With today’s total solar eclipse occurring in South America, I decided to write a little bit about one of my favorite topics: eclipses. Namely, the powerful impact they have in our lives and their ability to shift our consciousness.
There are two kinds of solar eclipses and lunar eclipses: a Rahu eclipse or a Ketu eclipse. In Hindu Mythology, Rahu represents the head of the demon or Dragon, and Ketu represents the body. Western astrologers often refer to the North Node as the head of the dragon, and the South Node as the tail. Whichever way you prefer to picture it, we know that our heads are responsible for what we take in, and our bodies (or tail) represent what we send out.
The effects of the eclipse on Rahu are not always negative, but remember that the head is powerful and full of desires. Too much energy can make it volatile, as is often seen with world events around the time of eclipses, or when certain planets transit over eclipses.
The Rahu solar eclipse can bring about positive manifestations. This is because it is drawing more energy inward. For instance, an eclipse in your 10th house or conjunct your 10th lord can give a career change. In your 9th house, a spiritual shift can occur or a very important teacher/guru will enter your life.
When a Solar Eclipse occurs on the South Node, Ketu, energy is sucked out. This can bring about a very dramatic “power outage” somewhere in your life. You may experience loss, or in some cases, something that has been a great burden is removed. They can be good opportunities to consciously make a list of the things you want to release from your life. Eclipses on Ketu chip away at our attachments and help us grow by separating us from what’s holding us back.
While eclipses won’t always trigger a noticeable concrete event, they will influence the psychological tendencies of your mind. After all, the nodes show the evolutionary path of our consciousness, so they show times when we come to great realizations or make a lot of growth. The areas of life affected are indicated by where the eclipse is occurring in your chart.
How is the eclipse affecting you?
Here’s what to look for in your chart to see how the eclipse is affecting your life and consciousness:
Check the house placement
Check which house the eclipse is occurring in and know the meaning of that house. It may take some contemplation to make connections between the houses and events in your life, but you can reference my descriptions of astrological houses.
I’ll use the 8th house as an example since it is easily misunderstood. One might assume an eclipse in this house will trigger something terrible. However, a Ketu eclipse here is more likely to cause an event that challenges emotional security that can only come from detachment. With a Rahu eclipse in the 8th house, your spouse or partner will bring in more money. You may receive an inheritance or financial help from others. Overall, you’ll find yourself gaining from others while trying to figure out how you can be more self-sufficient.
A Rahu eclipse in the 7th is an intense time for relationships, but usually it brings new relationships in. This also coincides with gaining new clients and business relationships. This is all about learning more about yourself through relationships and interactions with the public.
A Ketu eclipse in the 4th house can bring on a time period of emotional or psychological cleansing. Rahu eclipse in the 4th shows changes in home life – people moving in or moving out. Life can change dramatically, the things that made you feel secure are being upturned.
What planets are the eclipse conjunct?
The other detail to consider is what planets are conjunct the eclipse. Let’s say the eclipse is occurring in your 8th house and conjunct your 4th house lord. This would cause suddenly moving to a new home/location or something related to 4th house matters. An eclipse occuring in your 4th house conjunct your 12th house lord can also mean going away from home for a while (like deployment), or dealing with These are just some examples of how to connect the houses and lords.
An eclipse in your 6th house or conjunct your 6th lord will have to do with work, coworkers, and health. How you handle conflict with others during this time will hold greater reward or consequences. Decisions around health will have longterm effects.
An eclipse in the 12th house or involving the 12th house lord can bring a focus on your expenses – both energy and resources. You’ll become more aware of your spending and savings may increase during this time. This is a more stressful time at work that drains your energy. You can have more experiences and encounters with the spiritual realm.
Getting to know the nodes and following eclipses offer great insight into the deeper aspects of our soul. Eclipses shed light on our attitude towards personal struggles and bring opportunities to heal and mature. Take note of where the 2017 eclipse occurred in your chart, and where this year’s eclipse occurred. I’m always interested in hearing your stories.
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