August Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius
The cosmic event for August is that we are finishing our eclipse season in the fixed sign of Aquarius that began in Feb. 2008. August 5th/6th, depending on where you are in the world, will host our last full moon lunar eclipse in Leo/Aquarius until 2016.
This is a Penumbral eclipse over America, Europe, Africa, and west Asia, although it will not be visible to the eye. The duration of the lunar eclipse lasts 3 hours and 10 minutes, however astrologically the nature of this eclipse may affect your birth chart until the next lunar eclipse on Dec. 31, 2009.
Mars is used as a timer for events relevant to eclipse activity. Mars opposes the eclipse on Nov. 17, 2009. The sun is also used as a timer when it aspects an eclipse point. The sun squares this eclipse November 6th. November may be an important month for the message of this eclipse to take shape or there may be something that culminates around that time related to this eclipse for those directly influenced.
This eclipse belongs to saros series #148. Saros means repeat. Eclipses of the same series repeat every 18 years, 9-11 days apart. They are woven together with similar energy threads which influence the nature of each eclipse. The last lunar eclipse in this series was July 26, 1991. To further help you judge how your chart responds to a lunar eclipse in Aquarius falling at or near this degree, there was a lunar eclipse on August 8, 1998.
Think back, if you’re old enough, to what themes were relevant for you during that time. Did you buy a home? Did you graduate from college? Did you have your first child? Did you relocate? Was a relationship influenced? Did something occur in late summer or fall of 1991 or (or 1998) which changed some part of your life? It is doubtful that the same issue will happen now, however the overall theme may be the same.
All lunar eclipses help us to close a chapter that has past its usefulness in our lives. Lunar eclipses always influence our relationships because of the polarity of the sun and moon. All eclipses, solar or lunar, affect our senses of timing. The messages they carry often catch us off guard or they bring circumstances that feel fated. Eclipses are the markers for radical change in ones life.
This month’s eclipse is ruled by Uranus, the planet that has rulership over the sign of Aquarius. Uranus is a freedom loving planet; its energy reflects our need for independence. Uranus is also known as the Great Awakener as its energy works suddenly bringing flashes of insight. Uranus rules electricity and shocks which is why Uranus is often referred to as the planet of surprise. Hosting an eclipse that is ruled by Uranus may bring something unpredictable out of the blue and the end result may upgrade your life.