This month’s Full Moon (Dec 21) is also a Lunar Eclipse, bringing emotional intensity even though it’s in emotionally light Gemini. Gemini’s desire to skate across the surface of emotions may conflict with the Moon’s need to look at emotional shadows during an eclipse. Several other planetary influences complicate the matter: Mercury in Sagittarius, along with Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces, leading to a sensation of busyness and many factors to consider. But if you stay in your head, you may miss the wonder, beauty and depth of this eclipse, so look for the calm place in the center of its storm.
Details About This Eclipse
Date: December 21, 2010
Time of eclipse: 0:13 AM PST
Type: total (strong in intensity)
Visible in: North America, South America. Its beginning will be visible in Europe and its end in Japan and northern Asia.
At: 29 degrees Gemini
Shadow Agents: Mercury, Uranus and Jupiter
Does It Affect You Personally?
If your birthday is on any of the following dates, you most likely experienced this eclipse:
December 16-26
March 15-25
June 15-25
September 17-27
Remember, not every eclipse touches everyone, but when it does, it’s usually noticeable. A lunar eclipse is likely to bring up strong emotions and to be experienced as a subjective event (unlike a solar eclipse, which is likely to be marked by an external, real-world event). The following script is just one possible way it could go.
You hear a knock at the door. You answer it. The Sun and Moon are there, with several more deities standing behind them. The Sun looks a little weak and the Moon looks strong and shiny. The Sun staggers into your living room and collapses onto the sofa.
Sun: This is really not my time of year. It’s just too much effort to light things up. I can’t keep going all day like I can in the summer. I get so tired.
Moon: It’s the longest night of the year. Soon you’ll get your juju back.
The Sun is already dozing. Jupiter and Uranus meander into the living room and take the love seat. The Moon is casting a lovely silvery glow over everything in your living room. On an impulse, you turn out the lights so you can get the whole effect.
Moon: I’m full and at the height of my powers.
Mercury pops his head in the door and like a streak is suddenly seated in another stuffed chair.
Mercury: But you’re going to have an eclipse tonight.
Moon: Yeah, I know. I’ll be lighting up the night—until I’m not.
Jupiter: But there’s always hope, even in the darkest night.
Uranus: And insights can be gotten—
Mercury: —sometimes even better when we stop thinking.
Moon: Merc, I can’t believe I’m hearing you advocate for stopping thinking.
Mercury: True, it’s not my usual strategy, but I’m always for new ideas, and when you think too much, sometimes the thing to do is stop. And you’re in Gemini right now—
Moon: Indeed I am—
Mercury: —so you could use to think less and feel more.
Moon: I do tend to overanalyze feelings when I’m in Gemini. Perhaps you, currently in Sagittarius, could remind me of the big picture.
Mercury: Happy to. And our old friend Jupiter is always good for that.
Jupiter starts to respond, but the Moon’s glow suddenly dims.
Mercury: Uh oh, it’s beginning!
The Moon’s light lessens until she is completely dark, so dark in fact that it’s as if there’s a black hole in your living room and the Sun’s glow, which he’s gently emitting while dozing on the sofa, is being sucked into it. A hush is cast over the room. You move to turn on the electric lighting, but Uranus stops you.
Uranus: Why not just dwell in the mystery? Humans used to experience the full darkness of the longest night. Modern people now understand that it’s a passing thing and soon over, and you are not afraid. But you can still experience the wonder.
The hush descends again. You sit in darkness and silence in the presence of these deities, noticing the magic and that there is nothing in particular that needs to be said. This brings you a deep sense of peace. After a time, the Moon begins to glow again, very faintly at first, then stronger and stronger until her full shine is restored. You are glad you didn’t adjust the lighting because this was worth seeing. You feel that you have been present for something ancient and true.
Jupiter: So it seems that the key to this eclipse is “Don’t think too much, but let yourself feel it all and don’t worry about whether the feelings make sense.”
Moon: Yes, the feelings will sort themselves out, given the chance.
Uranus: And who knows what startling new insights might come of it?
They all get up to go. Mercury pokes the Sun, who was quietly snoring.
Mercury: Wake up, Sun, your longest night is almost over and we’ve figured out how to handle it.
Sun: Cool. I’m going home to bed now. Days start getting longer tomorrow and I want to be alert.
They leave and you feel just a tiny bit of sadness as the cool glow leaves your living room.
Read about other eclipses coming up: 2011 Eclipses.
