Total Solar Eclipse
January 21, 2024. North Node (Rāhu) conjoins Solar Eclipse degree.
April 8, 2024. Total Solar Eclipse. 2:20 PM EDT. Tropical. 19° Aries 24’. Sidereal. 25° Pisces 18’. bharaṇī
Although the world experiences the total eclipse, here in North America is where people can observe it in its totality in a path that begins in Mazatlan, Mexico and goes through parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Ontario, New York, Vermont, Maine, and Newfoundland. For the complete eclipse path go to earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/total-solar-eclipse-april8-24. If you cannot, or do not want to, go to where it is total, you can see the eclipse livestreamed on nasa.gov. Remember to wear eclipse glasses if you are watching the eclipse since the time that it is partial leading up to totality is dangerous for the eyes. If you cannot watch the eclipse live, you can watch it at www.nasa.gov. Remember this is a time to go inward and reflect and meditate. Remember that because planets conjoin the eclipse before and after the event, the life span of an eclipse is much longer than the actual eclipse.
This is repeated from my January 2024 News and Views in which I wrote about the effect of the solar eclipse of April 8, which really began to be felt in January because North Node (Rāhu) conjoined the eclipse degree exactly on January 21st. This is still relevant today. It is followed by some more thoughts about the total solar eclipse on April 8th and the Mars-Saturn conjunction, which is in orb between April 8 and April 13, but is exact on April 10.
Even though the true Node is exactly conjunct the April eclipse degree on January 21st, it is within about one degree of that degree from January 10-28 and then the eclipse will come to that degree on April 8th, but it means that the influence of that eclipse has already started to be felt within the world and in your chart. Nodal transits and eclipses bring intensity, surprises, and secrets coming out of the woodwork. Anything that started to be revealed or brought out in the open in the period between January 10-28 can have its manifestation around the eclipse. (I address this in my March-April 2024 Eclipse Webinar. Scroll down to purchase.)
Remember that because the Nodes must be near the Sun and Moon for an eclipse to form, the Nodes will always come to the degree of the eclipse either before or after. The closer the Node is to the Eclipse degree at the time of the eclipse (on April 8, the Node will be within four degrees of the eclipse) the shorter the duration of the time between the Eclipse and when the Node hits the degree of the Eclipse. The shorter the duration the more intense that period will be. In this case it is only two and a half months. Sometimes nothing happens on the actual eclipse, but instead it will have effects for some time before and after the event. When the Nodes hit eclipse points, either before or after the actual eclipse takes place, the span of the eclipse may be considered to begin and end its period of intensity even though planets that conjoin or aspect the eclipse point either before or after the eclipse will activate eclipse-like activity as well. If the Node hits the eclipse point prior to the eclipse (as it does in this case), then the Node will awaken what the eclipse will finish. If the eclipse occurs before the Node hits the eclipse point, then the eclipse will awaken what
the Node will finish. If the eclipse hits a planet, point, or angle in your chart, the Node will also hit that point prior or after, so that is why it is important to look at this as an important transit that awakens something in your chart. If the eclipse does not hit a planet, point, or angle, look at the house that it falls in. Scroll down to see how the eclipse affects you.
This total solar eclipse on April 8 may bring great awareness to anything that began in January, and may allow you to move forward with a project, move, idea, relationship, that has been brewing but was not able to move forward. Once the eclipse is over there may be great momentum, and rather than think of it as ominous, think of it as a new beginning, which is exactly what the New Moon represents. Since it is a dark Moon, wait a few days until you see the sliver of the Moon before you move forward. Normally that might be two days later on April 10, but since Mars and Saturn will conjoin on that day, and the Sun and Mercury form an inferior conjunction on April 11, it may not be until April 12 that we can move forward and attempt to heal thing that have been broken, or that have simply stagnated. Chiron is exactly conjunct the New Moon as well so even though every day we read about more and more war, violence, hatred, etc. it is possible that healing is on the horizon. What is important to realize though that if we think that there is healing needed, it means that there is so many horrific events happening in the world that need to be healed. Hopefully something will emerge during the month of April that may surprise everyone and lead to something we never thought coul occur.
April 8th, the day of the solar eclipse, is also the New Moon in sidereal Pisces, which is the Indian new year called Caitra Śukla Pratipad, which means the first lunar day of the waxing Moon in the month of Caitra. Although it is the Indian New Year, we can look at this next year of one of many changes throughout the world, some of which will start an entirely new trajectory. (I will be talking about this in future newsletters and in my annual Next Six Months in July.) Scroll down to see how the eclipse may affect you.
This year on April 10th, Mars exactly conjoins Saturn at Tropical 14° Pisces 40’. Sidereal. 20°Aquarius 34’. This conjunction occurs every two years and is an aspect of frustration, anger, determination, focus, and immovability all rolled into one. The fact that it occurs two days after the eclipse, but it is conjunct within a two degree orb from April 8-13, may mean that there will be even more traffic, problems, and frustrations, that may even stem from people gathering all over the United States to see the eclipse. There could be more road rage, but on the positive side, there could be determination to make eclipse viewing spectacular rather than ominous. Of course this conjunction affects the world and not only the United States, but I wanted to start with that, since they are indeed predicting masses and masses of people from all over coming to different parts of the country to view the eclipse. In the world, there may be more violence and rage as well, so once again the days of the conjunction may see a violent act that was unexpected, or a damaging meteorological event or disaster. This will pass but often times the coming together of those two planets coupled with a total eclipse and Mercury stationing retrograde exactly midway between the March 25 and April 8 eclipse can indicate a tense situation in different parts of the world.
And of course our personal relationships may experience difficulties in which neither person is willing to compromise. Take it easy and try not to start an argument or react to one. Situations are intensified when these two planets come together. More than ever it is so important to stay calm, aware, and do whatever prayers, mantras, meditations, you normally do. Astrological signature that appears around eclipses take on more significance and that is why this Mercury retrograde may seem especially chaotic, and why the Mars and Saturn conjunction may add extra frustration to eclipse gatherings. This is a good time to remember to be patient, compassionate and reflective. Whether you see the eclipse live, live streaming on nasa.gov, or not at all, this is a time to reflect on your life, and on everything going on around you, remembering to take deep breaths and not to be reactive to what others do and say. If you have any planets, point, or angles around the Mars-Saturn conjunction at Tropical 14° Pisces 40’. Sidereal. 20°Aquarius 34’. you may feel that frustration. In addition to staying calm, it is the perfect time to go to the gym, walk, run, exercise, and do whatever sport or physical exercise that suits you and when you can get everything out of your system.
Read if you use tropical Western astrology. If you have a planet, point, or angle in your chart close to 19° Aries 24’ (I use a one-degree orb) where the Node conjoins, and the eclipse will occur, this point will be intensified, awakened, and will be dealt with especially between January 21 (give or take) and the eclipse of April 8 (give or take). Below are some keywords for the meaning of the planets and angles:
Sun. vitality, individuality, ego; Moon. emotions, habits, conditioning; Mercury. communication, intelligence; Venus. love, beauty, creativity; Mars. physical energy, aggression, courage; Jupiter. expansion, abundance; Saturn. limitation, disciplined, fear; Uranus. originality, independent, rebellious; Neptune. spiritual, immaterial, imagination; Pluto. intensity, power; North Node. power, place where you must strive; South Node. place where it is easy, habits; Ascendant. personality, destiny; IC. home, family, mother; Descendant. partnerships, contracts; Midheaven. career, father
The house where tropical Aries is located will be intensified between now and April 8. If you do not know which house tropical Aries occupies, look at your ascendant or Sun (if you do not know your ascendant), and just count from there. General descriptions for houses are as follows:
1. personality, body, appearance; 2. finances, possessions, values. 3. communication, siblings, short journeys, learning; 4. family, mother, home; 5. children, recreation, entertainment; 6. health, service, pets; 7. marriage, contracts, partnership; 8. business transactions, sexuality, life and death matters; 9. higher education, travel abroad, publishing, law; 10. profession, status, father; 11. gains, friendships, hopes, dreams; 12. compassion, spirituality, limitations, solitude.
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Read if you use Indian sidereal astrology. If you have a planet, point, or angle in your chart close to 25° Pisces 18’ (I use a one-degree orb) where the Node conjoins, and the eclipse will occur, this point will be intensified, awakened, and will be dealt with especially between January 21 (give or take) and the eclipse of April 8 (give or take). Below are some keywords for the meaning of the planets and angles.
Sun. power, vigor; Moon. maternal, mind; Mars. strength, courage; Mercury. speech, learning; Jupiter. knowledge, wealth; Venus. love, happiness; Saturn. sorrow, fear; Rāhu (North Node). intensity, compulsion; Ketu (South Node). extremes, spirituality; Lagna (Ascendant). destiny, vitality. If you use Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the angles you can look above at tropical Western astrology for their keywords.
The house where sidereal Pisces is located will be intensified between now and April 8. If you do not know which house sidereal Pisces occupies, look at your lagna (ascendant), or Moon, or even your Sun (if you do not know your ascendant or Moon), and just count from there. General descriptions for bhavas (houses) are as follows:
1. appearance, destiny, temperament, personality, constitution; 2. Money, family life, food, speech, early childhood; 3. Siblings, Fine arts, courage, desires; 4. Mother, happiness, real estate, vehicles; 5. Children, romance, investments, speculation; 6. Open enemies, work, competition, obstacles, illness; 7. Marriage, partners, contracts, passion; 8. Life and death cycle, research, accidents, other's money, inheritance; 9. Father, teacher (guru), religion, higher learning, opportunity; 10. Career, status, public recognition, reputation; 11. Profits, rewards, gains from work, awards, older siblings; 12. spiritual practice, secret enemies, foreign travel, debt, confinement.
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Mercury Retrograde April 1-25, 2024.
March 19, 2024. Mercury-Budha enters Retrograde Arc (Shadow). Tropical. 15° Aries 58’. Sidereal. 21° Pisces 52’. revatī
April 1, 2024. Mercury stations Retrograde (vakra). Tropical. 27° Aries 13’. Sidereal. 03° Aries 07’. aśvinī
April 11, 2024. Sun-Mercury Inferior Conjunction. Tropical. 22° Aries 32'. Sidereal. 28° Pisces 26’. revatī
April 25, 2024. Mercury stations Direct. Tropical. 15° Aries 58’. Sidereal. 21° Pisces 52’. revatī
May 13, 2024. Mercury leaves Retrograde Arc (Shadow). Tropical. 27° Aries 13’. Sidereal. 03° Aries 07’. aśvinī
I have written so much about Mercury Retrograde and went into the concept of its retrograde arc or shadow in the March
newsletter so much of what is written below is adapted from that and other pieces about the retrograde since the meaning of
Mercury retrograde does not change. The only thing that does change is which sign it is in, and where it will be in relationship to
other planets in the sky and in your chart.
This retrograde cycle is especially noteworthy because it occurs exactly midway between the lunar eclipse of March 25 and
the solar eclipse of April 8th. I have found that whenever a planet stations retrograde within a week of an eclipse, it coincides with natural disasters, meteorological events, more aggression in the world than usual, and other events like the Francis Scott Key bridge collapsing, or the terrorist attack of a concert hall in Russia just to name a few. These events often make the world take notice and require lots of rehabilitation and damage control. This goes for any retrograde planet, not just Mercury, but Mercury is the one that is occurring at the moment. In the last few weeks there have been events that seem to be more intense than the usual eclipse season and they may or may not be related to Mercury retrograde, but it may be one contributory factor.
Of course eclipse season by itself is intense, and the fact that the Mars-Saturn conjunction will be exact on April 10, two days after the total solar eclipse of April 8 has significance in itself, coupled with the fact that the inferior conjunction of the Sun and Mercury occurs on April 11. This conjunction always occurs midway between the retrograde and direct station and occurs when Mercury appears closest to the earth. It is considered in classical Jyotisa (Indian astrology) to be combust the Sun, meaning that everything Mercury represents is obliterated by the bright Sun. April 10-12 could be the most intense days of the retrograde period, when conflict may be at its height, because of the proximity to the Mars Saturn conjunction occurring on April 10th. Other cultures deem the exact conjunction to be cazimi, when the Sun and Mercury are 15 minutes apart, and instead of thinking about it as combust, it is thought to be the time when Mercury is in the heart of the Sun, and therefore at its strongest, rather than its weakest. When you look at it from the standpoint of combustion the Sun is on some level at its strongest since it is obliterating what is closest to it. The ability to reason things out and communicate is lessened and power and ego is at its strongest. At least that is how I learned it and observe it.
In any event, this Mercury retrograde cycle, may be more intense than it usually is, so be more aware that there is potentially more chaos around you. Communicate clearly, focus rather than disperse your energy, expect transportation and communication delays as usual, but you will just have to concentrate and maintain patience more than ever. Do not be reactive to what others do and say since everyone is feeling the same energies. In this retrograde cycle, as listed above, Mercury entered its retrograde arc (the term I prefer) or shadow, which is the degree of the eventual direct station, on March 19, 2024 at Tropical. 15° Aries 58’. Sidereal. 21° Pisces 52’. It leaves its retrograde arc when it passes the degree of the retrograde station on May 13, 2024 at Tropical. 27° Aries 13’. Sidereal. 03° Aries 07’. Like all planets when they retrograde they stay in one section of the zodiac longer than usual. Mercury usually goes through a sign in less than a month when it moves along its steady course, but with this retrograde Mercury it stays in the same sign for a little more than two months with the tropical zodiac, and between two signs in almost three months with the sidereal zodiac as follows. According to the tropical zodiac, Mercury stays in Aries from March 10-May 15, 2024. According to the sidereal zodiac (Jyotisa) Mercury straddles Pisces and Aries between March 7-May 31, 2024 as follows: Direct Mercury enters Pisces March 7, 2024 and enters Aries March 25, 2024. Retrograde Mercury re-enters Pisces April 9, 2024, Mercury direct re-enters Aries on May 10, 2024, and enters Taurus May 31, 2024.
It is during this period that Mercury enters and leaves the retrograde arc and stations retrograde and direct, which you can see above in bold. The influence on the area of your chart where tropical Aries, or sidereal Pisces and Aries are located is very focused and requires us to pay attention since Mercury retrograde represents delays, technical difficulties, miscommunication and other annoying things that concern the area of the chart where tropical Aries, or sidereal Pisces and Aries are located. You are especially affected by Mercury retrograde (which you may think is inconsequential but really is not) when you see that it is in one sign for a little over two months or two signs for almost three months and you understand what that area of your chart represents. But you are especially affected during this retrograde arc between March 19 and May 13 if you have any planets, points, or angles, between tropical 15° Aries 58’-27° Aries 13’ and sidereal 21° Pisces 52’-03° Aries 07’. Remember that Mercury will cross those degrees three times, but if you have something within one degree of the station (the degree it goes retrograde or direct) Mercury will conjoin it twice, but when it conjoins the station, it will be there for a few days and feel especially intense.
During these times even little annoyances can interfere with our usual schedules, plans, and even emotions, so it is most important that you do any mental or physical exercise that helps you stay calm and focused. Do not get rattled by little things since you can easily turn something minor into something major. If you suspect your devices are acting funny, or slowing up, do not wait until they break down, but give them a check up. If a project gets delayed, then just call up your patience since getting flustered and impatient are not going to change the situation, but your attitude well. And if communication with someone close to you turns into a disagreement, just pull away and change the subject. Nothing gets resolved during Mercury retrograde.
Remember that if you keep on top of things, and tackle them before they occur, Mercury retrograde will not be that awful. Mercury Retrograde always brings the same general uneasiness, even though much of it is unwarranted. Sure, there will be the mild annoyances and disruptions, which may include communication snafus, scheduling conflicts, misunderstandings, and transportation slowdowns, and if you are prepared and figure these things are possible, they will not throw you off your center when they occur.
Think before you speak, do not overreact to what others say and do, and refrain from juggling your usual array of activities. Mercury multitasks well when it moves forward at a steady pace, and not when it appears to slow up, which is what retrogrades are all about. Retrogrades are a great time to look inward and revise and fix something you have previously worked on since once it goes direct you will be able to move forward with something new that you have incorporated in a project, relationship, move, or just with your own appearance, attitudes, and goals. Be quiet, meditate, and look inside. Be more alert than usual, develop more patience, and generally take things slower. Look inward and you will be able to problem solve. Retrogrades are always a time for reflection and revision.
