The Eclipses of October & November 2013

The General and Specific Interpretation of Eclipses

Each year has from 3-7 eclipses. They appear in patterns of Solar and Lunar eclipses being two weeks apart, corresponding to the new and full moons.

Astrologers have many different ways of interpreting eclipse influences in the charts of individuals. However on a societal level, eclipses usually are straightforward, and indicate some big event. In ancient times, the visible solar eclipse meant “the fall (death) of the king.” It heralded a time of instability.

Generally, today, the succession of solar/lunar eclipses in two week increments is called “eclipse season.” We are currently experiencing an eclipse season from Oct 18 to Nov 3 of 2013. Thus, the period is one of instability—particularly if these eclipses hit personal planets or points in your horoscope. (This year this is accentuated due to Mercury’s retrograde period from Oct 21 to Nov 10!)

Let’s start with looking at the Houses in a horoscope hit by the eclipses. Since the Lunar Eclipse is an opposition, it will activate opposing houses in your chart. Briefly, if it is 1/7, then issues of personal autonomy and relationships are up for examination and change. If it is 2/8, issues of money, values, and possible inheritances are on plate. If it is 3/9, the issues have to do with travel, education, relatives, and philosophy. If it is 4/10 then the issues are about home and career. For 5/11, it is children, friends, creativity and associations. Finally for 6/12, it is issues of personal hygiene and physical and mental health, possibly issues of spirituality or, if you take the low side, incarceration.

The Solar Eclipse, being a new moon, will only activate one house. Usually this is the one of the two houses activated by the accompanying lunar eclipse(s).

If the eclipse is not hitting a natal point or personal planet (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) within a 3° conjunction, this is usually just a matter of activating a house of your horoscope. Some astrologers will consider a wider orb of conjunction, or will consider a square or opposition. You can watch the eclipses in your chart and let me know what you think!

The most powerful effect is the aforementioned conjunction to a personal planet or point of your horoscope. When that is the case, major life changes usually are coming. The changes have to do with the nature of the planet or point being activated. For example the Nov 3 Solar Eclipse is at 11+° of Scorpio. If your Sun is there this could indicate a matter of your ego, your male relative (especially for women), your creativity… If your Moon is at 11° Scorpio, this could indicate your emotions, your female relatives… And so forth. If it is your Ascendant, it has to do with your body, appearance, or role. These changes are positive or negative, sometimes both. Say you opted for cosmetic surgery as the eclipse was activating your Ascendant, this could give you some discomfort for a while, but likely will improve your appearance, a positive.

It’s useful to consider the time period the eclipse will deliver results. For solar eclipses, think of one month before the eclipse until five months after, unless another solar eclipse occurs earlier. Thus, for the Nov 3 eclipse this year, the period of activation is from about October 3, 2013, until April 3, 2014. Lunar eclipses are considered less important, less powerful, and less enduring in their effects. However, lunar eclipses, by their nature, indicate something being revealed, brought to light. So they can have strong effects in matters of secrets and scandals.

Other ways to look at eclipses include looking at the aspects within the eclipse chart itself. For the Nov 2013 solar eclipse, the most important aspect is the conjunction of Sun/Moon to Saturn. Saturn is the planet of boundaries and limitations. It’s known as the greater malefic. It’s the planet of reality and sometimes bad news. Thus this eclipse is more likely than most to indicate major problems for those whose charts are hit.
Eclipses can be looked at as to which Saros Series they belong. This information is available from astrologer Bernadette Brady, online and in her books. This solar eclipse is part of the Saros Series 16 North, which started on Feb 15, 1599, and is described by Brady as “a gentle family of eclipses which brings a sense of inspiration or illumination of ideas.” This sounds like good news for November 2013.

Another approach to eclipses is to examine the degree symbols, the most well-known being the Sabian Symbols. The most important symbols would be those occupied by the luminaries. But you may also want to look more deeply at various degree symbols for the horoscope of the eclipse. My personal favorite degree symbolist is Lynda Hill of Australia, who has books and blogs and a facebook presence for those who want to investigate further. Her discussion of 12° Scorpio (you round the degree up in her system) is, “‘A Brilliant Assembly of Dignitaries’ is shown at an ‘Official Embassy Ball’. Everyone is expected to be dressed-up, have good manners and follow certain established codes of behavior. As it is a ‘Brilliant Assembly of Dignitaries’, we can be sure that some of the people have worked long and hard at getting themselves into a position of power and prestige. They must really be “someone” in order to be invited. If they weren’t special in some way – powerful, political, influential or somehow well connected, they probably wouldn’t be at the ‘Ball’.” This is especially interesting considering the startling news at the UN this week. Saudi Arabia was elected to the Security Council and declined. I don’t think this has ever happened in the history of the UN. But it sure ties in with the Embassy Ball theme of this eclipse.
You can look at eclipses as they conjunct the Fixed Stars. There are two fixed stars near this eclipse, Acrux and ALPHECCA (sometimes written Elpheia). Alphecca is said to have the nature of Venus and Mercury, another indication of the benign nature of this particular eclipse.
Finally, you can always go back 19 years, to when there were last eclipses at or near these degrees. What were you doing in October and November of 1994? Are you facing similar issues now? How can you better respond to what life asks of you?
May you always find the courage and strength to take the higher road.
Lalia Wilson