September 27th ~ October 4th

Love is hate, War is peace, No is yes, We’re all free. But somebody’s gonna have to answer, Time is coming soon, Amidst all these questions and contradictions, There’re some who seek the truth. ~ Tracy Chapman (Why?)

The New Moon Solar Eclipse on October 2nd at 10º Libra 02’ is closely conjunct the South Node of the Moon at 6º of Libra. As mentioned in prior posts, it is the New Moon’s proximity to the Nodes that will determine that perfect alignment that allows the Sun, Moon and Earth to form an eclipse. In this case the Solar Eclipse will be an Annular Eclipse, meaning that there will be a halo of light, referred to as a ring of fire, surrounding the eclipse when it perfects at 2:45 pm here in New York (11:45 am Pacific Time and 7:45 PM British Time). According to Time and Date the greatest visibility will be in the southern tip of South America, in Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. 

New moons are about new beginnings, as are Solar Eclipses. A South Node attending Solar Eclipse, such as this one is, is still very much about beginnings, but the sorts of beginnings that are predicated on endings, or perhaps a need to tie up issues from the past. There will be a sister Eclipse next March, at 9º of Aries, which will be the North Node eclipse in approximately the same degrees. Within this frame between the Eclipse on October 2nd, and the 2025 Eclipse on March 29th, you will see this process in which endings will eventually give way to new beginnings.

This will be somewhat poignant within the context of other upcoming planetary transits, as we are being asked, what is it that you are holding on to so dearly, that you cannot bear to let it go? Could the very thing you cling to so desperately, actually be standing in the way of progress? And might it even be preventing you from fulfilling your destiny, or living your own best life? 

The Eclipse will be closely conjunct Mercury, which is not unusual, as Mercury is never very far from the Sun. This is the Superior conjunction of Mercury and the Sun, which occurs when Mercury is on the other side of the Sun from us, far away from the Earth in its orbit. This is when Mercury is moving at its maximum speed. This is also when we are being asked to step back and look at things objectively and clearly. And as both the Sun and Mercury are weighing things in the balance within the Libran scales of justice, we are considering the consequences and ramifications of our own choices and decisions made up until now.

Conversations will be going back and forth in the process, as we strive to make agreements with others. But not without an element of urgency and perhaps a bit of impatience thrown into the mix. The North Node is in the sign of Aries, a Mars sign that can be associated with conflict, heated exchanges and even out-right war. Mars, our warrior god, now in the sign of Cancer is square the Solar Eclipse, as it will be with the upcoming Full Moon in Aries on October 17th. There is an edginess to this weather, that can grow and become more heated with the waxing moon over the next few weeks. Made all the more unpredictable by both the eclipses and a minor, but uncomfortable aspect to Uranus, all sorts of tensions are brewing. 

We will not have the luxury of looking away, or pretending that everything is okay in order to avoid conflict. Libra’s talent for diplomacy and compromise will be sorely put to the test and likely fail, and in some cases people will even feel as if compromise is out of the question. Sometimes we just need to weigh in and take a stand. Sometimes we just need to have the courage of our voices and say No, when compromise is just too much. Even if it makes you unpopular to do so. The North Node in Aries brings a strong urge to take some sort of Action, even if it means diving into the fire (or the line of fire), rather than pretending that there isn’t any fire at all. 

Venus, the ruling planet of the Libra eclipse and South Node is in the Mars sign of Scorpio, but trine both stabilizing Saturn, and Mars, the ruling planet of Aries. This creates a somewhat loose Grand Trine in the water signs of empathy, compassion and the opportunity to heal old wounds. And thankfully so. Perhaps this stabilizing influence can calm some of the tensions being built by the Mars afflictions. At least for now.

When the South Node is in Libra, as it will be until January, it can feel as if the Fates are doing their work of moving the playing pieces around on the board of life. Like strategic and mystical gods, working from behind the scenes, some individuals and groups will be brought together, while others are parted. Alliances shift and change. Treaties are broken. Dysfunctional relationships are tested. Like Promethean turning points, the Eclipses stand as a demarcation between one era of our lives and the next. 

There is something magical and karmic about the Nodes of the Moon where the Soul (the Moon), Spirit (the Sun) and the body (the Earth) are all in perfect alignment. These eclipses aim to bring us more in touch with what is needed for the evolutionary growth of the soul. This can be so in our own individual lives, as well as on a larger societal level. Because the Eclipses are concerned with what the soul needs, it may not necessarily be what our ego wants. It is also the reason why these periods can be so unpredictable. Therefore, unlike ordinary New Moons, you might not necessarily want to make intentions, the way we normally would, as there is no telling what the outcomes will be.

However, what we all can do with this powerful Eclipse, is sow positive affirmations for righteousness, justice and positive action. Some positive affirmations for the Solar Eclipse on Wednesday, October 2nd, might be: 

• If justice and perseverance are the basis for action, all goes well. ~ Shih (The I Ching: The Army)

• I am the calm in the center of the storm, balancing right action with wisdom and experience.

• Everyone benefits when I place my trust in the Greater Good.

• Through moderation and balance I will find the correct path. 

The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace. ~ Carlos Santana

For the eclipse for your sign, check out this week’s horoscopes:

HOROSCOPES