The Lunar Eclipse in March 2006 affecting Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces

by Robert Wilkinson

Tomorrow's Lunar Eclipse falls at 25 Virgo-Pisces, promises deep catharses for many of us, and offers a greater recognition for many as a result of what they have learned and done for their community, however large or small it may be. It certainly marks the end of an era for individuals and nations. This Lunar eclipse portends much domestic upheaval, with a potential to affect the financial markets fairly radically, due to Iran beginning to trade solely in "petroeuros" beginning March 20. Of course the Mercury retrograde in Pisces squaring Mars through April 20 indicates it may not turn out as anyone expects, or may get delayed for reasons that are presently secret or duplicitous and potentially violent.

Each year we have two Lunar eclipses, and two Solar eclipses. An eclipse has long lasting effects, and shuts down some aspect of the life so that other parts can flourish in the future. A Solar eclipse shuts down the light in the house in which it falls, whereas a Lunar eclipse shuts down the form of the house in which it falls.

Here's a link to the article on the Solar eclipse of last Autumn and how it has affected us since then, while this link will take you to the article explaining the effect of the last Lunar eclipse, also last Autumn. Examine the articles in light of events that have transpired in your lives since then, especially since the Solar eclipse effect is still full on for some years to come. This Lunar eclipse degree axis falls just after the Mercury retrograde trine to Jupiter, and just before the Moon and Sun square Pluto, thus creating a Mutable T-square throwing energy into late Gemini.

You can bet that anyone with planets between 22 and 30 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces will be profoundly affected by this eclipse for the next several months. This of course includes birthdays from March 11-20, June 11-20, September 11-20, and December 11-20. Also affected in a huge way are those born between September 1966 and Summer of 1971 (Uranus and/or Pluto in late Virgo), May through July 1973, January through April 1974 (Saturn in Gemini), October 1979 through December 1983 (Saturn and/or Neptune in late Virgo and Sag, respectively), November 1986 through January 1988, and July through October 1988 (Saturn and Uranus in late Sagittarius.)

This eclipse also features an exact Jupiter retrograde square Neptune and Mercury square Mars along with the Sun and Moon square Pluto I've already mentioned. Purify, economize, find the central order within you amidst the chaos around you, don't fumble the great and deep truths you can glimpse at this time, and find self assurance while being a really good juggler. And if someone is talking out of both sides of different faces, or needlessly crazymaking, or saying stuff even they don't believe, turn and walk away. It's a great time for pruning back things that have gotten overgrown, both gardens and mental constructs. Keep reaching out toward the larger future life that is already repolarizing you, hold the dualities and any mental paradox or dilemmas without believing it's this or that (since it's both, and neither, and something else entirely!) as little will be resolved until later this month when Mercury goes direct.

From the NASA site:

The first lunar eclipse of 2006 is a deep penumbral event best visible from Europe and Africa. First and last penumbral contacts occur at 21:22 UT and 02:14 UT (Mar 15), respectively. The Moon's path through Earth's penumbra as well as a map showing worldwide visibility of the event is shown in Figure 1. Observers throughout most of North America will find the eclipse already in progress as the Moon rises on the evening of March 14. However, no eclipse will be visible from westernmost North America (Yukon, British Columbia, Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California) since the event ends there before moonrise. This particular event is unusual since it is a total penumbral eclipse. The whole Moon will lie completely within the penumbral shadow from 23:18 UT to 00:18 UT (Mar 15). According to Belgian eclipse expert Jean Meeus [1997] this is one of only five such events during the 21st century. Greatest eclipse occurs at 23:48 UT with a penumbral magnitude of 1.0565. At that instant, the Moon will stand midway in the penumbral shadow. The Moon's northern limb will lie 1.6 arc-minutes from the shadow's outer edge while the southern limb be 1.6 arc-minutes from the edge of the umbra.

Penumbral eclipses are difficult to observe, especially during the early and late stages. Nevertheless, a subtle yet distinct shading should be visible across the southern half of the Moon, especially during the two hour period centered on greatest eclipse.

A Lunar eclipse is supposed to shows its effects for as many months as it lasts in minutes. Because it is visible from Europe, Africa, Greenland, eastern Brazil and the Middle East, we can expect the influence to affect those areas most strongly. The eclipse will be partly visible at moonrise across North, Central, and South America except for Alaska and far western Canada, and be partly visible at moonset everywhere east of the Middle East and central Russia except for Japan and eastern Australia.

Here's the link to the NASA Lunar Eclipse page.

Comments

[emma]

robert, can you clarify this comment, please?

"...a Lunar eclipse shuts down the form of the house in which it falls."

do you mean where the Sun is, where the Moon is, or the houses in which they fall?

thank you.

[Robert]

Where the Moon falls is where you can expect endings that reflect the light of the house where the Sun is. Hint: look at opposite signs and houses as being related to a polarity of function or experience. If an eclipse Moon touches a planet, it will shut down some function of that planet, which of course would affect the house that planet rules. In a Solar Eclipse, it shuts down the affairs of the house in which that lunation falls, since both Sun and Moon fall in only one house (or in the case of a cuspal zone, how those two areas relate to each other.)

[crawl or fly]

Robert:

Thank you for this great article. I have been feeling a lot of anticipation about this eclipse, and I don't really know why. Jupiter is currently exactly conjunct my sun. The eclipse will be conjunct my ascendant--and the solar eclipse in September will also be conjunct my ascendant. Any insights?

[Colleen Sauve]

I have a T square in my chart involving these planets I am a sun sign Gemmini how will this affect me personally?

[Robert]

Hi, Crawl or fly and Colleen -

COF, Jupiter conj Sun shows the end of a 12 year cycle and the beginning of a new one, so opportunity should be all around. The eclipse on the Asc-Dsc axis is going to put your self image through transformation as a result of seeing relationships in a different light, and will set up the major endings and beginnings that begin this autumn. If you are a Virgo rising, the lunar eclipse will affect your friends, goals, and ambitions, as the Moon is the ruler of your 11th, while the Sun in the 7th ruling your 12th shows the ending of an old way of being with others that created sorrow. This autumn should recombine many pieces and help you not worry so much about things you shouldn't be worrying about.

Colleen, any transiting T-square between planets triggers natal T-squares involving the same planets, so expect some personality integration through dynamic changes where your T-square falls. Look to the void of the T-square to show you the problems and solutions to those problems. And Geminis have been going through changes, due to Uranus square your Sun and Pluto opposed your Sun. You've had to learn not to worry or make or take excess criticisms, pay more attention to ordering the details of your life, and given that the eclipse will throw the energies toward your Sun, go for integration, illumination, and focus on professional activities, releasing the old forms of relating to your past, your early home life, and your anchorage in existence. And remember with your ruler Mercury retrograde, things may not turn out as they seem, and with the trine to Jupiter, even better than you suspect once the old is cleared away.

[crawl or fly]

Robert:

Thank you again.

[Asian of Narnia]

astrology will be restored its true honor in this age of aquarius. so, where did the 16 year old boy in nepal go anyway? why may on 5/17/5 and why on 3/9/6 ?

peace and light from Nirvana

-Maitreya

[Robert]

Hello, Asian - Glad you also believe that in the future Astrology will be given more honor than it has in the recent past. Please elaborate on the events you speak of. May 17 2005 had several distinguishing features. Also, each chooses the timing of events based on individual chart positions.

[PAT MCGOVERN]

TOTALLY ENJOYED YOUR INFORMATION. I'M AN ASTROLOGER ALSO. THE SLAR ECLIPSE WILL BE 4 DEGREES CLOSE TO MY VENUS.

[Robert]

Hi PAT - Welcome to Professor Robert's cantina. You already know the Eclipse will change your Venus function; if your Venus is in Pisces, Pluto has been stripping your relationships to the core and Uranus will transit these next three years while Jupiter assists. If your Venus is in Aries, then despite the aggravations of the past year, your relational life will open and stabilize VERY nicely, especially in mid-Summer. Just keep late 2008-2009 in mind and make adjustments accordingly.

[Nicki]

Hi

I am pretty new to astrology and trying to learn all I can. I am an Aries with pisces moon. This eclipse has already affected my husbands family in a huge and unexpected way. I have a gut feeling that there is a lot more coming our way. I have already seen this eclipse affect pisceans greatly - how will this eclipse affect those with pisces moons? Will it have a greater effect for those with Pisces rising?? I would be grateful for some knowledge.

[Robert]

Hi Nicki - This eclipse, like them all, will affect us for some time to come. I would think people with Pisces Moon would become more caring, more nurturing, more sensitive to collective impressions, and it would actually help their home and family life to grow appropriately. Pisces rising will have new self-image growth, which they will have to demonstrate in their relationships by letting go of criticism and worry and/or being very practical in serving their partners.

[hey can some one help me???]

i was born during a lunar eclipse on march 12th 1983
some pretty strange things have happened since then and people keep coming to me telling me i am chosen and speacial... before i go totally crazy can some body please explain to me what this all means and why do people look at my birthday as a bad sign... am i destined for hell or have i already been there?

[Robert]

Hi Hey etc. - Well, we ALL have special traits that we can develop to serve our world wisely and lovingly. You have a certain kind of genius if you ever get focused enough to make it work for you and don't just keep going off in too many directions at the same time. The entire time when Saturn is in Virgo (Sep 2007 through July 2010 including when it first enters Libra opposing your Mars) is training you in working with diligence and discrimination to "do it by the numbers," overlooking and overleaping nothing.

As for your birthday being "a bad sign," many fear eclipses, but there are many superstitious people in our world. Stop doing negative associations based in other people's ignorance. Regarding "hell," we ALL are plunged into various degrees of "hell" at times in our lives so we can learn a) not to fear being there and b) reverse patterns so we don't have to keep going there to learn certain lessons. Karmas must be fulfilled, and life can be very painful. But we do not have to suffer one minute more than we need to. Overall, this year should be very specializing and productive for you, once you make clear decisions and actually commit to and follow through on a course that is comforting and stabilizing for you.