How to Interpret Solar Eclipses: Blending Symbols

This article is a brief overview of how to blend planets with the Nakshatras, with our case study being the Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024, in the Nakshatra (lunar mansion) of Revati. First, we will start with the symbolic meaning of the Rahu North Node, which in Jyotisha (Vedic astrology) is said to have as its primary purpose, 'to swallow the Sun', something it achieves during every solar eclipse. Next, we will talk about Revati Nakshatra and will finally conclude by blending all these factors together. The Moon’s symbols will be sprinkled in the interpretations where it applies. With the intro out of the way, let us begin.

Interpretations

Rahu is powerful and is said to be the bringer of change; it introduces a force of uprooting and outward expansion, pushing boundaries into uncharted territories. So much so, that Rahu is associated with outcasts and those who live on the margins of society. Its nature is steeped in chaos, radicalism, and intensity, and in this way, it always demands a departure from the familiar, often in an abrupt manner. Rahu compels us to confront the instability inherent in the unknown of the future and the future as a growth of the past and the present. Rahu is constantly pushing the horizon of possibility to its limit, which makes it dangerous. This forward momentum, that is relentless, signifies a profound need for a constant shift in our perspective to survive and outlive the way it can push boundaries to their limit, into the unknown, and to the outer limits, which can often feel like stepping into the void or into the abyss. If we could say, ‘Rahu wants something from us,’ it wants us to cast our gaze ahead, out and up; to reach and push our arm outwards and forward; and with our feet to leap and launch ahead, even when we do not know what is ahead.

The Sun

On the other hand, the Sun is the most consistent and regular planet in the system of astrology. If you think about it, our 24 hours are designed around its consistent nature, as is our annual calendar. The Sun is reliable and stable. The Sun also represents our soul, consciousness, and self, all of which represent that facet of our existence that is eternal and everlasting. The parts that cannot be touched by the experiences of this life. In these ways, the Sun anchors the core of our being. It is about having a strong self-concept and a stable identity. The Sun is also about vitality and health, which also stabilizes our being, as well as leadership, as another form of either being or seeking a stable center amidst life’s fluxes and upheavals, especially the ones Rahu brings to solar eclipses.

The Sun's presence in a solar eclipse is a reminder of the enduring nature of the self, the consistency within in the midst of the chaos of change emerging around us. This is a reminder because this is precisely how solar eclipses are challenging. In these ways, the greatest qualities to pull out and forward (as Rahu would want) are to reaffirm the importance of clarity, decisiveness, and vision in the midst of the darkness and confusion of the eclipse; qualities essential for navigating the turbulent waters Rahu must stir, as Rahu’s dharma is to do what its nature is.

The Nakshatra

On top of all of this, the eclipse is occurring in the Revati Nakshatra, where its influence in this alignment infuses the scenario with another layer of meaning we must blend into our interpretation. Revati Nakshatra, with its deity Puṣan (Pushan), as a solar deity, signifies nurturance, intelligence, guidance, and abundance. Because Pushan symbolizes these qualities, the goal is to achieve sufficient nurturance, through gaining knowledge and intelligence, as well as receiving guidance, all in order to pave the way for abundance. This abundance encompasses both material and spiritual wealth, cultivating a kind of inner and outer opulence that can be recognized as wealth. Once we've attained this inner and outer wealth, we can then become nurturers: those who impart knowledge, cultivate intelligence in others, offer guidance, and thereby become a conduit for others to attain their own wealth. This is the essence of what Pushan and the Revati Nakshatra represent in this transformative process. It is about finding our way through the unknown and the tumult of life in a gentle manner towards greater growth and opulence.

In this eclipse, Revati's energy is about finding clarity in chaos, truth in transformation, and guidance amidst upheaval. It symbolizes the potential to nourish and be nourished, to find and provide provision, even when the path seems uncertain. In some ways, having an eclipse in the Revati Nakshatra is a blessing, as its deity is a shepherd in directing its hungry herd to greener pastures, a guide for travelers making sure they make it to their destination safely, a psychopomp who ensures the souls of the departed safely make it to the next realm. It is fortunate because there is a benevolent guide to lead us through and out of the chaos and the unknown that the eclipse can bring. In this way, a safe journey becomes possible.

When All Symbols are Blended

And so we can conclude: the conjunction of Rahu and the Sun in Revati, with the presence of the Moon representing our mind, our mental states, and internal processing, is a powerful symbol of the potential for radical transformation that can initially feel unsettling and unnerving. However, this is necessary so that we reorient and realign ourselves with our true self’s path and its purpose. It will challenge us to the core in order to push us out into the unknown. Yet, it is also arming us to gain greater confidence and clarity, to understand our position within our lives, and what we are capable of doing. Because of Revati nakshatra, it’s also important to remember, while this eclipse is urging, egging, and forcing us to move out and forward, by choice or against our will, it is asking us to be humble enough to pause when need be and to seek right guidance when there is a lack of clarity or resoluteness about what we can do. After all, Revati’s deity Puṣan is the deity who helps us find lost objects, and at times, we are the lost objects in the world who need to be found. Overall, the blending of the symbols for this eclipse denotes going out and forward, willingly, or being pulled and yanked out against your will. It is about embracing the changes that can ultimately lead towards abundance in all forms. This eclipse is a call to balance the loudness of Rahu's call for change with the Sun's stabilizing light, while pushing forward towards a future where spiritual and material abundance are not just envisioned but are means to actively be pursued and realized.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, let us remember here that the Moon is key in how we can do this, as the Moon is always in conjunction to the Sun during a solar eclipse (akin to a new moon): as mentioned earlier, the Moon represents the mind. Our sole objective through this solar eclipse should be to rein in the mind, to direct the mind, to guide the mind. It is the mind that is feeling, thinking, planning and intending. A clear mind feels well, thinks well, plans well and intends well.

Wishing you a safe journey under the gaze and protection of Pūṣan in the Revati Nakshatra during this Solar Eclipse and every eclipse. May you always find your way, be blessed with health and abundance, and be always guided and protected.

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Mantras for Solar Eclipses

Sūrya Deva (Sun)

ॐ सूर्याय नम

Oṃ Sūryāya Namaḥ

Chandra Deva (Moon)

ॐ चंद्राय नम

Oṃ Chandrāya Namaḥ

Rāhu Deva (Rahu North Node)

ॐ राहवे नम

Oṃ Rāhave Namaḥ

Added Mantras For Solar Eclipses in Revati Nakshtra

Puṣan Deva

ॐ पूषणे नम

Oṃ Pūṣaṇe Namaḥ

Revati Nakshatra

ॐ रेवती नक्षत्राय नम

Oṃ Revatī Nakṣatrāya Namaḥ