There was an eclipse in the early hours of this Monday morning, when the Moon came to Full Phase among the stars of Taurus and slipped into the outer edge of Earth’s shadow, which begs the question astrologically: which is easier to deal with, a full shadow, like at total eclipse; or the barest hint of shadow, like this one?
The Earth is always casting its shadow into space, but it’s only at lunar eclipse that we really get to experience it. In former ages this was not a phenomenon that induced fear as though it were unexpected, mainly because, prior to the conveniences of contemporary culture, humanity lived in closer relationship with the rhythms of nature, and eclipses are rhythmic.
What did draw a response was the change in the natural world that the eclipse brought about. It was once believed that new souls came to birth on the moonbeams, but at eclipse, then an inner darkness fell earthward instead.
So how do we experience this now?
This eclipse happened with the Moon in Taurus, which in ancient astrological wisdom rules the region of the larynx. This has to do with our speaking. So now is the time, at least for the two weeks from Full Moon to New Moon, to pay attention to your speaking, and its effect: does it elevate or slay?
You see, the Taurus Full Moon will always stand opposite the Sun in Scorpio, and on Tuesday, the Sun is near Antares, the heart of the Scorpion, which can be imagined either as the scorpion that strikes to kill, or as the phoenix, that strives upwards, even out of the ashes.
For the next two weeks bear these words of ee cummings in mind: “I will take the Sun in my mouth and leap into the air ALIVE with closed eyes to dash against darkness.”