Windows of Time: The August 2008 Eclipses
New Beginnings and Cycles of Completion
Jul 28, 2008 Valorie Sands-Budelis
In ancient times eclipses were met with fear. The sky darkened, animals retreated, birds slept instead of singing. Today we know that solar eclipses, which happen at the time of the new moon, usher in new beginnings. Lunar eclipses occur when the moon is full and cycles are reaching fruition.
In her book Predictive Astrology, The Eagle and The Lark, Bernadette Brady illuminates the messages of change that eclipses are likely to bring by explaining that individual eclipses belong to different 'families', known as Saros Series. “Each Saros Series is a tree in the forest, and each individual eclipse is a leaf from a particular tree.” For example, the upcoming solar eclipse of August 1, which occurs at 9 degrees Leo, belongs to a Saros Series 10 South, which is said to “concern itself with breaking out of very negative situation where no hope can be seen to a more positive space concerning many options.”
Eclipses affect people and places whose astrological charts include planets close to the degree of the eclipse, known as its 'orb.' The general rule is that those with planets within a 5 degree orb will be affected, others may not notice anything, or just be slightly fatigued on the day of the eclipse.
Since an entire generation of baby boomers has Pluto in Leo (1939 – 1952) and 'younger siblings' with Uranus in Leo (1955 – 1962), the August eclipse activates the evolutionary and transformative impulses of Pluto in millions of people in different areas of their life, according to where in their charts the eclipse falls. Leo rules all things associated with the heart, and reminds us to live authentically, with the courage it takes to listen to its whispers.
When you don't follow your nature, there is a hole in the Universe where you used to live,” said Dane Rudhyar, astrologer and author.
Lunar Eclipse of August 16
While solar eclipses generally affect ego-related issues and male energies, including fathers, bosses, rulers, etc., they frequently have external manifestations that are associated with 'new beginnings' (often accompanied by uncomfortable change) -- lunar eclipses occur at a full moon and bring the energy of completion, fruition, and of periods of growth coming to the end. Sometimes these impulses are felt more subtly as internalized emotions, when perceptions or attitudes change in light of new information being revealed about a particular situation. The end of a cycle or period of growth can, of course, also bring change, as when a child goes off to school or moves away from home.
Neptune Conjunct the Full Moon
Lunar eclipses are associated with feminine energies; the goddess, the woman – the energies that nurture us. During this eclipse the moon is in Aquarius, conjunct Neptune. So although it carries the cool, detached emotional energy of Aquarius, it also transmits the spiritual energies of Neptune. At this time, our intuition will be amplified and we can make best use of the 'window of opportunity' this eclipse presents by consciously engaging our 'soft' side through meditating, expressing ourselves artistically through mediums like photography, or just being in nature. The negative effects of Neptune can best be avoided by listening to her request to open to things that take us “beyond ourselves.”
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