Solar or lunar eclipses are phenomenal, life-changing events that affect us in many ways. These powerful celestial cycles bring sudden and often major transitions in various areas of our lives. While eclipses can lead to impactful transformation, they occur over a season. This gives us an opportunity to adjust and realign ourselves.
So, what exactly is an eclipse and why is it important? An eclipse is when one heavenly body moves into the shadow of another heavenly body creating a period of intense darkness. Eclipses are classified as either solar or lunar depending on when they occur.
Solar Eclipses
Simply put, a solar eclipse is when the moon moves in front of the sun, blocking its light to some degree. During a total solar eclipse, darkness temporarily (a few minutes or so) consumes the sunlight. This event occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are directly aligned. While the event has a global impact, it can only be seen from a small region of the earth.
On the other hand, a partial eclipse occurs when the sun, moon, and earth are partially aligned. Instead of total darkness, a dark shadow is cast on part of the sun. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon is completely opposite of the earth. During this event, the moon looks smaller with the appearance of a ring around it.
From an astrological perspective, solar eclipses are all about newness. It is a period of birth, rebirth, and regeneration. They bring happiness, joyful transitions that give us hope and confidence. Like lunar eclipses, they help us grow and develop. However, unlike lunar eclipses, this type of transformation is often welcomed and met with joyful expectations.
Lunar Eclipses
A lunar eclipse always occurs during a full moon cycle. During this event, the earth stands between the moon and the sun. The sun’s light is cut off and the moon is therefore unable to reflect her own light.
Giving a red appearance, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and sun are exactly opposite from each other. Conversely, a partial lunar eclipse takes place when part of the moon enters the earth’s shadow. The appearance of a partial lunar eclipse fluctuates depending on the alignment of the moon, earth, and sun.
Often lasting for hours, a lunar eclipse signifies terminal change. This is a time of closure, endings, death, and transitions. However, it is not necessarily all gloom and doom, though it can be quite emotional.
For instance, you may retire during a total lunar eclipse indicating the end of your relationship with your employer and colleagues. If you have worked in that environment for decades, it will probably be an emotional event. While it marks the end of one chapter, it starts a new chapter in your life.
Eclipses in Signs
Solar and lunar eclipses occur in pairs and correspond to new and full moon cycles. During an eclipse season of opposing signs, a new eclipse manifests every five and a half months over a period of 18-24 months. This process allows for transformation to occur over an extended period instead of all at once.
You can expect to receive news from an eclipse within one month before or after an eclipse cycle. It doesn’t necessarily come on the same day as the eclipse for everyone. Eclipses bring different types of changes based on the pair of signs that they occur in. The list below takes a deeper look at how each eclipse season may impact you depending on your sun, moon, ascendant, and other planetary placements in your natal chart.
Aries-Libra
Solar Eclipse: Initial phases of a business or project, or the start of a new romantic or business relationship
Lunar Eclipse: End or closure of a business or project, or the end of a romantic or business relationship
Taurus-Scorpio
Solar Eclipse: Start of a new romantic relationship, financial or income-earning endeavor, health or beauty routine or treatment, receiving an inheritance or financial windfall, building or strengthening of courage, strength, or confidence
Lunar Eclipse: End of a romantic relationship, financial or income-earning endeavor, health or beauty routine or treatment, loss or end of an inheritance or financial windfall, loss or lack of courage, strength, or confidence
Gemini-Sagittarius
Solar Eclipse: Start of new social connections, karmic rewards for good deeds, beginning of new philosophical, religious, or spiritual ideas and practices, new travel or international opportunities, starting an educational program, expansion, and growth in various areas
Lunar Eclipse: End of social connections, karmic punishments for bad deeds, end of philosophical, religious, or spiritual ideas and practices, the conclusion of travels or international opportunities, graduating from or stopping an educational program, limitations or restrictions in various areas
Cancer-Capricorn
Solar Eclipse: Start of a relationship with a female authority figure, receiving positive information about your family or heritage, promotions, or new career opportunities
Lunar Eclipse: End of a relationship with a female authority figure, receiving negative or adverse information about your family or heritage, retirement, job loss, downsizing, or demotions
Leo-Aquarius
Solar Eclipse: Start of a relationship with a male authority figure, news of a new baby, additions to your immediate or extended family, engagement, marriage, generating new creative ideas, new friendships, engaging in new humanitarian efforts
Lunar Eclipse: End of a relationship with a male authority figure, delivery of a baby, divorce, transition family relationship dynamics, execution of creative ideas, transition or end of friendships, transitioning or concluding humanitarian efforts
Virgo-Pisces
Solar Eclipse: Start of a new health, fitness, or beauty regimen, beginning of a new romantic or platonic relationship, the manifestation of a hope, dream or vision
Lunar Eclipse: End of a health, fitness, or beauty regimen, end of a romantic or platonic relationship, end or closure of a hope, dream or vision
Working with Eclipse Cycles
Spiritual work during eclipse cycles should be implemented according to ritual work done during other major planetary movements. These types of energy shifts are a perfect time for cleansing and manifestation. When you work with eclipse energy, you can better align your life goals. And you will be better prepared for life-altering changes.
In general, I recommend deep cleaning of your internal and external body and environment a few days prior to an eclipse. Some examples include spiritual baths, deep hair cleanses, deep cleansing spa treatments, body scrubs, colon cleansings, hydrotherapy, fasts, yoni cleanses, etc. This is also a great time for decluttering and deep cleaning your home, vehicle, office, property, etc.
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