April 5th ~ 12th
“Dionysius Converting the Pagan Philosophers” by Antoine Caron
As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation: either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
On April 8th (2:17 pm EDT here in New York; 7:17 pm in Great Britain; 11:17 am PDT on the West Coast) we have a Total Solar Eclipse at 19º Aries 23’, exactly conjunct the centaur Chiron. Literally Cazimi, in the heart of the Eclipse, our Wounded Healer takes center stage. We will never get to truly know Chiron in this way.
Less than 4º from the True Node allows this to be a Total Eclipse with its Path of Totality reaching across Mexico and a good swath of the United States from southern Texas all the way up and through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, right through Cleveland in Ohio, Buffalo and the Adirondacks of upstate New York, northern Vermont, New Hampshire and finally Maine! The Eclipse will also enter Canada (when it reaches Cleveland) in southern Ontario, out into Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Just wow!
The duration of the totality of the eclipse at its highest will be over 4 minutes, nearly double the American Eclipse of August, 2017. This Eclipse is also taking place when the Moon is close to the Earth in its orbit (a Super Moon), making it appear larger, and contributing to the longer duration of its totality. Never will the Sun (Spirit), Moon (Soul), and the Earth (physical body and form) be in such perfect alignment as it will be when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun on Monday forming this breathtaking Total Solar Eclipse.
Solar Eclipses occur at the New Moon which is about New Beginnings. All the more so in the sign of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. And then again, even more so because the eclipse is conjunct the North Node of the Moon. The Nodes are the points at which the Moon’s path and the Sun’s path intersect, allowing the eclipses to occur. North Node eclipses are almost always about new beginnings, and/or opening up opportunities that will allow us to get back in tune with our life’s path and destiny. If we are already there, moving in the correct direction, we might not notice all that much happening.
But occasionally, when these eclipses occur, it can feel like a reboot. Or perhaps more magically, this is when the fates, as it were, are able to manipulate things behind the scenes in order to make sure that everyone is in their designated positions. And this may be so even if and when our lives are rife with chaos from our perspective.
The Sun is also the source of our very life force, and when it is completely eclipsed as this one will be, it could feel either like a short circuit, or a major reboot. This is why these eclipse periods can either feel very high energetically, or completely exhausting and draining.
Solar Eclipses often bring turning points in our lives associated with great beginnings and endings. The orchestrations occurring behind the scenes can be felt for weeks before, and the unfolding of the eclipse can continue for months after. And because these are often turning points, the ramifications and consequences of these new beginnings can affect us not only for months, but perhaps even years afterwards. So these are not only specific to the day of the eclipse, but for much larger blocks of time.
As have many, I have often used the perfect alignment of these Solar Eclipses to sow intentions, for after all they represent an open portal to our collective purpose! But there are many who question the wisdom of sowing intentions with eclipses that are woven out of the fabric of chaos itself, for they are more likely to bring us unexpected outcomes. What we think we want, may not necessarily be what the soul needs and desires for its own growth and realization. And if indeed the fates are busy orchestrating things behind the scenes, who are we to interfere with their good work? And so perhaps there is some wisdom in avoiding making intentions with an Eclipse.
However, with this perfect alignment what we do have access to is an inner understanding of the ways in which we can best fulfill the behests of the soul. Request to be led precisely where you need to be in order to fulfill your destiny. And recognize that if a dreams is truly meant for you, then and only then, may the conditions arise to make it so. And always qualify your hopes and dreams with the added request that they only be fulfilled in a way that is for the greatest good of all concerned.
But perhaps the one thing that this eclipse can be especially useful for is connecting with ourselves. For the alignment between the Sun, Moon and Earth also allows this perfect connection between our questioning rational Mind and our Higher intuitive selves. This can allow us to see things from a much higher perspective, and open us up to guidance, clarity and understanding.
And with the exact conjunction to Chiron, this Eclipse is especially tuned into orchestrating a path that will facilitate greater healing and insight. And so we might ask ourselves: What new knowledge or new path is opening up that will help to facilitate this process of healing? The path will be a little different for each and every one of us. But they are all ultimately in service towards the path of greater Understanding and Awareness.
Chiron not only shows us what ails us, whether that be a physical, emotional or existential wound, Chiron also brings us the remedies that will be most effective in getting us back on track with our destiny.
Coinciding with the Solar Eclipse, is a conjunction between Aries-ruler Mars, and Saturn, both in the sign of Pisces. This could imply that we may not yet fully see, or perhaps even appreciate the new beginning that is unfolding, nor the gifts and remedies that are at our disposal. And yet through the push and pull combination of these two planetary energies we are being asked to persist. And to persist on faith. Even when and if we are given no reason to do so.
In the mythos of Chiron, what made our wounded centaur such a capable healer, was not only that he was gifted in his art, but that he knew what it felt like to be imperfect and in pain. As a result, he was better able to relate to the wounds that others carry. And so may we also find that through acceptance of ourselves and others, we come to a better realization of our own humanity.
What we can do with this magnificent Super Total Solar Eclipse is sow positive affirmations, and be open to whatever Guidance and Understanding may be needed to find our own healing path. This is the second of two Solar eclipses involved with the centaur Chiron who ceaselessly aims to remind us of who we are, imperfections and all. Following the path of Chiron allows us to find Wholeness and compassionate Understanding, which is something we could all use.
Some positive affirmations for the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Aries on April 8th might be:
I accept any new beginnings being brought to me with excitement and hopeful anticipation.
I enthusiastically greet any challenges I am facing with an understanding that these can help me grow in ways that I had not previously considered.
I am open to receiving whatever guidance is needed towards realizing my true path and destiny.
Grandfather, Look at our brokenness. We know that in all creation Only the human family Has strayed from the Sacred Way. We know that we are the ones who are divided And we are the ones Who must come back together To walk in the Sacred Way. Grandfather, Sacred One, Teach us love, compassion, and honor That we may heal the earth and heal each other. ~ Ojibway prayer (Prayers for Healing, edited by Maggie Oman)
For the Solar Eclipse for your sign or natal house, click Horoscopes below: