Penumbral Lunar Eclipse ’24: Beginning of a New Eclipse Cycle

Eclipses occur every year and bring challenges and changes that we must undergo. I refer to them as a quick reset that allows us to face and then break the patterns of our lives.

If you don’t, the planetary movements will push you out of your comfort zone. Much like how life tests us through trials and tribulations, the same is the case with eclipses. The period around it is often unstable and might put you through many highs and lows, but the key is to remain calm and be patient.

This is the first eclipse of ’24, and there is something really different about it. Buckle up because we have sorted all the relevant information for you in this elaborate guide.

What is different this year :

This time we have an eclipse right on the day of Holi.

Generally, Solar eclipses occur first and is followed by the Lunar eclipse. But this year, it’s the reverse.

So, let’s understand what does this mean.

During the Solar eclipse, we witness and experience major challenges, which lead to significant changes in our lifestyle, habits, attitude and need to accept changes, which takes time.

Lunar eclipse is all about making changes in the mind i.e. feeling and emotions which eventually leads to taking actions. We can say lunar eclipse helps us to understand the changes, accept and sort out things to take actions.

This year, due to lunar eclipse being first, we will experience a havoc of emotions and will be trying to deal with it and immediately in a span of 15 days, the solar eclipse is going to bring us challenges, hence to adjust with this, we humans will have to make more efforts. The situation is going to get a little tricky.

What is the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse?

A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the Moon passes through the faint, outer part of Earth's shadow, called the penumbra. It's the subtlest type of lunar eclipse, and often you can't even tell it's happening with the naked eye.

Here's a breakdown:

Earth's Shadow: Earth casts two shadows into space: a dark inner core called the umbra and a fainter outer region called the penumbra.

Dimming Effect: During a penumbral eclipse, the Moon passes through the penumbra, causing a slight dimming of its surface. But unlike other eclipses, the Moon remains entirely illuminated.

Subtle Change: The dimming is so faint that it's usually only noticeable with good vision or in carefully taken photographs.

In comparison, a total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon enters Earth's dark umbra, causing it to turn a reddish hue.

When is it happening?

The Penumbral Lunar Eclipse is happening on 25th March ‘24.

Where is it visible :

• Much of Europe, North/East Asia, Much of Australia, Much of Africa, North America, South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Antarctica.
• The Moon is below the horizon during this eclipse, hence It is not visible in India, hence the grahan neeyama (rules) needn’t be adhered to.

Note: To consider the accuracy of timings, have considered both the local panchang (almanac) as well as the timeanddate.com

Planets involved?

The Pisces-Virgo axis is involved in the eclipse. So, the imbalance is majorly experienced in areas where the houses rule these signs in your respective chart depending on your Ascendant/Moon sign.

Below are the planetary details in tabular format (considering the maximum eclipse time) :

Note: Ekktaa follows the Side-real Vedic Astrology system and considers the mean node system for the calculation of Rahu & Ketu.

We don’t consider the outer planets like Neptune, Uranus & Pluto in Vedic astrology (Nav-graha system); however, it’s always advisable to understand how they can impact us.

Caution from the Astrological Significance :

• Pisces happens to be the last sign in the zodiac system, representing the oceans, higher consciousness, ability to sacrifice and let go. A water sign that indicates spirituality. This eclipse involving the Sun, Rahu, Neptune does indicate some issues around coastal areas, Tsunami or issues around water bodies.
• Virgo, on the other end, where the lunar eclipse takes place, is ruled by Mercury that represents business acumen, intellect, stock market. Hence, reckless dealing in stocks or major decisions on the business front needs to be avoided.
• As the eclipse takes place in Hasta Nakshatra, ruled by moon and is in conjunction with Ketu in Virgo, signifies that one needs to be mindful about dealing with emotions. Ketu represents mysticism, illusion, which means can make a person fearful about something that may not be real. Avoid over thinking about things which aren’t directly in your control.
• As mercury is debilitated and in gandanta during the eclipse, one is advised to be mindful regarding communication exchange, as there are highest chances of misunderstanding which may lead to arguments causing distress.
• Be careful about online payment transactions, as there are chances of technical issues or misuse of technology.
• Not a good time to make any decisions regarding work, family, house or self-front. Take one day at a time. Some are likely to experience disharmony on either front.
• Avoid beginning any new project or buying any new property.
• Traveling one day before, during and after the eclipse day needs to be avoided.
• We have been hearing about the war news in different countries. During these eclipses, there are consistent events of unrest, which can be experienced around the world.
• As this lunar eclipse falls on the day of Holi, I would highly recommend avoiding crowds during this period.

Remedies :

• Moon with Ketu can lead to a beautiful space of meditation. Would recommend meditative practices and chanting as it helps in controlling mood swings, anxiety, feeling of separative tendencies. It calms the mind when you practice mindfulness.
• Avoid alcohol or any kinds of deep-fried foods or spicy foods since that can lead to risks of digestive issues.
• Worshipping Lord Shiva may be highly beneficial for you. A simple chant like “Om Namah Shivay” can help you be at ease.
• One can chant the powerful Hanuman Chalisa to protect themselves.
• Chanting any mantra during this period augments the impacts exponentially. It is said that chanting can give 100 times more results than regular times. So, make the best use of this time.
• Meditation, Chakra dhyana could be highly experiential and deep if one practices the same during this period. If you want to immerse yourself in a peaceful mindfulness session with guided meditation audio, check out our Mindfulness Practitioner app at https://www.mindfulnesspractitioner.com/. The first five audio sessions are on us!

Conclusion :

Remember, eclipses are destined events that leave churning effects on us humans. While a penumbral eclipse might not be as dramatic, it's a reminder of the intricate dance between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. This period brings a lot of uncertainties, but you must keep your focus aligned. Avoid rushing into life-changing decisions during this period and instead focus on finding a balance in your life that helps you navigate through these testing times

Kindly Note:

We have opened our slots for astrology readings from the 14th of April, ‘24. If you wish to book a professional reading for yourself and plan your things, please feel free to WhatsApp me at +91 9614-456-456.

In case of an emergency/crisis situation, you may get in touch with us; depending on availability, we will schedule your session with Ekktaa at the nearest date.

Disclaimer

This is an overall general prediction/caution; accuracy depends on your personal chart, placement of the planet, aspect and conjunction, and the dasha you are in. It will vary from person to person.

The main objective of this article is to create awareness about the caution one needs to take.

I express my gratitude to my Gurus, my teachers, and my mother for guiding this divine path of Jyotish. My brother, who inspires me to be a better version of myself, and my Jyotish friends, who have immensely supported me in this journey.

|| Jai Shankar ||