During a spiritual journey this weekend, when asking for a symbol representing the wisdom of this year’s harvest, I was given the image of a salmon. Having just been in Alaska during the running of the salmon from the ocean to the fresh water streams, the first quality of the salmon that came to mind was its unique ability to thrive in two realms. It is the one fish that can live in both fresh water and salt water. In Alaska in late summer/early fall, ocean salmon make the quest to the fresh water streams of their birth to ensure the survival of their spawn.
As we approach this evening’s full moon partial lunar eclipse in Pisces, the salmon tells the tale. Tonight’s full moon occurs as the moon symbolically moves from the realm of the physical into the realm of the spiritual. The moon began its journey into Pisces late last night and combined with Saturn, the planet of the limits of our physical reality, at 3:10 a.m. Pacific this morning. The moon will reach fullness at 7:36 pm Pacific this evening at 25° Pisces and due to her close proximity to the north node in Aries, she will be partially eclipsed by the earth as it moves between her and her light the sun. Then, the moon will continue her journey through Pisces aligning with Neptune at 12:10 a.m., roughly 4.5 hours after the eclipse. Neptune represents the spiritual realm, that of the mists, what is diffused and not easily seen. Neptune is the contemporary affinity of the sign of Pisces, a sign of endless, continual possibility through the merging qualities of water. Saturn offered a challenge to this eclipse asking, What can you bring back into the physical realm from the spiritual realm? Are we up to the task, like the salmon, of relentlessly pursuing our journey into the spiritual realms to experience our personal wisdom?
Eclipses are always changemakers, turning points
Today’s eclipse is the first we’ve had in Pisces since 2016, as the moon’s nodes are approaching a change of sign. The moon’s north and south nodes are calculated points where the moon’s orbit crosses the ecliptic path of the sun. Eclipses occur when a new or full moon is within 18° of those nodes. Currently the north node is at 6° Aries and will retrograde into Pisces on January 11, 2025. The north node is associated with what we are bringing into our lives. Today’s eclipse is the first of three lunar eclipses we will have in Pisces each September through 2027. Given that the first in the series sets the tone, we are being encouraged to give ourselves space and permission to delve into the spiritual waters as physical realm dwellers.
Today’s lunar eclipse enters us into a two-week eclipse season as it is the precursor to the upcoming annular solar eclipse on the new moon in Libra on October 2, 2024. This solar eclipse will happen at 10° Libra as the south node is at 6° Libra and will be the last eclipse in Libra for 8 and a half years as the south node will move into Virgo as the north node moves into Pisces.
Thus, this eclipse season is change upon change, we have an ushering in of the new north node in Pisces energy and the finale of the south node in Libra energy. The lessons of the current cycle are becoming complete, and the change of the new cycle is blooming. Like the salmon, we can return to our spiritual homes with a bit of Saturnian determination.
My personal video of the running of the salmon in Sitka, Alaska, August 29, 2024
Event Reminders
Join me in Atascadero tomorrow evening for a discussion on the astrology of Fall at the lovely Green Omen Apothecary, starting at 6 p.m.
Astrology 101 starts this Thursday at the Shell Beach Veteran’s Hall in Shell Beach. Details on how to sign up at Pismo Beach Recreation’s site.