Sometimes I wish I was an astrologer. My patience has just not been there for learning to interpret directly from planetary positions when I can just read the analysis of a few different astrologers then use my channeling abilities to discern the fundamental truth they're all sharing. Mostly that suffices, but sometimes what's happening is so elaborate and significant that I find no way to change a single word of theirs without diminishing the statement.

This is such a time.

So instead of trying to synthesize an original idea about what's going on astrologically, I'm just going to share some quotes with you, including links back to the original sources in case you want to dive deeper. I really encourage you to read at least one of the following articles in depth, because today and the weeks to come present us with some very powerful opportunities. I don't want you to miss realizing this potential simply because you don't see clearly enough what it is.

Total Lunar Eclipse - Longest Blood Moon this century

For a purely astronomical take on the significance of today, take a look at this accuweather report that describes it in scientific terms. I find it pretty impressive:

Friday’s lunar eclipse will be particularly special as it is the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century.

The total phase of the eclipse will last for an impressive 1 hour and 43 minutes, while the entire eclipse, including the partial phases, will last for over 6 hours.

One reason why this eclipse is lasting so long is because it is occurring when the moon is near apogee, or the point in its orbit when it is farthest away from the Earth, making it appear smaller than normal....

Another factor that is playing a role in the eclipse’s duration is the path that the moon is taking through the Earth’s shadow. During Friday’s eclipse, the moon will be passing almost directly through the middle of the shadow, maximizing the time that moon spends in darkness.

The next time there is a total lunar eclipse this long will not be until June 9, 2123

I personally find that to be pretty cool. The article goes on to describe even more about viewing and accompanying astral events.

Astrological Significance of Eclipse

I've read a lot about this eclipse, but the one who sums it up best I think is Chani Nichols who writes:

Eclipses signal times when our shadow or unconscious habits and patterns are exposed. These are times when we are well served to make our burdens, self-doubts, and self-sabotage conscious so that we can be more fully integrated as humans. Eclipses also signal times of important shifts, changes, and movements in our lives. What happens during eclipse season sets the tone for a long time to come.

This is more than just a total lunar eclipse. During this eclipse, the sun is in an exact opposition to Mars and therefore Mars is conjunct the full moon, all three of which square Uranus while Mercury has just stationed retrograde.

The set up is contentious. Intriguing. Far from complacent, this eclipse is abundant in its ability to rip through the predictability of life and produce a completely new paradigm.

This eclipse calls on our ability to witness the difficulties that we come up against. It calls out the aggressive, disruptive, and derailing aspects of life. It is a passionate plea to work through the conflicts of our human experience. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to consciously hold the pain and fear that our anger is usually trying to mask, but this moment asks us to do just that. There may not be much that stays consistent right now, but we can work with this eclipse to become more conscious of the changes we need to make and the fear that comes up for us when we attempt to do so.

This is what I've been experiencing the last week, and it seems it is only going to get more intense over the next couple of weeks. My dreams last night even had me dealing with rage, while being witnessed by my Buddhist teacher. I woke up still not knowing quite what I should have done in the dream that would have been a better reaction to offense than the one I had in the dream.

I've realized today how restless I feel, walking through my beautiful world with my sweet, happy dog and preparing for a day for which the only obligation is lunch with the world traveler and former Peace Corps volunteer I rented a house from on my first trip here. I noticed my resistance to loving this place, even though I have no reason to be anywhere else and plenty of people find ample reason to love this place. I think it may be how I would feel no matter where I am right now, having nothing to do with the place.

It is the energy of these times to feel a conflict between our desire to creatively expand, giving of ourselves freely, and our desire to retreat, collect things to us, and shore up our physical safety and self-sufficiency.

Retrogrades, Retrogrades Everywhere

We are not just "blessed" with the delights of Mercury Retrograde since this past Wednesday, but how lucky are we to also have Mars in retrograde starting in a few days! (Aug. 1)

That means both energy and communication are trying to move outward, but are being turned back inward. Now all astral events hold both challenges and opportunities, and it is up to us to seize the opportunities without falling prey to the challenges. Retrogrades are no different.

So the question is, as this energy is trying to turn inward, how willing are you to cooperate with that gladly instead of resisting it?

Or are there things you're simply determined to accomplish right now that require energy or communication moving outward, and you'll muscle it into reality even if astral energies won't cooperate?

To quote Chani again:

Carrying through sentiments from the eclipse, Mars completes its square with the most explosive energy that it could come into contact with. These two bring fireworks, upheavals, and abrasive experiences. This cosmic exfoliation leaves no debris behind, but can scratch the surfaces that we’d rather have buffed and polished.

This is all part of the purification process that we are going through. We have to understand the power of the tools we have in order to use them skillfully. For some of us, this might mean that we blow a fuse before we can appreciate the voltage running through us. For others, it will be a deeper appreciation of what we are working with. For all of us, this is a time to apply our power with incredible consideration of its impact.

In Case That Wasn’t Enough Drama for You

The fun intensifies the following week, as even Uranus decides to go retrograde, and in the fixed sign of Taurus no less!

Uranus is known for having an impact of unconventionality. Uranus brings breakthroughs…. Uranus in Taurus is an odd mix. Taurus is the most stabilizing of earth signs. The most grounded. Stubborn.

Uranus’s time in Taurus speaks to innovations, changes, breakdowns and (hopefully) breakthroughs in banking systems, social security nets, land ownership/occupations, and how we work with the resources of this glorious earth we are so fortunate to inhabit. Taurus wants secure sources of prosperity on reserve, but consistency is not Uranus’s game. Here, Uranus seeks to flip the script on the status quo, but we mustn’t mistake change for progress when it isn’t. We mustn’t mistake what is shocking for what is innovative, what is disruptive for what is revolutionary, what is extreme for what is just.

The retrograde motion of Uranus between now and early January 2019 brings with it the typical introspective energy of any retrograde.

This means that while the urge will be to want to act directly upon the world to transform it, the real transformation the energy will be supporting is our own.

The way we change the world is by coming into new relationship with parts of ourselves.

The great thing about this period is that enough of us will be deeply engaged in that internal transformation that we are likely to actually pull off the external one!

A Few Additional Thoughts on This Period

These next few weeks, and to a lesser extent few months, are going to be ripe with potential and new heights we can grow ourselves into.

Here are a few additional thoughts from various astrologers:

From Valerie Mesa:

This total lunar eclipse will conjunct (sit close to) both the South Node and Mars Retrograde. This is wild. For starters, in astrology, anything that conjuncts the South Node means it's cleansing, clearing, and leaving our lives. (FYI: The South Node represents both the gifts and karmic debt we bring from previous lifetimes.) Now, adding wood to the fire, Mars will also be involved, which makes this ending that much more powerful. Although, with Mars Retrograde, there could be some frustration in the process.

Put it this way, Mars loves to go fast. Its energy is vigorous, enthusiastic, and passionate AF. However, in retrograde, this intense energy is internalized, so it could feel somewhat restless. Nevertheless, the universe is asking us to let something go, and free ourselves from emotional (moon) burdens.

From Lena Stevens:

[This time] creates a window to speak your truth, embrace your personal power, and step up to a new level of integrity, maturity and confidence. It is a perfect time for a bid for Power. What do you really and truly want that you either feel you don’t deserve, you don’t have the skills or time to create, or you simply don’t believe it could happen? Face your doubts, fears and anxieties, and ask for help and support for your bigger dreams.

This is a great time for transformation, expansion and clearing of some very deep old emotional insecurities and wounding. It is a good sign if you feel slightly unbalanced, emotional and vulnerable. Great healing is possible and forgiveness is a key.

I hope you find this astrological roundup of the challenges and opportunities of these next few weeks to be helpful and encouraging.

If you’re like most people (and even animals) you’re experiencing a lot of intense and conflicting emotions these days. That’s only going to intensify, but you can work with it so that it brings amplified blessing, not amplified angst.

Meditate.

Process.

Shift into witness perspective as often as you can, so that you can digest the energies from a more expansive point of view. You need more of who you are available to you, as you integrate more of who you are into your daily life. This is the matter at hand.

(Photo source: Pixabay)