by Amber R. Balk, Ph.D.
Late tonight you might be able to catch a total lunar eclipse!
This eclipse occurs at 4:14 AM Pacific, but the entire process will take from around 1:50 AM Pacific until 6:50 AM Pacific.
Eclipses can signify intense times.
For one, they always occur during the most intense phases of the lunar cycle–
lunar eclipses occur during full moons,
and solar eclipses occur during new moons.
It also is important to note which section (house) of your natal chart the eclipse is occurring within and if it is making aspects to any natal planets or angles.
This eclipse is lighting up the Gemini (Sun)/Sagittarius (Moon) polarity.
Sun, Mercury, and Venus are now in the sign of Gemini, so you may have noticed an uptick in communications, social opportunities and interactions, an influx of thoughts and insights, and a flow of effervescent synchronicities bubbling through the ethers.
Gemini likes to play– especially with words and thoughts.
Gemini pays acute attention and connects the dots that others may miss.
Now is a great time to allow curiosity to guide you.
With Sagittarius Moon opposing Gemini Sun, there could be lively discussions that change your way of thinking.
Belief structures may be up for surprise revisions.
Back to eclipses…
Eclipses indicate endings and beginnings.
This once confused me… until I paid more attention and intentionally witnessed a few lunar and solar eclipses.
The most dramatic was the solar eclipse of 2017.
I had just moved to the Oregon coast and discovered I had planted myself directly in the location where the solar eclipse would make landfall and reach total visibility in North America.
The day was clear and bright– sometimes a rarity on the coast where we often have thick fog even on hot summer days.
I sat outside for hours listening to a specially-crafted mystical playlist I had concocted for the event.
Occasionally, I’d put on my eclipse glasses and take a peek at the sun.
At first, it was subtle.
A shadow slowly drifted from one side of the sun towards the center.
Yet, the day was still warm and clear. Nothing seemed unusual when I wasn’t directly observing the eclipse.
As it moved into totality, suddenly an ethereal silver light descended from the sky.
The temperature dropped several degrees.
Birds took to flight, screaming in confusion.
Crowds of observers around the area burst into cheers.
I gazed at the total eclipse for a moment without the glasses.
The sun was black with a gentle silver glow around the edges.
It was unreal.
I felt my mind grasp at rationality.
Would the light return?!
What if the sun disappeared forever?
Oh, my god… We really need the sun. We REALLY rely on it.
I imagined an ancient nomad wandering wild fields and noticing a solar eclipse.
It would have been terrifying.
It would have brought folks to their knees in prayers pleading for protection and the return of the precious, vital source of all life.
A world ends, and another is birthed with its death.
Gulp.
And then the shadow shifted, and the light slowly began returning.
As the light grew, I felt invigorated. Renewed. REBORN.
Suddenly, I completely understood why an eclipse signals an ending and a beginning, simultaneously.
Things exist in one state before.
Something mind-blowing and significant happens.
And then everything is changed forever.
And then it slowly seems less jarring and noticeable, but don’t be fooled.
The effect of an eclipse is at play for some time–
about 6 months before and after.
A lunar eclipse is energetically very different than a solar eclipse.
The lunar eclipse is observed during night, when the earth is already dark.
It’s a more subtle experience.
But again, don’t let it fool you. It’s potent.
It’s a great time to contemplate the ways it might be manifesting personally.
Astrology can be great for deciphering this, but it isn’t necessary.
Clear some space in your schedule.
Pay attention to dreams and synchronicities.
Notice how your body feels.
What thoughts predominate in your mind?
What urges do you catch welling up?
A few quick notes about additional influences:
- This year’s ongoing dance between Saturn and Uranus (explored in great pondering detail here) is nearing the second exact square. So, these energies are currently once again heightened and readily noticeable.
- Mercury will soon turn retrograde from May 29th through June 22nd. So current thoughts, considerations, and communications may soon require some revision and reflection. Just slow down, breathe deeply, try not to rush things, and it will serve you well.
- Mars is moving into opposition with Pluto, which could bring forth some shadow enacting. Tempers may flare. Impulse control may be difficult to access. We may see some dark themes emerge in our collective avenues. It’s a great time to connect with the wild, get some energetic release with ecstatic dance, or do some holotropic breathwork!
Hopefully, the amplified mental energies will encourage open-minded debates and lively conversation.
Ideally, we may see those first inklings of radical, revolutionary structural reconstructions taking more form.
This could be a great time to revisit the important changes you want to see in your world and once again set some goals & intentions, and lay out a strategy to get some important stuff seriously accomplished.
Rest assured, change abounds.
The amazing thing is that we are now actively participating in the creation of a new world.
It may not be easy to clearly discern what that means yet.
But when I close my eyes and tune into it,
my heart flutters with excitement.
This is a moment of massive collective power.
This is an amazing time to dream big and to be alive.
Amber R. Balk, Ph.D. is a transpersonal educator, writer, researcher, and independent consultant who combines diverse educational and professional backgrounds to provide well-rounded and unique individual and group psychospiritual services. She can be contacted at dr.amberbalk@gmail.com
Categories: Astrology, Full Moon, lunar contemplations, Lunar Eclipse, transpersonal
Amber R. Balk, Ph.D. 