Today is Eclipse Day and I’m still debating what I should do about it. Should I take a nap? Should I clean my house? Should I go to the gym? Should I sit on my deck and try to watch it? And what does the solar eclipse mean for this month, this year and the current state of America? Obviously, I’m interested in the solar eclipse from an astrological point of view, because it was like a light bulb went off in my head when I read that the eclipse is the reason why this month has felt so fraught and emotional. From Time:
“Eclipses are the most dramatic tools that the universe uses to effect change,” said Susan Miller, a well-known astrologer who runs the popular website AstrologyZone.com. “Nobody likes change, but eclipses shake us out of our complacency and push us forward, no matter if we’re ready or not.”
That change could cause “turmoil and conflict,” according to Joyce Levine, chair of the National Council for Geocosmic Research, which promotes the study of astrology. Astrologers say people who may feel more strongly affected by the eclipse are those with Aug. 21 birthdays, as well as those with Leo, Aquarius, Taurus and Scorpio zodiac signs who were born at the end of their signs, and those with Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Pisces zodiac signs who were born at the start of their signs.
The eclipse manifests differently for each person, depending on the date, time and place of his or her birth, according to astrologers. The effects, they say, can be felt in the weeks before and after the actual passing of the eclipse. “It sort of feels like free-flowing anxiety — like something is wrong but you can’t put your finger on it,” Levine told TIME. “They’re probably already feeling it.”
Astrologers are actually split about what the eclipse means politically, or whether the eclipse could be any kind of bad omen. One astrologer, Rebecca Gordon, says that Donald Trump’s astrological chart is at a “tipping point” because of the eclipse, and that’s why Trump has seemed so extra emotional/whinging this month. Gordon says: “This is certainly the most crucial time in his life as this eclipse will peel back the curtains and reveal hidden truths as we have seen already in the months leading up to this eclipse. Eclipses have historically coincided with the birth and death of monarchs, the beginnings and ends of particular eras, and of course, it hits Donald Trump’s chart in a big way. And we’re seeing that now. Look at him. You know, he’s under fire.” Lord, we can only hope that the eclipse will usher in something new. Maybe Robert Mueller will announce some indictments today!
Meanwhile, astrologers do tend to agree that the solar eclipse will definitely mean significant emotional changes for everyone, and a shift in perspective writ large. Professional astrologer Ophira Edut – one-half of the famed AstroTwins – told People Mag:
“An eclipse, in astrology, is looked at as this big turning point,” Edut explains. “A solar eclipse is a new moon, which has a theme of newness. So, at every new moon, astrologers say it’s a good time to initiate something or to start something new. In astrology, eclipses kind of function as a push-off. The element of freewill maybe isn’t as strong with an eclipse. It’s kind of ‘Ready or not, here you go.’ ”
The Aug. 21st eclipse falls under Leo, the sign of self-expression, drama and passion. According to Edut, that means we can expect big moments in the world of politics (in fact, she notes, several of our previous American presidents are Leos).
“It’s a rallying cry for the world to really stand up and take leadership –instead of waiting around, we’re supposed to step up,” she says. “The eclipse is really a push for everyone to find the leader within. Anywhere in our lives where we’re not taking charge, where we’re not speaking up powerfully – roaring like the lion of Leo – anywhere we need to be heard or be braver and more courageous, that’s what this eclipse is inviting people to do,” she says.
When it comes to romance, Edut notes that Leo rules the fifth house of the zodiac, which is romance, passion and fertility. The eclipse could mean “a lot of wearing our hearts on our sleeves,” and the push for some to issue declarations or confessions of love. It could be a day that people just go for it and confess an attraction or make a move, do something bold like that. An eclipse is like when the lights go off and then they suddenly come back on, and you’ve got to adjust your vision. So, if you don’t have to make a big decision, don’t.”
The People article goes on to break down what the eclipse will mean for each individual sign – I’m a Virgo so I’m supposed to let myself lose control a little bit and allow someone else to take care of me for a change. Good luck with that, me.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Do people genuinely believe in this stuff?
If yes, please tell me why, I am open to opinions/info.
Basically you have a lot of free will in this life but one of the things you don’t seem to choose is when and where you’re born. Each person is born at a very specific time and place some of us feel…that is purposed and has significance.
No different than temperatures change, or sound waves emit or oxygen flows all around unseen and without much thought from us as humans….those things still very much impact us.
Same with the position of the planet’s, it’s a much bigger version of being affected by your environment I suppose. It’s a big thing to wrap our minds around and lot of folks reject the ideas, others do not. But it has something that has fascinated humans both the very smart and not so smart for most of our human history. I don’t think it’s fair to just discount it.
Yes, they do. I cannot comprehend why. Might as well be a flat-earther (sorry, Imo).
Today will see a super-cool astronomical event and it is beyond me that anyone could think of it with trepidation. Eclipses rock!
Sorry Sixer. I respect you and your comments are always interesting and generally fun. But this was rude… the flat earther bit. You don’t know what you’re talking about in this topic, as you said. Should have ended with that.
Sixer
I’m a science girl. And I enjoy astrology. I think there’s no exact known science regarding stars, but I also know I don’t know enough to count it out and not enjoy it.
I also don’t believe the earth is flat.
It entertains me. I’m not ignorant.
What Sixer says wasn’t rude. You can choose to believe in astrology, but that doesn’t change the fact that it isn’t based on evidences. If you need to believe in something for it to work, then this is just superstition.
Carrie – sorry if it was blunt. But I’m afraid it’s my position. Astrology is arrant nonsense. And it genuinely does beggar my belief that anyone actually credits it. I’m an atheist but I can, just about, get my head around people believing in a creator. But astrology? It really is flat earthism to me.
I don’t say this to denigrate anyone – I’m sure I hold some irrational beliefs myself about some things. But it is what I think.
You’re welcome to disagree, of course.
No, I don’t. Mostly because a lot of what I see people doing is just them trying to find an identity for themselves. And they’ve found some of the most arbitrary ways to do it. I don’t know how or why, but most of the people who follow astrology or are into it in a huge way find a lot of comfort in its strictures. It tells you that you are a certain way because you were born under a certain circumstance, and that that somehow explains your personality and how you navigate your life in the way that you do. And people like that. People like having an explanation for that. They find a certain comfort in knowing that something didn’t work out, not because the universe is vast and unpredictable and things just happen because they do, but because of something arbitrary like your date and time of birth.
Frankly, once I figured that out, I dropped astrology like a hot potato. It didn’t sit well with me after that. It’s fun to see and follow, but I’m not going to take it seriously. It’s cute, it’s harmless if it’s just for a laugh, but I’m not gonna lie and say it’s not concerning when I see friends poring over their birth charts trying to figure out why their last relationship didn’t work. Even if they are the most level headed sort, it’s still so weird to me.
Also, almost every website that promises to churn out your birth chart asks you for your date of birth, down to the year AND the time, and I don’t know abt you, but the fact that there are millions of people out there who want to trust completely unknown websites with that sort of information, especially in light of how such data is being used, was also enough for me to not want to be into it.
Your first paragraph could be describing organized religion, in many ways.
And that’s likely why early religion was often in reponse to astronomical events. I was surprised by an eclipse when I was 14. I had no idea it was coming, and was wierded out by the sky going dark during my tennis game. I can understand why people thought there was divine purpose behind it.
I’m with Sixer on this one. Science is amazing. Free will and science beat fate every time.
@Esmom, hah, that’s weird, but yeah I guess you’re right. But I think people think of astrology as somewhat less judgmental than organized religion. People approach it as more of a “finding yourself” type deal than a “someone will find you FOR you” thing? It’s a question of just how it looks though, but the theory is probably the same sort.
At the end of the day, I’ve come to terms with knowing that, basically, sh*t happens. I think believing in a “higher purpose” for it all makes sense for some, and I guess that’s nice for them. But I know it sounds weird, but I like knowing that the universe is just spontaneous sometimes. The meaning we give to our lives is entirely our own and that’s great for me.
I only believe it if it favors Libra.
I just choose to see it as symbolic.
The dance of light and shadow, which happens every day in life and in us, personified in the sky. For me and my spirituality, it’s an an opportunity to look at my shadows and open up to my light. Release & receive.
Also, it’s just a beautiful, cosmic phenomenon that reminds us that we’re in this vast, amazing universe.
Signed,
Your local, hippie yoga teacher
@Shambles, I don’t know if I agree with you, but man, you have a beautiful way with words.
Signed,
Skeptical academic 🙂
Beautiful, Shambles.
The same reason people believe in God. People want an explanation to the world around them. I find it amusing when Christians say astrology isn’t real, like there’s anymore proof of a virgin birth and someone rising from the dead.
You can thank the Catholic church for that – astrology and Christianity were once compatible until one of the popes (I’m too lazy to look up who) declared it as against the Catholic faith. John Paul II, in the waning years of his life, pointed to that edict to try and reign in the influence of new age spirituality on the Catholic faith.
I actually read about some of this in a book about eclipses …
DING DING DING DING DING!
Sadly, yes they do. Like energy bands, healing crystals, magnet therapy, auras, fad diets, etc. I always took the “I want to believe” poster in the X Files as a cautionary statement of human gulability not a positive message. The power of belief is a strong thing and reinforced by confirmation bias, be it applied to superstition or even prejudice.
We have evolved to see patterns. It’s generally a competitive advantage, but it can also mean seeing patterns where there aren’t any, like seeing a face on the moon.
Well, the funny thing is i’m a sag and my man is a sag too. We have a well balanced marriage most of the time and work great as a team. But over the weekend i felt uneasy and grouchy. I told my husband i felt i was missing something in my life and that feeling was so strong but i couldn’t tell what it was… i just cried my eyes out. He held me until i calmed down. It felt so weird and strong and it never dawned on me that it could just be my body reacting to the changes in the atmosphere…kind of like an emotional high tide that i couldn’t explain. I could just feel it. If the moon’s magnetic field is strong enough to affect the currents and the tides in the oceans, it wouldn’t be too far fetched that many of us were affected physiologically and it reflected in the way we’ve felt. That’s my 5 cents…gotta run out to the woods naked and hawl now… ;-b
Well they’re a little late to this party, people already feel anxiety and we ARE in a political crisis – since November 9, 2016.
Exactly, no eclipse is gonna change that. But hey if it coincides with an utterly humiliating end to the Trump family, I’ll wear an I love eclipses tshirt.
He looked at the eclipse without glasses…repeatedly. I wonder if he will be able to read the teleprompter tonight at the Afghanistan announcement?
Not to worry, I think they have somebody read it to him through earbuds…. Really. Explains some of the weird cadence sometimes. Also it’s not clear how easily he reads. I think he actually can read, but it’s difficult. He might be dyslexic or something similar, possibly undiagnosed since such testing wasn’t routinely done in his childhood. The teleprompter would be a guide if he practiced enough, but a Trump Whisperer sounds more like his style.
I actually read an astrology back in October predict that the election wasn’t going to go well because of the unrest she saw in 2017.
Just got back from eclipse watching. It was a pleasant change to see people gathering in DC for some reason other than protesting Trump.
Megan: Love your comment.
It was the same in LA – most everyone was in a good mood, and I’d kind of forgotten how much fun it is to be in a large group for a happy activity.
Best overheard comment out here was a young guy saying he’s decided he believes in astrology and will renounce atheism if the eclipse marks the downfall of Emperor Cheeto.
That was my thought, too. Our anxiety level is already at a collective maximum …. The eclipse happened in November.
I’m a Virgo and I agree. Good luck with that because no one takes care of me (by choice).
Why do you think that is? I’m a virgo too and although I don’t take astrology that seriously, it’s funny cause I’ve rarely been taken care of too but I don’t ever ask for help so could be that! It’s hard for me to ask for help.
On the flip side, someone very close to me is a Virgo and she cannot ever be alone. She needs to be taken care of, always. They few times in 40+ years that she’s been alone, she has been a mess. I always breathed a sigh of relief when she’d settle into a relationship because there would be someone else to look out for her instead of me.
Solar Eclipse will lead to widespread anxiety & political crisis, astrologers claim.
Jokes on you, astrologers!!! This has been happening since last year.
Was going to say same thing,I thought astrology was predicting the unknown future not stating the obvious current state of things🙄
My only concern was for like 2 secs my glasses slipped off my face and I was exposed to the sun. It was bad and saw sunspots (the actual sun when my eyes were close) for about an half an hour. I was praying to Jesus in my mind I hadn’t damaged my rods for the rest of my life lol.
Eh, I’ve taken the day off because I’m in a 96-percent area and I just want to see how the birds and wildlife react. I don’t think our leader needs any external help being unstable.
Good luck to those in 100 percent zones. Supposedly rural areas are being overwhelmed by traffic, gas shortages, etc.
In one of the 100% zones. Many schools closed because of the extra traffic expected and the peak is around the time schools let out – especially high schools and there are many drivers. Here in Missouri they are expecting 1.2 million extra people because of the eclipse. My two son-in-laws took the day off because of the extra traffic. They both work at jobs that require driving all day. I want it over because it’s been overkill for the event. Me, I’m going to be watching “Little Shop of Horrors” and not buying any plants today. 🙂 “Feed me Seymour, feed me” My daughter has chickens and it will be interesting to see if they coop themselves when it starts to get dark (they coop themselves every night).
Most of the school systems in my area canceled classes today, too. One system (thanks to a resourceful teacher’s fundraising efforts) purchased glasses for every student.
We’re watching a live cam of a small town about 90 minutes away (in the totality zone) and they’re treating it as a street festival. My husband just realized he needs to wear long sleeves and pants, because the mosquito activity may increase (as if it’s dusk). I never thought of that.
I just realized last night that people were making pilgrimages to southern IL and MO. I had no idea this was going to become such a huge deal. Everyone has been chattering about it for days, I feel sorta detached from all the excitement myself. I’ll hang out with my cat when it happens.
@Esmom I can’t get into it either. I don’t know why. A bunch of people and the older kids are out to look. I just put on Black Hole Sun by Soundgarden and that is my homage.
I’m sorry for those of you who were in the path of totality and chose not to see it. I saw the one in 1991 and all these years later I’m still awestruck. It’s an incredible experience, and so rare to witness. I hope someday you can experience it.
And BTW, I do not believe in astrology and am an agnostic, you don’t need it to signify anything, just to be able to witness the physicality of the solar system is amazing.
On the plus side they (the businesses) will be overwhelmed with revenue too!
Donald Trump does not need a solar eclipse to act any weirder and unhinged than he already does. But I do wonder how it will affect his sick and twisted mind. Is he going to do or say something crazy today?
Let the man heel
He Had a busy weak
LOL, Milla!
The eclipse will mean a new beginning in politics. ♡
LMAO, thank you.
“Heel, Donald, heel! Good boy. Hey, come back here! There’s a truck coming right at you! Heel, heel!!!!” (as I let go of the leash).
He has a press conference tonight concerning our role in Afghanistan. Will be interesting to see if he goes off topic.
From CNN:
“He wants to be the one to announce it to the American people,” Mattis said. “He now needs the weekend to collect his thoughts on how he’s going to explain it to the American people.”
Seems like they are preparing for him to go off topic big time.
I saw a funny tweet, I think from Alyssa Milano, that said he should be required to be able to spell it before he commits any more troops to it.
I don’t know if I can even watch or listen.
Sigh. I know it will be a hot mess before Arizona. If it is calm then tomorrow he will be a nutjob.
Dear Orange Voldy, please watch the eclipse today. Stare directly at it. Thank you.
Do you suppose he will start to disintegrate into a cloud of black dust?
Orange dust
We can only hope. /-:
Stare long and hard Tangerine.
Just tell him there is a rumor Obama is filming himself looking directly at the eclipse to prove he was the best president ever! Urge him to tweet it to his followers, so they can show their solidarity. The reports saying not to look is just fake news. There is no such thing as science so go ahead LOOOOOK.
You got your wish! He looked at it without glasses.
Or, you know, the universe does not give any kind or crap about human kind…
Humans, anthromorphising everything for more than 10 000 years
This exactly.
Well I have an anxiety disorder so this freefloating anxiety as described is basically my life. I’ve actually felt pretty settled and lots of energy lately. So for me the eclipse seems to be a positive thing so far.
Also I do have to believe in astrology to some degree because I’m a Taurus and am I ever a Taurus! Other than being good with money (I’m not, I wish I was) I’m always 100% a Taurus. And my sisters are their signs to a T, also.
But my husband is a virgo and he doesn’t fit the description too much. So I don’t think it’s some complete science. It’s just amazing though how my sisters and I are the very definition of our respective signs.
Best wishes to everyone for a good and exciting eclipse day! And may the president finally be taken out in handcuffs today!!
Widespread anxiety? Political crisis? Nothing DT does shocks us anymore.
I’m a ‘believer’ of sorts although I get that it’s also fluff. This is one of those topics that’s annoying because everyone who talks about astrology to general media usually talks about sun signs but in order to see how this affects people you need to see their full chart and find what signs you have in Aquarius or Leo especially Rising,Sun, or Moon. For instance the reason why this affects Drumph so much is because firstly his rising falls on the exact degree of the eclipse (mine too) secondly this is the first time an eclipse is happening soley on American soil so it will affect USA greater (last time this happened apparently was around the Declaration of Independence and their are theories that Ben Franklin especially used his knowledge of astrology to harness that energy http://www.magiastrology.com/ben_franklin_astrology.htm .
Also this all started around August 7 with the lunar eclipse. And the after affects will last something like a 1 year 1/2 because of the length of the eclipse. Again this is just some interesting information I’m not claiming it’s logical I’m just sharing information I read about.
We are house of aquarius. I have been anxious lately, my mum is in full warrior mode and even my dog is unwell. So i might be a believer. My sis is a leo… oh well…
My dog is very sick too! Prayers for the both of them ♡.
I just missed the Capricorn-Aquarius cusp, so I’m going to attribute my current anxiety to two things: my usual mental state, and watching too much Last Week Tonight. Sun Aquarius, moon Scorpio, Cancer rising. My feelings are intense and I try my best to avoid them.
Side note, I did a science fair project in high school on astrology. That was fun. Not a winner, but I got an A 😏
Linabear
Kisses to your furbaby. My senior is having a surgery tommorrow… hope you are better luck💗
I started looking at Astrology for fun but I actually started putting some stock in it when I realised I had inherited aspects from my family. I share a name with my grandmother, we’ve always been a lot alike (for better and for worse) and when I studied charts of people in my family I realised we have the exact same Venus, down to a decimal degree (mine is at 22,32 degrees Capricorn and hers was at 22,38 Cap). Which in all the charts I’ve looked at I’ve never come across before. I respect people who think it’s nonsense, I do half the time too, but after looking at a number of charts, yes, there does seem to be some mathematical truth to it at least, especially within families and with partners etc. What it actually means though is another matter for me, that depends on which astrologer you ask and wether their approach is psychological, etherial, mystical, karmic etc etc. I find it fascinating but I don’t rely on it 🙂
@Shirurusu, do you find that you tend to attract people from a certain sign in your life? Or that a higher percentage of one or two comprise most of the people you’re closest to? My parents are Pisces (mom) and Cancer (dad.) My siblings are both Capricorns. Two of my grandmas are Caps (the other is a Leo.) Grandpas were all earth or water signs. My husband is a Cancer-Leo. In general, I’ve noticed I get a lot of people born in July in my life, most of them Cancers. I’m an Aquarius sun, but a decent bit of my chart has water. I’m a lightning storm I guess 😂 Capricorns are my favorites.
justcrimmles, yes for me.
@justcrimmles yes definitely 🙂 Out of the six closest relationships I’ve had in my life with people who are not my family and who I’ve chosen to be around (3 long term boyfriends, 3 best friends) half of them have had Libra moons and the other half Cancer moons. I didn’t know that at the time, but I looked retroactively. I also attract and am attracted to Gemini suns possibly because my descendant is there. And I also love Capricorns. I think it can change depending on age, but I have to admit that some signs and aspects keep showing up and some are never ever even on my radar, I just don’t “notice” them so to speak. Since I started looking at astrology I decided not to check a birth chart until I’ve known someone for quite some time though, it’s too easy for me to project things lol! But retroactively I think it’s fun 🙂
I’m in the path of totality and pumped! Luckily we own a farm in very rural America and should have no traffic (or other people) 🙂
I’m so jealous!
have fun!!
Sounds like you have a great viewing spot! And privacy — that’s extra great!
NSS (= no sh*t Sherlock), lol
I believe in it and I don’t like how people who don’t condescend to people who do like they are smarter. You wouldn’t do that about someone’s religious beliefs so don’t do it to people who believe in astrology. Not cool.
I’m with you Maria. As a Buddhist living in the Bible Belt, I keep my ideologies (for the most part) to myself. No judgment ❤
I don’t judge either because I don’t know what is possible. I have had my chart done and I had charts done for each of my kids and put them in their baby books. I do know it is a lot of fun and uncanny sometimes.
This. I’m a huge supporter of science but I also think there’s a lot we don’t understand and that people should be allowed their spirituality of whatever flavor and to marvel at the wonder of the universe.
My rule with both science and religion, though, is its power should only extend as far as it doesn’t negatively hurt other people.
Wow, that’s a real stretch.
Um, why are you covering what astrologers say? Anyway I would like to see an eclipse but not one in my country for a long time I believe.
Meanwhile the pastramigists have all been saying we are bun. Quite a pickle. Hahaaaa
Yeah but really it all seems very Stone Age to assign woo to what you have already learned is a natural occurrence in earth space science in elementary school. It’s not magic it’s basic science.
Gotta say, that’s a pretty easy prediction. We’re in a time of huge political chaos and anxiety…a solar eclipse is happening…so they’re saying it’ll cause political chaos and anxiety. OK then.
Dismissive. Good lord, do we not have any medieval historians or linguistics professionals here? Or anthropologists… I’m sure there were some a while back.
These negative comments are wholly uninformed and rude. Every time this comes up, I think of the American currency having In God We Trust. I’m not religious. I am spiritual somewhat and appreciate Buddhism in many ways. But I would never disrespect the beliefs of someone else if it’s not harming anyone else and this is not.
Every US President goes to church. I don’t for a second believe they all are religious, but they go to church … except Trump I think. Which..if you’re going to judge people for enjoying a past time based on math, astronomy, the foundation of medicine etc., I would ask you to give this respect for others at least.
Especially in wake of all this past weekend demonstrations…North American land was stolen from indigenous people. They believe in many things as part of their culture, some still practiced today and found it works for them. I wonder how you approach them? Everyone being dismissive of astrology, the time is well past for this rudeness to be tolerated anymore in any society. My. Two cents. I watched Boston this weekend… those people who showed up to stop hate were impressive. I think it’s time for everyone to stop hate and this divisive dismissal of anyone different who is not harming you.
…did you mean to respond to me? Or someone else?
If you meant to respond to me, I’m just saying it’s easy to make a prediction of something that’s already happening. I’m not being dismissive of astrology or people who believe in it, I’m being dismissive of those particular people looking for attention by claiming predictions like this.
Lucy2, I apologize. I was replying to you as the tone here in comments was negative and by the time I got to yours it was hard to not be concerned.
I actually agree with you re: predictions. Nobody can or should be making predictions and if they do it’s generally a creative expression and shouldn’t be taken seriously.
That said, there’s a ton of empirical astronomy backing this particular prediction and it’s been said for a year or so now. It’s just that it’s hitting main news now I guess. It’s a hobby. They called it long ago actually. Again I apologize to you.
ETA: not everyone will be affected by this. Most good astrologers know and say this. It depends on personal individual chart. And I mean, does astrology affect a person? No, can’t say that, but it provides an avenue to get to understanding and further study elsewhere of self etc. I c sid
Off topic, but, In all honesty, I won’t say American land was stolen, it was conquered. Conquest is brutal and sad but isn’t that how humans have always been? Humans from Africa conquered the neanderthals; normans and romans in Britain etc etc.
I’m being followed by a moonshadow!!
Here in Portland, OR.
I am a very excited Aquarian.
already feeling this free flow of anxiety and cant put finger on it exactly ….already did the push or declaration of affections.
but also my cycle is on sooooo so many feels (tmi but were all gossiping adults here LOL)
I just got my goggles from the Astronomy Dept at my uni and I’m super excited. The students and I will take the afternoon off to go look at it because after all, it’s still science!
My bf and I are both Taurus, born a day apart. One of our biggest pet peeves is when people are trying to tell us how we’re reacting to stuff because of our sign. He was born in New-Zealand, I was born in France. Because of the time difference, we likely were born around the same moment. How on earth would the Northern skies charts influence the life of someone born down under but not really the Southern constellations? How north-centrist! Why not believe in Medieval medicine while we’re at it? It was a cute way to try to give a greater meaning to life or try to give oneself a purpose when we didn’t know much about how the world and universe work, but c’mon! We’ve learned a few things since then, haven’t we? Astrologists and fortune tellers are just good psychologists, but that about it.
If August is stressful to some, it’s because (up north, at least) people are getting out of vacation-mode and starting school or work again. You suddenly have to deal with the day-to-day routine, homeworks, lunches and all that stuff and yes, that can be rough. And this year has been stressful for most in North America, but it has nothing to do with astrology and everything to do about seeing Nazi killing people and thinking about nuclear wars.
As an astrologer I can tell you that eclipses are very powerful – the total eclipses even more so. Major events happen and typically someone very noteworthy passes away. I just heard Jerry Lewis passed away yesterday. The most powerful total solar eclipse we’ve had in the last 20 years was in late August of 1997. I remember it well, as it formed a major grand cross with the planets. Within 2 weeks of that eclipse Princess Diana died, JFK Jr died shortly after, and Mother Theresa died! Yes, very powerful indeed. They also say if you are married on an eclipse, then life will take unexpected highways as eclipses are wildcards. Princess Diana was married on an eclipse, and Prince William was born on one. Eclipses are wonderful times for pushing forward as their energies are so so strong. Back in medieval times the court astrologers used eclipses as a major forecasting tool as that was usually when a king was born (like Prince William was born on an eclipse), a king died or a battle was won (or lost!). I also remember that total solar eclipse in the late 90s ran exactly through Turkey. Its path of exact totality ran through turkey, and soon after Turkey had that major earthquake that devastated the country and killed so many people. You just never know what will happen on an eclipse. It depends where it falls in your chart.
That’s really interesting! As an astrologer did you do specific chart readings to look at how the eclipse may impact an individual?
JFK Jr died almost two years after Diana – that’s a bit of a stretch.
Also, Mother Theresa died in India, Diana in France and the eclipse was visible in China and Mongolia in March, why should something happening on the other side of the planet affect you, especially months later? There are solar eclipses visible from somewhere on the planet every other years or so. It’s just the moon getting in front of the Sun while going around the earth. There’s absolutely nothing mysterious about it, which is why science can predict them. It’s still cool to watch though, but they don’t change anything about the path of our lives.
Exactly, really stretching it when the death is 2 years later lol. Someone noteworthy passes everyday. Sorry but correlation isn’t causation.
This is off topic but I always thought JFK Jr’s wife and Diana had a very similar appearance. Both had a big nose, big blue eyes and very beautiful.
Yeah JFK Jr. passed away two years later. I don’t really think that has anything to do with an eclipse that occurred two years earlier. Princess Diana wasn’t wearing a seatbelt (her bodyguard survived and he was). JFK Jr. did something to crash his plane. Jerry Lewis was an old man who had health problems. None of this indicates to me a solar eclipse had anything to do with their passing.
And how, exactly, did they divine that? By opening the newspaper?
It’s a fun, interesting hobby with potentially therapeutic benefits when used with good judgment and reason.
Astrologers … some are good, some are in need of mental health treatment, some are uncannily good at using it in a way that actually benefits (ie. see book called Saturn by Liz Greene). Theories are formed largely individually, except credible groups (eg. Astrodienst in Switzerland) it’s a creative … I don’t know what to call it… past time?
Different astrologers believe different things. I’ve not read anything good on eclipse really except by Jessica Adams. Look up her website. They all differ on house systems as well and the theories they develop, some of them, are subjective though genuinely based on repetitive experiences they’ve found over years in people’s charts. It gets tough to believe because there is no singular overriding body dictating what is and isn’t allowed. That’s what causes a lot of things said publicly which leads to scoffing.
But if millions of people enjoy it, obviously it’s doing something to add to their life. In the same way Oprah had millions of fans, still does I guess…. she makes them feel accepted and helps them understand things yes? There you go. Use astrology for that.
I have read Lunar eclipses hide things and Solar eclipses reveal what was hidden. There’s also a fascinating study on the Soros cycles of eclipses, fixed stars, Indian/Vedic astrology, etc. I’ve used it for generational family study and it’s been helpful and healing. I keep it personal, don’t do it professionally, and have played with it a long time.
Awesome comment, completely agree! I love astrology, always have. I’m a Virgo (not sure if 9/2 counts as early in the cycle for the eclipse impact) and really just find it extremely interesting. My college studies and professional experience are all in the science fields and think astrology can be compatible with more mainstream sciences.
A big problem in science is distinguishing between coincidence and causality. Coincidences can feel like very powerful correlations, but they just happen randomly. Astrology tends to be a non-falsifiable system, if you want to judge it on modern scientific terms. That is, there seems to be nothing that can happen which would indicate the theory is false. Modern science wants falsifiable theories. Religious frameworks don’t have that need because they are not science and deal with very different things in very different ways using very different language (as astrology does also, putting it closer to religious belief than science, which is neither good nor bad). People are quite capable of operating in both realms (science and religion) at the same time, for different aspects of their lives.
Astrology is still fun and interesting, though. I do wonder if the time of year for birth in a particular place may have some predictive qualities because of seasonal influences starting from conception and continuing on to things like sun exposure for needed vitamin D synthesis or amount of light as it might correlate with depression for both mother and child and the effect of solar storms or tides etc. But it all has to be very geographically specific as well as tied to the actual weather patterns and other events during development in the womb and infancy/childhood. Very complicated and most of the required data would be missing, and modern technology really messes the whole system up (for example, with artificial lighting and the effect of electromagnetic fields from equipment, power poles, etc.) not to mention the effect of different types of pollution.
But people have always loved looking for patterns. It’s our version of cats’ fascination with a dangling string.
Most astrological websites out there are for entertainment purposes only. But there is a hell of a lot more to astrology than just your zodiac sign.
Me I used to be Ms. skeptical. If ain’t logical, I didn’t want to hear about it but nowadays based on some personal experiences (isn’t it always?) I am no longer dismissive of astrology or numerology or even ‘magic’ aka spiritual energy.
Someone gave me a consultation with an asrologer for a birthday present. Yes, your chart depends on the day and time of your birth because they plot exactly where the planets were in relation to each other. My consultation was a huge eye opener! I had never spoken to her before and she had some remarkable insights. I think it depends on whether the astrologer is truly knowledgeable and also has a natural gift. Obviously there are good ones and bad ones.
I can’t believe how many people I see standing outside with just sunglasses on trying to get pictures of the eclipse.
We’re past the peak now, it didn’t get as dark as I was expecting. I’m at 75% and it seemed more like a heavy fog day. The birds are quiet. It’s all pretty cool, I’m glad I got to see it happen.
I was happy to see it at around 95%. It was brief but interesting. Not as dark as I expected here, either. It was not exactly like an overcast day, but more like being in a greenhouse (but cooler).
The biggest difference I noticed was inside the house. It looked like late evening, light-wise.
We were partial. I had already done the whole observing thing for a total or nearly total eclipse back in the late 1970s (1979?) when I was teaching physics. We did the observing from the lab window rather than outside.
This time, I didn’t go out (not wanting to risk the cats looking up to see what bird I was tracking, easier to keep them inside if I’m inside). So I lay down upstairs to watch how the light pattern changed through a window. It was a very sunny day. TIME magazine had an interactive animated site where you could put your zip code in and watch speeded up how the moon would travel, telling you the time for each position and lightening or darkening the screen accordingly. It was quite accurate.
Since of course I busied myself watching YouTube and reading online while watching the progression of darkness (heaven forbid I read a book) — I was annoyed when my isp Frontier conked out in the middle of it about 2pm. Frontier is in an off-more-than-on phase (fourth episode since December, they last several weeks, net goes down late afternoon/early evening and stays off until 7am-10am, then stays on all day). Still off by 3pm. Fell asleep and the net was up by the time I woke up, when the eclipse was finished and we were back to sunny.
So is this a new thing, dsl internet affected by eclipses?!? That’s all we need, yet another reason for Frontier to be flakey.
Mother Nature is very cool but I’m here because my parents had sex and Mom was ovulating.
Yours, too?! It can’t be a coincidence… what are their signs?
I think theyre both Sagittarius. I’m Capricorn. I have to say this though. I live on the ocean and every full moon people in my office are nuts. Wonder if thats coincidental.
I got into a conversation about this while I was in labor. I think we decided that any phenomenon with the strength to affect the oceans (as in tides) was strong enough to affect the internal pressures on humans’ surprisingly delicate physiology. So maybe the full moon subtly affects the endocrine system and people act nuts.
Frankly, I’ve always wondered how much of an impact the moon’s movements do have on us: we are mostly water after all…
@ graymatters, interesting you should mention that. When I had my son the nurses told me there are more women giving birth when the moon is full. Both my sons were born on a full moon. No they are not werewolves.
I find it humorous that people who don’t believe in astrology are calling believers out —–on a gossip blog. As if they are so much deeper and smarter.
I don’t know about the whole astrological angle to this eclipse, but I kept encountering people who were wired so tight they were throwing off sparks.
I had a doctor’s appointment so I went to their campus…
First, there was a guy having a stand off with security in the elevator. Don’t know what started it but he was yelling at them that he had behavioral issues and that was why he was there in the first place… Don’t know how that turned out; I was late for my appointment.
Second, after my appointment I had to let them take blood for my annual check up and one of the women waiting next to me boiled up at some perceived faux pas on the part of a couple of latinas – crucial detail – and got all racial about them even being there. Grumbling and cursing for everyone to hear, although they had made an honest mistake about where they were supposed to go at one point, which was corrected by the staff right off – so no problem right? Well, she was venting about them and a young man spoke up telling her – in plain terms – to just chill, etc. SHE BLEW UP. Threatened to beat him up and didn’t care if she went to jail for it. The staff got her into the other room to take her blood, etc, and get her out!
Then security showed up and as soon as one of them poked his head into the other room, off she went again. So the guard talked to the young man about what was going down and he explained that the woman was being racist – and I spoke up then too and backed him up that she pretty much flew off the handle right off the bat. Then she came out again…And it was worse. They had to get between her and the young man and usher her outside – and she threatened and cursed him all the way out. Neither of these two were white by the way, so….
I went to the gym and to the grocery store that was part of the same shopping center. I’m passing by a beauty supply super store and I hear some man shouting angrily at someone.
So….Yeah…I went home! And stayed there, watching the eclipse on TV in perfect safety.
People were wired today.