NEW MOON AND TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 14 DECEMBER 2020

some hard truths will be inevitable….

Occurring at 23°08’ Sagittarius (antiscion 6°52’ Capricorn) and visible as a total eclipse in Chile and some parts of Argentina as well as some regions in southern South America, south-west Africa, and Antarctica will see a partial solar eclipse, if the weather permits. (1)

An OOB Mercury is still closely conjunct the New Moon (in a separating aspect) this hints that some uncomfortable truths might be blurted out during the days preceding the lunation. Or that communications/travel plans could go haywire for some reason. The OOB period lasts until 7^th January so expect Mercurian traits, as per Sagittarius until December 21^st and from then as per Capricorn, to be exaggerated over Christmas and into the New Year. Talking out of the top of our heads to then get suddenly serious. Mercury is also making a trine aspect to Mars in Aries and is conjunct Lunar South Node, learning from the past about how to face difficult problems could also be part of the picture. Venus is sextile Jupiter but both planets are weak (Venus in detriment, Jupiter in fall) and both look to Mars, already involved with Mercury, for some guidance (Venus in Scorpio is ruled by Mars, Jupiter in Capricorn exalts Mars). We will perhaps need to dig deep (Scorpio) to find some magic (Venus) as we head (Mars-Aries) for the future (Jupiter) which we are unable to see (no planets in Air element in the lunation chart).

Jupiter, dispositor of this lunation and eclipse, is besieged between Pluto and Saturn in Capricorn, Jupiter is also parallel by declination to Saturn, enforcing the imminent longitudinal conjunction between the two of them which will take place on December 21^st. Saturn is also at 29°, the so-called anaretic degree in which a planet is in a “do or die” modality. Expansion and restriction, or optimism and pessimism, sounds like the news we keep getting here in Europe about the lockdown rules and regulations which are to be in force over the festivities! With the emphasis more on restriction and pessimism than expansion and optimism since Saturn rules Capricorn, the sign in which both planets are still transiting.

It’s a heavy Earth/Fire chart – moving in a practical, intuitive way but with little empathy and no idea or worry about what might come next or worse still what consequences our present day actions might have on our future. The equal number of planets in Cardinal and Mutable signs does however give flexibility to our actions.

In his book “Moon Phase Astrology” author Raven Kaldera calls this Moon “the Gypsy Moon”. On this Moon he invites us to go out and experience new cultures and ideas, with the aim of stretching our abilities to accept all things foreign in order to challenge ourselves and our own prejudices. What better way to do this than travelling which can provide excellent points of view upon which to reflect when the journey is over. So, rather than just reading about new places it would be better to experience these in person on your own skin so as to say.

Although of different Saros* series, eclipses occur at similar degrees of the same sign in 19-year cycles as they move in a retrograde motion through the zodiac. Thus they have effect on the same house polarity in your natal chart (or on any personal planets or angles in Sagittarius and/or Gemini that fall in a 2°30’ orb for conjunctions, 2° for oppositions, allowing 5° if Sun or Moon is involved).

In this 19-year cycle the last eclipse at 23° Sagittarius was on 14^th December 2001, what was happening in your life then?

The effects of eclipses can be quite unpredictable (a “what-the-heck effect”), sometimes stressing emotions or bringing unexpected events into our lives, at other times they can go seemingly unnoticed. Some astrologers say that the effects of the eclipses manifest for as long as the duration of the eclipse itself, transmuting the minutes of the duration into days. This eclipse will last 3.5 hours.

Bernadette Brady, an Australian astrologer, in her book “The Eagle and the Lark”, dedicates a whole chapter to the Saros* Series. She explains that the Saros Series of the present Solar Eclipse is known as “4 South” and, due to the nature and aspects of the planets involved (if the eclipse aspects directly any of your natal planets), is directly concerned with personal relationships and/or finances and perhaps the sudden desire to end something.

Esoteric astrologer Alan Oken writes that a solar eclipse represents “liberations from previous circumstances” while acknowledging that this may not always be to one’s liking. In other words, a solar eclipse can free you from something which could be a blessing in disguise.

Events connected to an eclipse can manifest before or after the event or when a following New Moon or other planet conjoins, squares or opposes the eclipse degree. The New Moon in March 2021 will square this eclipse degree from 23° Pisces.

The Sabian symbol for 24° Sagittarius: “A bluebird perched on the gate of a cottage.” Indicating the reward which meets every effort at integration into a social environment for those who remain true to their own selves.

For its antiscion point at 7° Capricorn: “A veiled prophet speaks, seized by the power of a god.” Indicating the ability to act as a mouthpiece for the revelation of a transcendent will and truth determining future action.

“We are all somewhere else, during.” Katie Crouch, Girls in Trucks

Bibliography

(1) https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2020-december-14#:~:text=December%2014%2C%202020%20Total%20Solar%20Eclipse&text=This%20total%20solar%20eclipse%2C%20the,eclipse%2C%20if%20the%20weather%20permits. Accessed 5 December 2020

Brady B (1999) “Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and The Lark”, chapter 5 Eclipses and Saros Cycle, pp 207-236 and pp 307-352, Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, San Francisco CA USA

Kaldera R. (2011) “Moon Phase Astrology” pp. 49-51, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont. USA

Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. pp 224 and 233, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA

http://www.alanoken.com/index.php?page=newsletter, March 9th Solar Eclipse accessed 27th February 2016

Artwork: myskypie2020

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