Introduction to Eclipses
in Astrology
By Margaret Penner Choinski
“Here, in this eclipse, my own mind perceives a
meaning which is different from the one you perceive, yet however we define it,
an eclipse is a meeting of circles which are zeros. See how the shadow of the
Earth’s rim cuts the Moon down to a crescent. Soon, in a few minutes, the
crescent will be gone. For a while, the Moon will appear to be a dark zero---a
nothing. Then the cycle will begin again, breathing a new life of light into the
Moon. Soon, it will become a great zero of light in the skies. This is a
conjuring trick on a cosmic scale…”
[1]
--- Mark Hedsel
The
eclipses of the Sun and Moon have always
been given a lot of importance by mankind. For centuries they were harbingers of
crisis. Ancient astronomers used their occurrences to build a body of omen-lore,
some of which is still adhered to today.
Earthquakes, pestilence and
other disasters were frequently said to await the Earth in the passing shadow of
the eclipse.
Now, whether it is a
symbolic importance, poetical, religious, or scientific, everyone’s ears prick
up when a forthcoming eclipse is announced. Yet many people,
even today, do not fully understand how accessible the dates are for any
upcoming eclipse. The cycles are known, right down to the
minute. The ancient Babylonians came to know these cycles too, from their long
observance of the sky and their penchant for keeping records.
When there came a time
whereby astronomers were asked to forecast the effect of an
eclipse on the country, they were practicing a very old form of
what is today called Mundane Astrology:
astrology of the state and people. This is the
astrology that accommodates external events that are out of the
hands of human beings, and bring us all together on the same level, i.e.
weather, comets, supernovas, and eclipses.
Part of the power of an
eclipse is the expectation that it will
bring change. When the common people are expecting change, then the
powers-that-be-up-to-then are rightly nervous about how those changes might take
effect.
The prediction of the
affairs of the state became astrology
’s main function for a long time. By the 19th century
astrology was becoming more and more about the individual and
mundane astrology became marginalized as a predictive device.
After the failure of western astrologers to predict World War
II, a re-think was needed about techniques. Led by Charles Carter,
astrologers began honing the time-honoured methods
used to foresee the events of a country.
[2] Mundane
astrology as it is now, reads the nation’s birth chart by application
of horary techniques.
The methods used can be
expressed by the Arthurian principle of “The land and I are one.”
[3]
That is to say, “I” the people, can be seen as the 1st house,
and “my boss” is equivalent to the King, seen in the 10th
house. Events affecting the 10th house affect the King or leader, and this is
significant for the stability of any country. Foundation charts of countries
then become the birth charts of nations, and read in this way they reflect the
character of that country.
When
eclipses occur, they can be placed within this chart to
determine the nature of effect. This is a long way from the public assumption
that the predictions associated with eclipses are pulled out of
a hat! But this is not to say that the delineation of eclipses
is straightforward; every eclipse has its own nature, and
because they run in cycles of 18 years, a specific eclipse may not occur in the same spot
geographically or in the horoscope for a long time.
When studying the astrological effect of eclipses, one can begin to get the
feeling that within these cycles of other cycles lies much that is
meaningful…but only a Higher Mind grasps the full meaning. Nevertheless, the
mere mechanics of an eclipse are beautiful in
itself.
An eclipse occurs when
the Sun, Earth, and Moon all line up, called syzygy. As the
Moon crosses the apparent path of
the Sun---the
ecliptic---the opportunity arises for an eclipse.
This can happen at least twice a month at the
times of the New and Full Moons. The Moon’s orbit of Earth has a wobble that
prevents it from describing a perfect circle. The wobble, however, is
regular and has its own cycle. The point of the ecliptic at which the Moon crosses at any given time is
called the lunar Node. The North lunar Node refers to the movement
of the Moon as it crosses the node
on an “upwards” motion, and the South
Node
is made in the “downwards” direction.
The Nodes move back approximately one
degree per month in the zodiac, returning to their original position (from any
starting point) in about 18 years. When a New Moon occurs within 18 degrees of a
Node then there is a solar eclipse ;
when a Full Moon occurs within 18
degrees of a Node then there is a lunar
eclipse.
Each
eclipse belongs
to a cycle called a Saros
Series---named by Suidas, a Greek lexicographer in the 10th century A.D., after the Greek word for cycle,
“saros.”
[4]
Each Saros Series is
“born” at one Pole of the Earth and “dies” at its opposite. This process takes
approximately 1300 years to complete, winding its way around the globe, either
going up or down depending at which Pole it will end. Along the way 72
eclipses will occur as part of its “family,” and necessarily
they will each be seen in one country while not in another.
When an
eclipse has been observed in a country, oftentimes it was
thought to presage the death of kings, sudden changes politically or
economically, or other significant broad-scale events. The particular zodiacal
degree was of note in comparison to the natal chart of the leaders and that of
the founding charts of the country or city falling under the
eclipse path.
For centuries astrologers
have maintained their opinion that eclipses can bring dramatic
developments with decisive breaks from the past, when a natal planet occupies
the eclipse
degree. When one of the malefics, Saturn or Mars, moves to
either conjunct or square that degree then the trouble signified by the
eclipse event is thought to manifest.
Among its potential effects are riots, earthquakes, war, and violence in
general.
[5] Ptolemy also suggested
the timing could be made by locating the eclipse in reference
to the chart angles cast for a particular place: for example, if the
eclipse
occurred between the Midheaven and Ascendant then the
effect will begin to appear in about 4 months time.
[6]
The Saros Series are like people,
constantly (relative to their lifespan) living, being born, and dying. At any
given time there are about 42 Saros
Series
active. [7]
As one Series continues
to age, its eclipses will show in different countries. One
might note the age of the cycle, as well as where it is seen in totality. An
annular eclipse is a solar eclipse
where the Moon covers the Sun, but is too far away from the Earth
to completely cover the Sun, leaving a rim
of light exposed.
The eclipse of
There is some disagreement
over whether an eclipse has impact when it cannot be seen in
the native’s geographical area. Stephen Arroyo argues that since our vantage
point is geocentric we should be consistent and include only those
eclipses that can be seen in a
person’s area.
[9] Others are firmly
convinced that this has no bearing on the matter, focusing on the “sensitive
degree” occupied by both natal planet/angle and eclipse .
[1] The
astrologer can judge for themselves whether to follow this rule
or not.
Since each
eclipse belongs to a “family,” each member of that family is
the same in essence yet different in their manifestation of that essence. One of
the considerations in delineating each eclipse is the impact
its particular birth-chart has upon the natal chart. Like a transiting planet
which might benefit one person and not another, the eclipse
in question will similarly affect individuals or countries,
depending on the synastry
generated. Brady advocates taking the birth data of a particular
eclipse and looking specifically for conjunctions
and oppositions to the mundane or natal chart, with crossings over
angles.
[10]
INDIVIDUAL CHARTS AND
ECLIPSES
When delineating an
eclipse
for an individual’s chart, the house placement
where the eclipse is occurring is most important. This house is
where any unexpected occurrence associated with the eclipse
will show itself. The house also highlights the issues of concern that may arise
at this time. Brady observes that eclipses “seem like wild cards
stressing emotions or bring chaotic events or, at times, apparently having
little effect. They can sometimes be positive or very exciting and at other
times herald a period of difficulties.”
[11]
A lot depends on the natal chart itself. If the Sun or Moon are conjunct an eclipse, the
condition of the luminary will reveal some of the subtleties of
effect.
The natal aspects to
both luminary, and the ruler of the luminary, will tell whether or not the
experience will be felt as beneficial or unpleasant. Natal Sun or
Moon conjunct an eclipse will certainly be felt as a heightened
intensification of the entire luminary experience for that person. For example,
an eclipsed Moon in Pisces may see the person finally having a
breakthrough in their ability to creatively capture and describe something
evasive and fragile. In the 10th house it could be about
finding that perfect job because one had unknowingly evoked the right emotion in
the potential employer. Emotions are the touchstone with this transit. If the
natal Moon is afflicted then an
eclipse on it will serve to intensify the bad feelings.
Whatever happens, the general effects of an eclipse
can be felt
for years after the event. When transiting Mars or Saturn
conjuncts or squares the sensitized degree, then the event is manifested or
reactivated (Mars), or crystallized into something that will not be going
away (Saturn).
For example, say an
eclipse
such as the one in May 2003 occurs, at 9 degrees Gemini. Wherever 9 degrees falls in
the natal chart is the place activated by this eclipse
. When the Sun or Moon is in
that degree in Gemini the communications,
specifically how one communicates in one’s life, will be the main issue. The
thought processes are also involved---is the native driving himself or herself
crazy? Do they have a problem with mental stress? Perhaps this
eclipse
is a warning of a short circuit
to come if the thoughts are interfering with one’s mental health. The aspects
made to the Sun and/or Moon are
critical to the interpretation. However, a couple of points can be made
generally about the eclipse triggers.
Firstly, because the
eclipse
travels in a cycle which does not repeat often, the natal Sun or
Moon being
transited by any particular eclipse puts that luminary on the
temporary holding pattern of that eclipse and the family to
which it belongs. In a sense one “joins” the family of the
eclipse. In this case the particular birth-chart, history, and
age of that eclipse
can lead to some profound
understanding of how one fits into a much larger cycle. And although a person’s
luminary may be eclipsed again some time later in life, that particular
eclipse will never again eclipse
it. What occurs as a
result of this eclipse
is largely a matter of how that
eclipse
goes with this natal luminary.
The other point is
that when a person’s natal luminary is eclipsed, it has been (so to speak)
invited to join the heavenly Sun and Moon, if only for a minute or two. This can only have
profound effects that might not be revealed for many years. In esoteric terms,
it is a high honour indeed to be joined in this way.
When asked why watching an
eclipse
was such a deep experience, Mark Hedsel, Master Hermeticist,
said, “This feeling of death is there because the symbolism of the
eclipse
reaches into the very fundament of the
human soul. There is a sort of presage of death, but not in the way one might
immediately imagine.”[12]
We are now back to the
zero, and trying to guess the Divine Mind. A useless endeavour perhaps. But
centuries of effort have gone into this task. Accordingly, we should not forsake
the huge body of knowledge that has accumulated about eclipses
and prediction from our Astrological ancestors. They had the time and the
patience to stand around and watch how things played out. In our quest for the
truth in the skies, we have some obligation to consider their
conclusions. Copyright: Margaret
Penner Choinski
Earth Elephant Astrology FOOTNOTES [1] Hedsel, Mark,
The Zelator, Century Books, 1998,
p.349 [2] Spencer, Neil,
true as the stars above, Victor Gollancz, 2000,
p.137 [3]
ibid [4] Brady,
Bernadette, The Eagle and the Lark, Weiser, 1992,
p.120 [5] Watters,
Barbara, Horary Astrology and the Judgement of Events,
[6] Ptolemy,
Tetrabiblos, The Ashmand Translation, 1st Century AD,
p.54 [7] Brady,
p.222 [8] Ibid,
p.211 [9] Arroyo,
Stephen, Astrology, Karma, and Transformation, CRCS Pub., 1992,
p.193 [10] ibid, p.208,
227 [11]
ibid,
p.316-17 [12] Hedsel,
p.345
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