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Author Topic:   Explanation and Meaning of Eclipses
Glaucus
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From: Sacramento,California
Registered: Apr 2009

posted December 20, 2010 03:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Glaucus     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Explanation and Meaning of Eclipses

with particular attention to the

21st December 2010

Solstice Eclipse

by Alison Chester-Lambert,

astrologer and author.

An eclipse happens because occasionally the Sun, Moon and Earth are all in dead straight line and the shadow of one covers another. This happens about twice a year when the Sun and Moon get to the position where the path of the Moon crosses the path of the Sun. This point is called the Moon’s nodes and it is where eclipses occur. `Nodes` are the intersection points or cross roads on the orbital path of any planet.

Throughout many millennia and in all civilisations we find myths and stories connected to eclipses because they are such an obvious and perhaps frightening event. In most cases the myth is of a dragon or serpent whose head is the node where the Moon is crossing the path heading upwards or North. The South Node is exactly opposite in space.

Horned serpents can be found on artefacts from all over Persia, Babylonia, India, Syria, China and Norway. Many surviving ancient texts state that eclipses were caused by a horrifying monster which swallows the sun or the moon whenever its magic power prevails over that of the celestial gods who are represented by the Sun and Moon.

We commonly refer to the ill-fated demon Rahu from Hindu mythology, but the apocalyptic dragon as a symbol of Satan is evidently closely related to this monster.

Initially, just Rahu was associated with eclipses. His head had been severed by the god Vishnu and so it was seen that he swallowed the Sun or Moon and they then emerged from his severed neck. Then as the astronomy was understood, the connection between the 2 nodes and the nodal axis was worked out and he became a joined up dragon with a head and tail. At this point another term called Katu, which had previously been applied to comets, was used for the tail end.

In India, the Nodes even took on the qualities of planets and got included in the planetary line up, so that by the sixth century A.D. the Rahu-Ketu myth was fully linked with the nodes of the moon and the theory of the eclipses.

The head or North Node was `exaltated` in Gemini, and the tail or South Node was exaltated in Sagittarius. The Nodes remain very important in astrology today, but we no longer use the exaltation. Why not? Ok, no explanation, so perhaps we should!

In art and carvings throughout the Middle East the dragon with his tail in a knot, (often heart shaped) became the precursors to the St. George and the dragon motif of Christian iconography (See the image of the angel Shamhurash fighting the dragon, left.) and perhaps the knot of Celtic art work. This demonstrates the enormous influence that these astrological ideas exercised upon medieval artists. In fact, there are not many parts of the European and Asian continent in which no traces of the dragon myth can be found.

SO, we can take from all this that eclipses are important. But what do they mean?

Originally, the word Ketu meant `new part` and associated key words were light, clarity or clear and brilliant or brilliance. This is useful in helping us understand the South Node, because now we can surmise that something new can become clear, or will be clearly seen. This is in agreement with the theory that the nodes are portals or windows to the Otherworld.

We live in an electric universe and this numinous power travels along the magnetic field lines that naturally occur in the Solar System, emanating as they do from the Sun and Earth amongst others. The Moon’s path creates distortions in the field lines around Earth (think boat moving across the path of swiftly flowing water) and these are well documented and accounted for by scientists.

If you want to get technical now, look up Dr. Percy Seymour’s work on `magneto tidal resonance`. Or to keep it really simple, just imagine there is an imaginary line of string going from the centre of the Sun to the centre of the Earth, with another going from the Moon to the Earth. When the path of the Moon crosses the path of the Sun the lines get tangled and huge energy flows crash into each other, releasing some wild potentials.

This, along with the gravitational distortion, splits our space/ time Universe and the portals open to the Otherworlds. If you think of us in terms of us being tuned in to a radio station, regular service, is disrupted and we can and will be tuned into the unexpected and little known. The interpretations are obviously varied, but there are some guidelines that I use.

General Interpretation

Firstly, nothing in this Multiverse is inherently evil, everything has a silver lining and the (planets) goddess/es are prepared to give us some lee-way to bend the energy. As long as we stay within the keywords for the sign or planet we are working with, we can bring about some of our will unless we are so divorced from our true path and unconscious needs that the planets simply have to put us back on track. Assuming that everyone reading this is working on self awareness, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Since the Otherworld contains the elements of Fire and Water we can understand immediately that our intuition and gut instinct is valuable at these times. Flashes of inspiration, moments of pre-cognition and helpful signposts can be abundant as well as uncomfortable feelings or strange dreams.

So long as you are being true to your natal Nodes, natal Sun and natal Moon, then eclipses will open up opportunities that don’t come in the normal, boring way. The transiting nodes release energy that has a direct effect on our nervous system, cell membranes and sympathetic nervous system so you can expect to feel a little light-headed, vague or un-easy when their energy is disrupted.

In Norwegian mythology, Thor battles with the serpent Jormungand, using a red hot hammer which is a symbol of creative and destructive power, fertility, death, renewal and good fortune. The myth values speed of thought, which is interesting since the North Node is exalted in Gemini.

Let’s go back to the ancient meaning of the word Ketu. Something new can be clearly seen – there is clarity. Aha! Now we can understand how very insightful these events can be. The North Node, Rahu, breathes Fire, courage and challenge, perhaps a real potential to steal fire (gnosis) from the Gods. The ancients associated re-incarnation with the nodes, such was the power of the connection to the Otherworld, and a metaphoric re-birth is certainly a distinct possibility. Yay!

The Eclipsed Full Moon of 21st December 2010 (Solstice)

The Nodes work through the axis of two opposing Zodiac signs in about 18 months and mostly travel backwards with the occasional forward motion. It has to be understood, therefore, that all the eclipses will be in only two Zodiac signs for 18 months. Considering the upheaval that is happening in the electromagnetic field lines within these two Zodiac signs, this signifies periods of great change and potential growth. From September 2009 and right through 2010, the Nodes were churning through the Capricorn/Cancer axis with the North Node in Capricorn.

So anyone with a large representation of Cancer or Capricorn, such as a Cancer Sun or a stellium in Capricorn would have felt the effects. This would have been most obvious on June 26th and July 11th 2010 when there was a Lunar and then Solar eclipse. In fact, you could go back to the happenings on these two days for information about likely outcomes of this one, since the themes tend to be repeated within the Zodiac signs.

It is not unusual for such geo activity to stir up an earthquake, but there are usually several of those worldwide each day any way. However, it will be interesting to see if any significant ones occur. Here in the Midlands of England, we have the opposing Sun and Moon exactly on the horizon as the eclipse ends, adding to the stress that this brings to the force fields around us. However, since the temperature is minus 19 degrees centigrade, the ground is probably too frozen solid to crack, so I feel we are quite safe!

What we should all do is seek to make the absolute best of the opportunity for change. Ride the crest of the wave and grab every opportunity, for rarely do we have an atmosphere so ready to deliver such abundant prospects.

What if the Transiting Eclipsed Planet Conjuncts Natal Chart Point by 1 Degree?

This one is quite simple. The eclipse seems to put the light out. The normal power of that natal point is temporarily is disengaged. The circuit breaker pops and power temporarily ceases. It doesn’t happen for long and it is generally quite precise to the timing of the eclipse. A sudden dislocation, which is easily restored when you’ve found the torch and fuse box. Flip the switch and hey presto all working normally again, so get on with the party.

It has to be a 1 degree orb for this effect to manifest. Area of impact will be the house that has the zodiac sign naturally ruled by the eclipsed natal planet on its cusp. So if its Mars and Aries is on the cusp of the 3rd, your car won’t start, you loose a letter or your p/c gets a glitch. All pretty fixable, and with some forethought you’ll back up the p/c beforehand! No problem. There may be some anxiety a day or so before hand if that chart point is sensitive, such as the natal North Node, Moon or Saturn.

However, still a thrilling opportunity so grab some life-purpose enlightenment. The Nodes are a struggle, either natal or in transit, BUT they are also the portals to another dimension and some of the best magic we will ever know!

Copyright, Alison Chester-Lambert 2010

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hartner, Willy, (1938) The Pseudoplanetary Nodes of the Moon’s Orbit in Hindu and Islamic Iconographies. Ars Islamica, Vol. 5, No. 2. pp.112-154 Published by: Freer Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian Institution and Department of the History of Art, University of Michigan Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4520926

Diagram at the top from http://www.sungazer.net/nssp/bb/saros.html

The second image down of the dragon twisted around the Nodes is from Willy Hartner's Ars Islamica journal paper.

The third image of the Angel Shamhurash fighting the Dragon is also from Willy Hartner's Ars Islamica journal paper

http://www.midlandsschoolofastrology.co.uk/explanation__meaning_of_eclipse_dec_21_2010.html

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No..I am not a Virgo.

Developmental Neurodiversity Association facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=131944976821905&ref=ts

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