The longest lunar eclipse of the century falls on July 27th at 10° Capricorn/ Shravana, with peak obscuration arriving at 20:21 GMT. Its total phase is visible throughout most of the eastern hemisphere, Africa and central Asia, and at its start in Australia and at close in South America, altogether for a hundred and three minutes from 19:30 to 21:13 GMT. No eclipse today is complete without extra epithet and the Blood Moon tag comes from refracted atmospheric light shining on the Moon’s surface, giving it an orangey-brown cast.
Unlike a solar eclipse, where the Moon comes in front of the Sun, here the Moon is obscured symbolically by the solar ego principle, which gives a bubblier and more ‘up’ mood. We are gung-ho at a Full Moon, particularly with Mars in Capricorn conjoining moksha karaka Ketu close to the eclipse point – the Red Moon and the Red Planet. Mars in exaltation gives a powerful call to arms, while Ketu is another fiery symbol, though more scattershot with potential for assorted random weirdness and mishaps. Mars incidentally, is at its closest point to Earth since 2003 (Iraq War, anyone?) which creates an extra hair-trigger quality. Somebody is ready to press their point when you want to back off - or is it you spoiling for a fight? In any case, drive carefully and look before you leap.
Shravana nakshatra is concerned with knowledge, particularly oral transmission, so make some good affirmations and speak your truth. Conversation becomes heated or contentious and you feel backed into a corner, so be careful what you say – this is impulsive energy, even though eclipses are not good times for decisive action. Give yourself a cool-off period and wait a couple of days before committing to a promise or purchase. A longstanding project may come to a successful climax organically, especially a Capricorn-type venture that has taken careful negotiation, and if so, let it happen. Eclipses bring abrupt change, however, and someone or something that has been a supporting beam in your world isn't there to bear the weight anymore - or is not required. Let it go gracefully.
Guru Purnima eclipse July 27th 20:21pm GMT
The Lord of the Eclipse traditionally is the strongest planet in the chart, or the one placed closest to its exact degree. Mars here is dominant on both counts, showing a fiery event, though placed in an earth sign also gives potential for seismic activity across the eclipse path. According to Western renaissance astrology too, a lunar eclipse’s effects last for as many months as hours of obscuration - from partial to partial, Friday 27th’s event is three hours and fifty five minutes, so the eclipse degree, 10° Capricorn remains sensitive for just under four months. Like a depth-charge it may be activated by a subsequent transit during that window - for example Mars passing forward over this point once again on September 27th and 28th.
This eclipse is also Guru Purnima, a keynote festival in the Vedic calendar that honours the spiritual teacher. Chanting a Guru mantra is a great way to mark the time and give thanks to the Dispeller of Darkness - as at all eclipses, spiritual practice has many times its usual effect. Friday is the traditional day to chant a Lakshmi mantra for abundance, but any mantra becomes supercharged at the lunar eclipse time.
Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu Guru Devo Maheshwaraha Guru Saakshat Para Brahma Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha
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