Now that the Eclipse season is on (with a Lunar Eclipse on the 10th of February and a Solar Eclipse on the 25th of February) let’s have a look at how Lunar and Solar eclipses were regarded by the great ancient civilizations.
As you can imagine, the interpretations of the ancient astrologers were pretty fatalistic, focusing on physical events and tragedies.
But we as a human species have evolved through time and with evolution comes the free will.
It is believed that nowadays the enlightened individual is in almost complete control of their fate (…so if you have a challenging chart, with lots of squares or Saturn or Pluto, there is hope! just work on becoming the best version of yourself, and the more you will become it, the less the planets will influence you).
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Meaning of the Solar Eclipses in the Ancient Times:
In January it indicates great prosperity and increase of rains and fruits. Contentions will increase, and perfidy among people.
The February solar eclipse it indicates wars, and death of sheep and plentifulness of olives. Rains will increase, and the melons and the olive oil will rot.
In March it indicates goodness of the year, excessive rains. Some of the crops will rot and the oil will be scanty. The year will be a peaceful one.
If the eclipse falls in April it indicates wars and discords. dearness and mortality.
In May it indicates sickness and violent contention and journeys.
In June it indicates mortality among cattle and increase of hostility.
The July eclipse indicates mortality and wars and dissensions on the plains. Ships will sink in the sea and the soldiers will be mobilized.
In August it indicates scarcity of rains and increase of robbers and corruption.
The September solar eclipse indicates oppression in every place and appearance of locusts. Corruption will increase, and rain will be diminished at the beginning of the year and increased at its end. Contentions will increase among people.
In October it indicates excess of rains and cold, and wars will become violent. There will be plague among horses and goats.
In November, if there occur an eclipse of the sun, it indicates disease in the end of the year, and cold and snow.
The December eclipse indicates increase of rains and snows and fertility of crops and peace among people.
Meaning of the Lunar Eclipses in the Ancient Times:
The January lunar eclipse indicates cheapness in the year and justice; the will be good and the affairs of merchants prosperous.
In February it indicates plentiful rains and overflowing of the rivers, winds and earthquakes, and in summer great heat.
In March, an eclipse of the moon indicates terrible colds and snows. The year will be good in crops and wine and olive oil. There will be contentions between the kings the word of quarrels will arise.
In April a lunar eclipse indicates snows and strong winds. Corruption and contentions will increase in the land.
In May it indicates journeys and sickness, mortality of cattle, corruption of vetches, overflowing of springs. The year will be plentiful with its produce.
In June it indicates peace for the poor and trouble for the great, and famine in the west, and justice appears.
The July eclipse indicates immoral conduct in the world; plentiful rains. In autumn diseases will increase and there will be shortage of crops.
In August it indicates much bloodshed; there will be shortage of crops and a king will die.
If the Eclipse is in September, rivers will expand, and there will be various pains among infants in autumn.
In October it indicates security in the year and fertility of the earth, and plentiful rains. There will be thunderbolts and thunder, and some of the grain will rot.
In November the moon eclipse indicates weather calamities, cold and much frost. Famine in the plains. Locusts will appear.
In December it indicates rain and snow, and terrible cold. The olives will be be good with the fruit.
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Of course nowadays astrology is much less fatalistic and much more psychological, and eclipses today generate rather fascination than fear – but having a look at where we came from can teach us a great deal about both the limitations of our human nature and the mightiness of the Universe…and will hopefully make us appreciate every little moment of our short but amazing life.
