Solar Eclipse - February 26th, 2017 9:58am EST

A solar eclipse occurs today at 9:58am EST, with the New Moon obscuring the light from the Sun and casting its shadow on Earth. Solar eclipses occur when the Moon’s path travels between the Sun and Earth and essentially blocks the light coming from the Sun. Additionally, the Moon lines up with the South Node during today’s solar eclipse. The Moon’s nodes are imaginary points at which the Moon’s orbit intersects with the plane of the ecliptic. In order for  a solar eclipse to take place, the New Moon and the Sun must be conjunct one of the lunar nodes. This is why a solar eclipse does not occur every New Moon—there must be a node nearby for the Sun, Moon and Earth to perfectly line up. This alignment, known as eclipse season, happens approximately twice a year and lasts for just over 30 days (34.5 days, to be more exact). Thus, the energetic effects of a solar eclipse can last for over a month, even though the solar eclipse proper lasts a mere 7:30 minutes max.

Sooo...what does this mean? With the solar eclipse taking place at about 8° Pisces, and Neptune lingering dangerously close to both the Sun and Moon, this eclipse is bound to unleash our creative and escapist potential. When the Sun’s rays are obscured and otherwise “filtered” by the Moon, our feminine energy acts as a dream catcher of sorts in an attempt to capture and blend our left-brain (Sun) and right-brain (Moon) on an internal level. We are more prone to consider and confront things from an emotional standpoint instead of a rational one. So while creativity may be heightened, it will not necessarily align with the day to day reality in which we live. This will be exacerbated by Neptune’s close hold on both the Sun and the Moon, blurring the facts and general reality to the point of confusion at times. Neptune is the great embellisher of the zodiac, sometimes in the form of art and accessorizing (Neptune is a great bedazzler--more is more!), other times in the form of bending the truth to justify its questionable actions. Neptune lacks understanding of the point at which the ego defines an individual against a greater whole. This can add to its sometimes humanitarian nature, but can also fuel its proneness for covert action and vicarious experience due to a weak understanding of self.

Modern astrologers associate Neptune as the ruling planet of Pisces, which would indicate that its current placement at 11°35’ Pisces in the Cancer decan gives it lots of encouragement and leeway to take action (cardinal decan). While I do not subscribe to modern astrology and therefore use Jupiter as the traditional ruler of Pisces, there’s no denying that Neptune in its current placement has an intense effect on the solar eclipse. It projects denial of reality and lack of rules (Neptune thrives on the idea of unlimited possibilities) onto both the left- and right-brain, offering an enticing path forward, but one that might be fraught with booby traps or dead-ends. Let’s face it—Neptune is not known for its planning—it prefers to go with the flow. Without the Sun’s rays to brightly illuminate this path, we rely on the darkness of the New Moon to guide us instinctively.

With the South Node in the mix at 3° Pisces, we’re reminded during this eclipse of what our purpose is and where we’re destined to serve. If the North Node represents what we “take in” and experience this lifetime, the South Node marks where we’re responsible for disseminating those experiences. This solar eclipse, with Mercury conjunct the South Node at 1° Pisces, may have us feeling responsible for communicating the visions and realizations that we come to during the next month or so. The challenge will be to decipher what is real and worthwhile, and what is merely a shadow of the truth.

Mars conjunct Uranus today in Aries adds to this feeling of getting off our asses to do something visionary and meaningful, as it sets off a tight opposition to Jupiter in Libra which can magnify our spiritual endeavors and desire for assimilating abstract higher thought into our daily reality. This conjunction and opposition between Mars, Uranus, and Jupiter in cardinal signs occurring at the same time as the solar eclipse is bound to motivate people both spiritually and politically. Expect these motivations to be intense and inextricably linked, lasting for approximately the next month. Pisces, the sign in which the eclipse is taking place, can be a safe haven for like-minded individuals, but can also be an area in which one claims expertise that they may not necessarily have—keep this in mind as you identify how the energy of this solar eclipse is affecting you personally and which bandwagons you feel called to join.