Tuesday, December 21st, 12:13am – PT
Twenty-Nine degrees – Twenty minutes of Gemini
This Winter Solstice initiates a phenomenal ending to a dynamic Astrological year! 2010 concludes with a rare eclipse known as the Christmas lunar eclipse occurring on the Winter Solstice. The last total lunar eclipse occurred almost three years ago in February of 2008 and this Christmas eclipse will be the first total lunar eclipse to occur on the day of the Winter Solstice since 1638, and only the second in the Common Era.
Visible to observers in North America and Western South America, this eclipse’s total phase will last 72 minutes. The Moon will be near the zenith for observers in southern California and Baja Mexico at the moment of its maximum eclipse.
Endings are especially emphasized as 2010 comes to a close under this powerful eclipse. Lunar eclipses always occur under a Full Moon and this Full Moon is once again occurring at the critical 29 degree point. As you may recall, a planet at 29 degrees emphasizes the ending of a cycle. As the Moon also represents cycles, lunar eclipses are a time to look at what is no longer working in your life. It is a time to initiate endings and explore new prospects. This will be true for all of us, but especially for those who have Cancer or Capricorn planets in their horoscope because these are the two zodiacal signs in which the eclipses fall.
Mercury is the ruling planet of Gemini and is retrograde at the center of our Galaxy during this Full Moon. The center of our Galaxy is associated with spiritual wisdom and truth consciousness. Therefore, with Mercury retrograde at this central point we are encouraged to question any beliefs that are limiting us and to seek our personal truth. Pluto – the God of the underworld – and Mars – the warrior God of action – are both closely aligned with this eclipse. Eclipses create a temporary shadow and Pluto and Mar’s influence can surprise us with powerful and dormant emotions rising to the surface.
Coinciding with earth changes, political upheavals and stock market fluctuations, eclipses can become powerful indicators of needed transformation in our personal lives. Lunar energies govern domestic matters, the feminine principal and the water element. These energies encourage us to examine our emotions, and create and hold intentions for change in our lives. For this reason, eclipses, as well as New and Full Moons are particularly potent times to meditate or perform ritual and ceremony.
The ancient sages felt that eclipses were a time for meditation and learning; a special time to honor the spiritual aspects of your life. Try to keep your schedule light, remain internally focused, eat only pure foods, and do not consume alcohol. The veil between earth and the heavens is thinner during an eclipse, allowing you to more easily connect to the eternal universal wisdom that is your divine essence.
The energies of an eclipse can be felt a couple of days before and after an eclipse. Eclipses always occur in pairs and the second, a partial solar eclipse, will occur on January 4th, 2011 during the New Moon in Capricorn, watch for these details in my next Astro-Gram.
Copyright 2010 by Linda Kaye
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