“Nations, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well, provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.”
— Victor Hugo
How’s your eclipse season going so far?
Eclipses have long been recognized as important celestial events. Some of the earliest astrological records, on clay tablets from Mesopotamia from about 4,000 years ago, are simply lists of observations of the movements of the planetary bodies and correlations the ancients made with events on Earth. As astrologer Chris Brennen points out in Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune, a common example of these celestial observations is “if there is an eclipse, then the king will die.”
Imagine living thousands of years ago and watching in trepidation as the sun darkened entirely, or as the moon turned an angry blood red. I’m sure it was terrifying. Indeed, throughout history, eclipses have generally been regarded as ominous. Modern astrology interprets them more positively, as opportunities for a reset or reshuffle of our lives. But, if you spend some time looking at the astrology of past eclipses, and what happened in your life or the world around that time, you will begin to notice that they often seem to accompany events that are quite destabilizing, even if the outcome is ultimately positive. Change can be good (and often necessary), but it’s often hard. And eclipses change up our lives dramatically, acting as a sort of power surge in different areas of our lives, sending a jolt of electricity to one area while causing a corresponding blackout in another.
Astronomically speaking, eclipses happen when a planetary body moves into the path of another planetary body. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth moves between the sun and the moon, during a full moon, blocking the sunlight that normally reflects off of the moon, making the moon appear reddish. Solar eclipses, by contrast, happen when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, during a new moon, and blocks the sun’s light from Earth. There can be total versions of lunar and solar eclipses as well as partial ones, when the sun’s light is only partly blocked.
The Nodes of the Moon
Astrologically, eclipses are tied into the nodes of the moon, the two points where the moon’s path crosses the ecliptic. The nodes are always opposite each other, forming an axis across two opposing signs, and move in retrograde motion backwards through the signs. They are the axis along which eclipses happen, whenever a full or new moon falls within fifteen degrees of the nodes.
In an astrological chart, the North Node looks like a horseshoe or magnet with the opening on the bottom, while the South Node, located exactly opposite, looks like a horseshoe/magnet with the opening at the top. Here is the chart for the recent total lunar eclipse in Sagittarius on May 26th:
The North Node is located at 10 degrees Gemini in the twelfth house and the South Node is exactly opposite at 10 degrees Sagittarius in the sixth house. What makes this an eclipse is that the sun and moon of this full moon lunation are located within fifteen degrees of the nodes, at 5 degrees Gemini and Sagittarius, respectively.
The chart for the next eclipse, an annular solar eclipse on June 10th, shifts the sun and moon both into Gemini, as it will be a new moon:
We see the sun and moon, both at 19 degrees Gemini in the twelfth house, again within fifteen degrees of the nodes, still at 10 degrees of Gemini and Sagittarius. Thus: eclipse.
The nodes stay in one pair of opposing signs for about eighteen months, during which time they are said to break down the significations of the signs they are passing through. This is particularly true for the North Node, which is seen as increasing things (either good or bad), while the South Node is viewed, conversely, as decreasing things.
There are two pairs of nodes to keep track of at any time — the nodal axis that you were born under, displayed in your birth chart in the same way as the eclipse charts above, and the current movement of the nodes through your chart. In a natal chart the nodes show the pair of signs where eclipses were happening around the time you were born. If you were born under a new or full moon and see that your sun and moon are within fifteen degrees of the nodes (even crossing into another sign), you were born during an eclipse. Note: this is different than simply being born under a regular new or full moon, which happen once a month each, and is relatively common (babies seem to like to arrive around full moons). There are only 4-6 eclipses total in any given year, out of 24 or so lunations, so being born under one is somewhat rare.
In a natal chart, the nodes are potentially sensitive points, particularly if any personal planets or important chart points (Ascendant, Midheaven, etc.) are configured closely to them. Conversely, even if you don’t have personal planets configured to your nodes, they can be affected by transits of planets throughout life.
The nodes have taken on a lot of importance in modern astrology, particularly in the branch known as evolutionary astrology popularized by astrologer Steven Forrest, with the South Node symbolizing past lives and accumulated karma, and the North Node symbolizing the evolutionary goal of this lifetime. Traditional astrology takes a less dramatic view, with the nodes viewed simply as potentially destabilizing points, with the South Node representing where we experience decreases, while the North Node signifies increases.
Having begun my astrological studies with evolutionary astrology, before moving on to Hellenistic astrology, I’ve personally found that the traditional approach seems to work well for most charts. Some people really resonate with the past lives and karma approach, but in those cases, they often have personal planets strongly configured to their nodes, making them strongly “nodal.” Meanwhile, I’ve found that people who aren’t “nodal” types, without configurations to their nodes, rarely identify with the nodes in such a deep way. However, using the traditional scheme of North Node = increase / South Node = decrease can also get you to approximately the same place as the modern approach but without dragging in the concept of past lives (which alienates some). Let’s take a look at how the nodes work in a natal chart.
The North Node: Too Much is Never Enough
Known as the Dragon’s Head in Indian astrology, the North Node shows where we are, to quote Hamilton, “young, scrappy and hungry.” Its placement, by sign and house (I recommend using Whole Sign Houses — you can generate a free birth chart at www.astro-seek.com; select Whole Sign Houses under Extended Settings), shows where we have a lust for more. There is a sense, in North Node territory, of being driven, of an almost compulsive focus in this area of life. There is a fascination and magnetic pull to the topics of this house. We can’t resist it, even if we try. Over the course of a person’s life, we would expect to see an increase in this part of their life.
For example, let’s say someone has the North Node in their natal chart in Pisces in our favorite house, the fifth house. This person might feel driven to express themselves creatively through the arts, children, and recreation. With Jupiter ruling Pisces, there would be a sense of abundance to these expressions. Over their life we might see them try to do more of the things indicated here — do expressive projects, have children, do fun things, etc. How it actually turns out for them is subject to other factors in the chart. But the desire to do more or have more of whatever the house symbolizes (money for the second house, partners for the seventh house, etc.) remains, even if it isn’t ultimately realized.
The South Node: Been There, Done That
While the North Node instigates us like a cattle prod, the South Node drains us. Known as the Dragon’s Tail in Indian astrology, there is a sense, with the South Node, that the whole topic where the node is located is tiresome and exhausting, a time suck or an energy drain. We’re over it.
Using our imaginary example above, our friend with the North Node in Pisces in the fifth house would have the South Node in Virgo in the eleventh house of friends, communities, and social movements. In this case we would expect to see a turning away from these topics and even a literal decrease, over their lifetime. Ruled by Mercury, this scenario might involve communication or writing or even music or theater (both ruled by Mercury), and the story might be fleshed out with other information from the chart. Are the nodes configured in some way to Venus (the arts and relationships), or the Midheaven, indicating career high points? If so, there could be a moving away, over time, especially as the nodes are triggered by various transits or timing techniques, from a career/group endeavor in an artistic or mercurial field towards more individual creative expression in this person’s life. And this is only one example of how this scenario could play out.
If there are personal planets or important chart points configured to the nodes — and any configuration automatically involves both nodes because they are always opposite — by a traditional aspect (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, or opposition), especially within a few degrees, but even just by sign (using Whole Sign Houses), the planets will get drawn into the narrative of the nodes.
Eclipses Everywhere
As the nodes move through our own charts, occasionally teaming up with the luminaries for eclipses, different parts of our charts (including our own nodes, just to confuse you even more) are triggered. Sudden beginnings and endings, abrupt changes, wild opportunities, feelings of confusion, or actual crises, are the order of the day during eclipse season. Emerging from a series of eclipses can feel like Dorothy, cautiously coming out of her ruined house after the tornado has dropped her into Oz. If only there were dancing munchkins waiting for us beyond every eclipse.
Because the nodes stay in a pair of signs for about eighteen months, the 4-6 eclipses that happen in any given year fall in clusters, along those two signs (currently Gemini and Sagittarius, since last fall and lasting until this December). However, because of the fifteen degree range in which the lunation can fall around the nodes, some eclipses begin happening in the next pair of signs before the previous cycle is finished. For example, this year we have three of four eclipses falling along the Gemini-Sagittarius axis (in May, June, and December). But one eclipse will fall in Taurus, at 27 degrees, on November 19th, with the nodes still located in the early degrees of Gemini and Sagittarius. The nodes will finally leave these mutable signs for the Taurus-Scorpio axis on January 19, 2022, and all of the eclipses will fall in these two fixed signs next year. Then, in 2023, eclipses will start to happen along the Aires-Libra axis, as the nodes get closer to these signs, blending with Taurus-Scorpio eclipses until the nodes finally move into Aires and Libra.
As such, there is a blending of topics as one eclipse series leads into another. There can be a feeling of a play, with several acts centered around one topic, then a preview of coming attractions, and, finally, a grand finale, before the show moves onto the area of the chart that was previewed before.
The current eclipse series is very potent, as the ruling planets of both nodes are each strongly placed in a home sign — the North Node, currently in Gemini, is ruled by Mercury, now in Gemini, while the South Node, currently in Sagittarius, is ruled by Jupiter, now in Pisces. However, Mercury is also retrograde (as we all can feel by now, I’m sure) through late June, adding an element of breakdown and chaos to everything.
How to Cope With Eclipses
The first step to understanding how an eclipse might affect you is to see where it’s happening in your chart. Look at what whole sign house the eclipse is falling in — the eclipse in May was in Sagittarius, while the upcoming one in June will be in Gemini. Locate the Gemini and Sagittarius houses of your chart. These houses have been activated since last fall and will continue to be active through this year, with the Gemini one slated for increases and the Sagittarius one primed for a Marie Kondo-ing. (Thank whatever it is for its service!) Check out the Taurus-Scorpio houses as well, as they are next up for eclipsing.
For reference, here are the dates of this year’s eclipses:
May 26th, 5 degrees Sagittarius, Total Lunar Eclipse
June 10th, 19 degrees Gemini, Annular Solar Eclipse
November 19th, 27 degrees Taurus, Partial Lunar Eclipse
December 4th, 12 degrees Sagittarius, Total Solar Eclipse
Finally, here are some tips to help navigate through eclipse season.
Solar eclipses bring beginnings, while lunar eclipses bring endings. Chapters of life begin and end.
Eclipses come in pairs about every six months. Use the time in between to consider the affected houses and their significance in your life. How would changes in those areas play out in your life?
Try not to over schedule yourself around an eclipse. You don’t have to hole up in a cave, but try to create a buffer for any type of mental, emotional, or physical stress that could come up.
Expect randomness. Something or someone coming “out of the blue” is classic eclipse modus operandi.
Try not to make big decisions during an eclipse. We are all mostly running on fumes during eclipses and our decision making facilities may not be optimal.
Likewise, try to have some patience for those of us who may be more challenged by a given eclipse than you might be. We’re all triggered, in some way or another.
Events can happen quickly during eclipses. Time may feel sped up. It may be hard to understand what’s going on in the moment. The storyline often becomes clearer in retrospect, after the several-act drama has played out.
Someone or something may be “eclipsed” out of your life. Accepting these changes, instead of resisting, will help.
The effects of eclipses can be felt after the actual eclipse, even up to six months later, particularly if there is another round of eclipses in the same signs coming up. However, usually you will have some idea of whatever is coming up, even if the story isn’t played out yet, closer to the actual eclipse date.
An eclipse (or series of eclipses) may not affect you very much if your chart isn’t busy in that area. Don’t feel left out — an eclipse will come for you soon ;)
In interpreting eclipses in your chart, all the usual rules of astrology apply —configurations with benefics (especially the benefic of your sect — Venus for a night chart and Jupiter for a day chart) are easier, while configurations with malefics are harder (Mars for a day chart and Saturn for a night are the hardest).
Expect emotions—big emotions! Eclipses happen on new and full moons, which are generally emotional times, though the signs where the eclipse is occurring may be more or less emotional. In general, eclipses in water signs are quite emotional, fire signs eclipses are very passionate (and possibly angry), air sign eclipses involve social interactions and communication (and possibly misunderstandings), and earth sign eclipses involve material goods.
And, if you thought we were going to get through this without referencing Bonnie Tyler’s (Gemini sun and Mars) Total Eclipse of the Heart, you would be wrong. I present to you, as a visual metaphor for the unexpected destabilization of eclipses, the song in its fully unhinged 1980s glory (ninjas, gymnasts, fencers, football players, a choir with creepy laser eyes, weird choreography on a staircase — for the zillionith time, what is going in in this video?!!):