Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed your holiday (or at least survived it, as the case may be;) Welcome to 2011, all of us. This newsletter addresses the partial solar eclipse which occurs Tuesday January 4, 2011. Eclipses always come in pairs, two weeks apart. This week's eclipse closes the eclipse gateway that began with the powerful Solstice Eclipse of 12-21-10 (click here for my recent newsletter about that eclipse: http://conta.cc/g4H01B). 

Did you notice 1-11-11? Many of us are 11:11 afficionados from way back, so I'm sure we were all a-tingle:) But I've been noticing that many new people are starting to notice this sacred number. 11:11 is a number of mastery; when a person begins noticing it they are waking up to a higher consciousness. The 11:11 is a gateway, a portal to other dimensions. When a person opens up to this number sequence, it is a breakthrough in their spiritual development.

More people than ever before are mentioning to me their appreciation of the 11:11. And not just metaphysical types (sorry guys, but you know we can't always preach to the choir;) but people from all walks of life and spiritual beliefs. To me this signals a shift in mass-consciousness to a higher level.

In November we will have the 11-11-11, something which I have been excitedly anticipating since 1991! (I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait! *jumps up and down with glee*) But in closer proximity, next week we will experience the 1-11-11. Tell all your friends!

And don't forget: when you see the 11:11 on a clock, say a prayer, make a wish and send it through the gateway. It's a magical moment of synchronization. And most important take a moment to acknowledge and to thank your celestial helpers: God, Spirit, the Angels and all of your spiritual beloveds. The 11:11 is like a HELLO from them.

Scroll down for a glance at the 2011 eclipse schedule and some info and thoughts on the January 4 eclipse, which opens 2011. And a continued Happy New Year to you.

With Love and Winter Blessings
Carol

Carol Ann Ciocco

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The astronomers are underwhelmed by this week's partial solar eclipse, and by the 2011 eclipse season in general. Astronomer Joe Rao writes: "At first glance it might appear that 2011 is an exceptional year for eclipses, with a total of 6, one shy of the maximum possible. But in actuality this is a humdrum eclipse year. Admittedly, two of these are lunar eclipses which are fine ones of the total kind; but this, by eclipse symmetry has to be so in order for the solar ones to be of the poorest kind (partial)."

 

 

On Tuesday January 4, 2011, we will experience a New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse at 14 degrees Capricorn, at 4:03am EST. For you eclipse-chasers out there, this eclipse will be visible over most of Europe, as well as northern Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

 

In western Europe, as much as 86% of the solar disk will be covered by the Moon at dawn, producing a fantastic crescent sunrise on Jan. 4th. 

 

Guy Ottewell describes the eclipse pathway (as I've said before, he really IS an astronomer-poet;) "The eclipse strikes first in Algeria, at the heart of the Sahara Desert. Ultimately the shadow will envelop all of Europe, the northern half of Africa, the Middle East, and southern Asia.

 

Greatest eclipse, where the magnitude will attain 0.857, occurs at sunrise over northeastern Sweden, near the city of Skelleftea. Here the early winter-time Sun appears to barely rise, and rolls along the southern horizon, its top and center blocked on this morning by the Moon.

 

From this spot on earth, looking along the brow of our planet toward the U-shaped Sun might convey to some a sensation of the Moon's tubular shadow hurtling overhead and onward into space.

 

Cities in Western Europe, including Oslo, London, Paris and Madrid, will also enjoy a sunrise eclipse. The shadow then leaves earth's surface in Kazakhstan, about 4 hours 21 minutes after it first touched down in Algeria." - Guy Ottewell

An eclipse is a physical event behind which there lies a significant spiritual reality. - Rudolph Steiner, 'Eclipses'

 

We shape clay into a pot but is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want. ~Lao Tzu

 

 

As mentioned above, this eclipse isn't exactly ringing any bells in obvious ways (*cue astronomical yawn*). However, just because it is partial and not overtly exciting, doesn't mean it has no impact. The impact is subtle but still important. It is both a subtle new-year intention-seeding day, and a heightened new moon experience.

 

During the early phases of the monthly lunar cycle, at times the thin crescent Moon is oriented "on its back". Some say it looks like a smile. According to folklore, "if the new crescent Moon holds its points upward, able to contain water, expect the month to be dry." 

 

This partial solar eclipse will look the same way as the crescent lunar 'smile' as it reaches it's height over Sweden. It will be U-shaped, pointing upward.

 

Luna reaches across the face of our bright central star, the shining Sun - and the scientists (the rational aspect of human consciousness) barely notice, could care less. In response to Luna's gesture, the Sun offers up a horseshoe, a cauldron, a vessel - containing something. What does it contain? What do you want it to contain?

 

The horseshoe holds good luck, an auspicious new beginning in a brand new year. The cauldron holds food and drink for cooking, to nurture ourselves. The bucket holds water from the well of inspiration. The womb holds life, seeds gestating in the dark, waiting for the sun to bloom them.

 

Normally, the Moon is associated with receptivity - the receptivity of the feminine (yin) energy, of the womb, which acts as a vessel for the active, creative energy of the sun (yang) energy. Here the role is reversed, the sun is playing a kind of receptive role, embracing and holding the feminine energy, the negative space of potential, the void. NOTE: the planet representing the Divine Feminine, Venus, is exact on the Ascendant (rising point) of the eclipse chart for Washington DC. And it is is the sign of Scorpio, a very intense sign with a lot of power.

 

The eclipsed sun in this position and form also resembles an astrological symbol - that of the South Node. The South Node is a point in the sky, related to the moon, which represents a reservoir of past experiences, energies and records. Collectively, the South Node represents Humanity's evolutionary journey and all of the 'baggage' picked up along the road.

 

This seems to be a time to firmly intend actions which will be in support of the feminine aspect in life: your own internal feminine (your nurturing, emotional side) and/or the causes of women in society. And yet it's not time for full-blown action yet. It's a New Moon, it's still early in the astronomical year, and the feminine is overpowering the masculine, remaking it in her own image. None of these things speak to pure action. So it's Go but Don't Go. All the energy won't spring forth until the spring (March), but you must forcefully and emphatically intend now.

 

And perhaps we should NOT resist an impulse to turn that 'U' upside-down and pour out all the old stuff, the gunk, the baggage and all that holds us back from truly living an authentic life, all that blocks en-light-enment. If this vessel is not holding what you want, then by all means tip it over!

 

86% of the sun is covered at the height of this eclipse, and the eclipse has a magnitude of 0.857. Those numbers are oddly synchronous - they both are 86! Maybe it really IS time to 86 some stuff before we set our firm intention?! The sun - rational mind, left brain, ego - is repressed by 86% and a blank space is created, which resembles a container (not all eclipses are in this exact position at their height). Maybe we can substitute things that are currently stored in our left brain, our ego - and replace them with different thoughts and belief.

 

This eclipse traces its subtle darkened light from the parched Sahara Desert (bereft of the waters of inspiration) to Sweden - land of the Vikings which found its way to peace: "The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime." (wiki)

 

Sweden remained officially NEUTRAL during both World Wars. Um, could this be a symbolic example of finding the null~void~neutral point between the opposites? Is the blank empty space in the cauldron the solution to humanity's constant self-crucifixion on the opposite poles? Hmmm

All solar eclipses are New Moons (the moon passes in front of the sun) This partial solar eclipse is a New Moon in Capricorn. Every eclipse belongs to a series of similar eclipses 18 years and 11 days apart. This is called the Saros Cycle. The January 4, 2011 eclipse is a part of Saros cycle 151 (14 of 72), which contains 72 eclipses, this eclipse being the 14th.

Our current series of eclipses are taking place on the Cancer-Capricorn cusp, which began in July of 2008. This Tuesday's eclipse is the second to last in the series (the final one is a solar eclipse in Cancer on July 1, 2011). Eclipses on this axis also occurred July 2000 to December 2002. Looking back is very helpful in checking your spiritual evolution.

The themes of Capricorn are especially vital to the zeitgeist of our times as we are now officially entrenched in the 'Pluto in Capricorn' era. This is the time of GETTING REAL. It is the time of ruthless analysis of all this is not in integrity - within us, within our institutions, within any structure on earth. The eclipses since 2008 have been highlighting these issues, adding punctuation and emphasis to them. The insides must match the outsides and vice-versa. It's isn't just a platitude anymore, it's the Law.

In addition, this partial solar eclipse is very close (within a degree) of the fixed star Nunki which is the tip of the Arrow of the constellation Sagittarius, the Archer. The Archer's arrow is pointed to... guess where? The Galactic Center (which I wrote extensively about in a recent newsletter about the 12-21-10 Solstice Eclipse. Click here to read it: http://conta.cc/g4H01B)

In the 12-21-10 eclipse, the Sun was on the Galactic Center and the Moon was on the Galactic Edge. When we looked up at the eclipsed moon (those who could see it, I couldn't, darnit;) we were looking out toward the Galactic Edge, toward Orion and toward the edge of our understanding, into the unknown.

With this week's eclipse (the bookend of the 12-21-10 eclipse), both the sun and the moon are on the Galactic Center. So, when we look up at the eclipse, we are peering into that Cauldron of Divine Creation (talk about a container filled with void, the Galactic Center is a black hole).

I like to think that with this week's eclipse we are sending back into the Galactic Center the information we gleaned from the Galactic Edge two weeks ago. We have processed some of it and have something to say now. What have you learned since December 21st? It can inform all of us.

This is also a good time to send out the old gunk that you decided to spill out of the cauldron, send it out into the Great Recycler, the Black Hole Galactic Core.

Cayelin Castell writes: "It might be time to take note what it is you are powerfully energizing and releasing into the Great Galactic Cauldron. (And) it might be useful to intend that all energetic distortions are being gathered up and sent to Galactic Center to be recycled and renewed at this Super New Moon."

In addition and much worth noting: At the time of this eclipse, we are experiencing the last of 3 conjunctions (meetings) of Jupiter and Uranus in the sign of Pisces. This conjunction is exact within 1 degree, which gives it alot of say in what is happening.

Pisces is the quintessential sign of SPIRIT. Uranus is the Great Awakener. Jupiter is the Great Expander. As these energies co-mingled, we have had several years of sometimes shocking and Big spiritual breakthroughs (or breakdowns, at times).

This eclipse has one final statement to make about our Oneness, our collective connection to Spirit, our need for forgiveness, and our capacity for compassion. Soon both Jupiter and Uranus will be in the go-go-go sign of Aries. We need to have our spiritual lessons under our belt before we suit up for lift-off in March. Have you made any progress in the area of Loving your Neighbor as Yourself?

Here are some videos I hope you will watch. I find them to be illuminating and moving.

The Pale Blue Dot: Poignant musings regarding earth's place - and our place - in the Universe, by Carl Sagan: http://bit.ly/53O560

 

This Video is a must watch: "It's 3:23am & I am awake because my great great grandchildren won't let me sleep." What did you do while the planet was plundered? What did you do once you knew? http://bit.ly/4F0clc

Thoughts on our war-god, Mars: What went wrong on Mars? This video provides incredible visuals that give you a real sense of being on Mars. It discusses evidence of a shocking cataclysm that "switched off" the magnetic field of Mars, resulting in the dead planet we see today, as well as a planet that is totally lopsided. Scientists believe Mars endured past asteroid collisions which explains why Earth seems to have no living neighbors. VIDEO http://bit.ly/7USeJO (Article: http://bit.ly/6u1kMx by Lynn Hayes)