The March 25th Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at 05’ Libra will be visible in most of Europe, North/East Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, South America, the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Antarctica. (See timeanddate.com for Path Map and times)
What happens during a penumbral eclipse:
The Moon will darken but not completely disappear as she travels through the Earth’s shadow. The Moon will pass into the outer part of the Earth’s shadow (called the penumbra) and the Moon will miss the darker, inner part of the Earth’s shadow (called the umbra).
In other words, The Moon traverses Earth’s penumbral shadow but the Moon misses Earth’s umbral shadow.
Eclipses are tracked, each eclipse belongs to a Saros cycle. A Saros period is almost 19 years ( 18 years and 9 to 11 days depending on leap years) after which the Sun, Moon, and Earth return to approximately the same position causing a nearly identical eclipse. The March 25, 2024, eclipse belongs to Saros cycle #113 which last occurred on March 14, 2006, and will occur again on April 5, 2042! (See NASA’s website https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEsaros/LEsaros113.html). Also, this eclipse belongs to a series of six Aries/Libra eclipses focusing on building emotional self-sufficiency and self-confidence. (The next eclipse in this series happens on 4/8/24)
Eclipses are significant when they take place at a degree that is exact or near to a planet or on angles in your Natal, Progressed, or Solar charts (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 chart for planets in Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) and check what houses the Sun Aries and Moon Libra will occupy. This eclipse will significantly affect people born with Cardinal signs and angles from 0’- 10’ degrees. If this eclipse affects your Natal, Solar, or Progressed chart, you could experience some lessons around Aries/ Libra hot topics.
To make this Eclipse work we need to Strike A Balance
Lunar eclipses help ‘illuminate or magnify” issues that are hidden beneath the surface. This eclipse chart has a bucket formation. This is when a collection of planets huddles together in the bucket and a single planet, the handle is in opposition. This formation can be difficult to manage. The handle usually becomes the focus of the chart.
In this chart, the Sun Aries is in the bucket and the Libra Moon is isolated as the handle, carrying the bucket. Oppositions provide contrast, the Aries/Libra axis seeks to balance personal needs with the needs of others. This opposition can magnify conflicts and expose challenges regarding balancing the Sun Aries ( Me needs) attributes of assertiveness, confidence, and leadership with the gentler more compromising, friendly, and agreeable influence of the Moon in Libra (Us needs). Can we balance our need for independence and autonomy with the needs of others? Can we meet our own needs and acknowledge, be present, and be accountable for our shared responsibilities with others?
This chart’s bucket formation makes the handle of the Libra Moon the dominant planet. If your chart is making connections to this eclipse, Libra issues will be the focal point. Moon in Libra seeks harmonious relationships, is naturally sociable, and is a skillful diplomate. Moon in Libra dislikes conflict and during this transit, we can find it difficult to set boundaries. Vibrant Sun Aries is part of the bundle formation. The Sun is muted and weak due to being close to divinely inspired but emotionally sensitive Neptune in late degrees of her ruling sign Pisces. This can add up to a lot of pent-up passive-aggressive energy. Find positive ways to use this energy or this eclipse might be too hot to handle.