How The Deep Red Blood Moon & Total Lunar Eclipse On July 27, 2018 Will Affect Your Love Life

The full moon of July 2018, also referred by Farmer's Almanac as a full buck moon, will be especially magical by the standards of the zodiac, astrology and astronomy, as on Friday, July 27, the night sky will feature a deep red blood moon covered not only by a total lunar eclipse, but by the longest lunar eclipse of this century.

Naturally, this powerful combination of full moon energy and lunar eclipse energy will have dramatic effects on your love life and relationships in 2018.

How long will the total lunar eclipse last, and what is a deep red blood moon?

First, a little background about lunar eclipses.

Lunar eclipses always occur on a Full Moon (as opposed to solar eclipses, which occur on new moons), when the Sun and the Moon engage in a long-armed tango, the Earth wiggling in between them. When all three perfectly align, the Earth’s shadow falls directly on the Moon, creating an eclipse.

According to one article by Robert Roy Britt, "Lunar eclipses occur when Earth's shadow blocks the sun's light, which otherwise reflects off the moon. There are three types — total, partial and penumbral — with the most dramatic being a total lunar eclipse, in which Earth's shadow completely covers the moon."

Additionally, total lunar eclipses are referred to as blood moons because of the reddish color produced by light refracted off the Earth’s atmosphere.

"Eclipses have inspired awe and even fear, especially when total lunar eclipses turned the moon blood-red," continues Britt, "an effect that terrified people who had no understanding of what causes an eclipse and therefore blamed the events on this god or that... The exact color that the moon appears depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere, according to NASA scientists. If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption, the moon will appear a darker shade of red."

Hence, the upcoming deep red blood moon.

The total lunar eclipse occurring on July 27 will last will last a total of 103 minutes, making it the longest eclipse of the 21st century.

And even though it unfortunately won't be visible to those of us in North America, it's energy certainly still retains the power to affect your love life.

Full moons occur when the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs of the zodiac. This month, the Sun is in Leo, while the Moon is in Aquarius.

Even without the eclipse, the Aquarius/Leo tango full moon would be a powerful one.

The Moon represents our emotions and our intuition, and Aquarius embodies the “gotta be me” energy. He’s a rebel and a rabble-rouser, but at the same time, he looks for ways to impact the world with his unique gifts.

So, be ready to feel an the urge to declare your independence!

With the Sun in fiery Leo, you’ve got an extra dose of passion, magnetism and creativity this month, though Leo also knows how to have a good time, and this could be especially important to remember in the midst of all that other intense energy flying around this eclipse.

This Moon is also being nudged by the red planet Mars, the warrior god of Greek mythology, and wherever Mars goes, you’ve got an extra jolt of energy, which means you might find yourself feeling strong, sexy and powerful, combative and impulsive, or just plain angry.

That’s quite a spectrum of emotions to be triggered, but one of the great things about astrology is that you can see these patterns coming and be prepared for those tumultuous energies when they flare up, understanding where they're coming from.

Oh, and did I mention that Mercury goes retrograde in Leo on July 26, right before the lunar eclipse?

That’s a whole other layer of possible astrological zingers, although they don’t necessarily have to be negative ones.

How can you use the powerful energy of the total lunar eclipse and deep red blood moon in July 2018 to enhance your love life?

The thing about eclipses is that they intensify whatever energy is already being stirred up by the Full Moon, and you can feel its effect for a few weeks before and after.

In other words, given all the energy packed into this Mars-enhanced, Aquarius/Leo Full Moon to begin with, you’ll want to take a breath and get yourself ready to harness its love-power as best you can.

Here are 5 ways to harness the magical zodiac energy of the total lunar eclipse and Deep Red Blood Buck Full Moon in July 2018 to create positive effects on your life.

1. Release sexual tension.

This could be a tricky one if you're single, as you may feel really turned on with nowhere to direct it. If that’s the case, get some fun new sex toys and make love to yourself!

And obviously, if you’re coupled, grab your sweetie and release those pent-up hormones in whatever creative (Leo) and/or unique (Aquarius) ways you can conjure up together.

2. Let go of stuck emotions.

Total lunar eclipses are times when your emotions (the Moon) are being overshadowed by outside forces.

Grab a journal and get serious about examining which self-limiting beliefs might be keeping you from attracting a partner or from having the most satisfying relationship possible.

These are thoughts such as: “I’m unlovable," ”I’m broken,” and “I don’t have anything to offer,” to name just a few. Go deep into the shadow of the eclipse and see what’s there.

Write them down, then burn them and see if you don’t feel just a little bit lighter.

3. Be spontaneous.

Tap into that impulsive Mars-warrior energy and do something totally unexpected!

If you’re single, sign up for a fun singles weekend or head to a new bar with friends with the sole intention of having fun. Your inner Leo will love that!

And if you're coupled, grab your partner and do something out-of-the-norm (Aquarius), like checking your local calendar to find out what cool outdoor dancing, movies, or sports events you can jump into without reservations.

4. Do something humanitarian.

Is there a cause you’re passionate about? This Aquarius moon is all about community-building and giving back.

Instead of going to your favorite neighborhood haunt in the hopes of meeting someone new, which usually isn't the best strategy anyway, zero in on a charity that really jazzes you, whether it's a nonprofit animal shelter or a neighborhood food bank. Do some research and find an organization that feeds your soul and attracts all genders.

Likewise, to deepen your relationship with your current partner, have a "heart-storm" session together and come up with a cause you both feel excited about. You’ll get to spend extra time together and share a meaningful experience, too.

5. Create relaxing, loving time for yourself.

With all the drama that sometimes happens in the media around eclipses, remember that you don’t have to feed the frenzy in your own life.

It’s true, sometimes you can feel eclipses pretty acutely, especially if you or your partner’s Sun or Moon are in Aquarius or Leo, but sometimes they do slide by without making the slightest big blip on your love radar.

To increase the chances of that happening, make an extra effort to surround yourself with soothing music and colors, and keep your internet-surfing and news-obsessing to a minimum. Maybe plan a romantic dinner and talk about some of that old emotional baggage you’re letting go of … and then indulge in some hot, Martian sex!

Total lunar eclipses can be intense, but if you’re prepared, you can use their Full Moon energy to enhance your life and deepen your relationships.

Add in the Aquarius/Leo energy of a deep red blood moon and you’ve got the ingredients for a powerful, fiery ride!

Deborah Roth, M.A.., is a Life and Relationship Coach, Counseling Astrologer, and Interfaith Minister. She leads women’s New Moon Circles and Full Moon TeleMeditations every month and loves designing creative, meaningful rituals for individuals and couples to re-energize mind, body, and spirit, and enhance their relationships. Visit Spirited Living or email her to schedule an introductory coaching session.