We are having a New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio on October 25th which will peak at 11am Universal Time. It will be a partial eclipse that will cover over 80% of the Sun at its maximum point. It will be visible throughout Europe (with the exception of Portugal and part of Spain), Western Asia, and Northeast Africa. Its maximum will only be seen from most of Eastern Europe and northern parts of the Middle East.
A Solar Eclipse is a New Moon, however it is much more significant and affects a longer term period. Along with Lunar Eclipses, they happen approximately every six months when we have New Moons and Full Moons near where the paths of the Sun and Moon intersect, known as the Lunar Nodes. In this case we will have a Lunar Eclipse on November 7th/8th following this Solar Eclipse.
Both Solar and Lunar Eclipses reflect changes and shifts which affect the following six months and could also start to manifest up to six weeks prior. You may or may not see the effects of it around the time it occurs, but you will likely feel it and then see it play out in the weeks or months afterwards.
Eclipses are always part of a series that occur in the same opposing signs for 1.5 to 2 years. Collectively, the positions of the Eclipses and the Lunar Nodes during this period reflect an evolutionary process in how we work with the energies/themes of these signs. How this manifests can be different for each of us, and much of our individual experience of eclipses also depends on how it overlays with our own unique astrological blueprints based on one’s specific time of birth.
What results from a series of eclipses in the same signs (for up to two years) will also have longer-term effects beyond the window in which they occur. This current series is in the Taurus-Scorpio axis. The first eclipse of this series was in November last year and the final one will be in October of next year. However, 2023 will be a mix of the Taurus-Scorpio polarity and the Aries-Libra polarity.
South Node Solar Eclipse In Scorpio Conjunct Venus
The shifts reflected by this eclipse are connected to Scorpio themes and areas of life, ultimately leading to a revision in how its energies are expressed. It is near the Lunar South Node which could indicate changes that have a decreasing effect on certain Scorpionic qualities that are no longer serving us. However, this can also manifest as beginnings mixed into it and overall evolutionary growth.
Scorpio follows Libra (the sign of relationships/partnerships) and therefore it represents both the deeper and material aspects of our close relations. It is about the things that are shared with others such as resources, assets, money, and values. This aspect of Scorpio can pertain to debt, taxes, investments, inheritance, and insurance as well. This sign is also the zodiacal domain of sex, reproduction, and the overall merging of individuals.
Negatively, Scorpio is associated with having control/power over others, possessiveness, jealousy, revenge, and manipulation. It can be gloomy, dark, cruel, intense, and destructive. This sign is also about hidden matters, secrets, covertness, suspicion, fears, mystery/mysteriousness, taboos, the underworld, extremes, complexity, desires, obsessions, and savagery.
Furthermore, Scorpio energy is calculated, strategic, investigative, real, raw, primal, psychological, introspective, esoteric, and is about diving deep and getting to the bottom of things. It can be loyal and devoted once trust over something or someone is gained. At best it is transforming, regenerating, empowering, shamanic, alchemical, and healing. It is about purging, and the process of death and rebirth which fits well with the South Node side of the polarity at this time.
This Solar Eclipse is aligned with Venus which recently had its ‘Superior Conjunction’ with the Sun as mentioned in my last article. During the weeks surrounding this eclipse we may have experienced (or will experience) endings, beginnings, and/or some sort of climax to certain Venus related themes or developments that have played out thus far in 2022, and perhaps since late 2021. However, due to its close proximity to a South Node Solar Eclipse, some of the developments that have come up (or will come up) can lead to other Venus related shifts that may occur over the next half a year.
For example, if we experience some Venus related beginnings or new sense of clarity during the second half of October, this can lead to further release, or a decreasing effect on its themes/areas/expressions that are no longer serving us over these coming six months. This energy will be particularly strong from November 2nd until the 7th due to a combination of different aspects, but can play out during different periods until April/May. This process can also contribute to, or coincide with, other beginnings and evolutionary changes as well.
Venus rules friends, social life, love, relationships, romance, feminine energy, values, money, aesthetics, artistic pursuits, beauty, sensuality, or things we do for fun and pleasure. It will be in Scorpio as well, and there can be a combination of these Venus ruled areas along with the Scorpio themes mentioned in earlier paragraphs.
Solar Eclipse and Venus Quincunx Jupiter, Scorpio Ruler Mars Going Retrograde
This eclipse and Venus will be in a quincunx aspect with Jupiter in Aries. This aspect can contribute to applying ourselves in an expansive way and push us to go beyond where we currently are at in certain areas of our lives, as well as when it comes to relationships and financial pursuits. However, we can easily have blind spots and overextend ourselves which can impair our initial goals.
This can also manifest as contradictions or the inability to be congruent with our beliefs, however, this can also be good for being open and exposed to other viewpoints that you were unable to see or perceive before. Challenges or incompatibility between our opinions and relationships might also be a factor. This can also play out as excessiveness especially when it comes to pleasures.
Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, is going retrograde in Gemini on October 30th/31st as it is currently in its shadow period. This energy and process will actually contribute greatly to the potential shifts reflected by this eclipse. This retrograde combined with the quincunx to Jupiter mentioned above can have a scattering effect and we can think we can take on more than we can actually handle.
It is likely that pursuits that get initiated over the coming months (and possibly retro-active up to early September) will not play out as we anticipate. It is important to consider what the Universe is trying to show us to help us in our decisions and actions on how to proceed. We need to be patient, flexible, and adaptable, yet it’s still good to ‘go for the ride’, experiment, and see where it takes us.
Mercury Quincunx Neptune, Trine Mars, Square Pluto
The aspects mentioned in this section are more relevant for the week following this eclipse. Mercury in Libra is making a quincunx with Neptune and a trine with a soon to be retrograde Mars, which is also in a hard aspect with Neptune. This is strong from October 24th-27th.
Consideration, diplomacy, and objectivity can affect how we perceive and communicate while Mercury is in this sign. The trine that it makes with Mars can reflect us wanting to pursue the things that we are thinking about at this time. Yet, with Neptune in the mix here on the verge of Mars changing motion, we may be confused, indecisive, and scattered.
Mercury then makes a square with Pluto on October 27th. At best this can reflect perception and interactions that are deep, meaningful, and revealing. However this combined with a nearly stationary Mars and all the Scorpio energy can play out as intense or aggressive dealings with others. We need to be cautious of others or ourselves trying to persuade something that may be regretted later. For some people, fears, anxiety, and looking at things negatively can also be a theme. It’s best to make any important decisions or decisive actions under this sky.
Saturn Stationary Direct, Jupiter Re-Entering Pisces
As mentioned in my last article, Saturn went stationary direct in the days before this eclipse. With all the wildcard energy reflected by the eclipses, the upcoming Mars retrograde, and other factors, it is still a time to move forward around things involving or pertaining to commitment, responsibility, discipline, conservation, consolidation, restriction, and boundaries.
Jupiter entered Pisces in late December last year and was there until May 10th/11th before going into Aries. It is now retrograding back into Pisces on October 28th and will be there until December 20th. Although Jupiter has been in Aries during this previous half a year, it still had ‘one foot’ in Pisces during that period as it was not finished with this sign. Now it will be back there for a short period which will emphasize its energy a bit more than it has been since May.
Jupiter in Pisces is expansive when it comes to hope, faith, mysticism, dreams, ideals, imagination, compassion, oneness, and our relationship with the divine. Negatively, it can also be excessive when it comes to escapism and intoxication. It may also increase delusion, disillusionment, and confusion. It will only stick around the end of Pisces this time, which is also the end of the entire zodiac. This can be highly spiritual but can also increase anxiety depending on different factors.
Things To Consider
What has been coming up for you recently in regards to love, friendships, and/or your social life? Is there anything that needs to end or shift when it comes to your relations? What are the power dynamics with others showing you? Are there things in your life that you are no longer finding enjoyable that you need to move on from? Have any recent developments, circumstances, or discoveries changed your perception of a situation? In what ways do you need to be more cautious or conservative? Are you feeling the need to revisit or restart something that you initiated in the past? Is there anything that you want to experiment with?
These are just some examples of themes that could come up during this period and over the coming months; however, there may be other variations of this energy playing out as well. This isn’t a time to necessarily set intentions but instead to embrace the evolutionary process that eclipses facilitate. It will peak and reach its maximum eclipse at 11:00am Universal Time on October 25th, while it will begin and finish approximately two before and after. The exact moment of the New Moon will be 10:49am Universal Time. You can click here to see when the peak is in your time zone.
Written by astrologer Carmen Di Luccio
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