April 2014 ends on quite a dramatic note: a solar eclipse in Taurus, which will set in motion a new six month cycle related to financial security, personal stability and physical resources. Coming on the back of a rather eventful and volatile month, I thought I would provide readers with a quick ‘cheat-sheet’ for how to optimise these energies for increased abundance, beauty and serenity between now and November.
With the lunar cycles currently a touch out of sync with the solar calendar, things might feel a little back-to-front – 2014 starts with a lunar eclipse, which in effect, serves to close out the the Scorpio solar eclipse from November 2013. Everyone will have to wait until the New Moon Solar Eclipse on April 29, which represents the start of a new soli-lunar sequence, to really begin the first half of 2014.
The April 2014 eclipses promise to be headline events for a number of reasons, not last of which is their involvement in April’s Cardinal Grand Cross, the likes of which we have not seen since the summer of 2010. It’s connection to Uranus in Aries (the revolutionary firebrand) which brought back echoes of the Arab Spring via a series of mass protests, is now a lot clearer in hindsight, and is something I wrote about on the Astroinsights blog.
Both events take place in Venus-ruled signs, and against a backdrop of the annual transit of Venus through Pisces – the sign of her exaltation – and not long after her bi-annual retrograde cycle – a rather rare event that only takes place every year and a half or so. The contrast between peace-loving Venus and the strong expresion of Martian war and strife catalysed by these eclipses is fascinating. However, both eclipses exhibit strong Venus-ruled themes, including social justice (Libra) and the desire for financial security and a fairer distribution of resources (Taurus).
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE in LIBRA – 15 April 2014
The Full Moon lunar eclipse that took place on April 15 is actually a bit of an oddity because it did not have a corresponding solar eclipse in Aries during 2013. This is because we had more lunar eclipses than solar ones during that year, and there was also something of a crossover during 2013, with one Saros family phasing out (14, 15 South); and another, (16 South) phasing in.
CARDINAL EVENT & MASS PROTESTS
Coming, as it did, at the start of the Cardinal Grand Cross Event, it is very significant from a mundane perspective. For a more in-depth look at the astrological significance of this eclipse in relation to the 2014 Cardinal Event and its connection to mass protests that strongly echoed those of the 2010 Arab Spring and the 2011 London Riots, you can read the piece I wrote for the AstroInsights blog.
Interestingly, Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, who many believe sold out to Russia, was also ousted from office by what the BBC called ‘giant street protests’ in February 2014 ‘against his decision to abandon a far-reaching European Union partnership deal in November 2013’ – close to the Scorpio solar eclipse. This seems significant – not only did the April 2014 lunar eclipse close out that Scorpio-ruled six month cycle (which could be interpreted as concerning shadowy dealings, corruption and abuse of power), but the popular protests also ocurred during Aquarius season, which is Uranus-ruled (the rebel or revolutionary). Sadly, at least 88 people died in this uprising when they were shot by riot police, something we could associate with the Mars-Pluto square (oppression by violence) that formed part of this cardinal event.
KEY ASPECTS
The Spring 2014 lunar eclipse, formed by an opposition between Sun in Aries and the Moon in Libra, keyed very powerfully into the Cardinal Grand Cross formed by Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer, Mars in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn. This very volatile combination created a pressure cooker environment in which a lot of built up anger and frustration over restrictive and oppressive structures or rules, as well as the abuse of power in some cases, eventually led to an explosion of anger and outbreaks of violence, evidenced in the wide range of mass protests around the world, from Egypt to London, Ukraine and Venezuela. It’s worth remebering that in both geomancy and mundane astrology, the Moon is associated with crowds and mass movements, so the group expression of Mars-ruled anger towards perceived injustices (Mars in Libra) or inequalities, either caused or excacerbated by restrictive authorities, laws or institutions was bound to be expressed via rebellious firebrand, Uranus in Aries, which was paired with the Sun at the time of the eclipse (railing against authority).
With the Moon sitting quite close to both Mars in Libra and the north node, this eclipse was always going to have a fated and quite widespread effect, mobilising large groups of people and spurring them into action to counter injustice, inequality and any form of imbalance creating unfairness or a lack of reciprocity.
Previous occurrences
Using the van den Berg saros system, we can link this lunar eclipse to previous incidences in Dec 2000 (millenium bug scare), April 1996, Dec 1982 and March 1978.
SOLAR ECLIPSE in TAURUS – 29 April 2014
Zodiac Sign
This week’s solar eclipse in Taurus offers us all a chance to begin a new phase in matters relating to financial security, personal worth and the stability of physical resources, including salaries and property. Anyone considering initiating new projects in the beauty, luxury food, farming, property, banking or arts sectors should take heed of this, especially if they have a prominent natal Venus or planets in the early degrees of the fixed signs (between 7 and 9 degrees).
Special significance for those born 1969/1970
Anyone born in mid-July to mid-November 1969, or March-April 1970 is also likely to feel this event particularly strongly, but for a different reason: This eclipse took place in the same area of the zodiac as Saturn was between the above dates, which means that this event could also have an impact on life structures, boundaries and limitations (and your ability to overcome these), if you were born during this time. Conversely, you may find yourself being given extra responsibilities, perhaps in the form of a promotion, or finally being able to manifest or produce something of true social significance, so all is not doom and gloom by any means!
Saros Series
This eclipse forms part of the 16 South Eclipse Family, which according to Bernadette Brady, could mean that individuals find themselves having to come to terms with problems or patterns concerning the tendency to waste energy or misdirect their efforts, especially when it comes to dealing with friends, groups or society. She suggests that, although you may feel psyched about starting something new and ambitious, that ultimately your efforts will not really amount to anything, so in her opinion, ‘no real action should be taken.’[1]
Of course, for those with the eclipse conjunct their natal Saturn, the very opposite is true – this is a time when you can break bad habits such as time wasting or procrastination and actually turn talk into action. Saturn can solidify and give shape to what may previously just have been hypothetical, so if I were you, I would definitely make it a priority to get plans moving now!
Eclipse Aspects
In terms of aspects, this occultation also happens to conjunct Mercury in Taurus, so is likely to have an impact on thinking, teaching and self-expression. Trade agreements begun under this transit are likely to have a solidity to them that enables them to stand the test of time (and any particular challenges that may come up). IT projects and gadgets developed or begun over the next six months could also really have staying power.
Arabic Parts
It’s likely that developments made between now and November will have a profound impact on your views or way of perceiving matters connected to whatever house Taurus rules for you natally. This is because Mercury is conjunct the Arabic part of Understanding, whilst a reliable and trustworthy associate could be of great help now because the Sun and Moon are conjunct the Arabic part of the Honourable Acquaintance.
Fixed Stars
The Sun and the Moon will also both be conjunct Schedir/Shedar, the fixed star found in the constellation of Cassiopeia and associated with the archetype of the regal and dignified Queen, the admired and revered female leader who is able to combine wisdom, strength and focus with qualities such as compromise, intuition and compassion. This suggests that it may be a good time to seek out the advice or support of a noble and well-respected female who can help you to accomplish whatever plans you may have in relation to this eclipse between now and the autumn. Her input could, seemingly, make all the difference in terms of your ability to gain the consensus and approval of your family or the wider community when it comes to getting certain proposals or plans off the ground.
Historical Links
For those interested in creating connections to past events, this particular eclipse forms the second round of events that began with the Scorpio Solar Eclipse on the 3rd of November 2013, but may also have links to similar themes began at the time of the Annular Solar Eclipse in Taurus, which took place on the 10th of May 2013.
Previous occurrences
From a mundane point of view, this eclipse family has historical links to 21 September 1653, when this Saros cycle was ‘born’. Similar themes or patterns may then have been repeated during the years: 1906, 1924, 1942, 1960, 1978 and 1996.
Visibility
This particular soli-lunar event is classed as an ‘Annular’ solar eclipse, which means that is it not a complete (or total) eclipse and sadly, will only be visible in Antarctica and parts of Australia.
REFERENCES
[1] Brady, Predictive Astrology, pp. 331-2
