A Focus on Eclipses

In terms of the interplay between “Big Players” (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto), things are rather quiescent in the heavens for the next few months. This does not mean however that the unconscious human “biggies” who seem to control this planet from a place of gross and primitive egocentricity will not continue to do all they can to make earthly life difficult. But soon enough there will be a major opposition in the sky between Uranus and Saturn, a tension that will last from the end of this October until the end of February of 2009. The last time these two incredibly polarized forces were opposed was in the 1960’s during times of amazing sociological shifts and the awakening of new paradigms on this planet. I will have much more to say about these events as we move closer to the actual time of their happenings.

The New and Full Moons of August are eclipses. Actually it is important to view these special lunations relative to their pairs as that will give us a certain perspective of “eclipse parentheses” and mark the timing of their effects with better accuracy. The total solar eclipse takes place on August 1 in Leo at 9.32 of this sign, making it exceptionally strong. (Due to the sign/planet affinity, all solar eclipses in Leo and all lunar eclipses in Pisces are most potent.) It’s eclipse “pair” is another solar eclipse that happens on January 26, 2009 at 6.30˚ Aquarius. The Full Moon partial lunar eclipse occurs on August 16th at 24.21 Aquarius with its pair happening on February 9, 2009 at 21.00 Leo. We therefore have two “parentheses”: solar eclipses (9.32 Leo to 6.30 Aquarius) and lunar eclipses (24.21 Aquarius to 21.00 Leo). To see if these events affect your own chart, please add or subtract 5˚ from any of these positions, keeping in mind that the strength of an eclipse is most potent when either conjunct or opposed an important position in the natal horoscope.

Leo/Aquarius eclipses have a special theme: the juxtaposition of the interests of the individual to those of the collective. The challenge: how to integrate what I desire in terms of self-recognition with what society needs from the offerings of my particular personality. The resolution: awareness of the reality of both personal and collective needs and the wisdom and love required to make the right choices. The result: one usually learns from this process something about the right use of will.

Remember that the events in question were set in motion some 87 days prior to the first eclipse under consideration and will last in terms of their greatest apparent intensity until 87 days after the end of the last eclipse of the pair. Why 87 days? This is due to the fact that three lunations prior to the eclipse in question there was a square to the coming eclipse point—setting things up, so to speak. The same is true 87 days after the last eclipse—there will be a lunation square to that eclipse point, putting a “final touch” to things. (All these squares will have an orb of +/- 5˚.)

Naturally there are some eclipses that have huge periods of effects, even life-long ones. A personal story: The total solar eclipse on my natal Sun on my 23rd birthday: I abandoned my previous career orientation as a professor of Romance Languages and Linguistics, and became an astrologer. The total solar eclipse on my natal Sun on my 62nd birthday, I sold my home in Santa Fe (where I had lived for 32 years) and moved to Lisbon, where I believe I will be living for many years to come. Which brings me to stress a common theme about solar eclipses: they indicate an intense change of circumstances, ending one set of life events/one direction, and opening the door to another. This is modified in complexity and completeness by the fact of the solar eclipse being partial or total and the degree of exactitude it has to the natal chart either by conjunction or opposition. Do keep in mind that in terms of solar eclipses not only the house where the eclipse takes place will be of major importance, but also the house or houses that have Leo on their cusp. (This would be incredibly enhanced should the solar eclipse be total and fall on or opposite the natal Sun.) Should the solar eclipse affect another planet, say Venus for example, then the astrologer would look closely at the effects on the circumstances of life that have Taurus and Libra on their cusps.

As for lunar eclipses, they are of course highly significant as well but they tend to affect more the formative nature than the causative (solar force). Thus an eclipse of the Moon on Venus in the Seventh House is likely to affect the form of the relationship, bringing in challenges to shared values or even shared romantic aspirations (and no doubt, to finances, especially if Venus were in a earthy sign) but it would not necessarily end the relationship. But if you had a total solar eclipse let us say conjoined a person’s Moon in the 7th house, then that relationship would stand in the greatest jeopardy in terms of its potential dissolution (especially if it were in Scorpio, Aries, Cancer or Libra). In all cases in terms of lunar eclipses, please take note of the house position or positions that have Cancer on their cusp as well as the house positions of the lunar eclipse. This will always occur at the Full Moon, so two houses will always be affected in addition the Cancer-cusp position.

Now let’s examine some of the faster moving aspects taking place during this time period (all dates and times gives are in GMT):

July 22: Sun enters Leo at 10.55am; Mercury trine Uranus (22˚ Cancer to Pisces)—A great day for sending emails and other forms of communication. Mercury is moving very quickly in July and August, so things in general will appear to be speeded up a bit.

July 26: Mercury enters Leo while Mars trines Jupiter (15˚ Virgo to Capricorn)—Mars/Jupiter trines are a particular favorite of mine (Aries that I am with Jupiter in the 9th house trine the Sun), as they give the urge for adventure, add to courage and positivity and generally reinforce the good. If this trine falls into a grand trine with the Moon, Jupiter, or Venus in Taurus in your natal chart, this can be a very financial fortuitous time for you.

July 29: Mercury conjoins the Sun at 7.03 Leo—A busy day for one and all.

July 31: Venus and Neptune oppose at 23.15 Leo to Aquarius—This opposition certainly brings out the theme of the Leo/Aquarius eclipses as it points to a juxtaposition of the personal and collective needs and desires in terms of human relationships; sacrifice is often required as a result. This of course would be of far more personal importance should this opposition fall in an important place in an individual’s natal map. Otherwise, this just might be a great day to go to an art gallery or the movies.

August 6: Venus enters Virgo; Mars and Uranus oppose at 22.02˚ Virgo to Pisces and Mercury opposes Neptune at 23.05 Leo to Aquarius—This is not a pleasant set of aspects. A lot of miscommunication can easily occur leading to violent confrontations. I would think that the normally nasty news of the world coming forth these days will be just a little nastier today.

August 10: Mercury enters Virgo.

August 13: Venus is conjoined Saturn at 9.15 Virgo—A most diligent conjunction this is! Should this fall in to a major point in your natal chart, hard work with another person could yield some positive results. This is also a good time to define mutual responsibilities in terms of work-oreinted relationships as well as making improvements in relationships in general. Venus/Saturn connections are not always “sweet and romantic” but we should keep in mind that Saturn is exalted in Libra, so Saturn/Venus contacts when done correctly can result in the furtherance of right human relationships.

August 15: Sun opposed to Neptune at 22.51 Leo to Aquarius and Mercury conjunct Saturn at 13.14 Virgo—This is quite the juxtaposition of influences. On the one side we have the efficient Mercury/Saturn combination, trying its best to sort everything out in Virgo and create a tidy picture. On the other hand, there is the Sun opposing Neptune, not wanting anything of a practical nature to get in the way of a bit of fantasy and escapism.

August 17: Venus trine Jupiter from 13 Virgo to 13 Capricorn and Mars square Pluto from 28 Virgo to 28 Sagittarius—Another conflicting pair of influences with Venus/Jupiter wanting to have fun (probably shopping for “nice” things since Virgo/Capricorn are involved) and Mars/Pluto short tempered and shaking a stick. The combination of Mars-Pluto-Jupiter-Venus can of course be very erotic, but with this interplay of aspects and signs, not particularly pleasant.

August 19: Mars enters Libra.

August 21: Sun trine Pluto at 28 Leo to 28 Sagittarius and Mercury conjunct Venus at 19 Virgo—This set of influences puts a lot of positive vitality in the collective air. If we combine it with the Mercury/Venus combination it is very good to for working upon any project that involves details and precision.