It is said that an eerie energy settles over the path of totality during a solar eclipse. Animals might instinctually change habits, the temperature drops and for a brief amount of time, day turns into night.
On April 8, when the moon comes between the earth and sun, a stretch of 124 miles in the U.S. from Texas to Maine will see a total solar eclipse. Naturally, this astronomical event causes shifts in our world, what we see and hear will transform before our eyes, but what about how we feel? CityBeat spoke to experts in astrology and professionals who practice spiritual healing and have the psychic ability to understand how humans can prepare for the eclipse’s possible metaphysical effects.
Some experts say there are spiritual elements connected with the upcoming eclipse, whether that be a chance to meditate and release or the opportunity to invite change on a grand scale. In the realm of astrology, there are numerous potential effects depending on one’s horoscope. While there’s no blanket statement that can be applied to everyone, each individual has an opportunity to gain more from the event than a rare sighting.
According to Pam Gallagher, owner of the Midwest School of Astrology, a shift in energy is certain.
“Eclipses have been tracked since at least 2000 B.C. There are clay tablets, trackable to the fact that they were aware of the solar eclipses,” Gallagher says. “They were omens of change; they were omens of destiny. They considered them to be a change in power or earth disruption of some kind. Even in modern times, we’re aware that there seem to be shifts in energy and behavior.”
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The eclipse is a unifying event, regardless of if it’s in sight or not. We will all experience it and can receive its shift in energy or offering of renewal so long as we are open to it. Taking a moment to meditate or leaning into your adventurous side are among a few pieces of advice experts tell CityBeat can be beneficial.
During the April 8 eclipse, the sun will be in the sign of Aries, Gallagher says. This affects individuals differently depending on their horoscope, but some general effects can be applicable, according to the Farmer’s Almanac. Since solar eclipses always occur on a new moon, they are said to initiate unique opportunities, fresh starts and new beginnings, the Farmer’s Almanac states.
“The whole world with this solar eclipse in the sign of Aries and being a total eclipse – meaning we’re going to get a full shadow – makes it a stronger, bigger release of energy. For the whole world, it can be a new start,” Gallagher tells CityBeat.
The Farmer’s Almanac says there could be a “crisis moment” linked to this opportunity to refresh, so a willingness to defy comfort zones or change perspective quickly could be advantageous. The darkness that accompanies a solar eclipse can signify our collective path into the unknown, which could also urge a sense of discovery or trust in a new path.
Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac. It is the sign of self, of “I am,” of independence and has initiating energy, Gallagher tells CityBeat. Aries’ ruling planet also has something to do with the eclipse’s potential impact.
“Mars is the ruler of Aries,” Gallagher says. “Because of the fact that this eclipse is in Aries and since Mars is the ruler of Aries, this is a new energy, fire-energy start. Mars, in ancient mythology, was a warrior. He was a pioneer; he was the first one out of the gate.”
Local astrologer Ed Kluska has 50-plus years of experience studying astrology; he interprets astrological patterns and guides clients based on their horoscopes and life paths. He says that the eclipse will occur at 19 degrees of Aries, which means that depending on where this degree falls in one’s individual chart is how a more catered effect can be determined.
“Wherever you have 19 of Aries, and it is everyone’s chart somewhere, that’s going to be highlighted. Perhaps maybe for a week or two, or months, that’ll put more energy into that part of your life,” Kluska says. He followed by urging individuals to remember that the stars influence one’s astrological birth chart on an everyday basis, not just during a grand event or depending solely on the sun sign. The entire horoscope comes into play when applying any foretelling wisdom or translating impact.
But overall, embodying an adventurous spirit and leaning into your sense of wonder can facilitate a positive solar eclipse experience during the event and moving into the future. The effects are part of a larger story, so to take advantage of this event from an astronomical point of view means you should keep up with the changes to come, too.
“I would say it’s a very positive chart and to be adventurous,” Kluska tells CityBeat. “Aries is very outdoor-ish so it would make sense to get in your car and roll the dice on taking a chance to see it. Aries is the pioneer; take a chance. It’s very athletic; it’s physical; it’s challenging. So I would say not to fear [the eclipse], to expose yourself to it in the sense of enjoying it and connecting with the cosmos. People can have a really huge, joint experience in our divided world, like going to a concert or sports event where everyone gets behind a team.”
Local spiritual guide and healer Erica Smoot says the solar eclipse, in combination with other recent significant events, represents a powerful reconciliation of letting go, a symbol of an ending and learning to release what no longer serves. Smoot says the events can help us reimagine certain thought processes or patterns that might keep us stuck in a mindset or prevent us from moving on.
“It signifies an ending of sorts, a releasing,” Smoot tells CityBeat. “What is interesting is not only do we have the solar eclipse, we just had a full moon on the 25th of March, and that is about releasing what doesn’t serve us. We [had] Easter on Sunday, which is a letting go of who you used to be to accept who you’re becoming. We’re about to head into Mercury retrograde, during which a lot of things come back, like people’s exes. So it’s about releasing things that don’t align with your spirit. It’s interesting that now the solar eclipse is coming in; that’s also a releasing. Something I’ve noticed in a lot of my clients, a lot of the advice I’ve been given, is all about letting things go. We tend to hold on to things and it keeps us in a certain thought process. So I think it’s for the best for everybody to learn how to let go.”
Smoot operates Smootyfox, which offers oracle readings, shadow work and guided healing. She says that this eclipse calls for an assessment of one’s life. Action can be taken by writing lists that concern a life assessment. The list acts as a physical representation of something spiritual.
“I think people should write down all the things that they no longer are or they no longer want to be or they no longer want to be around. And then I think they should either burn that piece of paper that they write everything on, or, in some way, shape or form, destroy it.”
She says destroying the physical thing shows the universe that it no longer serves you and you no longer want it. Physical assessments can lead to emotional release, she says. Humans being ruled in a planetary way is evident in our history as a species, which is why we can rely partly on the universe for guidance.
“We come from dirt, we return to dirt,” Smoot tells CityBeat. “So it would be a natural thing, as humans, for us to look to the stars or use the earth to ground us. This comes from our ancestors.”
Smoot says while everyone else will be looking up during the eclipse, she will be looking down. She will focus on grounding herself, sitting in gratitude and looking back on the moments that brought her to the present.
Psychic medium Melissa Alejandro also says she’ll be meditating during April 8’s solar eclipse, which she interprets as a “changing of the guards,” and a cosmic ritual. Alejandro is partly focused on the impressive number of coinciding events during the eclipse like CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research, whose mission is to uncover mysteries of our universe and how it works – testing the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator on the same day.
She also notes that NASA will launch rockets during the eclipse to study the eclipse’s effects on the atmosphere. There’s potential for the horned celestial object named the “Devil Comet” to be visible on April 8, too. And coincidentally or not, the path of totality includes a couple cities of the same name – Nineveh – she says. The city’s name is synonymous with themes of repentance, as it was known for “sin and depravity” in the Bible.
Alejandro says be mindful of frequencies leading up to, during and after the eclipse. She says she isn’t concerned by the rampant end-of-the-world talk, that nothing earth-shattering will suddenly occur in your life but to focus on being prepared and open to what’s forthcoming.
“I keep getting something with frequency. Frequency is everywhere,” Alejandro tells CityBeat. “The Earth has a frequency, we do, everything has a frequency. I am not worried about some big terrorist attack or something like that, and I know people are. I would be concerned about the magnetic pull on the Earth because we do have pole shifts, or could be pulled into an earthquake.”
The consensus from the experts, regardless of their thoughts on the eclipse’s effects, is that this upcoming astronomical event will provide a moment to reflect and welcome change. A new path or fresh perspective is always in reach. If the stars align to guide us toward it, why not take advantage?
“I say just breathe. Just let it go and let it flow. A lot of talk is going on about it’s the end of the world. It’s the end times. I really don’t think anything major is going to happen,” Alejandro says. “I feel like there is an awakening coming in with this. And your soul knows when you’re ready. So if you’re not ready, you’re not going to have any downloads, you’re not going to have anything coming in.”
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This article appears in Apr 3-9, 2024.