EYE ON THE SKY: SOLAR ECLIPSE AND HEALTH

SOLAR ECLIPSE:  5 ARIES/ ASHWINI NAKSHATRA

This solar eclipse will begin at sunrise in the southern Indian Ocean and will be visible overhead in Australia, Timor-Leste (Southeast Asia), and Indonesia. The eclipse will end at sunset in the Pacific Ocean just above the equator near the International Date Line. The path of totality will pass over North West Cape, a remote peninsula of Western Australia (the Ningaloo Coast).  The Eclipse is occurring from 1:34 am -6:59 am London time on the 20th and on April 19th from 8:34 pm  to 1:59 am on the 20th on Chicago time.

First location to see the partial eclipse begin Apr 20 at 01:34:26                   Apr 19 at 8:34:26 pm
First location to see the full eclipse begin Apr 20 at 02:37:08                       Apr 19 at 9:37:08 pm
Maximum Eclipse Apr 20 at 04:16:53                                                                  Apr 19 at 11:16:53 pm
Last location to see the full eclipse end Apr 20 at 05:56:43                            Apr 20 at 12:56:43 am
Last location to see the partial eclipse end Apr 20 at 06:59:22                      Apr 20 at 1:59:22 am

It occurs with the Sun, the Moon and Rahu conjunct around 5 degrees of Aries.   If you have key planets within a few degrees Aries 2-9 degrees Aries,  it may impact you more and particularly if you are running a  Sun/Rahu or Rahu/Sun dasha.  I find that if Rahu is dominant in your chart, ie in your 1st house or conjunct your chart lord, then you will feel empowered by the eclipse because Rahu devours the Divine energy of the Sun.  The impact of an eclipse is often strongly felt for a week.  With Rahu at 9-10 degrees when the Sun is within 3 degrees of Rahu April 21-April 27th it will have the greatest impact.  Sometimes that is can create exaggerated egos and at the exact conjunction on April 24th, it can create low self-esteem.

Eclipses are good for meditation and that is the best way to spend time during an eclipse, as the meditations can be deeper. Outwardly the emotions and mind get a bit frazzled so never a good time to make major decisions during an eclipse. I usually do laundry or clean or meditate to pass the time.

Both of my Gurus have advocated meditation during eclipses over the years. “The mind is connected with the moon, the body is connected with the Earth and the Sun is connected with both. The time when all three come in alignment is good for spiritual practices. It is not a good time to eat or indulge in pleasures. It is a good time to conserve energy. So, from ancient times it is said that you should not eat during the eclipse, and you should meditate. Eclipse is a very good time for mantra chanting and meditation. Chanting mantras at the time of the eclipse is much more powerful. This is the ancient saying.

One or two hours before an eclipse, stop eating so that the food gets digested well and during the eclipse time you have an empty stomach, and on empty stomach chanting and mantras are done for maximum result.

Eclipse is a very auspicious time for saadhaks; it is not a bad time. It is a bad time for enjoyment and for pleasures. And when you chant 108 times during this period it is equivalent to 10,000 times or more! So, meditation and chanting are highly recommended during this period.

The day of an eclipse or even a few days afterward do not have to produce dramatic falls. Do not act on any thoughts that come up during an eclipse, as they are often fear-based and irrational. Best to be in meditation and do sacred chanting – Shiva Rudram may be a particularly powerful experience. I always avoid doing anything important within 3 days before and after an eclipse. I tend to do laundry and clean the house to keep busy if I am not meditating and it is recommended to fast 2 hours before and 3 hours after as food is harder to digest and can lead to indigestion.

People get all upset about eclipses.  Maybe 1-2 in a lifetime may impact you strongly but unless you are  in a  Rahu period or a period connected to the luminaries and it hits a key point in your chart it may not mean much.  It is on the Aries/Libra axis of relationship so both the signs will be impacted most.

In the end, eclipses reveal deep secrets and bring out deep unconscious patterns that need to be healed and are a good thing and should not be feared. Some people are actually empowered by eclipses if they have Rahu or Ketu in the first house  but still it is thought not to watch them as they may manifest innate or hidden health problems that have the potential to emerge. Still remember that fear is a big illusion. We are taken care of by the Divine and sometimes a little emotional drama is needed to shake things up and move us out of our rut.

Eckhart Tolle is fond of telling us that that 98% of the stuff going through our heads is rubbish. On eclipse days, it is more. Relax, rejuvenate and avoid important decisions.

The Sun is the karaka or signifier for health and the eclipse can have an impact on health more than anything. If you have health problems, are Leo rising, or are running a Sun/Ketu or Ketu /Sun period or Sun/Rahu or Rahu/Sun period, and if you have key planets like the Sun, Moon or the Ascendant at 2-9 degrees Aries, then you have to be particularly cautious not do things that you know are bad for you.  Exercise discipline over the coming days and weeks as the eclipse can have an impact for months.   Some people think that if you have health problems and you look at the eclipse, then they may be more likely to manifest.  Be practical and stay out of the fear.

The eclipse kills digestive fire and makes food difficult to digest and toxic.  Finish large meals 3 hours before the eclipse to allow ample digestion time.   Good to finish any  meal 2-3 hours before the eclipse and fasting is always good.      Not a good day to cook food during the eclipse and eat it as the weird energies of the eclipse can go in your meals.     It is thought that negative energies impact the food and so eating out at restaurants that have cooked during the eclipse is not great.   Probably ok to start cooking an hour after the eclipse is over but if you can wait to eat at least 2 hours after the eclipse is over or 3 hours, that will be best.   In the US this will not be a problem but in some countries, it may.  Water fast is best during the eclipse.

One great saint, Mohanji, recommends the following chanting:

 “Ideal is Ganesha and Guru mantras which works as sheath.  ie Om Ganesha Namaha or Om Guru Om .  One chant can be considered as 1000 chants during the eclipse. The effect is 1000 times more. So, during the entire eclipse period, avoid food and water, light a lamp in front of an idol or image of a guru and Gods and chant continuously, concentrating on your heart center. It will fetch you 1000 times effect per chant.”  

So the secret of eclipses is that they are very powerful spiritually and can create great inner spiritual advancement.

Need help with these difficult transits and tensions and problems in your life?   Get a consultation from Barry Rosen.