The Solar Eclipse takes place on December 14th, 16.16 GMT, at 23 08′ Sagittarius.
The Solar Eclipse is conjunct Mercury, trine Mars and square Neptune.
A Solar Eclipse is like a supercharged New Moon. A time of beginnings and new opportunities – provided by an inner urge or outer trigger – new starts we have been wishing for, but sometimes those we haven’t. Conspicuously, Jupiter, ruler of the eclipse is also literally on the cusp of a big change himself – as both Jupiter and Saturn are set to leave Capricorn, then meet up at 0 Aquarius on December 21st. The 20 year Jupiter-Saturn cycle is highly significant to collective events and experiences an is known as a “Great Conjunction”. Additionally this Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction is also a “Great Mutation” as their conjunctions ahead now take place in the Air element, having spent around 200 years in the Earth element.
The Solar Eclipse is conjunct Mercury, which brings to the fore another cycle, as the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury takes place on December 20th. The Superior Conjunction is the peak of the Mercury cycle, information is flowing swiftly at this time and words are powerful. At the Superior Conjunction, Mind (Mercury) is illuminated by life (Sun) and self-expression (Sun) by wisdom (Mercury).
United with this, is that Sagittarius is a sign of globality, illuminates happenings in the world as well as our connection to each other no matter our location on the globe – near or far. Sagittarius speaks of our vision of the world, our beliefs, how we understand and find meaning in the happenings in our life.
This is a South Node eclipse, so is entwined with a new start that builds on lessons from the past – something from the past has to be let go of, released, to clear the way for the future. A momentous cross roads has been reached in the world, a turning point, that effects each and every one of us. The tally of predicaments the world is struggling with – including, but not exclusively, Coronavirus, poverty, corruption, the climate emergency, the US election, Brexit – suggest that worldwide a new approach is necessary. Recognition of what isn’t working. New ideas that tackle difficulties from a new direction, that perhaps help unite rather than divide the world, support greater equality for all, set out to heal.
Obviously this won’t be easy. Will take time. Perhaps (is likely to) involve some conflict.
But, the Solar Eclipse followed hot on the heels by the Superior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury then the – extraordinary, mighty, historic – Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction on the Winter Solstice, marks a spectacular, pivotal, week in the heavens.
A new dawn in the world, and for each of us individually the potential for a new story line unfolding somewhere in life. The Solar Eclipse supports devising plans for the future, along with the enthusiasm and drive to put them into action.
Chart
Solar Eclipse conjunct Mercury illuminates that our thoughts, ideas and communications are all accentuated at this eclipse.
Solar Eclipse trine Mars adds energy, courage, initiative and passion for new opportunities and endeavours.
Solar Eclipse square Neptune shows the potential for confusion on our path from the past to the future. The need to have faith in the future, even if we can’t currently discern what it will look like or how our struggles could be resolved. Alongside, Neptune indicates a need for greater compassion and increased consideration of each other at this time.
Fixed Star ~ Ras Alhague
Ras Alhague is located in the Constellation Ophiuchus, a sapphire star on the head of the Snake Charmer.
Constellation Ophiuchus ~ “It is said to give a passionate, blindly good-hearted, wasteful and easily seduced nature, unseen dangers, enmity and slander. Pliny said it occasioned much mortality by poisoning. This constellation has also been called Aesculapius and held to rule medicines.” ~ Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology, Vivian E. Robson
The connection of Aesculapius with this constellation brings meaningful insight. Aesculapius is the Greek God of medicine, the son of Apollo, who learned the healing arts from Chiron. Athena also gave Aesculapius two vials of Medusa’s blood, the blood from the left side of Medusa was fatal poison, from the right healing. Another myth features a serpent whispering secret knowledge of healing in Aesculapius’s ear.
Aesculapius became so skilled he was even able to restore life, bring patients back from the dead. The other gods were angry about this, fearing that this knowledge may spread, so Zeus struck Aesculapius with a thunderbolt and placed him in the heavens as the Constellation Ophiuchus. The rod of Asclepius, a staff with a serpent coiled around it, is the symbol of medicine to this day.
“When Ophiuchus, encircled by the serpent’s great coils, rises he renders the forms of snakes innocuous to those born under him. They will receive snakes into the folds of their flowing robes, and will exchange kisses with these poisonous monsters and suffer no harm.” ~ Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD
Snakes need careful handling, their bite can be poisonous and lead to fatal consequences. Snakes are also symbolic of the dualities in life – the Caduceus entwined with two serpents – illustrate the need to continually balance and harmonise these dualities.
Ras Alhague is found on the head of the snake-charmer. Snakes are also symbolic of wisdom and the location of this star on the forehead suggests the desire to seek knowledge, as well as how knowledge helps reveal the path to healing. Understanding of how that which can harm, can also heal, and how to balance this duality successfully, as Aesculapius could. About Ras Alhague, Bernadette Brady says “The driving force, in any case, will be to repair that which is damaged, to heal.
Ptolemy says that Ras Alhague is of the nature of Saturn and Venus.
“It has a Saturn like character, and some of the undesirable Venus qualities are also present. Connected with these are Neptunian tendencies, making the native especially prone to infectious contamination caused by toxins. People thus influenced are easy going in the use of medical drugs, hallucinatory drugs, stimulating food stuffs, too much good living and overindulgence in tobacco and alcohol.” ~ Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin
Ras Alhague conjunct Sun ~ “Reserved, thoughtful, studious, suspicious, solitary, reputation for athletics, little wealth, careless of public opinion.” ~ Robson
Ras Alhague conjunct Moon ~ “Public prominence in religious matters, favorable for gain.” ~ Robson
A Note of Caution
On a note of caution, what clearly stands out here with the association of Ras Alhague with medicines and poisons – along with the eclipse being square Neptune – is the necessity to be guarded in our expectations of the Covid-19 vaccine. It may not be the “silver bullet” it was counted on being. Furthermore, be mindful that as yet, scientists and doctors don’t know if there will be any long-term side effects from the vaccine – as obviously – no long-term testing has been possible.
TAROT ~ 10 of WANDS
The Solar Eclipse takes place in the 3rd Decan of Sagittarius, ruled by Saturn (the Sun by Triplicity.) The corresponding tarot card is the 10 of Wands.
Book T calls this card “Oppression.”
SAGITTARIUS DECAN III ~ “This is a face of evil desires, adverse and evil effects, and fickleness in these and evil wishes, hatred, dispersion and evil conduct ~ PICATRIX
” … the signification of this is in following our own wills, and obstinacy in them, and activeness for evil things, contentions and horrible matters.” ~ AGRIPPA, Three Books of Occult Philosophy or Magic
Saturn’s influence on the 3rd Decan (or Face) of Sagittarius brings restrictions, worldly difficulties that weigh us down. Here, life can present us with a hard, challenging path to travel, either by circumstances or choice. Accompanying this is the capability to overcome difficulties through effort and endurance. The Sun as ruler by triplicity illuminates an ability to harness our inner will to achieve our aims.
The Rider-Waite-Smith card depicts a man carrying 10 wands up an incline, towards a house. The wands are obviously a heavy burden, as he is clearly having to exert effort to carry them, they also restrict his vision. But, the sky is blue, the path clear and surrounding the house is green land and trees, all indicating the promise of being able to successfully complete his task.
“The Ten of Wands represents a time when we are intensely focused on our goal. The weight of the wands gives us some inkling it could be difficult to make our dreams come true, but we don’t realise the full extent of what we’ll need to do. The fact that we finally have a “true” direction is gratifying enough to lighten the load for a while.” ~ Spiritual Tarot, Echols, Mueller and Thomson, page 223
Top Image by Justin Dickey on Unsplash
10 of Wands from The Aquatic Tarot
References
Brady’s Book of Fixed Stars, Bernadette Brady
The Complete Picatrix, Translated by John Michael Greer & Christopher Warnock
Fixed Stars ~ www.constellationofwords.com