Initiation time. We are being instructed to Know Thyself. This Total Solar Eclipse upon the New Moon in Aries on Monday, April 8, 2024 is the year’s most intense eclipse, impacting us in a powerful bath of energy. A New Moon is a dark sky, quiet time, internal, the womb. Eclipses are powerful initiations of light from the cosmos. With all this happening in Aries, there is a tangible push/pull between forging a new path and facing past demons. Cutting ties that bind, the ones that bind you to the experiences that make you feel less than, small, or contracted – while welcoming in more of the expressions and exchanges that lift you up, light you up and expand your spirit.
As I type this, we’re waiting for the main event to begin at approximately 11:52 a.m. Mountain Time. I was slogged by fatigue this weekend or I would have sent this out sooner. I’ve been searching feverishly this morning for eclipse glasses because even though I knew this was coming and have been preparing energetically, I forgot about the “look at it” part. I cannot find the old ones we had and after three stops, 10 texts and a “yes” from someone who has a pair but “isn’t home and thought it was tomorrow” have proven that I am not supposed to be looking up at this thing. I’ll watch the crescents of light on the ground!
That really demonstrates the point of this Eclipse (and the first New Moon on the Astrological New Year) while we feel the urge to go fast, to be productive, to knock things off the list, to feel an impulse and follow it — it’s actually a time to surrender. To not push past obstacles. The cosmic energy is calling us all to slow down, go within, pray, meditate and have some self reflection. It’s also Mercury Retrograde until the 25th so it’s yet another layer of complication to “getting things done.” It’s not about taking a lot of action outwardly, but inwardly. What needs to be addressed? What are you not paying attention to while you’re running around trying to do a million things?
Aries represents our inner fire, our inner I AM, our ability to simply jump without thinking of the end game. “Let’s go!” says Aries. Aries is self assured, often having deep confidence and optimism that allows Aries to take big leaps of faith. But upon the New Moon (new beginnings, planting seeds of intention, quiet inward time) and the other cosmic events just named above, the “let’s go” part needs to go slower than what comes naturally to our overactive left brain.
It’s time to dig deeper, go within, remember what you are forgetting, review where things stand and what needs to be finished. Face things you are avoiding, that you keep hidden, and do the work to reimagine yourself anew – letting the parts that need to fall away truly do so. We are being asked to make a commitment to purify our intentions and heal our wounds. To un-attach from the outside world. Aries is all about work but they don’t necessarily want to sit and examine things. Fortunately, the impulsive yet optimistic fire of Aries can be harnessed to help you come to epiphanies faster and push through stagnant energy/emotions/memories that may be blocking your flow.
Examine your feelings upon the New Moon and Solar Eclipse. Take time to sit in silence, reflect on who you are and how you want to evolve over the next six months. Affirm upon this Aries New Moon to get closer to yourself and cultivate inner wisdom.
Today we will see the sunlight dim, the darkness in midday, that is a wonderful moment to say an affirmation or prayer. Don’t just look up, but imagine that a threshold in this dimension is being crossed. Any prayer said over the 24-hours from the Eclipse beginning will be extra powerful so remember to come from a place of love and true inner desire. What is your soul calling you to do in this life? What are you putting off that you can’t any longer? How can you find peace of mind the easiest and how will you cultivate more of it?
Your meditations will be more powerful for a while. This Eclipse is a threshold crossing, where the ideas we have now get supercharged energy to manifest. For better or for worse. So choose wisely and from a place of integrity. Use this New Moon energy as the seed with the “miracle gro” of the Solar Eclipse to boost and quicken its growth time.
The world is demanding a change — endings to bring in new beginnings — and your place, your role, is to help usher in more light across the threshold. To unite, to have compassion, to love. The opposite side of that energy is trying to flood us with negativity and fear, and it’s important we realize there are things to be afraid of, but true courage comes from facing what we fear.
We are no longer able to run away, but have to face our own shadow side along with the collective shadow side. It ain’t pretty, but it’s also not something to condemn. It is what it is based on eons of experience and baggage. We face these ugly truths about humanity while forgiving ourselves for not being all we can be. For our ignorance, for our density. We face our shadow and don’t succumb to hopelessness, but continue to work for more light, to heal, to understand an accept.
Aries New Moon | Solar Eclipse intention setting
Write your sincerest wish for yourself and also write the phrases: I love you, I forgive you. I thank you. (I am borrowing from a Hawaiian prayer/practice called Hoʻoponopono.) Read your words aloud and if you have a safe, indoor or enclosed way to burn the paper (in a small grill or burning bowl) light it and watch it burn. If not, crumple it in your hands and picture yourself throwing it onto a fire. Watch it burn and the ashes fly up. (You can tear it into strips and compost it or throw it out.)
If you have a ritual candle, light it and say the phrases above as many times as you want but at least 3 times. Allow yourself to see beautiful, golden light surrounding you and holding you. Believe the phrases. And so it is. Let the candle burn out and solidify your prayers and intentions.
If you feel called, write down your initial feelings and thoughts upon finishing the prayer. Freeform stream of consciousness style is fine, it’s simply to recall this moment for some future time.
Be well and take time for yourself during this entire week. There is a flood of cosmic energy coming at us beyond even this New Moon and Eclipse so allow yourself space and extra time this week to do your thing. Don’t make any huge commitments. This is an inner week.
May the seeds you plant bring more love, light and certainty into your life.
Follow me online: @holliseesyou | connectowisdom.com
Images: Pixabay
Tea Lights — Pexels
Solar Eclipse — AstroGraphix
Aries graphic — Dorothe + Darkmoon_Art