by Robert Wilkinson
As we approach one of the biggest Solar eclipses in this century, please remember that even though many feared them in previous centuries, we now know an eclipse isn’t necessarily "bad." While eclipses are associated with things and people leaving our life and the world, they help us let go of what we no longer need, and remember that we cannot lose what truly belongs to us.
Eclipses are recurring celestial phenomena which lead to subsequent months or years where we end old ways to make space for new ways of living our lives. While this Solar eclipse will lead to endings wherever we have 20 Aries, those voids will be filled with new Aries things, people, and activities! We now begin a period of surrendering old ways of focusing our power in activities and get to re-evaluate what we care about and how we show that care. And because Aries is always associated with new beginnings, a new life is already in motion!
Eclipses Are Never A Bad Thing
Eclipses are times to face facts about what needs to end. Most people want to hold on to what is familiar, even a past that’s already faded or needs to end. It still intrigues me that so many are afraid of the endings accompanying eclipses, even though life is about cleaning out obsolete behaviors, feelings, and ideas from time to time so we can get a fresh view of life.
There is a lot of superstition about Eclipses, mostly focusing on "dreadful" or difficult elements that often seem to follow eclipses. However, while all eclipses take something away and/or shut something down based in what house of our chart they happen, 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."
Eclipses are a natural part of how the Moon, Sun, and Earth relate to each other as they move through space and time. They are certain not anything to be feared, and by understanding this recurring phenomena we can cooperate with our own “pulse of life,” letting go of what we no longer want or need to create space to attract new potential.
In the article “What Are Solar Eclipses And Why Are People Excited?,” I explained how we compute how long eclipse effects last. As noted in that article, Solar eclipse effects usually last for several years, while Lunar eclipse effects last for a few months, and eclipses vary in strength or duration, making some stronger and longer than others. I have found it’s a great exercise to take a look back at what ended in the various life areas where eclipses fell in our charts to see what’s ended and the new that has come forth. We’ll discuss more about this downstream, but for now….
When and Where is this Solar Eclipse Visible?
The coming Total Solar Eclipse falls at 20 Aries at 11:21 am PDT, 7:21 pm BST on April 8. The total Penumbral phase is 5 hours 10 minutes, indicating an influence lasting 5 years and 2 months. The Umbral phase is 3 hours 17 minutes. So these eclipse effects will last through early June 2029, with the most intense period beginning about late March 2025 and lasting for 3 years and 3.5 months. Of course this eclipse, like all eclipses, will be triggered by transits over significant points. As the magnitude is 1.05, it is strong, so this eclipse is also relatively long and strong.
This is the third Solar eclipse in 8 years and the second in 6 months where the eclipse path splits the North American continent. The coming April eclipse at 20 Aries has a path from SW to NE which will begin near the southern tip of Baja, go through the heart of Central TX from Laredo to Dallas through NW Arkansas, SE Missouri, southern Illinois, most of Indiana, NW Ohio, western PA, through NY and VT into southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, ending on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, with a 108-122 mile wide area of totality. Of course it will also profoundly impact those with planets or points around 18-22 Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, as well as 3-7 Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini, and Virgo.
Today we'll discuss eclipses in general and a little about this one. In following articles I'll elaborate on who is most affected by this eclipse, symbols, aspects, patterns, and what we can expect from this Total Solar eclipse at 20 Aries.
I've composed quite a few articles on past eclipses in the archives that bear re-visiting, since the Solar Eclipses of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 are still manifesting effects, if traditional Eclipse lore is to be believed. Those which are still active fell at 30 Aries, 11 Taurus, 20 Gemini, 1 and 11 Cancer, 22 Libra, 2 Scorpio, 13 and 24 Sagittarius, and 5 Capricorn. All of us have had various parts of our inner and outer lives “recycled” during these past few years.
We’re still experiencing effects from all Solar Eclipses since 2019. You can find out more about the lengths of each of these and where they fell through the links to past Solar Eclipses at the bottom of this article.
How Do Eclipses Work?
As mentioned in the article linked above, for many centuries people freaked out about eclipses because they were believed to foretell the fall of empires, dynasties, and powerful people anywhere the Eclipse shadow fell. The doom and gloom associated with eclipses which happened centuries ago often marked major changes in governments and nations. Of course, it could also have been a situation where the changes were in motion, and the eclipse just happened to come at a “perfect time” for those changes.
No Astrological event is “bad” in and of itself. Thought some configurations might seem to portend “bad omens” for the future, we always have the power to respond as positively as we are able, generating momentum toward beneficent possibilities. No matter where an eclipse falls, we can turn it to good. It all depends on our point of view.
By looking at the aspects in eclipse charts, as well as aspects those charts make with our natal and progressed planets, we can turn negatives to positives. Because time is an unbroken continuum, we can anticipate what is ending and let it go with grace and a sense of surrendering to a greater life in the becoming. The voids arising after an eclipse opens the door to countless other opportunities.
The choices we make at crucial astrological junctures bring pleasurable or painful circumstances, depending on what we need to learn. These choices are directly related to how evolved our planetary responses are. As I explain in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend each planet has a duality of function. It is up to us to determine whether our Moon, Sun, Mercury or any other natal planet involved in eclipses, "bad" aspects, and configurations manifests productively or non-productively. That work is a guidebook for taking control of your destiny and bringing forth your most loving, wise Spiritual Self.
Key Factors in This Aries Eclipse
This Total Solar eclipse in Aries over time will help us release old ways of “doing our Being,” heal into our Higher Self, and for some, the opportunity to teach or mentor others by joining forces with them to overcome some barren or difficult season of life. This will remove some old actions so we may redirect our energies to other forms of caring. With Mercury retrograde, no doubt this eclipse will give us a view of how past losses helped us join with others, or be joined by others who cared for us. It will give a “back to the future” feel to this eclipse.
Mars rules the eclipse, and makes only favorable aspects to the other planets, with a spotlight on its conjunction with Saturn. Other forming aspects of note include the eclipse conjunct Chiron and Mercury retrograde, Venus semisquare Jupiter and Uranus, Jupiter conjunct Uranus, with both of them septile Neptune and tredecile Pluto.
There are other important factors we’ll discuss in future articles. Expect eclipse effects to activate when Mercury retrogrades over the eclipse degree on April 13/14, followed by Venus on April 20/21, and then Mercury again when direct on May 3-5.
Different eclipses have different timing. Some things are removed quickly, others are removed gradually over time. Some eclipses are VERY beneficial because they bring an end to something we really don’t need to be involved with, and leave a void we can fill appropriately, according to our evolved awareness and intention. As I just offered, we can see favorable ways to use eclipse energies by noting the aspects in eclipse charts as they impact our natal and progressed planets.
Different Times Bring Different Focus
This is the second Aries Solar eclipse, and the beginning of the run of Lunar eclipses with an Aries/Libra focus. This year’s eclipses feature a Penumbral Lunar eclipse in March at 6 Aries/Libra, a Total Solar eclipse in April at 20 Aries, a Partial Lunar Eclipse in September at 26 Virgo/Pisces, and an Annular Solar eclipse in October at 11 Libra.
Still, because eclipses are tied to the Moon’s nodes, they ultimately show us the evolutionary pull in each event. In the current Solar eclipse, the North Node is at 16 Aries, just as it was at the Lunar eclipse 2 weeks ago.
During the 2022-2023 eclipses with the nodes in Taurus/Scorpio, old attractions, aversions, stuck emotions, and old emotional ghosts were removed through the South Node, and new directions of enjoying life and feeling secure as we saw what we did and didn’t value opened wherever we have Taurus. When the Nodes have shifted into Aries/Libra, it began opening new ways of experiencing ourselves on our own terms, demonstrated by the balance and sense of proportion of the SN in Libra.
A Look Back at Recent Eclipses Still Active
The June 2020 Solstice Eclipse at 1 Cancer has led us to new needs, new relationships, and new life habits. We have found stability and security by moving in new directions beginning then, with cooperative collective pioneering group endeavors front and center. That powerful Solstice eclipse promised new life allegiances, new relationships, and new ways of living our daily existence, letting go of attachments to people and things. It favored those who cultivated spiritual intuition through a social rebirth, with new standards and new truths.
The December 2020 Solar Eclipse has helped us see our good fortune from a wider angle, and has given us the power to “read the tea leaves,” seeing deeper and wider truths of people and situations. This has led to forms of “executive power,” setting patterns of social power into motion which have led to greater building endeavors.
The June 2021 eclipse at 20 Gemini brought unique and serendipitous returns, as well as signs and signals of a future still in the making. We’ve seen “the indestructible elements of our spiritual nature” as we’ve mobilized and shared information during a time of being “large diamonds in the cutting process” learning to manifest our Higher Self.
The December 2021 eclipse at 13 Sagittarius has given us glimpses of the future, more enjoyable roles to play, the stirring up of new loves, and rewards for doing what we had to do. This eclipse will ultimately yield us all a transfigured life after a time of purification.
The April 2022 eclipse at 11 Taurus put the focus on our “Garden of Life,” and what needed tending or clearing out because it was cluttering our garden or more trouble than it was worth to maintain those things which were not healthy. This is shutting down parts of our Taurus sector so the void may attract more productive “crops” in the future.
The October 2022 eclipse at 2 Scorpio has helped us release some very powerful memories from the past and open to deeper relationships with people in our lives. We’re all letting go of stuck feelings and finding new ways of enjoying life. This one shut down parts of our Scorpio sector which we no longer need in our magnetic field.
The April 2023 eclipse at 30 Aries has helped us release our old focused area of activity, bringing new freedom, new focus, and a new field of activity where we can happily focus our potential. We now have begun to turn a huge corner, and the losses accompanying this eclipse will bring us to a form of “philosophical completion” as well as a sense of what needs preserving because it is meaningful to us.
The October 2023 eclipse at 22 Libra has cleared away much that would hinder our ability to show care to others who thirst for what we have. This has shut down many old relationships and ideals in the house where we have late Libra.
See you soon with more on this 2024 Total Solar eclipse in Aries!
If you want my take on how much is fate and how much is free will when it comes to eclipse effects, please check out The Solar and Lunar Eclipse - Is Any Eclipse Destined to Have Bad Effects? (It’s part 1 of a two part series, so make sure you read part 2, as it describes how past eclipses conjunct my Sun and Ascendant were very beneficial for me!)
Past Solar Eclipses
These were all active for 2 to 5 years.
For more about the November 2011 Sagittarius 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 Gemini 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 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.)
For more about the 2013 Taurus Solar Eclipse, here’s The May 2013 Solar Eclipse in Taurus Pt. 3 – How Will This Lunation Affect Us? (As with the previous links, follow the internal links in this one to the previous articles about this Eclipse)
For more about the 2013 Scorpio Solar Eclipse, here’s A Hybrid Solar Eclipse New Moon in Scorpio Pt. 2 – What’s Happening in November 2013 as well as 2014-2015-2016. (link to pt. 1 at the bottom of that article. Pt. 3 has the Sabian Symbols.)
For more about the 2014 Taurus Solar Eclipse, here's The New Moon Solar Eclipse in Taurus Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in May 2014 (Part 3 elaborates on the Sabian Symbols and other factors.)
For more about the October 2014 Scorpio Solar Eclipse, here's The October 2014 Solar Eclipse in Scorpio Pt. 3 – Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It all Means (Links to other articles on the Eclipse at the bottom of this post.).
For more about the March 2015 Total Solar Eclipse at 30 Pisces, here’s The Total Solar Eclipse at 30 Pisces Pt. 3 (You can follow the internal links in this article to the previous articles about this specific Eclipse.)
For more about the September 2015 Partial Solar Eclipse at 21 Virgo, here’s The Partial Solar Eclipse at 21 Virgo Pt. 3 (though there are no links to previous articles in that Eclipse series, you can find them in the articles posted in the week before this link).
For more about the March 2016 Total Solar Eclipse at 19 Pisces, here’s The Total Solar Eclipse at 19 Pisces Pt. 2 (though there are no links to any other articles in that series, you can find them just before and just after this one.)
This ended June 2022
For more about the September 2016 Annular Solar Eclipse at 10 Virgo, here’s The Annular Solar Eclipse at 10 Virgo Pt. 2 (though there are links to previous articles in that series, you will have to go to part 3 to find the Sabian symbols, Jones pattern, aspects and more.)
This ended July 2022
For more about the February 2017 Annular Solar Eclipse at 9 Pisces, here’s The Annular Solar Eclipse on February 26, 2017 at 9 Pisces Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in February-March 2017 (and through 2022!) (You’ll have to go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
This lasted through November 2022, the last national election.
This eclipse has brought America to its knees! This Eclipse penumbral phase was 5 hours and 18 minutes, showing those effects are in play for 5 years and 3.5 months. The umbral phase, which is the most intense part, lasted 3 hours and 14 minutes, showing that would be in play for 3 years and 3 months. So the eclipse effects began August 21 and entered the umbral phase an hour and 12 into it. That means the most intense part of the eclipse effects began November 2018 and lasted through February 2022. Looking back, it’s clear to see America had a meltdown between November 2018 and now, with maximum intensity in 2019-2020-2021! It’s safe to say America has been “eclipsed” between August 2017 and now.
For more about the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse at 29 Leo, here’s The Total Solar Eclipse of August 2017 at 29 Leo Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in August-September 2017 (and through 2022!) (You’ll have to go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
This was active through December 2021
For more about the February 2018 Partial Solar Eclipse at 28 Aquarius, here’s The Partial Solar Eclipse of February 2018 at 28 Aquarius Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in February-March 2018 (and through 2022!) (You’ll have to go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
This was active through December 2020
For more about the July 2018 Partial Solar Eclipse at 21 Cancer, here’s The Partial Solar Eclipse of July 2018 at 21 Cancer Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in July-August 2018 (and through 2020!) (Again, go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
This was active through February 2022
For more about the August 2018 Partial Solar Eclipse at 19 Leo, here’s The Partial Solar Eclipse of August 2018 at 19 Leo Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in August-September 2018 (and through February 2022!) (Parts 1 and 3 have Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
This was active through April 2023.
For more about the January 2019 Partial Solar Eclipse at 16 Capricorn, here’s The Partial Solar Eclipse of January 2019 at 16 Capricorn Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in January 2019 (and into 2023!) (Parts 1 and 3 have Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
These are still active at this time.
This is active through June 2024.
For more about the July 2019 Total Solar Eclipse at 11 Cancer, here’s The Total Solar Eclipse of July 2019 at 11 Cancer Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in July 2019 (and through Spring 2024!) (Parts 1 and 3 have Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
This is active through July 2024.
For more about the December 2019 Annular Solar Eclipse at 5 Capricorn, here’s The Annular Solar Eclipse of December 2019 at 5 Capricorn Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in January 2020 (and through 2025!) (Parts 1 and 3 have Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
These will be in effect through 2026 and beyond.
For more about the July 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse at 1 Cancer, here’s The Solstice New Moon Solar Eclipse of June 2020 at 1 Cancer Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in June-July (and through 2025!) (Parts 1 and 3 have Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities). [These effects last through April 2026.]
For more about the December 2020 Total Solar Eclipse at 24 Sagittarius, here's The December 2020 New Moon Total Solar Eclipse at 24 Sagittarius Pt. 3 - Signs, Sabian Symbols, and What It All Means (Links to other articles in the series at the bottom of this one). [These effects last through April 2026.]
For more about the June 2021 Annular Solar Eclipse at 20 Gemini, here’s The Annular Solar Eclipse of June 2021 at 20 Gemini Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in June-July 2021 (and through 2026!) (Again, go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities). [These effects last through June 2026.]
For more about the December 2021 Total Solar Eclipse at 13 Sagittarius, here’s The Total Solar Eclipse of December 2021 at 13 Sagittarius Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in December 2021 (and through 2025!) (Again, go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities). [These effects last through January 2026.]
For more about the April 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse at 11 Taurus, here’s The April 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse at 11 Taurus Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in May (and through 2025!) (Again, go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities). [These effects last through September 2026.]
For more about the October 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse at 2 Scorpio, here’s The October 2022 Partial Solar Eclipse at 2 Scorpio Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in November (and through 2026!) (Again, go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities). [These effects last through November 2026.]
For more about the April 2023 Hybrid Solar Eclipse at 30 Aries, here’s The April 2023 Solar Eclipse at 30 Aries Pt. 2 - What’s Happening in April-May (and through 2028!) (Again, go to parts 1 and 3 to find out the Sabian Symbols, aspects, Jones pattern, and all the other details about its qualities).
In answer to questions about why I don’t include the Lunar Eclipses from years past in this section, it’s because their effects are usually only for a few months, and so they’ve completed their work long before many long lasting Solar Eclipses. If you’re interested, you will always find what I wrote a couple of weeks before or after the Solar Eclipses, depending on when the Lunar Eclipses fell in those years. They’re all in the archives.
See you soon with part 1 of the 3 part series on this Total Solar eclipse New Moon!
© Copyright 2024 Robert Wilkinson
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