— How Eclipses Work in Astrology + Magic —

For as much attention as Eclipses get, they don’t seem to be very well understood mechanically or magically. Here are some of the most common misunderstandings or blind spots I tend to see making the rounds whenever the Dragon Portal activates:

On a Technical Level

1. Eclipses occur on what would already be the New Moon or a Full Moon, so saying things like “The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in X” is redundant.Things like this are often phrased that way for keywords or convenience, but it is still a technical fact many would probably be delighted to understand. The type of Eclipse it is *already* tells us whether it fell on the New or Full Moon cycle:Those that happen during the New Moon phase are always Solar Eclipses, and those that fall on the Full Moon phase are always Lunar Eclipses.
2. Eclipses generally occur in pairs on what would be the Full or New Moons falling within a certain degree of the Nodes, because the Lunar Nodes (aka Head and Tail of the Dragon), are points of calculation for where the Eclipses will take place.This is part of why the Nodes moving from one house to another means something for each given natal chart — it’s where the next sets of Eclipses will begin impacting the life!They normally happen on a single sign axis (Aries-Libra, or Taurus-Scorpio), but that is not always the case if the Nodes are early or late in a sign (such as a Lunar Eclipse in Taurus November 19th, 2021 followed by a Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius on December 4th, signs which are not on the same axis).There are also rare cycles where there are 3 Eclipses in a row, such as in the summer of 2018, and upcoming June 5th, June 21st, and July 4th 2020.
3. There are two weeks between when each Eclipse occurs, the amount of time between any other New and Full Moon.Austin Coppock refers to this period as The Bardo, since the period of time between sandwiched between each Eclipse Gate can be liminal, disruptive, excessively still, and even surreal.

On a Magical Level

1. Eclipses are not good times to do any standard Lunar of Solar work, on a mundane or magical level.Their real-time energies are life-averse and toxic.Eclipses are the OG bad celestial omen. This is especially true when it is visible over any given geographical area.Think about the Great American eclipse from August 2017.Is America great again?

Do NOT make a standard/ benefic Solar or Lunar talisman during an Eclipse. It won’t be good for normal Solar or Lunar things, in fact, it will destroy their desirable qualities.

This much is obvious by the fact that the light they carry is blotted out, which is the defining point of the event.

The Sun and Moon derive their power from the amount and quality of light they radiate or carry.

Eclipses are an assault on that life-giving light.

Many magicians and witches have fallen victim to astrological ignorance or misguidance by talismanifying or working Eclipses for the wrong aims. The drama and potency are not all that matter — they have their own character.

Eclipses are malefic events for the Sun and Moon.

The primary thing you want to use Eclipses for is destroying, cursing, concealing, unconcealing, or banishing — but be warned, because you’ll likely channel it to direct it, especially if care isn’t taken to remediate, and again, the energies are not “good” or life-giving.

Eclipses frequently manifest in the body in the form of eye issues, headaches, sinus issues, ear aches, and sore throats (the head of the dragon) and nausea, digestive upsets, the runs, or constipation (the tail of the dragon).

To remediate Eclipses, the Vedic tradition offers many mantras. We often chant and listen to the mantras during the live Eclipse window. Energetic clearings and ritual salt baths are also recommended, especially for South Node Eclipses.

Here are rituals and remediation suggestions for South Node/ Ketu Eclipses and North Node/ Rahu Eclipses.

If you would like to further upgrade your Eclipse understanding, Austin has a 4-series recorded class: Here There Be Dragons: Nodes and Eclipses.

Looking for a fun horror movie with a pretty accurate depiction of Eclipse Magic befitting the spooky season? Check out Verónica!

Do you have an Eclipse magic or Eclipse talisman story? Or know someone else’s? Share it on social media with the hashtag #eclipsemagicstories.