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Eclipse Rituals

Traditionally, Eclipses were treated cautiously and reverently, often feared as powerful omens of instability and chaos. When our ancient luminaries were obscured, our only source of light (and all of life) on Earth, it stands to reason that these were portenders of major change.

Mythologically they were visualised as the Sun or Moon being eaten by a dragon, the Moon’s Nodes (points on the Moon’s orbit where it intersects the ecliptic, the apparent path of the Sun) are symbolically called the Head and Tail of the Dragon for the North and South Node respectively, or Rahu and Ketu in Vedic Astrology.

Read on for more details about what to do, and what not to do, during an Eclipse:

What Are Eclipses?

Eclipse occur when the Moon’s Nodes (mathematical points in space where the Moon's orbit crosses the Sun’s ecliptic) are close enough to a New Moon or Full Moon (which are respectively when the Sun and Moon are aligned, “conjunct”, in the same Sign by degree, or in opposition to each other).

When a New Moon occurs close to one of the Moon’s Nodes, it is a Solar Eclipse (it is the Sun that is seemingly obscured by the Moon), whereby the Moon is in between the Sun and the Earth. This can happen because despite the distance of the Sun, the proportion of the Moon is visibly the same. Thus all Solar Eclipses are New Moons.

When a Full Moon occurs close enough to one of the Moon’s Nodes (usually within about 15º), it is a Lunar Eclipse (whereby the Moon is shadowed by the Earth). The Earth is in between the Sun and the Moon here.

The Nodes move backwards through the Zodiac Signs roughly every 18 months, thus we have Eclipses (which generally always come in pairs of Solar and Lunar) roughly every 6 months spanning this Sign axis.

-> For example, as I write this, the Nodes are currently in the Aries-Libra axis.

For us personally, this means that the Eclipse will be bringing major change, endings, and new beginnings in a House axis (based on our Rising Sign) every 9 years as a reversal and every 18 years more or less as a complete return (this is called a Saros cycle).

For example, if you are an Aries Rising, between July 2023 and January 2025 you had Eclipses occurring in your 1st House/7th House axis. Specifically, the North Node was in the 1st House. In 9 years’ time, the North Node will be in Libra, your 7th House, thus Eclipses will again be occurring in your 1st House/7th House axis. Nine years after that, the North Node will again be back in your 1st House of Self.

The North Node of the Moon is associated with The Dragon’s Head, Rahu, which is traditionally a place of hunger and increase.

The South Node of the Moon is associated with The Dragon’s Tail, Ketu, which is seen as a place of lessening and release.

Thus we can have a North Node Solar (New Moon) Eclipse, North Node Lunar (Full Moon) Eclipse, a South Node Solar Eclipse, and a South Node Lunar Eclipse.

A North Node Solar Eclipse can be seen as a place of greatest increase and biggest new beginnings as New Moons are already times of fresh cycles; while a South Node Lunar Eclipse can be seen as the biggest one for shedding and releasing as Full Moons are already times of letting go.

In Mesopotamia, as the Sun is associated with leaders, rulers, and monarchy, during Eclipses it was noted that there was often drastic changes and quickening of pace in happenings; thus to keep the king safe they implemented a substitute “king” so that if anything should happen it would happen to them.

Chris Brennan has recorded a fascinating episode on his wonderful Astrology Podcast documenting how the Eclipses are still strongly tied into the British Monarchy.

Here’s a brief list:

King Edward abdicated on an Eclipse (to get married, which he did on an Eclipse)
King George, Elizabeth’s father, was coronated and died on an Eclipse
Queen Elizabeth was coronated during an Eclipse
Prince William and King Charles were both born during Eclipses
Charles and Diana married during an Eclipse and she later died during one
Charles married Camilla on an Eclipse, and was recently coronated on an Eclipse
Now Princess Kate (who was also born during an Eclipse!) has announced she has cancer on an Eclipse

The list goes on back to Queen Victoria where they simply stopped researching!

Eclipse Rituals

During the two weeks between Eclipses (and for some the time between the last lunation before Eclipse season and up until the next lunation after Eclipse season), due to the changeable, woozy energy, it is often advised not to perform manifestation rituals, set intentions, or do spell work as the outcome is uncertain.

Rather, as Eclipses were traditionally avoided where possible, the time was often used introspectively as a chance for rest, self-reflection, cleansing, and protecting.

Generally, there isn’t anything to do during an Eclipse, simply be present and notice what comes up for you while taking extra time for gentle self-care.

The energy and story of the Eclipses is going to play out either way, unfolding in this 18-month timeline, the best use of this time can be to look for old patterns and remain open to change and new opportunities. A Solar Eclipse manifestation intention can simply be to allow yourself to rest!

Having said that, you are always, of course, free to do whatever resonates for you. Many witches like to take advantage of Eclipse energy (and I myself have even done so in the past)!

Eclipse Rituals

JOURNAL - Go back to the time of the first Eclipse in the current series (of 18 months), as well as the prior one 9 and 18 years before. Astro-seek.com is a great free tool for this. Note which House the Eclipses are falling in for you and what you’ve noticed in this area of life during these months. If you would like prompts to guide you, check out our Introspection Journal.
-> Get your Yearly Forecast Report for more details about the other Astro transits.
MEDITATE - This can be a profound time of intuitive downloads and meditation is a wonderful way to ground and centre our energy. You might like to do a cord-cutting visualisation for releasing. Check out my Vitality Mediation for a pick-me-up instead.
BREATHWORK - Another great way to clear any stagnancy, you can perform a quick Breath of Fire if you need a boost, or more rhythmic box breathing if you need soothing. You might visualise a warm, positive energy filling you as you do it.
TAROT - One of the best ways for Spirit guidance, pulling Tarot or oracle cards is a wonderful way for greater awareness and clarity. Other divination methods you might like to try are using a pendulum, Lenormand cards, or Astro dice. Get my Divination Workshop for more details!
BATHE - Ritual bathing is one of the oldest we have cross-culturally, water is incredibly purifying and nourishing (literally and figuratively)! Run a bath and add plenty of sea salt, as well as optional epsom salts, oils, crystals, or herbs. Ask the water to help cleanse you, feel its support, dip your head 3 times, and visualise negative energy flowing down the drain when you are done. Thank the water for its assistance. You can also simply do this in the shower!
SMOKE CLEANSE - Another one of the oldest cross-cultural cleansing methods, use herbs relative to your culture (I like rosemary, lavender, rue, and sage), open the windows, and waft the smoke counter-clockwise, asking your Spirit Guides/Guardian Angels/Element of Air etc. to release anything that is not in your best and highest interest. You can also use incense instead.
DREAM JOURNAL - Our sleep patterns may be disrupted during this time but keeping note of any dreams can be highly insightful! Sleeping with crystals such as Black Tourmaline can add protection (get my Energy Cleansing Workshop for more)!
FIRE PURIFICATION - Light a candle and write down what you wish to release, safely burn it using tweezers and dropping the ash in a bowl of water. Flush the water down the toilet. You can also “wave” the flames over your aura using your hands, as if you were holding the fire.

-> For more guided rituals, including ETF tapping and an elemental circle set-up: get my Self-Connection Ritual.

So that’s a brief overview of a Lunar and Solar Eclipse ritual you can perform, I hope it’s insightful for you! Let me know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add or any questions.

For a personalised Astrology reading, book in a 1:1 session with me, I’d be honoured to be your celestial guide. To uncover the secrets of the cosmos yourself, enrol in my Traditional Astrology 101 course!

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