“The shadow is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light.” – Ram Dass
May 5th concludes our eclipse season with a penumbral lunar eclipse at 14°52’ Scorpio. A penumbral eclipse is when the Moon moves through the outer part of the Earth’s shadow (the penumbra) causing a very subtle shadowing effect on the face of the Moon – which is how all types of lunar eclipses begin and end. But as subtle as it may be, this will be the deepest penumbral lunar eclipse until September 2042. So this lunar eclipse won’t be a visually dramatic (or even noticeable) one, but it’s happening Scorpio and it’s the grand finale of Scorpio eclipses in this nodal cycle (and it’s opposite Uranus) so it’ll be dramatic in other ways I’m sure. This penumbral lunar eclipse begins at 11:15am EDT, peaks at 1:24pm EDT, and ends at 3:32pm EDT.
The full eclipse will be visible from parts of Eastern Africa (parts of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique, and all of Somalia and Madagascar), the Eastern portion of the Middle East region (part of Saudi Arabia and Iran, most of Yemen, and all of Oman, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Pakistan), the majority of Asia, all of Australia and Papua New Guinea, most of New Zealand, and all of Antarctica. Those who live in the rest of Africa and the Middle East region, most of the remainder of Europe and Asia, and the rest of New Zealand will be able to see part of the eclipse at moonrise or moonset. Because the Moon will be below the horizon, those in North America, South America and slivers of eastern Europe won’t see it at all.
Eclipses are wild cards. Both solar and lunar eclipses mark dramatic endings, beginnings, and turning points in our world as well as our personal lives (depending on how, or if, they aspect your chart) – it’s a time of divine evolution or a date with destiny/fate (forced, if needed). Traditionally they’ve been seen as bad omens, agents of crises, ushers of natural disasters, and signals of rulers falling from power (most often from death) and/or the rise of new leaders. Solar eclipses tend to deal more with the world/countries/society as a whole and, on a personal level, things that come more from the “outer/public” world (what happens to us and how we’re affected by the world). Lunar eclipses typically represent the general population of the areas experiencing (able to view) the eclipse and, on a personal level, things that come more from the “inner/private” world (what happens within and how we engage with the world).
Lunar eclipses are like supercharged full moons, when we deal with a tug-of-war between polarities like masculine/feminine, logic/emotions, ego/soul, work/home, public/private, and so on. Relationships of all types come into focus – with ourself, with others, with our environment, etc. – and are put to the test and/or are seen for what they really are. Full moons are generally a time of illumination when the truth of something is revealed, but with this being a penumbral lunar eclipse (when the Moon appears to be dimmed by the Earth’s shadow), whatever is brought to light usually won’t be the full story or all that it appears to be. Either way, strong emotions will bubble to the surface and likely cause hysteria in some form (fear, anger, etc.) that could result in wide variety of impulsive decisions/actions being made.
This is the third and final South Node eclipse of this cycle (the first was the May 16, 2022 Scorpio lunar eclipse and the second was the October 25, 2022 Scorpio solar eclipse). As a South Node eclipse, this is going to deal heavily with the past and karma (which is simply cause and effect) – specifically reaping what we’ve sown. South Node eclipses are, as Judith Hill describes, times when the tide flows out – loss, decreasing, reducing, shrinking, letting go, cleansing, forgiveness, acceptance, surrender, giving, and disseminating are the energies at play. Releasing what no longer serves us, pushing past deeply ingrained habits/patterns, and getting out of our comfort zones in order to overcome something is what South Node eclipses call us to do. With this penumbral lunar eclipse being the final South Node eclipse of this cycle, this is the last call in the Taurus-Scorpio axis to do so, or risk being fixed for another 19 years.
The Lunar Eclipse Cycle
As a full moon, this is the culmination point of a cycle and holds a connection to the previous new moon (which was also the hybrid solar eclipse at 29°52’ Aries) that we had on April 20th. On a larger scale, it’s also the peak, complete fruition point of the Scorpio new moon that we had on October 25, 2022 (which was also the partial solar eclipse at 2°07 Scorpio). So this penumbral lunar eclipse will bring up things that transpired around those times (possibly illuminating something that wasn’t seen or known before) and will be a time to reap what we sowed back then. Being the last Scorpio eclipse in this nodal cycle, and technically the last eclipse in this Taurus-Scorpio nodal axis, it’s also a purge and reset point of what’s transpired since this Taurus-Scorpio nodal cycle started back on December 24, 2021 (on October 28th we will have a partial lunar eclipse at 5°03’ Taurus, but the nodes will technically be transiting the Aries-Libra axis then).
As an eclipse, this is also part of several longer cycles. The first cycle is around 18 months long, when the eclipses in a pair of signs begin. The eclipses in the Taurus-Scorpio axis officially began on April 30, 2022 with a solar eclipse at 10°35’ Taurus, but we had a sneak-preview (when the nodes were still in Gemini-Sagittarius) on November 19, 2021 with the lunar eclipse at 27°17’ Taurus. This Scorpio penumbral lunar eclipse will connect back to those times. This is also technically the final eclipse that’s concluding the series of eclipses with the nodes in the Taurus-Scorpio axis (the nodes will officially enter the Aries-Libra axis on July 12th), but we will have one final lunar eclipse at 5°03’ Taurus on October 28th, officially closing out the cycle.
The second larger cycle is approximately 18.6 years long, when eclipses fall at the same degree of a sign. For this cycle, that means that this penumbral lunar eclipse in Scorpio connects to the total lunar eclipse at 14°40’ Scorpio that we on May 4, 2004.
The third larger cycle is approximately 54 years long, when eclipses of a Saros series return to the same geographical region (known as the exeligmos), which is where the eclipse passes over. That connect this Scorpio penumbral lunar eclipse to the penumbral lunar eclipse at 12°43’ Libra that we had on April 2, 1969.
The final, MUCH larger cycle is approximately 1,300 years long and involves eclipses of the same Saros cycle. That would connect this penumbral lunar eclipse to the one that began this particular Saros 141 cycle, which was a penumbral lunar eclipse at 2°32’ Pisces on August 25, 1608 (and this Saros cycle won’t end until February 13, 2492).
A final cycle worthy of noting here (which isn’t part of the general eclipse cycle) is the last Taurus-Scorpio eclipse cycle (when the nodes were transiting the Taurus-Scorpio axis) that coincided with Uranus transiting Taurus as well. This happened back in 1938.
Looking back at what was happening around these times in history – April 2022, May 2004, April 1969, throughout 1938, and August 1608 – can give us a good idea of what we can expect this time around on the mundane level. Looking back at any of these timeframes that you were alive and thinking about what was happening in your personal life can give you a good idea of what themes may be coming up again for you.
General Effects of the Scorpio Lunar Eclipse
This is our second eclipse of 2023 and technically the last one in the Taurus-Scorpio nodal axis, which will bring with it a final culmination of things that have transpired since April 2022. These eclipses have been happening in the axis of resources, ownership, exchange, values, material goods, currency and survival. As a Scorpio lunar eclipse (which is a full moon when the Sun and Moon oppose each other), it’ll bring up themes surrounding things like giving versus receiving, what’s mine versus what’s ours, ingestion versus elimination, nourishment versus waste, empowerment versus giving our power away, autonomy versus codependency, the material world versus the occult/metaphysical world, and life versus death.
Scorpio deals with intimate relationships – where we merge with another and deal with power dynamics. It also highlights resources shared with or tied to another, which includes things like loans, mortgages, pensions, insurances, taxes, and debts. It brings up “taboo” subjects and things that we’d rather leave hidden in the dark and not talk about like sex, death, addictions, psychological issues, and what goes on “behind closed doors”. Scorpio is intense, passionate, observant, powerful, penetrating, magnetic, and deep. It is also obsessive, possessive, controlling, jealous, suspicious, vindictive, destructive, traumatic, and emotionally fixated. Scorpio demands transformation – its corresponding Tarot card is the Death card and its co-ruler Pluto says, “transform or die” (the problems come in when we try to cling to what needs to go). Scorpio won’t deal with anything superficial, meaningless or dishonest.
On a mundane level, this Scorpio and Mars/Pluto-ruled lunar eclipse is most likely to affect or deal with (by illuminating, eclipsing, destroying, transforming, controlling or manipulating) cabinets of presidents or prime ministers, the military and law enforcement, financial relations with other countries, debts due from foreign countries, industrial disputes, strikes and conflicts, crime (especially organized) and public safety, global wars, terrorist attacks, opposition forces, nations’ mortality rates, political undergrounds, anything that’s carried out in the dark or hidden from public view, espionage, matters of great wealth and power, all matters that bring what’s hidden to light, and tyranny triumphant over the state.
The geographic regions that are particularly highlighted during this Scorpio lunar eclipse (along with those that can view the eclipse mentioned at the beginning of this post) are: Algeria, Bavaria, Eastern Bolivia, Brazil, East Indies, Japan (especially Tokyo), Korea, Morocco (especially Fez), Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Prussia, Russia, Siberia, Syria, Turkey, England (in particular Dover, Glossop, Hull, Liverpool, Newcastle, Stockport, and Worthing), Catalonia Spain, Ghent Belgium, Halifax Nova Scotia, Messina Sicily, Queensland Australia, St. John’s Newfoundland, Transvaal South Africa, the CCP, and the United States (in particular Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Washington, Baltimore Maryland, Boston Massachusetts, Cincinnati Ohio, Cleveland Ohio, Milwaukee Wisconsin, New Orleans Louisiana, Portland Oregon, San Francisco California, and Washington DC).
We may see developments in the fields of chemistry, dentistry, gynecology, paleontology, pathology, archeology, geology, psychology, investigative work, scientific research, medicine, and surgery. The FBI and CIA are also brought into focus. Events involving the steel industry, mining, trade unions, the welfare system, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, tax and bill collectors, credit unions, the banking system, stock markets, cryptocurrency, law enforcement, military, abortion and gender reassignment services/industries, the porn industry, surveillance industries, and industries related to the dead and dying (coroners, embalming, executions, funerals, cemeteries, etc.) are all possibilities with this eclipse.
We may also see something happening related to petroleum, drilling, sewers/sewage, waste disposal, plumbing, sanitation, pollution, demolitions, excavations, assembly lines, electronics, investigations, mass productions, mysteries, food preservation, radio or TV broadcasting, fertility issues, reproductive rights, sorcery/witchcraft, conspiracies, secrets and secret matters of every kinds, and collectivism or collective ideas. Toxins, poisons, contaminations, radiation, plastics, chemicals, caustic acids, plutonium, atom and hydrogen bombs, and nuclear energy are spotlighted.
Significant incidents could take place at or involving breweries, cemeteries, chemical labs, medical labs, crematories, landfills, pharmacies, incineration plants, meat markets/trade, casinos, weapon stores, sports arenas/stadiums, machine shops, morgues, orchards, slaughter houses, tombs, caves, mines and other underground places, places subject to flooding, the depths of oceans, buried or submerged countries/civilizations, borderland regions, temples, places of worship, sites of holocausts, places of horror, operating rooms, and battlefields.
We could see an increase or peak in fires, explosions, wrecks, floods, volcanic activity, landslides, earthquakes, and great catastrophes/calamities. There’s also likely to be a surge in crimes of violence, passion, obsession, power, manipulation, and extremism (arson, abductions, kidnappings, homicides, manslaughters, gang crimes, molestations, rapes, theft, robberies, burglaries, vandalisms, extortions, blackmails, coercions, ransoms, treason, espionage, hackings/cyber attacks, embezzlements, assassinations, massacres, and full-on holocausts), organized or underground crimes, terrorist activities, and corruption of all kinds. Political propaganda and socialist political movements will reach a peak, dictators and tyrants will rise to power or reach some extreme, and governments can go full-on totalitarian. With intense emotions and mob psychology being easily manipulated there’s sure to be many public outrages, acts of defiance, fanaticism, mob lynchings, and all-out wars breaking out. With a Scorpio and Mars/Pluto-ruled lunar eclipse atrocities, cruelties, betrayals, devastation, degeneracy, depravity, sacrifices, destitution, revolutionary upheavals, and many casualties are likely.
On a medical level, this Scorpio lunar eclipse will involve the elimination organs, sexual/reproductive organs, endocrine system and glands, blood and circulatory system, muscular system, motor nerves, nose, adenoids, tonsils, pelvis region, spleen, pancreas, head, brain, and face. This can bring with it the possibility for things like accidents, cuts, burns, head/brain injuries, amputations, decapitations, bone fractures, deformities of the body, animal/insect bites, blood disorders/poisoning, abscesses, ruptures in the body, hemorrhages, menstruation issues, fertility issues, eruptive diseases, inflammatory diseases, contagious/infectious diseases, epidemics, plagues, and violent diseases. Scorpio, Mars and Pluto specifically rule ailments like appendicitis, hernias, ulcers, toxemia, amnesia, STDs, epilepsy, cholera, diphtheria, hay fever, malaria, smallpox, chicken pox, shingles, rheumatic fever, scarlet fever, yellow fever, whooping cough, typhoid, and cancers. Suicides are also highlighted.
The Lunar Eclipse Chart
This penumbral lunar eclipse is happening in the second decan (10° to 19°59’) of Scorpio – the Pisces decan – which is sub-ruled by the Sun and Jupiter (with Neptune taking modern co-rulership). In his book 36 Faces Austin Coppock ascribes the image of “An Apparatus for Mutual Distillation” to this decan of Scorpio. It’s this alchemical process that happens in a relationship that allows for the purification of matters and, as Coppock puts it, where things grow “increasingly rarefied and potent”. Coppock goes on to say that while it’s “easy to imagine these dynamics between romantic partners, all relationships which rely on trust and continuous exchange generate such circuits.” With the Sun’s rulership of this decan it brings to light what needs to be purified – as the saying goes, “light is the best disinfectant”. Then Jupiter allows for an exploration and learning process to occur. If all goes well, we are brave enough to recognize and express ourselves and our life story (Mars), see how it affects and fits in with the other person, and both individual and mutual transmutations and transformations occur (Pluto).
During this lunar eclipse, the Scorpio Moon is opposing Mercury Retrograde and Uranus in Taurus (the Sun is conjunct them), bringing with it unexpected events, shocking (and possibly unpleasant) surprises, and sudden changes that will shake loose once-solid foundations and disrupt our deep sense of security/stability. With Mercury Retrograde in the mix we’re being urged to review, redo, revise, restructure, repair, renew, refine, and realign our values, self-esteem, self-worth, finances, personal possessions, personal resources (including talents), and our ability to be self-sufficient.
The Moon aligns with the Fixed Star Zuben Elgenubi, which is located in the southern Claw of the Scorpion in the constellation of Libra (the early Greeks didn’t associate Libra’s stars with scales – the Libra scales were not even its own constellation – and the name itself in Arabic means “the southern claw”, but it modern times this star would be said to be in the southern scale of the constellation). According to Robson, Zuben Elgenubi causes malevolence, obstruction, an unforgiving character, violence, disease, lying, crime, disgrace, and danger of poison, and its given the nature of both malefics, Saturn and Mars, with this indication of boldness, cruelty, heartlessness, adultery, loss of estates, and poverty. This star is symbolically called the “Insufficient Price”. Dr. Eric Morse states, “It is well to remember here the association of this star with a scorpion’s claw, used for making love as well as for slaying its prey. It does not let go until one or other matter is complete and onlookers are not sure which of the two acts are in process.” When this star is aligned with the Moon Robson notes it brings “trouble through opposite sex, wrongful accusations, disgrace, ruin, mental anxiety, loss of relatives, many disappointments, much sickness, disease in those parts of the body ruled by the sign.”
The Sun aligns with the Fixed Stars Menkar and Almach. Menkar is located on the Nose of the Whale (or Sea Monster) in the Cetus constellation. Ptolemy gives this star the nature of Saturn, Simmonite gives it the nature of Mars, and Alvidas gives it the nature of Venus and the Moon. Robson notes it “causes disease, disgrace, ruin, injury from beasts, sickness, and loss of fortune.” Elsbeth Ebertin wrote it “has a Saturnine character, corresponding to impediments of many kinds, worries and tests of endurance.” According to Robson, Menkar aligned with the Sun brings “great trouble, sickness, throat ailments, legacies and inheritances attended by much evil, loss of money, failure of crops.”
Almach is a quadruple star system located in the foot of the Chained Woman in the Andromeda constellation. Robson gives it the nature of Venus and said it “gives honor, eminence and artistic ability.” George Noonan gives it the nature of Mars and said it brings “honors in military endeavors”. Dr. Eric Morse wrote that there are similar words to Almach “meaning ‘deep in water’, as her foot must have been, then ‘a clasp’, holding her there, and another word meaning ‘exemplary punishment’, which also fits the story. Ptolemy makes a pure Venus of this star, a very touching tribute to Andromeda’s patience during her ordeal. When well-aspected it does reveal great patience, the best of Taurean qualities, though it is so close to Menkar that we must take account of what we have dais of that star also. We may add that the patience shown here may well spring from a firm faith and trust in Divine help, as the lady must have needed with the monster’s nose that close to her!”
The Eclipse Ruler
The Scorpio eclipse ruler, Mars, is back in-bounds but it is still at its fall in Cancer. A planet at its fall means it’s in a place where it hates to be and functions at its worst. It’s akin to being far away from home where everyone speaks a different language, the way of life is the complete opposite from what you like, and your personality/nature outright clash with the environment and way you need to operate there to survive. Mars, planet of action, leadership, and masculine energy can’t operate in its inherent nature within the Cancerian realms of emotion, introversion, and feminine energy. Here, Mars’ actions are either fueled by pure raw emotion or there’s no action at all because it wants to hide in its shell. There can be an extreme aversion to independence, personal responsibility/accountability, and having to do things on our own. Mars here is “wishy-washy”, makes “mountains out of molehills”, and can be extremely defensive and easily triggered.
Having the ruler of this eclipse in such a position can bring strong potentials for heightened emotions and sensitivity (“hairpin triggers”) – especially since Scorpio is intense and extreme – an increase in moodiness, impulsivity and recklessness, misdirected anger, passive-aggressiveness, selfishness, insecurity, and codependency. Home/family dysfunction, toxic relationship dynamics, the past hindering our present, and all-out emotionally or self-protective driven wars are possibilities. Being driven by our emotions can make us to some dumb things or be all over the place, thrown around by the changing tide. There will also be more focus and action surrounding home, family, children, the past and childhood dynamics, emotional foundations, security, protection, and nurturing. In this sense, we can use this eclipse as a time to explore our emotional and psychological depths related to these matters and see how it may be sabotaging us personally, financially, and relationally.
Mars is trine the Scorpio Moon, making it easier to take action on these eclipse energies as long as we make the conscious decision to do so. A sextile to Uranus in Taurus gives us the opportunity to break free from limiting patterns and circumstances, rediscover how our unique characteristics and abilities can both aid ourselves and others, and reclaim our independence to walk to individual path meant for us. An approaching square to Jupiter in Aries (exact on May 23rd), gives a burst of energy and provides a catalyst to act on something, but this is a learning process and we’ll have to be watchful of being too impulsive or going on the attack – forethought, considering worst-case scenarios and using a strategic approach are the best tactics to use here. Mars is also headed towards its opposition with Pluto (exact on May 20th), which could trigger an eruption of hurt and rage that could’ve be repressed from some experience of being wronged (real or perceived) or from some threat to one’s sense of control, stability, security, or self-determination. Pure primal instincts and fight or flight responses are triggered here as we face forces that seek to manipulate and gain power and control over us. Truth is, many likely saw this coming and didn’t take it seriously enough to prepare themselves for when “shit hits the fan”. Any time or resources spent focusing on or fighting the opposing force(s) is energy wasted. What’s required now is piercing through the bullshit, cutting off the dead wood, drawing upon deep resources of personal power, and taking the proper, necessary actions.
The Eclipse Degree Symbols
The Sabian symbol for the degree of the Moon during this eclipse is: “Children playing around five mounds of sand.” The keynote given by Dane Rudhyar for this symbol is: “Early steps in the development of a mind seeking to be attuned to the higher level of human evolution.” Rudhyar said the five mounds of sand symbolize the pentagram, and noted that what’s seen here is “future-oriented growth”. In her book The Sabian Symbols: A Screen of Prophecy, Diane E. Roche wrote: “This symbol speaks to the formative stages of social consciousness, and to the earliest efforts to develop personal competence. The image of children playing around five mounds of sand alludes to time and the five senses, and it symbolizes playfulness, creativity, self-expression and spontaneity. It also refers to the psychological aspect of interpersonal relationships, or learning how to stimulate interest and work cooperatively with others. The emphasis here is learning how to get the most out of the potential in any experience.” She goes on to say, “Your greatest advantage lies in forming your own impressions. Judge from your own experiences. Do your own thinking… Guard against letting your physical desires overcome your better judgment. Be careful about going overboard when you’re having a good time. Learn when to stop or say no.”
The Sabian symbol for the degree of the Sun during this eclipse is: “A man muffled up, with a rakish silk hat.” The keynote given by Dane Rudhyar for this symbol is: “The courage needed to meet the crises precipitated by social ambition.” He noted that this symbol “implies a transition to a new level at which the individual who has learned from experience demonstrates a truly mature mind. What is revealed here is character under adverse circumstances.” For this symbol, Diane E. Roche wrote that it “speaks to the ability to maintain aplomb or poise, even in the most trying situations. (The image) portrays a dramatic effort to radiate dignity and personal distinction. The implication here is of a strong sense of self and a refusal to settle for being just another face in the crowd. This degree also suggests a sophisticated ability to use whatever resources lie at hand to achieve a goal or overcome obstacles.” Roche goes on to write, “Your greatest advantage lies in acting ‘as if’. Create yourself anew by visualizing yourself as you would like to be and dramatize that self to the world. Maintain your dignity no matter what difficulties you face… Guard against becoming overconfident or cocky. Avoid making promises that you can’t keep or creating expectations that you can’t live up to.”
Butterfly Effect Astrology 