Eclipses, Solar and Lunar, are generally assumed to have an effect for six months until the next one appears. Sometimes there are significant events on the Full or New Moon following the eclipse, a month later. But eclipses may also throw out a longer shadow.
The immensely powerful August 1999 total solar eclipse is one example. It rose in the Eastern seaboard of the USA, crossed the UK, curving down across Afghanistan, Pakistan to finish in southern India. The New Moon in Leo opposed Uranus square Mars in Scorpio opposition Saturn in Taurus. It caused consternation amongst astrologers who were looking for an end-of-the-world event.
There was a Turkey earthquake a week later which left massive damage and around 45,000 dead and quarter of a million homeless. The August 1999 eclipse located to Izmit in Turkey had Venus on the Midheaven and the Mars opposition Saturn sitting on the Ascendant Descendant axis so it was a key location.
But there was also arguably a linked event two years later when Mars returned for the first time to its 1999 eclipse position in Scorpio to square Uranus and both impacted harshly on the 1999 Solar eclipse at 18 Leo.
The catastrophic Gujarat earthquake in central India on January 26 2001 – exactly on the 1999 eclipse path – occurred as these aspects all came together again. The devastating national foot & mouth epidemic in the UK, also started around this time. Both UK and India have very fixed charts with major planetary configurations in Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius, which were especially triggered off by the eclipse and these transitting planets in fixed signs.
Even later still in late March 2002, when Mars again in a fixed sign – Taurus – running into the square to Uranus, coincided with a major earthquake in Afghanistan, also on that 1999 eclipse path.
It’s impossible to keep track of past eclipse charts in following years since there are too many but worth keeping an eye out – as with this one since it was so obvious.
I’ve always thought that the 1999 eclipse was an augur for the Middle East wars of the 2000s. Those placements are very explosive, angry, conflict oriented. The path of the eclipse runs from the US, through Europe and the Middle East — all areas directly affected by the wars.
Interestingly enough we have yet another eclipse cutting through the US next April. We should wonder whether that will point to a deepening of culture war conflicts. The coming outer planet ingresses definitely hit the US chart hard. Uranus and Neptune will be in the same position they were during the Civil War in the late 2020s.
That’s a great thought about the 1999 eclipse and the Middle East wars that followed, AndyB. There is also an eclipse on Oct 14th of this year whose central path runs through the US and Central and South America. It is a solar annnular eclipse and I have read astronomers calling it a warm up for the April 2024 total eclipse you mention. As a Canadian astrologer I’ll be watching that one keenly as the central path also runs close to our most populated cities–Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. At 19 Aries it’s also conjunct Canada’s ascendant and our current prime minister’s Moon. So whatever happens, it won’t just be the US that is affected. Interesting times to be an astrologer! Thanks for your comment!
I was reminded of the potential role of transiting Mars as an eclipse trigger this past weekend, as it reached 16 Leo on Sunday and squared the 16 Scorpio Lunar Eclipse (point) that we had on April 5th. That eclipse was on my MC and I received some extremely important news on the day of eclipse, a significant ‘revelation, resolution’ that changed my outlook and plans (positively, to my surprise). On Saturday, triggered with the T Mars square, I received more significant and surprising news, this time not the positive kind, rather the shock of a relative suddenly passing away in a freak accident.
So I’m curious if the folks on the missing submersible have charts affected by that eclipse and the Mars square (suggesting possibility of extreme trouble). I found the birth date of Hamish Harding, June 24, 1964, and, yes, his natal Neptune is at 15 Scorpio opposing his natal Jupiter at 17 Taurus. Marjorie, I’d be interested in your review of his chart.
Hi pdw, I hope you don’t mind me chiming in. I’m so sorry you’ve received tragic news of a relative.
These are very strange times – although every week seems strange (but as Jane, SuHu & Marjorie have remarked some of us may be picking up on collective undercurrents). You clearly have personal planets that are also sensitive to the current (and past) planetary activity.
As a person with personal planets (especially the fixed ones) that are also impacted by current planetary activity I am forever on edge. As a person who loves history I can see that the people in the future will marvel at this time, but for us living in it it’s bizarre & unsettling.
I cannot describe to you what happened to me (and my young baby) from that August 1999 eclipse, but I am still here. But the reverberations are still being felt today.
Yes (like you), I would also expect that the individual’s on the submersible have charts affected by the eclipse, so it’s interesting that you have found Hamish Harding’s date of birth & found Neptune in Scorpio opposition his Jupiter in Taurus.
Please be as well as possible.
Thanks for your kind words, Pearl. Sorry for delayed reply, I’ve been traveling and away from computer. Their individual charts and transits have been very much on my mind while I’ve been around non-Astrology relatives. I feel like this is a great advantage for connecting with and supporting them, without saying one astrological word at all.
Best ahead.
Apparently, the Japanese government – Japan has suffered grievously with earthquakes through the ages – had or might even still have, a research institute which attempted to determine astrological correlations with earthquakes.
I don’t know if the project is still running, but with today’s massive increase in computing power, and the advent of AI, perhaps then research might bear fruit.
I find the deeper you dig with eclipses, the more you find. I got interested in eclipses by following Bill Meridian’s mundane horoscope column in Dell Horoscope for almost 30 years. He and his teacher Charles Jayne used them a lot to interpret and predict world events. A few years ago I bought his book, “The Predictive Powder of Eclipse Paths.” He discusses eclipse bridges and eclipse chains and other kinds of links between historic eclipses. It relies very heavily on examples from Jayne’s work using eclipses to follow WWII, so if you’re not a history buff you might find it tedious. But worth having if you have an interest in eclipses. I think you can only get this and his other book on mundane astrology at his website at https://www.billmeridian.com/books_and_publication.html. Thank you for this, Marjorie, and I hope you don’t mind me giving Bill’s book a plug.
That is very helpful, thanks.
Sigh, if only there were 100 hours in a day to read and explore everything of interest.
Glad it was appreciated! It is hard to keep up with current events and continuing astrological studies and still find time to write. Your prolific output shows you juggle it all well! I have a stack of unread astrology books and plan to add yours to it one day, lol. Thanks Marjorie!
Laurien, Marjory:
Here’s a primer of Meridian’s Eclipse work. It’s the transcript of a talk he gave at the Astrological Association Conference in 2020.
https://www.astrologicalassociation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Bill-Meridian-Eclipses.pdf
I do recommend you buy his books “The Predictive Power of Eclipse Paths” and “Mastering Geopolitical Prediction: Applied Mundane Astrology”.
Ah yes, someone sent this to me awhile ago and I found it a great refresher on his work! Didn’t think to include a link so thank you for doing so!
‘On 9 August 1999, Vladimir Putin was appointed one of three first deputy prime ministers, and later on that day, was appointed acting prime minister of the Government of the Russian Federation by President Yeltsin. Yeltsin also announced that he wanted to see Putin as his successor. Later on that same day, Putin agreed to run for the presidency. On 16 August, the State Duma approved his appointment as prime minister with 233 votes in favor (vs. 84 against, 17 abstained), while a simple majority of 226 was required.’ – (Wikipedia). The rest, as they say, is history.
Aah, that is interesting. Thank you for that.
I thought that was really interesting. I looked at the two possible birth charts for Putin in relation to the August 1999 eclipse. Using the published 1952 DOB it squares the Jupiter (19.44 Taurus) which is square to Pluto (22.43 Leo). So the eclipse is 5 degrees wide of an exact conjunction to Pluto, but Jupiter involved. Saturn is also in this configuration, being square the eclipse Sun/Moon, but conjunct Jupiter in the Putin 1952 chart. Using the 1950 Putin chart the August eclipse has a really close conjunction to Pluto (19.22 Leo) and is potentially also conjunct his Moon. Transiting Pluto was exactly conjunct the 1950 chart Mars in Sagittarius at the same time. Not sure it answers anything, but the Pluto transit to Mars would indicate an enormous drive to gain power.
I’ve wondered whether it was possible to narrow down his (Putin’s) correct time of birth because of the August 1999 eclipse, so this is really interesting to read.
This is interesting. I’ve been curious about Putin & the August 1999 eclipse since he was clearly impacted by it & thereby Russia & the world.
Hi Marjorie & everyone else. I don’t normally comment on your posts, but follow them regularly. For a personal impact of the 1999 eclipse, it upended my entire life & it’s still upended – a bit like the axis of the world suddenly shifted. I have 19 degree Leo Sun, 16 degree Leo Jupiter, 21 degree Scorpio Moon & 21 degree Neptune. My Leo Sun is almost on my IC. I’ve always wondered if there are other individuals out there that were also impacted without being part of a collective tragedy or disaster.
Anyway, thank you for your posts.
I remember that 1999 eclipse very well because it fell on my birthday while I was having my first Saturn return. In the following 6 months my life changed completely and I am still living the consequences of that period. However, I have to say that what started like a disaster turned out to be a bliss and I ended up with a much better life for good.
Nice to meet another 1999 eclipse person :)! It was an extremely powerful eclipse. It’s good to hear that your life ended up much better. Strangely enough, even though my world is still tilted very oddly – as though I am on another planet – there have been some beautiful positives inside it, even though I still feel very stunned
I’ve been wondering lately about North Korea and famine and if this fits in. It had similar circumstances 20 years ago and no real change with the regime in between
Thank you very much, Marjorie. I’ve been interested in eclipses and earthquakes for a while. That 1999 eclipse was intense, and it’s curious that 18 degrees Leo squares the 18 Taurus Mars/Uranus/Nodes conjunction of July 2022 that we’ve been discussing and wondering about. Not that I think it was a trigger for 1999, but perhaps shows the sensitivity of those Fixed mid to later degrees.
The Fukushima Nuclear Plant earthquake and tsunami disaster on 11th March 2011 happened when the Lunar Eclipse of 21 December 2010 was triggered. The eclipse was 29 Gemini, square Jupiter 25 Pisces and Uranus 26 Pisces. The Plant itself had Pluto at 28 Virgo and Moon 25 Pisces. Transiting Uranus reached 29 Pisces in March 2011, square the Moon’s Nodes at 28 Sagittarius. Jupiter and Uranus were exactly conjunct at 27 Pisces on the date of the Solar Eclipse of 4th January, 2011 (13 Capricorn).
Of course, there was only a short time between the Lunar Eclipse of December and the terrible events of March, 2011. But looking at this, I’m now wondering about the 29 degrees Cardinal Grand Cross in July involving Sun, Pluto, and the Moon’s Nodes in Aries/Libra. This potentially triggers April’s 29 Aries Solar Eclipse. I haven’t looked at the eclipse path yet. SS 7 North’s founding chart has Sun/Moon opposition Pluto, and radiates ‘very deep passion’ according to Bernadette Brady. The Cardinal signs involved this year seem dynamic, and I’d expect some kind of demonstration of Pluto’s last ‘work’ in Capricorn to manifest. Very much hope that doesn’t mean an earthquake or other natural disaster though.
Just to say, April’s Solar Eclipse path map and other helpful details are on timeanddate.com. It was the Nyinggulu eclipse on the ‘Ningaloo’ coast of Australia – a very beautiful World Heritage site. It was partially visible in SE Asia, Australia, the Pacific and Indian Oceans. That includes Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong and China.
“Of course, there was only a short time between the Lunar Eclipse of December and the terrible events of March, 2011. But looking at this, I’m now wondering about the 29 degrees Cardinal Grand Cross in July involving Sun, Pluto, and the Moon’s Nodes in Aries/Libra.”
Is that July 23 at 00.00, Jane? Because last week I cast a chart for that date because I noticed the somewhat unsettling astrology of that day. There’s a Mystic Rectangle formation in late Cardinal and late Mutable with Sun opposite Pluto in Cancer/Capricorn at 29 degrees. Pluto squares the Aries/Libra nodal axis exact, also at 29 degrees. Neptune is at 27 Pisces opposite Moon at 27 Virgo which makes up the 4 corners of the rectangle. Then we have another opposition running through the rectangle, a rather grim looking Mars in Virgo at 7 opposite Saturn in Pisces at 6 degrees. If you draw up the chart, you’ll see what I mean.
Yes, I agree VF. I’ve now noticed that there’s a kind of prelude to the main Cardinal Cross event over 22nd and 23rd July. So on 10th July there’s Mercury at 28-9 Cancer, opposing Pluto, with the Moon traveling through Aries – reaching 29 Aries. Strong words from the public I think, to say the least. Then there’s 17th July’s New Moon at 24 Cancer on the day the Nodes arrive in Aries. I decided to pay much more attention to lunations recently. That New Moon could again symbolise some kind of public/mass response?
Anyway, then we have the main Sun-Pluto-Nodes event on 22-23 July. With all those added mutable extras you describe so well! It is a good opportunity to see how an eclipse might be triggered, and I am wondering whether we will see ‘signs and portents’ as early as 10th July. There are repeated hits to those late Cardinal degrees, and the degree of April’s Solar Eclipse. It seems like a strong message, and perhaps energises the long-promised Pluto ‘clean-up’ in Capricorn?
I am also looking at the time around 23 August, Venus in Leo square Jupiter in Taurus triggers the May “Coronation” Lunar Eclipse at 15 Scorpio, while the Moon crosses that degree from Scorpio on that day too. That could have significance for the UK, and for someone who used to be Prime Minister and his 15 degrees Jupiter-Neptune opposition, and his Jupiter Return…..
Yes, in fact our friend is also having a second Saturn Return which in turn opposes his Uranus/Pluto in Virgo. I notice that Rees-Mogg has his NN at 27 Pisces and Jupiter/Uranus at 26 and 29 Virgo, so impacted by Neptune right now.
Of course the By-elections may be taking place around that time. The Cardinal Grand Cross of 22/23 July will land on the Conservative Party’s BML at 28 degrees Capricorn, while the Moon opposition Neptune squares the CP’s Pluto at 27 Gemini. Then you have the coming October 14 Solar eclipse at 21 degrees Libra which conjuncts the CP’s South Node….
Just one other thought. The astrology of the Chernobyl Disaster (26/4/1986) has the nodes also at 29 Aries and the nodal axis conjuncts a Sun/Pluto opposition in early Taurus/Scorpio.
Thank you VF – you must be psychic, I was also thinking about Chernobyl. So long ago, yet ever present, particularly now. That April had two eclipses, in Aries and Scorpio (conjunct Pluto), and the mutable Jupiter square Saturn. It looks like a very tense month, astrologically speaking. I think things are fragile right now, but do not (or is that hope not?) think a big nuclear disaster is pending in Ukraine. It may come close though, bearing in mind human error.
And re the Conservative Party – I only just realised that its founding chart, 9 May 1912, is less than a month after the sinking of the Titanic, 15th April, 1912. Moon’s Nodes in Aries, of course. April 1912 had a Lunar Eclipse, 11 Libra. That day (1st) had Mars 27 Gemini conjunct Pluto. The Solar Eclipse on 17th April was 27 Aries, Mercury Rx 24 Aries, Neptune 21 Cancer. I had been thinking about it because of the frantic search for the Titan submersible that’s currently being conducted. I found the astrology of the Titanic disaster quite chilling, also bearing in mind the recent, tragic loss of so many lives in the Greek migrant ship disaster.
I don’t want to be a merchant of doom on such a very beautiful Solstice morning, but have been feeling generally uneasy for a few weeks now. Having recently cleared progressed Saturn on my natal Moon (horrid), I was feeling quite cheerful. But something’s up.
I’m also picking up on the sense of approaching menace, Jane and can only describe the feeling as ‘devil energy’. Pluto on the final degree of goaty Capricorn is very apt. I’m not sure if this reflects the reality of the world right now or is in fact a part of my own inner turmoil and shadow. As a Moon/Neptune person, I often struggle to know what is mine and what is coming from others.
Like you, I’ve also been looking at the chart of the sinking of the Titanic and it didn’t click that the Conservative Party chart is a mere few weeks away from that event. I noticed that the Sun was on the same degree as the Titanic Disaster’s Pluto in Gemini when the submarine was lowered into the ocean. It seemed almost reckless to name the mini submarine ‘Titan’ under the circumstances. In myth, the Titans were overthrown by the Olympian gods, Zeus and his brothers Poseidon and Hades and punished by being sent to the darkest regions of Tartarus.
Jane, Re your uneasy feeling that ‘something’s up’ these are tricky times for those of us with porous boundaries who soak in the undercurrents in the atmosphere. My first therapist, who was a lovely spiritual man, was very good at pointing out to me when my angst was personal and when it most likely belonged to a vibe out there. But it is not always easy to distinguish and all too easy to blame the glooms/panics to elsewhere.
There is a sense of impending catastrophe out in the collective as if there were no secure foundations. But I keep reminding myself what it must have been like to live through – well Ukraine now – and World War 11 in the UK when it was being bombed continually. Nowadays apart from a truly terrifying media which scares us witless all the time – we do in the West live on the whole fairly feather-bedded lives. I know I know food banks, homelessness etc etc but it’s nothing like as horrible as it was 100 or 200 years back.
Maybe impending doom is the reaction of the mainstream collective to change. I’m thinking of Kuhn’s paradigm shift which always starts with hostile resistance to change, then an interim of chaos when the old collapses (which can feel like death and destruction) before the new grows up supported by the younger generation.
The outer planets shifting sign between 2023 and 2025, are pulling us away from what seemed secure because familiar – and now there is a gaping hole of the unknown ahead.
For those of us Uranian types more resigned to constant change it may not be quite so scary. But most people cling grimly to their old tethering posts and fear drowning if they let go.
We are in such an interesting time. So much change. In addition to the changes in communication (media) the amount of information and the awareness of a plethora of perspectives with which we interpret information is a huge change. And, of course, the changes in the material world due to human invention (I’m using material world rather than “environment” because we are just another animal here on earth though our impact seems to be greater than the other animals)
It’s quite a time! I remember reading Future Shock & The Third Wave back in the 70s or 80s-about possible changes, but never anticipated how profound the changes would be.
Marjorie, thank you so much for this. Yes, I do soak a lot up from others, am weather sensitive, and so on and so forth. I can’t put my finger on this recent feeling, and have questioned myself about it. I experienced something similar years ago, a week or two before a big earthquake that was hundreds of miles from where I was staying. Once the quake hit, I felt better – which made me feel terrible! This time, the feeling has waxed and waned since May.
What’s odd, to me, is that I’ve had a pretty tough few years recently one way and another encountering serious crime, two big bereavements, business blocks and challenges, etc etc. Perhaps because the difficult transits/events have now begun to clear, and I, personally, feel better, there’s more room in my head for tuning into the wider collective?
The collective is beyond uneasy for many reasons out there, and you’re so right about the effect of the unknown and unfamiliar looming. I’ve noticed quite a lot of anger and short fuses around just out and about (not personal), which can also be a reaction to fear and stress. Are we now in the ‘interim of chaos’ you mention? Maybe this is similar to the Hindu Kali Yuga. Plus, the Covid era has had quite a psychological impact on everyone generally. We are indeed much more comfortable than previous generations, yet perhaps more fragmented and stressed in other ways.
A beautiful Solstice today anyway……
Hi Jane, I have that too, a sensitivity to mother Earth. I felt that earthquake in Turkey in 1999 months before it happened. I didn’t know what I was feeling at the time. We were holidaying on Corsica that summer and indeed the ‘deep grinding pulsing’ sound that I could feel but no one else could hear was intermittent. And it scared me. It was only after the earthquake that another ‘sensitive’ explained to me that that was what I had felt. And I do still feel the restlessness that precedes a major quake or volcano eruption. Also with the most recent quake in Turkey. Unfortunately I can never say where or when, just that Mother Earth has an itch and needs to scratch. I agree with you that something is brewing under our feet, and it has been coming and going since May, but what, where and when is anybody’s guess. It’s a pity more people don’t tune in and thus we could avoid unnecessary loss of life. But the price is indeed the need to be vigilant about your own personal boundaries. I wish you a peaceful and relaxed summer.
VF and SuHu – thank you both for sharing your own feelings of unease about the current unsettling energies. It’s really so helpful for me to know. I sometimes wonder if this is some kind of limbic brain response, deep beneath the thinking brain – in the same way other animals react to a coming storm, for example? Electro-magnetic energies may have something to do with it. Like you, I cannot pin this thing down in any practical way.
So what disaster do we expect in the near future ?
Submarine