So are eclipses really so dire? There seems to be some correlation between eclipses and the occurrence of earthquakes. The 11 August 1999 eclipse was followed by the devastating Turkey eclipse on 17 Aug 1999. And then the 26 Jan 2001 earthquake in India followed a 9 Jan 2001 lunar eclipse. But this correlation is tenuous, and it seems irrational to draw this correlation. Yet it is this irrational energy of the eclipse (and certainly the irrational behaviour it evokes from human beings), which gives us a clue to the nature of a solar eclipse.

Symbolically this is a New Moon, but not just any New Moon, but a Moon that overpowers the Sun and for just a couple of minutes magic takes place. The Moon throughout time has represented the feminine goddess energy and in this rare event she overpowers the male god energy. Feminine energy has always been the irrational energy of nature, something which is inherently unpredictable, but ultimately powerful.

This coming together of the alignments of bodies of matter in space, has had a strange effect on the consciousness of living beings. My own experience of last year's eclipse, significantly on the solstice, was one of time strangely losing all reference points. We only understand the passage of time, as a result of the motion of the heavenly bodies. We know that there is a link between our circadian rhythms and the subtle continuous change in the levels of light as the Earth turns and the Sun appears to move across the sky. During an eclipse, suddenly sunset, midnight, and morning occur within a short space of time. The effect on the brain is one of reference breakdown. So one loses sense of the rate of time flow.

The eclipse cycle is a complex one, but by 747 B.C. the Babylonians were able to accurately predict when an eclipse would occur and by 4 B.C. had determined that eclipses follow a cycle called the Saros Series. Eclipses within a Saros Series repeat every 18 years plus minus 11 days, and move 10º further along in zodiacal longitude. An eclipse within a Saros Series, is birthed at either the North or South Pole, and starts out as a series of partial eclipses and over time they become total eclipses and then eventually end off again as partial eclipses. Each Saros Series lasts for about 1300 years. At any one time there are 42 active Saros Series. A solar eclipse takes place when a New Moon occurs within 18º 31' of the Moon's North or South Node. The Moon's Node is the point in space where the Moon crosses the plane of the earth's motion (called the ecliptic). A total solar eclipse occurs when the New Moon is within 9º 55' of the Nodal position. The Sun crosses over the Nodal axis twice a year and hence there are 2 solar eclipses each year. Whether the eclipse will be total or partial depends on where the eclipse is in the Saros Series.

Astrology has always struggled to predict the effect of an eclipse on the earth, nations or personal life. From observations over time we do know that an eclipse making a contact with a personal point in an astrological chart, has more significance than just falling in a specific area of a persons astrological chart. But whatever area of the chart is touched, this will be an area of your life that will be activated over the next couple of months.

An eclipse is an activation energy, a moment when we can look directly at the Sun/God/Moon/Goddess without fear. So experiencing the energy of the eclipse, in whatever manner, alone at home in prayer or meditation, partying in the African bush, or quietly contemplating the splendour of the stars and planets revealed to the naked eye in the daytime, is an opportunity to touch goddess energy and consciously activate a part of your life. For about one and a half minutes on 4th December 2002, at 8:18-8:20 AM along a narrow strip of land in South Africa about 85 km wide, we will witness one of the splendours of nature. Scientists and Soothsayers will both unite in their awe of the grandeur as we are able to witness the bright star Antares just to the right of the eclipse and the planets Mars and Venus in close conjunction up in the North East of the sky.

Some technical details for those who wish to time their activities with this eclipse:

Totality shadow touches the political border of South Africa at 8:18 AM SAST
· Sun position 11° Sagittarius 55'
· Moon position 11° Sagittarius 11'

Totality shadow leaves the political border of South Africa at 8:23 AM SAST

Greatest conjunction of the Sun and Moon at 9:35:14 AM SAST
· Sun position 11° Sagittarius 58'
· Moon position 11° Sagittarius 58'