The Babylonians were the first to discover that eclipses belong to a larger pattern with a beginning, middle and end. Each eclipse belongs to a series of eclipses and each series has its own unique characteristics. The characteristics of an eclipse are repeated approximately every 18 years with some minor variations. This long term pattern is called the Saros Cycle. At any given time there may be several dozen different series of this cycle in effect and each Saros Cycle takes well over a thousand years to complete.
The ancients believed an eclipse to have irrefutable consequences if it touched a key planet in a persons
birth chart.  The ancients could often predict an eclipse, however they did not know what caused them. They were feared and viewed as omens due to the appearance of a dark shadow consuming the light of the moon. The reddish color of the moon during a lunar eclipse put fear in their hearts believing that the moon was being eaten or consummed. Though the ancients did not understand what modern science has discovered about the causes of an eclipse, they did know that an eclipse could change the course of history for an idividual, or a nation.
In the study of astrology, eclipses have been viewed as wild cards in a person's horoscope. An eclipse is much more intense and their effects are longer lasting than a typical new or full moon. Although the occurrence of an eclipse can be predicted by their timing, the results of the eclipse may vary dramatically from one eclipse to another.
In any given year there are two eclipse seasons. Eclipse seasons are not fixed and can occur in any month of the year, although they always fall about six months apart.
Solar eclipses occur at least twice a year, but never more than five times a year. The greatest number of solar and lunar eclipses that can occur in a year is seven. Solar eclipses and lunar eclipses go together in pairs. A solar eclipse is always followed by a lunar eclipse with an interval of 14 days.
There is a wealth of information available about what causes an eclipse; therefore, I will refrain from all scientific evidence on this page.
A solar eclipse occurs at the time of the new moon when both sun and moon occupy the same degree of the zodiac. Having the sun and moon in the same area of your chart suggests that the energy will be amplified and directed to matters governed by that house in your birth chart. A solar eclipse signifies a fresh start which can also bring about radical change, like a new chapter beginning in your life. The affects of a solar eclipse are shown in the outward expressions of our circumstances and can present us with very exciting and joyous developments.
A lunar eclipse occurs at the time of the full moon when the sun and moon are in opposition to one another. The sun and moon are at the point of maximum stress and represent the culmination of events. A lunar eclipse becomes a catalyst from which dramatic change occurs based on what has already been experienced in your life. A lunar eclipse often brings with it a sense of finality, or unavoidable conditions to the area of your chart that it touches. You will see changes in the area of your life that the eclipse touches and quite often the energy of the eclipse affects the house polarity. Therefore, the matters related to both houses in your chart should be considered during a lunar eclipse.
As an example: If your first house is ruled by the sign of Scorpio and it is affected by a lunar eclipse, the eclipse may point to issues governed by Scorpios opposite house of Taurus (the 7th). This particular example may mean that decide to leave a long term committed relationship, or something happens concerning your partner, therefore it affects you personally. Lunar eclipses bring closure to that area of our lives. If your marriage or business relationship has been fraught with difficulties, the lunar eclipse may bring something out in the open that helps to put your relationship troubles behind you. There are a number of ways your life could change due to the effects of a lunar eclipse in your chart.
When my husband and I were dating he had an eclipse in his house of contracts; that same eclipse fell in my career and my 4th house of home and property. The day of the eclipse he received a call from his boss that he was going to be transferred right away. That evening we had dinner together; I could see that something was bothering him and questioned him as to whether everything was alright. He told me that he was being transferred to another state and wanted me to go with him as his wife and within a few days he was gone! I accepted the responsibility of packing up his home, because he only had time enough to take what he could pack in his car, my children had to finish school, I had to prepare to leave my job and get my house in order and ready to sell.
An Eclipse can present opportunities for major transformation; this is the time when the energies are more amplified and focused. An eclipse may force you to move forward faster than you might have moved without its help. An eclipse may force to take action in an area that might have stalled and is likely to bring changes that are completely beyond your control.
The following eclipse fell in my house of romance. On the day of the eclipse he came back for the weekend and put an engagement ring on my finger! I took him to the airport the following day and drove home staring at the engagement ring on my finger. I was amazed by what was going on in my life and how fast it was changing. My husband told me that if he had not had to move so quickly, he might not have asked me to marry him when he did. We both knew where the relationship was going, but neither of us would have guessed that it was going there the way it did. So, in a few short months my home changed because I moved and sold my house, my job changed because his contract changed and my personal life changed from dating to marriage.
A lunar eclipse may touch you at an emotional level as it's energy is also directed inward. You may you feel a sense of loss, sadness, or depression, as the moon influences or moods and our emotions. A lunar eclipse can remove something from your life in order to replace it with something more suitable for your current lifes's path. Letting go of that which we have grown accustomed to is a difficult process for most of us. During the time of an eclipse we are asked to step out of our comfort zone and experience something that will help us in the process of our development as a human and spiritual being.
My house of romance, as yours does, also governs children. My children were happy about the marriage, but it was an extremely difficult time for them emotionally to be uprooted and moved across country away from family, friends, their school and the only home that they had ever known. The energy of the universe pushed us forward in a new direction. It was stressful and emotional as is common during the time of an eclipse, but we made it through and we are all in a better place in our lives with the help of the universe.
Astrology defines the lasting effects of an eclipse by its duration. The general rule for the duration of a lunar eclipse is that its effects lasts in months as long as it does in hours, up to 6 months. The general rule for a solar eclipse is that its effects lasts as long in years as is does in hours, up to 3 ½ years on average. Astrological research has proven that the effects of an eclipse can influence your circumstances permanently.
As you can see by the example of my own circumstances, they were completely changed by the eclipses in 2004. You should expect changes to occur within one month of the eclipse, or taking up to six months to complete if an eclipse touches your chart in a personal way. You should also be aware that the eclipse may possibly affect that area of your life indefinitely.
Not everyone is affected by every eclipse, but we all experience eclipses at different times in our lives. The universe gives each of us challenges and fresh starts even when we don't recognize the need for change. Find out if you will be affected by this years eclipse. Look to eclipse activity if you feel like your life has been thrown a monkey wrench. Look to eclipse activity if your circumstances change suddenly and without warning.
Generate your birth chart, find the sign that will be touched by the eclipse and look to issues governed by the house which that zodiac sign rules in your chart. This is the area of your life that will be influenced by this years eclipses. Be sure and read your monthly horoscope and stay with Horoscopes Within for valuable and informative news concerning this year eclipse seasons. Always read your sun sign and your rising sign.
Eclipse cycles have been recorded and a table of Saros Cycles (or Saros Series) can be found at NASA Eclipse Page. Another valuable source of information for eclipse data, saros cycles and the duration of an eclipse can be found at MrEclipse.com.
Solar Eclipse - February 7, 2008
17° Aquarius 44
Total Lunar Eclipse - February 21, 2008
01° Virgo 52
Total Solar Eclipse - August 1, 2008
09° Leo 32
Partial Lunar Eclipse - August 16, 2008
24° Aquarius 21
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