Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024, Sun/Moon 19’ Aries 24 2:20 pm EDT/ 11:20 am PDT
Another Eclipse???
Yes, eclipses come in pairs. We just had a Lunar eclipse on March 25th and now we are about to have a Solar eclipse. A Solar eclipse happens when the Moon’s shadow crosses the Earth’s surface. This occurs during a New Moon and the Sun and the Moon are almost always astrologically in the same sign.
The internet has been buzzing for weeks about this total Solar Eclipse. You can visit https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8 to learn more and view the Path Map. The path of totality will run through Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
There are several reasons to get excited about this eclipse. The day before the moon will be perigee (closest approach) so during the eclipse the Moon will look much larger than usual. The maximum length of totality anywhere on Earth will be 4 minutes 28 seconds, that’s considered a long time! The sky will darken enough that you will be able to see Venus and Jupiter. ( Venus SW to the right of the Sun. Jupiter SE to the left of the Sun). The other big eclipse news is that the April 8th total eclipse path will cross the 2017 total eclipse path. The paths meet in Paducah, Kentucky!
The sign Aries dominates both the March 25th & April 8th eclipses. Aries, a masculine action-oriented cardinal fire sign is considered the trailblazer of the zodiac. Ruled by Mars, the god of war Aries is confident, assertive, bold, and impulsive. When an individual with strong Aries placements has not developed a healthy relationship with their ego Aries can become a narcissistic entitled wrecking ball of toxic masculinity. ( regardless of your gender)
The Solar eclipse chart finds a concentration of Aries energy. The Sun, Moon, and Chiron are tightly conjoined at 19 degrees, the North Node at 15, Mercury retrograde at 24’, and Venus at 4 degrees.
Typically, Aries New Moon will initiate change, and offer new beginnings, we feel like we can make anything happen, and are filled with inspired positive “get it done” energy. This New Moon is different.
First, the Mercury is retrograde and we need to avoid jumping to conclusions, or making any important decisions right now. Instead, we are best served by using this New Moon eclipse to do some introspective soul-searching. The theme of this tightly joined Sun/Moon/Chiron focuses on how to have a healthy relationship with our authentic selves. The Chiron in Aries so close to the Sun/Moon suggests that the solar identity, the ego, and the lunar identity, emotional and instinctual subconscious have unresolved trauma that needs to be addressed before we can own the positive attributes of Aries such as confidence and self-reliance.
The Solar Eclipse chart is deeply influenced by the Chiron, which is conjunct with both Luminaries (Sun/Moon). Chiron, the mythical wounded healer Centaur leads us to a path of healing or when his lessons are resisted, we continue on the path of suffering. All sentient beings share the commonality of souls in bodies experiencing human frailty of sickness, loss, and death. When Chiron is prominent, we are offered an opportunity to heal and help heal others. If we refuse to do the difficult work of healing, we can continue to wound ourselves and others.
Have we grown from “Puer Aeternus”; the divine child to a functioning adult balancing animus/anima? Are we brave enough to explore our weaknesses? How can we correct course? Do we take responsibility for our actions, and own our mistakes? Do we have a good balance of personal autonomy/ interdependence? Do we have healthy self-esteem or do we suffer from low self-esteem? After the Mercury has gone direct on April 25th, we can move forward and initiate any insights we discovered during the Solar Eclipse. We can confidently move forward making new plans, starting new projects, and implementing improvements.
Remember: Eclipses are particularly important when they take place at a degree that is exact or near to a planet or on angles in your Natal chart or progressed chart (consult your Astrologer). When eclipse degrees are activated in your chart the effects can last from six months to a year depending on the strength and duration of the eclipse. Eclipses are closely associated with world events. To know if this eclipse will be significant for you check your Natal, Progressed, and Solar charts for planets in cardinal signs. ( Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn) Or ask your astrologer.
“It is a wise person who rules the stars, a fool who is ruled by them.”