Eclipse Alert: Solar and Lunar Eclipses in May and June 2012!

May and June are bound to be two very important months this year, because a couple of eclipses are taking place then: an annular solar eclipse on May 20^th 2012, at 23:54 UT at 0 degrees of Gemini, and a partial lunar eclipse on June 4^th 2012, at 11:04 UT at 14 degrees of Sagittarius. As I have also mentioned in the past, eclipses have always been regarded as bad omens because of their association with disasters and other catastrophic events. What really happens, however, around the time of eclipses is the culmination of events and emotions. A solar eclipse heralds the end of a cycle and the start of another; hence the association of solar eclipses with important endings and equally important beginnings. A lunar eclipse, on the other hand, brings to the fore needs, feelings, and emotions that have been brewing under the surface for quite some time (click here to read a more detailed analysis of mine regarding how eclipses work and what they symbolize).  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.  

In this post I will examine the astrological meaning of the two upcoming eclipses, which take place across the Gemini-Sagittarius axis and are all the more important for the following reason: they occur with Venus in retrograde motion (click here to read a more detailed analysis of mine regarding this year’s transit of Venus through Gemini). In my next two posts I will also explain how each sign will be expected to incorporate the energies of these eclipses.

Let us first note that a solar eclipse brings to the fore ‘solar’ issues such as purpose, self-expression and creativity, whereas a lunar eclipse brings to the fore ‘lunar’ issues such as feelings, emotional needs, and domestic life. Consequently, a solar eclipse is a time for setting new goals and thus for finding new outlets of creativity and for achieving a new sense of identity. It follows that a solar eclipse gives us the necessary push to close an old chapter in our lives in order to go ahead with a new one. Quite differently, a lunar eclipse is a time for exploring emotional and domestic matters, for dealing with issues of the past, and for severing or strengthening relationships. More often than not, a lunar eclipse brings about some sort of emotional drama, which is caused either by us or by others, and which aims at expressing what it is we want or lack. 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, the upcoming 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 negotiating and engaging in 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, negotiating or maybe for driving a vehicle. 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. The eclipse could also mark a period where we consider new ways of communicating with others, especially when it comes to speaking and writing, while it may further mark a period where we find new ways to explore our immediate surroundings by engaging in many short trips for example. Finally, it could also be a time 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.

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 generalizations 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 realizing 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, perhaps because travelers will need to find alternative ways to travel (solar eclipse in Gemini) for unavailability of a long-distance transportation means such as planes (lunar eclipse with the Moon in Sagittarius).

The fact that both eclipses will occur with Venus in retrograde motion will tend to complicate matters even further. More specifically, it is likely that the new goals and emotional dramas associated with the two eclipses will also revolve around our need to re-evaluate all sorts of relationships as well as our financial resources and earning/spending capacity. Therefore, many of you may notice that what is really on your mind in May and June is money and relationships. You may thus focus on working out financial or relationship problems with family members, friends, lovers or spouses. For instance, you may don’t know how to use money you have saved already or resources you have inherited, while people from your past may resurface now asking for a second chance or it may very well be that you are the one who asks for a second chance. Take care however because on the lunar eclipse Mars will be squaring the Sun and the Moon as well as Venus, which will probably create an explosive mixture! It is thus very likely that there will be a lot of heat, competition, anger, and fights in important communications and negotiations that focus on our need to re-evaluate our relationships and financial resources. I would therefore urge you to keep your temper if you don’t want things to deteriorate to a state of open warfare! Stay tuned to hear soon how your personal sign will be affected by the upcoming eclipses. In the meantime, try to keep emotions under control!