Total Solar Eclipse July 2nd: Shadow or Light?

Tomorrow is the New Moon and because it is within 7 degrees of the Moon’s North Node, we’re going to have a total solar eclipse. We won’t be able to see it because its path flows through South America – exactly through Buenos Aires. Nevertheless, it will have an impact on the United States because it is the “Eclipse Return” of 9/11.

By now you should be familiar enough with this language to understand that above paragraph. For those of you just joining us, I encourage you to read my post on the Moon’s nodes. Eclipses can only happen near the points at which the plane of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth intersects the plane of the ecliptic – the Earth’s path around the Sun, or the apparent path of the Sun around the Earth. Only when the Sun approaches one of these nodal points will the Sun and the Moon be on the same level, so to speak. Thus the Moon can pass directly in front of the Sun and shut out all of its light.

I would love to share more astronomy with you. It’s fascinating, but I think you’re probably more interested in what this means for us here on Earth. Let’s look at the symbolism of an eclipse – one object blocks the other’s light, casting us in shadow. The Sun is our energy source – it is the engine driving life. The Moon is our feeling body that allows our consciousness to experience life.

On the one hand these two are coming together. It is a joining of energies. The powerful radiating Sun, a dynamic force completely aligned with the gentle, reflective, receptive moon. This is the Yin/Yang, the balance of masculine and feminine energies. Their marriage is celebrated at a total solar eclipse by the appearance of a diamond ring. The Moon gets fertilized, re-energized and carries the solar fire round the Earth for another month. But what does it mean when the Moon completely blocks our perception of the sun’s light? Most astrologers agree that this is about shadow work.

We’ve all heard about our Shadow. Carl Jung was the first to bring it to our attention. For the most part we think of the Shadow as our dark side, the parts of us we don’t want to own, the parts we project onto others. It certainly is that. The Shadow is the part we don’t want to see, but can’t escape. Aptly named – try running away from your shadow on a sunny day. There is no doubt that we all should take a look at our Shadow – a good, long, hard look. That’s basically what I’ve been doing in Lessons from the Heavens – looking at the collective USA Shadow, as well as her potential. And this is important because our potential is every bit as much our Shadow. It lurks in the darkness as well. We easily lose sight of it.

Jung pointed out that we not only have a Dark Shadow, we have a Light Shadow, the parts of us we share with the Divine – our endless love, our greatest joy, our ecstasy of Oneness, our purity of heart, our noblest of intentions, our unlimited power and creativity. We all have moments when we feel into the brilliance of our inner light – moments of inspiration – but these moments fade and we go back to life as usual.

An eclipse is a time when we can see parts of ourselves, parts of the collective, that aren’t usually visible. When the light is too bright we can’t see into shadowy corners. When it is totally dark, we are able to discern the smallest glimmer of Light. This solar eclipse is giving us the opportunity to see more of our own Light. How perfect that it comes so close to our national holiday! We can make a point of looking for our own, as well as our collective, Light.

Americans are frequently at their best on the 4^th of July. Our idealism is celebrated with red, white and blue. We wave flags at parades. We come together, all ages, to celebrate our great good fortune to live in this beautiful country. We put aside our private concerns and join community. And every year we get to see our beautiful technicolor Light explode in the night sky. We share awe. Our hearts are opened.

On this New Moon, Venus, the Sun, the Moon, the North Node, Mars and Mercury –  all the personal planets –– are on one side of the chart, directly opposite Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn.  This is an opportunity to separate our private lives from our political ones. Our nation has been politically polarized, but I think we finally have an issue about which we can agree. With our collective nurturing Cancer Sun, our humanitarian Aquarian Moon and our idealistic ascendant we cherish our children. They are the innocents among us. We can agree that all children should be treasured, protected, loved with all our hearts. This is something to build upon.

Eighteen years ago, 0n June 21, 2001, there was a total solar eclipse within 13 degrees of the USA Sun. A few months later our Twin Towers were brought down by terrorists. Pluto was on the USA Ascendant at the time – death and transformation. The effects of an eclipse rarely show up on eclipse day. They can take as much as 6 months to manifest. In 2001 it was less than three. Terrorism had come to America. Our cloak of invulnerability was demolished and our deepest fears aroused.

Tomorrow is the “sister” eclipse, the next in line in Saros family series #127. In 2001 we awakened to a new reality. We all carry the trauma of 9/11 and this New Moon is an opportunity to heal some of that damage – our fears, our blame, our rage. We can’t let this tragedy define us any longer. We can’t continue to live in fear and react in hate. It’s time to get back to Love, which is what a new Moon in Cancer is all about.

Last evening my husband and I watched a performance of a beautiful symphony: “Ellis Island: The Dream of America.” The photographs of raggedy children and gaunt-faced parents were so touching. We both wept – him with memories of his own journey with his mother after WWII; me with appreciation for immigrants’ courage and determination to make a better life for their children, just as my great-grandparents had done.

This is who we are – loving people, with a dream of a brighter future. This is our Light Shadow – our Cancer Sun: open-armed embrace; our Sagittarian Ascendant: dreaming of ideals; Aquarian Moon: longing deep within for a future of peace, prosperity  and freedom for all.

We are the descendants of heroic humans, passionate about the freedom to make our lives better, to prepare a better future for our children. We have seen our Dark Shadow. We  have fought horrific wars in muddy trenches, infested swamps, blistering deserts, bone-chilling blizzards. We have faced famine and epidemics and soul-scarring poverty. We know from thousands if not millions of lives – be they all our own, or those of our ancestors – how to struggle and compete, labor and suffer. Instead of glorifying our various wars with marching soldiers and jet flybys, think this 4^th of July of the courageous souls who founded and built America – immigrants all.

 If you’re looking for inspiration, treat yourself to this enlightening production of Ellis Island and remember your own roots – those brave ancestors who prepared the way for you. They carry your Light. Take up the torch.

I wish you all a joyous 4^th of July celebration. I’m taking some time off to bring my life more into balance. I’m planning on posting next on July 11^th, but in the spirit of freedom – who knows?