The Antidote: Cancer Solar Eclipse July 12 2018

Solar Eclipse Opposition Pluto

Cancer Solar Eclipse July 12 2018

This is the first of three consecutive eclipses and the only one of the series that’s not in Leo-Aquarius. It’s also interesting because the Sun and Moon at 20 Cancer 41′ are opposition Pluto at 20 Capricorn. That’s pretty heavy. But, as you can see in the chart, the eclipse Sun and Moon also form a creative, inspirational Grand Trine in the water signs with Neptune and Jupiter.

So what does that mean, and how can you work with it?

Solar eclipses are major new beginning points, especially for anyone with Sun, Moon, Ascendant or other key planets or points at 21 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn (+/- 5 degrees).

With this eclipse opposing Pluto so closely, there is a strong emphasis on shadow material coming to light, especially in relationships. Pluto in Capricorn is on a 15-year journey of exposing and unearthing the systematic repression of the soul and consequent abuses of power that have become ingrained into modern society.

After spending several days with family on my trip to Michigan, I woke up this morning with the thought: “Most of what we are taught to do – and to believe in as right and good and moral – is a combination of stupidity, superstition, and habit.”

Most people are plagued by a continual barrage of judgmental thoughts as we go through life. We think these thoughts are “us” but if we tune in more closely we begin to realize that they are simply parasitic programs – troll voices – from the past, repeating the same old shit over and over in slightly different forms.

Whether these thoughts are judging others or judging ourselves, they are not properly “ours”. Which means: we should reject the sticky notion that they belong to us and that we are to blame for “having them”.

The Buddhists tell us we can train ourselves to see these thoughts as clouds passing across the big blue sky. The more we adopt this perspective, the more we realize “our” judgments and painful blame-and-shame thoughts are NOT these heavy, dark aspects of our identity that we are stuck with. Now we can see them as transitory phenomena that come and go like the weather.

This simple spiritual jujitsu move, repeated often enough, liberates us to be who we truly are and to enjoy the beauty and adventure of life on Earth, even when times are hard.

Because, behind the clouds, that big blue sky always remains. And that is who we are – a field of pure potential, divine energy, cosmic possibility.

The Omega symbol for the degree of the eclipse is: A man milking a poisonous snake of its venom so that he can make an antidote.

About this symbol, John Sandbach writes: “Things that others are afraid to look at or to think about or approach are things that you can confront directly. You have a magnificent ability to put aside your fears and even your biases and judgments, so that you can look pain, suffering, and negativity in the face and come back from the experience with the healing force that the situation needs.”

This is an apt description of the solar eclipse opposition Pluto (the shadow, the subterranean regions of the soul). Pluto symbolizes both what we are most afraid and ashamed of — and the immense soul power we can access once we have confronted the shame and fear.

The easiest way to access the shadow is, of course, in relationship. Whatever we hate about someone else always shows where we have repressed our own power. Whatever we adore in someone else shows us the good and beautiful in ourselves we have disowned.

So, let us be thankful for interactions with others that cause ‘negative’ thoughts and feelings to rise to the surface. Because, in this incredibly powerful time of transformation, the antidote we can create from the venom of the past can heal our emotions and free our imagination.

This is symbolized by the Grand Trine that includes Jupiter and Neptune, the two rulers of Pisces (the dream is real; or ‘reality’ is but a dream): Feeling good activates our true imagination; imagining what is in line with our deepest desires empowers us to feel good!

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