The eclipse of the Sun in Cancer presents the second eclipse, occurring at the solstice and officially welcoming summer — the warm center between the two lunar eclipses on either side. Eclipses have tended to be regarded as impacting nations rather than individuals. Yet, individual people often cannot help but be affected by what occurs at a national level. Besides, it is possible to also appreciate the psychological implications of eclipse-related events.

For instance, maybe we are busy trying to fulfil personal goals and missions, only to find that something external stands in the way — and perhaps that external element is not something we could have known about before, simply because some factors have changed. It is in the cycles of life and astrology that we find the greatest mystery — no set of circumstances is ever completely the same. There can, however, be similarities. It might be that the echoes are emphasized and useful during this solar eclipse, with the spotlight on the sign of Cancer, which tends to drum up the influence of the past — arguably more than any other zodiac sign.

During the solar eclipse, it is the Moon that obscures a part of the Sun. This puts an even stronger focus on family roots and other historic influences that continue to color our outlook and choices. These may have been perspectives and decisions that were obvious and automatic before; we never questioned them, we just acted on them. But things could change under this eclipse, when there is an opportunity to understand more about where a point of view or urge has come from. There is usually a certain subtlety around how we are motivated to move through life, which we don’t get to notice, often because of limits of time and circumstance — or simply because we don’t need to stop and think about it. But something about our changing times, under this eclipse trio, suggests that we do benefit from such pausing and reflecting.

We may even find that life encourages us towards more pondering and questioning. A new phase of unusual dreams can be the trigger, or something more external, such as an unexpected request from a family member or a new turn of events affecting them. Our perspective on what we thought we understood so well, before, might change. Ultimately, with an eclipsed Sun, we could question our own motives and moves. Did we understand a situation correctly? Did we make the best choice? It is possible that we will choose differently about a new step in the future. Or maybe we will be thrilled that we did, indeed, make the right choice! Either way, the eclipse prompts a moment of pause and a different view.

The Moon is both in her own sign of Cancer and at the earliest degree of that sign, which makes this a super special eclipse of the Sun. To be clear, it’s not a total eclipse, but an annular eclipse, with its characteristic “ring of fire” visible around the outside. There is a desire, within some of us, to ensure that something “too hot to handle” does not come too close. It may be a time to huddle within our inner circle and ensure that we don’t tiptoe into territory that makes us feel threatened.

The early degree of the Moon also imparts a sense of wanting to make a new start somewhere. This comes on the heels of the recent Sagittarius lunar eclipse, having already felt that something is dying out and needs to be let go. Not unlike the pattern of that previous eclipse, this time we do still have a square to Mars, but not a t-square. There could be less pressure to finish something and, instead, just a willingness to let it go and move on to something new.

Mars happens to be conjunct Neptune, so there may well be a dream for our future that is grappling for territory now and that should not be ignored. Mars often gives us the added thrust to make something happen and bring dreams into being. We might have been treading water for some time, given the Pisces focus, but perhaps we’re getting gradually closer to dry land!

This article is from the Mountain Astrologer, written by Diana Collis.