What to Know About the Blood Moon, According to an Astrologer

In the astrology world, the lunar calendar is packed with meaning and significance. New moons mark fresh starts. Full moons offer opportunity for new intentions and manifestations. And the solar and lunar eclipses tend to be the celestial events that inspire transformation. But one of the most intense events in the sky is none other than the total lunar eclipse, also known as a blood moon.

With its fiery red glow and reputation for stirring up deep emotional energy, the blood moon is hard to miss — and even harder to ignore. Though it may sound intimidating, "blood moons are not bad or to be feared," evolutionary astrologer Jill Brown says. Instead, they should be respected.

Even if the blood moon brings out volatile energy that makes you feel ungrounded or anxious, know that it's all a part of the cosmic realignment. "As things fall away, change, or intensify, remember that the cosmos are shaping you to embrace a better way of seeing and being," Brown adds.

Keep reading to discover more about the spiritual meaning of the blood moon, plus what it means for your zodiac sign. And when you see its stunning red hue in real life, know that the universe will guide you through the chaos.

Jill Brown is a certified evolutionary astrologer and the owner of Eight Stars Co.

A blood moon is the name given to the total lunar eclipse, which typically occurs once every two and a half years. "A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun, which casts its shadow over the moon," Brown explains. "That shadow gives the moon a ruddy hue due to the sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere and the shadow effect."

The total lunar eclipse is called a "blood moon" due to its red hue when earth casts its shadow over the moon. However, the origin of the nickname can also be traced back to ancient cultures like in the bible, the Mesopotamian, and the Incan texts, Brown says. "In ancient times, the blood moon was interpreted to mean an angered omnipotent power of destruction and chaos," she adds.

The blood moon in 2025 will peak on Sunday, Sept. 7 at around 1:32 p.m. ET (10:32 a.m. PT).

The blood moon in 2025 will be in Pisces, the sign of dreams, psychic sensitivity, and spiritual surrender, Brown says. "It's also the sign of addiction, escapism, and where/how we seek to dissociate when the world gets to be too much," she adds. Because the blood moon is in Pisces, who are already known for their emotions, perceptions, and ethereal qualities, "you should expect the energies to be even more heightened," Brown says.

In astrology, blood moons offer "sweeping changes" — but not necessarily in a bad way. "All eclipses have heightened opportunity for intense emotions, psychic experiences, and revelations of secrets coming to life," Brown says. "These are often times when we do see patterns of shocking news, dark, deep secrets finally uncovered, and justice coming to bear."

In other words, you can expect major shakeups during the blood moon. But not all shakeups are a bad thing — they're often a point for redirection or reassessment.

Because the blood moon in 2025 falls in Pisces, you may feel the blood moon's effects more if Pisces is your sun or rising sign. However, the other 11 astrological signs are not completely off the hook. According to Brown, because Pisces is also a mutable water sign, the other mutable signs may feel the blood moon's impact: Gemini, Virgo, and Sagittarius.

Taylor Andrews is the senior balance editor at Popsugar, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With eight years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.