JULY-AUGUST 2009 DOUBLE LUNAR ECLIPSE

This summer, the nodes of the moon seem to be especially active as we are set to experience not one but two lunar eclipses in one season.

Here is a brief outline of the effect of the Lunar Eclipse and the areas of life it will most likely affect….for a brief outline of the effects of the Solar Eclipse, click on the link or go to the July-August 2009 Eclipse overview page.

Thematic overview

During July And August we will be experiencing not one but two lunar eclipse events  - a very unusual occurrence for a single eclipse season. As you no doubt are aware, eclipses normally come in pairs - a solar followed by a lunar eclipse, or vice versa. Given how unique this particular set of events is, it seems worth paying attention to what the cosmos may be reflecting back to us about our need for change on an emotional and bodily level. 

Both eclipses will take place in signs traditionally ruled by Saturn - in ancient astrology, before the discovery of Uranus in 1781, it was Saturn who co-ruled both Capricorn and Aquarius. Saturn was generally seen as the planet at the boundary between earthly and celestial realms and as such, tends to be associated with thresholds, boundaries and limitations. This is probably why it rules over those aspects of the human body that are considered to be at the extreme or edge of the body, such as the skin, nails, teeth. Saturn also governs the crossing point between this world and the next and so rules death and the end of things. Again, anatomically, this is reflected in the planet's rulership of bones and the skeleton. Symbolically then, Saturn is concerned with structures, outlines, foundations and personal boundaries.

Generally considered to be the great malefic because of this difficult positioning between two levels of existence, Saturn is also the key to divine wisdom. The Renaissance magus and scholar, Marsilio Ficino, was known to bewail the fact that he had Aquarius rising, which meant that his chart was ruled by Saturn. He thought this was the reason for his melancholic temperament and his inclination to study philosophy and medicine - amongst his many accomplishments, he was also both a priest and a doctor. Yet Ficino also seemed to believe that Saturn was the great initiator, leading those brave and dedicated enough to profound wisdom and knowledge through a combination of suffering and serious study. As Sue Toohey writes:

It is this characteristic that has conceivably been the single most important factor in the way in which Ficino viewed the world, or at least his position in it. He at times displayed the attitude of someone undoubtedly weighed down with bleak pessimism that often permeated his writings, both personal and philosophical, while at the same time proving himself to be a profound example of the conviction that the melancholic temperament produced scholars and philosophers of exceptional ability.1
 
It should therefore come as no surprise that the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius are associated with scholarly pursuits, scientific study and the natural and technological sciences. Both signs often display the detached and somewhat emotionally removed qualities so admired in scientists. However, these characteristics can clearly be seen to be expressed somewhat differently in each sign - Capricorns tend to work hard in order to provide long-term benefits and security for themselves and their families, whilst Aquarians are much less materialistic and more idealistic, working for the benefit of the group, to help friends and the larger extended family of society.

All this may be worth keeping in mind at the time of the double lunar eclipse events on the 7th of July and the 6th of August - both or one of these could turn out to mark a time of initiation for you on some level. It may that, like Ficino, you are being asked to look beyond your material so-called needs and wants to embrace more enduring values, such as the importance of family, friendship and community. During the first eclipse, you will be aided in these admirable pursuits by positive aspects between the sun and moon to Saturn in Virgo. From this practical, discriminating and modest sign, Saturn can provide a helping hand with writing and gardening projects, environmental causes and any art or trade that employs the use of one's hands or earthy materials. Saturn is Virgo is also concerned with purity, cleanliness, health and hygiene as well as pets and small animals, all of which could now become prominent over the next 6 months. The containment of the swine flu virus is just one example of how the limitations of Saturn in Virgo can prove both useful and life-saving.

In contrast to February's lunar eclipse in Leo, both signs suggest a markedly different emphasis and tone. The focus is less on our own self-development, expression and needs and more on how to work and live within the frame of the bigger picture - the family, society and the world.

First lunar eclipse - 7 July 2009

During the July 7 eclipse, the Full Moon in Capricorn will be blacked out by the sun in Cancer, suggesting an ending of some kind. Perhaps a project or business deal that you have been mentoring will be prematurely 'aborted' due to unforeseen circumstances. Plans to emigrate, change career or have another child may have to be put on hold due to a change in financial circumstances, or simply a need to cut back in the short term. Collectively, Cancer and Capricorn rule our roots, family, home, and sense of belonging as well as our history, heritage and connections to the past. The fate of an aging parent might well become an issue now or the question of citizenship, ancestry or inheritance might also be highlighted over the next six months.

Second lunar eclipse - 6 August 2009

The August 6th event will be in a different set of zodiac signs. With this second event, we return to the Leo-Aquarius themes of the beginning of the year, including trying to find a balance between the need for personal glory and being a good team worker; standing out from the crowd vs. fitting into a group or finding a niche in society; independence vs. co-operation; and how to have time for both yourself and your friends or social obligations. Another theme could be creativity vs. scientific or academic detachment. 

In typical fashion, the emotional themes that you may have been working on during the last six months will now reverse, so that you get to experience the flip side of the Leo-Aquarius pole. In February, the sun was in Aquarius, and the moon in Leo. Now these luminaries reverse their zodiacal positioning. The sun's location in Leo - the sign in which it feels most 'at home' - will be extra powerful, so take care not to burn out or overwhelm those less resilient or forthright than yourself. Conversely, don't allow others to do this to you! Also try not to place too much emphasis on intellectual as opposed to intuitive faculties - both are important for making good decisions. Solar energy is traditionally associated with the ego, male energy and more active cosmic powers so try not let these factors become too prominent or predominant.

The Full Moon, which tends to bring matters to a head, may spark off a chain of events, an unexpected emotional reaction or an inward realisation that you have become stuck within a framework of emotional habits that no longer serves you. It seems that it is a good time to let go of overly dramatic tendencies, such as ignoring loved ones until you get angry and then drowning them in bile as you moan, whinge and generally bemoan your fate. It may also be a good time to rest personal boundaries with people who are overly needy or familiar or to set up new daily routines that allow you to make better use of your time and resources. You may also find yourself learning how to make the household budget stretch further whilst still giving to your favourite charity or local community - in these difficult economic times, learning to be thrifty without being mean or stingy to those in need is an art. 

Both signs are also sociable whilst still being quite emotionally independent - again qualities you may be able to acquire at this time. If you have become something of a homebody as a result of financial belt-tightening, perhaps now you can learn how to still be sociable but on a budget, or in a unique way. Going to boot sales, organising vegetable growing parties and clothing swap events or initiating trading exchanges with neighbours and other members of the community are all novel ways of using Capricorn-Aquarian energy in a way that allows for efficient use of resources whilst still contributing to society or being kind to the environment. 

For more information on the Saros numbers or how these events might manifest on a mundane level, visit my Eclipse chronology page.

Lunar eclipse in Capricorn/Aquarius

Date:     7 July 2009/6 August 2009

Sign:     Capricorn/Aquarius - both ruled by Saturn in traditional astrology

The emphasis in energy is generally inwardly-focused and emotional in nature and concerns how we may wish to be of service to others, or choose to implement plans or blueprints, conduct rituals or plan schedules, look after small pets and take care of health matters.

Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign associated with duty, ambition, leadership, public life, hard work, persistence, self-betterment, fathers and fatherhood. Negative Capricorn characteristics include: harshness, stinginess, conservatism, workaholism and sternness.

Aquarius is a fixed air sign and is associated with friendships, androgyny, humanitarianism, honesty, loyalty, originality and inventiveness, independence and intellectual genius. Negative Aquarius characteristics include: rebelliousness and perverseness - being different or controversial just for the sake of it, stubbornness and intractability, unpredictability and being too unemotional and detached.

Moon phase:      Full Moon

The moon is full, signalling endings, culmination points, fulfilment and crisis points. Full moons are often associated with a time of increased emotion too.

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 - 7 July
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

Aries - 6 August
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

Taurus - 7 July
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)

Taurus - 6 August
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

Gemini - 7 July
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  

Gemini - 6 August
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)

Cancer - 7 July
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

Cancer - 6 August
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  

Leo - 7 July
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

Leo - 6 August
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

Virgo - 7 July
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

Virgo - 6 August
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

Libra - 7 July
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

Libra - 6 August
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

Scorpio - 7 July
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.

Scorpio - 6 August
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

Sagittarius- 7 July
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, neurotic tendencies, the cinema and the acting profession

Sagittarius - 6 August
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.

Capricorn - 7 July
First house of self-esteem, self-expression, personal decisions or actions, physical appearance, physical vitality, new areas of personal experience

Capricorn - 6 August
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, neurotic tendencies, the cinema and the acting profession

Aquarius - 7 July
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

Aquarius - 6 August
First house of self-esteem, self-expression, personal decisions or actions, physical appearance, physical vitality, new areas of personal experience

Pisces - 7 July
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

Pisces - 6 August
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

References:

1. The influence of Marsilio Ficino, By Sue Toohey, at http://www.skyscript.co.uk/ficino.html
 

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