Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius: May 26, 2021

The Scoop on the Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius

Note: Since this is the eclipses, I decided that it's best to give everyone the full scoop! If you want more in-depth articles like this and to learn astrology, join the Guided Learning Community!

This is our first Eclipse of 2021, so welcome to Eclipse season! The Full Moon is the energetic peak of the Lunar Cycle, and the Lunar Eclipse is like a Full Moon on hyperdrive. 

There's a different energy around our emotions at Eclipses that is little discussed in the astrological and moonological community. This is especially true due to the nature of this particular eclipse cycle in the yang and highly intellectual signs of Gemini and Sagittarius. 

During a normal Full Moon, it may feel like our emotions are heightened, and while this is also true of Lunar Eclipses, the main difference is the increased influence of the collective on our emotions. This particular Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius is the most explicit manifestation of this due to the nature of Sagittarius (archetypal Hero). 

So, right now, we have a unique opportunity to understand Eclipses better and really understand the nature of the Hero, the Hero's Journey, and, of course, the Cosmic Hero's Journey! 

In this article, you’ll get the scoop on the astrology of this Lunar Eclipse (Full Moon) in Sagittarius on May 26, 2021, a deep dive into the aspects that impact it, a full explanation of the cycle(s) of the Cosmic Hero's Journey, and finally, some suggestions for how to modify your Full Moon ritual for the Eclipses. 

The Full Moon takes place on May 26 at 7:13 EDT, 11:13 UT, 13:13 France time. 

A Preliminary Thought-Provoker: The Power of Symbols

This eclipse happens at 13:13 my time, and this (plus Jupiter transiting Pisces) has gotten me thinking a lot about symbols in general. (Well, tbh, it's not like I'm ever NOT thinking about symbols, I'm a symbolic anthropologist, lol). 

The number 13 has diverse symbolic and cultural meanings associated with it. For example, in the mid-late 20th century (and today), many white supremacists appropriated the number 13 to symbolize their cults (see more about this here). But, historically, there have been countless other appropriations and interpretations of the symbolic meaning of the number 13, such as the superstitious interpretation, e.g., Friday the 13th. Or a more religio-spiritual example is the sacrality of this number in Mayan astrology. 

These examples can help illustrate how symbolic appropriation and interpretation work. Every culture (and every layer of the larger, global culture) has its shared symbols. And power seems to be an important player in the symbolic game. 

Jungian psychology is literally premised on the idea that shared collective symbols are deeply embedded within our Psyches, which means they are shared cross-culturally and cross-temporally. Anthropology teaches us that each culture, and each sub-culture within the larger culture, has its own (indigenous) symbols and interprets the shared ones in their own ways. We call symbols "multivocal." (cf. Verdery)

This means that any symbol can be applied in many different ways and to meet many different ends. Social groups variously appropriate these symbols, and there is an intrinsic power dynamic involved in all of this due to the psychological intensity of symbols. The intention behind the symbolic usage (be it a conscious or subconscious intention) is not all that matters. There is also the way that this symbol is then understood by the audience and then reinterpreted. It's a symbolic cycle that never ends (sounds familiar, right?)! 

States appropriate symbols as a means of legitimizing their hold on power, i.e., the monopoly on the use of force within a given territory. But, symbols do way more than just ensuring 'hard' power. Symbols are sacred, so states (and other social groups) employ this sacred power to obtain and maintain their emotional and affectual ('soft') power. 

A great example of how all this (symbolic appropriation, perception, power, etc.) comes together is the symbolism embedded in the ritual of the inauguration of state leaders (e.g., the US presidential inauguration). Another great example: the flag is supposed to be a symbol of unification, but Americans have seen how this symbol can be re-interpreted and understood in many different ways over the past few years!

Another important point here is that powerful people in hierarchical religious organizations have attempted to have a monopoly on defining and disseminating symbols--to enormous success. The most successful, of course, is the Catholic Church. They won the symbol war, so to speak. We can still see their success in the popularity of the superstition around the number 13 even though we live in a so-called Scientific Rationalist society. 

Today, with the ongoing (and seemingly increasing) "Spiritual Revolution" (cf. Heelas), ordinary individuals have more capacity to appropriate and individually interpret symbols to meet their own personal needs. And, our "database of symbols" to use is ever-expanding with the internet. We can use symbols from all over the world if we want to (and if we do it in respectful ways when these symbols come from historically oppressed cultures). 

We are literally (like, literally literally) enacting this here in the Guided Learning Community by using the symbols of astrology (which are themselves the symbols of the Greco-Roman ancient world, which they inherited from the Mesopotamian-Egyptian ancient world) in conjunction with other symbols (and archetypes) to advance our own personal development. There are many names for this kind of emergent individualized spirituality, such as symbolic consumption or symbolic sampling (cf. Rill). 

This eclipse cycle is all about the different kinds of information and how we use it. 

Symbols are overloaded with information--the saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words," right? 

The Gemini-Sagittarius axis represents an ideal-type model of the two 'levels' of symbols. 

At the Gemini level, we have the symbols in the language (e.g., alphabets are literally just sets of symbols that represent sounds), basic psychological, symbolic structures (e.g., the family triangle), and other 'elementary' symbols that we learn/use/regurgitate in our everyday life-worlds (e.g., symbols that we use every day and take for granted, like currency). 

At the Sagittarius level, we have the more advanced/evolved symbols. So, those would be the symbols in ideologies (e.g., the 'country' as a symbol for the population of a territory or the academy as a symbol of knowledge) and the symbols of faith-religion-spirituality-philosophy (e.g., the cross, the Star of David, the Ankh, sacred geometry, etc.). Of course, ideology and faith are intertwined and presuppose the Gemini level's everyday symbols. 

This is why this Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius (which happens to form a mutable t-square with the astrological/mythological [symbolic] ruler of symbols, Jupiter, in his [symbolic] home of Pisces, which happens to be the most symbolically loaded sign of the zodiac [according to the symbolism of astrology]), is the perfect opportunity to discuss and reflect on some of these higher-level symbols and symbolic structures. That sentence seems a bit redundant because it's meant to illustrate the multilayered element of symbols. 

Aspects to the Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon in Sagittarius

Lunar Eclipses are Full Moons. Full Moons happen when the Sun and Moon are opposite the zodiac wheel (ecliptic), exactly 180º away from each other. The difference between a Full Moon and a Lunar Eclipse is the position of the Lunar Nodes, which are a mathematical indication of various orbital/tilt factors. 

The Scoop: Full Moons always have the Earth in between the Sun and the Moon, but this isn't always exact due to various astronomical factors. Lunar Eclipses happen when the Earth is astronomically positioned exactly in between the Sun and Moon at the Full Moon time. This causes the Earth's shadow to appear on the Moon, which is why Lunar Eclipses tend to have a red-orangey glow (red/orange is the lowest frequency of visible light, the light is passing 'through' the earth so it is disseminated, which is why this lowest frequency is the color of the shadow).

So, astrologically speaking, Lunar Eclipses don't look different from Full Moons on a circle chart. It will still have the Sun and the Moon exactly 180º away (in opposite signs). That's why when you look at the chart for this Full Moon, you can't really 'tell' that it's a Lunar Eclipse (except for the fact that it's conjunct the Lunar Nodes, of course). 

The most significant aspect influencing this lunation is the Mutable T-Square.

A quick review of the Astro basics: there are three modalities, each with four signs (one of each element), and these signs are all 90º away from each other on the zodiac, meaning that if there are planets in aspect to each other in all four of the signs, there is the activation of that modality's Grand Cross (or Grand Square). If there are only three of the four signs involved, this is called a T-Square, and instead of forming a full Cross/Square on the chart, it forms a right triangle. In brief, it means that the two planets in opposition are in a (symbolic) tug-of-war, and the (symbolic) release point of this tug is the planet that squares them both. 

This eclipse activates a Mutable T-Square between the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter. That is, between Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces. The Sun and Moon are the planets in opposition; Jupiter is the planet that squares both of them, i.e., the release point. 

Note that last year's sneak peek of these eclipses, which happened at the Sagittarius Lunar Eclipse on June 5, 2020, had a T-square to Mars in Pisces.

All of the other aspects around this eclipse are enhancing the themes of this mutable t-square. This especially includes the building conjunction between Mercury and Venus in Gemini that squares Neptune in Pisces, which is getting a nice trine from Mars in Cancer at the time of the Eclipse. The fact that this Mercury-Venus Square Neptune (mitigated by Mars) is happening simultaneously in the later degrees of the exact signs most activated by the Eclipse is like the cosmos telling us, "hey, pay attention! Important stuff is happening!" Although there are important nuances to the different energies involved, the overall impact of this seems to be to amplify the Mutable T-Square. 

The less influential but still extremely significant aspects around this eclipse include the long-term Neptune Sextile Pluto transit (this is very long-term, like several years) and, of course, the long-term Saturn Square Uranus transit (this is the backdrop of 2021-2022). Saturn is now retrograde, which means re-approaching the square to Uranus (this will be exact just after the Solar Eclipse in Gemini next month). At the eclipse, Saturn will still be 'stationing' even though it's technically already turned retrograde. The symbolism of 'stationing' is akin to the symbolism of Saturn in general: things really slowing down, being limited, constrained, held up, etc. 

In general, the combination of all these aspects adds a more serious or 'heavy' flavor to this eclipse in the light-hearted sign of Sagittarius. But, 'serious' doesn't necessarily mean harsh, and that's what Neptune and Jupiter in Pisces are reminding us of. We can be seriously symbolic, after all!

The Mutable Signs & the Eclipses:

Winds of Change

Eclipses are a lot like the mutable signs. They are the winds of change. They finalize and disseminate the old to make way for the new. 

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are the four mutable signs. The former half is ruled by Mercury, and the latter half, by Jupiter. The mythological significance of these two rulers further illustrates how the mutable signs can be (symbolically) understood. Jupiter/Zeus overthrew his father (Saturn/Kronus) and changed the gods' hierarchy (and powers), that is, mythologically speaking, the order of the world. Mercury/Hermes is the messenger of the gods and represents a bridge between worlds (in many different ways). A bridge is a way to move from one place to another--a way of crossing the threshold of change. 

We can see how all four of these signs variously relate to both information and faith (or, perhaps it might be better to understand it as 'belief') because of the mutable signs modus operandi as 'disseminators' and the symbolism of the signs' planetary rulers. 

This eclipse cycle has, thus far, been a story of information and faith. This has brought up themes related to our faith in information (and our faith in different sources of information) and information about faith (and questions of it). The South Node in Sagittarius purges us of the old notions, and the North Node in Gemini is overflowing us with new notions.

Rather than easy breezes, mutable eclipses often feel like tornadoes of change, especially for those of us who are far removed from our cosmic/destined paths (fates). 

Already in this eclipse cycle, we have certainly seen a tornado of change when it comes to information and faith at the collective level. Note that this eclipse cycle has so far included: June 5 Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius (15º42'), November 30 Lunar Eclipse in Gemini (8º45'), and December 14 Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius (23º06'). 

Some of the (global) questions these eclipses have raised include: 

• Do we have faith in science? If no, what has made us lose our faith? If yes, do we have faith in the commercial/political interests that are embedded in contemporary science? How can we have faith in scientific information when we don't have faith in the commercial interests that enable science to happen?

• Do we have faith in our political leaders/systems? If no, what has made us lose our faith, and what might make us regain it? If yes, do we have faith in the commercial interests that are embedded in contemporary politics? How can we have faith in certain political-economic-social systems when more information keeps revealing their injustice?

• Where do we get information about faith and particularly, about the faith (beliefs) of other people? How do we react/respond to the information we receive about people who have different ideas of faith/belief? What kind of discourse happens across divisions of faith/belief?

It is also fascinating to reflect on these questions about the last cycle of these eclipses, which took place with the South Node in Gemini and the North Node in Sagittarius during 2011-2012. Those years were supposed to be the end of the world, right? And, the last cycle of these eclipses before that, which mirrors our current cycle with the South Node in Sagittarius and the North Node in Gemini, happened from 2001-2002. Among other things, this time included the burst and end of the dot-com bubble. 

Of course, we are all embedded within the collective. At the time of the eclipse, ask yourself: How have these tornadoes of change at the collective level impacted me? 

And, perhaps vice versa is more interesting: how have I impacted and participated in the tornado of change? 

Sagittarius: The Archetypal Hero

As you may know from my previous content, there are several different ways to divide the signs into groups so that we can understand them in relation to each other. The three most helpful conceptual groupings for the zodiac signs are the modalities, the elements, and the realms of consciousness. Planetary rulers are also helpful for our understanding. 

So, with that in mind, Sagittarius is the mutable, transpersonal fire sign that is the yang manifestation of Jupiter. Its symbol is the archer. 

There is no other sign on the zodiac that better encapsulates the archetype of the hero than Sagittarius. There are various reasons for this, especially the fact that Jupiter is its ruler, but its symbolism as a hero is probably best explained by its zodiac groupings. 

As a mutable sign, it is all about change and growth; the best way to do that, of course, is through adventure! And as a fire sign, it is concerned with the self, but also as a fire sign, it is the initiator of a new realm of consciousness, the transpersonal realm--and heroes are the selves that solve transpersonal problems (they save the world). 

Of course, all of the signs collectively represent various types of heroes as well as symbolically representing the stages of the hero's journey. 

Also, please do not simply think about this in terms of sun signs. We each have all of the zodiac signs within us and we are talking about the signs as energies here. 

The Cosmic Hero's Journey

Over the last decade or so that I've been learning astrology, I've developed my own unique interpretative approach that I find helpful not only within the astrological context but in every element of my life. This is the Cosmic Hero's Journey. 

Joseph Campbell originally conceptualized the hero's journey cycle in his famed monograph, The Hero With A Thousand Faces (free PDF here). The hero's journey is the monomyth that appears universally across time and space in the stories of humanity. The related, primordial monomyth that the hero's journey is embedded within is known as the cosmogonic cycle, which tells the story of the world. 

The three phases of the cosmogonic as well as the hero's journey cycle can be called separation, initiation, and return. Campbell was influenced by earlier anthropological studies of rites of passage, which have a similar three-fold structure. 

There are many different stages within a hero cycle. Campbell identified about 17 of them based on a cross-cultural and cross-historical analysis of thousands of hero myths. Since Campbell's work, later studies have emerged that take the hero cycle to new levels (e.g., adding in female/non-binary hero's journey; the artist's journey; etc.) or simplifying it down for commercialization purposes (e.g., how every single Disney movie is now consciously rooted in the hero's journey, beautifully exemplified by the masterpiece, Moana). 

In understanding the hero's journey from an anthropological and astrological lens, I've come up with an ideal-type model of 12 different stages. 

You can order the information pamphlet and mini-worksheet that dives deep into this from my website, here.

You can also get a Cosmic Hero's Journey Consultation (includes the pamphlet) where we go over your personal cosmic hero's journey in great detail, here.

But, the gist should be clear from the graphic above. 

Like astrological cycles, cosmic hero's journey cycles are overlapping and simultaneous. We are all heroes on our own cosmic hero's journeys, but we are also participants in the cosmic hero's journeys of other individuals as well as the cosmic hero's journey of the collective (and the cosmos itself, ie., the cosmogonic cycle). Furthermore, we are constantly amidst multiple ongoing individual hero's journeys. So, every single day can be seen as a mini-cosmic hero's journey, but they are all part of the larger journey of the month, which itself is part of the year, which is part of the time period, which is part of the...(it goes on infinitely). 

When we understand the 12 signs of the zodiac (which are in all of us as the 12 houses on our chart) as symbolically representing different stages of the hero's journey, we can better understand them. Let's do that with the mutable signs right now. 

Please keep in mind that this is an ideal-type model and things are not often this linear and straightforward! Use your interpretative muscles! 

The Mutable Signs & The Cosmic Hero's Journey

The first mutable sign in the zodiac, according to zodiacal order, is Gemini, then Virgo, then Sagittarius, then finally, Pisces, the last sign of the zodiac. The mutable signs are all about different aspects of dissemination, which is another way of saying expansion (e.g., how gases expand, thus disseminating through space; knowledge is expanded by the dissemination and consumption of information). 

Gemini is a great symbol for the Ordinary World because Gemini, as mentioned earlier, represents the level of information about the ordinary world. In the ordinary world, the hero often ends up learning something that doesn't quite sit well with her/him/them, which ultimately serves either as the Call to Adventure itself, or, at least, serves to help the hero accept the Call once it happens. 

A great example of this can be seen in the hero's journey of the Buddha, who was originally (in his ordinary world) a prince, but after learning of the injustice and suffering in the world, accepted his call to adventure and through his initiation, became the Buddha. 

In the ideal-type model, I've created of the 12 stages of the hero's journey that parallels the 12 signs, each fire sign is a moment where the hero Crosses a Threshold (like how each fire sign brings us into a new realm of consciousness in the zodiac groupings). So, Leo is the first threshold, which the hero crosses and then typically finds themselves in the Belly of the Whale. The first crisis of the road of trials where the hero must sort (disseminate) the information gathered from the ordinary world (Gemini).

What sign is better at sorting than the other Mercurial sign of the zodiac? Virgo is this moment in the hero's journey where the hero must sort the information. At this point, the hero becomes truly devoted to the quest. There's no turning back now (Virgo is the last sign of the first half of the zodiac). 

At this point in the journey, we're fully on the Road of Trials, and even though it's sometimes hard, we know that we are growing through every experience and interaction we have. 

A great example of how this Virgo stage tends to be portrayed in contemporary stories is the "learning montage" portion of the book/movie. 

Then, towards the end of the Initiation, the hero gets to a culminating moment where they are reborn (Apotheosis), and from there, they Cross Another Threshold. They are still on their adventure, but it is in this reborn state that the hero has the Meeting with the Divine and receives the Ultimate Boon, which is what they need to Return with in order to share it with the collective (disseminate the boon; expand the ownership of the boon) and thus becomes the Master of the Two Worlds. 

As already mentioned, each fire sign is a threshold, so as you can guess, Sagittarius represents the second threshold, post-rebirth but still part of the initiation. It is best exemplified by the stage of Meeting with the Divine, which can manifest as many different things. This meeting can itself be the Boon (e.g., if it inspires an epiphany); it can lead to finding the Boon; it can be when the Hero realizes (thus 'meets') the divine within themself, which is often symbolically represented by atoning with the past; etc. 

Thus, Sagittarius is the moment where the initiate, a hero who doesn't quite know it yet, crosses the threshold and becomes a True Hero. If we get stuck in this stage, we have something called Refusal of Return. 

To relate this back to this particular eclipse, this is what the South Node in Sagittarius is currently trying to get us to move past, and the Mutable T-Square with Jupiter seems to indicate that the Cosmos REALLY wants us to move past it. Look at where the South Node is on your chart right now (e.g., which house Sagittarius is for you). It is in this realm (area of life) that you need to clear out space; stop refusing to return. You've learned your lessons, but now you need to integrate them, or else you'll never make room for a new cycle to start.

But, if we continue moving through the cycle, we symbolically return home (Capricorn), share the boon/save the day (Aquarius), and then become the Master of the Two Worlds, which is symbolized by Pisces. The last stage of one hero's journey cycle is also the proto-genesis of the next hero's journey cycle, just as Pisces disseminates one zodiac cycle but is also the proto-genesis of the next one. 

Then, everything starts again (Aries: birth), and it continues infinitely. 

When you're reflecting on how all this impacts you and relates to this particular eclipse, it might be helpful to use the eclipse cycle itself as a chronological frame of reference for your reflections. So, think about this cycle as having started back in November of last year. And, even further back, 2001-2002, or, if that's a bit too far back for you, go for 2011-2012. Ideally, you'll come up with different reflections for each frame, and you'll find the entire introspective process enjoyable! 

(Especially if you really get into it during the Mercury Rx through Gemini--oh my word! That's truly the best use of Rx energy, and this particular Rx's energy!). 

Lunar Eclipse Ritual

Below, you'll see a modified 5-step ritual template/suggestion. It's basically the same exact thing that you do for every Full Moon, but instead of focusing on Forgiveness, we're more focused on Releasing, Letting Go, and, most of all, Surrendering to the Divine. 

And, if you join the Guided Learning Community, you can always contact me for personalized suggestions and other cosmic questions!

Happy Eclipse to all of you! Always remember to FOLLOW YOUR BLISS! For, that's what the Cosmic Hero's Journey ultimately enables us to do!

Check out all consultations and reports here.