Eclipses - time for change

Today the first solar eclipse of the year takes place, although it will not be visible in the UK. Solar eclipses always occur at a new Moon. The Moon and the Sun are conjunct and in an eclipse the Moon passes in front of the Sun, temporarily obscuring it's light. From an astrological perspective, this makes the lunar energy much stronger. New Moons are always associated with new beginnings, the start of a new cycle. With an eclipse this a time for change. This new Moon and eclipse is in earthy Taurus. Being an earth sign Taurus is about stability and comfort. The Moon is exalted in Taurus, so there is a bit of a mother earth theme here. But as this the new Moon is applying conjunction to Uranus, also in Taurus, there could be some bolts from the blue. Uranus is the planet of the future, challenging the status quo and bringing in, often unexpected, changes. This might all feel a bit unsettling. I always associate nature with Taurus, and right now there is a lot of beauty in nature as flowers and tree start to bloom and blossom. They too are ever changing. When Uranus is active it is usually best to go with the flow, try to stay grounded in the present, and allow the future to unfold as it will. Watching nature and how it too changes can help remind us that nothing is permanent and life is ever changing. This eclipse will be particularly relevant to you if you have a Sun or Moon in Taurus.

Solar eclipses and lunar eclipses always come together, two weeks apart. So on the 16th May at full Moon, we will have a lunar eclipse. The Earth will pass in front of the Moon, obscuring it's light. The Moon will be in passionate and emotional Scorpio. The opposite of earthy and stable Taurus. Full Moons are about completion and preparing to let go as the Moon starts to wane. Different things are written about lunar eclipses, but for me as the light of the Moon is obscured by the Earth, I see it that we are blocking the light. I tend to wonder if there are things we do not or cannot see so clearly in an eclipse. Maybe we don't want to see. Others have written about lunar eclipses being times for endings. Whichever is true, this eclipse, being in Scorpio, is going to rouse strong emotions. The Moon is conjunct the South Node (which represents the past), so this may be a time to consider if things from the past, that we have maybe been less conscious of, could be holding us back. This could be a challenge. Saturn is squaring this lunar eclipse from Aquarius. Saturn represents the past too, particularly karma. I do not see karma as punishment, but as patterns of behaviour that we repeat until we become conscious of them. Aquarius represents the collective, so there is collective karma playing out here. How it effects individuals will depend of circumstances, and where the eclipse fits into the natal chart. Squares are difficult, a bit like having to take a journey you haven't taken before without a map. You have to figure it out for yourself. This eclipse is a good time to go within, pay attention to dreams, often they are the gateway to our unconscious, and also meditate to get in touch with your inner being.

Pluto also sextiles the full Moon from Capricorn. Sextiles are seen as positive aspects. The planetary energies support one another. Pluto is the natural ruler of Scorpio, and the underworld (nothing bad in my view, just that which is hidden). This little rock, many miles away, is nearing the end of it's transit of Capricorn. Pluto is the planet of transformation. And having been in Capricorn since 2008, we have dealt with a financial crash, Brexit, Covid and now the war in Ukraine. A Pluto transit can bring destruction and renewal. With the full Moon and eclipse linking to Pluto from Scorpio, there may be things that are cleared away to make way for new energy to come in.

This eclipse will be particularly relevant if your Sun or Moon is in Scorpio or Taurus.

So all in all this is a time for clearing away that which no longer serves us and letting the new come in.

Namaste xx