The Lunar Eclipse is at 20.13 BST, 15 degrees 33′ Sagittarius.
This is the first in a trio of eclipses, it is followed by a Solar Eclipse on June 21st at 0 degrees Cancer then another Lunar Eclipse on July 5th at 14 degrees Capricorn.
Not only are we in eclipse season, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto are retrograde, Mercury joins them on June 18th and Neptune on June 23rd. A grand total of six planets will be retrograde until Venus stations direct on June 25th. Illuminating that a huge amount of energy will be drawn towards re-viewing, re-evaluating, letting go of or transforming whatever is necessary.
The chart features an intense, feisty T-Square, with the Moon opposite the Sun and Venus, all square Mars in Pisces – love and hate, peace and war – anger and conflicts, tensions that have simmered a long, long time are flaring up, an urge to fight about or defend (Mars) anything we are passionate about (Venus).
Looking ahead to this eclipse, in my post about Venus retrograde, I wrote “A tense, potentially angry eclipse that places focus on the energies of Gemini and Sagittarius where the Nodes of the Moon are now placed. Collectively – this could see leaders being questioned over their policies and intentions, a general lack of faith in the direction we are going, as our individual values, perspectives and motivations adapt and adjust to recent events and commence evaluating information from this vantage point.”
The Nodes of the Moon in the Gemini/Sagittarius axis highlights information, knowledge and communication. The North Node in Gemini directs us to be curious, explore all the nooks and crannies, seek our own verification of details that are presented as facts, find our own truth, talk to others, share our perspectives and experiences. Our view of the world at large, the global picture, what is truly meaningful in life is likely to adjust as we discover a clearer vision of the present – and the past – and utilise the wisdom that is revealed by the South Node in Sagittarius.
Chart
The Great Attractor
The Lunar Eclipse is also conjunct the Great Attractor located at 14 degrees 15′ Sagittarius. The Great Attractor is defined as a gravitational anomaly in intergalactic space, it’s a mysterious place in the sky hidden on the other side of the Milky Way that attracts us and everything close to us towards it.
Philip Sedgewick the first to write about the astrology of the Great Attractor says:
“It seems to possess this energy – it’s mysterious, it’s captivating, it might even be a direct personification of the Creator! Regardless it knows something you have to know.” ~ philipsedgewick.com
Eclipses occur when the Sun and Moon align with the Nodes of the Moon, but it is not only the Moon that has Nodes – so do the planets. Along with the Great Attractor, the heliocentric South Nodes of Venus and Uranus are also located here – Venus at 16 45′ Sagittarius and Uranus at 14 03′ Sagittarius – enhancing the idea that insight into what is genuinely valuable in life is easily accessible here.
Mercury Sextile Uranus
Adding to the theme of knowledge and insight, Mercury is also sextile Uranus at the time of the eclipse. Eclipses create shadows, conceal things – we don’t know the full story yet, but with Mercury sextile Uranus, and out-of-bounds until June 13th, we can expect a flow of information, a secret revealed or something previously unthought of. We need to be discerning about this information, Mercury is retrograde from June 18th – July 12th, 14 – 5 degrees Cancer, and is in the pre-retrograde shadow zone, so a re-think or re-evaluation is possible.
Mars Conjunct Neptune
Mars is conjunct Neptune at the eclipse, which could also show up as confusion, uncertainty, helplessness, as well as distorted and deceptive storylines in the mainstream media. But .. equally Mars here can be the spiritual warrior – intuitive and instinctive – inspired and guided to take action towards a more compassionate, beneficial vision of the future. The Mars-Neptune conjunction becomes exact on June 13th, and on a note of caution, may well reveal something further around the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mars/Neptune Biological Correspondences from COSI ~ “Susceptibility to epidemic infections, consequences or results of an infection.” ~ The Combination of Stellar Influences, Reinhold Ebertin, page 210
The eclipse correlates with a time when anger, fear and confusion are elevated, and without a doubt, navigating through all this heady energy may be tough. With Mars at the focus of this eclipse, we need to try and be aware of our energy and how we are utilising it, find positive ways to release any tension, frustration, volatility or aggression. Be mindful that we are all experiencing this influence, and ideally we need to find a way forwards that heals, rather than inflames wounds. Analysing our own motivations, actions and feelings can also help to bring insight and understanding into those of others.
Fixed Stars ~ Ras Algethi & Sarin
Ras Algethi & Sarin ~ are located in the Constellation Hercules, currently at 16 25′ & 15 01′ Sagittarius.
Constellation Hercules ~ “was put in the heavens as a reminder of the labours of Hercules. According to another account, however, during the war between the Gods and Titans the former all ran to one side of heavens, which would have fallen had not Atlas and Hercules supported it, and the latter was placed in the sky in commemoration of this service.” ~ Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E Robson
Ras Algethi ~ “possesses a character of Mars-Venus with a slight blend of Mercury. If in good aspect, it is supposed to give much enjoyment and favours from women. However, if unconnected with helpful planets, it is said to cause much irritation, especially in connection with the female sex. But, by its very Mars Nature, Ras Algethi corresponds to boldness and a drive to gain power.” ~ Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin
Sarin ~ “In Mundane Astrology the star names can also be significant. On March 20, 1995 there was a Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, killing at least a dozen people, severely injuring fifty and causing temporary vision problems for nearly a thousand others. Transiting Jupiter was conjunct this fixed star Sarin.” ~ constellation of words.com
TAROT ~ 9 of WANDS
The Lunar Eclipse takes place in the 2nd decan of Sagittarius ruled by the Moon (Mars by Triplicity).
SAGITTARIUS DECAN II ~ “a man leading cows and in front of him he has an ape and a bear. This is a face of fear, lamentations, grief, sadness, misery and troubles.” ~ PICATRIX
The Moon as ruler of this decan brings emotional fortitude, determination and resolve to protect and nurture what’s truly important. The Moon also connects to the past, and in Sagittarius reflecting on memories can bring insight and wisdom. Harmony can be obtained between intuition and intellect – faith in our instincts and the ability to see challenges as opportunities to enhance and advance ourselves.
Book T calls this card “Great Strength.”
The Rider Waite Smith card depicts a man with a bandaged head holding a wand, behind him are 8 upright wands. The man is wounded, weary, but adaptable and resilient – he is ready to defend and protect himself from any further attacks – he may have lost a battle, but intends to win the war.
Life is sometimes a lot harder than we imagined it would be – but the 9 of Wands shows that this can ignite an inner fire that energises us to push beyond what we thought was possible.
“My dream is to acquire greater insight about myself and humankind and to express my ideas more freely. I hope I don’t get scared or shut myself down before I fulfil the destiny described in my key phrase: finding my way.” ~ Spiritual Tarot, Echols, Mueller and Thomson, page 221
The Meaning of a Lunar Eclipse
A Lunar Eclipse happens on what would ordinarily be a Full Moon. However, the presence of the Moon’s nodes means that the Sun, Moon and Earth are all aligned. The Earth is between the Sun and Moon and therefore blocks the light of the Sun from reaching the Moon.
Normally a Full Moon shows whatever seeds we planted at the New Moon maturing and becoming ripe, being illuminated so that we can clearly see and understand our course of action and its results. At a Lunar Eclipse the illumination is interrupted and blocked. This can be disorientating, things are obscured and we can’t fully discern what is ahead. Our inner world, our emotions and fears that are normally suppressed can rise to the surface. Emotions may erupt and overflow, sometimes this release is necessary to aid purging, cleansing and healing from something buried and painful.
It’s a good time to pause, reflect on and assess our life over the last 6 months since the previous eclipse season. If possible, wait to make any important decisions until eclipse season has past.
Lunar Saros Series
This eclipse is from Lunar Saros Series 111, the last eclipse from this series was on May 26th 2002 at 5 degrees 11′ Sagittarius. The North Node was last in Gemini from October 2001- April 2003 – a cycle that began just after the traumatic and horrifying events of 9/11.
Image by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash
9 of Wands from the Aquatic Tarot by Andreas Schroter
References
The Complete Picatrix, translated by John Michael Greer and Christopher Warnock
Fixed Stars ~constellationofwords.com