War & Peace: Eclipse Season, Autumn 2023

Eclipses are always interesting to look at and from an astrological perspective, they are also believed to be very powerful. They are believed to indicate major changes and fatalistic events, at least for those affected by its power. Traditionally, they were mostly used to predict worldly and political affairs, the fate of entire nations, but they can affect individuals, as well.

Eclipses happen in cycles. This eclipse season begins with a solar eclipse in Libra on October 14th, followed by a lunar eclipse in Taurus, only two weeks later. These eclipses may have already passed by the time you read this, but their effects are said to last for about six months when the next eclipse season comes; sometimes, even longer.

Solar Eclipse in Libra: October 14th, 2023

On Saturday, October 14th (just one day after Friday the 13th!) we have an annular Solar Eclipse at 21'07 degrees Libra.

During a solar eclipse, the Sun's light is blocked out by the Moon, causing it to turn black. Because these eclipses always happen on a New Moon, many modern astrologers believe they are a good time for new beginnings and fresh starts, just like a normal New Moon taken to a more extreme level. Due to the frightening appearance of this occurrence, however, they were traditionally interpreted as more negative omens, particularly for kings and other powerful male figures. Whichever way you look at it, positive or negative, they are certainly a sign of major change and transformation.

You might ask, "how can an event that happens every six months be so transformational?" Well, despite what pop astrology articles might have you think, they do not affect everyone to the same degree. On an individual level, you are more likely to be affected by a solar eclipse if it aspects an angle, a luminary, or another important planet in your natal chart; in this case if you have these placements between roughly 18 and 24 degrees Libra, Aries, Cancer or Capricorn. For more information on how it will affect you, personally, feel free to book a reading with me here. On a mundane or collective level, it is likely to affect the parts of the world where it is visible; and this solar eclipse will be visible from the Americas. Because it is an annular eclipse, however, the sun will not be blocked completely but it will appear as a ring of fire around the moon.

Libra is a cardinal air sign ruled by the planet Venus. It is associated with qualities such as fairness, balance, harmony and the ability to see both sides. On a collective level, this solar eclipse could indicate the forming of alliances, negotiations and diplomacy. Furthermore, it is conjunct the fixed star, Spica. Considered by many to be the most fortunate star in the heavens, it is of the nature of Venus & Mercury, and often associated with success, especially in the arts & sciences.

Although Spica is generally perceived as a good omen, according to Ptolemy, it can also indicate injustice to the innocent. On that note, with Libra's ruler, Venus, at 5'02 degrees Virgo, the sign of its fall, and Mars, planet of war, at 1'44 degrees of its home sign, Scorpio, will things really be as peaceful as a Libra New Moon might appear to suggest? Virgo is a sign often associated with service, and thus with the "common man" or underdog. I cannot help but think of all the innocent civilians killed in the war between Israel and Palestine. While the eclipse isn't visible from Israel, interestingly, the event chart for the Israeli state puts the Ascendant at 23 degrees Libra, just two degrees away from the solar eclipse, which highlights its influence.

Let's see what the other aspects tell us. The solar eclipse in Libra is conjunct the South Node at 25'01 degrees but also conjunct Mercury at 17'10 degrees. Mercury's influence in Libra suggests alliance, diplomacy and negotiations, as I said before; talks between otherwise opposing parties that may lead to positive solutions. While eclipses are always nearby one of the nodes, there is a distinction between whether it is the north or south. A South Node eclipse might be more likely to suggest an ending of something, but is this an ending to war or an ending to unity, an even deeper divide? Again, I think of the war in Gaza that is dominating the news; the United States and other countries advocate for a "two-state solution" but that doesn't seem likely to happen. However, focusing my attention on the Americas, where the eclipse is actually visible, this eclipse could bring about failed negotiations and a deeper division between left and right, or even, divisions from within each party.

Lunar Eclipse in Taurus: October 28th, 2023

On Saturday, October 28th, we have a partial Lunar Eclipse at 5'09 degrees Taurus. As always, taking place on a Full Moon, it is opposite the Sun at 5'09 degrees Scorpio. As with all Full Moons, it will represent a continuance or climax of the themes that took place on the New Moon before it (in this case, the solar eclipse). In modern astrology, they are likely to bring about events of a more emotional nature while in traditional astrology, they are likely to affect the queen or female leader. However, the Moon is also said to represent a country's people, so this could have a bigger effect on civilians, as well.

Who is affected by this eclipse? On an individual level, you are most likely to be affected by this eclipse if you have an angle, luminary or other important placement between 2 and 8 degrees Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius. If you're interested in how it will affect you personally, please feel free to book a reading with me. On a mundane or collective level, it will be visible from Asia including the Middle East, Africa, Europe including Russia, and most of Australia. It seems that the entire eastern half of the whole world will be affected!

Taurus is a fixed earth sign, also ruled by the planet, Venus. While Venus is generally known as a benefic planet, the planet of love is still in Virgo, the sign of its fall, which isn't such a great sign. Taurus is associated with business and agriculture, so famine and poverty could occur in the areas affected. Opposite the Sun in Scorpio, a water sign ruled by Mars, planet of war, this famine and poverty will likely be the result of violence or oppression. This opposition could also signify the destruction of buildings or property. Thunderstorms are also possible. Putting what we already know from the news aside, the aspects support this view. I wish I could say something more positive but I'd be lying if I said the chart for the lunar eclipse didn't scare me a little!

The most significant aspects influencing this eclipse are a conjunction between Mercury & Mars in Scorpio at 10-11 degrees and their opposition to Jupiter (still retrograde) at 11 degrees. As you can see, Mercury & Mars are conjunct the Sun while Jupiter is conjunct the Moon, which makes their influence very significant. A Mercury-Mars conjunction often indicates military intelligence and war strategy, particularly in Scorpio, where Mars is at home. It can indicate espionage and secret or under-handed tactics. It can also indicate lies and theft (including theft of land, especially with Taurus involved), which makes me think of propaganda and PSY-OPs on the public. Because they are opposite Jupiter, these things may be blown out of proportion or taken to an extreme level. In addition to expanding whatever it touches, Jupiter is the planet of belief and morality. It's role in the eclipse suggests that there could be a religious conflict at play, and with the Moon opposite Mercury, this emotion could be clouding our rational thought.

Again, I am naturally reminded of the Israel-Palestine war. While Israel's chart is not directly affected, at least not in a way that stands out, a natal chart for the State of Palestine, as proclaimed by the Palestine Liberating Organization, places the Ascendant at 25 degrees Virgo, making Mercury its ruling planet. With Pluto conjunct Mercury at 12-13 degrees of Scorpio, perhaps the eclipse (and its Mars-Mercury conjunction at 11 degrees Scorpio) shows an attack against them. But with Pluto involved, this could be something transformative and revolutionary going on. While we should not forget about the other major war between Russia and Ukraine, I do not see anything in the stars affecting them in such an obvious way.

However, this does not mean Palestine is the only country affected by this eclipse. While it is not practical for me to look at the charts of every single country in Europe, Africa, and Asia, I took a look at the United Kingdom's chart and could not help noticing that Mars is placed at 11 degrees Taurus, the same degree as Jupiter in the eclipse chart and exactly opposite the Mercury-Mars conjunction. Mars rules the 7th house in the UK's national chart and in addition to partnerships, the 7th house can represent open enemies. Will war be declared on the UK? I certainly hope not and I honestly do not envision anything too extreme happening. However, it is possible that the UK could be subject to espionage, propaganda/psychological warfare, and perhaps, minor terrorist activities from its enemies. It can also indicate extreme thunderstorms, which wouldn't be a surprise. Pakistan's chart is also interesting, as the lunar eclipse and the Jupiter - Mars/Mercury opposition is not too far from its Ascendant & Descendant axis. I have looked at the charts for some other "world powers" that are in view of the eclipse (China, France, India, Iran, Germany) and did not see anything that stood out to me. However, there are countless countries I have not looked at and it is possible that major events could take place there, as well.

Conclusion

Some may boo-hoo my article and say that I am a poor astrologer for attributing astrology to current events rather than predicting future events myself. These people are mistaken. While I did include a few general predictions of my own, it does not even matter. What matters is that attributing astrology to current events does not make one a poor astrologer. Attributing astrology to past or current events is how we learn. We can't predict the future without first looking at the past.

On this note, it is worth pointing out that the last eclipse on the Aries/Libra axis was a lunar eclipse in Libra on March 23rd, 2016. Before that, there were a series of Aries/Libra eclipses in 2014-2015. Looking back to what happened then might help us better understand what is happening now.

As for our current series of eclipses, we will have a lunar eclipse in Libra on March 24th 2024, a solar eclipse in Aries on April 3rd, a lunar eclipse in Pisces on September 17th, a solar eclipse in Libra on October 2nd, a lunar eclipse in Virgo on March 13th, 2025, and finally, another solar eclipse in Aries on March 29th.