July will see two eclipses: a partial solar eclipse on July 13 followed by an full lunar eclipse on July 28. The triad is completed with a partial solar eclipse on August 11 which is not seen in many parts of the world. However, the eclipses are an unfolding of energy on the Earth and it behoves all to pay attention to the voice of conscience in this time of disturbing energies accentuated by exalted furnace which goes by name of Mars.
Partial Solar Eclipse July 13
First eclipse (13 July) has a small touch. Interesting, it takes place in the ninth house, house of religion and philosophy, in Gemini, ruled by Mercury. It is an interesting eclipse, for Jupiter is in the 1st house, aspecting the 9th house, (very important, Jupiter is giver of higher divine knowledge … so Jupiter is going to give something to religion and spirituality at the time of this eclipse).
The Lord of Chart, Venus, is in the 11th house, the place of relations with the world, peers, like this, aspected and troubled by Mars … so the mind can be a little fiery, a little disturbed, for some. (Not all. Saturn is retrograde in Mula nakshatra (which is the central Sun of our galaxy) at this time, urging one and all to revisit divine experiences and get phenomena right; phenomena is maya – a lesson that has to be learned again and again.) It might be useful to keep in mind that Mars is approaching its closest contact with planet Earth over the next two months, so energy from Mars will be stronger, even in the light of Mars exalted and conjunct Ketu. Ketu magnifies the effects of any planet it is with.
The eclipsed lunar nakshatra is Punarvasu, represented by the goddess Aditi: the goddess of unity – so we may see the very early notions of Unity of Faiths in the public domain. If you are older than 50, then the eclipse is happening in the second house, again troubled by Mars, who is also in the second house. For some, this could be Fire and Ice. It is a weakened Mars, for the over-50’s. The affected houses (4th, 6th) signify the home, surgery and doing of selfless service for the over 50’s. Be careful around the home, and do a little selfless service.
Plot of the path of the 13 July Solar Eclipse
Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse July 28
The Lunar Eclipse is a blood moon, and my cousin astrologers speak of a grand cardinal cross – again. There is this connection with Uranus – the awakening. Mercury will be unravelling and screaming and making a lot of noise before it enters Leo. Water to fire sign transits expose that which is knotted up within ourselves. And that is where Mercury is. Problem is, opposite Mercury is the eclipsed moon, which is both a blood moon and a full moon. Mars is within 1° of this moon, well and truly troubling the moon. As the moon is the presiding deity of the mind, we will have troubled minds at the time of this eclipse. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, we are talking about the morning of Saturday 28 July. That day will be quite troubled and it is best to make an intention of waking up with prayer and meditation. That trick to make that happen is to have prayer in the mind as you fall asleep. Then you will have prayer in the mind when you awaken.
The Moon enters the lunar sign Shravana, as it becomes completely eclipsed. Shravana, much like the following sign, Dhanistha, represents our ability to listen. Mars and Ketu represent fire which is disturbing our ability to truly listen. With all the noise of the rowdy world we are challenged to hear what is most important. This full Moon is also known as Guru Purnima in the Hindu calendar, so maybe a good time to check in with your guru or guiding light-force (read deity, ishtadevata) about smoothing the troubled waters of the world. It is not going to be the happiest of Guru Purnima days.
Solar Eclipse Amavasya (No Moon Day) 11 August
Third eclipse has significance for ancestors. This is a solar eclipse on 11 August, and only visible in the Northern Hemisphere.
Amavasya, or Amavasi, is the name of new moon night in Hindu religion. It is the first night of the first quarter of the lunar month. Since the moon is invisible on the day, Amavasya is also referred as no moon night. Amavasi holds great importance in Hinduism. Many Hindus choose this day to make offering (tarpanam) to the dead ancestors as the prevailing energies aid them in visiting the Earth at this time. Hence, the prayers, puja and offerings go directly to the ancestors.
The term ‘Amavasya’ is commonly used in all regional languages in India. The fortnight that starts with Amavasya is also referred as the Shukla paksha (bright half of the month). Both Amavasya in Hindu Aadi month (July to August) and Mahalya Amavasya in Ashwayuja (September – October) are highly auspicious. Similarly the Amavasi in Aadi month is of great importance in Tamil Nadu. The Amavasya in Karkidakam month is of importance in Kerala.
On Aadi Amavasya, spirits are more willing and able to make a full crossing to the other worlds. They are especially satisfied and pleased when honored. When they cross over completely and successfully, they can bring you many blessings and significant improvement in your life. Take advantage of this time, Aadi Amavasya, the New Moon day when the Sun and the Moon in the star Pushya (ruled by Saturn) come together in Cancer making it an auspicious time for ancestral rituals, for bringing relief to your ancestors’ souls so you can have better overall progress in life. It is a day to wave arati flame in front of pictures of our ancestors, and to light incense. The only substance that they can detect from this world is smell.
There is Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) on 11 August, day of Amavasya. Surya Grahan is not visible in India, hence no requirement to halt doing of pitr tarpana and other puja on this day. Ditto any other place where this eclipse is not visible. For example, our chart for this eclipse is taken from Tiksi, Sakha (Yakutia), right on the northern shores of Russia. Very few places experience maximum eclipse.
image courtesy timeanddate.com
As the illustration above shows, this partial solar eclipse is taking place in the northern hemisphere, very much over the artic regions, and very few populated places will experience the eclipse. This eclipse takes place in the period of Dakshinayana.
Dakshinayana occurs:-
- During the second half of the year, when the Sun moves southward. The Sun is then hidden and his effulgence has no splendour.
- During the dark half of the month, when the Moon wanes, symbolising the waning of God-ward thoughts.
- During the new moon night, when everything is enveloped in complete darkness. All spiritual impulses suffer defeat. The smoke of ajnana lies heavily on the mind
The afflicted nakshatra for this eclipse is Ashlesha, ruled by Mercury. Mercury is afflicted by the eclipse as it is retrograde and only 4° from the Sun, within the orb of influence. The deity is naga, the serpent with occult powers, suggesting a rise of the occult within, or as the New Age movement would put things, a rise of the psychic powers within due activation of junk DNA by this eclipse. The body part signified by this nakshatra is the ear, suggestive of the disturbance of our ability to truly listen from the Solar Eclipse of 13 July; this would indicate that this eclipse is the completion of a particular sequence of energy (from the lunar eclipse of July 28) for the whole of the Earth. The energy – magnetic energy from the Sun being completed – points to the need to hear on the inner level, and to hear the voice of conscience clearly. We should never play false to our conscience, and when we do, we have a great fall. In Hinduism, (and vedanta, the foundation of vedic astrology) the voice of the conscience is the voice of the Divine.
A weakened exalted Mars retrograde aspects this eclipsed Sun and Moon, (and Mercury) along with retrograde Ketu – Ketu magnifies any planet it is conjunct. Not quite out of the orb of influence of Mars, Ketu lends energy to Mars, which is sending fire to the tenth house, the house of business activity and where we earn our income, our wealth. In this instance (in this location) the eclipsed Sun is in the tenth house, some may need to exercise caution and think before they act and speak or they will lessen our inherent (and created) wealth. What wealth it is is a matter of which house this eclipsed Sun occurs in for you, the reader. Wealth comes in many forms: financial security, possessions, security of employment, wealth of friends, wealth of confidence and self-respect, wealth of car, home, position in life. Consider.
