by Robert Wilkinson
It's always good to remember that no eclipse of itself is "bad," nor do we have anything to fear. There is a lot of superstition about Eclipses, mostly focusing on "dreadful" or difficult elements that often seem to accompany them. However, while all eclipses take something away and/or shut something down, an Eclipse can have beneficial effects if we just know "when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em, when to walk away, and when to run."
This Annular Partial Solar Eclipse happens on May 20, 2012, 4:47 pm PDT, 7:47 pm EDT, and 0:47 am Greenwich (BST) May 21. Today we'll discuss a lot about eclipses in general and a little about this one. In following articles I'll elaborate on the symbols, aspects, patterns, and what we can expect from this Eclipse at 1 Gemini.
I've composed quite a few articles on past eclipses in the archives that bear re-visiting, since the Solar Eclipses of of 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 are still manifesting results, if traditional Eclipse lore is to be believed. Core material about the timeline of Eclipse effects can be found in the article, The Solar Eclipse - What It Means and Its Effect On Our Life, as well as many other elements of what we can expect from these recurring celestial events.
Also, here's another important article explaining even more about what effects we can expect to result from Lunar and Solar Eclipses. For your reconsideration, The Solar and Lunar Eclipse - Is Any Eclipse Destined to Have Bad Effects?
To whet your appetites, here is a bit from the article:
There is a lot of fear and trepidation connected to Eclipses, an unfortunate leftover from previous centuries when Eclipses were believed to augur the fall of empires, dynasties, and powerful people anywhere the Eclipse shadow fell. While Eclipses do tend to shut down some elements in the area of life (house) in which they fall, this is not necessarily a bad thing, since we must bring some things to an end if we are to embrace newer, better ways of doing our Being. While the future effects of an Eclipse may be powerful, in that they last over a long period, they are not necessarily bad.No Astrological event need be "bad," or have "evil" effects, regardless of whether we're using Vedic, Chinese, Western, or any other approach to defining "All-That-Is" within a precise system of space-time factors. Though a circumstance may seem to have "bad" omens for the future, we can always transcend any negativity and turn the future to beneficent possibilities. No matter where an Eclipse falls, we can turn it to good.
Here it is important to remember Astrology is NOT a "predictive" art, in the usual way this is understood. The craft is less deterministic than most believe, including we professional Astrologers who seem to be able to "hit the mark" regarding future manifestations.
Pattern is everything, and time is a continuity. By knowing the past and present, we can often extrapolate the future. But we can never know how a being will respond to any given life challenge, whether pleasant or painful. Each has their ability to respond as they choose in the moment.
This directly related to the concept that each planet has a duality of function. It is up to us to determine whether the Moon, Sun, Mercury or any other planet involved in eclipses, "bad" aspects, configurations and other phenomena manifests productively or non-productively.
To remind you, a square can be more productive than a trine, and an opposition can produce awareness. Polarization is only a problem on the ego level. Seen from a higher angle, oppositions are necessary for us to acquire objectivity and the ability to encompass duality within a higher view.
By all means, check out the entire article, since I explained how past eclipses affected my chart, and gave examples of the good that can come after an eclipse removes old patterns. This Annular Partial Solar Eclipse in Gemini over time will show us how to find different perspective and ways to communicate, as well as set a lot of exploration and discoveries into motion. It will put the brakes on old illusions through seeing what’s “below the surface” of things, and it won’t take long to see major effects, since Jupiter will conjunct the Eclipse degree in just a few weeks!
This Eclipse will offer us insights, new ways to synthesize new information and perspectives, with important decisions being made that will affect the entire world by August-September. This Eclipse will be associated with some fairly unique conditions and events, and much will be stabilized with many rewards confirming the vision we’ve set for ourselves in the past year.
Given that it happens just after the time when Venus went stationary retrograde, it will bring returns and deep insights about past and present relationships and values. We'll be getting interesting insights into new ways of looking at people, things, likes and dislikes, and for many, quite a few short journeys, and/or communication with relatives, will dominate their future.
This Eclipse is entirely stabilizing and “confirming,” where we can combine imagination with engineering to “imagineer” a future we’ve already been striving to make real. All Eclipses radically transform areas affected by the planetary positions, so look to where you have early Gemini to see what will be shut down, and what will be the focus of new discoveries.
This one will help us get clear about what roles we’re playing (or unwilling to play), and help us to make real what has only been a vague notion, hunch, or ideal before now. Just don’t yield up your will to others too quickly, pay attention to details to figure out what’s core and what’s peripheral, and remember to keep a sense of humor as you renew the Fire of Interpersonal Striving toward greater Truths.
The Lunar and Solar Eclipses of January 2011 brought blessings upon us. We've simply been challenged to let go of old life patterns that no longer serve the emergent Archetypes we've been living this past year. Due to such things as the Grand Irrationality and the various Cardinal T-squares and Crosses, we're all going through major changes that will affect our lives for many years. It may have been a wild ride, but power and new potentials have resulted from our choices.
As per the larger theme of 2011, those who prepared, learned, and allowed themselves to be moved into new ways of relating to others have found an activation of a concrete higher power or value they can trust. Those who have not shown kindness and understanding at critical junctures in the past two years have reaped consequences. Our ability to become an elegant and balanced Spiritual Warrior has been put to the test in diverse ways, and 2011 made clear the consequences for seeking what we have sought.
In this Annular Partial Solar Eclipse at 1 Gemini, we see Mercury conjunct Jupiter, quincunx Saturn, and semisquare Uranus, with Mars triseptile Uranus. Venus retrograde will trigger “flashbacks” wherever it’s transiting related to the houses it rules, and given that Mercury rules the Eclipse, as well as Venus and Mars in the Eclipse chart, it’s a major player in being a big influence in the months and years to come. Mercury and Venus are in Mutual Reception, making them the primary backdrop influences in this Eclipse. I'll discuss more about this in future Eclipse articles.
2011 was a rare year that offered us 6 Eclipses in one year, 4 Solar and 2 Lunar. We had the first Partial Solar Eclipse in January, we had the second one June 1-2, the third one on July 1, and a final one November 24-25! The 2 Lunar Eclipses were also Total Eclipses, following what we saw in December 2010. While the Lunar Eclipses are no longer in force, the 4 Solar Eclipses of 2011 will affect us for years to come, so take a look at the numerous January, June, July, and November 2011 Eclipse articles in the archives while you're waiting for the ones related to this Eclipse. Some links are at the bottom of this page.
This year we have two Solar Eclipses. This one which is Partial, whereas the one on November 13-14 is a Total Solar Eclipse at 22 Scorpio. This year we have two Lunar Eclipses. The one coming soon on June 4 is a Partial Lunar Eclipse at 15 Sagittarius/Gemini, and marks the "Christ Fest," the third of the 3 "High Moons" of Spring. The Lunar Eclipse on November 28 is a Prenumbral Eclipse that falls at 7 Gemini/Sagittarius. As usual, I'll be doing multiple articles on all these eclipses as each approaches.
Though there are always endings associated with any Eclipse, these open the space we need to align with Spirit in natural and productive ways. Take a new look to see what really matters and what you do and do not want to bring with you into the new world you're already living.
We've all blasted off into new realms in the past 22 months, and now are moving into a time of stabilizing our long term plans. This Eclipse continues to help us get clear that we all need new ideas for new times while illuminating a new understanding of recent Venusian discoveries and developments.
See you soon with more on this 2012 Gemini Solar Eclipse!
To check out the June 2011 Solar and Lunar Eclipses and their influences, here's Important Cosmic Influences Happening in late June and July 2011. The January eclipses can be found in the corresponding archives.
For more about the December 2011 Solar Eclipse with links to last year’s Gemini Solar Eclipse, please check out The Solar Eclipse at 3 Sagittarius November 24-25, 2011 Pt. 3 - Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It All Means.
© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson
I dont know what to make of the possibilities from this eclipse for me as its in my 8th house, I know gem in 8th has contributed to my natural ability to communicate with the unseen world, but other than that I always just have to let go and let god with that house. Any other suggestions gratefully received.
Good information though Robert, thank you!
Posted by: Debbie Eastick | May 17, 2012 at 08:15 AM
Hi Robert, Hope all is well with you.
Interesting that I've been following this particular eclipse since 1955 when I graduated high school. In 1974 I passed my first exam with AFA, in 1993 I earned an M.A.at Atlantic University and this year I finished my courses and became a chaplain. Isn't Astrology fantastic?
Posted by: J. Sue Gagliardi | May 17, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Hi Robert, this eclipse is on my south node in the 12th, so I'll be shutting down old ways of releasing and falling back into subconscious ideas and reveries? Difficult to wrap my mind around this one!
Posted by: Michael Tyler | May 17, 2012 at 05:41 PM
Hi Robert! This is a particularly interesting eclipse for me. Could you help shed some light/wisdom on these aspects? This solar eclipse of the S. Node conjuncts my 12th house N. Node; opposes my Jupiter and forms a Grand Air Trine with my Sun and Moon. I would like to make the most of this dear Teacher....
Posted by: Claudia | May 18, 2012 at 03:18 PM
Hi Robert... CD here connecting. I'm looking at the eclipse chart and my natal chart, and realize I dont really know how to see how the eclipse is affecting me. I do feel quite heavy in my body, and I sense there are really big changes going on. I had planned to do some fundraising this weekend, but the way I felt when I woke up, i don't think so! Also the people I was to connect with might be feeling the impending pressure also. So all in all, not the time to raise funds! thnx for your always wise input. CD
Posted by: Constance Demby | May 19, 2012 at 12:48 PM
Wow Robert and Constance on the same day! Robert I must thank you for sharing Constance with your readers! And Constance I must thank you for the opportunity to use your healing sound vibrations in my work.
Amazing energy happening here in Sedona, I woke up and had a deep emotional release related to issues about being supported in life. I wept deeply for no "apparent" reason. 6 planets in Aquarius/12th house & Eclipse point lands in 2nd house, so I've been looking forward to an "anchoring in" of all the Taurus energy and Jupiter's blessings.
2011 seed forms are definitely manifesting as my work as an astrologer, empath and transformational counselor ramps up to a frenzy. Seems that many are being uprooted from their slumber and finally all the 12th house lessons are making sense. Om & blessings to all... Om - Om - Oooooommmmmmm! :~)
Posted by: Jeannie Warren | May 19, 2012 at 03:24 PM
Thank you Jeannie... (pls contact me personally thru the website)
What I have been noticing lately is that now that we're getting more used to the feelings of having our issues continuously coming up in our space, it's kind of like - OK here we go again, time to release this one again, and now when an old pattern resurfaces again, it's more like, "Oh you again, well guess what we're not doing that anymore, period!" There's so much more conscious light available to see and feel and know what we don't want to think or feel or do anymore and then ACT on it. For I am born again as I step into a new unit of time in each moment. (And sometimes it’s -- ‘take a seat in the back of the bus please’....and then muzzle it!)
I’ve been feeling the energies of major shifting since things first started heating up in 2011; when the new energies really started coming in it knocked me over & out and I was unable to do or produce much of anything I was so sensitive to the changes...(Looking back I don't know how I managed to release "Ambrosial Waves"- so different from all the other albums, but apparantly just what we needed for these unsettling times...)
"Our life is moving into the chaos of change and on into transformation..." I don't know that anyone could have predicted what we would really be feeling in this amazing time, it seems we are re-creating ourselves in every moment, regardless of what aspects may be operating, and wise advisors like Robert help guide us through the rough waves when our ships hit the rocks. Thank You Robert for how generously you share your wisdom and counsel; everyone appreciates you so much!... CD
Posted by: Constance Demby | May 20, 2012 at 11:07 AM