A Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo on March 3rd — Astrology By Lauren

What if rather than being disheartened by the ambiguity, the uncertainty of life, we accepted it and relaxed into it? ~ Pema Chodron

When I was still something of a fledgling astrologer I would often attend the wonderful meetings in  Michael Lutin’s library in Greenwich Village. And it can be interesting the tidbits of information that you might take away from those sessions. Just a word or a phrase that sticks with you. There was one even in which we were discussing an undated chart from the 19th century, and were asked if we had any idea what event had transpired at that time. Finally someone asked if there had been a major snow storm. As it turned out, this was a chart from the infamous Winter when the Donner-Reed party were stranded in the Sierra-Nevada mountains due to a series of delays, bad judgments, and yes, and abundance of snow. We will leave out what transpired. But when asked what in the chart made her think ‘snow storm’, she answered quite confidently: Saturn conjunct Neptune. 

And as an abundance of snow engulfed the Northeast, from Delaware to Cape Cod and beyond this past week, I stood at the window, watching the endless snowfall accumulating on the trees outside my window, and blanketing the cars, and I thought to myself: “Saturn conjunct Neptune”. Makes sense! Neptune had whipped up his Nor’easter minions off the Atlantic Coast, which combined with the freezing cold of Saturn, creating the perfect Winter storm. Cold (Saturn) + Water (Neptune) = Snow. And we had lots! I know Buffalo to the Northwest and our Canadian neighbors to the North get pounded all the time, but this Snow Queen weather is somewhat novel for those of us sitting here in the New York Harbor. 

And if you are feeling the angst, speed and unexpected distractions and detours in your own life, snowstorms or otherwise, know that yes, we are also in the middle of eclipse season. An eclipse season made all the more chaotic by a series of squares from Uranus to that bunch of planets that had been transiting Aquarius. And that included the recent Solar Eclipse in Aquarius on February 17th. The last of these Uranus squares occurs on Friday, when Mars perfects its square. Mars will then conjunct the Solar Eclipse point at 28 Aquarius 56’ this weekend. Mars is a planet of action and motivation. And so has the capacity to act as a catalyst for all of that pent up Eclipse/Uranian energy. Can we expect even more chaos? Or perhaps some sort of breakthrough? 

Whenever we are dealing with Uranian weather we are best advised to be flexible and pace ourselves. Things can move really quickly, and change on a dime, when we are visited by Uranus. Much like our storm which looked fairly benign one day, and then turned into a raging blizzard the next, Uranus weather arises quickly and unexpectedly. It is fast, electric, innervating, and spontaneous. Mars/Uranus is notorious for explosive events. Whether actual or metaphorical, Mars/Uranus weather can be illuminating, if not shocking. And that can be literal. 

Contrast that with the recent Mercury retrograde station in Pisces, where we are being beckoned to withdraw from all the chaos in our lives, hang up our “Out to Lunch” sign at the door, and go within. From chaos to retreat, we are being advised to find some silent and sacred place within which we can  meditate, reflect and connect with ourselves. Embroider your tapestries, write your poem, play music, connect with your muse. Mercury retrograde in Pisces is the very remedy that is needed for the time. For it is when things are most hectic, that we are needing to most take care of our minds.

All the more so when we take into consideration that the Total Lunar Eclipse this Tuesday, March 3rd, at 12º Virgo 51’, is in a Mercury-ruled sign, bringing all things Mercury to the foreground. It is a South Nodal Lunar Eclipse, which implies a shedding, a release, or a letting go, in order to more fully embrace the North Node in Pisces, which is currently conjunct the Sun. Rather than getting caught up in the chaos, we are being asked to reassess, reflect, and re-think our current circumstances, and the direction we are headed. 

The Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo on March 3rd is bringing closure to what may have felt like a very chaotic and at times stressful Eclipse season. Going within and trusting our own inner guides, can help us to get back on track, not only with our lives, but even our own destiny.

This is a Total Eclipse, meaning that this is one of those magical times in which the Sun, Moon and Earth are in this perfect alignment. It is because of this perfect alignment that this eclipse is so significant. Especially when it is so close to the South Node where so much karmic releasing is occurring. Lunar Eclipses are times of culmination. Of endings. They show us the ramifications of choices and decisions made in the past. And what we can do about them now.

Celeste Teal tells us in her book entitled “Eclipses” that the South Node, or the Dragon’s Tail is indicative of our comfort zone. It is what we are accustomed to. But not always what is best for us. As a result, we are not always objectively aware of why we are experiencing certain events. The Lunar Eclipse is trying to show us what it is that we need to change, release or let go of, in order to grow and further evolve: whether that be a habit, an emotional pattern that is holding us back, a person, an alliance, and things we have been taking for granted. It is not uncommon, as a result, for these South Node Eclipses to be associated with endings or completion.  

Because this is a Total Eclipse where we see this perfect alignment between the Sun (spirit), the Moon (soul) and the Earth (the body), it seems to allow the Norns, the Fates of Norse mythology, to step in and weave their tapestries. This allows them to move the pieces about on the playing board of life. And this is why it can sometimes feel like we are having a meeting with destiny. It may seem as if we are being inexorably drawn along on the tide. And there is nothing to be done at these times, but to move through to the other side, and accept the lot that is being handed us. And because there is this added element of ‘fate’, or the fruition of karma, thrown into the equation, these periods feel unpredictable. But also know that these eclipses are ultimately in service towards the evolutionary progress of human kind, as well as for each of us individually. And what we receive within the bounds of these eclipse seasons is necessary for our soul’s journey. And so through the gates of the Lunar Eclipse, sextile stationing Jupiter in Cancer, we are all feeling the justice and profundity wrought from recent events. And as a result we will not quite see things the same way again. For this reason, these eclipses can serve as turning points in our lives. 

Who or what are being eclipsed and/or sacrificed when the South Node is in Virgo: Civil Servants, Health Care, Workers in general, but particularly those who perform a service or who have a specific expertise, Servants, Food Service, Food safety, Environmental workers, scientists, researchers, editors and clerical workers. The disenfranchised: those who don’t have a voice of their own, or yet a seat at the table.

What is unresolved or needing to be released and purified with the South Node in Virgo:

• In the face of other’s suffering, rather than showing compassion, choosing instead to criticize, find fault, or blame others for their (as well as our own) lot in life.

• Focusing on our differences rather than our commonality. 

• Being so rigid in our scheduling, our must do’s and ‘have to’s’ that we lose our connection to our own inner knowing. 

• The need to be perfect.

• Focusing so much on the small things and details that we lose sight of the bigger picture. We can’t see the forest for the trees.

What we are being asked to cultivate with the North Node (and Mercury retrograde) in Pisces:

• The ability to accept and be present with impermanence and uncertainty.

• To have faith that we are being led precisely where we need to be, even in the face of that uncertainty.

• Recognizing that we are all swimming together in this Great Ocean we call Life, and that if one of us suffers or falters, we are all here to hold each other up.  

• Compassion and the over-riding desire to relieve the suffering of others in the community.

• Loving thy neighbor. 

• Our capacity to Dream, to Wonder, and Imagine a more ideal society.

• Our ability to think in terms of vast possibility, perhaps even beyond our previous expectations. 

• To realize beauty in imperfection.

• That sometimes in order to find ourselves we have to get a little lost. 

• Cultivating and Trusting our own inner gps system: our conscience, our intuition, and the connection with the Divine in Spirit.

For the Lunar Eclipse for your sign or natal house, click on the Horoscopes link below:

HOROSCOPES