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

A Change of Luck

On June 25th, 2013, Jupiter changes signs at 9:40 PM EDT.  Jupiter is the planet of Luck.  For the last year Jupiter has been going through the sign Gemini, but now it moves into the sign Cancer, the sign of Jupiter's exaltation.  (An exaltation means the planet is especially capable/blessed/well-functioning in that sign; for example the Sun is exalted in the sign Aries.)

When Jupiter changes signs, "Luck" changes.  If the Gemini transit was doing good things for you, then life will seem to turn less wonderful.  One example of the heights to which one can soar with Jupiter is whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Snowden recently made international news headlines by breaking the story of some US national secrets.  Snowden was employed by a contractor to the National Security Agency and through his work as a computer specialist he became informed about many NSA programs.  For reasons he sees as conscience, he decided to leave the US and reveal these secrets to the world.  But this story intersects the story of Jupiter transiting in late Gemini and this story will change when Jupiter enters Cancer!

Let's look at Snowden's natal chart.  He was born in North Carolina, and his birth time, date and place are from his birth certificate: 21 June 1983, 4:42 AM EDT, Elizabeth City, NC.

Notice that Snowden has Mercury, his chart ruler, Ascendant, Mars, North Node and Sun all in Gemini.  Not only that, but Mars, Node and Sun are at the last degrees of Gemini!  Mars, Node and Sun closely trine a Pluto-Saturn conjunction in Libra and form a Grand Air Trine with Ceres in Aquarius.  Neptune, the planet of deception, makes this a Kite-Grand Air Trine.  Neptune opposes the Mars-Node-Sun Gemini planets, puncturing Snowden's balloon. (This could indicate a reporter or significant contact making promises that did not come true.)  But let's dig deeper before putting this story together.  Mercury, the chart ruler, is perfectly trine Lilith in Aquarius; Lilith is in the sign of public service, Aquarius, and is in the 9th House of foreign countries.  (Snowden sees foreign countries, 9th House, as platforms for him to declare his autonomy and freedom from the oppression he saw in the US NSA establishment.)

One other note about Gemini, Snowden's rising sign, it is the sign of youth.  People with Gemini rising usually peak early in life, before age 30.  If they do right in life, Gemini rising gives them a youthful charm and appearance all their lives.  But Gemini is also prone to lack of moral understanding, its opposite sign, Sagittarius, is the sign of ethics. 

Snowden certainly peaked early.  He left high school, then left a community college program to get his high school diploma, finally testing to get his GED.  It is unclear if he completed any further degrees, but at one point he was enrolled in an on-line Masters degree program.  Snowden bragged that he was making $200,000 a year, and took a pay cut to $130,000 when he went to work as a sub-contractor for NSA.  All this before he turned 30 a few days ago.  Yes, that is peaking early.

But let's talk about Jupiter.  For the last year Jupiter has been transiting Gemini.  In January 2013, when Snowden first contacted a documentary filmmaker regarding a NSA leak, Jupiter was stationary, about to turn direct, at 6-7° Gemini.  This is in Snowden's natal 12th House and closely opposed to Snowden's natal Uranus, the planet of rebellion.  It is also more widely opposed to Snowden's natal Jupiter, and widely conjunct Snowden's Mercury and Ascendant.  So, his mood was one of little patience or tolerance.  He wanted changes and he wanted them to happen right away!

Snowden contacted the press in May, May 16th, when Jupiter was at 20° Gemini.  Then in quick order, Snowden flew to Hong Kong (5/20), the first leak was reported (6/5), and Snowden's identity was revealed on 6/9.  Today, 6/23, Snowden flew to Moscow.  Jupiter is at 29+° Gemini.

Jupiter enlarges things.  In Gemini, Jupiter enlarges ideas.  Snowden thought he was the smartest guy on the scene.  He was "sure of himself," a handy phrase that usually means too much Jupiter is happening. He was "sure he was right," another sign of Jupiter overload.  But Gemini is the sign least able to make moral distinctions.  Snowden is about to find out that the world is more complex than he thought and that his views are not as informed as he thought.  This will happen very soon.  Jupiter enters the sign of Cancer: home, hearth, family and the United States, Tuesday evening, 6/25, EDT. 

Snowden's luck will change. 

Everyone's luck will change.  May Jupiter in Cancer bring you blessings!

Lalia