Think of an eclipse as a specific energy matrix that comes along and, no matter what else is happening in your chart at the moment, POW! this energy pattern is superimposed like a lightning strike. Unless the aspects to the natal chart are very close (one degree or less) we will mainly be dealing with the specific configuration of the eclipse itself, through the Houses of the natal chart it occupies. The first eclipse in February is an annular Solar one that occurs at 7:56 PM PST on the 6th, approximately 10 minutes after the New Moon at 17 Aquarius 44 (I’m using Michelson’s Ephemeris for the 21st Century, midnight). This, along with Mercury and Chiron, forms an opposition to the apex of a Finger of God formed by a sextile between Venus and Uranus and their respective quincunxes to the Earth. The eclipse, along with Merc and Chiron, sits opposed the Earth and at the midpoint of Uranus/ Venus, making an exciting configuration that will charge the months until the next eclipse set with sudden developments in communications, values, one’s unique skill sets, asset earning and management, relationships, and each person’s conception of their own Self-empowerment; this latter is seated in the sextile Juno makes to the eclipse pair, and the corresponding trine she makes to Earth, suggesting that Self-empowerment will definitely have material benefits, and that our ability to adjust (the quincunx) will be vital to material progress. As well, groups to which we belong, and putting our own innovative ideas forward, can play a major part in our success. This is an unusual eclipse pattern and bodes atypically well for the productive channeling of the eclipse energy. On the larger scene, we should see an ultra-lively and even surprising US presidential campaign period, and we may observe (and be effected by) a re-shuffling of resources; we are likely to see them dedicated more and more, individually and collectively, to realizing unique goals and dreams, to supporting the overall good, and to fulfilling the individual life to the fullest. I can’t overemphasize how important it is to find this month’s eclipse points in your own chart; armed with this info you will know exactly to what subjects your personal rocket boosters will be attached.The second part of the eclipse set occurs February 20th, with the Full Moon at 7:32, but the eclipse beginning at 7:27 PM PST, with the Sun at 1 Pisces 53 and the Moon at the corresponding degree of Virgo. Always, a lunar eclipse places the Moon conjunct the Earth; this one also has Vesta conjunct the Sun, and Pluto sextile the Sun and trine the Moon and Earth. Again, we see vitalization of the involved energies through the next eclipse set in August. Here the sacred, including home and our most intimate relationships, as manifested through our Soul Purpose, come up against the interplay of emotions and the effect of the material, and both sides of the equation are transformed. We may face disparities between, for instance, our Soul urge to create a home as it vies with our emotional urge to be (temporarily) a vagabond, exploring the world and its possibilities. No matter the form it takes, the differences inherent to each of these will surface and demand sorting out. We may, in fact, spend a great deal of the time until the next eclipse set assessing what is truly sacred to us, what we actually need in our lives to actualize our Soul’s intent, and trying to reach emotional harmony in terms of what surrounds us materially–a kind of Soul-oriented housecleaning that will leave us (despite any upset) the better for it. If either eclipse makes close, hard contact to a natal planet or point, take extra care in meditating on what this might bring for you–we don’t want to miss the energy wave we can ride in our destined direction, even as we must proceed with caution in terms of what changes we may institute–any we do choose can be not just long lasting, but irrevocable, so choices should be examined to the point of tedium before we commit.An eclipse to a natal body doesn’t seem to energize/ set into motion the natal planet and its aspects in their natal manifestations, as we might normally expect. Instead it seems to bring to life Archetypal and/ or Mythological energies of the body in question; it’s like the legends and stories for which the entity is known or named come to life in some form. This seems to be true for all the planets and for the commonly watched asteroids (Chiron, Pallas, Vesta, Juno), but I think the jury’s still out on points in the chart (the Nodes, the Midheaven, the Ascendant, the Part of Fortune, and so on), as they don’t seem to be responsive to the ‘lighting up’ to which the planets and asteroids are sensitive.
Keep a very tight orb when looking for eclipse effects; I use an unvarying 1 degree maximum either side of the eclipse degree and minute in determining aspects to natal placements, with these important exceptions: contact to the Ascendant, Sun, Moon, or chart ruler, to which I allow a 2 degree orb. A few observed effects from previous eclipses: with the natal Moon an eclipse ushers in a period of extreme sensitivity, and sometimes confusion and mystery–it seems as if ‘the details’ are just unobtainable, or that they are as changeable as the Moon itself; to the natal Sun, look for major change in how others perceive you, and/ or in how you perceive yourself–there might also be a surge in personal confidence, a kind of ‘Apollo Effect,’ and a possible protective effect in situations where you might otherwise expect physical injury or in changes to the body or life situation that normally would strike at the Self-concept. When an eclipse hits Mercury the Trickster may rear its head in all manner of chaos or disguises–brace for disruption and, with openness to input, illumination; Venus conveys an aura of protection, a certain grace to move through difficulties–watch closely how the values and what you ‘love’ changes between the hit by the eclipse and the next eclipse set–and sometimes a ‘Midas Touch,’ while Mars seems to trigger situations that, while not exactly negative, require the mustering of the Self-defense mechanisms and the pushing forward of the Will, generally for positive results. Jupiter seems to bring opportunity, though this can have positive or negative consequences, depending on the personal capacity for Self-discipline and the ability to discern true possibilities from hype; the sudden ‘opening up’ of one’s world or opportunities can be enlivening or threatening, and can send the life careening off its previous course. With Saturn one may face the usual unexplained restriction to efforts, and the slowing down of that which seemed to be proceeding well, even a sudden graying of the hair, a clear manifestation of Saturn as time’s representative; I’m waiting to hear of a more uplifting result from Saturn contact, perhaps in the form of manifestation of a long-held and worked for goal. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto all seem to bring varying degrees of upset, uncertainty, and upheaval to associated circumstances, particularly to the house where the natal planet is posited, or to affairs of the planet it rules. I can only guess that this is generally disruptive simply because so few of us have a solid, conscious handle on the majority of these heavier energies, though Neptune can usher in, until the next eclipse set, a period of extraordinary creativity for those so inclined, Uranus can bring enhanced capacities to the functioning of the Higher Mind, and Pluto can signal a re-birth, phoenix-like, from the ashes. With Chiron, a period of personal crisis centered on the wound, or on manifesting the gift is pomised–a life changing choice may be presented between contact and the next eclipse set. With Vesta, crisis in sexuality or in commitment of some kind (such as to the family, within a sexual relationship, or to a particular domestic role), also usually forcing a choice, while with Pallas the effects I’ve seen have been relatively mild and similar to the calling forth of strength that we observe with Mars activation. Ceres often requires a ‘letting go,’ and possibly an appropriate period of mourning after, while Juno may bring crisis in marriage or with the mate, centered on fidelity and/ or the sharing of power within the relationship, or Juno configured with an eclipse can bring tremendous Self-empowerment. To the Ascendant or Midheaven: unavoidable change change change!
