Eclipses and Their Effects

Throughout history, we have been awed by eclipses, and ancient astrologers made their reputations by being able to predict when they would occur. Now we all know when they are happening, and we're able to watch them on television, direct from wherever the totality occurs. Eclipse buffs will even fly halfway around the world to see them in person. (The solar world does have its wondrous features!) In the olden days, eclipses were so mysterious that they were considered powerful and often unfortunate omens. Today, most astrologers would agree that they aren't necessarily destructive. They are an indication of a heightened focus of energy, so most astrologers do track the chart areas where they occur. When you make the lunation map later, consider the eclipse picture. They are shown on the top row of each table by an E next to the date. In 1996, for instance, there are solar eclipses on April 17th and October 12th and lunar eclipses on April 4th and September 27th. Solar eclipses occur at the new Moon and block out the sun, while lunar eclipses occur at the full Moon and block out the Moon. The transiting nodes, which determine where eclipses fall, travel backward at the rate of one sign a year. A complete nodal cycle will impact all twelve signs and houses of your chart in turn. If you have followed eclipses, you may have noticed that some are intense and others are mild. The more intense ones often involve aspects between the Sun and Moon and a transiting outer planet, or they may set off a major pattern in the birth chart. For instance, the solar eclipse on April 17, 1996 at 28 Aries forms a close square to transiting Neptune at 27 Capricorn. Seldom have I seen lunar meltdown at an eclipse unless important outer planet transits have already acting on the same area for a while. Joanne Wickenburg also points out that the Moon's nodes are necessarily involved in eclipses. She feels that an eclipse at the north node is going to be different--more productive, generally-- than one at the south node, which involves more necessity to let go of things. It would take an ephemeris to know this, but the April 4, 1996 eclipse finds the Sun in Aries on the south node, with the Moon near the north node in Libra. (The Sun and Moon can be some distance away from the exact aspect to the nodes, for they are only exact at a total eclipse.) What can you expect if an eclipse triggers off one of your natal planets? For at least six months afterwards, it highlights the house involved, but especially the matters concerned with any planets it aspects. These are periods of special tension between the solar and lunar hemispheres. They are particularly powerful windows for healing work or flower remedies, for a great clearing can occur. When an eclipse affects you in a major way, you may experience conflict in the houses involved. For six months or longer, you will need to concentrate on balance in those areas. Sometimes the eclipse six months later will be in the same house, so there is a repeated emphasis. An eclipse that aspects a natal planet can trigger an upheaval in the functions of that planet. If so, it's not the Moon's fault. Over time you have allowed those matters to deteriorate or to build up a backlog of tension that must be discharged. Suppose a solar eclipse conjuncts your natal Saturn in the eleventh. Perhaps you've been carrying too much responsibility for a friend for far too long--or allowing a friend to assume too much responsibility for you. The enclipse hits, and the friendship is in jeapordy. Don't curse Hecate--you set this up, and now you have to clean it up. If an upcoming eclipse is going to fall in an area where you feel vulnerable, use this knowledge preventatively. Begin to take stock of the issues, examine what your true feelings are, and then work to improve the situation. When the eclipse happens, you will already have let off some of the tension and resolved some of the problems. It won't be as hard on you as it would be if you'd hid your head in the sand.