by Robert Wilkinson
Though I gave this to you a short while ago, I’ll remind you again that 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."
What’s included in this post was also relevant in the recent Lunar Eclipse Wesak Festival on April 25-26 at 6 Taurus-Scorpio, as well as the somewhat rare second Lunar Eclipse at 5 Sagittarius on May 24-25, which is also the Christ Fest. Of course I’ll be writing more it draws near.
Eclipses are both dreaded and misunderstood recurring phenomena. Solar Eclipse effects last for several years, while Lunar Eclipse effects last for a few months.
This Annular Solar Eclipse that is the seed New Moon for the coming “Christ Fest” at the next Full Moon happens on May 9, 5:28 pm PDT, 8:28 pm EDT, and 1:28 am Greenwich Daylight time on May 10. It will last 3 hours and 47 minutes, showing an influence that will last just over 3 years and 9 months.
Today we'll discuss a lot about eclipses in general and a little about this one. In following articles I'll elaborate on the Astro-physics of the phenomenon, who is most affected by this Eclipse, symbols, aspects, patterns, and what we can expect from this Annular Solar Eclipse at 20 Taurus.
I've composed quite a few articles on past eclipses in the archives that bear re-visiting, since the Solar Eclipses of 2010, 2011, and 2012 are still manifesting results, if traditional Eclipse lore is to be believed. (The July 2009 Eclipse effects just ended in December, while the January 2010 Solar Eclipse will still be in play through September 2013).
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. Links to recent eclipses are at the bottom of this article.
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 Solar Eclipse in Taurus over time will show us which way the winds of destiny are blowing, and bring many to ecstatic states of consciousness and blessings. This will shut down old Taurus energy and open great potential wherever we have 20 Taurus in our charts.
This one will bring new discoveries in dimensions previously unknown to our minds, and those who can still the mind can receive important impressions of a new law of living. This will continue to balance what we can attract and what we cannot, what we need to release and what we need to accept. This Eclipse will confirm many things for us, and show us “the direction of the winds of destiny.”
Though ideas and communications will be prominent, feelings will be more important to our knowing. This will take us into unknown zones, and whatever is taken away will no longer block our ability to reach very pleasant higher states of awareness and enjoyment of life.
Whatever is stripped away will leave a void to be filled with deeper values that support who we are and are becoming, so as with other Eclipses, learn to hold the empty space with patience and a sense of attracting what you need “to perfect the great work” between late June and mid-November 2013.
It will bring a greater awareness around recent and current losses, and show us the power of holding the void. Whatever is shut down by this Annular Solar Eclipse creates a space for new resources, new values, and new ways of using what we have, freed of old mental concepts and complexes. This will be trigger fairly quickly after the Eclipse, given that Mars will transit 20 Taurus on May 16-18. So whatever Taurus functions are shut down will bring new activity quickly, and bring obviously related developments after October 2013.
This Eclipse is stabilizing will open us to more pleasant life experiences in some active way. This will help us see why we’ve held on to certain things over the past 2 years, and how what we’ve left behind opens a new spontaneity and higher, happier state of awareness. The voids this Eclipse presents us with will help us capture more solid resources and values.
All Eclipses radically transform areas affected by the planetary positions, so look to where you have 20 Taurus to see what will be shut down. Those life areas will yield a new way of looking at what we value and why, and how we use what we have. Major gains are promised to some, while others will be forced into trials that will generate character. Given the nodes, we “gain through loss,” and merely need to follow through on our line of least resistance.
In this Annular Solar Eclipse at 20 Taurus, we see the most important factors are Mercury and Mars exactly quintile Neptune, and Venus at 1 Gemini septile Uranus with both triseptile Saturn, bringing the next echo of this “destiny-producing, fork in the road” type of energy we first dealt with October 2012 when Saturn in Scorpio was triseptile Uranus in Aries. They’re back, and a major influence in this Eclipse whose effects will last almost the next 4 years.
Wherever we have Taurus is the focus, and the houses where we have Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Aquarius will see major shifts over the next 3+ years. Destiny is on the move at this Eclipse, with many gifts and specialized activities promised. More to come in future articles.
More on the Solar Eclipses of 2011 and 2012
Though 2012 was no slouch in terms of Eclipse effects, 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 a long time to come, so take a look at the numerous January, June, July, and November 2011 Eclipse articles in the archives. While you’re at it, you may also want to review the articles on the 2012 Solar Eclipses, since they’re also still in major play at the present time and into the future. Some links are at the bottom of this page.
The Solar Eclipses of January and June 2011 brought blessings upon us since they happened. We've simply been challenged to let go of old life patterns that no longer serve the emergent Archetypes we've been living the past two years. Due to such things as the Grand Irrationality and the various Cardinal T-squares and Crosses set up by Uranus in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn, 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.
Since the past is prologue to the future, those who prepared, learned, and allowed themselves to be moved into new ways of relating to others in 2011 have found in 2012 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 three 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 2012 we had two Solar Eclipses. The first one in May was Annular, whereas the one on November 13-14 was a Total Solar Eclipse at 22 Scorpio. We also had two Lunar Eclipses. The one on June 4 was a Partial Lunar Eclipse at 15 Sagittarius/Gemini, and marked the "Christ Fest," the third of the 3 "High Moons" of Spring. The Lunar Eclipse on November 28 was a Penumbral Eclipse that fell at 7 Gemini/Sagittarius. That Eclipse showed effects through mid-March 2013. Please check the archives to find out more if you’re so inclined.
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 couple of years, and now are moving into a time of stabilizing our long term plans. This Eclipse continues to help us get clear about which way the winds of our destiny are blowing, and we can now accept what is ours to receive.”
See you soon with more on this 2013 Taurus 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 November 2011 Solar Eclipse with links to the 2011 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. (You can follow the internal links in this article to the previous articles about this specific Eclipse.)
For more about the May 2012 Annular Solar Eclipse, here’s The Solar Eclipse at 1 Gemini May 20-21 2012 Pt. 3 (You can follow the internal links in this article to the previous articles about this specific Eclipse.)
For more about the recent 2012 Scorpio Total Solar Eclipse, here’s The Total Solar Eclipse at 22 Scorpio Nov 13-14, 2012 Pt. 3 - Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It All Means. (You can follow the internal links in this article to the previous articles about this specific Eclipse.)
© Copyright 2013 Robert Wilkinson
Hi Robert. Question. I have been a reader of yours for a long time and I have found that many articles you have written over the past two years always have the June 2011 eclipse results in them. Why? I mean, was this 2011 eclipse so special? I don't remember over the past five years you writing so much about any other eclipse. Just wondering. It surely took a toll on me I can tell you. Thanks.
Posted by: Norm | May 06, 2013 at 03:01 PM
Hi Norm - Because that particular Eclipse was a) powerful, b) long, and c) smack in the Gemini zone of the Grand Irrationality. Very powerful Eclipses have very powerful associated effects. This one guaranteed we'd all be letting go of more than we imagined at the time. Stunning in the clarity it brought. It was probably one of the most powerful in the past 15 years, right up there with the 1999 Solar Eclipse in Leo that had a really funky and conflicted Grand Fixed Cross that tore our world apart between then and 2003.
Posted by: Robert | May 06, 2013 at 03:10 PM
Wow! This eclipse is smack on my natal moon at 19'59" Taurus. I'm hoping for a gentle breeze, I've been tossed and turned by gale winds for a few years now. :-)
Posted by: Heather | May 06, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Sweet 'Clarity'.
Posted by: caliban | May 07, 2013 at 08:48 AM
Robert I am finding it interesting that as we went into the week leading up to the Taurus eclipse, a literal manifestation of this has been the release here in Australia of yet another video showing horrific torture of our cattle overseas. The eclipse is highlighting the old argument of whether we should export live animals. Of course we shouldn't, and many of us hope this will cease.
Posted by: Trinity | May 07, 2013 at 02:25 PM
Hi Heather - Well, it will shut down an old Lunar function while opening a void that should attract metaphoric clouds showing you which way "the winds of destiny" are blowing, "bringing blessings."
Hi caliban - Could be something immensely "charitable" as well!
Hi Trinity - Yes, bovines are all ruled by Taurus, and unfortunately, humanity still believes it has to be cruel and hard in the ways it relates to the animal world. The new era will show humanity learning that it's part of the Whole, and that we, the animals, and plants, and the entire electromagnetic creation we call Gaia are ONE LIFE. All life is part of the ONE LIFE. As we are constructive, loving, and kind within the Whole we prosper and are/do well; as we are selfish, destructive, and misguided within the Whole we create problems and make the world out of balance. We are part of the restoration of sanity, one day at a time.
Posted by: Robert | May 07, 2013 at 02:38 PM
Hi Robert! That 2011 eclipse either fell in my later tenth or in the eleventh! I have to go back and look at your articles! My Natal Jupiter is at 16 d and my MC is at 12 d Taurus. So, this eclipse falls in my tenth house.
Posted by: Micheline | May 07, 2013 at 03:53 PM
Could this be a money moon? The eclipse is conjunct my current solar return part of fortune!
I should note all eclipses in this current go around hit or nearly hit natal or current solar return placements... time to move and groove to some new beats.
Posted by: Matt | May 07, 2013 at 05:22 PM
Robert--
As you know, this eclipse is conjunct my natal 11th Sun (which is itself loosely conjunct Chiron) and opp natal Uranus. Bring on the eclipse articles!! I'm so stoked! I'm thinking this will be the start of a whole new direction in life for me (especially considering the next eclipse will be in my 6th).
namaste
Posted by: Derrick | May 08, 2013 at 06:11 AM
Hi Robert, If I do not have any planets in Taurus on my birth chart at all, what does this eclipse mean to me or does that mean I will not be affected? DOB 2/27/52 1 pm Framingham MA Thank you, Bev
Posted by: Bev | May 08, 2013 at 10:40 AM