Eclipses

by James Kelleher June 01, 2020

Eclipses

Do you realize that in ancient times astrologers were beheaded for not alerting the emperors in advance about eclipses? Eclipses were taken as negative omens. It's true, they're not the greatest days for important new beginnings or advancing one's material affairs. On the other hand, there is really no need to make them into dreaded events. In fact, eclipses are wonderful for introspection, meditation, cleaning house, letting go of old baggage, quiet time or any other spiritual pursuit. The idea of paying attention to eclipses, or any astrological event for that matter, is simply to harmonize your action with the astrological weather.

Eclipses can be used on different levels as well. The most common way to use an eclipse in astrology is as an omen or sign portending global trends or events. Typically, because the eclipse is caused by a shadow passing across the Sun or the Moon, it is taken as an indication of negative events, suggesting problems for particular countries, leaders, or some aspect of world politics. On the other hand, eclipses can also be used for individuals. The astrological house in which the eclipse takes place will usually become sensitized for up to 6 months. If the eclipse falls near the same degree as a planet in the person's natal chart, then it affects that planet and everything it symbolizes in the chart. If the eclipse falls on the person's natal Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or ruler of the Ascendant, then it will have a powerful effect.

In the course of the ordinary activities of day-to-day life, eclipses should be avoided for important new beginnings in material areas. If you are thinking about starting a business, getting married, approaching your boss for a promotion, or proposing to your girlfriend, then an eclipse is not the time to do it. On the other hand, if you are thinking about going camping, going on a retreat, starting psychotherapy, ending a relationship, quitting a job, cleaning house, or just spending some quiet time, then an eclipse can be a good time to start.

In the decision making process, eclipses come in handy as well. If, for example, you find your dream house, or someone makes you a job offer at the time of an eclipse, it is generally a good idea to leave it. Things which you are presented with at this time are usually either short-lived or develop unforeseen problems later. If the thing that you are deciding is of an introspective or spiritual nature, however, then the eclipse might indicate a positive outcome.

The nakshatra in which an eclipse falls will also give a clue to its effect on both nations and individuals. Generally, the nakshatra, and whatever it symbolizes, will be spoiled for the next six months after the eclipse. For this reason, various remedial measures have been prescribed by the ancient vedic rishis in order to counteract the effect of an eclipse in each nakshatra. In India, it is common for people to fast for 10 hours before an eclipse and then perform a havan (fire ritual) in the middle of the eclipse. In the west, where vedic pundits are more scarce, the recommended activity during an eclipse is meditation, or possibly the chanting of an appropriate mantra for the nakshatra in which the eclipse is occurring. Please refer to the following notes of upcoming eclipses for appropriate mantras for specific eclipses.

Total Lunar Eclipse
November 8, 2022
10:59:20 UTC

There will be a total lunar eclipse on November 8th. This eclipse will occur at 21 degrees of Aries in Bharani nakshatra.

Eclipses activate the things signified by the nakshatra in which they take place. They can create a positive influence or a negative influence, but most eclipses disturb the nakshatra significations to some extent. They have a similar effect on the sign and house in which they occur, as well as any planet they might conjunct in the chart.

On the other hand, eclipses are good for the spiritual side of life. They are great times for meditation, and any other internal process. In Vedic astrology, it is generally recommended to lie low, stay at home, eat less, and meditate more on the day of the eclipse. If that isn't possible, then you can just meditate more on that day.

The total lunar eclipse on November 8th takes place in Aries at 21 degrees, in Bharani Nakshatra. Bharani is the nakshatra ruled by the deity Yama. Yama is the god of death, since he is the one that comes to collect the souls at the end of life.

Bharani’s shakti is the power to carry things away, like Yama carrying the soul away. This lunar eclipse is one that can bring endings of different types, and in some cases, funerals or other experiences related to actual death. For most people, however, the endings that are experienced are more mundane. The period surrounding the eclipse is a good time to get rid of things that have come to an end and are no longer useful, to make room for new beginnings that follow. For example, you can use this energy to go through your closet and get rid of old clothes that you are no longer wearing, and take them to the Salvation Army.

Yama is also the lord of Dharma in Hindu mythology, so the eclipse will also raise awareness regarding injustice. Sometimes it can symbolize legal battles, outrage or righteous indignation. Yama judges the souls at the end of life, so this is a time when people tend to make judgments. Of course it is important and useful to be able to discern right from wrong. On the negative side, the conviction that you are right and that you know that the other person is wrong, can put you on a slippery slope that can result in self-righteousness, anger, and personal judgements of others. If you look at the spiritual traditions of the east, they all agree that awakening begins when you start to realize that you don't really know anything.

Eclipses are frequently felt as much as a month or two before, and two or three months after they occur. Combined with the retrograde motion of Mars, and the fact that this lunar eclipse conjuncts Putin's Jupiter, we can look for a flare up of military activity in Ukraine, as well as continued problems for Putin, as the 2022 comes to an end.

On the personal level, this is a good time to try to make an effort to align yourself with dharma, truth, and virtue. It is also a good time to clean out your closets and drawers. And if you have a bigger issue, condition, or person in your life that needs to go, this is a good time to cut through the inertia and sever the cord.

The mantra for this eclipse is Om Yamaya Namah.