Fall Eclipse Season 2023: The Broken Scales.
Splitting hairs to achieve perfection almost always breeds disatisfaction.
Hello Friends! I know it’s been a long time since I’ve visited your inbox. The summer of retrogrades required me to evaluate my own life very deeply, and I hope you were able to do the same in yours. While Venus has made her way into tropical Virgo and wrapped up the narrative associated with her spectacular retrograde this summer, we are not done with our masterclass in all things Venusian. This is because eclipse season is here, and is colored in the many shades of the lesser benefic.
There are many parallels between this eclipse season and our Spring 2023 eclipses. Eclipses ruled by a planet of war in the sign of its depression, but we are dealing with the Venusian facets of war rather than martial ones. I know that people have a hard time accepting that Venus is a planet about war, but Venus in her morning star phase was used to time war in some ancient civilizations. Furthermore, Alice Sparkly Kat does an amazing treatment on Venus as a planet of conflict in their book, Postcolonial Astrology. While Mars describes the combat itself, Venus describes the relational dynamics and motivations for engaging in or refraining from conflict. Not all conflicts are bloody, and many are waged psychologically and materially.
This eclipse season, we will be forced to confront our sense of values. Not in the Jovial and moral sense so much as in the material sense. However, with Jupiter occupying (tropical) Taurus and answering to the whims of Venus, the moral and material will collide in a way. While Venus has high standards about the experiences she would like to indulge in, the fickle and mercurial nature of the sign Virgo is contrary to Venus’ highest ideals— to feel the elation of merging with and surrendering to a collective in spite of petty differences and squabbles. Mercury wants to break things into smaller pieces to understand the fundamental nature of something. There is an overly cerebral quality to the ways in which we weigh matters of the heart or subjective things such as assigning “value.” At best, we can ensure that we do not settle for scraps when demanding what we deserve. However, subtle deviations from the ideal relationship or experience are so uncomfortable during this period, that otherwise viable outcomes are shut down immediately. Both eclipses are complicated by perfectionistic Venus, which may cheat us out of experiencing the comfort we so crave during these times.
Part I: The Paradox of Equilibrium
On October 14th, the Sun gets occulted by the Moon in Libra Decan III, which is fascinating for several reasons. The first of these is that the Sun is severely maltreated here, due to its proximity to Saturn’s exaltation degree and the degree of its own maximum fall. This is an inversion of the Aries Solar Eclipse we had back in April, and the one we will have in 2024. Fallen planets are actively disrespected and impeded from their ability to be true to themselves. As the Sun relates to sovereignty, authority, authenticity, and ones higher self, I’d imagine the overall theme of the eclipse is one of disempowerment and a removal of sovereignty. There may be situations where someone needs to resign or be replaced due to a lack of trust of authority, or situations where someone strips individuals of their right to self-determination due to mistrust. While the Sun in Libra understands that appearances do matter and that appealing to as many people as possible can be useful, sometimes you end up giving too much personal power away.
As this eclipse is on Saturn’s exaltation degree, there is a punishing element that can be at play here. Saturn represents the masses, and exalts in the sign Libra, which weighs the opinions of many to create consensus and achieve decorum. Saturn can represent the cruelty of the masses or the rule makers, to deliver retribution in the name of justice— whether real or perceived. I think this is where the third decan symbolism comes into play. I like to think of the decanic journey through Libra as the struggle to maintain equilibrium. While people mistake Libra as a passive sign, creating agreements and maintaining social order is a very active and calculated process. This final decan often describes the extreme measures that must be taken to restore balance. With Saturn exalting here, there may be a hard boundary or crushing blow delivered to halt something or reverse the direction in which it moves. Everyone says they want peace and balance until a major correction needs to be issue to make things right.
The aspects to the eclipse are even more telling about some key themes. For example, Mercury is caught up in the eclipse even though it is in the middle decan of Libra. Mercury is the negotiator, merchant, or trader attempting to broker an exchange— but also a trickster element with no clear loyalties or clear objectives. The middle decan of Libra has heavy connotations of the binding agreements that constrain our ability to act, but also speaks to the sacrifices and concessions that need to be made to maintain relationships. This feels like a stressful configurations for intermediaries, as their attempts at smoothing over a challenging situation may burn them badly.
Lastly, the Sun will meet its square to Pluto, whose station in the late degrees of Capricorn have exposed the material structures that uphold imbalances of power. Perhaps this great humbling of an authority figure or this loss of sovereignty exposes something deep about power structures and the value of resources. We get a full display of the optics of sovereignty, who gets to wield it; who gets to be the victim or the victor in certain narratives. Most obviously, this eclipse may also expose how incompetent leadership is propped up by these power struggles. It is important to take note of how these consequences play out in the Libran facets of your lives.
Part II: Budgeting to Zero
On October 28th, we get the final lunar eclipse on the Taurus-Scorpio axis until 2029-2030, when Rahu and Ketu are back in tropical Scorpio and Taurus, respectively. While still an eclipse, the Moon is close to her exaltation degree. I am of the opinion that eclipsed luminaries in their domicile or exaltation can bring constructive outcomes, but under unstable or less than ideal circumstances. Given the themes of the previous eclipse, I think that the final lunar eclipse in Taurus will bring some reprieve after a devastating blow or setback. Where the Solar Eclipse in Libra disempowers some, the Taurus eclipse may provide cushion to soften the blow.
This exalted eclipse takes place in Taurus Decan I, which carries connotations of planning for the raining day, and the consequences of the harvest. My younger sibling, who has her Sun in this decan of Taurus recently talked to me about the concept of “budgeting to zero,” and it felt pretty on point for this section of the eclipse. This concept means that every dollar you earn needs to serve a purpose to improve your saving habits, rather than having extra money you have left over. She explained that at times, the belief in money that was not accounted for led to poor spending decisions as this money had no purpose. This is so on brand for the decan! It also makes me think of a lot of concepts within different manifestation techniques. You have to have an idea of how you want your ideal situation to look and the purpose of the resources you may need to get there, in order to achieve a satisfying outcome.
She also explained how “budgeting to zero” sometimes made her feel like she was living paycheck to paycheck. This made me think instantly of the Five of Pentacles card, which often gets associated with Taurus I. This card depicts two impoverished individuals, often a mother and child, outside of a place of worship. The layered meanings of this imagery is particularly evocative to me, considering the themes of the times. Sometimes, things do not go according to plan or it seems like we must endure lots of struggle in hopes of achieving something greater— especially in terms of material outcomes. However, sometimes there is a resourcefulness that comes from hard times that ends up paying off. Being humbled by circumstances can bring out a resilience, that can beget great rewards. I think this is where the exalted Moon piece comes in.
In terms of aspects, Jupiter is co-present with the eclipsed moon, adding to the sense of relief that may be felt during this eclipse. Since Jupiter is currently in the middle decan of Taurus, I believe the outcome revolves around something that can bring people together for an important cause! The principle of reciprocity is huge in Taurus II, and I get the impression that through some collective effort people may come together to nurture or support people through some plight. Jupiter is a planet of alliances and friendship, and Jupiter and the Moon are both very nurturing planets. I get the impression that consistently showing up for people when they were at their lowest encourages them to come back and help you through a hardship. There is great capacity for solidarity between people under this configuration.
While Jupiter does bring friendly energies to this eclipse, it is worth noting that the Mercury-Mars conjunction is opposing Jupiter and loosely opposite the Moon. Mars and Mercury in secretive Scorpio may provide a covertly disruptive element to the sustenance the Moon and Jupiter may be trying to build. The harshness of speech, potential for slander, and indirect means of tearing people down with misinformation are a threat to take seriously during this time. However, unlike the solar eclipse in Libra, the eclipse does witness its lord Venus. With Venus also being in a pocket of Virgo that she is somewhat operative in, that critical and discerning eye may soften some of these hidden jabs and blows.
While the vibe of these eclipses is not the most exciting or dynamic, I do believe they will force us to examine our standards for seeking pleasure and relating to others. They may even expose that there is a lack of clarity about what we want, or inconsistencies that plague or desires or ability to connect with people. Regardless of where these themes take you, I hope that reconciling these internal conflicts of the heart can bring greater themes of stability. If you would like to learn more about how transits like these affect you specifically, I am open for consultations. A gentle reminder that I have a discount for Pisces Saturns, and I can provide the code to you if you send me a message.