The Lunar Eclipse- A Cosmic Call Towards Individuation

Eclipse season is upon us. Throughout human history there have been many superstitions and differing opinions concerning these celestial events. On May 26th we will be experiencing a full lunar eclipse. As practitioners, it is imperative for us to consider our own personal determination of how these cosmic events will affect us, and how we as individuals choose to work with this energy. 

I am going to cover a few myths and legends regarding eclipses. I will also explain my personal gnosis about what I believe is stirring in the cosmos, and how I chose to work with It in a mindful manner. 

In Christian mythology, the eclipse is linked to passages in the Bible. Total or blood moon eclipses, in particular, are connected to prophecies in the Book of Joel and Book of Revelation. According to Christian scripture, this lunar development signals the end of days. The Book of Revelation details prophetic visions of the world's demise, one sign is described as moon turning red (a visual effect of a total lunar eclipse).

In contrast, the legend which I have found most relevant... given my belief in Hermetics, Astronomy, Alchemy, and Jungian Depth Psychology belong to the ancient Batammaliba people. According to their legend, human anger and fighting spread to the Sun and the Moon, who began to fight with each other causing an eclipse. The legendary first mothers, Puka Puka and Kuiyecoke, urged the villagers to demonstrate peace to the Sun and Moon to convince them to stop their brawl. During an eclipse, Batammaliba people make amends for old feuds and peacefully come together to encourage peace between the celestial bodies. 

“As above, so below; as below, so above.”–The Kybalion. 

The above quote (pun intended) relates to the hermetic principle of correspondence.  This principle represents the interaction between the macrocosm and the microcosm. In the case of eclipses, heavenly bodies are the macrocosm, our inner world the microcosm. 

It is through this principle that we are able to experience the harmonious connection between the mental, physical, and spiritual planes of existence. Everything which exists are reflections of each other and together make up the universe.

To understand what we will experience in our inner world, we must first understand what is happening in the cosmos itself. This is where I look to astronomy. Living on Earth at the present time is quite remarkable, because the sun and the moon appear to be the same size. In reality, while the Sun is about 400 times larger in diameter than the Moon, it is also about 400 times farther away, so both the Sun and the Moon have the same angular size. As a result, the Moon, as seen from Earth, can appear to cover the Sun, producing one of the most impressive events in nature. A lunar eclipse can only take place when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a line.

The lunar eclipse is the universal call to align our inner sun and moon. This is where I fell in love with the Batammaliba legend, because It calls for a peaceful union of enemies. It is a call to shadow work. 

Jung himself has this to say about the conscious alignment of the sun and moon;

‘The encounter between conscious and unconscious has to ensure that the light which shines in the darkness is not only comprehended by the darkness, but comprehends it. The filius solis et lunae (the son of the Sun and Moon) is the possible result as well as the symbol of this union of opposites. It is the alpha and omega of the process, the mediator and intermedius. "It has a thousand names," say the alchemists, meaning that the source from which the individuation process rises and the goal toward which it aims is nameless, ineffable.’

I will now return to the hermetic principle of correspondence as It applies to the alchemist, of which Jung referred.  The principle of correspondence acknowledges the connection between the conscious and subconscious mind. I personally see this as our ego (known) vs. our shadow (unknown). When we align our internal sun and moon... we are bringing the shadows to light with intention... we are now aware of our shadow.  Through this self awareness, we are now able to see the positive and negative effects our thoughts and emotions have on the universe at large. Through this alignment, we gain the wisdom to cut to the root causes of all things and solve all paradox.

I see so much FEAR being injected into eclipse season on social media especially. When I was a new practitioner, I used to sit them out completely and wait for the day to end. Terrified of the calamity which might befall me... what an absolute waste this was of an incredible transformative opportunity.

Eclipses are a cosmic Individuation event. The emotions which they stir up here on earth are a call to strength. To shadow work. They ask us to be courageous and let the towers fall. They beg us to unite the opposites. Listen to the stirrings of the shadow during this event. Make peace with demons. Unite the enemies.