June is bound to be a very important month this year, because two eclipses are taking place then: a partial solar eclipse on June 1st, 2011, at 21:16 UT at 11 degrees of Gemini, and a total lunar eclipse on June 15th, 2011, at 20:13 UT at 24 degrees of Sagittarius. Eclipses have always been regarded as bad omens because of their association with disasters and other catastrophic events. However, eclipses are not always as bad as they are thought to be. So, I thought I should clarify this by writing a few things about the astrological meaning of eclipses and, more specifically, about the meaning of the two upcoming eclipses in the Gemini-Sagittarius axis. In my next two posts I will also explain how each sign will be expected to incorporate the energies of these eclipses.
Astronomically, what happens during an eclipse is a) that the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are in direct alignment with each other and b) that either the Moon or the Earth cuts off the light of the Sun casting a shadow into space. When the Moon is located between the Sun and the Earth (which involves a Sun-Moon conjunction and is depicted in the picture on your right), the Sun is eclipsed and we thus have a solar eclipse. On the contrary, when the Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (which involves a Sun-Moon opposition), the Moon is eclipsed and we thus have a lunar eclipse. Solar and lunar eclipses always occur at the time of a New or Full Moon, respectively.
This last observation is important, because it gives us a hint as to the astrological meaning of all this. A New Moon signifies the end of a cycle and the beginning of another. It is thus a time for action; a time when we try to end an old pattern in our lives, so that we can adopt a new one. A Full Moon, on the other hand, brings things to completion. It is thus a time for taking into account what still needs to be done; a time when we try to accomplish what we started at the previous New Moon, so that we can tie up any loose ends. Given that eclipses result in the light of the Sun being blocked, they can hardly be missed.
Therefore, one could define eclipses as New or Full Moons that are extremely potent and powerful; hence the association of eclipses with important endings and beginnings, as well as with culmination of matters that have been brewing under the surface for quite some time. Although there is no general consensus on the duration of the effects of eclipses, the peak of their influence is usually felt within a month before and after the actual date of the eclipse. However, it is not unusual for their effects to be felt up to six months before and after the date.
More specifically, a solar eclipse brings to the fore ‘solar’ issues such as purpose, identity, self-expression, creativity, well-being, leadership and authority. Consequently, a solar eclipse is a time for setting new goals and for finding new outlets of creativity. It is also a time for expressing ourselves and for channelling our energies in new ways, as well as for taking the lead in new situations and thus for finding a new purpose in life and for achieving a new sense of identity. It is important to note, however, that every new beginning carries with it a certain amount of sadness for what may have just ended or for what we may have been called to give up so that we can move forward. Therefore, solar eclipses mark important endings and beginnings, which can be accompanied by positive emotions, as well as by negative ones. In any case, solar eclipses give us the necessary push to close an old chapter in our lives in order to go ahead with a new chapter.
Concerning lunar eclipses, these bring to the fore ‘lunar’ issues such as emotions, feelings, needs, domestic life, the past and one’s sense of safety and security. What often happens at a lunar eclipse is that emotions and stress levels are heightened, perhaps because of past issues that are now coming to light or because of sudden realisation that we want or lack something. Given that our emotional needs are satisfied within relationships, it is our relationships with others that a lunar eclipse usually challenges. More often than not, there is some sort of drama, which is caused either by us or by others, and which aims at expressing what it is we want or lack. Therefore, a lunar eclipse is a time for exploring emotional matters, for dealing with issues of the past, and for severing or strengthening relationships. All of these issues naturally elicit strong emotional reactions, so the hardest thing to do during a lunar eclipse is to control our emotions and keep our composure.
The new beginnings and emotional dramas associated with solar and lunar eclipses depend of course on the sign in which the eclipses take place. As mentioned above, this June’s eclipses will fall across the Gemini-Sagittarius axis, the axis of mental exploration. Therefore, issues around learning and sharing knowledge, communicating and disseminating information, as well as short- and long-distance travelling, will come to the fore. More specifically, the solar eclipse in Gemini will mark a time for setting goals related to learning, information-gathering and logical thinking, as well as goals related to communications, negotiations, networking and short-distance travelling. This eclipse will also mark a time where the issues just mentioned stimulate new creative outlets; some of us may thus find that we have a talent for writing or communicating in general. The solar eclipse will further herald the possibility of achieving a new sense of identity that is related to our capacity to learn, communicate, network, and travel short distances.
For instance, this may be a time where we end or begin a study course or a period of information-gathering that is of special importance to us. It may further be a time where we end or begin important communications, negotiations or networking activities. It could also be a time where we consider new ways of communicating with others, especially when it comes to speaking and writing. This may further be a time where we find new ways to explore our immediate surroundings and where we reconsider our relationship with means of transport; this might entail selling or buying a vehicle such as cars and motorcycles, or deciding to stop or to start using a specific means of transport such as buses and trains.
However, with the lunar eclipse falling across the Gemini-Sagittarius axis and with the Moon occupying the Sagittarian end of the axis, we will be reminded that what we need, lack or want is to disseminate information that we previously collected; to reach conclusions and to make generalisations on the basis of the information we have already gathered; to share our knowledge, wisdom and theories; to venture beyond our immediate surroundings in order to travel long distances, expand our horizons, and meet people that come from an entirely different background from ours; to free ourselves from the restrictions of logic and rationality, so that we can open up our minds, spread the wings of our imagination and adopt new beliefs about our world. Therefore, the lunar eclipse will stimulate all of the issues above, thus stirring our emotions, heightening our stress levels and challenging our relationships with others.
For instance, we may experience emotional stress because of realising that we need to share important information about ourselves and our past, or because of having to broadcast our views and opinions to a wider public than we are normally used to. Our emotions and stress levels may also be heightened as a result of our need to expand our horizons in significant ways and hold important communications with people who come from a completely different walk of life from our own, such as people from different cultures or people whose philosophy in life is distinctly different from ours. Such communications may create stress and challenge relationships, because we may find it difficult to open up our minds in order to incorporate other people’s views and opinions. This kind of difficulties may also appear in important negotiations which we find ourselves in: we may feel the urge to be dogmatic and to make no concessions, but this will only lead to further conflict.
Finally, long-distance travelling may be an additional source of emotional stress during this period. This is particularly relevant given the ongoing attempt of many travellers to find alternative ways to travel (solar eclipse in Gemini) following the realisation that there is a lack of available long-distance transport (lunar eclipse with the Moon in Sagittarius), which is due to airspace closures precipitated by a volcanic ash cloud rising from Iceland, similarly to what had happened a year ago. This disruption is also related to Pluto’s transit through Capricorn, about which I have already written (click here to refresh your memory). Stay tuned to hear soon how your personal sign will be affected by June’s eclipses. In the meantime, try to keep emotions under control!
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