Eclipse 2001: The View from Zambia
Druidry has a deep connection with the dance between solar and lunar cycles. As Druids we have special reason to watch this year’s Summer Solstice as it promises to teach us a great deal about the interconnection of the two luminaries in the sky and the Sun and Moon contained in our psyches and hearts.
We say, astrologically, that the Summer Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun enters the sign of Cancer. We could call the Summer Solstice, the moment of the Sun’s greatest manifestation or fullness. Much like the Moon’s cycle from crescent to full, the Sun has journeyed from its beginning as a ‘new’ Sun at the moment of the Winter Solstice and has now reached a zenith on Midsummer Eve. From this point forward the Sun will begin a ‘waning’ phase. This moment of solar initiation takes place each year in the sign of Cancer, a constellation whose ruling planet is the Moon. The Lunar half of the year begins at this moment.
The Sabian Symbol for the degree of the Summer Solstice is :
"On a ship the sailors lower an old flag and raise a new one."
A radical change of allegiance exteriorized in a symbolic act: a point of no return.Now let’s look at this year's Summer Solstice. It will take place here in Britain at 7:38 am Four hours later, 11:56 am there will be a new Moon. A new Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon are at a moment of perfect conjunction or meeting. We could call this a symbolic moment of marriage between the two bright lights of the sky. In Britain this conjunction is taking place a few minutes before noon which is the daily point of the Sun’s greatest height and brightness. But to make all of this symbolic magic that much more potent, it is also the time of this year’s solar eclipse.
Let's stop for a moment to consider a remarkable yet everyday miracle. How is it that the Moon, a relatively small satellite to our own planet, is exactly the right size and distance from the Sun and the earth to appear to be the same size as the much larger brighter Sun? How can the Moon create a shadow which cast over the great space between us can perfectly ‘obliterate’ the Sun from our viewpoint here on Earth? Each Moon cycle, on the evening of the Full Moon, we can watch the Sun set in the West as the Moon rises in the East, a perfect match of size of power. Their light is very different, but they teach us about two dissimilar yet equal ways of seeing what is around us and in us as well.
So here we have an amazing series of interwoven symbols. A new Moon is also called a dark Moon because the Moon is too close to be seen in the sky until she is born as a new Moon three days later. The Moon in her darkness can obliterate the Sun in his brightest hour.
I thought it was a wonderful coincidence that we are meeting to celebrate the Solstice here in Glastonbury where the famous Vesica Piscis of the Chalice Well provides a perfect symbol for the eclipse and the marriage of Sun and Moon occurring with each New Moon.
But how might this eclipse be felt by our Druid Order which gathers each year to celebrate the brightest day of the Sun, the Summer Solstice? It seems we have an opportunity to act on the potential of our Order and to feel the coming together within the Order and within each of us of the Sun and Moon, male and female energy which is the Druid’s source of wisdom and power.
If we look at the chart of the moment of the eclipse transposed on the chart of the reopening of the Order in 1988 we discover the conjunction of Sun and Moon takes place in the eleventh house. The eleventh house is the arena for action having to do with groups and friends, spiritual and humanitarian organizations, the Spirit of the times, reforms and emancipations, also hopes and wishes. The eleventh house is connected with the sign of Aquarius and because the Order reopened on Valentine’s Day, we are an Aquarian group.
As further indication of that theme, the chart of the Order has a Uranus Saturn conjunction. Uranus and Saturn are the rulers of Aquarius and the Sun Moon duo in 00o Cancer which will mark the Solstice eclipse is making an exact opposition to this event in our birth chart. The Saturn Uranus conjunction with which we are blessed in the fifth house of creative endeavours is a clear symbol of the Order’s connection to the past, symbolized by Saturn and to the revolutionary goals of developing human and planetary potential (Uranus). Touched by an opposition from the the Solar Lunar marriage taking place in the eleventh house, we are given an opportunity to put into form (Saturn) the marriage of Sun and Moon in a revolutionary (Uranus) way.
Another event which will last for a period of several years, is the transit of the planet Uranus as it crosses the Descendent at 24o Aquarius to make a conjunction with the natal Sun of the Order. What does this mean, what could it symbolize for the Order? Uranus brings revolution, sudden revelation and the seventh house and the cusp of the seventh house in particular suggest that changes may occur in a place of personal commitment, marriage, partnership and how we project ourselves onto others. Could our relationship to our self (the Sun) be undergoing a revolutionary change, a form of 'individuation' which will be reflected in our relationship to other groups involved in similar goals? Will we develop new roles of relationship within the Order, or both?
A Jupiter-Mercury conjunction in the tenth house of public recognition and in the sign of communicative Gemini offers us the suggestion that perhaps through teaching and writing, OBOD may become more visible in a public way. The Jupiter Mercury conjunction transits our chart’s Chiron which is the symbolic location of wounding and healing. In other words, OBOD may have the potential to realize its identity as a spiritual group with the goals of hearing and healing the pain which envelopes all parts of our earth as the crisis over the future of the planet deepens. It may also help us heal wounds which go back in history when Druids were silenced in violent ways. This is a theme with several indications in the chart.
And then we come to the passage of Venus in Taurus across the highest point in the Order's chart making an opposition to the OBOD Pluto which sits at the very bottom of the birth chart. Venus in Taurus raised to this high point in her passage is a beautiful expression of the Goddess awakened. It is reminder of the Demeter Persephone story when the maiden Persephone leaves her husband and home in the underworld each spring to bring us the joy of new life. But she is no longer the simple maiden, rather the queen of this powerful realm. Venus in the sign of the Earth Goddess (Taurus) in opposition to Pluto suggests we are seeing an important Earth moment of choice and opening, the opportunity to align our psyches and action with rebirth and the hope of discovering the power of the feminine to look squarely at the violence of the past and not flinch.
As Druids and as members of our particular Order of Druids we are offered the opportunity to change the painful trend of destruction which we hear and see around us. This time of Solstice/New Moon/Solar Eclipse in the sign of Cancer is talking about our home, symbolized by the sign of Cancer. We can speak out and act very effectively in whatever political arena we choose. And we might want to begin during this period leading up to and culminating in the eclipse on Thursday, June 21st to meditate and build the inner structures which will resonate with this opportunity. Reading through the new Bardic level Gwersu, I found this quote in the introduction to Gwers four: 'The coming together of a group of souls dedicated to a spiritual task can produce a significant effect on the inner levels, which can be used to influence the planetary aura in positive directions.'
The Sabian symbol for the Ascendant moment of this eclipse in Britain is:
'Totally intent upon completing and immediate task, a man is deaf to any allurement.' The total concentration required for reaching a spiritual goal.
Let's be very aware of the help we have from the stars and earth to change our direction. I believe this is happening already as our group and thousands of other groups all over the globe come together to embrace our beautiful planet.
by Sarah Fuhro, Boston