The Coming Series of Eclipses – 2011

It is customary for our planet Earth to have a Solar (New Moon) and Lunar (Full Moon) eclipse once every six months, but this month is a bit different. This time we have two Solar eclipses with a Lunar eclipse right in between creating three eclipses, back to back, all happening during the month of June. Although this does happen occasionally, we can expect this month to be an important turning point for those of us who have planets in their birth chart in close aspect (3°) to the location of the eclipses. The first in the series occurs at 11° of Gemini on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 2:03pm PDT. The second of the series is the Lunar eclipse on June 15, 2011 at 24° of Sagittarius at 1:14pm PDT. And finally, we will have a second Solar eclipse on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 9° of Cancer.

I’m going to focus on the first eclipse of the series for this article and will talk about the others in the next newsletter. Many of my readers know that I regard a Solar eclipse as an ‘inertia destroyer.’ Things can be going along pretty well, or shall we say, normally, and then an eclipse occurs on a sensitive point in our chart and suddenly it seems that everything is shifting. The other way we can experience an eclipse is that it can trigger changes that have been brewing for some time but which have seemed to be stagnant and unmoving. In other words, eclipses tend to break the momentum of the past and create or force us into a new direction.

In astrology, eclipses have very bad reputations. Many astrologers regard them as ‘bad.’ Nothing good can come from an eclipse, many say. But this makes no sense to me. And, from my personal experience I know it isn’t true. My view is that what makes an eclipse feels good or bad is how we personally experience it in the short term. In my case, I once had a significant eclipse on my Jupiter and wondered for months what it would elicit. Would it be fortunate or unfortunate? Would I be lucky or unlucky since Jupiter rules luck? In actual fact, however, this particular eclipse resulted in my deciding to start the Sher Astrological Institute. Jupiter also rules education and this is exactly what was triggered by that eclipse. It was not unlucky for me to say the least. Also, it is helpful to be aware that what can seem terrible in the short run may turn out to be quite necessary for our personal growth later. It is not possible to avoid pain in life, so if there was a destructive aspect of an eclipse, often we see later, that we could not have progressed into new territory in the future without that pain. This principle can be hard to hear when we are in the midst of loss, but if it does occur, at least in the back of our minds, we can remember or feel that there may be important meaning for us even if it seems impossible to admit while we are in the midst of its effects.

This particular eclipse is characterized by a trine to Saturn. This adds a seriousness and purposefulness to this eclipse. Most of all, if you are in a process of creating or expanding a business, this is a great time to move forward as long as you have already determined the kind of structure or plan you need. If not, then this is the time to do it, so that when Saturn goes direct in a week, you will be ready to take advantage of new opportunities coming your way.

Of greater interest to many who pay attention to Saros cycles, this eclipse is called 13 South. Saros cycles are extremely long cycles that repeat every 19 years. The meaning of this one as interpreted by Bernadette Brady is that it carries two opposing forces. One is quite expansive, while the other is restrictive and delays progress. The reason for the expansion and optimism is that Jupiter is connected to the New Moon of this series. But due to the influences of both Mars and Saturn with it, there can also be frustration, inhibition, delays and separations included in the mix. In order to get an idea of how difficult this eclipse might be for a person, one would have to examine the natal chart of the specific person very thoroughly as the more negative aspects possible here are quite rare.

Jupiter and Saturn

In addition to the series of eclipses, this busy month has two additional factors to be considered. On June 5, 2011, Jupiter changes signs and enters Taurus for a one-year stay. And on June 13, 2011, Saturn turns back to its direct motion. Together these changes signal that important matters can move forward strongly. I will be going into this in future articles, but Jupiter’s entrance into earthy Taurus indicates that the inspiration and enthusiasm of Aries is now turning into opportunities for some of the things we have been considering to actually be manifested. Slow, steady and determined work is Taurus’ signature, so it is best not to seek fast results. But with Saturn also moving ahead again, we are entering a great time of steady progress as long as we are practical, do our homework and remain steadfast. The doors are opening fully now, so if you are involved in a project that you take seriously, this is the time to move with confidence and optimism. At times like these, one can achieve real results that can endure.

As always, I’d love to hear about your experience of this month’s shifts and changes, so please reply if you feel inspired to write.