Gryphon Astrology Blog

Since we entered Eclipse season, and especially with the upcoming Solar Eclipse, I am getting lots of questions about how the Eclipses affect individuals’ horoscopes. So in this article, I will talk about the ways that the upcoming Eclipse may affect your own birth chart, and look at an example from a well-known person’s chart.

As you can tell from my previous posts about the Lunar Eclipse and the Solar Eclipse, any Eclipse will have some kind of effect on the greater affairs of the world. The medieval astrologer Cardan wrote: “Eclipses operate more forcibly on Cities, Provinces, and Kingdoms than on Particular persons of private condition, or even upon Kings and Princes, for their effects rather respect the multitude.” This is certainly true, but we can often find very major events happening in people’s lives after Eclipses that contact their own natal horoscope.

The problem is that Eclipses are like a raw infusion of power into a chart, and not many people are prepared to deal with them appropriately, so usually the person is the unwitting victim of something unpleasant. The solar energy will make itself known one way or another. This is where talking with your friendly astrologer can be extremely helpful, because they can tell you how best to carpe labores solis (“seize the Solar Eclipse”) for the most beneficial results.

An Eclipse will only make itself felt in your life if it closely contacts a sensitive point or planet in your own horoscope. Thus, for this upcoming Solar Eclipse, unless you have something important in your horoscope in the 29^th degree of the common signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces), or thereabouts, you do not have to worry. If you find that something in your chart will be activated by the Eclipse, you should look at the function of that planet or point in your life, and you will be able to see what part of your life will be affected by the Eclipse and in what way.

Eclipses and the Famous: George W. Bush

The horoscope above belongs to George W. Bush. We will very often see Eclipses activate the charts of people in power shortly before they assume a position of authority. This brings us back to the essential message of the Eclipse: Act or be acted upon. Those in power are typically people who, for one reason or another, have chosen to act, and therefore can take advantage of Eclipses when the opportunity arises.

The Solar Partial Eclipse of July 31^st, 2000, was visible in the northwest United States only (visibility in an area greatly enhances an Eclipse’s strength to act there), but this was apparently enough to give George Bush’s horoscope the “kick” it needed. The Eclipse occurred at 8 Leo, which falls right on George Bush’s Ascendant and Mercury. Needless to say, these are both highly sensitive points in the horoscope. Mercury rules the 11^th house of hopes and good fortune, and was probably just the infusion of power that George Bush needed to become President.

Since becoming President, the other defining moment for George W. Bush has been September 11th. The Lunar Eclipse of July 5, 2001, was again only visible in the western United States, but that was enough. The Eclipse occurred at 13 Capricorn, and exactly opposed George Bush’s natal Sun in the 12th house. In his chart, the Sun rules the 1st house, signifying his personality and public image. September 11th, however problematic it was for the United States as a country, was a great boon to George Bush politically - his public approval ratings went through the roof and stayed there for quite a long time. Indeed, September 11th was without question THE defining moment of George Bush’s presidency, and was heralded by an Eclipse.

Bookmark to