As we enter the second half of 2009, we’re in for quite a ride with two eclipses in July and a third in August. Eclipses are known for bringing volatility and change. Often we find ourselves feeling edgy, overactive or ‘loony’ at these larger-than-life New or Full Moons that, due to the interaction of the Nodes, become Eclipses. Something we’ve not had time to attend to, have been only subliminally aware of, or have even been wilfully suppressing, is likely to come to light. Sometimes this is a wonderful ‘aha’! and we’re grateful for the insight. Other times, it can feel like ‘No, I don’t want to know that!’ But whether we want it or not, the awareness breakthrough is still likely to come. It’s up to us to respond and adjust in ways that work for us, not against us. For those who feel New or Full Moons building a few days in advance, the same energetic tension happens with Eclipses, yet to a far greater degree. In fact, we might even experience Eclipses building for a week or more beforehand.
For those of us who live in Victoria, it’s worth noting that in the days leading up to the previous Eclipse (10 February), the devastating Black Saturday bushfires wreaked havoc. As the next Eclipse builds (falling on 7 July), our bodies (on all levels – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) are likely to be remembering the stresses of those days, not to mention the aftermath and sorrow. So if you notice yourself or others being easily irritated this month, there could be some residual stress clearing from memories of those times. July is certainly a month to go gently with ourselves and others. Even if you don’t live in Victoria, cast your mind back to what happened in your life around 10 February (or even back to the Eclipse on 26 January). Whatever the Eclipse brought could feel retriggered as cellular memories reawaken. This is not to imply that similar dramatic events are about to occur – it’s hard to know what will occur under the surprising energy of an Eclipse; they can bring ‘uppers’ or ‘downers’. Yet it’s naturally human to retain memories of past trauma and for our bodies to anticipate repeat trauma even if nothing of the kind is on the way. Great things might even be on the cards, but our bodies might be convinced there’s something to fear. Eclipse periods can be helpful times to clear out old wounds and worries and to set new life-affirming intentions.
Here’s the Eclipse dates:
7 July 2009, Annular Lunar Eclipse at the Full Moon at 15 degrees Capricorn
22 July 2009, Total Solar Eclipse at the New Moon at 29 degrees Cancer. This will be the longest Total Solar Eclipse for this century (i.e. from 2001 to 2100), lasting 06 minutes and 39 seconds (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/SE2001-2100.html)
6 August 2009, Annular Lunar Eclipse at the Full Moon at 14 degrees Aquarius
There are differences of opinion among astrologers as to how the strength of an Eclipse can be measured. For example, because the 7 July Lunar Eclipse is not likely to be easily seen, even in countries where it’s visible, some astrologers believe it won’t be much more intense than a typical Full Moon. My sense of Eclipses is that if they contact something significant in your chart (e.g. your Sun, Moon, Nodes, Inner Planets or Rising Sign) then they are likely to be important regardless of how visible they are. There are some Eclipses, though, that seem to affect everyone even if nothing particular in our charts is triggered. Total Eclipses are said to be stronger than other Eclipses, and the longer an Eclipse lasts, the stronger it is. The Eclipse on the 22nd is the longest Total Solar Eclipse for this century. With this in mind, it will be interesting to see what happens on the world stage at the 22 July Total Solar Eclipse. Even if we don’t experience Eclipses in our personal lives, it would be unusual for nothing to happen in the lives of world leaders, especially at a Solar Eclipse. The Sun represents world leaders or celebrities, so a Total Eclipse of the Sun is likely to take a leader to new highs or lows.
If you’re wondering how to determine if an Eclipse is particularly potent in your own chart, look to see if you have anything at the degree of the Eclipse. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in the relevant zodiac sign. For example, the Eclipse on 7 July is at 15 degrees Capricorn, so if you have a planet anywhere between 12 or 18 degrees in your chart (allowing a few degrees either side of 15) then you might well experience the effects of the Eclipse. To recap, Eclipses generally bring volatility and change. It’s as if they shine a spotlight on areas of our lives that we might not have seen clearly before, particularly where there’s unfinished business. With the greater awareness Eclipses bring, new decisions and approaches are often needed. It’s best to be patient with ourselves and others at Eclipse times as we can become emotionally reactive, anxious or jumpy. Whoever came up with the saying ‘a change is as good as a holiday’ most probably wasn’t thinking about Eclipses as they don’t tend to be relaxing!
Quite aside from the Eclipses, July starts with a premonition that we’re in for a big second half of the year with Uranus shifting Retro on the 1st. This planet is definitely one to watch as it’s the ‘boss’ or ‘ruler’ of Aquarius and right now we are still in the thick of the triple alignment in Aquarius. In many ways, Uranus should almost be called the ‘Eclipse’ planet as it brings sudden changes and surprises in similar ways to Eclipses. This year has a big Aquarius-Uranus theme and throughout Uranus’ Retrograde phase over the next five months (from 1 July to 2 December) we are likely to see increased change in our personal lives and the world. Accidents, riots, panics and rebellious spontaneity all tend to increase when Aquarius-Uranus energy is amplified. On the positive side, healing of past rifts, community-building and fresh ideas for the good of all are also highly possible.
Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron (the three planets involved in the Aquarius triple alignment) are all currently travelling Retrograde, symbolically encouraging us to think deeply and go slowly. The intense focus on Aquarius could spark impulsive behaviour, yet Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron are cautioning us to slow down and think before we act. Now that the ruling planet of the triple alignment, Uranus, is Retro too we are especially being encouraged to let go of detached thinking or frozen emotions (negative Aquarius) and to instead reach out to heal rifts of isolation or dissociation. Interestingly, Uranus and Neptune will be travelling at pretty much the same degree until November this year, keeping Uranus very strongly in tune with the triple alignment until then. This teaming of planetary archetypes offers incredible possibilities for working with ‘divine intelligence’, compassion and heart healing (Neptune) to move into positive futures (Aquarius). Yet we must curb the negatives of Aquarius-Uranus and keep a place in our communities for those who feel disenfranchised, ‘weird’ or different. The pain of separation is already too great in the world. Aquarius honours difference and individuality, but if taken to extremes heartfulness is often lost. Neptune, Jupiter and Chiron are helping bring heart and warmth back to any extremist Aquarius symptoms of separation or isolation.
Michael Jackson strongly highlights the energies of the triple alignment. With his Moon in Pisces (Neptune’s zodiac sign) and his Chiron in Aquarius (Uranus’s zodiac sign), and Uranus and Neptune both strongly configured in his birth chart, Michael Jackson role-modelled some of the extremes of these energies. We were fortunate to experience his amazing artistic brilliance (Neptune-Pisces and Uranus-Aquarius) yet we also witnessed his dependency on drugs and attachment to an idealised sense of self and youth (both downsides of Neptune-Pisces). Certainly he was someone who seemed to find it difficult to integrate the different, eccentric or ‘weird’ parts of himself (Aquarius), and the tragedy and pain of that is evident in his Chiron in Aquarius. He died at a time when the Moon was making a strong alignment to his Chiron in Aquarius. And of course right now, Chiron is in Aquarius as part of the triple alignment. His soul chose to leave in the build-up to the Eclipse season – it’s not uncommon for souls to enter or leave ‘this mortal coil’ at Eclipse times. Eclipse events can happen in the lead up to Eclipses or in the weeks afterwards. There’s a lot more to Michael Jackson’s chart than what I’ve just looked at so keep in mind that I’m focussing only on the parts that illustrate Neptune-Uranus themes. It’s also worth noting that, in his birth chart, Jupiter and Neptune are joine – two of the three planets in this current triple alignment.
Throughout July, the triple alignment in Aquarius is triggered multiple times. The most noteworthy are the following:
1-3 July, Venus in Taurus squares the triple alignment
3 July, Moon in Scorpio squares the triple alignment
5-9 July, Mars in Taurus squares the triple alignment
10 July, The triple alignment is at its most potent on this day with Jupiter and Neptune exactly aligned and Chiron only half a degree away
11 July, Moon in Aquarius joins the triple alignment
23-24 July, Moon in Leo opposes the triple alignment
30-31 July, Mercury in Leo opposes the triple alignment
In an nutshell, there are many opportunities this month for the cosmos to awaken the highs or lows of this major alignment within us. For some of us our dreams might feel as if they are coming true (and indeed they might very well be, but Venus and Mars in Taurus warn us to stay centred, practical and realistic!) For others of us, we might feel as if the world has gone mad and we are dealing with calamity upon calamity. Yet know that whatever side of the coin we’re living of this triple alignment, it’s always possible to flip the coin to experience the other side. Still, in some moments our only choice might be to choose how to react. July is a month of very changeable ‘astro weather’, so have your umbrellas, bathers, sun-screen and raincoats ready! If you’re interested to know how this triple alignment affects your own Star Sign, you might like to check out your 2009 Star Sign Forecast Ebook.
Wishing you more blue skies than grey in this Eclipse/triple alignment month!