You all know that we have been living with Mercury retrograde in Pisces for the past week or so, which has been working to make any communications fraught with emotional overtones and nearly guaranteeing that any communications of matters of the heart can be easily misconstrued. For those of us not able to just stay hidden under the covers until Mercury goes direct on the 25th, caution is the operative word.

Tomorrow is the Full Moon in Virgo and a Lunar Eclipse to boot. I found a great website, MoonCat's Astrology, that has a lot to say about the astrological significance of eclipses:

The eclipse seems to stop time, stop energy and stop movement - while also focusing energy. Where once there was light filtering through the elemental forces of the zodiac and into the earth's aura - there is suddenly darkness, nothingness - a temporary lack of input from the Sun or Moon that serves to bring our awareness closer to the energy of the Solar or Lunar season, and thus intensify it.

Lunar energy is internal, maternal, nurturing, deeply emotional - and absorbed and internalized by our astral bodies.

When a lunar eclipse occurs, the earth is passing between the Sun and the Moon, creating a Full Moon as we experience every month - but in this case, the alignment is perfect - the occultation of the Moon complete. The intensity of the Full Moon is great, yet she is totally covered for about an hour by the earth's shadow. The Sun and Moon are occupying opposite Astrological signs, therefore emphasizing the particular polarity inherent in those signs.

During the period of occultation, the Moon's reassuring light is temporarily suspended and withheld. We experience a crisis of lack, and the particular sort of lack depends universally upon the astrological sign in which the eclipse occurs, and personally upon the natal astrological house (realm of influence), as well as the major aspects made to natal planets.

This eclipse is particularly relationship oriented - and our connections with others can be severed, challenged, or suddenly welded together as the shock calls one to action. We may deeply consider our feelings and needs within the context of the house, sign and planetary aspects affected. To fully appreciate the potential in the lunar eclipse, we must explore both houses and signs that are brought into play. Where the Moon is - we can confront our demons, old habits and fears, and where the Sun is we may find the means to embrace a release from whatever bondage we experience in life through our creative efforts. In any event, there are opportunities for deeper understanding, and finding a balance in our lives.

What I find intriguing about this idea that during the lunar eclipse the energy of the moon is blocked for a short time is that this could be just the break we're looking for during this Mercury retrograde. The energy of a Full Moon in Virgo could lead us to be overly critical. While I recognize that sometimes critical thinking is a good thing, when you are negotiating a tenuous relationship issue (as I am) and Mercury retrograding in Pisces is already affecting communication, critical Virgo energy isn't likely to be helpful. Perhaps during the eclipse tomorrow we have a serendipitous window of opportunity. Those of us who have any romantic affairs to which we are attending might be well advised to time any sensitive discussions for the precise moments when the eclipse is keeping that Virgo nit-pickiness at bay.

Paying particular attention to what MoonCat is saying about lunar eclipses being relationship oriented, I think that we have an interesting astrological confluence of energy going on tomorrow and if we pay attention, we can use all of this energy to good advantage. But be careful! It's going to be a wacky ride and we want to make sure we find ourselves up wind of the shit storm!

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 12:52 PM