The big buzz in astrology at the moment is the powerful New Moon with a Solar Eclipse in Pisces (on March 9th 2016 at 01:56 am GMT) and what that might mean!
The Solar Eclipse in Pisces heralds a time of momentous change for humanity, and a collective shift of the heart. A Solar Eclipse is where the Moon crosses the face of the Sun, casting a shadow on the earth, so we can only ever have a Solar Eclipse at a New Moon. From our perspective here on Earth the Moon appears to block out the light of the Sun.
Why Isn't Every New Moon a Solar Eclipse?
We only experience a solar eclipse when the Moon's shadow falls on the Earth. Because the Moon's orbit around the Sun is tilted in relation to the Earth's orbit, the Moon's shadow usually misses the Earth - so we only get a solar eclipse about twice a year. Whether we can see that eclipse or not depends upon where on the Earth the Moon's shadow will fall. Next week's Solar Eclipse in Pisces is fully visible from Indonesia, parts of Asia and parts of Australia.
Astrologically a New Moon is a Moon/Sun conjunction, which in itself indicates new beginnings. When combined with a Solar Eclipse it emphasises the end of a life cycle (as the shadow cuts off the Sun's light) and then the beginning of another (as the Sun's light reappears again). So it is a time of death and re-birth, particularly in how we are expressing our essential vital energy.
Mutable T-Square
This Solar Eclipse has the Sun/Moon conjunction at 18º Pisces in opposition to Jupiter at 18º Virgo, and both squaring Saturn at 16º Sagittarius forming a kind of triangle that in astrology we call a mutable t-square. T-squares create a crisis of tension that is usually resolved by action in some form (mutable in this case because the mutable signs of Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces are involved).
So in effect T-squares are catalysts. We normally look to the planet at the apex of the triangle (in this case Saturn in Sagittarius) to find the path of potential resolution. T-squares always bring us opportunity through crisis. Often this is a necessary crisis that catapults us out of a 'comfort' zone (that needs to change because it has served it's purpose and in continuing we would no longer grow), and into healthy action for change.
"The word crisis is very interesting. We often think of a crisis as something traumatic, or bad, happening. However, one dictionary defines crisis as "A crucial or decisive point or situation; a turning point."Indeed our modern word crisis has it's origins in the Greek word krinein which means 'to decide' and refers to a 'decisive point'. So a crisis forces us to act or to move. It pushes us into the next stage of our development that is necessary for our growth. Imagine an infant growing nicely in it's Mother's womb. He or she can't stay in there forever! Soon the day of 'crisis' will come, when that decisive turning point arrives and it is time to be born into the next phase of existence outside the womb."
(from an earlier blog post on zodiac signs)
To have this Solar Eclipse within a T-square formation is very significant indeed. It indicates a death and birth of sorts, but what will die and what will be born? It signifies an important time of crisis and choice - an opportunity to choose conscious action rather than unconscious reaction. It could be the death of old man-made ideals, new belief-systems and/or religious structures, and the birth of new ones, or even the birth of higher consciousness based on unconditional love. How we experience this Mutable T-square Solar Eclipse depends upon our level of consciousness.
At the level of our ego-personality experience we are driven by our egoic urges. We tend to react to life based on our egoic impulses and social and familial conditioning. From this perspective we may find ourselves pulled between the idealism of Jupiter in Virgo in the form of judging and comparing one another based on the practical application of moral judgements, and the expression and emotional attachment to our faith and religious or spiritual beliefs, of the Sun/Moon in Pisces. We might see Saturn in Sagittarius trying to structure our belief systems into some kind of philosophy or new belief system.
So we might see challenges or crises that lead to the dissolving of old, outmoded, belief systems and the implementation of new ones, particularly in the areas of education, religion, schools of thought, philosophies and belief systems.
Jupiter is inconjunct Uranus at 18º Aries so at the time we may also be unable to tap into the clarity of our intuition, and may be prone to 'explosive' tempers (Uranus in Aries) that feel morally justified and 'righteous' (Jupiter in Virgo). Certainly this could be a time where people clash over belief systems.
It is a time to be highly on alert, watch your own body, speech and mind, check in with your motivation, and spend as much time as possible meditating on world peace for all!
From a higher Soul-Centered perspective this is a powerful opportunity for higher consciousness and Universal love to be anchored into humanity in realistic and practical ways. In Esoteric Astrology the Sun, Jupiter AND Virgo are on ray 2, which is the path of Love-Wisdom. Pisces, Virgo and Sagittarius are on ray 6 - the path of devotional idealism. This is a time for releasing 'blind' devotion and through our own personal experience, awakening to the truth of our own spiritual nature and Divine connection.
So we have the highest potential of Jupiter (Love-Wisdom) in Virgo flowing Divine love into the World in practical ways (normally through our work). With the Sun/Moon conjunction our collective pranic energy (Sun) unites with our emotional body (Moon) in Pisces to imbue us with a deeper experience and awareness of compassion and Unconditional Love.
Meanwhile Saturn asks us, "What is real? What is authentic?" Saturn in Sagittarius asks, "what is really the highest truth?" "How can we be authentic in this?" We can see how this is the resolution (the apex of the T-square) because the deepest spiritual truth is that we are all connected. When we know the truth of our oneness and unity, from personal experience, all barriers and false belief systems dissolve, and we enter the highest realm of Love-Wisdom (Jupiter) and Universal Love and Compassion (Pisces).
There is a beautiful trine (positive, flowing aspect) between Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Sagittarius which may allow us to more clearly intuit the highest 'reality' of our true nature, provided we can access the space of peace and clarity in our meditative practice.
Next week's Solar Eclipse is therefore a powerful opportunity for each one of us to identify and release limiting belief systems and unconscious reactions, so we may enter into the highest vibration of Pisces: where all hearts beat as one as we collectively awaken to the reality of the sacred heart of humanity.
__________________________________________
Soul Path Astrologer Ruth Hadikin specializes in supporting you on your own greatest adventure: using Soul Astrology to explore your Soul Path and Life Purpose. Read more articles like this in her free newsletter.