LUNAR ECLIPSE IN LIBRA ON 23RD MARCH 2016

Only a few days after the Spring Equinox (when the Sun enters the sign of Aries on 20^th March) there will be Lunar Eclipse on the 23^rd at 3°17 of the sign of Libra.

Libra and Aries are opposite each other on the zodiac wheel.

Equinoxes are by themselves important times of change and Aries as a Cardinal Fire sign marks new beginnings.

A lunar eclipse is like an extra powerful full Moon which highlights the area of our natal chart where we are ready to relinquish long standing habits or patterns. During this time we become more conscious of our urges and how these play out in our lives. New paths and possibilities may also reveal themselves to us at this time through dreams and/or intuitions.

While Aries loves challenges and initiations, fighting for them if necessary, Libra, a Cardinal Air sign, wants partnership and prefers fairness and justice in all relationships, but these are also values that can be fought for too.

In his book “Moon Phase Astrology”, author Raven Kaldera calls this Full Moon in Libra the “Artist’s Moon” since, for him, the Artist is the ultimate expression of Venus (ruler of Libra) filtered through the intellectual Air element. He continues “during the Artist’s Moon we look at art and learn to appreciate our intuition.”

So much for the Full Moon, now back to the Lunar Eclipse.

According to Bernadette Brady, lunar eclipses have a more intimate, emotional manifestation and this particular Lunar Eclipse is part of the 18 South Saros series, the same one as the Solar Eclipse on the 9^th of this month. Likewise, it concerns endings and separations on some level.

The Sabian symbol for the Moon at 4° Libra is “around a campfire a group of young people sit in spiritual communion.” ” Denoting the necessity to unite with kindred spirits as one enters unbeaten paths illumined by the still-insecure light of a dawning intuition of new values.”

For the Sun at 4° Aries the Sabian symbol is “two lovers strolling on a secluded walk.” “Denoting the progressive polarization of energies needed for fulfilling one’s life function.”

There are also some close aspects that add significance to this Lunar Eclipse among which:

Mercury is just 21’ away from an applying conjunction with the Sun in Aries advising us to be fully honest whilst its opposition to the Moon recommends that we should also take our feelings into account and not only our thoughts.

Jupiter also makes the second of its three squares to Saturn during the eclipse, asking us how and where we want to structure our truth as we question our motivations and expectations in life.

This Full Moon highlights the need for emotional well-being whilst keeping an open-mind.

Where is the Full Moon/Lunar Eclipse falling in your chart? How do you think it will play out for you?

Bibliography:

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

Kaldera R. (2011) “Moon Phase Astrology” pp. 210-213, Destiny Books, Rochester, Vermont. USA

Rudhyar D. (1974) “An Astrological Mandala: the cycles of transformations and its 360 symbolic phases”. pp 52-53 and 174, Vintage Books Edition, Random House Inc., New York, USA