Spring Eclipses 2024

What Is An Eclipse?

An eclipse season is an approximate 35-day period during which at least two (and possibly three) eclipses will occur. Typically, there are two eclipses in one eclipse season and two eclipse seasons in one calendar year. Eclipse seasons typically have at least four eclipses per year. Eclipse seasons repeat in cycles of 173.3 days (somewhat shy of six calendar months).

To see a lunar eclipse, the moon has to be above your horizon. So it has to be night, or close to night, and that only happens for half of Earth at once. A total solar eclipse can be seen only from a narrow track along Earth’s surface. The accompanying partial solar eclipse can be seen only in areas adjacent to that track. The moon’s orbit is inclined by 5 degrees to the ecliptic (Earth’s orbital plane). The new or full moon usually swings too far north or south of the ecliptic for an eclipse to occur.

Twice every month, as the moon circles Earth in its orbit, it crosses the ecliptic (Earth’s orbital plane) at the nodes. If the moon is going from south to north, it’s called the moon’s ascending node, and if it is moving from north to south, it’s called the moon’s descending node.

Eclipses are evolutionary release valves. Karmic energy that has been resisted or denied demands an outlet. Lunar eclipses are intense emotional releases. Solar eclipses are the intense unfolding of self-actualized soul-intended life changes.

The Lunar Nodes

The south node correlates to the past, what has come before. It is the composite of our previous lunar personalities and our emotional bodies. The north node points towards the future. But it is a “probable” future. More than one potential future stretches out from the present. The choices that we make in the present direct the future. When we repeat the choices of the past as the present, the past repeats as the future. If we make different choices, we create a future different from the past and the present. 

“In your terms, there are unlimited probable future events for which you are now setting the groundwork. The nature of the thoughts and feelings you originate and those that you habitually or characteristically receive set a pattern, so you will choose from those probable futures those events that will physically become your experience.” —Seth Speaks (Channeled by Jane Roberts)

Pisces New Moon

The new moon on March 10th at 21° Pisces signals the onset of the first eclipse season of 2024. There is a sense of dormant incubation to this new moon. This current full moon feels like a powder keg preparing to explode in astrological and mundane times. All the planets are sandwiched between Jupiter and Pluto, packed into a wide 1st quarter, “crisis-in-action” square of latent compressed and unresolved emotional energy. Mars and Pluto in Aquarius are the flashpoints, flint on steel. The pressure of this karmic “hand grenade in a steel box” will continue to strengthen until the full moon lunar eclipse on March 25th, when the energies will be unleashed. 

Libra Lunar Eclipse

A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse occurs at 1:00 a.m. MST at 5° Libra. Eclipses occur in 18-year cycles known as Saros cycles. It is part of Saros Series 113, which last occurred in 2006. That year, the International Astronomical Union defined a “planet” for the first time since Galileo, demoting Pluto to dwarf planet status. Ironically, it was also the year that NASA sent its first probe to Pluto. This eclipse will be visible and most energetically active across North and South America, Western Africa, and Eastern Australia. 

A lunar eclipse can occur only when the full Moon is within 11° degrees of either lunar node. A solar eclipse can occur only when the new Moon is within 17° of either lunar node.

A full moon is a point of release. A lunar eclipse is a full moon on steroids. Often, something has been building for months or even years. Something major in life comes up for review and revision. The balloon is up. A flag is raised. 

Libra is about balance and equilibrium, establishing a rapport between opposing forces, opinions, and personal perspectives. At this full moon, the relationship goddess Venus, the sign that rules Libra, resides in Pisces and is sandwiched between Saturn and Neptune. Libra mirrors our relationship with others. More importantly, Venus, as the ruler of Taurus, mirrors our relationship with ourselves. Both sides of this astrological equation are active. “How do I love me/thee? Let me count the ways. 

Mars, the ruler of the Aries array, is also in Pisces. His fire never goes out. In water signs, it simmers below the surface or boils over. The archetype of Pisces is programmed for deep feelings and emotions. It is not always the most balanced. Boundaries are obscured or absent altogether, making us feel off balance and on shaky ground. Saints, saviors, and martyrs populate the cast. So do those who would betray, abandon, and misinform us. With a crisis-producing inconjunct from the Moon to Mars and Saturn, hidden agendas and aggression are possible. A waning trine from the Moon to Pluto in Aquarius does nothing to relieve the pressure. Instead, it cries out for an outlet to release the heavy emotional burden. It is false to think that trines and sextiles are good and squares, oppositions, inconjuncts, and sesquisquares are bad. The facilitating aspects can make us couch potatoes. They come and go unnoticed. The hard aspects get us up off the couch. 

The Moon on the lunar south node carries a heavy emotional payload from the past. The Aries Sun on the lunar north node activates sudden, impulsive, knee-jerk responses. 

The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Taurus makes a difficult angle to the Moon. Self-serving agendas can populate unexpected events and rattle personal boundaries for security and self-reliance. The Jupiter-Uranus conjunction on April 20 is the major outer planet event of 2024, second in importance only to Pluto’s transit of Aquarius. This heavy outer planet cycle underscores and sets the evolving base note for Pluto over the next twelve years. 

A Ceres-Astraea opposition sets up a Cardinal Grand Cross at both eclipses as the pair square the lunar nodes. Any celestial body squaring the lunar nodes creates what is known as a skipped step condition. Ceres carries karmic history with the Moon and lunar south node. Ceres evokes the mythology of Demeter and Persephone. Divine Mother, her molested daughter, and the sexual misconduct of an older family member. Rape has many manifestations. Sadistic rape. War rape. Rape of the land. To name a few. We have been seeing evidence of this around us. 

Asteroid Astraea’s karmic burden involves the Sun and the lunar north node. Astraea was the virgin goddess of justice. During the Golden Age, she dwelt upon the earth with mankind but was driven away by the increasing lawlessness. Zeus then set her amongst the stars as the constellation Virgo. Astraea was closely identified with the goddesses Dike (Justice) and Nemesis (Rightful Indignation).  — https://www.theoi.com/Titan/Astraia.html

At the Libra Lunar Eclipse, Mars’s opposition to Juno draws a mutable grand cross in the sky, squaring an opposition between Pallas Athene and the minor planet Sedna. This celestial mix pulls together elements that speak to fidelity and commitment (Juno) to our free spirit (Mars), accessing higher knowledge (Pallas Athene) and increased consciousness (Sedna). 

Aries Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs on April 8th at 20° Aries. It will be visible across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Its pathway will run from Southern California to Maine. This is the new moon event that initiates the next lunar cycle. The Sun, Moon, Venus, Mercury, Chiron, Eris, Hygeia, and the Lunar North Node span the sign of Aries. The leader of the pack is Mars conjunct Saturn in Pisces, detailed above. Neptune is at Pisces’s anaretic (very last) degree and is the baseline for Mars and Saturn. This is a “ring not pass” condition. Some essential evolutionary changes must now occur for progress and resolution.

This eclipse will be visible across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Its pathway will run from Southern California to Maine.

How To Navigate The Eclipses

Overall, the Fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius can navigate these turbulent waters by allowing themselves to openly express what they need to do to help themselves grow and move forward. Set a controlled backburn to limit the damage and voice an alternative dialog when necessary

Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn can safely navigate this eclipse by finding their self-authority and self-nurturing. Commit to your sense of self-worth and individuality. Express your authenticity. Become your mother or perhaps your father. 

Those with primary planets in Water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces will be okay if they practice self-care adhering to their values and priorities. Follow your heart-centered vision.

Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius will find safe passage by self-empowering. Practice self-care. Allow what comes to you intuitively to override what you think is the rational solution. Pay attention to whatever comes to you out of left field, even if it feels bizarre.

Ceres is approaching the south node of Pluto. I will have more to say about the planetary nodes in another article. Put your effort into caring for those you love. Begin with yourself. We chose to be born in these times. It is not what happens that makes the difference. It is how we respond to it. Carpe diem.

These guidelines are based on the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Knowing the actual details of a natal chart yields a much deeper understanding of how these celestial events will personally impact you. Whenever we look at any transit, the impact will depend on the consciousness brought to the event. More self-awareness can potentiate a wider range of expression. Less self-awareness will limit the ability to navigate the transit without intense karmic necessity. In all cases, the degree of intensity of the event will correlate directly to what we each need to grow forward. I encourage you to contact me for a personal eclipse reading that will focus directly on what is impacting you now.

daniel@evolutionaryastrologer.net