9.17.24 full moon in pisces ~ partial lunar eclipse

September 17, 2024 FULL MOON ~ Partial Lunar Eclipse in Pisces ~ Purva Bhadrapada Nakshatra

PISCES ~ VIRGO AXIS

This eclipse is happening in the natural 12th house in sidereal Pisces, which holds the water and akash elements. There is a lot of activity is happening in Virgo, the natural 6th house with Sun, Ketu and Venus all there. Pisces is associated with natural endings, conclusions, and loss. Virgo relates to health, healing, medicine, illness, service, the Earth, debts, challenges and conflicts. The virgo-pisces axis of these eclipses may stir up a maelstrom of feelings and inner storms, deeply churning what needs to shift as well as attention to health needs, material matters and endings. In our outer world, there’s also been lots of attention on the economy, politics, weather with intense storms, fires, and floods leading up to this eclipse.

PURVA BHADRAPADA NAKSHATRA

The Full Moon is in Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra in the Pisces portion, very close to Saturn retrograde in Aquarius, also in Purva Bhadrapada.  Rahu, the lunar node and eclipse point is in Uttara Bhadrapada, the paired nakshatra for Purva Bhadra. Together, some of the symbols for these two nakshatras are the front and back legs of a bed, funeral cot or altar. Purva means first or east, and bhadra means fortunate. Bhadra is also a name of Shiva and Mt. Meru, there is also a branch of the Ganges River called Bhadra.

Another symbol for Uttara Bhadrapada is a sword or two crossed swords, a tool used for battles and cutting things. It’s deity is called Aja Ekapada, an energy that lives in the atmosphere, often associated with lightning and storms. It is considered to be the vehicle or vahana of the fire deity, Agni. Aja means “unborn” and ekapada means “one-footed” which may relate to a snake, the sushumna, or even lightning. This energetic channel, or nadi connects the muladhara root chakra with the sahasrara crown chakra, connecting heaven and earth. The fiery energy, or shakti is said to help one raise spiritual awareness by energizing insight and perception.

MALE LION YONI

The yoni, or animal medicine totem and it’s symbolism connected with Purva Bhadrapada is the male lion, which is the vehicle (vahana) and companion ally of the goddess Durga. In the Devi Mahatmyam, Durga goes to battle on the back of the lion for an epic fight, which is actually an inner battle inside ourselves with our personal demons. The tarot card, Strength also typically has the image of a woman with a male lion, symbolizing being able to work with and control this powerful energy. This fierce, big cat can weigh upwards of 500 pounds with a big, muscular body and mane that distinguishes them from other large cats. They eat huge amounts of meat each day as apex predators, living in groups called prides. Male lions will chase other males out of the pride once they reach a certain age and will guard the cubs while the females hunt. Males will fight to be in a pride or to defend the pride against other male lions, very aggressively and sometimes to the death.

VIRGO INDICATIONS

Sitting in the sky, across from the Moon and Rahu during this eclipse are the Sun, Venus and Ketu in Virgo. They are each in one of the nakshatras in Virgo. Sun in Uttaraphalguni, Ketu in Hasta and Venus in Chitra. Ketu in Virgo puts a focus on health, and there have been many things circulating recently to pay attention to, from mosquito born illnesses, to Covid and other issues. Since there is such a strong focus in Virgo, paying attention to health and self care is a good idea. Some people will feel the eclipse more depending on your personal chart and sensitivity. Pondering the indications of the natural 6th house takes us on a journey to consider the continuum of adversary to ally,  illness to health and wellbeing, obstacles and challenges to opportunities.

ECLIPSE SELF-CARE

Some self care options for leading up to this eclipse and eclipses in general include sadhana and meditation, working with a mantra, eating lightly or fasting, acupressure self massage, especially to the hands and feet because these are easier to access for self care. Good points to pay attention for stress and immune care to while gently massaging with your favorite oil include: Large Intestine 4 on the hand, Large intestine 10 on the arm. On the foot: liver 3 between the 1st and 2nd toe area, spleen 3, the foot arch and entire underside of the foot, the heel and between all the toes and the upper part of the foot.  Spleen 6 and stomach 36 on the leg are also supportive. *Avoid Spleen 6 and the foot and ankle areas and Large Intestine 4 on the hand if you are pregnant as a precaution. It’s easy to find point locations online.

THE INNER LIGHT

Contemplating the darkness of eclipses, during this time the outer light of the luminaries, the sun and moon are eclipsed by the nodes. Rahu and Ketu are presenting an opportunity to sense, see and work with the inner light. Sitting in meditation or mantra can work with the energies and help us tune into the inner world. What does that feel like during the eclipse once you sit with the sensations that may initially be obstacles? What is behind that veil? What is beyond those initial sensations? 

OM Namah Shivaya

OM Shanti Shanti Shanti

*Photo credit: thanks to Ian Lindsey from Pixabay