ECLIPSE SEASON: Everything you need to know
Let's explore what the heck an eclipse is, their astrological significance, and what it means for YOU ☆
*infomercial voice* Have you been feeling cranky, irritable, tired, or just downright weird? Do you feel like you're floating through a liminal space, unsure of your next destination? Are you ready to surrender and let the universe take the reins of your life? Well, it’s actually going to whether you’re ready or not. Welcome to the chaotic, unpredictable, and truly magickal portal that is Eclipse Season!
That's right, folks! Eclipse Season is here, and it's not just about looking up to the sky with funny glasses and watching the sun and moon do cool stuff. It's also a time for the universe (or spirit, your ancestors, God, Goddess, etc) to play a divine hand in your game of life. Eclipses are a powerful time for self-discovery, growth, and transformation. They are potent astrological events that can bring significant changes and shifts to a particular area of your life, depending on how the eclipses are hitting your birth chart.
I’ve gotten so many “what’s going on with the astrology?! I feel weird!” texts from my friends since eclipse season started. But before we can get into what eclipse season means astrologically and for your chart, we must understand what makes eclipses so rare and special in the first place. So let’s step into my science classroom, shall we?
The Astronomy of an Eclipse
Eclipses happen when the alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth causes one of these bodies to partially or completely block the light of the other. There are two types of eclipses: solar and lunar. The celestial bodies must align in a perfectly straight line for an eclipse to occur. Therefore, eclipses can only occur on a new moon (solar eclipse) or full moon (lunar eclipse).
Even though full and new moons happen every month, we don't get eclipses every time because of the moon's orbit. The Moon's orbit is at a slight angle to the Sun's path, which is called the ecliptic. The ecliptic is tilted by about 23.5 degrees, and this is why we experience seasons on Earth! The Moon's orbit is also tilted by about 5 degrees from the ecliptic. Because of this tilt, we don't see an eclipse with every new or full moon. However, when the moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic, we get eclipses. The points where the two paths cross are called the nodes.
Okay that’s enough of that, back to astrology!
Astrological Significance
The nodes play an important role in astrology, and we refer to these two points as the North Node and South Node. In our birth chart, the nodes represent our destiny, life purpose, and path to our higher selves. The Nodes also represent the karmic axis and the lessons you were put on this earth to learn. Some astrologers interpret the South Node as one's past life and the North Node as where one is going next.
Because the nodes are activated during an eclipse, eclipse season brings powerful shifts and changes in our lives. These catalytic events push us closer to our destiny. It’s also common for manifestations to come to fruition during eclipse season, or alternatively, if you’ve been pursuing something that isn’t aligned with your true self or life purpose, the universe will give you a clear and definitive “no”.
However, (and this is what social media won’t tell you) eclipses can also be lowkey and uneventful. You may simply feel tired or experience some mental fog. Eclipses occur every 6 months, so if we were constantly going through major upheavals and Tower card moments, we would never feel a sense of stability or accomplish anything meaningful, ya know? If you have a lowkey eclipse season, you can trust that the universe is working for you in the background– it’s just not ready for you to receive yet.
As I mentioned, eclipses work in 6-month cycles. As an example, consider this eclipse season… we are currently in Libra season. The nodes are in Aries-Libra (the nodes will always be in opposite signs). So, the next eclipse season will be in 6 months from now, Aries season. We will be experiencing eclipses on the Aries-Libra axis until 2026. So even if nothing major happens to you this time around, a future eclipse may bring you lots of change, opportunity, or blessings!
October 2023 Eclipse Season
Astrologers use the term “eclipse season” to refer to the time period or window that eclipses are occurring. If you want to get real technical, eclipses happen when a new moon or full moon occurs within 18 degrees of a node. This is why the full moon in Aries a couple weeks ago was NOT an eclipse or part of eclipse season; the full moon formed just far enough away from the node.
The answer may vary depending on the astrologer you ask, but I am considering October 7 to November 4 eclipse season. This window captures when the sun is in that critical “node zone” and the pre-eclipse jitters/post-eclipse hangover that we tend to feel. Eclipses will always happen in pairs, so let’s take a look at the eclipses hitting us this month.
Solar Eclipse in Libra - October 13, 2023
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Okay, I keep mentioning Aries and Libra, but what does it MEAN? Each eclipse series has its own unique energy and themes that are associated with the sign in which the eclipses occur. The nodes are always in opposite signs, which means they have contrasting energies that are both complementary and challenging. The North Node is currently in Aries (meaning we are being pushed towards Aries energy and themes), and the South Node is currently in Libra (meaning we are being pulled away from Libra energy and themes).
The Aries-Libra eclipses will focus on themes around the self vs the other. You can expect to check-in with yourself around who you are as an individual and who you are in relationships… are you the same in both scenarios? Who really has your back, and who is secretly sending you the evil eye? And of course, you can expect your relationship to yourself to be a major theme.
On Friday the 13th (spoooky), a new moon solar eclipse occurred when la Luna joined the sun in the sign of Libra. Solar eclipses occur during a new moon phase when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun's light. Typically, solar eclipses take on the magickal properties of a new moon. This temporary darkness can represent a pause, a moment of reflection, and the opportunity to reset intentions and focus on new beginnings. Solar eclipses are associated with forward momentum and new starts, particularly in areas related to the sign and house where the eclipse occurs.
However, this new moon happened on the South Node. Attentive readers will recall that the South Node is associated with our past and the things we are moving away from. You may find yourself wanting to move forward under the new moon energy, but something from your past may be clinging on or trying to hold you back. This could take many forms… a relationship that is no longer in your best interest, your own self-perception, limiting beliefs, imposter syndrome. Whatever it is, the eclipse is empowering you to cut that cord and leave it behind once and for all. If you’ve been looking for a sign, this is it babe.
Lunar Eclipse in Taurus - October 28, 2023
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Now, you may be thinking “wait we’ve been talking about Aries and Libra, so where does Taurus fit in the picture?!” and I’m so glad you asked! This eclipse season is unique because we are finally finishing the transition from the Taurus-Scorpio axis to the Aries-Libra axis. In other words, the nodes have changed signs, which in turn changes when and how we experience eclipses.
The Taurus-Scorpio eclipses brought themes of stability, security, growth, personal wealth/resources, loyalty, and transformation. The nodes have been dancing across the Taurus-Scorpio axis since 2021, and this is the final eclipse on the Taurus-Scorpio axis until 2031!
Lunar eclipses take on the magickal properties of a full moon. They can represent a time of emotional release, closure, and the culmination of a process that has been building up over time. Lunar eclipses are associated with endings, letting go, and releasing emotional baggage. This full moon is happening on the North Node, and this energy is focused on personal growth and advancing on your journey. You may feel like you are wrapping up a chapter in the Taurus-Scorpio areas of your life, and you can FINALLY move forward without all that extra baggage weighing you down!
It’s important to note that the signs of both eclipses, Taurus and Libra, are ruled by Venus, meaning these eclipses are being governed by Venus in Virgo. As you may recall from my Venus workshop in September, Venus was in the sign of Leo for nearly 4 months (which is a super long time for her to be in one sign) due to her retrograde. This Venus RX transit challenged our ideas Venusian themes (love, beauty, values, money) through the lens of Leo (associated with our creativity, self-expression, and confidence). You may have found yourself feeling more vulnerable or insecure during this time, or this transit could have helped you finally see your worth or feel confident in expressing yourself (or all of the above!).
These eclipses are a culmination of that Venus RX story. It’s time for your Venus RX realizations and revelations to become integrated into your life and psyche. Venus is currently in Virgo (I wrote a lot about Virgo’s vibe here), meaning we can take what we learned from loving Leo and use Virgo’s discernment and pragmatism to integrate all that we’ve learned and move forward as a new version of ourselves.
Eclipses and You
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You can predict how the eclipses might affect you by finding where Libra and Taurus are in your chart. The themes of the houses ruled by these signs will be prominent during eclipse season, and any planets in these signs could get activated depending on the degree and orb (or how close they are to the eclipses). BTW— I have all the house themes broken down here!
During the Aries-Libra eclipse series over the course of the next few years, you may experience major changes and shifts in your personal relationships, as well as in your individual pursuits and goals. You may feel compelled to find new ways to assert yourself while also maintaining harmony and balance in your relationships with others. These eclipses could end relationships that aren’t in your best interests, or introduce you to new and amazing people you NEED in your life! Find the Aries-Libra axis in your chart for more insight.
If figuring this out yourself feels daunting, I am offering an ECLIPSE SEASON reading this month. In addition to the eclipses, there are lots of other planetary shifts happening in October. We will explore how the current astrology is impacting your chart and discover your personal eclipse season story. This reading is perfect for you if…
you feel a shift happening in your life
your life has turned upside down and you don’t know tf to do
you’re ready to accept all that the universe has to offer you
Booking now on my website!
Well my dear, I hope this provides some extra clarity or a new perspective around eclipses. Eclipse season can be crazy, but it’s important to remember that eclipses won’t make anything happen that wasn’t already going to happen. Eclipses just make it happen sooner, faster, or dramatically! Eclipses are like a momma cat that pick us up by the back of our neck and carry us back to where we belong. There’s no reason to fear them, your only job is to sit back and trust the universe.
♡ Taylor