Solar Partial Eclipse – 1 July 2011

A rare and ‘beautiful’ thing occurred on Friday 1 July 2011 – the start of a new Saros series of eclipses: 13 New South (Jansky) or Saros Series 156 (van den Bergh). This new series will run for over 1200 years and end in 3237. It begins on Friday near the South Pole and winds it way North recurring every 18 years (plus a week or so), with around 72 eclipses in the series.

[Click on the image for a larger view of the chart – click outside the image to close]

While an eclipse always occurs close to the Nodes of the Moon this new (and very partial) eclipse is a wide 16° away. Each eclipse moves closer to the Nodes until a total eclipse occurs on the Nodes and at the equator. Subsequent eclipses progressively move away from the Nodes until the last (partial) eclipse of the series.

The eclipse itself occurs at 10° Cancer, and the Sabian symbol is “A large diamond in the first stages of the cutting process”. It deals with the evolution of consciousness at a preliminary stage. There is potential but first the conscious mind must become solid in order to be honed by mentors and teachers. This development is slow and often painful but like the diamond, the finished product is not only beautiful but enduring and valuable. This is the stage of training towards craftsmanship and perfection.

The chart for the birth of this eclipse series features a Grand Cross involving the New Moon in Cancer, Saturn in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries. The Moon square Saturn creates a melancholic mood where emotional responses are depressed and a general feeling of lack prevails. At least the Moon is in rulership and Saturn is exalted but the two are incompatible and struggle to interact well. Moon in Cancer is emotional, inclusive, security driven and needy – Saturn in Libra remains at a safe distance by objectifying every interaction and staying impartial. Then there is the square of the Moon and Uranus – this is a highly neurotic, erratic and abrupt aspect that inspires knee jerk reactions with little logic and plenty of fire. And to top it off, Pluto opposes the Moon causing mistrust and power struggles, manipulation and control. In all, a difficult Grand Cross, a sign of challenging times ahead, especially for countries highlighting 10° cardinal, such as Algeria (Sun), Canada (Sun-Uranus), England (Sun), Germany (NNode), Indonesia (NNode), Italy (Sun-Jupiter), Kenya (NNode), Netherlands (NNode), Spain (Moon), Turkey (Asc-Pluto), and USA (Sun-Jupiter-Venus).

The closest midpoints in the chart are Jupiter on the midpoint of Sun|Neptune, Mars on the midpoint of Sun|Jupiter and Pluto on the midpoint of Mars|Jupiter. First of all we have optimism and success with little effort, followed by the urge to succeed, with the ability to tackle large projects. Despite the Grand Cross, these midpoints change the playing field making this eclipse series highly dynamic and capable of achieving great things, both in a positive, creative way and also in an undermining and destructive way. As always it depends on how the people involved choose to express the energies unleashed. Be creative, inventive, think outside the square – draw on skills and talents while trying new methods.

References:

Predictive Astrology – the Eagle and the Lark by Bernadette Brady
www.zyntara.com/VisualAstrologyNewsletters/van_June2011/van_june2011.html
www.astrologyweekly.com/countries/