Eclipse of the Century
For astrologers and students in Los Angeles the eclipse of the century starts at 7:34 PM July 21 2001 and will last over 6 minutes. It occurs at 29 degrees of Cancer. While the this eclipse is visible in India, China, parts of Indonesia and Japan, do not doubt its power, for we all will feel some impact, especially if it hits key parts of your chart. The next eclipse of this size and this impact at equinox levels will not be seen until 2114 over a century from now. So it is an event of historical importance!
The last eclipse of anywhere near this power was in 1973 which saw the firing of Spiro Agnew as Vice President and the appointment of Jerald Ford as VP. 1973 was also the year that President Nixon’s tapes of conversations in the White House signaled the fall of his presidency because of the Water Gate scandal.
Clearly huge eclipses can have great consequences in mundane astrology and we can be prepared for a strong impact on world events. Since the eclipse passes over China, probably the impact may indicate further riots which started there on the Lunar Eclipse of July 7th at the 15 degrees of Capricorn Cancer often indicating a conflict of personal rights and leadership (flat charts IC and MC mid points). From my point of view the power of eclipses is that this particular new moon has much greater impact on the solar wind and electromagnetic fields between the sun and the earth.
While all this mundane interest is of great importance, it is my purpose here is to suggest how one might consider this eclipse in relation to the natal chart.
First find where the 29th degree of Cancer is in your chart. What house does the eclipse occur, for it will be in this area that eclipse will impact you. Also consider the house of the opposition — 29 of Capricorn.
If this eclipse hits a planet and activates any angular configurations, consider them very carefully. For example this eclipse is close to my Pluto in Leo and within 2 degrees of my Moon in Aquarius! This sets off my Moon-Pluto opposition, indicating that I will have to watch for some strong emotional transitions coming my way. And to be forewarned is to be prepared! This also eclipse hits nearly exactly on my wife’s nodes, so she too can look for changes in her first to 7th house axis, indicating her focus on the goals and future plans will be impacted especially on in areas of self growth and in open relationships, both good and, ah, not so good, such as person who can be a pain in the neck. Certainly in my house the eclipse will create a lots of dynamic energy.
Often, especially in older astrology books, an eclipse of this magnitude will be considered malefic, or dangerous with possibly negative effects. This is not alwaystrue. While some of eclipses of this size have caused large mundane events, the effects in the vast number of natal charts can be very mixed indeed. I have had clients who have had favorable results from eclipses. Changes will occur in areas around the focus of the eclipse which will produce favorable outcomes.
Also consider that this eclipse occurs right on the cusp of Leo. The domestic and nurturing meets the leadership and the dramatic. It is in this focus that we must consider what this means in our charts. Each of us has situations at home and our outer life which will need to be scrutinized. If there are areas here that changes have been resisted, this eclipse will affect a change so that growth can continue.
This will be an exciting time for this is truly a magnificent event to experience personally and in terms of the greater world of mundane events.
One final thing–we must consider the “bending” of an eclipse. This bending occurs roughly 90 days after the eclipse, when the sun forms a T square to the axis of 29 Cancer/Capricorn. This is often a time when the greatest impact will be seen. Consider the eclipse in 2008 February and the great Cyclones that hit Burma and Thailand in Taurus. Large areas in Asia were hit with great natural disasters. That is an example of the “bending” which is truly dynamic. Most bending are less dramatic than this, but the concept watching events 90 days after the eclipse is something to be considered when one is studying how an eclipse will not only focus in the immediate areas of one’s chart and further on down the line.
All this being said: be aware, be alert, look to the now and to the future with anticipation and preparation for some roller coaster events to bring dramatic changes and opportunity for personal growth and transformation.