FULL MOON AND ANNULAR LUNAR ECLIPSE ON 11TH FEBRUARY 2017 (GMT)

…..a little drama or a lot of excitement?

The first Lunar Eclipse of 2017 will take place at 22°28’ in the fiery sign of Leo.

The last lunar eclipse* around this degree was at 21° Leo on February 9^th 2009

What was happening in your life then?

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 behavioural modifications caused by our own thoughts and feelings.

Personally, I consider only the conjunction and opposition aspects to eclipses (the square only if the Sun or Moon is affected in your chart) and orbs should be less than 2°. Most affected therefore will be those with planets or angles between 20-24° of the fixed signs (Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus).

This Eclipse affects the Aquarius-Leo axis or the 11^th-5^th houses in traditional astrology. Leo wants recognition as an individual…”look at me, watch me” whilst Aquarius wants teamwork…”let’s do this together”. We need to tune our individuality to the mood of the group in order to work compatibly together whilst not overlooking our own unique talents.

This eclipse belongs to the Saros series 19 South* which according to Bernadette Brady heralds a

“sudden happiness or a joyful event, the lucky break, the lucky win”

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 an inkling as to where the disruption might come from.

This Lunar eclipse could give rise to particularly unexpected and sudden events given that the eclipsed Moon forms a transiting Grand Trine in the fire element with Saturn (25° Sagittarius) and Uranus (21° Aries) conjunct Eris. Grand trines in the Fire signs are the most self-expressive of these harmonious aspects and the Moon in Leo can only ignite this one further and, for some, in a very spectacular way! In fact for the lucky few, this could be a real moment to shine, even for those who are not feeling as though they’re prepared for the limelight and recognition!  Fortunately, Saturn in Sagittarius, although at times very self-righteous, could actually give stability to this otherwise very volatile situation, grounding it with dose of sensible savour-faire so typically Saturnian. Jupiter is also sextile Moon adding optimism and daring, the right type of qualities necessary for that leap of faith that some of us will be invited to take. Let’s also not forget that the Jupiter-Moon sextile is quincunx Chiron in Pisces forming a transitory yod or Finger of God aspect, reminding us perhaps that being “on show” can be charismatic at times and at others not so much so.

Raven Kaldera in his book “Moon Phase Astrology” calls this Full Moon in Leo

the “Queen’s Moon”

a time, according to the author, “when we take charge of a situation or, failing this, pay homage to a woman who is in a prominent position”.

Eclipses have a stronger effect on tides, tectonic plate movement and our moods of course and these manifestations might be felt in the days coming up to the event.

The Sabian symbol for the Moon 23° Leo: “In a circus the bareback rider shows her dangerous skill”. Indicating the audacity and the perseverance required to control and play with the powerful energies of the vital realm in human existence.

For the Sun at 23° Aquarius: “A big bear sitting down and waving all its paws”. Indicating the self-discipline which results from and intelligent development of individual faculties under proper training.

A motto for this Lunar Eclipse and Full Moon:

“Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless” Jamie Paolinetti

This Lunar eclipse is bang on my MC/IC degree…where’s it falling in your chart?

Bibliography

*to learn more about the Saros cycles “ Brady B (1999) “Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and The Lark”, chapter 5 Eclipses and Saros Cycle, pp 334-335, Red Wheel/Weiser LLC, San Francisco CA USA. The last one at 21° Leo belong to another Saros cycle however.

Kaldera R. (2011) “Moon Phase Astrology” pp. 204-206, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont. USA

Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. pp. 145 and 263, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA

Image: Lunar eclipse – Al-Burani—Moon phases