Self-Care for Eclipse Season
Eclipses occur about every six months and come in pairs (a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse). “Eclipse season” is the time right before, after, and between both eclipses. The entire month containing the eclipses can feel super-charged. Imagine the typical energy of a New Moon and Full Moon magnified 1000%.
Eclipses are regular, expected parts of the astrological lifecycle and nothing to fear. But it can help to understand the traditional context. Back in ancient times, imagine how frightening it would be for the Sun or Moon to “disappear” without knowing why, or if it would ever return. Eclipses were often thought to represent a deity’s displeasure.
In modern day, eclipses are still associated with times of transition from the known to the unknown, which can sometimes feel destabilizing and shaky. Many astrologers describe eclipses as portals of transformation—AKA times of change. And this is true, but it’s not always so obvious. Sure, sometimes eclipses correlate with big, obvious change, but a lot of times, they bring whispers of upcoming change that hasn’t fully taken shape yet.
Eclipse self-care can be very individual depending on where the eclipses fall in your birth chart, but there are a few things that may make any eclipse season easier to manage. Because this time often feels erratic and changeable, it may be helpful to give your mind, heart, and body as much regularity as you can. But at the same time, eclipse season may ask you to release control and just go with the flow. It’s an interesting dance between offering yourself stability but also encouraging flexibility.
Consider…
Regularly-timed meals and snacks
Foods and drinks that keep you feeling sustained
Movement that acts as a stress-reliever instead of a stress-creator (also consider that there may be times where no movement at all may be the most stabilizing and kind thing to do)
Grounding practices that keep you in present time, instead of worrying about the past or the future
Gentle boundaries around things or people that leave you feeling buzzy and electric (and not in a pleasant way)
Ask yourself…
What small changes would add more flexibility to your day, body and mindset? What resources or things make you feel safe and secure enough to be flexible?
What activities help you release energy or emotion? For example: singing, dancing, painting, journaling, playing an instrument, crafting, screaming into a pillow…?
What or who has helped you navigate times of change in the past and how can you prioritize those things or people now?