On September 21st there will be a partial solar eclipse in Virgo, in Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra. Purva Phalguni’s shakti is the power of wealth through marriage. A marriage is the ultimate contract, so this nakshatra is related to finances, contracts, and agreements. It is ruled by the deity Aryaman, the god who gives help, patronage, hospitality, and kindness. He is associated with honor, ethics, and high standards of behavior. He rules marriage agreements, traditions, customs, and religious rituals. He is the protector of family and community wealth. He is sometimes called the king of the ancestors. He is also the protector of roads, ensuring the freedom of travelers.
Eclipses turn the mind inward, so this is a time to reflect deeply on some of the values mentioned above. For example, it is a time to consciously practice hospitality, kindness, ethics, and other high standards of behavior. The period surrounding the eclipse for six days, and the lunar month that follows, is also a good time for generosity, sharing resources, performing spiritual rituals, connecting with your past, resolving family discord, and making journeys with a spiritual purpose.
At the time of this eclipse, Mercury, the planet of communication, learning, and analysis, will be transiting its own sign of Virgo in close conjunction with the eclipse. This makes the quality of the eclipse energy mentally sharp and penetrating, offering a chance to see beneath surface appearances and to sort through what is fact and what is projection. This analytical power is strong, but the eclipse softens it, asking us not only to dissect but also to reconsider the foundations of our thinking.
At the same time, Saturn in Pisces, in exact opposition to the eclipse point, will create challenges and resistance in communication. Pisces is deeply intuitive, compassionate, and imaginative, yet it can also blur boundaries between truth and fantasy. Saturn’s role here is twofold. On one level it can bring resistance to seeing reality clearly, binding some of us to old beliefs and illusions. On another level, it can act as a sober checkpoint, forcing us to distinguish between stories and facts, fantasy and discernment.
Since the eclipse occurs in Uttara Phalguni, it will probably produce a surge in geopolitical events characterized by unethical behavior and a lack of kindness on one side, and moral or ethical resistance on the other. For example, Putin will probably continue to press his war efforts in Ukraine, while Europe and much of the rest of the world continue to respond with criticism, sanctions, and other deterrents.
But it is not all about world politics. On the individual level, this is a valuable time for taking a personal inventory—a long overdue reality check on your own internal conflicts. Suggested areas to examine are anger, pride, deceit, and greed, the classic culprits and great agitators of the mind. Their cures—kindness, humility, patience, and honesty—are greatly underrated. Living a life not defined by money and possessions is almost unheard of these days, yet these are the classical virtues reflected by Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra. The point of practicing simple qualities of ethics and morality is not to prove that you are good or holy. It is much simpler than that—it is just common sense. When you get angry you damage yourself with emotional violence. By being kind, you feel calm and happy. Arrogance, lying, and obsession with money or possessions are similar. They all agitate the mind and cause suffering. They disconnect you from the core of your being.
This eclipse can help. It is sending us all a message: lean into your inner core and listen. You might be surprised by what you hear.
James Kelleher
Author