The new moon solar eclipse on 12 July 2018 falls at 20º Cancer and is counted as a Hades Moon since it opposes Pluto. However, The solar eclipse July 2018’s redeeming feature is that it is conjunct the good twin Castor. The solar eclipse looks like it is pitched up for a fight between good and evil, but as you can see from the Solar eclipse meaning generally below, it also gives us the opportunity to recalibrate the two sides of our brain. It is also interesting that Black Moon Lilith is quite close by to Pluto, a bit Bonnie & Clyde that. This is an eclipse of high contrasts then, especially when solar eclipses generally give out such stark energy anyhow.
Solar Eclipse July 2018 Astrology
What is really sweet about this eclipse is that is has a very soothing grand earth trine to ground us. The healing mud of Saturn in Capricorn connects harmoniously with a sensual and fertile Venus/Ceres conjunction in Virgo. Sparky Uranus newly in practical Taurus completes the circuit. The earth’s energy itself will be very potent and transformative. There is a great opportunity for detoxing also since Pluto is the greatpurger of…well.. waste matter.
Avoid emotional, impulse ‘buys’, or you might be duped into tolerating bad behaviour just because you can’t get out of the contract. However, if you are genuinely betrayed under the law, feel free to pull out the dark opposition of Pluto in Capricorn. Moon Cancer decan 3 type revenge will often come right out of the blue and be totally out of character. The Moon is very forceful in this decan in terms of attracting luxury and comfort. However, investing in the family unit is rewarded at this time and this is also supported by the Venus/Ceres part of the trine.
SOLAR ECLIPSE JULY 2018 ~ DECAN TAROT CARD
The Tarot card associated with this decan is the 4 of Cups. The ambivalence shown in this card fits well with the polarisation of this decan. A card of boredom and apathy on the one hand and daydreaming and fantasizing about the other.
Maybe this card longs for the dramatic mood swings that govern this decan. “The Four of Cups generally brings with it the blues and moodiness.” ~ Teachmetarot. Karmically this card can mean too many lives have been spent procrastinating, and waiting for the 100% perfect person or opportunity to come along.
It is not a question of linear/solar/left brain = bad and cyclical/lunar/right brain = good. The person cannot function at its optimum without the unification and balance of both hemispheres. Some people have equal hemisphere strength, but the sides are disconnected, so they flip from one extreme to the other. Many artistic and spiritual types are right brain dominant and thus can find it hard to ground themselves in 3D reality. An eclipse may cause a crisis where the right brainer needs to strengthen boundaries and use rational thought. With a left brain dominant, the opposite can happen, boundaries are dissolved and they need to be open with their feelings.
Solar Eclipse July 2018 ~ Aspect & Star
Fixed Star Castor ~ With this July new moon, both the Sun and Moon are joined, so are both conjunct Castor. Since they are both married by the eclipse energy we should read the meanings for both Sun and Moon on Castor.
Castor on Solar Eclipse Sun “Prominence in occult matters, government work dealing with foreign affairs, serious accidents, blows, stabs (operations nowadays for blows, stabs, wounds), shooting, shipwreck, injuries to the face, blindness, disease, violent fevers, evil disposition (used to be a term in astrology for homosexuality), rape or murder committed or suffered, imprisonment, banishment, decapitation.” [2] “ Skilled with language, a profession linked with writing and communication. A storyteller, a poet or songwriter, one who loves to learn. A speech is given, a writer is honoured.” [3]
Castor on Solar Eclipse Moon “Timid, sensitive, lacks confidence, occult interest and psychic ability, blindness, injuries to face, disgrace, stabs, wounds (operations nowadays), imprisonment.” [2] “The therapeutic use of humour, to be involved in education; a desire to bring stories to others. To hope that everything will be alright. To disbelieve bad news.” [3]
SOLAR ECLIPSE OPPOSITION PLUTO
With Moon opposition Pluto there could be a figure in the collective that becomes a scapegoat who receives all manner of “evils” projected onto them from the other side of the opposition. Those touched by this Solar Eclipse July 2018 will find it difficult to trust others with their feelings or secrets, yet somehow they will become the catalyst for bringing to light others peoples deepest darkest demons. Moon/Pluto will push the collectives festering boils to the surface so to speak, which will keep psychologists, in-depth researchers and spies very busy for the next 6 months. On the negative side, these same folk can use their insider psychological knowledge for manipulation and to emotionally blackmail those who are naive and wear their heart on their sleeve.
Castor is the supposedly “good” twin and was the horse trainer. He holds a harp in his hand so has musical talent and artistry. Sophisticated Castor was refined and civilised, but still got into scrapes with his wilder brother, however. The influence of the dark side is never far away, for Robson says although “It gives distinction, a keen intellect, success in law and many travels, fondness for horses, sudden fame and honor”….This great success can often be followed by “loss of fortune and disgrace, sickness, trouble and great affliction. Its natives are said to be mischievous and prone to violence.”
Those with Castor strong have to be careful about the company they keep. The lunar influence of the decan makes them sensitive to their environment. This sensitivity is great for psychic ability but it also means they give into peer pressure far too easily. Eric Morse says “ Castor is also noted in natal astrology for proneness to mental breakdowns and neurotic distress. People with this star prominent and well aspected are exceptionally gifted intellectually. These geniuses often need help in not letting their concern for others go ‘over the top’ however” [1]
New Moon Solar Eclipse Summary
Since the Moon blocks the Sun energy for a while, the qualities of Moon on Castor will take over and the Sun becomes more ‘psychic’. As you can see, even though Castor is considered the “good twin” Robson’s prognosis is pretty dire. Brady [3] goes more with the educational and writing aspect. With the opposition to Pluto, the influence of the ‘bad’ twin is never far away. So this eclipse brings to fore the symbiotic nature of relationships. As an astrologer, I see so many Davison charts which are the combined ‘persona’ of the couple.
As single people, the couple can be nothing special, and even quite bland. However, put them together and their single aspects join to become dynamite! The same can happen the other way, two very troublesome folk can become totally trined out as a couple, so that they stay at home together, become totally neutered and cause no harm to anyone. Sometimes two ‘bads’ don’t actually make ‘extra bad’ and vice versa. This is the beauty of the alchemy of relationships.
Good Cop/Bad Cop
With the solar eclipse July 2018, there is a chalk and cheese type energy going on. Are the next 6 months going to be the collective flipping from one extreme to another? Will the Bonnie and Clyde side of the opposition take power? Are people going to take the law into their own hands? Will they even be able to with certain countries (Ie the UK!) becoming more like police states by the day.
I also wonder whether this eclipse will bring about succession attempts in various areas. We see that happening organically now anyhow as certain communities are being displaced and having to move to areas where there are ‘better schools’. Maybe this is where the stark contrasts of Castor and Cancer decan 3 will be playing out.
I also think the July new moon solar eclipse heralds a 6 month period where dynamic duos become prominent. One of the duo will play the bad cop and the other good cop, or Male/Female co-hosts become popular. I would imagine with this Solar Eclipse July 2018 set up that instead of the usual TV drama set up, (where the male is the somewhat autistic ‘bad cop’ and the woman offers the empathy/intuitive role.) we will get the very opposite.
The Cancerian/lunar male is a very sensitive, caring but dreamy soul and may attract and actually need a very practical, realistic and skeptical female Capricorn/Saturnian partner. You might find these themes playing out in your life if your angles or personal planets are in cardinal signs decan 3. With all the policeman/bitch planets in Capricorn, the polarity here is very obvious. But that lush earth trine is working in the background as a great leveler and healer. Don’t forget to plug your feet into the mud at this July new moon solar eclipse!