• TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE ON 27TH JULY 2018

  • “I can’t say I wasn’t hoping for it, but I didn’t see it coming.”  Jessi Kirby, Golden

    There will be a total lunar eclipse at 4°45’ Aquarius on the 27th of July. This will be the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century lasting a whopping 1 hour and 43 minutes (the total part while the whole eclipse sequence lasts 4 hours and 51 minutes)!

    The last lunar eclipse at 5° Aquarius took place on the 28th July 1999 when Neptune was the outer planet running the show. Can you remember what was happening in your inner and/or outer life then?

    This eclipse has Moon sandwiched in between retrograde Mars and a stationary lunar south node (and opposite the Sun in Leo) and all these points are in a tight square aspect to Uranus ruler of Aquarius and dispositor of the conjunction in Aquarius.

    Whilst solar eclipses manifest as external events in our lives, lunar eclipses indicate more intimate, emotional changes which could of course still manifest as external events if the brooding that accompanies our innermost vicissitudes causes changes to our behaviour at an individual level. Such events are in fact brought about by our own thoughts and feelings.

    The Mars-Moon-SN conjunction could bring up some sudden (Uranus) and strong (Mars) emotions (Moon) from the past (SN) such as anger and angst that we need to get to grips with, first on an internal level and then, when Mars turns direct, this will hopefully put us in a condition to act on them at a more external level. Trying to find a compromise between a rational (Aquarius) yet emotive (Moon) inner world and a prevalently public (Leo) outer one (Sun) could result difficult however due to the fixity of the signs involved (Aquarius and Taurus) with Sun opposing and wanting the limelight from “look at me” Leo and all and each forming a T-square aspect with Uranus in Taurus (upsetting our values), unexpected will certainly be the theme of this eclipse.

    Jupiter and retrograde Neptune are also approaching a trine aspect…can we dream our way through this or imagine a fantastic way out?

    Personally, I consider only the conjunction and opposition aspects (the square only if the Sun or Moon is affected in your chart) and orbs should be less than 2° (most involved will be those with planets/angles between 2-7° of Leo-Scorpio-Aquarius-Taurus).

    Eclipses can be considered as a “spotlight” on the matters of the house axis where they occur in your chart (particularly so if personal planets or angles are involved in the eclipse degrees). It shines its light and brings to our attention those areas of our lives that need to be addressed for some reason. Dealing with these matters, once identified, could lead to a life-changing event in some cases. However, since events under eclipses are often unexpected and sudden it’s not always possible to prepare in advance but having a notion of the matters of the houses interested in the event could give us inkling as to where the disruption might come from.

    The Sabian symbol for the Sun at 5° Leo: “Rock formations tower over a deep canyon.” Indicating the structuring power of elemental forces during the long cycle of planetary evolution.

    For the antiscion point at 26° Taurus: “A Spanish gallant serenades his beloved.” Indicating the ritualization of individual desires.

    For the Moon at 5° Aquarius: “A council of ancestors is seen implementing the efforts of a young leader.” Indicating the root foundation of past performances which power and sustain whatever decision is made in a crisis by an individual.

    For the antiscion point at 26° Scorpio: “American Indians making camp after moving into a new territory.” Indicating the ability to adjust swiftly to a new situation by tuning in to its requirements.

    “The past is never where you think you left it.”  Katherine Anne Porter

    Is your chart involved in this eclipse?

    Bibliography:

    Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. pp. 86, 134, 207 and 252, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA

    Image: Lunar eclipse – Al-Burani—Moon phases