Solar Eclipses!!
On Thursday 20th April there will be a Solar Hybrid Eclipse so I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about them!! There are four types of eclipse which we will look at, and also the history and mythology around eclipses, because is it just fascinating!! I will also explain how you can work with the energy of this eclipse to make changes in your life.
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun, and the four types are total, partial, hybrid and annular. We also have lunar eclipses where the Earth passes between the sun and the moon. Eclipse Season happens twice a year and will consist of both a solar and lunar eclipse.
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun completely blocking the sun. The sky will go dark and people in the centre of the moon's shadow will get the best view. A partial solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth but does not line up completely and so only part of the sun is covered. The moon looks like a black disc on the sun. These eclipses (and the others really) are best viewed through special eclipse glasses to protect your eyes.
An annular solar eclipse is perhaps the most impressive to see because it creates a ring of fire!! Similar to a total eclipse, this one happens when the moon passes in front of the sun but is further away from Earth and so does not cover the sun completely. Instead, we see a large black disk on top of a larger bright disc, creating this ring of fire around the moon. A hybrid solar eclipse is quite rare. As the Earth's surface is curved, sometimes an eclipse can shift between annular and total, making it a hybrid eclipse. The last hybrid eclipse was in 2013 and the next one will be in 2031. Unfortunately, this one won't be visible in the UK.
In the past, solar eclipses were feared, and there were myths and stories associated with them. The day would suddenly go dark for no apparent reason and people had no idea what was going on. Many cultures believed that mythical figures had stolen or eaten the sun, or that the Gods were angry. We are now able to predict solar eclipses, but they still have that bad vibe attached to them, and many cultures still see them as a bad omen.
Different cultures had stories about different animals eating the sun to explain solar eclipses. In Vietnam, it was a giant frog, in China a dragon was to blame, the Norse blamed wolves, and the Koreans thought dogs were stealing the sun!! The Greeks believed that a solar eclipse was caused by angry Gods and took it as a sign of impending disaster and destruction.
There are many superstitions around eclipses ranging from not eating anything prepared during the eclipse, not eating at all during the eclipse, and not going outside!! There are even people who will advise against charging your crystals under a lunar eclipse.
When we look at the spiritual, and moonology, meaning of an eclipse, this is the time when the universe essentially changes gears. New Moons are a time of new beginnings, and a solar eclipse is a time for change and transformation. This is your chance to make those big changes in your life you have been putting off. If you are waiting for a sign from the universe that it's the right time to take that big leap, then this is it!!
A solar eclipse is a supercharged New Moon. It can help to show you where you feel out of balance or alignment. Sometimes facing those parts of ourselves that we keep hidden can be challenging and painful. Often events will take place during eclipse season that feel like the end of the world to us. This particular New Moon hybrid eclipse is heavily influenced by Pluto and so there is a strong call there to rid yourself of anything toxic in your life. This could be people, influences or just bad habits.
When faced with an eclipse, we can either choose to see the negative effects, focus on them and allow ourselves to be overcome with pain. Or we can work with the energy to make positive changes in our lives. As hard as it may be at the time, once the dust has settled we can often see the rainbow, the space that has been created in our life for new and better things to come in.
Personally, I have lost jobs, written off cars, and had significant relationships come to an end during eclipse season. And as hard, frustrating and painful as these events were at the time, I can now look back and be grateful that they happened because of the things they allowed to come into my life.
I hope you have found this week's blog helpful. If you would like to talk with me about how you can work with the moon more in your life, then book a free call using the button below.
