June 4th: The Lunar eclipse opposed to the Witch Head Nebula and parallel to the Black Eye Galaxy (M64) brings a review of our history and a call for acceptance

June 4th: The Lunar Eclipse of May 4, 2012 falls in opposition to the Witch Head Nebula and contra parallel to the Black Eye Galaxy (M64)




Character and effect of eclipses

     After such an important Solar annular eclipse (because of its conjunction with the Pleiades) on May 20th, 2012, the lunar eclipse that follows does not have less impact on our lives ... Solar and lunar eclipses, though displaying their enigmatic beauty and in recent times, receiving widespread public attention, are relatively common events by their frequency. Every six months there is regularly a solar eclipse, preceded or followed by one lunar, two weeks apart. Whether because of personal insight or media-motivated, eclipses continue to draw attention as much as they did in the past. And while we have unraveled the mysteries of their celestial mechanics, they definitely continue to fascinate humans, who perceive some  superconscious, magical connotations beyond the glorious spectacle they represent.

     Astrologically, eclipses initiate semiannual cycles, of which the starting point is the exact time of the eclipse. The analysis of the positions of the stars at that time indicate areas in which the Earth as a whole, including mankind, are stimulated to work on, to develop, to assimilate. Using the chart for the eclipse, it isnpossible to uncover some of the mysteries involved. The lunar eclipse of June 4th, 2012 can turn out to be particularly mysterious, since it happens exactly aligned with the Witch Head Nebula, located on the edge of the constellations Eridanus and Orion.

  Reflection nebulae and revelations of the unconscious

     The Witch Head Nebula, named for the black silhouette profile that gets shaped in the clouds and looks like a hooked nose, is a reflection nebula. Such an object is a cloud of gas that emits no light, but only refelcts it from the surrounding stars, acting as a mirror. The light that illuminates the Witch Head Nebula (also known by its catalog name IC 2118) comes from the nearby star Rigel, which means "foot" (of Orion, the hunter). Reflection nebulae tend to have a connotation of introspection, and like the Earth's Moon, represent a means by which the unconscious is expressed explicitly in our consciousness. This nebula in particular, believed to be very old, can illuminate important corners of our past that had stayed passively into oblivion.


A new way of looking at History

     However, the lunar eclipse of June 4, 2012 falls in exact opposition to this nebula, indicating that in the next six months we'll have to explore and assimilate our unconscious impulses with increasing intensity. Numerous revelations will come to us, probably from the distant past ... There might be historical or archaeological discoveries to complete the puzzle pieces missing from the plot of History. Maybe they will even change the way in which we have seen our past.

    At a personal level, we need to let our emotions, dreams and intuitions come to the surface, and our minds must be receptive to understand them. Each person will receive his/her own messages, and not all of them are necessarily transcendent as they can simply refer to hidden needs, subconscious emotions, events that have gone unnoticed, that have however influenced us a lot and that we must make conscious in order to to grow, change course, and move on... There is nothing worse than letting oneself be manipulated by hidden aspects of our personality ... It is therefore an interesting semester, in which can elaborate, as in a spontaneous psychoanalysis, much of what we have hidden inside. This does not necessarily have to be bad. Many talents and dormant parts of our personality can emerge, the lunar eclipse allows us to see exactly what we can do with them for our good, to design our future with more awareness of who we are and where we go.


The Black Eye Galaxy (M64) and social crosscurrents

     Moreover, the lunar eclipse is also in contra parallel to the galaxy M64, the famous Black Eye Galaxy. The relationships between celestial bodies, when in parallel or contra parallel (aspects of declination), tend to manifest in a more visible way internationally. Well, if the introspection of the Witch Head may result in one or many reflections on our historical past, the contact of the eclipse with M64 indicates a highly dynamic impulse for something very modern: the social efervescence emerging throughout the world.

    M64 is a peculiar galaxy from various points of view: it has been discovered that the core rotates in the opposite direction to the external part, and that the friction produced by this counter-rotation is responsible for the creation of a new generation of stars . What does this mean in reference to the lunar eclipse? In the six months ahead, we will witness many events that go against the status quo, against the establishment, which obviously will generate new possibilities, social movements, and new paradigms and points of reference for our future society. Of course, this will also cause much discomfort, both in people and social groups that are resistant to change (especially in government, politics) and absolutist ideologies whose strength is based on the exclusion of everything that does not suit them as they want.

    This goes hand in hand with the Annular solar eclipse of May 20th, 2012, and in fact it constitutes a complement. In the solar eclipse, the Pleiades, young stars with a very fast rotation show the emergence of new trends in society (see related article in the Galactic Guide), expressed through many young people, whether by age or spirit. The Black Eye Galaxy, activated through the lunar eclipse gives them strength and consistency as social crosscurrents that are capable of withstanding the impact of repression or indifference. Rather than an isolated, fleeting process,  we will see how these movements, the "global spring" will become even stronger, with positive consequences in some cases, and bloody in others... But this is a movement that cannot be stopped.


Integration vs exclusion 

    But, watch out! (and better not with a black eye). M64 also relates to a trend of integration, not exclusion ... The counter-rotation observed between the core and the external part of this galaxy is very likely due to the absorption of a smaller galaxy more than a billion years ago, leaving a visible remnant. It is the dark dusty clouds that give M64 its characteristic appeareance. That is, we are seeing this galaxy in the very state of digestion, although this perhaps is made more difficult by the opposite movement inside. Therefore, it symbolizes the need to properly assimilate something that goes against what we usually identify. But it is through considering and accepting different standards or ideas that we can ultimately grow and be more fulfilled, more complete ...


Each person in the right place

     This will be a semester in which we'll need to interact with people or environments that have nothing to do with ourselves, or at least that's what we think so. Ultimately, we are all together on this planet and we are all responsible to keep it or destroy it, whatever our  social, ideological, religious or political creed. We are used to a behaviour in which it is always the others who are wrong or are to blame, but this does not allow us enough to advance as a society. But we are currently living in a globalized world, and whether we like  it or not, we have to live with those who think differently than us, but may possess valuable contributions for everone. Of course, if we put our pride aside and open our eyes to the fact that we all have something valuable. We just need a chance to show it.

     Exclusion or denial of particular people or minorities based on race, color, sexual preference, political ideas, religious background, socioeconomic level or other factors will become much more dangerous, in the months to come. Much more than opening our minds to acceptance. If we are to survive in a globalized world, each one must take his/her place and participate. We humans are a mosaic of different points of view, the enormous variety of experiences is the base of our individual and collective potential.

     And if we  do not allow ourselves to accept, it is likely that we'll finish this semester with a "black eye", tearful and in pain from lack of tolerance and acceptance.

   And you? Are you going to let this eclipse leave you with the black eye?


Carlos Duarte, research astrologer