Transits: Eclipse Transits to the Natal Chart
Transits In Astrology: Solar & Lunar Eclipses
On this Page:
- The significance of Solar & Lunar Eclipses in transit to the Natal Chart.
- How to interpret eclipse transits: tips and considerations.
Overview
Please read Lunations & Eclipses: Current for a discussion of the general meaning of eclipses.
My horoscopes often refer to eclipses and their influence on the solar houses of a chart. In the article referenced above, interpretations of the Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse transits to the houses of the natal chart are given. One should probably learn these first when interpreting the transits of eclipses to the houses of the natal chart. However, there are important refinements to consider, as follows:
- Solar and Lunar Eclipses involve the Sun, which rules Leo, and the Moon, which rules Cancer. You’ll find that eclipses always stimulate Cancer and Leo houses and planets in the chart. These are your side-by-side sensitive zones that are always affected by eclipses, regardless of the current sign of the eclipse in question. So, for example, if Cancer and Leo are found on the fourth and fifth houses, eclipses may often set off issues related to the home, childhood, children, love, and romance. If Cancer and Leo are on the first and second houses, issues of independence, confidence, the body, physical comfort, and money may frequently crop up.
- The eclipse point (for example, if the eclipse occurs when the Moon is at 20 degrees Cancer, 20 degrees Cancer is the eclipse point) becomes far more relevant if it falls on or close to a natal point/body (in this example, if you have your Ascendant, Moon, Mercury, or another body within 3-5 degrees of 20 degrees Cancer: 15-25 degrees Cancer). The eclipse may not have much punch if it doesn’t affect natal points.
- The eclipse point conjunct a Fixed Star can color the eclipse with the themes of that star. An excellent resource for looking up the meanings and symbolism of the fixed stars is the Constellation of Words.
- Cycles should be considered. We can look back approximately 9, 18-1/2, 27, 37, etc. years to see eclipses falling in the same signs (see data below to find this information).
- The consideration of which sign is occupied by the North Node and which is occupied by the South Node. While an eclipse set along a particular sign axis has much in common with a previous eclipse set along that same axis (example, Cancer-Capricorn axis), energies are different when the North Node is in, for example, Cancer, than they are when the North Node is in Capricorn. This is because the energies we’re striving toward (represented by the sign of the North Node) are different/opposite.*
- We might also consider eclipses in sets. For example, if we consider all of the eclipses occurring from July 2018 to July 2020 that fell in the signs of Cancer and Capricorn as belonging to the same set, then the first of these (July 2018) and last of these (in July 2020) take on more significance since the first sets up the theme and the last one pushes resolution. The duration of the Nodal cycle in the sign can be used as the approximate date range or you can use the first/last eclipse to time the range. We can also group eclipses that fall around the same degree, and further, as sets of Solar Eclipses and their matching Lunar Eclipses. Saros cycles might be relevant.
- When interpreting possible effects of an eclipse transit, it’s important to consider that the Solar Eclipse relates to a beginning and the Lunar Eclipse relates to a culmination.
- While a Solar Eclipse prompts a new beginning or path, it’s very past-oriented. We are especially aware of what we’re giving up before we move forward. A Lunar Eclipse, as a Full Moon, opens us up to our feelings on a matter, but we are temporarily putting little weight in the past now–we’re not seeing it, and this frees us up to understand what’s happening in the present.
- When interpreting eclipses, it’s best to keep in mind that something feels missing, and from that state of mind, we see life differently and make choices accordingly. It’s better not to make big changes, decisions, or moves when we’re close to an eclipse, but it’s a good idea to observe and take notes.
- Mars is often used to time events related to the epiphanies and fresh starts related to the eclipses. Look for Mars transits in the months prior and subsequent to the exact eclipse point for trigger dates. For example, a Solar Eclipse occurred at 4 degrees Capricorn on December 26th, 2019. Mars arrives at 4 degrees Capricorn on February 22nd, 2020, triggering related events. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto reaching an eclipse point can also have significance.
*Example:
Take, for example, the set of eclipses along the Cancer-Capricorn axis. These happened (and will happen) as follows:
- July 2027 to July 2029
- July 2018 to July 2020
- July 2009 to July 2011
- July 2000 to June 2002
- July 1990 to December 1992
- July 1981 to June 1983
From July 2000 to June 2002, this set occurred while the North Node was in Cancer, and while the work-home balance is an overall goal during this period, we’re generally striving toward a greater awareness of our need for home, nurture, warmth, unconditional love, and so forth–that’s the overall challenge. During the Cancer-Capricorn eclipse set from July 2009 to July 2011, the North Node was in Capricorn. Again, we’re seeking a better work-home balance, but we are challenged to pay special attention to our needs to accept responsibility, nurture our ambitions, and put ourselves “out there.” As such, the sets occurring approximately every 18 years are more similar to the current set than the set that happened approximately 9 years ago, even though they are all related.
Frequency of Eclipses
Keep in mind the frequency of eclipses when interpreting their transits. There are multiple eclipses each year–some of them are total eclipses, others are partial. Not all eclipses bring on life-changing events. Even when they do “hit” sensitive points in our charts, they don’t predict tragedies. There seems to be much fear related to eclipses that is unwarranted.
If, for example, the North Node begins its 18-month transit of Gemini, you know there will be several lunar and solar eclipses happening in the signs of Gemini and Sagittarius (its opposite sign) for approximately 18-24 months. If Gemini and Sagittarius fall on your 1st and 7th houses, you’re likely to deal with issues related to balancing your sense of independence and autonomy with partnership needs during this period. Similar issues in your life will have happened 9 and 18 years ago. Sometimes, this coincides with big changes such as marriages and divorces, but not each time. It’s important to keep perspective and not to worry that an eclipse will bring on disastrous events.
Learning from the Past
It can be useful to look back on events that occurred during previous eclipse periods occurring in the same sign to get an idea of how the upcoming eclipses might affect you. The context will be different–your circumstances and maturity/growth level will be different and other transits happening concurrently will have changed, but similar themes can still emerge.
The following table shows the North Node transits of the signs from 1950 to 2040 for this purpose. With this table, we can look up previous eclipse sets in the signs.
For example, if the current eclipse set is happening in Gemini-Sagittarius (occurring from May 5, 2020, to Jan 18, 2022) and we want to get a sense of what themes we might encounter, previous periods when eclipses fell along the Gemini-Sagittarius axis happened when the North Node was transiting Gemini and when the North Node was transiting Sagittarius. Looking this up with the tables below, previous eclipses in Gemini-Sagittarius occurred:
- from Mar 3, 2011, to Aug 29, 2012;
- from Oct 12, 2001; to Apr 13, 2003,
- from Aug 1, 1992, to Feb 1, 1994;
- from Mar 15, 1983, to Sep 11, 1984;
- from Oct 26, 1973, to Jul 9, 1975;
- and so forth (go back as far as you need!).
Reflecting back on these periods can give us a fair idea of the general themes that can come up when eclipses occur in the Gemini-Sagittarius set from May 2020 to January 2022.
Note: the sign pairs (opposite signs) are Aries-Libra, Taurus-Scorpio, Gemini-Sagittarius, Cancer-Capricorn, Leo-Aquarius, Virgo-Pisces.
North Node sign transit table:
I’ve organized the above data into useful sets to make it easier to see date ranges when eclipses occurred in sign sets, as follows:
Aries-Libra eclipse sets | North Node in Aries/Libra:
- Dec 1, 2032, to Jun 3, 2034
- Jul 17, 2023, to Jan 11, 2025,
- Feb 18, 2014 to Nov 11, 2015
- Dec 26, 2004, to Jun 22, 2006,
- Jul 31, 1995, to Jan 24, 1997
- Apr 6, 1986, to Dec 2, 1987
- Jan 7, 1977, to Jul 5, 1978
- Aug 19, 1967, to Apr 19, 1969
Taurus-Scorpio eclipse sets | North Node in Taurus/Scorpio:
- Mar 20, 2031, to Dec 1, 2032
- Jan 18, 2022, to Jul 17, 2023
- Aug 29, 2012, to Feb 18, 2014
- Apr 13, 2003, to Dec 26, 2004
- Feb 1, 1994, to Jul 31, 1995
- Sep 11, 1984, to May 8, 1986
- Jul 9, 1975, to Jan 7, 1977
- Feb 19, 1966, to Aug 19, 1967
Gemini-Sagittarius eclipse sets | North Node in Gemini/Sagittarius:
- Sep 23, 2029, to Mar 20, 2031
- May 5, 2020, to Jan 18, 2022
- Mar 3, 2011, to Aug 29, 2012;
- Oct 12, 2001; to Apr 13, 2003,
- from Aug 1, 1992, to Feb 1, 1994;
- from Mar 15, 1983, to Sep 11, 1984;
- from Oct 26, 1973, to Jul 9, 1975;
- Aug 25, 1964, to Feb 19, 1966
Cancer-Capricorn eclipse sets | North Node in Cancer/Capricorn:
- May 29, 2037, to Feb 9, 2039
- Mar 26, 2028, to Sep 23, 2029
- Nov 6, 2018, to May 5, 2020
- Aug 21, 2009, to Mar 3, 2011
- Apr 8, 2000, to Oct 12, 2001
- Nov 18, 1990, to Aug 1, 1992
- Sep 24, 1981, to Mar 15, 1983
- Apr 27, 1972, to Oct 26, 1973
- Dec 22, 1962, to Aug 25, 1964
Leo-Aquarius eclipse sets | North Node in Leo/Aquarius:
- Nov 30, 2035, to May 29, 2037
- Jul 26, 2026, to Mar 26, 2028
- May 9, 2017, to Nov 6, 2018
- Dec 17, 2007, to Aug 21, 2009
- Oct 20, 1998, to Apr 8, 2000
- May 22, 1989, to Nov 18, 1990
- Jan 12, 1980, to Sep 24, 1981
- Nov 2, 1970, to Apr 27, 1972
- Jun 10, 1961, to Dec 22, 1962
Virgo-Pisces eclipse sets | North Node in Virgo/Pisces:
- Jun 3, 2034, to Nov 30, 2035
- Jan 11, 2025, to Jul 26, 2026
- Nov 11, 2015, to May 9, 2017
- Jun 22, 2006, to Dec 17, 2007
- Jan 24, 1997, to Oct 20, 1998
- Dec 2, 1987, to May 22, 1989
- Jul 5, 1978, to Jan 5, 1980
- Apr 19, 1969, to Nov 2, 1970
- Dec 15, 1959, to Jun 10, 1961
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