- Image by luc.viatour via Flickr
Today, July 21, 2009, there will be a total solar eclipse. The exact moment when it is complete eclipse is at 9:35 PM CDT. This is the exact time of the new moon and, since the Sun will be in the very last degrees of Cancer, it is considered a Cancer new moon.
The period of the total solar eclipse, when the sun will not be visible at all, will last nearly four minutes. This would make it the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century.
Eclipses take place when the Sun and the Moon line up with the moon’s nodes. The nodes of the moon are where the path of the moon intersects the Earths orbit around the sun, or the Sun’s apparent movement through the zodiacal signs.
The Tibetan states
I have already indicated to you the form that the religion of the new age will take. It will be built around the periods of the Full Moon, wherein certain great Approaches will be made to the world of reality, also around two periods of massed Approaches to be made at the time of the major eclipse of the moon and of the sun during the year.
~Alice A. Bailey, Externalisation of the Hierarchy, p. 55
Master Morya states
It is regrettable that people do not make use of all the information provided by nature. For example, people know long in advance about an eclipse, but do not examine evidence of its influence on the human psyche.
~ Helena Roerich, Supermundane, Vol. III, #533
This tells us that there is something very important about the eclipses and the lunar nodes.
In Hindu astrology the north lunar node is called Rahu and refers to the head of the dragon or serpent, and Ketu, the south node is the dragon’s tail. They are enemies of the Sun and the Moon, who at certain times of the year ‘swallow’ the Sun or the Moon causing either a solar or a lunar eclipse. In Sanskrit this is known as grahanam or seizing. Grahanam or grahan means eclipse. Surya Grahan is a solar eclipse.
The English word Eclipse is from the Greek ekleipsis, literally abandonment, cessation and from ekleipein, to leave out, to cease.
In the symbology of a solar eclipse, the moon (which esoterically represents the form, the emotions and the limitations of the past) completely covers the sun, which represents the light of the Soul.
This illustrates a time when the tendency is to be caught up in the past and the outer form or illusion and in a real sense abandoning our connection to the light.
The spiritual opportunity comes when, in spite of the powerful urge to identify with our past failures or doubts, we instead seize the moment to draw upon our own internal strength and light. When there is an urge to express anger, we show love and understanding. We express faith and optimism instead of doubt and fear. And we stand firm in our connection with a higher power by holding our mind steady in the light in spite of any outer circumstance.
