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Eclipses have been around
for thousands of years. Our ancestors believed they were an evil omen,
and that reputation has followed them down through the ages. In the
past it was noticed that they caused strange things to happen, day
would suddenly turn to night, flowers would close up, and animals
would howl or drop to the ground in sleep.
In astrology there is a
correlation with evil partly because of the proximity of the nodes.
The nodes of the Moon are imaginary points in the sky where the Moon
crosses the ecliptic, which is the normal path of the Sun in the sky.
There are two nodes. One is the beneficial north node, or head
of the dragon, symbolic of the future, and the other is the malefic
south node, the tail of the dragon, symbolic of the past. Whether the
eclipses were thought to be evil because of the nodes, or the nodes
became evil because of the eclipse, we may only wonder.
An eclipse occurs when
the light of the sun is blocked either by the Moon or the Earth. One
hint that an eclipse is coming is the proximity to the nodes of the
Moon.
Occasionally I have heard of a transit of Mercury or Venus across the
Sun
called an eclipse, but this is incorrect for they are too small to
block out the Sun. There is a special term for this event, and it is called an
occultation. It may be small but it is just as powerful as a solar
eclipse. The Transit of Venus looked like a tiny little pinhole on the
sun. See my article
Transit of Venus.
There are two types of
eclipses - Solar or Lunar
A solar eclipse occurs
at the new moon when the Moon is so perfectly aligned between the
Earth and the Sun that it blocks out the light of the Sun. The
pictures are very dramatic, showing a dark ball covering most of the Sun,
often with a fiery ring around the edge.
As the eclipse starts,
the sky slowly begins to darken, and we start to see a very unusual
diffused light turning day into dusk; in some areas it becomes dark
as night. The duration of each eclipse varies.
A solar eclipse is
like the new moon, it is all about new beginnings, but it holds more
importance for a longer period of time, and events are more
noticeable and dramatic.
A lunar eclipse
occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon and blocks
the light of the Moon, the reflected light of the Sun. Think of a full
Moon with a heavy cloud cover causing an eerie light and you will get
a sense of way it looks. The duration of effects is about 6 months, or
to the next lunar eclipse.
The symbolism of a lunar eclipse is similar
to a full Moon, except that it is much more powerful. It is a
completion, or finishing, of some project that we have been working
on.
3 Variations of a
Solar Eclipse - Total, Partial, and Annular
The difference between
these 3 eclipses is caused by the distance of the Moon to the Earth. A
total eclipse results when the Moon is close to the Earth, aligned
perfectly with the sun, and large enough to totally block the sun.
This is very rare, you may only see one in your entire lifetime. This
also makes the path of this eclipse very narrow. I have read that the
Moon is slowly moving away from the Earth and that at some time in the
far, far, future total eclipses will be a thing of the past. So enjoy
them, and write about them, because your ancestors may doubt they ever
happened, just like we doubt Atlantis.
The annular eclipse is
more common. This happens when the Moon is further away from the
Earth and not able to totally block out the sun, so we are able to
see more of the corona around the Sun.
The 3rd type is a partial
eclipse. The Sun and Moon do not line up precisely, and
the Moon only blocks out part of the Sun. Often it looks as if the
Moon is taking a bite out of the Sun.
The hybrid
eclipse, which is also rare, is a combination of total and annular. The eclipse starts out annular, goes to total, and then back to annular at the end. This has to do with the curvature of the Earth's surface.
Duration of the
Eclipse
In astrology the
duration of effects is based on the length of the eclipse, and
forecasts can be anywhere from six months to three years, but it may
be longer. In other words the duration of the eclipse may effect the
length of time that it will trigger events. (Astrologers differ on
the length of effects, many astrologers say it's only six months, no
matter how long the eclipse.)
Area of Visibility
The area of visibility
is the path of the eclipse. This is the due to the shape of the
earth and the area over which the Sun and Moon will travel during
the time that they're together. For a Solar Eclipse this will
be the area of the globe that is in daylight. What you see depends on
your angle to the sun, determined by your location. Even if it is an
annular, you may only see it as a partial.
The Nodes
When the Sun and Moon are
together in a solar eclipse they will be conjunct either the north or the south node.
This forecasts whether the influence is positive or negative.
If the
sun and moon are with the north node, is said to bring a positive influence. If
they are with the south node, dire things are predicted. It was common
for the ancient stargazers to foretell extreme doom and gloom, but
think of the conditions they lived under!
I prefer to think of
it in a different way. A north node eclipse is new territory, and we
are urged to go forward into totally unknown territory, into an
exciting, unpredictable future, to be open to fresh, new ideas, and
a big evolutionary leap. A south node eclipse has to do with
upgrading our previously developed talents, and using them to bring
about new ways.
I'll use the wheel as an example. The wheel, used for
transportation, was one of those inventions that totally transformed
society and there really was nothing like it before. Then at the
turn of the century we went from wagons to motorized cars. A new
form of transportation based on a previous idea. When the airplane
was invented this was another leap. Other leaps that we are familiar
with have to do with communication.
Of course, your
personal chart is always the best guide.
The Saros Series
Eclipses have a beginning
and an end and they have a cycle of about 12 -13 centuries. They are
born at one pole, move toward the equator, and finish up at the other
pole. This sequence is called the Saros Series, and they are labeled
either a north or south series. Each series, or "family", of
eclipses is about eighteen years apart.
How Will it Affect
You?
Aspects of the solar eclipse to planets in your natal chart will
tell you how the eclipse will affect you, and how strong the effect
will be. If it is triggering a personal planet, or Mars, Jupiter or
Saturn, it will personal. If it is an outer planet, the effect will
be more societal, and generational. The aspects will tell if it is
easy, bringing good things without much effort on your part, or if
you'll have to work to receive the benefits. The house will tell you
which area of life it will affect. Don't forget to look at the
house/s ruled by the planet/s receiving the eclipse, and the houses
ruled by the Sun and the Moon. I normally allow a one degree orb,
but at times I have seen affects from larger orbs. A larger orb
seems to be more psychological than eventful.
Gazing at an Eclipse
Your eyes must be
protected when looking at the sun. No matter what anyone says about
their experience, it is better to be safe than sorry. People who live
where the sun is strong have problems just from going to the beach.
Looking directly into the sun may cause blindness, or cataracts, and at the least, it
will harm the white part of the eye, it actually melts it. So always get special eclipse
glasses or viewers, not sunglasses, no matter how expensive they are.
You want to enjoy your viewing experience and have many good memories.
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september 22 eclipse
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