What Is a Lunar Eclipse? An Astrologer Explains

The lunar event you can count on for bringing the most drama in your life is, undoubtedly, a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs four times a year, and it's basically a full moon on steroids. Unlike an astronomical event like Mercury retrograde, which often brings up plot twists that don't really go anywhere, a lunar eclipse's meaning is usually quite apparent, especially when you look at it in retrospect.

Regular full moons, which happen once or, at most, twice a month, are opportunities to release whatever is no longer serving you. They're a chance to cross the finish line on a big project or take a relationship to the next level. But a lunar eclipse is so intense and super-charged that your only job is to really roll with the growth-spurring shifts and changes they present.

In 2024, there are two lunar eclipses — one in cardinal air sign Libra and another in mutable water sign Pisces. In order to prepare yourself, be ready for for gasp-worthy changes, especially when it comes to relationships, as lunar eclipses tend to highlight cataclysmic shake-ups within your one-on-one bonds. This major astrological and astronomical event may also fuel pivots related to how you bring in money, interpret beauty, think of your values, experience empathy, and go about healing yourself emotionally and spiritually.

Read on for more information about what is a lunar eclipse and the lunar eclipse meaning in 2024.

Astronomically speaking, lunar eclipses occur when the moon is at its fullest. Since Earth is directly between the moon and sun, lunar eclipses happen when Earth casts its shadow over the moon, dimming its light and often spurring a stunning red hue that lasts a few hours. There are three types of lunar eclipses:

Full moons offer the perfect opportunity for tuning into a meditation, 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 the astrology of lunar eclipses stir up vibes that are far more intense than the average full moon's energy.

When it comes to astrology, lunar 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 you 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 your core identity and self-image. In turn, the lunar eclipse meaning is pegged to your relationships with yourself and others. 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), you may be nudged to more clearly see your own shadows, patterns, behaviors, or issues that play out in your bonds.

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 sun, moon, and rising signs, as well as other planetary placements and angles in your chart, such as your Mercury, Venus, and Mars signs.

Lunar eclipses generally happen twice (rarely, three times) each calendar year. In 2024, here's when you can expect a lunar eclipse:

Falling in the cardinal air sign Libra, the first lunar eclipse of 2024 brought intense realizations about how you're relating to others, showing up in your closest partnerships, and finding more balance in life. You might have also reflected on how your sense of self is either nurtured or quashed by particular pairings you've involved yourself in.

The second lunar eclipse of 2024, however, occurs in mutable water sign Pisces. As the twelfth sign of the zodiac, Pisces, whose modern ruler is Neptune, the planet of spirituality, dreams, illusion, and delusion, is concerned with healing your inner wounds, exploring empathy, tapping into your imagination, escaping reality (for better or worse), and wading through deep waters of emotion. As a result, this could be a magical eclipse in which you're able to get a sense of what you need spiritually from your relationships. It's a time in which getting in touch with your intuition (as opposed to working with rational, cerebral energy) will be crucial.

Depending on which sign it transits through, the final lunar eclipse of 2024 will affect each of the 12 zodiac signs in unique ways.

When it comes to 2024's final lunar eclipse in September, people who have placements in any of the mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces — will be most impacted. However, here's how the lunar eclipse will affect all 12 zodiac signs. (Be sure to read for our rising sign too.)

This year's final lunar eclipse activates your 12th house of spirituality, Aries, nudging you to meditate on how you're relating to others and what you need to do to care for your psychological and inner well-being. You could be swimming in a sea of emotion as you navigate what you need to nurture your soul and spirit.

The upcoming lunar eclipse hits your 11th house of networking, Taurus, so expect highlights to revolve around your health and social life. You'll want to consider which bigger picture projects you want to bring your skills to the table on, and which groups and teams, in turn, you want to be associated with and feel connected to.

Coming up, the second lunar eclipse occurs in your 10th house of public image, Gemini, requiring that you face changes related to power and authority. Prioritizing your inner life and your emotional well-being in a proactive way can fuel your confidence and lead to well-deserved recognition.

The final lunar eclipse of 2024 falls in your ninth house of adventure and higher learning, Cancer. This requires you to step beyond your comfort zone, soak up knowledge, meet people outside of your usual social circle, and tune into your gut in order to take a leap of faith.

This lunar eclipse is in your eighth house of emotional bonds and joint resources, Leo, which means the event can have you craving more intimacy with loved ones. You'll also be challenged to reflect on and embrace changes related to money making, investing, saving, and your relationship to your values and cash flow.

To wrap up 2024, the lunar eclipse in September will activate your seventh house of partnership, Virgo. This is a major sector that will bring up a lot of self-reflection around money making, values, and your one-on-one relationships. You could be on the precipice of a new chapter with a significant other, loved one, or business partner. Think about how you can balance your own personal goals and sense of self while working as part of a powerful pair.

The final lunar eclipse of 2024 will hit you head-on, Libra. Falling in your sixth house of wellness, the lunar eclipse is a chance to turn your attention to your health and well-being, perhaps considering how you might adjust your day-to-day hustle to feel more vital.

The second eclipse of 2024 will activate your fifth house of romance and fun, Scorpio, empowering you to own your voice and share it with others by emphasizing self-expression. Embrace playfulness, and step even more fully into your creative power.

Coming up, the lunar eclipse in Pisces will light up your fourth house of home life, Sagittarius, challenging you to address unresolved emotional stressors related to your inner world that might have been holding you back in some way. Working on healing is the key to blazing a whole new trail.

The September lunar eclipse in your third house of communication will stimulate your mental energy and curiosity, nudging you to learn and connect, perhaps even take a short-distance trip or spend more time with neighbors or siblings, Cancer. It's time to prioritize and nurture your social side.

The final lunar eclipse in your second house of income is an eye-opener for your money making plans, Aquarius. You'll need to tune into your intuition, your heart, and your spiritual needs in order to gauge the best next step in terms of investing your money. Consider whether you've been bringing your skills to the table in a way that aligns not only with your financial goals but your emotional ones too.

This year's final lunar eclipse activates your first house of self, Pisces. This can be an emotional, exciting time that highlights strengths and challenges related to your sense of self and one-on-one relationships. Consider how you want to project your personal brand and identity, and then move beyond old patterns that could be holding you back.

Maressa Brown is a journalist, author, and astrologer. Her areas of expertise include writing, reporting, and editing lifestyle, pop culture, and parenting content that's both conversational and substantive. In addition to contributing to PS, she writes for a variety of consumer-facing publications including InStyle, Parents, and Shape, and was previously an editor at Cosmopolitan and CafeMom.