Eclipse Aspects to Natal Planets

What kinds of changes can you expect?

Eclipse
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In astrology, a natal chart is a map of where all astrological bodies—or planets—are located at the time of your birth. The time, date, and place of your birth determine your natal chart. In turn, the natal chart can tell you many things, including which planets fall near your house.

To clarify, the 12 houses in astrology are not the same as the 12 zodiac horoscopes. Your zodiac is based on the Sun's location during Earth's yearly orbit around it. On the other hand, your house is determined by Earth's rotation around its own axis over the course of one day.

By looking at where an eclipse falls in the houses, you get a sneak preview of what's to come (or already in progress). If an eclipse falls within 5 degrees of a natal planet, it alters the planet's traits. When an eclipse affects any of your natal planets, there may be changes in your mood, ways of thinking, life direction, or the life events of those around you. Thus, how an eclipse affects you depends on your birthdate, birth time, and birthplace.

Although changes can be drastic, dramatic, or shocking, that will not necessarily be the case. Changes can often be subtle and inward. Sometimes they can happen over a period of time (six months is the rule).

Eclipses That Affect the Sun

The Sun brings out your ego, willpower, and decisiveness. So when the Sun engages with eclipses, that marks significant milestones and moments of action. You could be faced with a crisis that you have to overcome or come across a big revelation in terms of identity. A speedy leap of growth professionally or personally is possible as you ride a surge of your solar energies, like a wave rider. Essentially, it's a time for you to shine and take action for yourself.

The Moon

Hits of your natal Moon to the eclipse bring emotionally churning events or atmospheres. When mother Moon's light is obscured, you may feel exposed and vulnerable. Events related to your mother, mothering, home, the past, and stability may occur and cause emotional triggers. There could be disruptions on the homefront—something unsettling—that takes time to restore equilibrium.

In a physical sense, that could mean moving homes, going to college, or another symbolic break from "home" and its influence happening. In terms of spirituality, it could mean feeling comfortable in your own skin. There can be epiphanies about the emotional matrices that make up your being, and any breakthroughs take months to integrate.

Mercury

Mercury is the god of definition. A Mercury touched by an eclipse can mean a change in your professional title or how you define yourself. In the extreme, an eclipse could take you to states beyond your "right mind." There could be a mental crisis but one that eventually leads to more tools and awareness of mental health. There can be amazing dreams, ideas, streams of consciousness, and insights.

This could be a time for communication. Or, you might realize that it's wise to wait until the fragments of the mind are reordered. In his trickster guise, Mercury could scramble things in a way that takes a while to unravel. 

Venus

Venus is usually associated with confidence, love, and financial excess. A contact with Venus and eclipses can either weaken or strengthen these traits. Perhaps there will be financial issues, relationship challenges, or uncharacteristic self-esteem issues. 

On the other hand, your love life could be charged up. A new romance that starts now could have a fated feel—like it came at just the right moment in time. Other big bangs can happen with money, unexpected assistance, new friendships, or a heightened sense of well-being. Also, you could have sudden inspiration to pursue your artistic and creative side.

Mars

If Mars is triggered by an eclipse, there can be outbursts, both constructive and destructive. The raw energy of Mars rushes out, and if there are underlying conflicts, this could be a time of getting into it. You might have to stand up for yourself if under attack or find yourself initiating a confrontation yourself.

You could have a surge of physical vitality with a Mars hit. It could be diverted into arguing or an ongoing frustration that reaches a breaking point. If a situation comes to a head, it could be explosive. And yet, that might be the cosmos' way of provoking change that wouldn't come otherwise. Any eruptions of raw emotion and subsequent actions could take months to sort out.

Jupiter

An eclipse meet and greet with your natal Jupiter could give you the travel bug. You may be itching for an adventure or to take a risk. Events may happen that widen your world and sense of possibility. You may meet someone from another culture or be drawn swiftly toward what's been foreign and far-flung.

An eclipse hit to Jupiter could expose you to a higher ideal that takes a while to see as a real possibility. The flash experienced could lead to sudden changes or be a light that guides you on the next stretch of the journey.

Saturn

If the eclipse engages your Saturn, be open to lessons of a teacher or mentor. If you're wisely using your gifts, this could involve reaching a milestone. You could be recognized in some way or be ready to take a step that comes only from being seasoned.

Also likely, you experience hitting walls. Perhaps life has become too narrow and is not the right structure for whom you're becoming. This could be painful, especially if you are deeply set in your ways. But recognizing this is the first step to change. There could be a shift with responsibilities—whether it be more burdens or fewer. The subtle or extreme shifts in life structure can take months to play out.

Uranus

Uranus is the planet of waking up to more expansive realities, a stroke of genius and breaking free. When an eclipse affects Uranus, the restlessness of this engagement could be felt for a few days or weeks prior. What's odd or eccentric about you has a chance to shine, and this could throw others for a loop. This eclipse is a shout out to your inner wild child, free spirit, and original genius. Ride out this creative wave, see what there is to experience, and jot down any ideas, as they're sure to be inspired.

Neptune

With Neptune affected by an eclipse, the veils drop. There can be disillusionment or relief as you realize something about yourself or others that you hadn't understood before. There can be a sense of betrayal by another, or maybe you see where you've been fooling yourself, such as being someone you're not in order to get approval or have status. The realization can bring satisfaction but not before taking you through the states of death, including coming out of denial. Take heart that you'll emerge with a clearer understanding as soon as the fog clears.

Pluto

It's time to take a walk on the dark side. When Pluto is engaged, inner demons get the best of us. Perhaps a mental trauma is exacerbated and cripples you with fear or you develop an inexplicable compulsion to obsess.

This is also the time when you can gain the strength to face that inner shadow. Or perhaps an event could force you to confront yourself. An eclipse event could be a trigger for overcoming personal challenges, which could last as long as six months or more.