The Magic of the Eclipse

With the beginning of every moon cycle, we have an opportunity to use that alignment to begin new ventures, renew our convictions, start new paths.. The energy is a renewal energy and it helps to give us a bit of a boost to our intentions. We use the waxing moon to grow our intentions and the waning moon to release what no longer serves us. Now, picture those subtle energies magnified by 100, or 1000. That is the type of energy you get from a full solar eclipse. If a typical new moon might bring a new job offer, a solar eclipse might bring a total career change. Where the new moon might have us restarting a diet, a solar eclipse might help us to completely overhaul our way of life. The energy that flows from a normal new moon is a backyard stream, where the solar eclipse is the Mississippi

While many evangelicals believe that this solar eclipse is the sign of the impending rapture or the rapture itself, many other belief systems have a more down to earth view. The Navajo indian’s believe that the solar eclipse is a time for introspection. When the moon blocks the sun, the sun begins going through a rebirth. Those of us who follow more nature based religions tend to view it similarly to the Navajos. It is seen as a time for introspection and for recreating ourselves. It’s a doorway to significant life changes. We can harness this energy and use it to connect with our shadow selves and rid ourselves of past trauma for good.  Where the new moon offers us a time of new beginnings each month to work with our small goals in life, this energy is seriously life changing, a time to recreate yourself and become the person you always wanted to be. 

In this week prior to the eclipse, spend more time looking inward and identifying your true goals in life. Release anything that does not serve you. My favorite way to do this is to grab a stick and dump all that no longer serves me and what I wish to be rid of into that stick. I then take it to the bank of the creek outside my home and throw it into the creek, cutting the ties that bind those things to me as it flies through the air, then watch all my troubles, negativity, and so forth be carried away from me and toward the ocean, never to return to me again. It’s cathartic and I plan to do the same this week, but with far larger goals. You can also do it using fire, by writing down these things and burning the paper.  This is the time the time to release past traumas, negative self talk and prepare to embrace yourself as the already transformed person you will be.

During the eclipse itself is a great time to self reflect and welcome your rebirth into that person you want to be. You could even set up a guided meditation for yourself as a rebirth session during the pinnacle of the eclipse. Welcoming your new existence, a brand new you on the other side as the sun returns from the shadows.  You can do this through meditation alone or as a ritual, however best speaks to your soul.

In the days that follow, be kind to yourself, set time aside to get to thoroughly know the new person you are becoming. Don’t allow yourself to slip back into old habits, create new habits with mindfulness and staying in the present. Be aware of negative self talk and squash it like a bug. As the moon begins it’s growth back to fullness, develop the little nuances of your new creation. Bring into being more details on who this new you is day to day. 

If you find lingering bits you wish to release, then take note and release them just after the next full moon as it begins to wane again. Keeping with this cycle will help you to solidify your new life creation. We’ll get the biggest boost during the eclipse, but if you work with the lunar cycles following the eclipse, you will find the ebb and flow in your life is a bit easier and it makes change easier as well.