The
Astronomy
An
eclipse of the Moon can only take place at a Full Moon, and only
if the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. The
closer the Moon is to the center of the shadow, the more total the
eclipse. A lunar eclipse is visible wherever the Moon is above the
horizon.
If
the Earth had no atmosphere, then the Moon would be completely black
during a total eclipse. Instead, the Moon can take on a range of
colors from dark brown and red to bright orange and yellow. The
exact appearance depends on how much dust and clouds are present
in Earth's atmosphere.
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Eclipse
maps and diagrams courtesy of
Fred Espenak - NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
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The
lunar eclipse on October
27/28th can be seen from the Americas, Europe, Africa
and central Asia as shown in the diagram above. This is a total
eclipse (the last total lunar eclipse until 2007) and therefore should
be quite dynamic. Mid-Eclipse Time: 3:04 UT (4:04 am BST, 11:04 pm EDT,
8:04pm PDT). More details for this lunar eclipse can be found at Fred
Espenak's Eclipse site.
The Moon's path through Earth's shadow
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The Astrology
A
lunar eclipse is a time of beginnings, endings, exposure and major
changes. It always has something to do with "relationships".
The changes are tied to how we relate and will have a lasting impression.
Emotions run high, causing upsets and feelings of disorientation.
Actions taken often do not have the expected results, but they do
bring awareness and enlightenment. The energy of an eclipse is at
its strongest during the two days before and three days after its
occurrence.
At
lunar eclipses we: merge, unite, announce, contact, present ourselves,
bring something out into the open, make decisions, engage, rise
to the challenge, make an effort, change, get a new perspective,
join with others, take on greater challenges, travel at a faster
pace, feel restless, feel pressured by deadlines and a buildup of
emotions, and experience excitement and crisis.
During
a Full Moon, the Sun and Moon are in opposition, also called the
Full Phase, indicating the linking of soul to spirit and awareness
of purpose gained through relationship with another. A lunar eclipse
is a supercharged Full Moon. The blocking of the Moon's reflection
of the Sun's light by the Earth suggests that our material viewpoint
stands in the way of our "seeing the light". It serves
as a reminder that we need to realize how we are held in the dark
by virtue of our perspective.
The Sun is in Scorpio and the
Moon is in Taurus during the total lunar eclipse on October
27/28 . The sensual
nature is temporarily out of balance. Monetary concerns, along with material complexes such as food and substance
addictions obscure reality during this period. Where physical pleasures combine to dull the senses, guilt replaces
comfort and the beauty of life's mysteries appear dark and untouchable.
The Sabian
degree symbols for this eclipse suggest that this is an excellent time to find
a solution to obstacles distancing you from others by focusing upon a shared
purpose. This eclipse is given additional emphasis with the rare planetary
formation of a Grand Quintile.
Events associated with this eclipse had their
origin in May 2003, were triggered last January and will resurface for completion beginning in late July 2005.
The last time a lunar eclipse occurred at this degree was October 1985. A review of your life experiences at
that time may provide clues to how you will experience this eclipse.
The eclipse does not have to fall in your sign
for you to feel its effects. However, if your birthday is around Jan 25, Feb 24, Mar 10 or 25, Apr 24, May 25,
Jun 10 or 26, Jul 27, Aug 28, Sep 12 or 27, Oct 28, Nov 26, or Dec 11 or 26, you will definitely have an emotional
response. If it makes any contacts to a planet or personal point in your chart, your experience of the eclipse
will be heightened. Consult with an astrologer for a personalized discussion of the energies activated in your
chart.
