Eclipses Past and Present – A Look At What They’ve Brought All of Us in 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, and 2001

by Robert Wilkinson

I’ve written extensively about eclipses for over 5 years. Since all the Solar Eclipses still affect us and the Lunar Eclipses affected us for many months after they happened, today I pulled many articles together so you can get a sense of what we’ve all been dealing with the past 5 years. The current and recent ones can be found by going to the links. I’ve posted some of the text to others from before Spring 2005. There are some remarkable insights to be had by reviewing what has shaped us all in the past 5 years, so enjoy!

Here's The Solar Eclipse - What It Means and Its Effect On Our Life describing generally what Eclipses are thought to mean, and specifically the effects that Solar Eclipses are associated with.

Here are the two most recent articles about the current Annular Solar Eclipse, and what it means in general as well as for each sign. First, there's The Solar Eclipse of September 2006 In Virgo - What Does It Mean, and What Are its Effects? and then the companion article about its effect for each sign, How Will The Solar Eclipse of September 2006 Affect Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces?

I discussed the Partial Lunar Eclipse of 7 September 2006 in these two articles, The Edge of Major Changes - Things Are About To Get Even Weirder in late August through September 2006 and this one introducing the current Solar eclipse, The Lunar and Solar Eclipse of September 2006 - Both in Virgo, What Will They Bring?

Starting to work backward through various eclipses that still affect all of us in many ways, the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006 was covered in The Coming March 29 Solar Eclipse and another important post, The Aries Solar Eclipse of March 2006 - What Does It Mean for Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. I also covered another important influence in Saturn in Leo and the Aries Eclipse - What Does It Mean For You? and the previous Penumbral Lunar Eclipse occurring 14 March 2006 was addressed in The Lunar Eclipse in March 2006 affecting Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces

2005 - For 2005, the Partial Lunar Eclipse of 17 October 2005 was in the article The Lunar Eclipse of October 2005 – What Does It Mean for You? and the Annular Solar Eclipse of 3 October 2005 was explained in two articles, Astrology of the Future - Solar and Lunar Eclipses Affecting Us For Many Years and Astrology Weird Zones for October-November-December 2005 - Eclipse Fragmentation, Reconstruction, and Finding the Balance During Mars Retrograde (Follow the internal links to find out more about this particular eclipse as well as past ones)

From earlier articles, here's a piece of the post on the 24 April 2005 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse:

The coming Full Moon Eclipse occurs at 3:06 am PDT at 5 Scorpio. As with Solar eclipses, Lunar eclipses also function to shut down the light, so to speak, while fulfilling processes, feelings, and lifestyles associated with the signs involved. The number of hours a lunar eclipse lasts is said to have an influence equivalent to the same number of months, i.e., this eclipse will last 4 hrs. 10 minutes, so its influence should last 4+ months. It begins 07:50 UT, and is greatest at 09:55 UT. Its shadow will be visible in North, Central, and South America, New Zealand, eastern Australia, eastern Indonesia, most of Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean except the extreme nw part, and the western Atlantic Ocean. The end is visible in western North America, most of Mexico, the southern tip of South America, Indonesia, eastern Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica except coastal Queen Maud Land, the Pacific Ocean, and the eastern Indian Ocean. Observers in eastern North America will experience moonset before the eclipse ends, but those further west will be able to witness the entire event.

Any Full Moon begins the fulfillment of the promise of the preceding New Moon, in this case the New Moon Solar Eclipse of April 8 2005 at 20 Aries. So the promise of that New Moon will be fulfilled by the realizations and fulfillments of the 5 Taurus-Scorpio axis, which relates it directly to last October's lunar eclipse at the 6 Scorpio-Taurus axis. This Full Moon Eclipse will take the light of 5 Taurus and focus it through the lens of 5 Scorpio. This would imply that we will come to illumination through "the widow at the open grave," finding "revelation of meaning behind fleeting appearances," and a "birth from illusion into reality." It also implies that the door to life renewal will open as we discard the past. Even though the direct effect will be seen over the next few months, it is also important to remember that once a set of causes and effects are set into motion by an eclipse, it usually leads to major consequences down the road, even after the specific time span of direct influence.

The focus of the Moon is "A massive rocky shore unchanged by centuries of storms," implying that we shall see the "absolutely stable elements of life," and find confidence through perception of fundamental truths for us. We'll be given a chance to examine spiritual inertia, and since Moon in Scorpio is great for self-purification, it's an excellent time to regenerate the best from what is ending. The other benefit to this Full Moon is that it is the Wesak Festival, or the celebration of the Buddha's birthday. It is one of the highest spiritual festivals of the year, and opens the door to the renewal of Buddha energy for the whole planet for another year.

Last October's (2004) lunar eclipse featured the Moon on a degree of bridge building and cooperating to overcome obstacles that are a natural part of evolution, while the Sun was a degree of avidity and tearing oneself away from the known and familiar. So the light of a new passion has begun to find form in cooperative activity since then. For everyone, there have been conflicts that required us to nourish ourselves on past virtue or wisdom so that we could resist inferior energies that intruded on our lives. We were shown that past inspirations have yielded results through the trust we've had, or our trust has shown us a new form of inspiration during these past several months.

Since the Moon is biseptile Neptune, septile Pluto, and triseptile Mercury, this eclipse will be influenced by the Grand Irrationality, with four of the seven points activated during the period of this eclipse influence. This will add an edge to the usual intensity of a Full Moon in Scorpio... affecting Aries, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Scorpio, Sag, and Pisces planets and areas of our charts. This shows that we've all had a chance in the near past for phenomenal productivity as shown by the separating Mars-Pluto and Venus-Uranus sextiles.

It falls on Passover, adding richer symbolism to what is ending and what will endure. So some things will die, while other new life will be spared whatever "epidemic" spreads among that which has not been blessed according to the need of our times. We will see dramatic results in late July, late October, and late January 2006 when the Sun squares or opposes its Solar and Lunar eclipse positions, as well as when Mars and Jupiter transit the eclipse-activated degrees.

Mars will activate the Solar eclipse July 9-11 and the Taurus point August 3-5. Jupiter will oppose the Solar Aries point in early September, and move across the Lunar eclipse Scorpio degree the second and third weeks of November. Jupiter's transit also bookends the next Solar eclipse on October 3, 2005 at 11 Libra and the next Lunar eclipse on October 17 at 25 Aries, so Jupiter being that intimately involved in both eclipses as well as the recent Solar eclipse means we'll all have an adventure or two, especially those with planets in Sagittarius and Pisces.

(For information how this eclipse affected each individual sign, click on this link to go to the original article.)

On the Partial Solar Eclipse of April 5 2005:

Welcome to the next phase of what for most is becoming a very peculiar wild ride! It is said that an eclipse falling on the Sun of a nation portends bad things for that country. I suppose the same could be said for a state. That should be good news for many states in the US, since none of them are Aries or Libra, the main signs of the eclipse.

Saturn in Cancer (it's been on the US Sun for a while now) driving the on-going Cardinal T-square is making it kind of rough for nations and people with a heavily occupied Cancer-Capricorn axis, while offering excellent opportunities to integrate, focus, and break through blockages of ineffective rules, limitations, and systems. If an eclipse shuts down one aspect of the life so that other lights may be seen and developed, then the Solar Eclipse should actually be very productive in helping us break free of obsolete ways of relating to others, negative expectations in our relationships, and any blockages to our vitality.

The Solar Eclipse features the New Moon at 1:32 pm PDT at 20 Aries, a degree of "overcoming crises through compassion," and participation in a larger life beyond previous conceptions. If we are open to applying forms of compassionate love through linking with others to assist those in crises, we can overcome forms of "coldness" and find self-assurance through our service. This degree is one of "hospitality," and is receptive to experience and generosity of Spirit, demonstrating a balance between youthfulness and maturity.

The Eclipse occurs in the heart of the Cardinal T-square, as the New Moon is between the opposition to Jupiter and the square to Saturn, with the Sun square Saturn culminating Sunday April 10. This eclipse also directly and urgently affects those with birthdays in the first two weeks of January, April, July, and October. Everyone born during those spans is being galvanized into motion and intense activity, the upside being major transformational opportunities resulting from the Eclipse trines to Pluto. Venus involved in this eclipse should make it more agreeable and pleasant in its effects, even as some things give way to a greater ideal of action due to the Mars conjunct Neptune. Mercury retrograde at the Eclipse will bring communication issues into the spotlight, and those who have overcome insecurity and identified with a larger life will be given opportunities to inspire others.

Another important factor: If we were only dealing with Saturn driving the T-square, it would be heavy enough for anyone. The fact that Saturn is still the nozzle of the Grand Irrationality is continuing the pressure of the generic obsessive-compulsive factors in our world, and forcing many critical decisions due to the multiple forks in the road we are all confronting now. It's a long range pressure very much like the '30's, the last time Neptune and Pluto anchored this configuration.

Mars is now in the pattern due to its conjunction with Neptune, and will definitely be highly active in the Solar Eclipse from its position at 14 Aquarius. Things have been pretty weird already, and it's about to get racheted up a couple of notches. For some, a dream come true. For others, a collapse due to neglecting responsibilities or failing to acquire an adequate discipline enabling the personality to be effective in embracing new ways of life despite the irrationality. (Here’s the link to the original article)

2004 - Going back to 2004, we had a Total Lunar Eclipse on 27-28 October:

... The number of hours a lunar eclipse lasts is said to have an influence equivalent to the same number of months, i.e., this eclipse lasted 1 hr. 21 minutes, so its influence should last one and one-third months. It's a Total Eclipse whose shadow covered western North America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Oh joy!

This eclipse fell on October 27 2004 at 6 Taurus-Scorpio. Any Full Moon begins the fulfillment of the promise of the preceding New Moon, in this case the Solar Eclipse of October 13 2004. So the promise of the New Moon at 22 Libra will be fulfilled by the 6 Scorpio-Taurus opposition axis. The Moon is on a degree of bridge building and cooperating to overcome obstacles that are a natural part of evolution, while the Sun is at a degree of avidity and tearing oneself away from the known and familiar. So the light of a new passion will find form in cooperative activity. There will be conflict that will require us to nourish ourselves on past virtue or wisdom so we can resist inferior energies that intrude on our lives. This Full Moon will show us something about inspiration given form by trust. Either our past inspirations will yield results through the trust we've had, or our trust will show us a new form of inspiration. (For how this eclipse specifically affected your sign, click on this link to the original article and scroll to the bottom)

Regarding the 14 October 2004 Partial Solar Eclipse:

The coming Solar Eclipse is part of an unusual Saros series group, and falls at 22 Libra. It is certain to affect our ways of relating to others, our ideals, our ways of responding to opportunity, as well as conflicts in general. Many ideals and relationships will have a shadow cast upon them, and any planets this eclipse touches will be subject to having some part of its influence shut down.

From NASA we find that this is the second solar eclipse of 2004, visible from the northern hemisphere. NE Asia, the Pacific Ocean, and parts of Alaska will fall within the Moon's shadow.

This is the 54th eclipse of Saros series 124, another old series which produced its last central eclipse on 3 Oct 1986. The last event was an unusual beaded annular eclipse with a very short path just off the west coast of Iceland. Saros 124 will continue to produce partial eclipses of decreasing magnitude until 11 May 2347. It is of note that the shadow falls on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," which could portend more seismic activity in this region.

The Solar Eclipse degree is one of "solicitude" in the emotional-social-cultural level of Reconstruction, in the span of Revelation. According to Marc Edmund Jones, the formula is "manipulating-critical-ingenious-generalizing-social-sensitive. This a symbol of faith in friendly relationships, optimism to help one take advantage of opportunities, and self-fulfillment in discovering responsibilities that can assist in the consummation of one's inner ideals. It is a degree of creative concern, a "fresh grasp of the Soul's needs, youthful life enjoyment, and intuitive understanding" of spiritual things.

We’ll all have chances to stop being pessimistic or rigid in our thinking, or feeling like life or others are against us. We can break free of old chains, useless limits and counterproductive rules of thinking and interpreting things. Old theoretical frames of reference and superficialities will give way to new necessities, responsibilities, or duties. For some, a stripping away of veneers revealing fear or the way of liberation. The challenge is to make clear basic personal decisions to integrate expanded interests with your particular sensitivities. Under no circumstances surrender to defeatism or discouragement, even though it might seem the obvious and easy thing to do.

Positives include the ability to win the support and understanding you need from others, finding ways to put your sensitivity to practical use, and get more in touch, rather than stay alienated from who or whatever. Cultivate spiritual connectedness with others, and stimulate your own and others' hearts by revealing something through satire, humor, or art. The separating sextile to Pluto and trine to Neptune shows that the way has already been understood, a new perspective reached, and a recent purification or transformation completely natural for what has ended. (For specifics on how it affected your sign, click on this link to the story and scroll to the bottom of the article.)

The Total Lunar Eclipse of 4 May 2004 was addressed by the title, "The Eclipse, the Buddha, and Releases of Love"

The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse on May 4th with Jupiter stationary direct marked a point of critical emergence.  Besides the fact that eclipses are historically said to indicate the fall of governments or other collective crises in the nations its shadow touches, they also seem to parallel critical developments in the lives of individuals and corporations, depending on which sectors are associated with the lunation.

The Full Moon of Taurus-Scorpio every spring is associated with the Wesak Festival, an international holy day where tens of millions celebrate the Buddha's birthday.  The ancient prince of India who renounced worldly power and wealth to become the first major world teacher to expound and practice a life of compassion was born under this influence.  It is said that each year the eternal consciousness we call “the Buddha” opens a “door” to send increased “Buddha nature energy” into our world, supposedly to help us learn ways to decrease worldly suffering, in our own lives as well as the lives of others.  Thus this time is said to set in motion elements of collective change in world evolution.  This particular eclipse falls on the axis of the “Ox point” and the “Eagle point,” a line of radical evolutionary challenge.  With Neptune driving the T-square from the “Angel point,” expect major developments wherever the “Lion point” at 15 Leo falls in your charts.

Before April 2004, I wasn't blogging, but I did have another website I had been posting articles on since 1999. Many of them are lost in time, but what follows are some of what I was able to preserve from the 2001-2004 period. As I wrote about the 19 April 2004 Partial Solar Eclipse:

The Solar Eclipse of April 19th in the last degree of Aries ushers in a time of learning to focus within your field of activity, gladly enjoying yourself by accepting the natural boundaries in your life. Explore what will make you feel contented on a social level, and you may find some extremely satisfactory relationship interactions following. Even though an eclipse usually takes something away, it also introduces other light sources so we can take note of different patterns and perspectives. You may find that things are not as they have seemed, and that nothing has been lost except obsolete perspectives.

2003 - Regarding the 8 November 2003 Lunar Eclipse:

A major influence this month is the Full Moon Eclipse falling in a Great Sextile. This rare occurrence portends a long range period of stabilized instability and “productive destruction. Though paradoxes may be difficult they are part of how humanity grows... Grand Sextiles are very productive specialized confugurations that show a grand harmony of understanding.

The conjunction of Saturn with the star Sirius has specific global implications for all life forms on Earth. Sirius, the “Sun of our Sun,” has direct connections to the heart of the greater galactic life in which we live and breath and do our thing. It continues to be a time of adjustment, decision, and sorting things out to accelerate the major closures to come during the next few months. We have all made emotional and social decisions in the recent past that is bearing fruit on individual-mental-spiritual levels, and can see how the mystery of our life is showing us the character strengths and flexibility we will need in the future.... In future months we must go with the building energies of the Great Sextile, and see how the “seeker must become the warrior, fighting anew the eternal battle.”  Concretize your values, move toward your cultural ideal, and follow the Mars movement through your ordeal into your “sanctuary.”

For the Total Lunar Eclipse of 15-16 May 2003:

The Full Moon Eclipse will usher in a period of natural enjoyment through the ability to see clearly the structural strengths and weaknesses in any thing. It can give us a chance to examine all that is right and wrong with our desires, or ways of capturing what we value. There will be tension due to the T-square with Uranus throwing energy into late Leo, but this is a powerful period that will integrate the more progressive efforts of the genius of our higher Self. Be inventive, find inner values which life will recognize and reward consistently, and don't make alibis. Dedicate yourself to productive action.

Use creative intensity to shape your world. Secure your larger worldly service potential. Keep working with foresight, remember the relative stages and levels of understanding between you and others, reach up for inspiration while reaching out to assist others, and anticipate what is coming. Prepare for the next larger life phase, and sacrifice what you need to in order to ensure a better future down the road. As with the past three months, some things of the past are dying forever. Sacrifice the old willingly, and lift the chains of old limitations off your shoulders by continuing to show faith while being led to your greater adventure. Even if it seems a little scary, it's good to be alive and know it!

For the 30-31 May 2003 Annular Solar Eclipse:

The New Moon Solar Eclipse is actually a favorable eclipse, and indicates we will all be cultivating certain mental powers and attitudes directly linked with intuition, bringing us some very satisfactory social interactions which could lead to new responsibilities or duties. There are many favorable aspects at this lunation, which will shine a light on and bring an end to the dualities of the past two years’ plus transit of Saturn in Gemini. It is a time of self-expansion through forms of sacrifice, and we have the opportunity to learn how to master forms of inertia so that we can pull out of various forms of “nose dives” through the power of our mind. Do not surrender your self-control even though there is a strong sense of finality in the challenges.

2002 - For the December 3-4 2002 Total Solar Eclipse:

The Solar Eclipse December 3-4 indicates we must speak our truth, whether approved of or now. This is the time to announce our new way, truth, and life, without apologies or fear. Since the eclipse falls at the same time as the Jupiter station at 19 Leo, this should be an expansive month, where we can be stirred to a new life, new love, and new perspective that leads us to a genuine rejuvenation. The squares from Mercury and Venus in Scorpio to Jupiter in Leo and the Aquarian invisibles mid-to-late December throw the energies into Taurus. For some, financial stress through inertia, waste, or vanity. For others, gain through steady patient work. For all, pleasant manners will succeed in getting you through some stuck stuff. Keep it simple, and remember, sometimes all you have to do is sit down in order to win.

The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse of 24 June, 2002:

The Lunar Eclipse will finish up the "cat and mouse games" so we can demonstrate our group energies in an organized movement. Many things can be easily accomplished in late June, and you may even find that you can bust a lie you were told a long time ago. Uranus continues its transit of its stationary retrograde point at 29 Aquarius while lasts through July 20, but has extraordinary implications for a very long time to come. Energetically, it individualizes everyone to graduate into a new realm of being. This will affect us all, and bring great revolutionary changes on humanity. There will be a lack of confidence from time to time due to pervading insecurity. If you're fair and just and balanced, organize yourself and don't worry about it.

For the 10 June 2002 Annular Solar Eclipse:

There is a Solar Eclipse on June 10th at 20 Gemini. Ordinarily this would be a foreboding influence, except that it falls on one of the most important full moons of the year, spiritually speaking. The Full Moon of Gemini-Sagittarius distributes the concentration of the wisdom that occurs during the Full Moon of Taurus-Scorpio, also known as the Wesak Festival, the holiest festival in all of Buddhism. We have a major distribution of spiritual energies as a result of this Full Moon every year, so I suppose even an eclipse here could not be all that bad for this parade of Light! Just keep reading, writing, and speaking, don't waste, assimilate whatever you need to, be inventive, and move in the direction of your new responsibilities.

We're still learning how to manage our feelings in social situations, and substitute a Higher Will over our ego-will. Get beyond your instincts, and be more thoughtful in what you choose to express. We are still learning to check up on the efficiency of what we have at our disposal. It is a time when we are being challenged to take up and deliver a form of higher power, and control its release through the management skills we have developed up to now.

We are still dealing with disillusionments around launching some new vision, mainly those based more on projection than reality. Withdraw from others' projections on you, and be willing to see what you're letting go of as symbolizing aspects of your subconsciousness that must be cleared out. We are learning how to rise above the vagaries of life by being faithful to ourselves and trusting our native endowments. We can become more familiar with the larger feeling field where we can drink in some very inspiring subtle energy, if we can just find the peace and quiet so we can sense them. Over time these can lead us to our creativity, or social power through a form of self-exploitation.

2001 - Regarding the 21 June 2001 Total Solar Eclipse:

The Solar Eclipse ushers in a long-range era of major decisions and fundamental reorientations in the weeks and years to come, involving movement toward new ways of life, new collective group and organizations directions, and different commitments for everyone. Survival movements will be thoughtfully considered for the last time, and new ways of living will be firmly in place by mid-August as a result of the changes set into motion now. This is the time to get down to essentials, repolarize the life toward a greater mental vision, and leave behind whatever burdens have been too much to bear. There are important endings marking this period, including old theoretical arguments, adolescent rebelliousness, and life and death symbols will show us how we can best care for others, while gently moving toward a promise that will begin to expand dramatically in July.

I either didn’t compose anything, or too little to matter, about the following eclipses:

25 Oct 2003 Solar Eclipse

20 Nov 2002 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Comments

[Jennifer Pruden]

WOW!

[BoP]

8 years post wesak comes a new full solar eclipse falling on a new moon....then oddly within 6 months another new moon full solar eclipse happens again all prior to dec 23 2012 perhaps this has occured before.. 14000 bc perhaps?

[Robert]

Hi BoP - Well, the Wesak happens every year, with Eclipses falling at the Wesak twice every 9 years. All Solar Eclipses are New Moons, and we have total Solar eclipses every few years, so I'm not quite sure what you're referring to regarding 14K BC.

[daryl]

Dear Robert,

tho it might be some time before you see that i have posted here, wish to pass on thanks, as i've just tracked back from the 08 Eclipse article that I've been able to follow more closely. Fascinating. You've opened a door to me on the Wesak connection to the full moon in June. I've always wondered what the relationship is that year after year seems to relate these two moments in time and yet i've never been able to put a finger on it. What also fascinated me is yr remarks about the Oct 2005 eclipse. At that time i was major league challenged by a physical attack on me... right at the moment I was launching a vision/coming off a spirit quest journey to Tintagel that summer. The 2001 and 2002 pages also concur. The amunt of shifting in 2001 was extraordinary. Opposition seemed at an all time high. Crunch time in the book i was writing led me to italy and a breakthrough in painting in 2001 August that has sustained me ever since. 02 saw another crunch. A difficult marriage my brother made, and a new relationship for me, that has also sustained me since then. So continuity seems to be gathering momentum.(a paradox?). I am reminded of Vajrayana here, as "continuity," and was fascinated also by your previous "life" pre 02 "just palpable in the mist of the past". inspired as i am, I can already feel the lunar eclipse 08 triggering the natives; fights and shouts outside the window. Am looking forward to our post about it. Cheers.

[Robert]

Hi daryl - Glad you can put some pieces together based in what I've written. Sorry you went through a physical attack, glad you found painting sustaining and sustainable. When the natives are restless, either join the party, or lock the door!