a lunar eclipse
time to embrace the darkness
befriend your shadow
Today’s full moon in Taurus inaugurates the final “eclipse season” of 2021. Astrologers refer to eclipse season because eclipses generally come in pairs, with both solar and lunar eclipses occurring within a moon cycle.
A solar eclipse happens at a new moon, when the moon and sun are in the same sign and the moon blocks the sun.
A lunar eclipse always happens at a full moon, when the moon and sun are in opposing signs — opposite sides of the sky — and the earth’s shadow blocks the moon from receiving and reflecting the sun’s light.
(In case it isn’t obvious, this means that the phrase “full moon lunar eclipse” is redundant. A lunar eclipse, by definition, happens at a full moon.)
Eclipses tend to be harbingers of radical and sudden change. They often force us to release that which we’ve been stubbornly holding onto.
During an eclipse, the brightest luminary in the sky is blotted out, leaving us in the dark. Some ancient cultures viewed this as an ominous sign, but it doesn’t have to be.
Here are 2 benefits of a lunar eclipse:
In the darkness, we can explore new ways of seeing.
We are so used to relying on our eyes to see what’s around us. From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, we take in information through the eyes. The eyes are part of the brain, and all this sensory input through the eyes can lead to brain fatigue.
These days we expose our eyes to light for much longer than daylight hours. This can create eye strain and muscle fatigue in the eyes, face, and neck.
(Yes, you have muscles in your eyes.)
When we sit in the darkness, we can build strength in our other senses. We can better attune to sensations in the body. We can hear sounds from far away. And we can tune into our own inner knowing.
Sitting in the darkness helps us see within ourselves without the influences of the external world and hear the “still, small voice” within that is our inner wisdom.
In the darkness, we can get to know and embrace our shadow selves.
The shadow self is a term coined by psychologist Carl Jung.
These may be pieces of our personality, desires, or behaviors that we’ve tried to “eclipse.” We may believe them to be “bad” or undesirable. Or we may fear judgment from others if we expressed these parts of ourselves.
Self-sabotage often originates from the shadow. Over 90% of our actions originate from the subconscious, so bringing these shadow parts into the light is a crucial part of the healing journey.
Eclipses are generally considered good times to work with the shadow. Sitting in the darkness is a safe place to examine the shadow. Once we can see these parts of ourselves that we have been ignoring or denying, we can bring them into the light.
Embracing our shadow helps us return to wholeness, and end self-sabotaging behaviors.
Use the energy from today’s lunar eclipse in Taurus to embrace the darkness, disconnect from technology, rest your brain, and embrace your shadow.
Emerge renewed and enhanced.
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