September 13th ~ 20th
“Guldnyckeln and the Norns” by John Bauer
It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied together into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
On September 17th (or the 18th depending on where you are in the world), the Harvest Moon, the Full Moon that is closest to the Autumnal Equinox, is also a Super Moon, as well as a partial Lunar Eclipse this year. At 25º Pisces 41’, the Full Moon Eclipse falls on Tuesday, September 17th at 10:44 pm Eastern Time here in New York, (7:44 pm Pacific Time; 3:44 am British Time on September 18th). It is rare for an eclipse to occur when the Moon is also perigee, or when it is closer to the earth in its monthly orbit, giving this Pisces Lunar Eclipse a little bit of an extra edge.
Eclipses occur when the moon is at one of the nodes of its orbit. The nodes are the two points in its orbit that intersect with the sun’s path. When a New Moon or a Full Moon occur near these nodes, they are in such an alignment with the Earth that an eclipse will occur. This set of eclipses and the next two in March are transitional, in that although the Nodes are now still in the signs of Aries and Libra, we have this early Pisces Eclipse, in anticipation of the eclipses shifting into Pisces and Virgo in January. And although this eclipse is at 25º of Pisces, the North Node of the Moon is still at 6º of Aries, a full 11º from the Nodal point. Which is why it is a partial, as opposed to a total eclipse.
Because this is a partial eclipse, it will not have that signature red cast at the height of the eclipse. However, where the eclipse is visible, you will be able to see the Earth cast its shadow on at least part of the Full Moon. This will be especially so in areas where the eclipse occurs in the middle of the night, which will include all of South America, and most of North America.
Eclipses always come in pairs. So the Lunar Eclipse on September 17th, will then be followed by an annular Solar Eclipse on October 2nd. And so we enter eclipse season. And know that this is no ordinary Full Moon Eclipse, for it is also a Super Moon. Lunar eclipses can be incredibly illuminating. What is revealed within the Eclipse period can change the paradigm and tip the scales in one direction or the other. They also serve as turning points, bringing us closure, and the conclusion to events that had been simmering on the back burners of our lives. And unlike an ordinary Full Moon, the ramifications and consequences of what is being revealed, or brought to a head through the Lunar Eclipse can be felt for months and perhaps even years to come.
Never are the Sun, Moon and Earth in such perfect alignment as they are during these eclipse seasons, which allow the Norns, the Fates of Norse mythos to sit at the feet of Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, in order to have the ability to weave their tapestries and move the pieces about on the playing board of life. There is a fluidity to these eclipses that can feel like a meeting with destiny. And there is nothing to be done at these times, but to move through to the other side, and accept the hand that has been given.
Because there is this added element of ‘fate’, or what others might refer to as the fruition of karma, thrown into the equation, these periods can also be unpredictable. But also know that these eclipses are ultimately in service towards the evolutionary progress of human kind, as well as for each of us individually. And what we receive within the gates of these eclipse seasons, is necessary in some way for our soul’s journey.
The Lunar Eclipse this coming week is conjunct the North Node of the Moon, indicating that it is in service towards fulfilling our soul’s growth and development. It is conjunct transcendent Neptune, sextile evolutionary Uranus and sextile transformative Pluto, connecting us to the over all fate of the collective, as well as our own destiny. And so through the gates of the Lunar Eclipse, in some way we are all being asked to transcend boundaries, and move that much closer towards the recognition that we are all swimming in this great ocean of life together. And we are not alone. There are others here with us leading us to fulfill that destiny that can be found within our own hearts and minds, within our own drop of that great ocean that we all share, called Life.
Our homework for the Lunar Eclipse in Pisces on September 18th/18th:
Do things that will align you with your own drop of the ocean: Meditate, Pray, read something spiritual, or poetic. Listen to something beautiful. Take long walks in nature, or near the water. Seek solace in sacred spaces.
Connect with yourself: Reflect, journal, read the cards, consult the I Ching, dust off the pendulum and the oracles.
Channel the Pisces Eclipse: commit random act of kindness and compassion; stop to listen; be present for others. Volunteer your time or resources for a good cause.
Let go: of those things that are taking up too much space; Release. Forgive. Shake off regret, anger, dismay and sorrow. Doing this good work will make room for better things to take root.
Slow down: Pay attention, See, Hear, Feel, Be present in order to honor and fully appreciate each moment.
Walking, I can almost hear the redwoods beating. And the oceans above me here, rolling clouds, heavy and dark. It is winter and there is smoke from the fires. It is a world of elemental attention, of all things working together, listening to what speaks in the blood. Whichever road I follow, I walk in the land of many gods, and they love and eat one another. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands. ~ Linda Hogan (Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World)
For where the Lunar Eclipse falls in your natal or Solar chart, click through to this week’s horoscopes: