The Upcoming New Moon and Solar Eclipse Will End 2020 With A Twist

The countdown to the long-awaited end of 2020 is underway. And, as important as it is to look back on one of the most exceptional years in recent memory, in doing so we run the risk of forgetting to look ahead. Luckily, a reminder of what awaits in both the coming weeks and the new year will arrive on Monday, December 14.

The new moon in Sagittarius will occur that day, imbuing us with some welcome optimism about the future. A total solar eclipse will take place in the same sign that same day, bringing a promise of future changes with it. Its path will travel across Chile and Argentina, granting residents a glimpse of its totality, though people elsewhere in South America will be able to see a partial eclipse. Whether you can see it or not, this cosmic event will inevitably affect you for the rest of 2020 — and even into 2021.

The solar eclipse will set the scene for 2021.

Last month during the full moon and penumbral lunar eclipse, we encouraged you to sort out what deserves to stay — and, more importantly, what’s got to go — before the year is out. It was a time for inward reflection, a chance to recognize your fundamental needs and determine how you can meet them on your own terms. It was, in fact, an opportunity to prepare for what’s bound to happen as a result of this solar eclipse.

Generally speaking, solar eclipses signal incoming changes, fresh starts, or new chapters in our lives. This one will be no different — in fact, its timing and celestial placement could make it particularly dramatic. With the year rapidly coming to a close, we already have resolutions and changes on the brain. And, since the sun will be in wild card Sagittarius when it undergoes this total eclipse, its effects will mirror this fire sign’s devil-may-care ways. In other words, when 2021 rolls around, a momentous shift could come with it. Some people may adopt a more lax, spontaneous attitude. Opportunities for new endeavors, ones that take you somewhere new physically or intellectually, could arise. After a year spent existing in a contradictory state of stagnation and uncertainty, there could, finally, blessedly, be a hint of hope in the air.

You should, of course, be on your guard for changes that are inconvenient, unpleasant, or even downright unfortunate. Solar eclipses are neither silver bullets nor harbingers of doom. They arrive to remind us that change is as neutral as it is inevitable. Keep your eye on the horizon after the 14th — and expect the unexpected.

The new moon in Sagittarius is well-suited to the solar eclipse’s unpredictable energy.

If you’re close with a Sagittarius — or happen to be one yourself — you already know a thing or two about accepting, even welcoming, the unexpected. This sign, ruled by fire and wise Jupiter, is known for its brazen energy, curiosity, and knack for improvisation. A loose game plan will always suit Sags better than a meticulous agenda ever could. More often than not, they have a hearty streak of optimism to thank for their comfort with the unknown. Between their know-how and sense of humor, things will ultimately work out, so why not aim high and far?

Even if your regular tendency is to think pragmatically rather than idealistically, the new moon in Sagittarius will coax out some purely positive feelings. The last year has been so challenging and so tiring that being outwardly hopeful may feel like a bridge too far. This lunar phase won’t make that go away, but it will point out where there are cracks in the darkness wide enough to let a little light in. Reflect on what you have to look forward to, no matter how small. And, if you look toward the future and see nothing but uncertainty, don’t let your thoughts immediately go to dread. Try, just for a moment, to imagine something good, something exciting coming your way instead of more stress and confusion. With the solar eclipse, you truly never know what the future holds in store.