
In like a lion…out like a lamb! Eclipse season is already in full swing, with a lunar (full moon) eclipse in fiery Leo that illuminated the skies on February 10, and a Pisces solar (new moon) eclipse arriving Sunday, February 26. But what do eclipses really mean? Here, we explain their powers and benefits.
A lot of fear and misunderstanding accompanies these supercharged moon moments. And indeed, they can bring curveballs or unexpected change. The full Snow Moon eclipse in dramatic Leo marked the first eclipse in a series that falls on the Leo-Aquarius axis until January 2019. Since eclipses can signify endings, it’s possible that you’ve already begun to release yourself from an outmoded situation that no longer serves you. Leo is the star sign of theatrics and passion, while Aquarius errs on the cool and collected—focusing on collaborations over individuality. Towing the line between these two opposing cosmic forces will be a challenge for all of us in for the next two years.
When the solar (new moon) eclipse in ethereal Pisces lights up the skies, we are presented with a great opportunity for healing. This is the final eclipse in a series that began March 20, 2015, and we could finally get clarity to some foggy situations that have left us befuddled for the past two years. Pisces rules the seas and this eclipse may reveal more information that’s been hidden in the fathoms below. This eclipse also marks the beginning of a fresh romantic and creative cycle that culminates with the full moon on September 6, 2017.
So ready or not…the winds of change are indeed blowing! Eclipses bring the unexpected, forcing us into action and taking us into new, unchartered terrain. Repeat after us: Change can be a good thing! Procrastination is part of the human condition. We avoid what’s painful and stay in our comfort zones. That’s why we occasionally need a little cosmic kick in the pants to push us off the fence and into action.
Eclipses are these agents of change. They fall four-to-six times a year and turn things as we know it upside-down. In this disoriented state, we may act out of character or see turbulence in the world. Eclipses can also help break patterns and shift dynamics. However, most astrologers suggest waiting a week or so before taking any drastic action, allowing the eclipse energy to settle down first.
Solar Eclipses
During Solar Eclipses the Moon is directly between the Earth and Sun (known as a conjunction between the Sun and the Moon). During this brief time the Moon can “block out” the Sun, temporarily turning off the lights, if you will. We have a finite focus as human beings, and it’s natural to concentrate on what’s in front of us. At times, this can limit our perspectives on the world, and even cause us to miss out on opportunities. Solar Eclipses might snatch away the familiar temporarily, forcing us to consider options we would never otherwise explore. Although this can cause temporary upheaval, eclipses are “cruel to be kind.” Major growth can happen during these cosmic power outages. This is when we should leap into new (and generally improved) terrain, even if we feel forced there by circumstance.
Lunar Eclipses
During a Lunar Eclipse, the Earth is exactly between the Sun and the Moon (known as an opposition between the Sun and the Moon). For a brief spell, we can see the Earth’s shadow turning the luminous Full Moon intense shades of reds, browns and grays. According to astrology, Lunar Eclipses give us a glimpse into what Carl Jung referred to as the “shadow self.” We all want to think of ourselves as good, kind people, but c’mon—we’re also human! What we discover about ourselves and others during Lunar Eclipses can be tough to swallow, even shocking. Still, this gives us the opportunity to embrace our wholeness, and see where we have room to grow in new directions. Owning the fact that we have emotions like fear, anger, jealousy and rage is the way to get a handle on them. Trying to pretend we’re Polly Pure or Sam Straightlaced? That’s when our feelings creep up and overwhelm us. If we’re willing to accept the good along with the bad, Lunar eElipses can be magical moments of discovery.
TABLE OF ECLIPSES (2013-2020)
2003 |
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Lunar | May 16 2003 | 3:40 | 24° Scorpio 53′ |
Solar | May 31 2003 | 4:07 | 09° Gemini 19′ |
Lunar | Nov 9 2003 | 1:18 | 16° Taurus 13′ |
Solar | Nov 23 2003 | 22:49 | 01° Sagittarius 14′ |
2004 |
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Solar | Apr 19 2004 | 13:33 | 29° Aries 49′ |
Lunar | May 4 2004 | 20:29 | 14° Scorpio 42′ |
Solar | Oct 14 2004 | 2:59 | 21° Libra 07′ |
Lunar | Oct 28 2004 | 3:03 | 05° Taurus 02′ |
2005 |
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Solar | Apr 8 2005 | 20:36 | 19° Aries 06′ |
Lunar | Apr 24 2005 | 9:55 | 04° Scorpio 19′ |
Solar | Oct 3 2005 | 10:31 | 10° Libra 19′ |
Lunar | Oct 17 2005 | 12:02 | 24° Aries 13′ |
2006 |
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Lunar | Mar 14 2006 | 23:47 | 24° Virgo 15′ |
Solar | Mar 29 2006 | 10:10 | 08° Aries 35′ |
Lunar | Sep 7 2006 | 18:50 | 15° Pisces 01′ |
Solar | Sep 22 2006 | 11:39 | 29° Virgo 20′ |
2007 |
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Lunar | Mar 3 2007 | 23:20 | 13° Virgo 00′ |
Solar | Mar 19 2007 | 2:32 | 28° Pisces 07′ |
Lunar | Aug 28 2007 | 10:37 | 04° Pisces 46′ |
Solar | Sep 11 2007 | 12:31 | 18° Virgo 24′ |
2008 |
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Solar | Feb 7 2008 | 3:55 | 17° Aquarius 44′ |
Lunar | Feb 21 2008 | 3:25 | 01° Virgo 52′ |
Solar | Aug 1 2008 | 10:20 | 09° Leo 32′ |
Lunar | Aug 16 2008 | 21:10 | 24° Aquarius 21′ |
2009 |
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Solar | Jan 26 2009 | 7:59 | 06° Aquarius 30′ |
Lunar | Feb 9 2009 | 14:37 | 20° Leo 59′ |
Lunar | Jul 7 2009 | 9:38 | 15° Capricorn 25′ |
Solar | Jul 22 2009 | 2:35 | 29° Cancer 27′ |
Lunar | Aug 6 2009 | 0:39 | 13° Aquarius 43′ |
Lunar | Dec 31 2009 | 19:21 | 10° Cancer 15′ |
2010 |
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Solar | Jan 15 2010 | 7:06 | 25° Capricorn 01′ |
Lunar | Jun 26 2010 | 11:37 | 04° Capricorn 46′ |
Solar | Jul 11 2010 | 19:33 | 19° Cancer 24′ |
Lunar | Dec 21 2010 | 8:16 | 29° Gemini 21′ |
20011 |
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Solar | Jan 4 2011 | 8:49 | 13° Capricorn 38′ |
Solar | Jun 1 2011 | 21:15 | 11° Gemini 02′ |
Lunar | Jun 15 2011 | 20:11 | 24° Sagittarius 23′ |
Solar | Jul 1 2011 | 8:38 | 09° Cancer 12′ |
Solar | Nov 25 2011 | 6:20 | 02° Sagittarius 37′ |
Lunar | Dec 10 2011 | 14:31 | 18° Gemini 11′ |
2012 |
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Solar | May 20 2012 | 23:52 | 00° Gemini 21′ |
Lunar | Jun 4 2012 | 11:03 | 14° Sagittarius 14′ |
Solar | Nov 13 2012 | 22:12 | 21° Scorpio 57′ |
Lunar | Nov 28 2012 | 14:33 | 06° Gemini 46′ |
2013 |
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Lunar | Apr 25 2013 | 20:06 | 05° Scorpio 46′ |
Solar | May 10 2013 | 0:24 | 19° Taurus 31′ |
Lunar | May 25 2013 | 4:09 | 04° Sagittarius 07′ |
Lunar | Oct 18 2013 | 23:49 | 25° Aries 46′ |
Solar | Nov 3 2013 | 12:46 | 11° Scorpio 16′ |
2014 |
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Lunar | Apr 15 2014 | 7:45 | 25° Libra 16′ |
Solar | Apr 29 2014 | 6:02 | 08° Taurus 51′ |
Lunar | Oct 8 2014 | 10:53 | 15° Aries 05′ |
Solar | Oct 23 2014 | 21:44 | 00° Scorpio 25′ |
2015 |
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Solar | Mar 20 2015 | 9:36 am | 29° Pisces 27′ |
Lunar | Apr 4 2015 | 12:00 | 14° Libra 24′ |
Solar | Sep 13 2015 | 6:41 am | 20° Virgo 10′ |
Lunar | Sep 28 2015 | 2:47 | 04° Aries 40′ |
2016 |
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Solar | Mar 9 2016 | 1:54 am | 18° Pisces 56′ |
Lunar | Mar 23 2016 | 12:01 pm | 3° Libra 17′ |
Solar | Sep 1 2016 | 9:03 am | 9° Virgo 21′ |
Lunar | Sep 16 2016 | 7:05 pm | 24° Pisces 20′ |
2017 |
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Lunar | Feb 11 2017 | 12:33 am | 22° Leo 28′ |
Solar | Feb 26 2017 | 2:58 pm | 8° Pisces 12′ |
Lunar | Aug 7 2017 | 6:11 pm | 15° Aquarius 25′ |
Solar | Aug 21 2017 | 6:30 pm | 28° Leo 53′ |
2018 |
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Lunar | Jan 31 2018 | 1:27 pm | 11° Leo 37′ |
Solar | Feb 15 2018 | 9:05 pm | 27° Aquarius 08′ |
Solar | Jul 13 2018 | 2:48 am | 20° Cancer 41′ |
Lunar | Jul 27 2018 | 8:20 pm | 04° Aquarius 45′ |
Solar | Aug 11 2018 | 9:58 am | 18° Leo 42′ |
2019 |
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Solar | Jan 6 2019 | 1:28 am | 15° Capricorn 25′ |
Lunar | Jan 21 2019 | 5:16 am | 0° Leo 52′ |
Solar | Jul 02 2019 | 7:16 pm | 10° Cancer 37′ |
Lunar | Jul 16 2019 | 9:38 pm | 24° Capricorn 04′ |
Solar | Dec 26 2019 | 5:13 am | 4° Capricorn 07′ |
2020 |
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Lunar | Jan 10 2020 | 7:21 pm | 20° Cancer 00′ |
Lunar | Jun 5 2020 | 7:12 pm | 15° Sagittarius 34′ |
Solar | Jun 21 2020 | 6:41 am | 0° Cancer 21′ |
Lunar | Jul 5 2020 | 4:44 am | 13° Capricorn 38′ |
Lunar | Nov 30 2020 | 9:30 am | 8° Gemini 38′ |
Solar | Dec 14 2020 | 4:16 pm | 23° Sagittarius 08′ |
Image via Tumblr. Eclipse tables from Skyscript.co.uk