a witch’s guide to eclipse season
It’s all the buzz and everyone has an opinion. It can be really hard to wade through the fluff to find what it all actually means for you. I have compiled a super simple guide of important information about eclipse season so you can wrap your head around what eclipses actually are, how they effect you personally, what to look out for and some of the do’s and don’ts.
what the heck is eclipse season?
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what the heck is eclipse season? 〰️
At it’s core, eclipse season is:
✦ a period marked by occurrences of solar and lunar eclipses (the intersection of the path of the sun & the path of the moon)
✦ occurs (at least) twice a year
✦ a period of heightened collective energy
✦ feels like a supercharged new/full moon
✦ events associated with this time last longer than ones associated with a regular new/full moon - around 6 to 12 months
Traditionally (especially in ancient times), eclipses were viewed as negative omens, as they appeared to interrupt life’s natural flow. The experience of day turning to night, being particularly unnerving.
In a modern context, witches look at eclipses as a potential for major shifts, new beginnings or significant turning points for a person (depending on what part of their birth chart the eclipse affects), or the collective as a whole.
what is the difference between solar and lunar eclipses?
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★takes place on the new moon
★supercharged new moon energy that fosters major ‘beginnings’
★take note of new things that are happening in your life or in the collective during the first eclipse season of the year
★they will be re-activated during the sister season
★may be a time for introspection, to uncover the aspects of your lives that you've kept hidden.
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★takes place on the full moon
★supercharged full moon energy that fosters a major ‘culminations’
★take note of the things that feel complete during the first eclipse season
★there may be something unfinished that comes back around during the sister season
★may be a moment to let go of emotional burdens and cleanse your spiritual palette
what is some eclipse folklore?
★ Babylonian: appoint a substitute king during the eclipse, believing any ill fate would befall the substitute instead of the real king.
★ China: a solar eclipse occurred when a celestial dragon devoured the Sun. The banging of drums and pots, and loud noises where made during an eclipse to scare the dragon away and save the Sun.
★ Hindu: the demon Rahu is said to be responsible for eclipses. Rahu, beheaded by the god Vishnu for drinking the nectar of immortality, swallows the Sun or the Moon, causing an eclipse
★ Greek: a sign of anger from the gods, often foreboding disaster or destruction.
what are some eclipse season witchy practices?
Here are a few practical things witches can do during eclipse season:
Nourish your body: listen intuitively to your body’s needs around nourishment & hydration. Eat more if you’re hungry, drink more if you are thirsty.
Get more rest: the intensity of the energy may cause you to require longer hours of rest. Take naps when you need them.
Ground & centre: at this time you may need to perform your preferred grounding practices more frequently
Be selfish: take extra time for yourself and prioritize
Here are a few magical things that witches can do during eclipse season:
Avoid doing anything at all: many practitioners feel this cosmic energy is too chaotic to control with certain success, particularly for those new to magic. You might just prefer to focus on more practical endeavours, until the exactitude of the eclipse has passed.
Cleansing rituals: salt baths, smoke or sound cleansing of the body & sacred spaces
Familiar rituals/magic: this isn’t the best time to try new things, it would likely be more successful to focus on rituals/spells/deities you know and love. Keep it simple.
a tarot spread for eclipse season
Here is a super simple 4 card tarot spread to help you use the energy of eclipse season in your divination practice:
I hope that gave you a good overview of what the eclipse season is all about.
Always keep in mind that diversity of opinion and honouring personal practices are absolutely essential in witchcraft, so be sure to always follow your intuition when it comes to “what you should be doing” at any particular astrological or seasonal time of year.
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