Eclipses, as a natural phenomenon, the obfuscation -total or partial- of the Sun or the Moon due to the Earth’s orbit, has always fascinated and frightened mankind. As human beings, we have trouble leaving our comfort zone. The universe knows that dreams and desires cannot be achieved if we are stagnant. Eclipses bring in the energy of allowing endings to happen in order for a new beginning to take place. This is to help enlighten and evolve us into our highest vibration and purpose.
We have a Solar Eclipse when the Moon is interposed between the Earth and the Sun (something that can only happen when we have a New Moon). And respectively, we have a Lunar Eclipse when the Earth is interposed between the Sun and the Moon, (something that also can happen only when we have a Full Moon).
The eclipses as a natural phenomenon
Since the Earth and the Moon are illuminated by the Sun, they produce a shadow cone onto each other celestial body. At the same time an area, in which the brightness of the light is reduced, is created, which we call Penumbra. Due to the fact that the orbits of Earth and Moon are inclined (5, 8’ degrees), we do not experience an eclipse every month. As a consequence, the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic at two points or as we call them, Moon's Nodes. If a solar eclipse takes place within about 17 degrees of a node (the actual value ranges from 15.39° to 18.59° because of the eccentricity of the Moon's and Earth's orbit), then the eclipse will be visible from some location on Earth.
There is a certain periodicity in this phenomenon and as a result we have every year approximately two to five solar eclipses and from zero to three lunar eclipses. Solar eclipses as a phenomenon have a short duration but have greater impact on the course of events, particularly in political Astrology which uses the eclipses for recording and predicting important events. The lunar eclipses last longer as a phenomenon. Mostly they affect our emotions and have less impact in terms of defining global events.
Due to the stability of the phenomena it is pretty easy to predict when an eclipse will happen. The Babylonians were the first who studied this periodicity and called it the “Saros cycle”. Saros cycle repeats every eighteen years and eleven days. Each Eclipse takes place in a specific degree on the ecliptic, with increased or decreased intensity. An Eclipse starts its cycle as Penumbral Eclipse, upgraded to partial, later in total and then declined until the cycle is closed.
Each year we have an average number of four eclipses. There are never less than two eclipses in a year, and they are solar, nor are there more than seven, though that happens very seldom. The usual number is four; two solar and two lunar eclipses, and they usually come in pairs and six months apart. A year is considered important when we have six or more eclipses.
Eclipses can be partial, hybrid, total, or annular.
- A hybrid Solar Eclipse has profound significance in the astrological realm. Its effects can be felt up five to six months after the event takes place. This gives the collective energy a chance to implement these changes toward spiritual evolution. A hybrid Solar Eclipse is considered a rare event. It is when the Solar Eclipse appears as a total Solar Eclipse and an annular Solar Eclipse. A hybrid Eclipse occurs seven times every century.
- A total Eclipse is when the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon.
- Annular eclipses happen when the moon passes between the sun and Earth at its farthest point in its orbit. This causes the moon to appear smaller in size, so it’s not able to cover the entire surface of the sun. This results in a “ring of fire” effect — hence, its nickname — leaving a small part of the sun slightly visible to the eye. (FYI, professionals recommend wearing specialised eye protection if you plan on doing any solar eclipse-gazing.)
How do the eclipses affect us?
Don’t let the drama scare you. Instead, use an Eclipse to your advantage. This is a wonderful time to re-evaluate what isn’t serving you anymore.Eclipses are very intense when they occur, and that is the reason we are interested and curious about them and we want to know if they affect us. The Eclipses trigger issues affiliated to the House in which they take place. They can affect us if they are in orb (1 degree) from any planet or point of our horoscope, thus triggering them, either positive or negative, depending on their position in the horoscope, if it is well aspected or not etc etc. Usually the unfolding events are negative in their nature because of the unexpectedly high energy emitted and from the changes they make happen, which we are willing to put forth.
One of the so-called side-effects is the feeling that time speeds up. We feel life is moving very rapidly – it is life on fast-forward, or great acceleration. Eclipses bring events that you assumed were months or years away right now. Timetables change in a blink of an eye. This is why we feel anxious and agitated during the time of an Eclipse.
Don’t let the drama scare you. Instead, use an Eclipse to your advantage. This is a wonderful time to re-evaluate what isn’t serving you anymore.
All aspects which eclipses make with your personal horoscope should have an orb maximum of 1 degree. An eclipse has a profound effect in our lives when our Sun, Moon, Ascendant or Midheaven is affected.
Solar eclipses trigger issues and events according to the sign’s nature in which it is happening. It is the point that circumscribes a major beginning or a change in our lives. When a solar eclipse affects a radical planet the effect lasts for the duration of the current month. It produces similar effects during the months of the following year when aspects of the same nature are formed with the place of the eclipse.
Example: If a solar eclipse affected a radical planet during August the Sun will repeat the effects of the eclipse during November (the sun forms a square with the point of the eclipse), February (the sun forms an opposition with the point of the eclipse), and May (the sun forms again a square with the point of the eclipse).
The lunar eclipses charge emotionally the points they touch in our horoscope. This is why the reactions are usually much more intense than usual. When a person is affected by an Eclipse it cannot function according to common sense and typically causes unwanted side effects, such as misunderstandings. Is also observed during a Lunar eclipse a growing restlessness and anxiety. The lunar eclipses are characterised by closures in our affairs and also an activity escalation.
A special mention, though brief, must be given to the "Prenatal Eclipse". As the title says, this is the Eclipse that took place during the course of our gravidity. The House in which the eclipse took place causes most of the problems in our lives.
