Rhythms of Eclipses: Are they astrologically significant?
TONIGHT's Full Moon Lunar Eclipse and House Location Rituals
As I continue to study astrology, I find that older texts revere the coming of astrological occurrences with sacred meaning while popular resources hook consumer’s nervous system-hijacking language.
Eclipses, in particular, are described as “major changes”, “fated events”, and “intense, life-changing experiences.” And the truth that is possible for every single astrological event but it might not be true for you. Tonight’s lunar eclipse in Libra and subsequent solar eclipse in Aries may bring major changes, fated events, intense, life-changing experiences or it could bring soft expansions, candlelit reflections, and embodied wildness. Let’s find out how this moon’s position affects your life! Check what house is ruled by Libra to discover what arena the moon is affecting. Need help? Contact me here.
What is a lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse happens when a full moon occurs on a node (an invisible point in the sky where the sun and moon’s orbital paths intersect). The sun and moon are intersecting between Aries and Libra. In astrology, you are looking at a 360-degree ecliptic circle of stars out of the dome of the Earth. The circle is encrusted by 12 constellations. These constellations are the signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, etc.) and are in a fixed position as they rotate through the sky. If you look at the map starting at any constellation/sign and cutting the circle in half you will find that each sign has a twin or constant partner.
Aries & Libra
Taurus & Scorpio
Gemini & Sagittarius
Cancer & Capricorn
Leo & Aquarius
Virgo & Pisces
In this way, you can either think about signs as twelve separate embodiments of living matter or six pairs of living matter. An eclipse occurs between two pairs highlighting the mirrored relationship between one extreme and the other. In broad strokes, each pair holds a multiverse of opposing forces.
War & Peace (Aries/Libra)
Life & Death (Taurus/Scorpio)
Chaos & Order (Gemini/Sagittarius)
Creation & Destruction (Cancer/Capricorn)
Individualism & Collectivism (Leo/Aquarius)
Tradition & Progress (Virgo/Pisces)
All signs have “positive” or “negative” attributes. I put positive and negative in quotations because that isn’t an accurate description. It isn’t a morality of good vs. evil but rather a sophisticated spectrum of self-awareness. In Aries, self-awareness is between the cowardly fighter and the sovereign warrior.
Lunar eclipses are about contrasting elements and opposing forces. They light up opposite ends of your life in a short period. That is why they are powerful. But they have a regular cadence. When it stops raining, and the sun comes out yes, that is a strong contrast but not supernatural.
What does the Aries/Libra Nodal opposition ignite?
Aries and Libra are the cardinal embodiment of masculine vs. feminine. In a patriarchal environment, this is the linear thinking of men saying all that is not men is lesser, to be taken from, is a non-sacred resource. This applies not just to women but to plants, animals, minerals, waterways, and so on. This is not an hate all-men or this is a man’s fault problem. This is the shadow of Aries asserting itself upon the entire population. In the patriarchy, young boys are the first and principal of controlled resources. Hillary McBride calls this the “man box” where boys’ femininity is conditioned out of them as soon as possible. From there, boys become men who are the living resource of the patriarchy. “It’s no accident that this systematic suppression of the feminine has been accompanied down the centuries not only by the devaluation of all that is wild and instinctual in our own natures, but by the purposeful destruction of natural ecosystems. We long ago turned our backs on the planet which gives us life.” (Blackie)
To me this eclipse is a doorway back into the wild; where the wild vines and thorns roll back revealing a momentary doorway along the edge of the woods inviting us to enter her coven; her innermost intimate flesh; her wellspring and learn how to love her so we may love the wild in ourselves and each other.
The themes of Aries and Libra
Relationships (intimacy vs. loneliness) What relationships need your tending?
The Hero/Heroine’s Journey (discovery vs. avoidance) Where are you in your journey and what are the next steps?
Independence (interdependence vs. co-dependence) Are you living trying to be in reciprocity or trying to be in control?
Will this eclipse feel like a turbulent airplane ride or a hot tub under soft snowfall?
There are three ways we can decipher this:
Body: Check with your body! How it feels the energy is a huge indicator of how your nervous system is responding. Even if astrologically it “should” be easy or hard your body might feel at ease or on edge.
House: Houses are like gardens. Each slice of the wheel represents an area of your life where different plants can take hold. The first house is like a personal food garden. It is planted with foods you like and tended to in a fashion that is unique to you. Whereas the 10th house is like a fruit tree grove. It takes a long time for seeds planted here to burgeon abundance and it takes a great deal of effort and patience to feel satisfaction from the 10th house. It isn’t as easy as the personal garden bed. If the lunar eclipse occurs in either the 1st or 7th house this will be a time of great change because the lunar eclipse is activating your Ascendent (rising) and Descendent (falling) — key directions of your chart. This will have an impact on key relationships in your life. Relationships include and extend to the metaphysical and non-literal.
Sign: For those who have a lot of planets in these signs (Aries or Libra), especially the moon this can be an emotional month as the transiting planets fight for attention with the fixed planets. For those who do not have a lot of Aries and Libra positions, there is less competition for expression. If houses are garden beds, planets are like plants. Natal planets are like plants sown at your birth and so have taken twenty, thirty, or forty years to cultivate. Transiting planets are like plants trying to take root among what is already established. They don’t have time on their side, they can only hope for the same care as you have given what already is growing.
*BONUS* If you or your child happen to have your North and South nodes on the Aries and Libra Axis this will be a stimulating event. My daughter is in this Axis and I know she is experiencing the duality of freedom and control, gentility vs. force.
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