ECLIPSE ARCHIVE

BLUE MOON LUNAR ECLIPSE DECEMBER 2009

Here Phoebe gives her take on the last lunar eclipse of 2009...

Thematic Overview
Over the 2009/2010 New Year period, we are due to experience the second full moon of December - commonly referred to as a Blue Moon. This phenomenon also happens to be involved in a partial lunar eclipse. Taking place at around 19h15 GMT on the 31st of December 2009, the eclipse will fall in the sign of Cancer. Given that in some time-zones, it will already be New Year, this eclipse is a real turning point in time, similar to the Roman god of gates and openings, Janus, who was associated with new beginnings or transition points.¹ The month of January was named after him by the Romans because of his two faces, which were able to view both the Old Year that was leaving, and the New Year that was being ushered in. As Reginald Couzens explains:

Since a gate opens both ways, Janus was thought to be able to see back into the past, and forward into the future, and he was usually represented in pictures as having a double head that looked both ways. On the earliest Roman coins he is drawn with two bearded faces, with a staff in one hand, and a key in the other.²

The above symbolism of a swinging gate or a two-faced god representing a transitional period in time is a good image to hold in ours mind as we celebrate the ending of 2009 and usher in 2010. It is a an excellent time to let go of old emotional baggage and draw up new affirmations and commitments with regard to what you would like to manifest during the coming year. Many people suggest that affirmations become very powerful when said with emotional emphasis and at this time, with emotional and imaginative energies at a high point, anything you do decide to attract to yourself or manifest will be particularly powerful.

At the time of the eclipse, the Moon will be making a t-square to Saturn, Pluto and Venus, which suggests that power struggles and relationship dramas could be in store. The position of Saturn, currently in the sign of Libra, is a further hint that relationship difficulties might be on your mind right now. Perhaps you are considering whether it is time to let go of certain individuals or partnerships in your life because they seem to be more burdensome than pleasurable? Given that both Pluto and Venus are currently in Saturn-ruled Capricorn, this relationship could be one that involves a male figure, possibly a boss, authority figure or older male relative, or perhaps even a mentor, patron or sponsor.

At the heart of this issue may be the question of commitment and obligation. Perhaps you feel that this person is asking too much of you or is attempting to control your behaviour too much? Before doing anything rash, you may want to consider whether it really is the relationship or other person that is making you feel restricted and hemmed in, or whether you just don't feel comfortable committing yourself to this individual or business association? As parental figures are probably quick to tell you, there is very little in life that comes without obligations. As the fox once said to the Little Prince: 'You become responsible forever for what you have tamed.'³ Every association brings with it some form of reciprocal agreement that involves rituals of exchange, whether it be the efforts required to keep in touch, send a card at birthdays or return a kind gesture. Saturn in Libra in a challenging aspect to the Moon is asking us to keep a balance between give-and-take in relationships of all kinds, to overcome emotional burdens such as guilt and resentment, but also to live up to our end of the bargain and be reliable and constant as friends, business partners, family members and lovers.

Of course, you may find yourself on the thin end of the wedge relationship-wise. In that case, perhaps the eclipse is asking you to walk away or let go of a situation that is less than ideal or does not nourish your soul. There is no point in building your life structures on shaky foundations. To have children with someone who is less than reliable is a good example, as is agreeing to a business partnership where you have a less than equal say about important decisions. With Cancer, sign of self-protection and self-nurturing involved, it may be time to ask yourself if staying in such a situation would be healthy for you emotionally or financially. In all likelihood the eclipse usually provides us with answers to our questions and doubts in the form of synchronicities and signs. To ignore any warning signals that appear now would simply be putting off the inevitable, so perhaps it is worth putting yourself out of your misery, and thus avoiding more painful situations or psycho-somatic problems that may develop further down the line if you continue to swallow your true feelings or ignore gut instincts.

At this time, you may torn between your heart and your head. Although emotions will be very strong now, Saturn may be asking you to discern between healthy and unhealthy feelings and urges - simply over-reacting or acting out will not do now. Consider whether you are being true to both yourself and those structures that are important in your life first, such as family and your place in society before simply behaving like a diva or stomping off into the sunset. At the same time, do not ignore the warning signs if you are unhappy. Act with kindness and compassion and try to be fair if you do decide to walk away from someone - with Saturn and Pluto on the scene, do not even consider trying to shirk your contractual or moral obligations. If you do, be prepared to face the possibly rather harsh consequences further down the line, thanks to the involve of Pluto, associated with retribution. At the same time, doing so may require rebuilding the foundations of your life from scratch. Do not let that deter you - you have very powerful allies in these two planets, both of which are associated with positive regeneration and reinvention, provided you put in the effort, focus and determination and do not leave your fate in the hands of others. Now is the time to take back control of your destiny - grab the opportunity with both hands!

On the other hand, Pluto, as the planet associated with regeneration and transformation, there could be an opportunity to revive a floundering partnership, whether business or personal, but this will involve uncompromising commitment and the willingness on the part of both individuals to completely alter any behaviour patterns or life structures that may be holding back harmonious relations.

Of course, this eclipse may have nothing at all to do with relationships, but rather your emotions concerning other Venus- or Moon-ruled themes such as art, money, politics, children, food and digestion. Here, Saturn and Pluto suggest appropriate actions which may involve: recycling, elimination, reinvention, cutting-down, belt-tightening, restraint, introducing or reinforcing firm structures & habits, as well as maintaining discipline.

Blue Moon Lunar eclipse

Date: 31 December 2009

Sign: Cancer, ruled by the Moon

The emphasis in energy is generally inwardly-directed and emotional in nature, and concerns how we may wish to nurture or be taken care of; as well as motherhood, childhood, our instinctual and emotional natures; habits & knee-jerk reactions and means of self-protection.

Cancer is a cardinal water sign associated with the home and domestic life, food & nourishment, sensitivity, imagination, gut instinct, the body and emotional life. Negative Cancerian characteristics include: moodiness, defensiveness, changeability, touchiness, irrationality, clinginess and emotional manipulation.

In Mundane astrology, Cancer rules over crowds of people or the common man, the home and family, and the chest and breast areas of the body. Herbs associated with Cancer include: verbena, tarragon and saxifrage. Cancerian flowers are usually white and include the lily and waterlily, white rose, acanthus, convolvulus and geranium. Foods associated with the sign include: milk, fish, cabbages, turnips, as well as any fruit or vegetable that has a high water content. The well-known 17th century herbalist and apothecary, Nicholas Culpeper, tells us that the Moon also rules over lettuces 'and that is the reason they cool and moisten what heat and dryness Mars causeth, because Mars has its fall in Cancer.'⁴

Moon phase: Full Moon

The Moon is full, suggesting that this is a time of endings, culmination and crisis points, as well as fulfilment in the natural cycle of life and situations. Full Moons are often associated with a time of increased emotion and intuition too. The Moon is feminine and rules over plant growth and fertility, fluctuation and change, tides, bodies of water, the digestive system and reproduction of all kinds.

Areas of life affected

Below is a list of the likely areas of life highlighted or influenced at this time by the lunar eclipse, classified according to sign. To get the most out of this table, you should look at the entry that is equivalent to your rising sign or Ascendant. If you don't know what this is, visit the free website, www.astro.com where you can use the astrology software provided to calculate it. Or contact me to purchase a wonderfully thorough 26-page Natal Chart complete with chart drawing, aspect list and illustrations. For more information, see my Consultations page.

Aries
Tenth house of ambition, fame, honours and public life, career or profession, reputation, obligations and responsibilities, desire for power or status, gaining or falling from positions of power, relationships with authority, bosses or government, parents, especially father, political life

Taurus
Eleventh house of friendships, groups, clubs, personal objectives and aspirations, invention and unique insights, detached observation, scientific study, the need for independence or to belong, humanitarian endeavours, taking a stand against misuse of power, the study of alternative or esoteric systems such as astrology, mass communication including the media.

Gemini
Twelfth house of the unconscious, hidden activities or things done in seclusion, confinement (and therefore also hospitals, prisons and mental institutions), secrets or private matters, spiritual activities (including meditation, mystical experiences), intuition & dreams, empathy towards others and therefore the caring professions, the creative imagination & escapist tendencies, drugs, self-delusion, self-sabotage, neurotic tendencies, the cinema and the acting profession

Cancer
First house of self-esteem, self-expression, personal decisions or actions, physical appearance, physical vitality, new areas of personal experience

Leo
Second house of money and finances, personal wealth, personal resources (including skills) real estate, values, desire for material status or security, food and domestic habits

Virgo
Third house of communication, speech, thinking, ideas, study (especially early education or school), teaching, siblings and relationships with brothers and sisters, neighbours and one's local community, logic, day-to-day decisions, the intellect and thought processes

Libra
Fourth house of home and domestic life, family members, activities and influences, motherhood and relationships to mothers or primary care-givers, food and nourishment, conditioned responses and ingrained emotional attitudes

Scorpio
Fifth house of creativity, natural talents, pursuit of pleasure, hobbies, sports, romance, new relationships and sexual involvements, children, pregnancy and childbirth, gambling, the entertainment industry, social popularity (or lack of it)

Sagittarius
Sixth house of health, personal habits and hygiene, job, work environment, colleagues, employees, trouble-shooting, dealings with the medical profession, occupational health and safety, detailed work or responsibilities

Capricorn
Seventh house of personal relationships, marriage, enemies, business partnerships, diplomacy and compromise, justice, fairness, balance, desire for social interaction and cooperation, need for peace, harmony and moderation, the reactions of others to personal action

Aquarius
Eighth house of sex, power, death, inheritance, taxes, shared resources (including taxes, insurance, alimony), large financial institutions e.g. banks and big business, dramatic personal transformations, antiques, reincarnation, regeneration, psychic abilities, the occult, parapsychology, extremes

Pisces
Ninth house of expansion, long-distance travel and adventure, higher learning, lecturing, personal, philosophical or religious beliefs, contact with foreign cultures, people or organisations, publishing, the search for meaning, cultural values and trends, the law

References

1. Couzens, 1923, The Stories of the Months & Days, available at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/time/smd/index.htm

2. Couzens, 1923, 'January' entry at: http://www.sacred-texts.com/time/smd/smd03.htm

3. De Saint-Exupery, 1945 (1995), The Little Prince, Mammoth Books, p. 70

4. Culpeper's Complete Herbal - A book of natural remedies for ancient ills, 2007 reprint, Wordsworth Reference Books

Graphic Design by Vicky Jacob-Ebbinghaus Articles & horoscopes by Phoebe Forsythe

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