The Annular Solar Eclipse: The Ring of Fire

By Vedic Astro-Palmist Guylaine Vallée

Few astronomical phenomena are as impressive as an eclipse. Eclipses can be very potent symbols of world events and astrologers have always placed great meaning upon them.

An annular solar eclipse will occur Saturday, October 14^th, beginning at 11:03 am and ending at 4:55 pm EDT.

An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers the center of the Sun, leaving the visible outer edges to form a “ring of fire”, or annulus, around the Moon. Both the sun and moon will be together in the same sign of Virgo in the intense nakshatra Chitra ruled by Mars, suggesting the importance of remaining Zen, especially around this time.

While many Western astronomers are excited at the chance to witnesses a solar eclipse, Vedic astrologers have a more cautious approach. In Vedic astrology eclipses are regarded as powerful (often tumultuous or even earth-shattering) portents of both personal and world events. The illuminating light of the Sun is obscured by the passage of the Moon, indicating on a psychological level the potential of casting a shadow across our awareness. Consequently, most Vedic astrologers advise against beginning any major project, signing contracts, entering or ending a romance, or making any other significant life decisions in the days leading up to, during, and following an eclipse, be it lunar or solar—the energy is just too unpredictable and potentially unstable!

According to Vedic astrology, it is not recommended to look at the Sun during an eclipse, suggesting instead the best course of action is to look inward, centering and calming our energy through meditation and peaceful self-reflection. As this is eclipse season, in two weeks’ time, on October 28^th, there will be a partial lunar eclipse, which we will tell you more about at that time.