The solar eclipse of Cancer 2010 takes place on 12 Jul 2010 at 5:33 AM AEST (10 Jul 10
7:33 PM
UT). It is a total eclipse, but will only be visible from the southern part of the Pacific
Ocean. It is a member ofthe 146 Saros family of eclipses, which began on 19 Sep 1541. That series is
marked byuncertainty in loyalties, a need for reassurance, fickleness, but also the
ability to move through that andfurther cement bonds as a result of emotional trials by fire, so-to-speak. This
eclipse is the complementto the lunar eclipse we just had (and it was a lovely one to watch here in the
southern lands). Theproving or disproving of ideals and attachments is a key theme with both of
these eclipses,but particularly with the one under consideration. This indicates a marked
disillusionment, hopefully ofa positive sort, and it will eventually bring healing, although a ‘healing
crisis’ will be inevidence first. The first eclipse of the 146 series had a stellium in Libra,
with Venus at the midpoint ofMercury and Saturn, with Neptune opposing, indicating the disillusionment.
However, Mars was insextile to Saturn (rebuilding and building for the future) and Venus was in
applying sextile withUranus (help from unexpected sources, unusual alliances and sudden insights).
Mars and Uranuswere conjunct then, further highlighting the suddenness of events, independence
of thought andaction, and the healing crisis.
In the present eclipse we see the Sun and Moon at the 20th degree of Cancer, the
Sabian symbol for which reads:
Venetian gondoliers giving a serenade.
This festive symbol would appear to be in stark contrast to the somber tone represented by
the Saros series. It would also seem to be contraindicated in the figure for the present eclipse, with the t-square on cardinal points and the Saturn clash with Chiron and Neptune, both of which are opposed by Venus, and with that same Venus/Neptune opposition being a feature of the first eclipse of the 146 series. No, the image of singing gondoliers just does not seem to fit with present astrological conditions. What exactly is there to sing about in the world? Well, there is much more to this symbol than singing and romantic images.
Water is always a symbol for emotions and life in general. As Dane Rudhyar in An Astrological Mandala hasrightly pointed out, Venice is a city that literally sits on top of the water, like a lotus risen formthe muck and mud of the pond. What this symbol is really trying to impart through this eclipse isthe idea that, instead of getting lost in the water (life in general) and the twists and turns of the citycanals, we should rise above any emotional concerns, keep our course firmly in mind and use the oarof calm-abiding to see and propel us through. This symbol is a distinct reminder of the happinessthat can be had when one conquers inner turmoil and gets on with life unperturbed by the surrounding karma working out. To use an analogy, water is
not an obstacle if we have a sound boat and a good oar. The ‘boat’ and ‘oar’ in this case are simply whatever techniques we have to place the mind in calm and focused state.
In the eclipse figure the Sun and Moon are in a close sextile with Mars which accelerates anything that comesup around the event or its subsequent activations. That sextile can be a bit overwhelming for people, but if the eclipse falls on planets or angles of your own chart be assured that you will have whatever energy you need to work through whatever challenges the eclipse represents. At the same time, though, we do not want to overwhelm those around us who may not have anything they have to particularly work out as a result of this lunation.
There is no eclipse lord by conjunction in this figure, but Neptune is the esoteric ruler
of the sign the eclipsefalls in (Cancer), thus making that planet, along with the Moon (the orthodox
ruler), the lords ofthe eclipse. The Moon and Neptune both rule over the oceans, hence we would
expect some kind ofevents associated with the oceans or big water, and both planets have dominion
over the emotionsin some way. The general state of the emotions in this chart is not exactly
happy.
Although the Sun/Moon conjunction is well-aspected to Mars, Venus (the other indicator of
emotions) is opposed to Chiron and Neptune, as has been mentioned. Also, there is a classic
Magi heartbreakclash with the Saturn linkage to Chiron and Neptune. However, Venus is trine to
Pluto and linkedwith the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction, indicating powerful magnetism and help.
People will bethere for us if there are trials to come from the eclipse. That conjunction is
part of the t-squarementioned before, however, so its benefits to Venus depend upon how the rest of
the t-squareimpinges upon it.
Regarding water and the emotions in connection with this eclipse, I had a look, as I previously mentioned,over the past week at various countries and some of the states within the US.
There is a fairamount of spin going around on the net about the possible ramifications of the
spill in the Gulf ofMexico, and I wanted to see what the astrology showed around it over the next
few months, if notyears. It was quite interesting, especially with regard to the southern states
along the coast of the Gulf, and I will get to that in a moment. There was one particularly dire possibility
that has been mentioned on the net that bore investigation, and that was that the cracks appearing in the rock seams surrounding the oil volcano might theoretically trigger an earthquake in the New Madrid seismic area in the Bootheel region of Missouri.
The New Madrid Quake of 1811 was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the US
and there were over one thousand quakes in that area from 1811-1812, to the extent that a lake
was created due to the shifts in the earth’s crust in that area (Reelfoot Lake). The
Mississippi River runs through that area and it was actually seen to run backwards at one point during the
quakes.
According to one source, earthquakes in the New Madrid region have their origin in the Gulf.
Whether the Deepwater Horizon event will cause a quake in the New Madrid region is
debatable, but I willtell you that my preliminary astrological investigations do not show that a
major quake in the NewMadrid seismic area is immanent – certainly not in the State of Missouri.
Instead, what I see is agreat amount of upheaval for the Gulf States, especially with regard to the
populace, the national mood and agricultural issues in the area.
The general theme that runs through the states that lie along to Gulf of Mexico for the
next year or so is one ofgeneral discontent and public outrage. It is fairly obvious anyway, is it not?
Tourism is a bigdraw to the Gulf as well as the fishing industry, and if the water is fouled
with oil it tends to put adamper on people’s holidays and jobs in that region. I don’t mean to seem
flippant here.
I see a particularly difficult period in store for Louisiana and Mississippi, with
major solar arc activityfrom Mars and Neptune for Louisiana and Saturn to the Descendant of
Mississippi. I do not, Ishould reiterate, see a major earthquake at this time, although I do not have a
foundation date for NewMadrid, MO, only the year (1808). Interestingly, San Francisco is in for major
events in 2012-2014with first Mars and then Saturn progressing to its horizon in that period. The
eclipse will affectthe Gulf States of Mississippi, Florida and Texas via the Moon in their charts
and New Orleans viaits Chiron. New Orleans had Neptune on its ascendant by solar arc when Katrina
passed through andit will have Mars on its meridian in a couple of years. It might interest
astrologers to know thatthe Moon of the Deepwater Horizon event was conjunct the MC of the New Madrid
Quake (22 Cancer), not that there is any physical connection, but the real point to be
made here is that the fewdegrees on either side of this eclipse are strongly indicated in both events
and several US states.In fact, the third quarter of Cancer seems to figure powerfully in major world
event charts,especially bombings and disasters.
If you want to know how this eclipse will affect you, if at all, look back at your life
from the period of Oct1992-Oct 1993. In October of ’92 there was a triple activation of the Jul 1991
solar eclipse at the 19thdegree of Cancer by Mars, Uranus and Neptune – life-changing stuff, that. It
was ‘finished’, by the finalpasses of Uranus and Neptune over that point toward the end of ’93. It ushered
in the constitutionalcrisis in Russia under Yeltsin, the nuclear test by China which ended the de
facto nuclear testban, a large battle in Mogadishu, Somalia with US forces and the Killari Quake
which killed 10,000.If your life was uneventful during that period then this eclipse will likely
not affect you. Thateclipse was of a different Saros series (136), which is particularly hard
series, having its start at0º of Cancer. The present eclipse and series is nowhere near that tough. If
your life was completelyturned around in the early ‘90s, then breathe a sigh of relief, for this time
around it will not benearly as difficult. The present eclipse we are considering receives only Sun
and Mars activations.The Mars activations come at 2Jan11, 2Sep11, 13Dec12 and 12Aug13.
The Chinese astrology for this new moon and event bears a look, too. The auspices of the
45th /46th tetragramsfor the 11th/12th resp. read as:
Enlarging a house on crooked foundations still produces a crooked house. (nighttime)
All thingsleft unattended, however great, fall. (daytime)The two symbols are similar in a way. Both of them refer to the foundations upon which
our actions takeplace. If we are inattentive to or ignore what underpins them, then the outcome
will be questionableat best. At worst the entire structure of a course of events could come
crashing down.
What is to be done, then? To pay attention to what wells up within us is paramount at this
time and with theactivation times just noted. One should take careful notes on what is taking
place at the moment ifone is to know what to expect at the activation times. If one’s own chart is
unaffected then nospecial care is needed after the eclipse. Basically the main course of action
is to stay calm in the midstof any difficulties that might arise and to stay one’s course if the course is
correct. As theBuddhists say, keep a calm mind and let the karma work out around you. If the
course one is on is notcorrect for what one needs in life then one will soon be shown the need for a
change. If we do not buy intothe dramas then we create nothing that has to be worked out in the future,
regardless of whether we have to abandon an endeavor or not. In fact, if we can
keep a cool head and see the best possible outcome, work toward that and
celebrate it, then we can live to the best result of the Sabian symbol for the
eclipse.
This eclipse refers to possibly having to make adjustments to one’s course, but never to the
ultimate outcome ifwe can see that we are on a sound course and footing. It is a bit like crossing
a running stream. Wemight have to jump back and forth across the rocks on the way across, but the
object is not to fallin and ultimately to get to the other side. There is no need to fear the
stream, or to have trepidationsabout what we are doing. All this might sound a bit trite, but I have seen
firsthand what the eclipseholds because it affects my own chart strongly and the attitude just described
worked quite wellfor me. Nineteen years ago when I last had an eclipse on that point my life was
turned upside down.It was both painful and joyful at the same time. I left an entire life behind,
but the one I createdafter the fact was better than I could have hoped for, and that was a powerful
South Node solareclipse. If I had known then what I know now I could have made even better
effect of how I have livedsince then, but I knew what had to do and that my course was sure, even though
there was nocertainty in the outcome. There have been many ‘bends in the road’ for me since
that time, but at leastI have learned to have an easier mind about things and just let certain matters
work their way through.
Every ‘karmic interlude’, as it might be termed – that is to say, every situation
that we have to go experiencerather than freely choose to go through (and yes, it does seem are certain
things we have toexperience and that are ordained before we come into this life, both because of
our own choices inpast lives and because of the collective choices that were made when we were
members of groups,communities or nations) – has several main features: a time element, certain
actions that must beundertaken and mental/emotional resolutions as a result of actions undertaken and
time allowed. Afriend mine has said on several occasions that time is the great healer. One of
the biggest problems wehave when we encounter one of our karmic interludes is that we want it to be
finished almost assoon as it starts if it is a difficult one. We do not wish to allow enough time
to let the lesson, the true blessing, soak in. We want it all and we want it
now. How much better it would be if we couldjust enjoy the ride and listen to the gondolier (an analogy for one’s higher Self) sing our cares awayand give us some answers. Everyone around us and especially those locked in a drama with uswould appreciate if we could do that, and vice-versa. The journey would go a lot quicker.
Our friends in the Gulf States are in no mood for singing, though, needless to say. The oil
spill willeventually ruin BP or cause its restructuring, more from post-disaster civil suits than anything
major restructuringof the life of the company. The ramifications of the oil washed up on the
beaches and the loss ofanimal life will be with us for many years to come. People living in those
areas are angry and rightlyso. Maybe this collective anger is what is needed to effect a major change in
our energy policies. Ido not know what will happen around it all and I can see many possible
outcomes.
There is very big money involved, many lives encumbered and affected, basic power
structures ingovernment and industry that are directly threatened by a negative outcome from
the spill and subsequentsuits. There is talk of a possible coup if a hurricane comes through and
disrupts the area.
I think that is a lot of scaremongering, but stranger things have happened. You can believe
this, though: Thegovernments of Britain and the US had better think things through very
carefully and not act tooharshly or foolishly. I wonder how many people see the ultimate stakes here.
BP employs tens of thousands of people and they are not the only players in the Gulf. If BP is shut down itdirectly affects hundreds of thousands of people through loss of income and the uncertainty that wouldgenerate. People calling for the seizing of BP should realize that would not be likely to happen andthat it would have international ramifications. There are some very vexing matters to be addressedabout the spill and none of it will be effectively solved by calling for blood on any side. Yes,those responsible need to be held accountable. Yes, the mess needs to be cleaned up. Yes, safeguardsneed to be upgraded and enforced, and on and on. None of the answers will be easy and all of itwill take a lot of time. Draconian measures will not help and will only exacerbate matters.
Yes, this event ups the ante on a lot of fronts. I do think Deepwater Horizon is going to
bring about majorchanges in many areas of life, especially for the US, but that in itself will affect the rest of the world. Watchwhat happens around that scenario carefully, for the ripples from it will affect us all for a longtime to come.What isbeing called for through this eclipse and this period in world history is a
more measured way ofacting and clear heads. The only thing we ever really have any control over is
our own mind, but wehave no idea the power that a calm mind can wield in a troubled world. It is a
remedy that cansweep away a lot of negativity. Only a calm mind can create better conditions
for the future, bothin this life and in future lives – especially in future lives. Perhaps a brief
quote from A Bodhisattva’sWay of Life might be helpful in that regard:
Now, having paid my body its wages,
I shall turn my life to something meaningful
And, relying on the boat of the human body,
Free yourself from the great river of pain.
As it is hard to find this boat again,
This is no time to sleep…
My wish for us all is peace of mind and true happiness. Every birthday and Christmas my Dad always saidthat was basically what he wanted. It’s not a bad wish, I have found. I always thought he was a bitflippant in his answer when I was younger, but the years have shown me that he actuallyreally meant what he said. The path may be crooked, but a calm mind will always assure a goodultimate outcome. May it be thus for us all. I hope this eclipse and its legacy is a source of joy when all issaid and done.
Blessings,
Malvin.
11 Jul 2010
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