Eclipse Season
Twice a year, the lunar cycles take a detour from the usual new and full moons during each zodiacal season and we experience eclipses. A solar eclipse is a new moon- and in certain parts of the world, if you witness a solar eclipse, the light of the sun is eclipsed and there is darkness. Eclipses were thought to be ominous in ancient times, as they disrupted the natural cycle of life. Lunar eclipses occur at full moons- when the moon passes behind the Earth and into its shadow. The sun, earth, and moon all align, and if you watched the lunar eclipse in January- the moon appeared to turn orange.
While the sun moves through Cancer we will experience two eclipses: first, a solar eclipse on Tuesday, July 2 and second, a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, July 16. Eclipses are thought to be karmic events. While the wheel of the zodiac moves clockwise, the nodal axis- the axis where eclipses occur, moves counterclockwise. In order to move forward, we must also look to the past.
Beginning last year, the eclipse axis shifted from Leo and Aquarius into Cancer and Capricorn. Eclipses stay in a set of signs for about 1.5 years, and therefore it takes about 18 years to move through the entire zodiac.
Eclipses heighten energy and stimulate the areas of life symbolized by the astrological signs they occur in. In the Cancer-Capricorn axis, our focus on our home, family, roots, as well as our career, ambitions, and public life increases. The path of the sun and moon intersect, they eclipse one another. They give us a glimpse of something that was in the shadow- something we may not have been fully aware of before.
On the nodal axis, there is a north node- the direction the moon is ascending towards, and a south node- the place the moon is moving away from. The north node is symbolic of the energy we are needing more of, while the south node is a release of energy. With the north node in Cancer, our need for inclusivity, emotional sensitivity and compassion is highlighted.
The sun and moon will align on Tuesday, July 2- a new moon solar eclipse. New moons bring an inward focus, and in the sign of Cancer, that focus is on our emotional bonds, our family, and where we came from. The ideas or projects that begin at the solar eclipse may take 6 months to come to fruition, but the effects are powerful. This solar eclipse is a time to ask yourself where you feel a sense of belonging. What relationships in your life put you at ease, make you feel comfortable, and give you permission to be yourself? If the place you call home and the people you consider family are not in alignment with a sense of belonging and love, this is an opportunity to shift into a new way of being.
Eclipses can stir up energy and bring unexpected, but sometimes necessary, changes. During the days leading up to the solar eclipse, and through the end of the month, it is important to stay open-minded, flexible, and aware of your emotional reactivity. Cancer can be incredibly defensive and will shut down if it feels threatened. It is not a time to overreact, but instead to clarify and pause before speaking or acting impulsively
In the meantime, Mercury has been in its shadow for a week, and moved into the sign of Leo yesterday. Mercury will continue to slow down for the next week until it stations retrograde and begins to move backwards. Mercury retrograde is an apparent movement backward from our vantage point on Earth, and from July 7-31, it will appear to move from the early degrees of Leo back into the sign of Cancer.
June has been an intense month and has brought up a lot of challenge, frustration and difficulty. July will be a time to review and reprocess what has surfaced the last few weeks.
As we move into the weekend and the moon continues to wane, slow down, practice patience, and avoid engaging in any drama.
More on Mercury retrograde and the rest of eclipse season soon.
xx