Fundamentals
of Esoteric Astrology
- Eclipses
Overview
Here
are some thoughts related to the subject of eclipses.
- Eclipses
applied
- Eclipses
and the religion of the new age
- The
Natal Eclipse charts
- Eclipses,
the planes and the rays.
1)
Eclipses applied
An Eclipse
is a focal lens for the insertion of energies gathered for a cycle
into the environs of the earth. When considering eclipses, we commonly
look for where in the chart the eclipse falls. Does it eclipse any
planet or angle in the radical chart or progressed chart? In the natal
solar eclipse chart, radical or progressed?
Commonly
also when we think of the term eclipsing, we think in terms of zodiacal
longitude. However, it is a fundamental astronomical truth that a
solar eclipse occurs very close to the moon's nodal axis and hence
by definition close to a parallel of the Sun and the Moon. A parallel
can be described as a conjunction by declination, which is related
to the equatorial coordinate system. Possibly a chart can also be
erected for when the eclipse parallel is exact--something to investigate
further.
Anyway,
my point is that just as we investigate where the eclipse falls by
longitude, so we could investigate for where it falls in declination.
Does it eclipse any of your planets or angles in the radical or progressed
chart by declination aspect? This too, should definitely be considered.
If nothing much is aspected in your chart, look to see if any midpoint
(in longitude or declination) occupies the placement of the eclipse.
You can do the same thing for the rulers of the eclipse sign--in terms
of if they relate to anything in your chart. The effect of the eclipse
angles (at the coordinates of your nativity or your location when
experiencing the eclipse) remains to be investigated further. The
timing of the impact is also dependent upon when transiting planets
and/or progressed planets activate the eclipse chart, and the eclipse
especially.
Generally,
one considers the arm or house where the eclipse falls to be an affected
area of life. The energies from the eclipse flows through the radical
or progressed pattern, finding an outlet in the pertinent and attending
rulers. Remember here the difference between the archetypal rulers
of an arm as opposed to the rulers of a sign or a housecusp.
By the
way, a planet or angle at zero declination, exerts a very strong and
potent influence in a chart. The same may be true for exact zero latitudes.
The link and analogy with the equinoxes in Aries/Libra is clear, as
the sun at that time is at zero declination. If the point is moving
to the north or above the equator, it is an Aries ingress; if moving
south or below equator, it is a Libra ingress. Stationary points,
on the other hand, relate more to the solstices of Cancer/Capricorn.
If the point is going to move stationary retrograde, it is a Cancer
station; if the point next is going to move stationary direct, it
is a Capricorn station. This view is related to the four angles in
a chart, and their relation to the four directions--East, West, North
and South respectively.
2)
Eclipses and the religion of the new age
It is
a given fact by astronomy that Solar and Lunar eclipses cluster together
in time. Sometimes the Solar Eclipse occur prior to the Lunar Eclipse,
and sometimes it is the other way around. However they come as a pair,
except those times when they come as a triangle---three Eclipses within
the period of a month. Let me illustrate the different permutations
that can occur in a cluster of Eclipses (Solar Eclipse = SE; Lunar
Eclipse = LE):
- SE
- LE
- LE
- SE
- SE
- LE - SE
- LE
- SE - LE
Formulas
can be worked out for the nature of the permutation cycles of these
clusters.
For each
year there appear no less than two such clusters of eclipses. Sometimes
even two and a half clusters, where the half is found either in January
or in December.
When
the Tibetan (in EoH p.55) say that the religion of the new age will
be "built around two periods of mass Approaches to be made at
the time of the major eclipse of the moon and the sun during the year",
my feeling is that he is really talking about the two major clusters
of Eclipses occurring during one year. In other words, the "two
periods of mass Approaches" are the two major clusters of Eclipses
occurring during one year. When he says "major eclipse"
he only does this, first of all to distinguish from the other regular
new- and full-moon Approaches during one year, but also because one
may have to determine what eclipse within a cluster constitute the
greatest foci for Hierarchical efforts.
It doesn't
make sense to only use one of the clusters for Approach. The Approaches
could be different in some manner though, and one might well ask if
the Approaches are of same esoteric magnitude or not? The constitution
of the cluster would probably determine this, or at least give some
hints. By constitution I mean such things as the number and permutation
or composition of eclipses involved; the nature of the eclipses, whether
appulse, partial, annular or total etc; The length of time of the
phenomena; the distance between the bodies and their velocity; the
eclipse path traced on earth; the astrological eclipse pattern; the
zodiacal and calendrical emphasis; the nature of the mother eclipse;
the relation to rayological cycles etc.
3)
The Natal Eclipse charts
At birth,
a person can be said to be born between two solar eclipses and between
two lunar eclipses. It sometimes happens that the person is born very
close in time to one of the eclipses, nevertheless always in-between
eclipses. They are as it were brought into life on the wave of a certain
eclipse. The pattern of that specific eclipse is very potent in relation
to the individual or group of individuals brought in on the same wave.
For each
individual the pattern of one of the Solar eclipses and one of the
Lunar eclipses will be found to be of effective influence. The four
charts involved (two lunar and two solar), will have to be investigated
in order to validate which ones are effective, and thus also determine
upon which wave the individual was brought into physical incarnation.
The interaction
between the eclipse chart and the natal chart should serve to place
matters into greater perspectives and emphasize certain factors or
features in the natal and eclipse chart. An even greater perspective
is gained if these two charts are also related to the pattern or chart
(at natal coordinates) of the Mother eclipse. The radical pattern
of the mother eclipse will always somewhat determine the influence
of the eclipses of the same family, it will set the parameters. Probably
techniques of superimposition would work here too. The eclipse chart
can be treated like the birth chart in terms of transits and progressions
etc., and is very revelatory. It can also be useful for a client unable
to ascertain their birthtime, day and even month. Actually, the only
information you need is the location and year of their birth. (Graham,
this would be a simple implementation to make, yet very potent).
An eclipse
is never an isolated event. Instead it is meaningful to talk about
pairs, triangles or even chains of eclipses. It can be said that Saturn
is the primary karmic container of any life, and through the nodal
axis, the patterns of earlier lives can be accessed. Therefore, there
is a strong Saturn/Node link between significantly related lives,
usually in the eclipse charts. It can be difficult to gain an overview
of all of this though. Usually the Natal Lunar and Solar eclipse chart
belong to the same Saros Series. In such a series, the Natal eclipses
will relate to certain Mother eclipses. An eclipse cycle begins--with
the mother eclipse--at either one of the poles and over time move
towards the other pole via the equatorial region. It will be found
that the time period when the significant Mother eclipses occurred,
hold the seed or root of an incarnational tree, upon which your present
incarnation is one of the branches--crowning or not. Specifically
important are those former incarnations that are coming to an end
about the time when ones current mother eclipses occurred. Thus the
synthetic seeds of those lives are passed on along the "stem
of the ages" for later fruition. The themes and occupations of
those former lives are present in your current incarnation (hence
beware of your mindset, especially towards the end of your incarnations--as
if you knew when they would end).
Although
there is a gradual and evolutionary development of the personas towards
the spiritual, that does not negate the fact that some incarnations
are taken along a certain line of pursuit which may be more spiritually
oriented than others. The analogy to the situation in our own earthly
living hold good, as we sometimes have to take care of business, form
a relationship, raise a family, go on vacation, exercise, study, serve,
meditate etc. So even though we hold the potency to do all things,
we do not apparently do all things at the same time on the physical
level, however we may be able to make the shift swiftly, especially
if we have already prepared ourselves on the inner planes for what
is to come.
Just
like the physicists talk about wormholes in the space-continuum linking
apparently separate or diverse locations within the one universe,
so there is to be found those wormholes within the time-continuum
linking apparently separate or diverse times and incarnations within
the one soul. So, the soul holds many parallel incarnational lines
just as we as human beings can have many different functions in our
lives. I am not here saying that the soul necessarily has several
incarnations going at the same time, but rather that it can switch
from one incarnational line to another, from one life to the next
(and sometimes during the same incarnation).
There
is on average two or three solar and lunar eclipses respectively per
year. This means that much of the population born in a certain year
will have a certain pattern of planetary placements in common. A similar
thing is true of those dying under a certain eclipse. It is in the
nature of a batch of egos on cue for coming into or going out of incarnation.
However the angles and arms will differ according to location, yet
they will have certain tendencies and ambitions in common. They will
have certain group karma and colorings. If for example, your natal
eclipse falls in Scorpio, you are belonging to those endowed with
the power and urge to penetrate into the dark, hidden and unknown
places. They are the great warriors, psychologers and transformers.
It is plausible that the pattern can describe the nature of the concrete
occupations and experiences of your recent incarnation as well as
indicate the cause of death, especially in terms of bodily location.
It is
probably in some way related to the entering and going out of incarnation
in certain signs, as hinted at by the Tibetan. It is the seeding of
the ego or persona and probably contain hints on the legacy ray of
the persona. Let me also mention that the coming in and going out
of certain signs when incarnating and disincarnating may have to take
into consideration the decanates of the signs. For example, if dying
when the transiting or progressed sun was in Libra may eventuate birth
in 3rd decanate of Aquarius--the Libra decanate. Correspondingly a
death with the sun in 3rd decanate in Libra may lead to strong influence
of Gemini in next life. This all to produce a continuity in the energic
environs of the incarnated soul.
4)
Eclipses, the planes and the rays.
Egos
coming into incarnation on the same ecliptic wave have, as mentioned,
certain things in common. It will probably be found that there is
a certain ray predominance within the group. Hence eclipses are related
to the coming in of certain rays of egos. We also know that the coming
in and going out of incarnation, i.e.. cyclic appearance, is submitted
to and directed by the influence of ray-cycles. Therefore there seem
to be a direct connection between eclipses and ray-cycles. The Tibetan's
description of the comings and goings of the rays (EP I p.349) very
much resemble the event of an eclipse:
"There
are nevertheless constant cycles of waxing and waning potency, produced
by the interplay of the rays which produce what is called in the ancient
archives "the intrusion of one or another of the seven Brothers
Who block the door from whence the force emerges", and "the
disappearance of that radiant Brother Who passes on His way and leaves
behind an open door through which another Brother can pass upon His
mission preordained."" The symbolism seems very suggestive
of an eclipse.
So, there
does seem to be a connection between eclipses and ray-cycles. Furthermore,
as stated, an eclipse cycle begins--with the mother eclipse--at either
one of the poles and over time move towards the other pole via the
equatorial region. This fact could very well relate to what is said
in TCF p.152-3, namely that the seven planes rotate latitudinally--from
east to west. The seven rays rotate longitudinally--from north to
south, and that this is making possible the work of the four lords
of Karma.
Let me
before ending just give a few suggestive examples on factors to consider
when trying to detect signatures of the rays.
- Cancer
and Capricorn are gates into incarnation and out of incarnation.
- Aries
ever initiate cycles, especially if esoteric rulers of a sign and
its ray ingress there.
- Libra
governs the turning point.
- The
sign or axis on which a fundamental or mother eclipse occurs.
- Aspects
or alignments to the eclipse axis from planets radiating a certain
ray.
- The
nodes are important including the planetary nodes (geocentric and
heliocentric).
- Aspects
to "radiators" from planets with certain meanings like
Pluto signifying death--the death of a ray.
- Mars
by transit may activate or stimulate the ray of any sign.
By
NN © 2003