November 28/29: Lunar Eclipse conjunct the Hyades, opposed to globular cluster M80: creativity and freedom of expression to compensate for control, power, rigidity.

November 28/29: Almost two weeks after a solar eclipse happens, a lunar eclipse usually takes place. Sometimes the lunar eclipse happens before the solar; at other times, very rare, the solar eclipse is seen framed by two lunar eclipses two weeks before and two weeks after. Eclipses are not exceptional phenomena due to their relative frequency. Astrologically, in fact, they represent our main daily life trends  for approximately one semester. The place in the sky where the eclipse occurs is an indicator of the direction of evolutionary trend of the moment, the vital pulse of Mother Nature, which is renewed every six months by a new pair of eclipses.

     On this occasion, the lunar eclipse follows an intense solar eclipse in the tropical sign Scorpio, which, among other phenomena, coincided with the atrocities of the war in Gaza. Perhaps the depth of Scorpio will allow to get to the bottom of the situation and make profound changes, as many of us also had to do at a personal level during these last weeks. But this time the lunar eclipse brings an interesting issue: it happens conjunct the Hyades and in opposition to M80. These are two star clusters very opposite in nature, again indicating that the trend is towards polarization, towards extreme positions. How can we figure this out?


Control vs. Creativity

      M80 is in the constellation Scorpius and is a globular cluster, i.e. old and with a spheroidal shape, with a great gravitational compression toward its center. The stars that compose M80 are quite compressed, they are next to each other with relatively little space between them: collisions are common in this corner of the universe. These conditions undoubtedly symbolize a strong control, perhaps excessive. Some people here on Earth,  however, can take advantage of this through discipline and organization in order to achieve their objectives. But we also have to make sure that control does not become manipulative behavior that may affect others, making coexistence difficult through rigid, impositive attitudes.

     On the other side of the sky, actually where the eclipse happens, we have the Hyades, an open star cluster in the constellation Taurus, which is relatively young and irregularly shaped. These stars greatly emphasize freedom, harmony, emotional expression, and communication. The Hyades, one of the few clusters visible to the naked eye, is composed of an array of stars in different stages of evolution, which is a symbol of a diverse and heterogeneous coexistence. Furthermore, a considerable amount of these stars are in the process of escaping the gravitational force of the cluster, which represents perhaps a lack of control, and therefore also of firmness and determination. In the Hyades, coexistence is pleasant and cosmopolitan, but also informal and unstructured, at least when compared to M80.


Social adjustmentss: communication and expression

     The lunar eclipse happens conjunct the Hyades and opposite M80, indicating that the trend would be to balance an excessive control with a spontaneous or creative flow. Actually, it is a process of balance and not about going to extremes: everyone has to find his/her balance point over the next semester. However, it is in the political and social arena where this eclipse can manifest in a more dramatic way, since the conditions of our civilization frequently favor polarization. The eclipse in itself indicates a struggle between the manipulation implemented by governments and a democratic coexistence.

     As the eclipse is located in the tropical sign of Gemini, which represents communication, it may keep alive, even with renewed stamina, the need to demonstrate, worldwide, to protest for policies imposed by force despite their unpopularity. The next semester is therefore a period of adjustment between the ruling system and the universal citizenship, which certainly will bring at stake the regulation of social networking and internet use. Perhaps another scandal in the style of Wikileaks' is likely to arise!

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     The task to perform in the next six months is therefore to mobilize in order to achieve this balance, both personally and collectively. The tendency is to keep alive the ideas that give us the freedom to create, to live and evolve. It is these ideas that make us breathe amidst a flood of mass alienation. But it is also a semester to give order and organization to strategies that have been dormant for a lack of determination and discipline. To implement them through the light of this lunar eclipse can be one of the best goals we can set to start next year with a harmonic structure that will firmly hold our coexistence and evolution.

Carlos Duarte