A Potent and Thoughtful Solar Eclipse

This Sunday, May 20th, late afternoon to early evening on the West Coast, there will be an astronomical event that is visible in many areas of the world as an annular Solar Eclipse. In the San Francisco Bay area there will only be large crescent-shaped chunks taken out of the blinding disk of the Sun. What this means astrologically is more complex. Whether the occlusion of the Sun is annular or total, an eclipse is regarded as an extremely powerful New Moon, with the eclipse degree a sensitive point in the heavens for the following six months. Since in this case the eclipse degree is 0 Gemini, exactly sextile to the Aries point, that effect is magnified, and so is the symbolism of the sign itself. The Sabian Symbol for the eclipse degree reinforces this strong Gemini vibe. It is "A glass-bottom boat in still water," and it emphasizes the idea of curiosity, and also the elements Air and Water. Gemini is of course a curious Air sign. As we peer into the undersea world we symbolically see the creatures that dwell beneath the surface of our conscious perception, and it opens us up to the unconscious energies of our emotions, as represented by the Water element, and to the submerged psychic structures of our personalities.

The aspects surrounding this extra-powerful New Moon are also intense. The ruler of the eclipse degree, namely Mercury, is found in Venus-ruled Taurus, while Venus is retrograde in Gemini and therefore in mutual reception with Mercury – making this a thoughtful time for examining the relationships in our lives. Mercury is a mere two and a half degrees away from Jupiter, in close conjunction. Their midpoint matches the degree of Saturn in Libra, another Air sign, to the minute, making a tight quincunx or inconjunct aspect. The exuberance of Jupiter is therefore muted by the contraction and sense of limitation represented by Saturn. The keyword of the quincunx aspect is "adjustment," and this is another signal that we must take stock of our actions and their consequences. A further form of contrast is revealed in the Air and Water elements, representing conscious and unconscious forces. This theme is also symbolized by the highlighting of Chiron and Neptune in Pisces. The New Moon makes a square to these two undersea and instinctual planets, located in the Water sign of Pisces. Mars is also in opposition within a degree to Chiron. This modern planetoid, only discovered in 1977, and called the Wounded Healer, astrologically refers to these same unconscious depths. With Chiron invoked, and with Venus newly retrograde, we might truly begin to have a deep look under the covers of our motivations and be surprised by what we find there. If we have the courage, open-eyed, to face our inner wounding, we will be rewarded by greater self-acceptance and eventual happiness.

Of course, besides Neptune, the other outer-planet archetypes looming now are represented by the oncoming Uranus-Pluto square, which perfects next month. Indeed, Pluto also stands out in this potent configuration. Jupiter is sesquiquadrate to Pluto, and contra-parallel, while the Sun is also contra-parallel and Mars remains in trine with the lord of death and rebirth. Chiron in Pisces makes a close sextile to Pluto, just as Uranus draws to within 2 degrees of the forming square. With Pluto so strongly emphasized and with the eclipse itself so powerful, we are in for a time for weeks to come that will try our souls, and allow us glimpses of our own private underworld. The good news is that these trials will also allow us to rise above and to become in the process more whole.