The Astrology of the Solar Eclipse of October 2, 2024
Why this ring of fire eclipse heralds endings and new beginnings
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The second solar eclipse of 2024 will be a ring of fire solar eclipse. It will occur on October 2, 2024. In this post, I will explain why this eclipse may be a sign that you are about to experience major changes in your life. I will also describe how this eclipse could impact the United States and the world at large.
Timing and Location of the October 2024 Solar Eclipse
The solar eclipse will occur on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. The maximum eclipse time will be at 2:45 PM Eastern Time (6:45 PM UTC). Use WorldTimeBuddy.com to convert these times to other time zones as needed. The eclipse will be visible from parts of South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and Antarctica. Most of it will be visible over the ocean. Please see EarthSky.org for more specific information.
The Astronomy of Solar Eclipses
Two types of eclipses can be observed from Earth: lunar and solar. A lunar eclipse (such as we had on September 17) occurs on a Full Moon when the Moon passes through all or a portion of the Earth’s shadow. A solar eclipse occurs on a New Moon when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the light of the Sun.
At the solar eclipse, the Sun and the Moon are aligned longitudinally as seen from Earth, which is called syzygy. In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In an annular eclipse (and also in a partial eclipse), only part of the Sun is covered.
The apparent path of the Sun, i.e., the Sun’s path as it is seen from the Earth, is called the “ecliptic." This word is derived from the Latin ecliptica linea meaning “line of eclipses.” The astronomical crossing points where eclipses occur are known as the lunar nodes.
The intersection point of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth with the ascending path of the ecliptic is called the North Node, Rahu, the Dragon’s Head, or Caput Draconis. The intersection point of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth with the descending path of the ecliptic is known as the South Node, Ketu, the Dragon’s Tail, or Caudus Draconis.
Understanding Annular Solar Eclipses
There are four different types of solar eclipses: total, annular, hybrid, and partial. The October 2 eclipse will be an annular type. This kind of eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth while the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth. An annulus of bright sunlight (the outer corona) is seen around the dark Moon in an annular solar eclipse. This effect is why this type of cosmic event is called a ring of fire eclipse.
Overall, the October 2 eclipse will last 223 minutes. At maximum eclipse – for those along the center eclipse path – the Sun will be just over 86 percent covered by the Moon.
Understanding the Astrology of Eclipses
Solar and lunar eclipses occur roughly every six months. At least two (one lunar and one solar, in any order), and at most three eclipses (lunar, solar, and then lunar again, or vice versa), will occur during every eclipse season. If an eclipse closely aspects planets or sensitive points in the astrological chart of an individual, country, or other entity, the matters relating to that planet or sensitive point may be brought into focus for many months or even years before or after the eclipse.
Eclipses can trigger events and impact all areas of life according to where the eclipse falls and what it aspects in a natal or mundane horoscope. These events can be favorable or challenging depending on what else is going on in the astrological chart. When a transiting planet conjoins the critical degree of the eclipse either in advance of the eclipse or afterward, important events related to the eclipse can be activated. For the October 2 eclipse, this trigger might occur next year in August (around the third week of August, 2025) when Mars transits over the eclipse points in Virgo.
An eclipse may influence the health and/or life of those born with their natal Sun in the same nakshatra as the nakshatra of the Sun and Moon in the solar eclipse chart. In this case, the eclipse will occur in Hasta nakshatra in Virgo. This is a complex topic beyond the scope of this article, but it is an important topic that I always assess in my professional astrological consultations with clients.
Understanding the Astrology of Solar Eclipses
A solar eclipse carries more weight than a lunar eclipse. This type of eclipse is akin to a supercharged New Moon. In some cases, a solar eclipse will indicate a turning point, new insights, and the beginning of a new cycle. Some may experience a drop in energy levels or health concerns in the days around the eclipse, especially for three or four days beforehand, so be aware.
All of this will be particularly true if the eclipse closely aspects important planets or chart points in a natal chart. In this case, the solar eclipse may illuminate debilitating personal issues that need to be brought to light and transformed.
In the Vedic tradition as well as some indigenous spiritual traditions, we are advised not to view an eclipse, as this can magnify negative energy and lead to mental or emotional agitation. Instead, we should turn within and meditate, pray, or chant during the time of maximum eclipse. At this time, the positive results of our spiritual efforts and intentions will be amplified immensely.
In Aghora II: Kundalini (p. 164), Dr. Robert Svoboda discusses the teaching of Aghori Vimalananda about eclipses. The sage said that we should “never look at an eclipse as the rays have a disturbing effect on the mind.” This includes not even looking with special protective eclipse glasses.
Sri Vimalananda further discussed the positive spiritual effects of eclipses through “strange gravitational effects” that “multiply the effect of our sadhana [spiritual practice].” According to the sage, “If you do one hundred repetitions of your mantra during an eclipse it is like doing one hundred thousand repetitions on an ordinary day. If you offer one oblation into the fire it is like a thousand oblations. And nothing beats this time for offering prayers and performing rites for your deceased ancestors.”
It is recommended that we avoid making important decisions or significant life changes in the days around an eclipse. This is because the eclipse energy can have a destabilizing impact on our decision-making capacity. In the case of a solar eclipse, one should avoid initiating or deciding anything of material consequence for three days before, the day of, and three days after the eclipse. Based on personal experience, I prefer to extend this rule and also avoid the two weeks between eclipses for initiating important matters.
The Astrological Meaning of the October 2 Solar Eclipse
In the October 2 eclipse, the Sun and Moon will occupy around 16 degrees of Virgo in conjunction with Mercury at 17 degrees of Virgo, and Ketu, the Moon’s South Node, which will occur at 12 degrees of Virgo (according to the Mean Node calculation). The presence of Ketu in an eclipse lifts karmic debris and may reveal areas of our lives that are lacking and in need of transformation. A Ketu solar eclipse suggests a time to face our shadows and be ready for change. If we can make peace with the past, we can open the door to new awareness and new beginnings.
The solar eclipse will occur in Virgo and Hasta nakshatra. This calls attention to public health and healthcare matters, work force and labor issues, the food and agricultural sectors, issues concerning women and children, the armed forces, police, and mining (which includes fracking). Because Virgo is an earth sign, an eclipse here can be a trigger for seismic events.
The presence of Mercury in the eclipse axis may highlight any of a whole host of concerns involving food supply chains, general commerce and business, treaties and written agreements, communication, media, censorship, propaganda, publishing, political rallies and speeches, armed forces, small animals, transportation, and education.
Mercury represents storms too, especially involving high winds, so we will likely see some dangerous weather in the weeks before and after the eclipse. Hasta nakshatra is ruled by the Moon, so flooding is also indicated.
The Worldwide Impact of Solar Eclipses
In addition to their impact on individuals, solar eclipses also influence the whole world. They especially can activate significant geopolitical events in the areas where the eclipse shadow falls (the path of totality). In the map below, you can see the path of totality marked by the bright red line, and also the lines demarcating the areas of less intense partial eclipse north and south of it.
Eclipses may have more of an influence on the areas of the world that are on the angles of the horoscope, meaning the Ascendant, the Descendant, the MC, and the IC. For the October 2 eclipse, these areas (which I refer to as hot spots) will be in India, Central Asia, Russia, West Africa, Mexico, the southern border of the United States (Texas and New Mexico), and Colorado and areas north, as shown in this map below.
The location where a malefic planet crosses one of these angular lines can reveal an area of particular geopolitical significance and even some upheaval in the coming six months. As an example, note that in the astrolocality map for the eclipse chart above, the eclipse is angular (conjunct the IC) in India. A Mars line crosses the eclipse lines there, which could suggest some significant changes and events ahead for India.
Another Important Technique for Predicting the Impact of an Eclipse
An astrological chart can also be drawn for the transit event of an eclipse itself. This chart will reveal a particular pattern showing the circumstances and conditions affecting a particular locale. This is the eclipse chart for the United States, set for the capital in Washington:
The eclipse occupies the Tenth House, which rules the executive branch of government. This suggests that the upcoming eclipse will impact the United States government, and because it is Ketu causing the eclipse, wide-sweeping changes are indicated for the government and the nation. Note that this impact has already been in place for the past year and will continue into the next year.
Mars in its weakened sign of Cancer occupies the Seventh House, from where it casts its fourth aspect (square) to the eclipse in the Tenth House. According to J.C. Luthra in Practical Mundane Astrology, this is an affliction that generally gives unpleasant results, including the danger of war or international disputes. It can further suggest societal upheaval and mass disturbances within the nation.
As additionally stated in Raphael’s Mundane Astrology, when an afflicted lunation involves Mercury in the Tenth House, there may be illness or death among the leaders of the government. Difficulties may ensue for the government in power, which could entail disgrace to public officials, scandals in high places, or “danger of defeat.” The author also states that “some eminent lady will suffer.”
Further Impact of the Solar Eclipse on the United States Birth Chart
It’s also important to note how and where an eclipse falls in relation to the birth chart of a nation. As an example, I have shared the Kelleher United States birth chart on the inner ring of the bi-wheel chart below, with the eclipse chart on the outer ring. The eclipse similarly occupies the Tenth House of the United States birth chart, just as it does in the actual eclipse chart timed and set for Washington DC. Mars also occupies the Seventh House, squaring the eclipse in the Tenth House.
An additional point of interest is that the eclipse will occur in the Eighth House of the United States Chandra Lagna or Moon chart. This is an important rotated birth chart used in Vedic astrology, in which the Moon's zodiac sign is used to calculate the Lagna and First House.
The enumeration of the other houses are made starting from the Chandra Lagna and continuing in sequence throughout the rest of the zodiac signs. This chart has tremendous significance as an alternative chart which should always be examined to reinforce and elaborate on the themes seen in the main birth chart.
You can see in the above North Indian style chart that the United States natal Moon is in Aquarius, which is placed in the top diamond (the First House of the Chandra Lagna chart). Then we count eight houses from the Moon (counting inclusively and counter-clockwise) to the sign of Virgo (numbered “6” as Virgo is the sixth sign). This is where the eclipse is occurring (and where you see natal Saturn is also placed, abbreviated SA).
When an eclipse occurs in the Eighth House, it is said to bring significant changes in the existing government. The eclipse in the Eighth House also suggests that the nation will have monetary losses, and in particular, a decline in the commodities sector; and, it is also predicted that the government will not be able to pay back foreign debt, which indicates a looming debt crisis.
The Saros Cycle of the October 2 Eclipse
Saros cycles are solar or lunar eclipse families designated by their Saros number. This idea came from the ancient Babylonian astrologers who observed that eclipses occur in groups or families that link together the eclipses that happen every 18 years. These families evolve over cycles that last many centuries. Tracking these cycles is a very specific area of astrological research.
The October 2 eclipse is part of Saros Cycle 144. This family of eclipses has in the past been associated with riots, hurricanes, military coups, incidents with transportation, train or air travel, and military mobilization.
Conclusion
As you can see, the upcoming October 2 solar eclipse points to the potential for turmoil and transformation within the United States and within the government. This eclipse will also bring new beginnings and major changes for many of us and for the world at large.
I love your work. Thank you. I think you shared once that Pluto 's orbit indicated a surprise event to give America hope in the election season would occur around the time Biden stepped aside for Harris to run. Now, an eminent lady is predicted to suffer in eclipse season. Are you able to track if those two predictions have relatioship?
Profound and beautiful. Thank you for the encouragement of how to be during this time!