The author of this article, Rob Tillett, has been an astrologer for more than three decades. In previous incarnations a poet, musician, magician, healer, dramatist & composer, he is the editor and publisher of Astrology on the Web and has written many articles on this website.
Rob lives in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, on the east coast of Australia.
The eclipse of the Sun has traditionally been viewed with dread over the ages, as the great giver of life seems inexplicably to disappear from the sky. Birds prepare for bed; the sky darkens in the middle of the day. It seems as though something dreadful is about to happen. Over the years, experience has shown us that old things come to an end (or are overthrown!) under a solar eclipse and a new beginning can be made. The effect on the world of eclipses has been seen to be generally felt for some six months, until the next eclipse then restructures the cosmic energies.
Astrologically, solar eclipses signify the fall of the mighty (or at least, they're in big trouble!). Depending where in the zodiac the eclipse occurs, stress is always placed on the matters governed by that sign, or sector of the zodiac. A powerful Solar Eclipse can create massive havoc, in accordance with other aspects in the heavens at the time, as can be clearly seen by the trail of earthquakes and other disasters associated with the Solar Eclipse and Grand Cross of August 1999.
Total Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 1st, 2008
The second solar eclipse of 2008 is a total eclipse of the Sun, at the New Moon in Leo on August 1, a week before the start of the Beijing Olympic Games. This eclipse, though total, has a fairly narrow path that will mainly be visible in the high northern latitudes, beginning in Nunavut, northern Canada at 09:23 UT, reaching the point of Greatest Eclipse near Nadym on the Russian Coast, then crossing Mongolia and ending near Xian and Zhengzhou in China, just before sunset. The path of the Moon’s deep, umbral shadow thus begins in Canada and extends across northern Greenland, the Arctic, central Russia, Mongolia, and China, where it will lift off at sunset. A partial eclipse will be visible along the much broader path of the Moon’s paler, penumbral shadow, which includes northeastern North America and covers most of Europe and Asia. For more detailed info from Fred Espenak on the path of the eclipse, please click here. Or you can view the map here.
This eclipse occurs at 9°32' of Leo the Lion, conjunct Mercury the divine messenger, so, being a Friday, the party vibes will be fabulous! It awakens the nebulous cluster of The Aselli, the Asses, being closely conjunct Asellus Australis, South Asellus (a star of the Sun and Mars), which is considered less than fortunate. It is also conjunct Giansar a star of Saturn and Mars in the tail of Draco, but one which is less aggressive. This star is often symbolised by the Tarot Card "Death", which stands for the sweeping away of old things, to make room for a brand new beginning.
It is traditionally held that the Aselli are generally unfortunate, harbingers of death by fever, fire, hanging, beheading, or violent catastrophe, ruin, disgrace, wounds, hurts to face, eye trouble, blindness, imprisonment – and great changes in society. Hmm, sounds gruesome!
South Asellus in particular is known for military preferment, blindness, eye trouble, shipwreck, mass murder, horrors, and a selfish, uncooperative spirit, but Giansar gives a penetrating mind, bringing travel, friendships and ingenuity into prominence, though it has been known to stimulate robbery and even accidental poisoning. If you are heading for the Beijing Olympics you need to take extra care in these areas (especially diet)!
Spirit of the Ancestors
According to Vehlow, the Chinese gave this group of stars the name The Spirit of the Ancestors and were of the opinion that, if conjunct the Moon, they would produce peculiar experiences with the realms of the dead. Since the eclipse involves both Sun and Moon, it might be an interesting time for a séance! The Aselli are representative of the Sun and Moon, so their prominence in this figure is increased, but the need for caution, especially in travel, business and with fire is emphasized. The Aselli could be seen as fortunate in that they do represent the Lights, but their effects are not always as enjoyable as they could be!
Death, by Pamela Coleman Smith
Mars and Mercury
This eclipse does lie in the shadow of the upcoming Mars/Uranus opposition on August 6, suggesting it would be a waste of time to try and coordinate group efforts. This aspect is aggravated by the simultaneous opposition between Mercury and Neptune, which advises us not attempt anything that requires logic and clear thinking! A warning for the organisers of the Beijing Festivities: information and ideas may be illusive, intentionally deceptive, or even quite dangerous. Making a wise decision, or finding out the truth, is well-nigh impossible. It's not that good for travelling over water, photography, business transactions, or spiritual studies and activities.
We must be aware of a need under these aspects to control any tendency to self-pity and despair, or we may suffer personal loss or disappointment. It's a period in which to avoid getting into debt or lending money to others – definitely a time for careful deliberation and cautious behaviour. Activities with friends and organizations are likely to be disrupted, but the unstable influence makes it hard to predict the actions you take, or actions that may suddenly be taken against you – especially if this point is activated in your natal chart (as it is in mine, ugh!). It is not the time to act on impulse, or to participate in new and unusual experiences, which may well blow up in your face. Being in the middle of a crowd is unsettling, and the same for personal encounters with strangers. Do not seek to act out or impose egalitarian gestures, as this will raise dangerous hackles. Those who hold a deep bias will not hesitate to attack you, as well as your lofty principles. Tibet protestors beware! Matters will come to a head at the Full Moon, which is of course the Lunar Eclipse on August 16.
Solar eclipses don't often pass over populated areas, but when they do, they appear to have significant disruptive effects on the people and nations concerned (e.g., economic or political crises, civil unrest). My colleague, Ian Thurnwald, points out that Solar Eclipses also seem either to trigger or amplify natural events in the regions they affect (e.g., severe weather, earthquakes). Whether this effect is an astrological one or not, is a moot point, though recent scientific work on the effects of the Moon on earthquakes and other terrestrial phenomena is interesting. No doubt they would hasten to deny any astrological effect! See my article on Moon Wobbles. The eclipse being in Leo means that people with Fixed signs (Aquarius; Leo; Scorpio; Taurus) featured in their birthcharts are more likely to be affected. The next eclipse of the Sun will be on January 26, 2009.
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Lunar Eclipse by Mickie Mueller
The Eclipse of the Moon
The eclipse of the Moon has traditionally been viewed as a bad omen, for it can awaken irrational responses. Since the Moon governs domestic matters, the public and the emotional personality, rather than leadership, it tends to have a more personal effect than the solar eclipse, which plays a more outward, even political, role.
As a rule, women and family are generally more affected by the lunar cycle, whereas men and politics are signified by the solar. This is not to say that women are not political animals, nor that men are distinct from the family, but that the private, nurturing side is more affected than the public, social and media driven arena, which even in the 21st Century is still primarily dominated by males, or at least by what might be described as masculine energies.
Partial Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius on August 16th, 2008
The second lunar eclipse of the year is a partial eclipse of the Full Moon in Aquarius, with Greatest Eclipse at 21:11 hrs UT on Aug 16, 2008 (07:11 AM Aug 17 Sydney time – it's not really visible in most of the Americas). The penumbral eclipse begins at 18:25 UT, then the partial eclipse begins at 19:36 UT as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's dark, umbral shadow. The Moon’s trajectory takes it through the shadow, giving us a partial eclipse that lasts 3 hours 8 minutes. During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it as far into the Earth's dark umbra as it's going to go. It is mainly visibile from the Eastern Hemisphere along with eastern South America. The eclipse magnitude will reach over 80%.
The eclipse occurs at 24°21' Aquarius, in conjunction with the Fixed Stars Sadalsuud, a star of great good fortune, Deneb Algedi, a magical star of power, and Sador, glittering wings in the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan. These incline us to seek a wise and beneficent leader, but may also cause Christians to rally under the sign of the cross. Or anyone to be drawn to symbolic jumping-off places.
Observers in South America will see the eclipse at Moonrise, as will people in Western Europe and West Africa.
Viewers in the rest of Europe and Africa, as well as most of Asia will achieve maximum visibility.
East Asia, Australia and New Zealand will see the eclipse at Moonset on the morning of the 17th.
Most people in North America, except for those in the Eastern Caribbean, Eastern New England and Eastern Canada will hardly get a glimpse.
For NASA's graphic illustration of the Moon's path through Earth's shadows, as well as Fred Espenak's map illustrating worldwide visibility, click here.
Aquarius, by Barbara Nagel
Emotional Detachment
The Moon is eclipsed in Aquarius, so people at this time will display the appearance of emotional coolness or non-involvement. It shows a liking for the strange and curious, with an inclination for subjects that are unusual, original and eccentric. The pressure of the eclipse will give rise to erratic mindsets and a generally neurotic condition in the collective that seems to push itself into consciousness. Sorrow and sudden changes may be caused by friends. Too much individualism and eccentricity can see marital and partnership problems. People are prone to peculiar and strange appetites.
Although the Lunar Eclipse happens during the Beijing Olympics, it is associated with several aspects to Pluto, the transformer, suggesting that long-standing obstacles may be overcome (new records, no doubt). Nebulous Neptune is also in the picture, and the Moon's conjunction with Neptune happens a few hours before the actual eclipse. This will add a touch of glamour to the proceedings (and maybe a dose of deception!), so drug issues may well arise in the pursuit of success. Matters connected with oil will affect the domestic markets in a peculiar way – maybe film stars will stop driving Navigators...
It is also notable that a beautiful trine aspect from delightful Venus to fortunate Jupiter occurs shortly after the eclipse, suggesting that great heights will be scaled – and that vast sums will be exchanged! A brilliant trine from wise Mercury to profound Jupiter occurs the following day, when information, ideas and activities are enhanced by intellectual endeavors that will boost economic and social status. You may be in just the right place at the right time with the right information. Ideas tend toward the dramatic and grandiose, but they have their place in the scheme of things at this time. What should be avoided, however, is overconfidence and being too far out of touch with reality and practicality. Favorable outcomes are possible in such areas as religious or political activities, court decisions, publishing, advertising, long-distance travel, cultural pursuits, and dealings with those of another race or culture.
The Sun in this eclipse is conjunct the Fixed Star Subra, in Leo. Subra is not noted for guile, but is full of swaggering strength, fond of battle and plunder. How appropriate! Issues will come to a head at the Solar Eclipse on January 26, 2009.
People with Fixed Signs prominent in their charts will have a hard time separating their egos from their emotions, failing to recognise that something (or someone) they want may simply represent ego involvement, instead of emotional commitment. The Fixed signs are Aquarius; Taurus; Leo; and Scorpio. What we are called upon (or driven) to do may often interfere with what gives us emotional satisfaction, or we chase after our desires, while we waste or fail to develop our talents and skills. A tug-of-war exists between desires and emotional needs and practical ambitions. Appreciate whatever positive circumstances you encounter, and don’t be misguided enough to believe you can easily overcome any negative ones.
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How do Eclipses Happen?
In ancient times, priests and astrologers discovered how to predict eclipses, having realised their significance. Using observation and mathematics, they prepared reliable tables utilising their knowledge of the movement of the Moon's Nodes that have hardly been surpassed for accuracy until the recent advent of the computer. The Moon's Nodes mark the points where the path of the Moon's orbit around the Earth crosses the path of the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun and planets around the Earth) as viewed from the surface of the Earth. An eclipse takes place when either a New Moon (producing a Solar Eclipse) or a Full Moon (producing a Lunar Eclipse) occurs close to the either of the Nodes.
The Moon's light is reflected from the Sun, as the Moon does not shine of her own accord. Each month the Moon in her orbit travels completely around the Earth and the New and Full Moons happen as the Sun aligns with the Moon, either in conjunction or opposition. These powerful periods are called lunations. Among other effects on the world, they generate the tides.
New Moon Solar Eclipse
Full Moon Lunar Eclipse
When lunations are also eclipses, their effect is even more powerful — although solar eclipses are generally more strongly felt than lunar eclipses. Eclipses usually occur in pairs, with either a lunar eclipse (Full Moon) heralding a solar eclipse (New Moon) about two weeks later, or vice versa. The energy of any lunation is always most strongly felt a day or so before the Moon (emotions; habit patterns; the public) reaches the exact alignment with the Sun (character; rationality; rulers).
At a Full Moon, when the Earth, Sun and Moon are so closely aligned that the Earth is located precisely between the Sun and the Moon, the shadow of the Earth covers the face of the Moon generating a Lunar Eclipse. The light of the Moon is darkened temporarily. It is safe to observe the Lunar Eclipse, or to take photographs, as there is no likelihood of eye damage, unlike the dangers during a Solar Eclipse.
When similarly aligned at a New Moon, the body of the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, producing a Solar Eclipse by hiding the face of the Sun. Remember, you should never view eclipses of the Sun directly with the naked eye, because the potential for eye damage is high.
For more on the science of eclipses, click here. Remember when looking at this astronomical material that they are using the sidereal zodiac, whilst we are using the tropical zodiac, so sign placements may seem out of whack with those mentioned here. This is due to the cosmic phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes, which makes the tropical zodiac of the seasons, as used on this site, seem out of sync with the constellations. This factor however has no effect on the predictive power of astrology.
Cosmic Coincidence?
Although the actual size of the Moon is much smaller than the size of the Sun, one of the most remarkable facts about our universe is that, when viewed from the Earth during a total eclipse, the Moon's disc exactly covers the disc of the Sun. The odds against such a striking coincidence happening in the one known area of the Universe where intelligent beings can experience it are, in a word, astronomical! This is one more in a long list of phenomena that inclines this writer to believe that our world is much more like a mind than a thing. See Is Astrology Scientific, for more on this approach.
Astrology shows that the stars and planets are a map to our personalities and a guide to our place in the world. It also explains how the world is regular and predictable (up to a point!). An astrological forecast will place these trends into a context, with regard to our own personal destinies.
Enlightened Astrology does not teach a fatalistic view of the world. Within the environment indicated by the stars, we have considerable freedom to move and make decisions, according to our character and circumstances. See Nexus of Probability.
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