A plain-language definition for anyone researching eclipse, what it is, where it comes from, and how practitioners use it.
85 plain-language definitions · Cited sources · Persona-authored
By Selene Tides · Updated August 3, 2026
Lunar Cycles Guide
What is eclipse?
An eclipse is an astronomical event in which one celestial body passes through the shadow of another. Solar eclipses occur at the New Moon when the Moon blocks the Sun; lunar eclipses occur at the Full Moon when Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
Eclipses come in pairs, one solar and one lunar, about two weeks apart, twice a year. They occur only when the Sun and Moon are near the lunar nodes, the mathematical points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. The astronomical specificity is part of why ancient cultures considered eclipses portents: they are rare, predictable to those who track them, and visually striking.
In lunar ritual tradition, eclipses are intensified versions of their underlying New or Full Moons. A solar eclipse is a 'turbo-charged' New Moon; a lunar eclipse is a 'turbo-charged' Full Moon. The cycle suggests eclipses accelerate themes that were already moving, what would have unfolded over months can shift in days. Yasmin Boland in Moonology emphasizes that eclipse seasons (the weeks around an eclipse pair) often correlate with significant life turning points.
Eclipse observation and prediction appears in nearly every ancient culture's astronomy, Babylonian saros cycle calculations, Chinese eclipse records dating back over 3,000 years, Mayan eclipse tables in the Dresden Codex. The astronomical mechanics were understood by ancient Greek astronomers including Aristarchus and Ptolemy. Modern lunar ritual practice integrates astronomical precision with traditional symbolic frameworks, with our eclipses tool drawing on the same VSOP87/DE-440 ephemeris data professional astrologers and astronomers use.
To know when the next eclipse falls, use the Eclipses tool. Eclipse seasons occur about every six months, with two eclipses (one solar, one lunar) typically two weeks apart. The cycle suggests treating the weeks around eclipses as sensitive windows for review and integration rather than for launching new initiatives.
The sign of an eclipse colors its theme. Eclipses in Aries/Libra activate identity and partnership themes; eclipses in Taurus/Scorpio activate value and transformation themes. Each eclipse cycle (about 18 months on a sign axis) brings concentrated focus to those life domains. Many cultures honor eclipses with rest, fasting, or contemplative practice rather than action.
These glossary terms are closely connected to eclipse:
About 4-7 per year globally, typically arriving in pairs (one solar, one lunar) twice annually during 'eclipse seasons.' Most are partial; total eclipses are rarer.
A solar eclipse occurs at the New Moon when the Moon passes between Earth and Sun, blocking sunlight. A lunar eclipse occurs at the Full Moon when Earth passes between Sun and Moon, casting Earth's shadow on the Moon.
Eclipses occur only near the lunar nodes, the karmic axis of the chart in evolutionary astrology. The cycle suggests they activate themes related to the nodal axis, often correlating with major life turning points.
Many lunar traditions advise against starting new initiatives during eclipse seasons, treating them instead as windows for rest, review, and integration. Other traditions consider eclipses powerful for specific releases. Consult your tradition; the cycle holds many practices.
Share Your Result
Vertical 9:16 format, perfect for Instagram Stories or TikTok. Opens in a new tab; long-press or right-click to save.
Free: how to choose a stone when everything looks appealing, the care matrix that tells you what is safe in water and what is not, and a first intention practice you can actually keep.
We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.