Lunar Eclipse in Pisces
What are the lunar nodes? What’s with the hype around eclipse season?
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Its official - eclipse season has begun. Before we get freaked out, let me remind you that eclipses happen twice per year, and it’s a continuation of a story that lasts about 2 years in a specific area of your chart. I see a lot of astrologers out there talking about chaos, and while it’s tempting to write clickbait-ey headlines about how to survive eclipse season, I’d rather just stay chill and not scare you into thinking your life (or society) is going to crash and burn just because a very normal astrological event is occurring. And listen, sometimes eclipses are transformational or just plain strange - but that’s what this newsletter is all about, so let’s keep trucking…..
What are eclipses?
Eclipses occur twice per year, based on the position of the moon’s nodes. According to wikipedia, “A lunar node is either of the two orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the two points at which the orbit of the Moon intersects the ecliptic. The ascending (or north) node is where the Moon moves into the northern ecliptic hemisphere, while the descending (or south) node is where the Moon enters the southern ecliptic hemisphere.”
I also want to note, since this is something that confused me for a bit, is that the lunar nodes are not celestial bodies, but rather points calculated in space, based on the orbit of the moon.
In western astrology, the lunar nodes are symbolized by the image of a Dragon 🐉
The north node ( ☊ ) is the head of the dragon and represents what we are hungry for. The south node ( ☋ ) is the tail of the dragon and represents what we are releasing.
These points in astrology are often called the “points of destiny” and are thought to be associated with our karma / the life lessons we came to learn.
The south node is the knowledge that we have already gained in a past life, it’s our inherent skill and talent that has been over developed through time.
The north node represents the area of life that we need to develop further in order to achieve personal fulfillment and success.
If we over rely on the south node, without pushing ourselves to develop the north node, we often feel dissatisfied or hungry for more. We all have these points in our birth chart, but just like the planets, they also transit the zodiac, based on the position of the moon, sun and earth. The nodes switch signs approximately every 1.5-2 years and the eclipses happen when the sun is in those signs (twice per year).
Eclipses in Aries / Libra Axis (April 2023-March 2025)
Eclipses have been occurring across the Aries/Libra axis since April 2023. The north node in Aries brings up themes around our independence, sense of self - ego, confidence and ability to tap into our core, to trust ourselves and really be a leader. It may have brought up feelings or situations where you felt insecure, competitive, hot headed or impatient - all as lessons to help us dig deep and cultivate a sense of strength and inner trust.
The south node in Libra is all about release. Libra is all about justice, equality and the greater good. Libra brings focus on our relationship dynamics and how we cooperate and collaborate with one another. If we are looking at releasing the shadow aspects of Libra - it could ask for stronger boundaries, or to release people pleasing, the ways in which we sacrifice our independence for a sense of peace or calm in relationship. I also find that Libra energy can get stuck in polarization, and so we may have needed to let go of black/white, yes/no, good/bad - type of thinking and be open to more nuanced conversations and perspectives, allowing ourselves to try to step into someone else’s shoes and see a situation from their perspective. Libra also brings up legal issues, so if you have had to do any work with lawyers, that could be wrapping up as well!
This month, the north node inches closer to Pisces, and we will have the first lunar eclipse in Pisces since February 2017. That might seem confusing because the planets move in order, from Aries to Taurus and so forth, but the nodes move in the opposite direction (like when a planet is retrograde). So the next eclipse axis will be in Pisces/ Virgo. Both the north & south node will remain on the cusp over the next year - so we will have eclipses on both axis until March 2025.
As we approach the lunar eclipse in Pisces, you may want to reflect on the lessons learned thus far with the north node in Aries. Reflection questions // tarot prompts:
How has your confidence changed?
In what area of life do you feel more independent?
Where do you consider yourself a leader & how do you want to apply your leadership skills moving forward?
Eclipses in Pisces/Virgo Axis (Sept 2024- Feb 2027)
This month, we begin a new storyline with the Lunar eclipse in Pisces, occurring on September 17th at 10:34pm EST at 25° Pisces. Like anything in life, there is not a clean line that marks the end and beginning - we will start the new story, while at the same time, wrapping up the old - so we can consider this upcoming eclipse the prologue of what will continue to take place until early 2027.
A lunar eclipse is full moon energy, with a twist! A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned with Earth between the other two, and only on the night of a full moon.
A lunar eclipse is said to be more potent than a regular Full Moon and often brings major endings, turning points, revelations and culminations. Again, being that this is the start of eclipses in this sign over the next two years, these changes usually happen over this extended period of time, but the revelations that come to you now can be the catalyst for that change. So let’s get into the themes of Pisces and the details of this full moon.
Pisces Themes
Pisces is a mutable water sign and the last sign in the zodiac. It is said to carry a little bit of wisdom from each sign. It’s deep and watery and emotional and creative and reminds me of the depths of the sea that no one can see. It represents the unknown, the unconscious, the house of hidden meanings - fears, desires and the undercurrent that runs through all of us like a pulse. We don’t always know what drives our thoughts and behavior, it’s passed down unseen from ancestors and past lives but we feel it in our bones and we tap into it in our dreams, meditations and creative flow states. We tap into it when we feel the energy of the collective zeitgeist and an idea forms from which we can create something that feels truly inspired, but not quite “of us” - like it was downloaded straight from the universe itself.
Pisces key phrase: My need to commit myself to a dream or ideal and work towards its realization.
Skillful traits of Pisces: unifying, imaginative, visionary, spiritual, receptive, psychic, empathic, compassionate, healing, mystical, romantic, surrounding
Unskillful traits of Pisces: confused, chaotic, impractical, deceptive, gullible, passive, escapist, martyred, victimized, insecure, self destructive, hypersensitive
Pisces Tarot Card: The Moon
When I pull The Moon in a reading, it is generally a time when we must take an inward journey. When we fear and resist the energy of The Moon, we end up feeling lost, confused, or stuck in old patterns and behaviors.
When we surrender and lean into The Moon, it offers us a glimpse into the unknown, but we have to trust the mystery and dig a little deeper to get in touch with the parts of ourselves that we usually hide. We need to be in conscious conversation, to greet emotions, feelings, sensitivies with compassion and grace.
From there, The Moon can lead us into a place of deep spirituality, faith and creative insights. It can be a portal to a new level of consciousness and a deeper upstanding of our place in this universe, or maybe just of ourselves.
The Moon offers no promises, gives us no map or clear direction, we must trust the mystery and feel our way down the darkened path and use our intuition and courage to feel our way through. The Moon will guide you, but not with your mind and your intellect, you have to follow your heart.
Pisces Full Moon Rituals
Traditional astrology and witchcraft practices do not recommend using eclipse season to practice manifestation. While I generally do not intentionally call in certain manifestations during eclipse season, I have been known to make herbal concoctions or do some basic kitchen witchery - so follow your intuition on that one!
In general, because of the more volatile energy of eclipses, it is advised to take a break from manifestation and just let it be - give time and space for the manifestations you worked on this summer to start to gestate and take form. Think back to the summer solstice - what was blooming then? As we start to approach the Fall Equinox, we can reflect and take stock of our harvest - what has come to fruition and how can we use that to get us through winter?
So this full moon can be a great time for reflection on the part of your chart that contains Pisces. Daddy Saturn has been transiting this area for the past two years, asking us to bring more structure here - so you might have felt challenged to take on a lot of responsibility in this area. Pisces is in my sixth house of work, daily routines and physical health and I’ve definitely undergone a lot of change and taken greater responsibility for my health and physical wellbeing. As well as taken on more work and responsibilities in my career, which has made me need to be more strict with my routines so I can have better work/life balance.
This is a great time to lean into any creative or spiritual practices that help you work towards your dreams and visualizations. Don’t be afraid to do a little shadow work or join that group ceremony that has always intrigued you but you’ve been too afraid to join! Be vulnerable and see your sensitivities as a gift instead of a curse. Alchemize your hurt into magic and trust the mystery in your life.
In the spirit of this Pisces Full Moon, I want to share a poem but the great Sufi poet, Hafiz.
The Violin
When
The Violin
Can forgive the pst
It starts singing.
When the violin can stop worrying
About the future
You will become
Such a drunk laughing nuisance
That God
Will then lean down
And start combing you into
His
Hair.
When the violin can forgive
Every wound cause by
Others
The heart starts
Singing.