Eclipse Season, Retrogrades, & the Constancy of Both Change and the Presence that Underlies it All
The Virgo Full Moon Eclipse takes place at 24° on Thursday, March 13th at 11:55pm Pacific, and Thursday, March 14th at 2:55am Eastern times.
The Full Moon eclipse is upon us, signalling this (almost) Spring’s cosmic dance, one that includes two eclipses, two retrograde planets, and an opportunity for both significant transformation and deep integration. Termed the “Blood Moon,” this eclipse will be visible from North America, where we’ll be privy to the magical unfolding of our main celestial being that never ceases to inspire, awe, and delight. The orange glow that this moon will cast upon the sky is sure to remind us of the extraordinary features of our universe, tuning us in to a bigger rhythm that is always with us, one that orchestrates occasions so grand we are left astonished at their presence.
Full Moon eclipses occur twice per year, yet this particular one, part of what is called the Hypersaros cycle, hasn’t happened since 1504, and won’t happen again until 2546! If you’re interested in this particular facet of the eclipse, you can find more here: https://nationalpost.com/news/how-to-watch-thursdays-blood-moon-a-repeat-of-one-seen-by-columbus
From an astrological perspective, there is much more to say about the topic, so without further ado, here we go! This eclipse takes place on the Virgo-Pisces axis, one that began on September 17th, 2024 and will continue through February 20th, 2027. For those with a natal nodal axis here, as well as any other planets or angles, this will be of particular significance. The last eclipse cycle on this axis took place during late Winter 2015 and continued through late Winter 2017, and before that, late Winter 2006-late Winter 2008. If so inclined, we could even trace these dates back to 1997-1998, 1987-1989, and 1978-1980. Yet this is the nature of eclipses from an astrological perspective: they repeat on the same axis every 9ish years, with the lunar nodes being in the exact place they were every 18ish years. I always find it interesting to look back (and forward!) at dates corresponding to the eclipses to become aware of themes that have repeated themselves over time, and to deepen my understanding of the impact of what is taking place in the present.
It’s important to remember that eclipses are times when things that have been brewing beneath the surface come to light in a new way, revealing new information from outer reality or our own inner reality that drastically changes things. Not all of them are necessarily intense like this, as they work together in an aforementioned cycle that brings development and insight over time.
The Virgo-Pisces axis is my personal favorite in the zodiac, seeing as it’s the most heavily represented in my own chart! It has to do with the sacred, the mystical, and the unseen yet truly felt aspects of reality, and how we make experiences in this realm useful, helpful, and valuable in our daily lives. It is the axis of Being and Becoming, and how we tap into the part of ourselves that is already whole and full, weaving this ever-present aspect of who we are more and more skilfully into our lived experiences. It, too, is the axis of working with the details in a way that supports the grand scheme, recognizing the bigger picture of reality and how all that we do in ordinary life can be in remembrance of this, and that because “mundane” life is upheld and supported by a greater completeness, it certainly does not have to be “mundane” at all.
Pisces as the Meditator, the Yogi, and the Dreamer, reminds us that everything we experience here is contained within a larger metaphysical reality, one that our minds will never fully understand, but that a deeper part of us has access to because we are made of this same ineffable “material.” It absolutely needs to feel a sense of Oneness with all that is, and regularly, in order to function optimally and well. It reminds us that life is never just what is visible to us and always contains a dimension (or many!) that goes far beyond what is on the surface. It reminds us that when we allow ourselves to be present to this deeper dimension of reality, we become aware of a magic that is beyond what our minds could ever grasp on their own but that lives within the fundamental nature of existence and everything it contains. Pisces needs time in the meditative realms to steep itself in this essential core of life, sensing its intelligence in order to carry this knowing with it wherever it goes, remembering what the structures humans have superimposed upon reality have oft forgotten. Pisces urges us to know our intuition, then to trust this facet of our experience, letting it lead us through the world like the school of fish it is represented by. Pisces needs to experience flow states to feel at home in the world, welcoming them into its life in ways that support its connection to the inherent divinity of what is.
Virgo is the sign of the Analyst, the Perfectionist, the Servant, and is absolutely wonderful at processes that involve growth and inner alchemy, as it has woven within it the need for tempered, measured development as time marches on. No sign of the zodiac is so committed to this process, and its crafty awareness allows it to unfold in practical ways. Virgo carries with it a deep need for fulfillment through its ability to be helpful to others, to support them in their own lives and soul journeys in ways that uplift everyone involved and give them the sense that there is real value in the work they’re doing. I consider this sign to be the one of mastery, for Virgo has a standard of excellency that is unparalleled, and its need to develop itself through its skill, trade, or craft is of utmost importance. Virgo reminds us that our capacity to transform is always present, and that practicing something over and again with a pure heart and clear intention will always beget results that move us closer to where we see ourselves going and what we already know (and always have) we’re capable of. It knows that there is a time and a place for fastidiousness, meticulousness, and for a detail-oriented approach that facilitates precision and accuracy. These qualities allow Virgo to bring its gifts to the fore in ways that honor the time, energy, and attention it has placed into what it does, uplifting the reality we share in the midst of it. Virgo carries with it a purity that is untouched by a need for anything outside of itself, save the cultivation of those skills it values most. Represented by the archetypal Virgin, which is not virginal in the slightest, we might understand it like this: Virgo is “whole and complete unto herself — self-contained, self-possessed, and self-fulfilled. A virgin, therefore, {is} not barren, but especially fertile as in a virgin forest that has not been violated or depleted.” This quote comes from Demetra George in her Asteroid Goddesses on page 128. Thank you for these excellent words! Though they reference Vesta, there is a close connection to the Vestal Virgins of Rome and the archetype of Virgo itself here.
Pisces must guard itself against the tendency to escape into anything and everything. Because this sign feels so much and for so many (it is truly the ultimate empath), the desire to numb out is high, and humans can do that through many things, even meditation! Virgo must guard against the tendency to doubt itself and its gifts because it isn’t where it thinks it should be after all of this time. Imposter syndrome is real with this zodiacal energy, and care must be taken to see that it recognizes its growth through time, as well as its own innate nature of Wholeness.
My favorite chant for this axis is the following:
“Purnamadah purnamidam
Purnat purnamudachyate
Purnasya purnamadaya
Purnamevavashisyate
Om”
This translates to:
“The Infinite is full, and this universe is also full. {You are full and I am full}. From the full comes the full. When the full is taken from the full, still the full remains”.
Our innate nature of Fullness lives at the heart of who we are, and the heart of all things. Knowing this aspect of ourselves deeply and truly allows all that we do in the world to be an act of service and a continuation of the unconditional Wholeness of all of life. This, to me, is a beautiful Virgo-Pisces expression.
Saturn and Neptune conjunct the Sun in Pisces demonstrate the utmost importance of spending time with our sacred selves, welcoming us into this realm in ways that we can carry into our daily lives, ways that permeate them with an unseen grace that we are now fully aware of. Saturn encourages us to strong boundaries that uphold our spiritual practices and lives, and Neptune invites us to “lose ourselves” in this space of unity consciousness so that we might “find ourselves” in ways we least expect, and for the betterment of our lives.
How can you nourish yourself in ways that connect you with the fundamental nature of reality, then live this knowing in all facets of your life, especially the ones you might consider “mundane”? Where can you be gentler with yourself and trust that you are exactly where you need to be in the processes you’re in the midst of? What do you need to do in order to let go into the greater flow of life? What are some ways that you’re inspired to live what you find?
And now, onto the retrogrades! Venus is retrograde from March 1st-April 12th, and Mercury from March 15th-April 7th. The Ides of March are also upon us, but we’ll be sticking with the evolutionary astrological perspective for this piece, so no need to dive into the symbolism there. Both planets retrograde from about 10° Aries back to around 25° Pisces, encouraging us to review material we’ve already been engaged with from late January through February. This Aries position will be quite important for the eclipse in a couple weeks on March 29th, for it is on the Aries-Libra axis and is the last of this cycle for 9 more years.
Venus always involves other people, no matter where her placement is in our charts. She teaches us “who to trust and how to trust them” as my teacher Steven Forrest would say, and when she’s in the sign of the Warrior and Pioneer, she is quite intense and can be equally feisty! Venus needs reciprocity, and she asks us to look at how the close relationships we are involved in are actually supporting this aim or are not, and in Aries, Venus encourages us to be fierce about standing up for important needs that only another can help support in us. We are encouraged to get clear on how we’d like to engage in personal, professional, and romantic relationships that allow us to move forward into life with intensity and boldness, but not just yet. Are there relational needs that are not getting met in your life? How can you be bold and develop the courage necessary to claim them and communicate this in a way that is honest, diplomatic, and also able to be heard? Are there relationships in your life in which you need fierce boundaries? How can you create these in a way that honors yourself and the relationship? What insights and understandings must you bring forward from the winter with regard to these relationships?
Mercury involves our perception of reality and the lens through which we view life, as well as how we tend to communicate that perceived reality. I love remembering that even if we were all to experience the exact same situation together, most all of us will look quite differently at said situation, coming away with perhaps varied experiences altogether! This reminds us that our perception does truly color and create our entire view on life, the domain of Mercury indeed. As always during a Mercury retrograde, we are invited to a process of self-reflection that has us using our “buddhi mind,” or our insightful intellect to become aware of how our own perceptions can block and distort life, as well as how they are able to open us and bring us understanding and discernment. Rather than rush forward to a view that we’ve always held and then blurt it out without thinking, we might take pause and grow a bit more clear about our opinions, why we hold them, how they’ve been helpful or not, and what we can do moving forward to claim a boundary that is necessary to be claimed rather than one that is old hat and actually isn’t even true for us anymore. Aries is quick to temper and quick to go on the defensive, so this Mercury retrograde welcomes a slower, more chilled out way of being, even if it’s still just as fierce. I find we can be more potent when we actually look within, understanding the hows and whys of our convictions rather than just spouting out what we always have. Which boundary are you being invited to courageously or fiercely claim within your own perceptual experience? How are you being invited to communicate this differently, rather than shouting it on a mountaintop? What happens when you initially pause to reflect inwardly rather than react outwardly?
May this Full Moon eclipse, eclipse season and Venus and Mercury retrograde bring you the insights and understandings, remembrance and connection, sense of purpose and meaning, and deeper relationship with all that is! May you be nourished by life’s unfolding “within you and without you.”
