Astroweather -- Eclipse Period

Eclipse Period December 21, 2010 - January 4, 2011



As I have been discussing since November, there has been an increasing alignment of malefic planets with the Galactic Center culminating in a Full Lunar eclipse on the morning of the Winter Solstice.



The 2010 Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 at 3:38 pm pst, which is 15 hours after the mid-point of the total lunar eclipse. It is the first time since 1991 that a lunar eclipse has occurred on the longest night of the year, and first time they have coincided in alignment with the galactic center in over 25,000 years.*



This overlap is a unique point in time during which we may receive waves of energy from the root of our galaxy. Each planet involved in the line up has translated this galactic shakti through its own unique field of action. And this lunar eclipse promises to integrate the information from the oldest quadrant of our galaxy coming through the Sun with the unpredictable and liberating effect of the oldest planet, Ketu, over the Moon. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to open to a new evolutionary potential. But if we are caught in the lower expression of the nodes where fear of the dark and chaos feed the repressed psychic energies and get triggered and released collectively through calamity, we may block the this chance to shift karmic patterns consciously.

Eclipse Cycles

An eclipse is traditionally defined as an astronomical event in which one celestial object moves into the shadow of another. Here on Earth eclipses of the Sun and Moon occur in pairs every six months as the North and South nodes of the Moon align with the full Moon in a lunar eclipse or new Moon in a solar eclipse. Astrologers describe the two week period between the eclipses as a time filled with dynamic shifts and changes that have an effect on the following six months -- until the next eclipse period releases another round of karmic upgrades. The next two weeks may be intense, dizzying, and eye-opening for many of us as we shift up a notch on our spiraling and evolving paths.

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Tuesday, December 21, 12:13 am pst

The first eclipse of this upcoming cycle is a full lunar eclipse at 12:13 am pst on December 21, 2010 in Gemini. A lunar eclipse occurs during a full Moon as the shadow created by the earth interferes with the peak illumination of the Moon. This shadow is represented by the North and South Nodes of the Moon, called Rahu and Ketu in Vedic astrology. The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon where it crosses the ecliptic. The ascending node is where the Moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic called Rahu, and the descending node is where it crosses to the south, called Ketu. During this lunar eclipse, the Moon will cross the South Node, Ketu, and a shadow will slowly emerge over the lunar surface obliterating the light and eventually turning the Moon blood red.



Ancient sky watchers viewed this shadow as a dragon, or snake, who swallowed the Moon (or the Sun in the case of a solar eclipse) signaling major and sudden changes. There are many allegorical stories about the snakes and dragons of the lunar nodes. In Hindu mythology, Rahu is a snake that swallows the Sun or the Moon causing eclipses. According to legend, the the demon Rahu desired to drink from the god's cup of Soma, the divine nectar of immortality. The Sun and Moon alerted the gods, and before the nectar could pass his throat, Vishnu disguised as Mohini cut off his head. As Rahu had already tasted the divine elixir, the disembodied head remained immortal. Because of his desire for divine nectar, Rahu is associated with intoxication and is an indicator of obsession with power and fame (immortality). Rahu on a physical plane gives insatiable desire to achieve, to conquer, and to possess.



Ketu is what remains of the body of Rahu, the headless tail. The lost head symbolizes the loss of the thinking mind. The headless body may also represent an enlightened being who is freed from the thinking mind. As opposed to Rahu's affliction of the mind, Ketu can afflict the body. It is a moksha-karaka, indicator of liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Ketu can bestow great insight and healing ability, or it may place obstacles that ultimately change how one thinks. It brings spiritual tendencies, ascetism and non-attachment to worldly desires and ambitions, and it balances the materialistic compulsion of Rahu with its impulse to enlightenment.

A lunar eclipse differs in many ways from a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs at night and a solar eclipse occurs during the day, thus the effect of the shadows are more subtle as they extend and merge with the dark of night. The Moon represents the mind, the feeling body, and the collective consciousness. So an eclipse to the Moon brings up hidden or shadow issues that are not as defined or clear as its solar counterpart. Its psychic effects are unpredictable ranging from the gift of new insight to the release of repressed emotions.

There is also a difference between the effects of a Ketu eclipse and a Rahu eclipse. Rahu is the natural enemy of the Moon, and brings more inimical effects to the Moon than Ketu. Rahu's disturbance is that of illusion. Ketu's disturbance is that of dissolution, which ultimately brings enlightenment.

Ketu is the oldest planet and head of all the stars and planets. As the oldest planet, Ketu reflects the original primordial forces of chaos and disorder. Its energy is erratic and sublime, sometimes contacting, often dissolving. Thus it represents extremes, such as creation and destruction, beginnings and endings. It is an enemy of the Sun, and as the Negative Sun may bring self-doubt, lack of confidence and self worth, or its extreme opposite megalomania. Ketu is always concerned with the past, and is what attaches us to our roots in the form of family and ancestors. Under this lunar eclipse we may witness a sudden event that uproots the status quo in order to bring an ending and new beginning that is more in line with the evolutionary impulse coming from the galactic core.

Ketu is transiting the galactic anti-center in the sign of Gemini, the constellation of Orion, and the nakshatra of Ardra, which is ruled by Rahu. As this is a Ketu eclipse of the Moon in a Rahu nakshatra, we may expect to see even more karmic patterns surface as the nodes are intertwined in their own symbolic spirals along the axis of the Milky Way. Ardra translates as "moist one" and is often depicted as a tear or rain drop, but its main symbol is a diamond. As Rahu is concerned with the future, this nakshatra releases one from the past through a series of stormy events. It is a nakshatra most associated with calamities. Ardra's depiction as a tear drop indicates sadness created by this tumultuous weather. We may expect to see flooding and disasters associated with extreme weather. Ardra is ruled by the storm god Rudra, the tranformative aspect of Shiva, and its power is yatna shakti, or effort. Struggle brings rewards. Like the clearing of the air after a spring thunderstorm, Ardra promises clarity and a new start.

Ardra is located in the constellation of Orion and contains the fixed stars Betelgeuse and Sirius. According to Bernadette Brady, Betelgeuse is one of the great stars of the sky and its influence can bring unbridled success without complications. And Sirius is a blue star associated with sacrificial themes in many ancient and modern traditions, such as ancient Egyptian and modern Masonic mysteries. Sirius also figures prominently in UFO lore and ancient alien theory. Just this week CNN reported that Israel shot down a UFO over a nuclear power plant. There are theories that aliens are preventing humans from exploding any more nuclear weapons which open up tears in space allowing being from other dimensions to flow in. Could this lunar eclipse also bring in new information from our Sirian ancestors? The Disclosure community has been waiting for an announcement that would change the world on a global and galactic level. This might be it.



Ancient Vedic seers wrote about a companion star to our Sun, which may in fact be Sirius. Our Sun's proximity to it marks the four yugas, or world ages, or stages of consciousness as illustrated in this video from Walter Cruttenden's Great Year. Thus Sirius is also connected to the cyclic development of consciousness.

Ketu will begin its obfuscation of the Moon as it reaches Fullness in the nakshatra of Mrigashira and then shifts to Ardra before the midpoint of the eclipse. Although Mrigashira is ruled by Mars, it is a gentle and peaceful nakshatra as depicted by its symbol of a deer's head. Another symbol for Mrigashira is a pot full of Soma, the celestial nectar of the gods that gave Rahu and Ketu immortality. Its deity is Chandra, the Moon god, who is also called Soma, and who in this case will be receiving Ketu's glance. Ketu may dissolve the peace, but may also distribute the divine drink of Soma, also called amrita. Georg Feuerstein, author of The Shambala Encyclopedia of Yoga writes that Amrita means "nectar of immortality," referring to the nectar of immortality that trickles down from a secret center in the head and is wasted on ordinary people because its secret is not known to them. This amrita nadi, or 'conduit of immortality' is said to manifest at the time of full enlightenment creating a link between the ascending sushumna and heart center. The energetic line up on the sushumna of the Milky Way may release cosmic amrita through this lunar eclipse. Perhaps even ordinary people will feel its euphoria.

Eclipses have the strongest effect on the area where it is visible, which in this case will be over most of North and South America. At the instant of greatest eclipse the Moon will be near the zenith for observers in southern California and Baja Mexico. The end of the total eclipse will be visible rising at sunset for Japan and northeastern Asia.






Astrological traditions view eclipse cycles as a karmic time periods in which the obscuration of the luminaries brings out psychological disturbances, political unrest, shadow issues, and fear. The planet of moksha and final liberation, Ketu, aspects this lunar eclipse from its position in the planet of manifestation, Rahu's, tearful nakshatra, Ardra. As tears of a sorrow release emotional build up, they cleanse the eyes and give clarity of perception. So while this intense eclipse period may release forces that inflict pain and suffering, it is important to remember it is a result of us being out of alignment with the divine. Moreover Gemini is often described as the sign of debilitation for Ketu, so its energy may not be as intense and destructive as it would be in signs like Sagittarius. This makes the planetary line up of the Sun, Mars, Mercury, and Pluto in Mula even more striking, and under its light presents opportunities to return to god-realization as promised by this nakshatra. But first we must surrender to the "Moon shadow" to receive this intense galactic light, let go of what is not working, and allow new life to emerge.

Namaste!

Here are some Soma mantras to celebrate this Full Moon Lunar eclipse:





* Actually I was wrong about this date. I had looked at other references and dates for an eclipse on the solstice, but could not find one. But this morning (12/18/10) the US Naval Observatory posted this previous date of a lunar on the Winter Solstice at Spaceweather.com The lunar eclipse of Dec. 21st falls on the same date as the northern winter solstice. Is this rare? It is indeed, according to Geoff Chester of the US Naval Observatory, who inspected a list of eclipses going back 2000 years. "Since Year 1, I can only find one previous instance of an eclipse matching the same calendar date as the solstice, and that is Dec. 21, 1638," says Chester. "Fortunately we won't have to wait 372 years for the next one...that will be on Dec. 21, 2094." On December 21, 1638 the Sun, Mercury and Rahu were in Mula opposite a Moon in Ardra. Even though the Sun was in Mula, it was still a good 6 degrees from the galactic center. And the brief post didn't say if it was a full lunar eclipse.

Update: Lunar eclipse effecting weather in US



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Interesting take on eclipses and earthquakes by Bill Deagle


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