.

This showy, individualistic moon is facing off against the sun and Venus in cool, theoretical, collectivist Aquarius.

So if conflicts come up for you under this eclipse, they're likely to have to do with emotional engagement vs. detachment and evasion. Or stepping out in authentic self-expression vs. fitting in with the group.

It doesn't have to be a conflict though! Aquarius is an oddball, zany sign, and Venus in Aquarius values anything new or strange – so you can let your freak flag fly, publicly and proudly. In fact, you should. And if you're stuck on worrying about what other people will think, this is your chance to figure out where that's coming from and get over it.

Mercury will shift signs – from stolid, taciturn Capricorn to freaky, brilliant Aquarius – at the exact time of the eclipse. This is pretty significant. It means communication will loosen up very suddenly – shockingly illuminating things may be said or thought under this eclipse. Or maybe just shocking. If you find yourself caught up in Leo-style drama, use Aquarian rationality and emotional detachment to calm things down.

This eclipse is the culmination of the cycle opened two weeks ago at the new moon in Capricorn. That new moon was about starting a new chapter – one that would require hard work and a willingness to see and do things in a radically new way. There was a breakaway feeling to it, for women especially.

This eclipse continues that theme and amps it up to 11. This is where the new path asserts itself, where you break out and start expressing yourself fearlessly, from the heart - because there's really nothing to lose anymore.