Wendy Cicchetti

Aries Solar Eclipse New Moon

The Aries solar eclipse is a total eclipse, meaning that the Sun is entirely obscured by the Moon for a while. It’ll be as though someone put the light out in the sky! The eclipse won’t be viewable in all parts of the world, either partially or entirely, due to location or visibility, but eclipse symbolism remains relevant astrologically. Unlike a lunar eclipse when the Sun and Moon oppose one another, during a solar eclipse, the Sun and Moon appear aligned in the same spot. This means there’s a jostling of position in Aries alone, showing a concentration of energy.

What does it mean when the Moon seems to have the upper hand over the Sun for a moment in time? It could be that emotional factors rule the day, with normal logic cast to one side — or just literally, not visible within our consciousness.

Aries is known for immediate and, sometimes, volatile responses, given rulership by fiery Mars. Decisions made from an emotional stance may be particularly extreme under an eclipse. Normally, we tend not to react from this place. But something may be revealed that triggers an intense response. Whether we view it as a “good” or “bad” response may depend on the situation.

For example, when our response is quick and we overreact to a relationship issue, are we in touch with all the information needed to make a wise decision and take the best action? Would it be better to step back for a moment and gather more facts before acting impulsively? Or contrarily, have we steadily waited for certain results, only to find another scenario unfolding and this is now the final straw? Some situations do require decisive action when enough is enough.

A sense of urgency prompted by this eclipse may cause a project to feel deeply important, underlined by the Sun and Moon in the anaretic degree of Aries — like a “last-minute” situation and we feel strongly motivated to get on the boat/plane/waiting list before it’s too late! Forewarned is forearmed during eclipse season. Remember, we do have choices. And if we need an extra push for the chance to make something positive happen, the eclipse energy could support our initiative.

The current lunation doesn’t just show hidden or overlooked factors through the eclipse itself, however. Several important planetary aspects are out-of-sign, making them easily overlooked. For example, Saturn at 4° Pisces sextiles the eclipse, whilst Pluto squares it from 0° Aquarius. It’s easier to notice aspects such as this if we think about what it would be like if the Sun and Moon were just one degree further on, placed at 0° Taurus, instead of 29° Aries. But the dissociate connections cannot be ignored and have their own symbolic significance.

For instance, it may be that someone seems to be presenting themselves one way whilst we saw them behave differently in another light. Perhaps we have to decide which version is genuine — or most meaningful to us. This aspect may also coincide with somebody turning out to be less solid and helpful than we imagined, or more stuck in their ways than we thought could be possible. As such, this appears to be a turning point in time, and we adjust our focus to see things as they really are. Once we do, making choices for the future will almost certainly seem easier!

That said, dealing with the stark reality of things that we imagined to be otherwise, might feel quite painful. The dissociate Moon–Pluto aspect suggests a wrangling process, where we need to handle internal arguments before we reach a point of peace. But it will be worth it, as a much deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and the situations we face is likely to emerge.

This article is from the Mountain Astrologer by Diana McMahon Collis