December 4 2:43 AM EST
This is the final eclipse in the Gemini/Sagittarius axis which began in May of 2020, and it is a powerful total solar eclipse! Solar eclipses signify new beginnings, linked as they are to the New Moon. However, this is a South Node eclipse, and the South Node is linked to our karmic past. Hence this eclipse very much has to do with re-building and starting afresh, on what might be the still-smoldering ashes of the past which we have in the past several years ‘destroyed’ or transmuted. This is especially true for several reasons. Firstly, the eclipse is conjunct the “Great Attractor” which I will describe in more detail below. Secondly, Venus the planet of attraction and values (linked to The Empress in the Tarot) is conjunct transformative Pluto and about to go retrograde. It is our time to wrap up the period of shedding and release, so that we can begin to re-build based on our new and elevated vision, values and priorities.
We have all seen a great deal of change in the world at large since the Gemini/Sagittarius eclipses began in mid-2020. Sagittarius rules to “rest of the world” (places *away from* where we live or our own culture) and is also connected to belief systems, religion, “the spiritual path”, abundance, adventure, travel, and publishing (ie. the broadcasting of our beliefs). Gemini is more about “my thoughts and ideas”, whereas Sagittarius is about “my knowledge and beliefs”. Most peoples beliefs have been amended, challenged or perhaps even altered dramatically in the past 2 years.
So where are we now? That is what this eclipse asks us to come to terms with. Where are we now in our vision for the future? Our beliefs about the world “out there”? Our beliefs about ourselves and what is possible for our lives? Sagittarius doesn’t hold back. It is a fire sign and its symbol is the archer. Whatever we have decided is important to us and where we see that factoring into our lives in the future- we must steady our aim and SHOOT OUR ARROW at that target- as clearly as can be.
Because we have a rather good chance at hitting that target now, especially if we have been navigating the past few years with as much courage and compassion as we could muster. The universe is ready to give us a reflection of where we are at and magnify and amplify it for us so that we don’t miss the message! Jupiter, Sagittarius ruler’ is after all the planet of expansion and growth and it often “blows things out of proportion” so that we can see them properly. It makes sense then that this eclipse is conjunct the Great Attractor.
The Great Attractor, located in the direction of 14 degrees Sagittarius, is something akin to a super-massive black hole. In fact it is so large and unknown that it warps light around it. It is a mystery to astronomers, and of fascination for astrologers. It is the single most magnetic point in our whole solar system. So a total solar eclipse less than 2 degrees away from the great attractor is significant. And Mercury, the messenger planet, is at 15 degrees Sagittarius. We all know the power of our words and thoughts, and Mercury oversees both knowledge and information, as well as the co-creative power of our words. The sun, moon and Mercury together near the Great Attractor can indeed bring us some very clear reflections on what we have been co-creating with the universe using our thoughts and words. We are magnetizing these mirrors more quickly than ever right now. Since this eclipse is energetically active for the next 5 months, we can expect to see a lot of what we have been focusing on show up for us in that timeframe, for better or worse.
If we have been focusing on fear and scarcity, that could become more of a reality for us than we might wish. If we have been focusing on attracting a new job or relationship, we could have that experience coming towards us in the near future. And, of course, it’s always important to remember that we can change the direction of our thoughts at any time! If indeed the focus has been too much on frustration or resistance recently, this eclipse is a very important invitation to pivot our attention (and point of attraction) ONLY towards those things we wish to experience, and away from that which frustrates us (but we may find on our minds too frequently).
As mentioned before, Venus – the planet connected to the energetic principle of attraction – is powerfully positioned. Venus is Out of Bounds (meaning it is renegade and highly exalted) at 22 degrees Capricorn, which happens to be the exact degree where last years very significant conjunction between Saturn and Pluto occurred. Additionally, it is conjunct Pluto at 24 degrees of Capricorn. Venus begins its 6 week retrograde in Capricorn on December 19. What we took for granted may no longer be able to be taken for granted. And once again we are forced to hold steady to our values and priorities lest we be thrown off track, and off focus. Capricorn is a master of discernment and knowing what is of true value to us is essential right now. It may not be what we expect, since retrogrades often show reversals. We could be ‘returned’ into the arms of a project, situation, investment, job, or lover that we had thought might be over. Or the situation we thought was a ‘sure bet’ could evaporate into thin air. Pluto strips from us what we no longer need, even if it is an unpleasant experience. That is what makes room for the new and the fresh. Even if that is simply “a second chance” with something we may have discarded or misunderstood from the past.
Jupiter, the ruler of the lunation, is at 25 degrees of Aquarius. This is the final new moon where Jupiter will be in Aquarius, since it ingresses into Pisces on December 28th. This is a bit of a HAIL MARY for Jupiter too then. So in addition to the power of the Great Attractor, Jupiter wants us to take what we have learned in 2021 with its movement through group-oriented Aquarius and again decide what is most important to us, especially when it comes to our relationship with the collective at large and the different groups in our lives. Who are we aligned to now? And what does that mean for us moving forward?
Mars is at 23 degrees of Scorpio, also very powerful, in one of the two signs that it has rulership over. Mars in Scorpio is ruthless in going for what it desires. It knows how to use strategy and when to strike. These are gifts and abilities that will come in handy as we navigate the changing tides of our relationships and finances in the upcoming months (Venus conjunct Pluto, and nearing retrograde).
Knowing who we are, what we stand for, and what direction we are standing in is crucial right now. Otherwise, how can we aim as high as we can for the future path that we desire? How can we know which relationships and financial opportunities are ripe (even the ones we may have previously dismissed) and which belong in the compost bin? How can we know how to best use our discernment, and where to point our laser focus powers of strategy and perception? If we are unsure or unsteady in these things, this solar eclipse could take us on a bit of a rollercoaster ride, bringing us good news and bad news and unexpected news without any seeming rhyme or reason. The truth is that we are the common denominator behind all of it. What is showing up is what we need to see. And if we reject it or refuse to acknowledge it, we can rest assured that it won’t go away but rather find even more potentially jarring ways to get our attention.
Instead, this eclipse works best when we invite it to reveal to us the TRUTH of any given matter or situation. After all, Sagittarius rules the concept of truth. When we can see clearly, without image or projection or fantasy clouding our eyes, then we will have the best information at hand about what is worthy to focus on and continue to magnetize into our lives. We can, and should, let the rest go now..
*art by @_jpierce
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