On April 8th, 2024, North & Central America will be treated to a rare full solar eclipse in Aries with many cities in the path of complete totality. This is the 2nd full solar eclipse visible from North America in less than a decade, which makes this event more notable, not less.
But even seasoned eclipse-watchers have noted that the circumstances around this Aries solar eclipse are unusual, with many in the spiritual community noting a particular intensity around the coming syzygy— and with good reason. Given that the nodal alignment is usually synced with the Sun’s placement (the alignment of the sun and the moon which causes the eclipse will thus mean the moon’s nodes and the sun are in the same sign), the catalytic energy of an eclipse usually coincides with activation and potentiation of cycles related to the Lunar Nodes. Back in 2017 the total solar eclipse in Leo marked the peak of a year-and-a-half long collective lesson around embracing one’s passions, finding courage and not being afraid to shine and be seen doing so. While this affected everyone here on earth, those with Leo and Aquarius placements, as well as Fixed signs, were the ones most intensely bespelled by this particular energy.
I myself felt a strong pull to travel to the path of Totality in 2017, to perform a small ritual. At the time I had just reached that point of the Hermit Stage where I was at the mouth of the cave, sore from inactivity and ready to dive into the world again. Now aware of myself and brave enough to embody my truth, I desperately wanted to burn away the old cocoon I had been in for the past few years.
Now, I am not recommending you do this with any eclipse ever. As most seasoned spiritualists and Indigenous culture bearers will tell you, a Solar Eclipse is a time to go inward- quite literally to stay indoors and avoid watching the skies. Of course, the predominant culture does not honor this belief, and many spiritualists- especially the witchy ones- will tell you it’s a great time for manifestation.
If this was ever bad advice, it’s particularly questionable with this alignment in Aries. Why…?
First off, manifesting anything during an actual eclipse is a lot like trying to harness a tsunami- it would be hard enough to surf it; controlling it is entirely out of the question. And that’s worth considering because when we ask for things to be granted, generally it’s with the assumption that it will come to us in a good way. But as much as an eclipse is the Big Daddy version of a New Moon, it is so many orders of magnitude more powerful that it renders null any attempts to fully control its machinations. While you may very well get what you desire, you may come to regret the circumstances that bring it to you. We might all say we enjoy the idea of receiving a $10,000 check, but that same check may seem less precious arriving with the passing of a favored family member, and after incurring $40,000 in damages to your home (Gxd forbid).
But the general impersonal chaos of an eclipse portal isn’t all that’s headed our way on April 8th. This eclipse marks a sort of energetic peak of the current North Node Aries / South Node Libra alignment that will close on January 11th, 2025, providing a sort of flashpoint to the cycle that started in these signs on July 18th, 2023. At the time of the eclipse, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, Chiron and Eris will all be in the fiery Cardinal sign, putting heavy stellium energy on this event.
While I originally had plans to travel to the path of Totality (traditions or not, seeing the magnetic wings that come off of the Sun during an eclipse is incredible beyond description! This is ONLY in complete Totality, please NEVER look at a ring of fire or partial eclipse!), I felt a calling last month to sit and ask Spirit for guidance, subsequently receiving that this is a time for protective stillness; Aries is a powerful, combustible and at times combative sign and having a shadowy occurrence like this happening in this sign might bring out some undesired happenings and conflicts. What’s more, those with their N. Node in Aries (that’s me) have already been on a life-altering Wheel of Fortune with many dramatic endings, beginnings and changes- I myself just got settled in a new country after over a year abroad, drifting in search of solid ground. This is a time to finally sit and appreciate what has been worked for and rest after what has come to pass, not to go sparking some new fuse by tempting Aries in my 8th House! Specifically, one of Aries’ faults is impulsiveness— how many might be currently acting out of impulse to go see the eclipse, or an Aries-like rebuke of authority when elders caution us to sit this one out? All of this within Mercury retrograde in Aries, no less! It is not an auspicious time for travel.
(Long read? Get the audio version here!)
Not even a week after getting this insight from Spirit, the US National Guard notified American citizens that units were going to be deployed to cities in totality, and that those living in the path should stock up with 2 week’s worth of gas and food supplies as the influx of tourists to the area will leave them high and dry. While this eclipse is indeed a rare and sought after occurrence, this response from the government seems opportunistically intense and many question whether the travel-related chaos will be used as a cover for other activities. However, this eclipse will also be two whole minutes longer than the previous North American syzygy, and for that alone many more travellers might consider it worth the trek. I certainly cannot say one way or another, but compared to the 2017 eclipse, I have noticed many other Sensitives reporting feelings of wariness around the 8th.
While in the end we are all sovereign creatures who must do what it is in our soul to do, it is a good idea to check your chart to find out where this eclipse conjuncts for you, and what issues might be highlighted or exaggerated during this Nodal activation. If you would like assistance, my books are open and I would be happy to help.
In order to support us all align with this portal, especially those with Aries placements or anyone seeking to channel the energy of this warrior spirit, I have made a new Aries energy affirmation file to help empower you throughout the summer or until the nodes shift and the cycle closes with the start of next year.
