The 2024 lunar eclipse in Libra will go down in history as the lunar eclipse that outstripped its billing as a workaday penumbral lunar eclipse. It was the first eclipse of 2024 and, as I noted in my lunation report published on March 23rd, it was a “unique and special event” being the only lunar eclipse in the Aries – Libra cycle of eclipses. And special it has proved to be. As I completed that post, two days before the lunar eclipse reached culmination, events relating to the nature of the eclipse I had just written about were beginning to unfold at a rapid pace.
So, it seems appropriate to comment further on what has been a tumultuous few days: a massacre took place in Moscow and a princess revealed a cancer diagnosis and – only a few hours after the lunar eclipse – a certain ex-president of the US is in court in connection with hush money paid to a porn star and faces a deadline relating to a ‘close to’ half-billion dollar bond relating to a recent fraud trial. As I write this – only moments later – the United Nations has called for a formal ceasefire in Gaza.
That is an immense pile of fallout from this particular lunar eclipse, so in this post, I want to run through the reasons why this has been an all-time spectacular lunar eclipse in astrological terms.
2024 Lunar Eclipse in Libra: The Dynamics
Those of you who are familiar with my regular lunation reports, will know that I analyse the chart for each lunation: new moon, full moon, solar or lunar eclipse – the chart and the aspects are analysed in full. The 2024 lunar eclipse in Libra had one major aspect, a trine to Pluto, newly resident in Aquarius – and sitting close to the point of The Great Conjunction.
To understand why this lunar eclipse is having such an impact, let’s remind ourselves of the nature of lunar eclipses, the nature of Pluto, the nature of trines, the nature of Libra and the relevance of the Aries – Libra cycle – because those relatively simple things are at the core of this high impact lunar eclipse.
- Under the influence of a lunar eclipse, issues reach culmination – as they do with any full moon – but they do so with more force and at a greater speed than they do with a regular full moon – and events often prompt a significant change in a situation.
- The Aries-Libra series of eclipses emphasises the tension between war and peace, aggression and diplomacy, initiative and procrastination, independence and partnership, lovers and open enemies. Teams, taking sides and looking for resolution – or a rapid result – is often a major theme.
- Libra signifies balance and support, dependence and dependability, justice and fairness and above all, relationships. And even sworn enemies have a relationship.
- Pluto gets to the truth. It also symbolises the most extreme circumstances that many of us will ever encounter. It strips life to its bare essentials. It has the capacity to inflict extraordinary pain and deliver survival against all odds. It also represents extremes and the corruption of wealth and power.
- Trines are easy simply because there is nothing to interrupt the flow of planetary energy – for good or ill. In predictive astrology, trine aspects represent events that happen at speed; there is nothing to prevent them from doing so.
Taken together, that simply means that the events connected to this lunar eclipse – whether they unfold in public or in private – carry the dynamics of all of the things I’ve listed here. Everything that explodes into our consciousness – and everyone who emerges as an eclipse player – carries the signature that is present in the lunar eclipse chart. And to get your head around that, here’s a direct quote from the article I published two days ago:
“Getting back to this lunar eclipse in Libra, the trine aspect to Pluto indicates that nothing is going to get in the way of the process unfolding – and some earth shattering events will be coming down the line at speed. Nothing gets in the way of a trine aspect. Deep truths – and things that have been long hidden – carry the hallmark of Pluto. And they will be revealed. Pluto deals with the fundamentals, the things that remain unaltered, no matter what else happens on the surface“.
Sara Shipman 2024
Lunar Eclipse in Libra: The Theatre of War
To deconstruct the 2024 lunar eclipse in Libra, I’m going to begin with the massacre at the Crocus Concert hall in Moscow. The details of the attack are horrific with at least 137 people murdered, and the stories told by the survivors are too traumatic to recount here. However, the event at which the massacre took place is infused with the symbolism of this lunar eclipse: Libra symbolises the arts, culture and love; even the name of the venue is associated with love, as the crocus flower is named after the myth of Crocus – the youth who was beloved of Hermes and was turned into a flower following his death.
We are told that the killers walked into the venue on that spring day, as if they were out for a leisurely stroll. Men, women and children were slain in acts of senseless violence (Pluto) and those who survived are traumatised (also Pluto). The speed and ease with which events unfolded is symptomatic of a trine. It’s no accident that ancient astrologers often believed the trine to symbolise evil. In accordance with the speed of the trine aspect, justice has also been ‘remarkably’ swift: four men have been arrested, tried and will, no doubt, pay the ultimate price (also Pluto…). However, it does not end there…
Libra is also the sign of open enemies and ‘open enemies’ of the all powerful (Pluto) Russian president, Vladimir Putin (Libra Sun), claimed responsibility for the attack shortly after it took place. However, it seems the Russian president has his own preferred set of open enemies – Ukraine and its President – against whom he is waging a bloody war. President Putin claims that Ukraine set up the whole thing. An accusation they strongly deny. Conspiracy theories abound concerning who ordered the killing: the unthinkable is part of the picture – was it an ‘inside job?’
The cycle of accusation and denial is imbued with the symbolism of this lunar eclipse. Waging war against your open enemies is one literal meaning of the of Aries – Libra opposition. Sadly, the victims of the Crocus Theatre massacre may be the collateral damage, as Pluto ratchets up tensions, in the most toxic of relationships, to even more extreme levels. Dictators often use violence to reinforce their abusive relationship over the general public – and a lunar eclipse in aspect to Pluto is useful in that context. Think of it as an extreme public relations exercise. That meets the symbolism too.
Lunar Eclipse in Libra: Diplomacy & Resolution
Russia – Ukraine is not the only ‘theatre of war’ (Aries – Libra) that concerns us here – the massacre of October 7th in Israel (irony: Vladimir Putin’s birthday – see above) occurred in the week before that month’s solar eclipse in Libra – an eclipse that seeded savagery on an unprecedented scale. The war against Hamas and loss of life in Gaza is the product of ancient enmity – the kind of relationship that no-one wants; it seems hatred is as compulsive (Pluto) as love (Libra).
The lunar eclipse in Libra in this instance, represents a culmination of events that erupted at that time. The call for peace made on the day of the lunar eclipse in Libra comes from the UN: this organisation dates to the aftermath of World War Two – and its role is to mediate (Libra) between warring factions. The call for a ceasefire now is a response to pressure that has been mounting for months. Wherever you stand on this issue, the numbers of dead are beyond comprehension and Gaza has been largely razed to the ground. It’s a scene that resonates with Pluto – as does the need to transform this most dreadful of situations.
The universe shows us when the time is right to get a grip of the situation – even if it seems long overdue. And no matter what we feel should be done from a moral and humanitarian (Pluto in Aquarius) or equitable and fair perspective (Libra), there are no guarantees. I wrote the following in my original lunation report a few days ago:
“The solar eclipse in Libra, shows a need for resolution. Achieving resolution is no easy task, as Aries is a headstrong, volatile, ego-driven and explosive sign. We know how that works on the world stage, and dealing with that to find any kind of equitable solution (Libra) is a delicate process.”
Sara Shipman 2024
There are no guarantees that anyone will do the right thing – and that too is shown by the nature of this particular lunar eclipse. When you are attempting to resolve problems arising from tense, volatile and strong relationships (lunar eclipse in Libra) , where power plays are a major issue (Pluto) the parties may be more concerned with saving face (Aries) than agreeing to a compromise (Libra). Pluto’s presence in this lunar eclipse (that trine aspect) shows that power – in all its forms – is easily expressed.
Pluto’s influence is extreme: those with extreme power do not tend to relinquish it gracefully – and that brings about situations that may prove to be mutually destructive. Grace is – of course – a Libra attribute, so you can see how we have a potential problem here. The line between mutual destruction and transformation is thin; saving face (Pluto) requires an elegant solution (Libra) – and where an ‘elegant solution’ is possible, those in the position of judge or mediator (Libra) will move in that direction.
Lunar Eclipse In Libra: A Relationship With Power
It would be difficult to discuss Pluto’s influence on the lunar eclipse in Libra without acknowledging the extraordinary things that are occurring in the United States – and I’m talking about the maelstrom of events that are surrounding Donald Trump. As I began to write this post, the former president was facing a deadline relating to the bond required as the result of the recent fraud trial. (Incidentally, fraud is associated with Pluto and Libra is symbolised by the scales of justice).
The amount of the bond was huge and it effectively lead to a ‘head to head’ situation that threatened to go down to the wire, as the bond went unpaid and failure to pay would be legally and financially significant. Losing face was also a real issue – was Trump less wealthy than he stated to the court? Were the attorneys going to asset strip a man who claims to be a billionaire? How was this situation going to resolve? As I slept, things moved on at pace (the influence of the trine). Things reached a head – and an ‘elegant solution’ was announced. The appeals court (Libra) reduced the amount of the bond enabling progress to be made.
In this case, the lunar eclipse in Libra has worked well. Incidentally, in Trump’s birth chart, the eclipse fell exactly on his natal Neptune (denial, evasion), which is retrograde in the second house of money and resources. Trump may have a natal propensity to be ‘neptunian’ about how much cash he has, but the lunar eclipse in Libra may have provided him with a solution to an immediate problem. The potential sale of ‘Truth Social’ (his natal Neptune retrograde squares Mercury in Cancer in the eleventh house) is also relevant to the monetary resources he will have at his disposal to settle future court judgements: that is also symbolised by this lunar eclipse.
Libra Lunar Eclipse: Reinforcing Relationships
The major story coming out of the lunar eclipse in Libra was, of course, the revelation that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. After weeks of feverish (social) media speculation about her health, her marriage and her whereabouts, she appeared in a video to give a statement that blew the conspiracy theorists out of the water. Earlier this year, the 42 year old princess had major abdominal surgery and has not been seen in public since. Rumour has surrounded her absence – and conspiracy theories have filled the void.
Her announcement came just as news of the Crocus Theatre massacre was breaking; those two events symbolise this lunar eclipse in Libra in very different ways. In the video, we saw a woman who was stripped back to the essentials. Like anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis, she will have looked into the abyss (Pluto). Her power, money, wealth and privilege are no protection against disease. That is Pluto in its most raw form: and that is what we saw. She spoke in clear tones, sitting on a bench in jeans and a sweater, with her hair loose, she spoke directly to us about what had happened to her.
We heard her words and saw her vulnerability – and what she said encapsulated the essence of this lunar eclipse in Libra with its trine aspect to Pluto: she spoke of the strength she derived from her marriage, and she sought to reassure those who are suffering from cancer that they are not alone. Her speech was about relationships (Libra) and her relationship with her husband and her relationship with the public were front and centre. Of course, we also know that that would have been intentional – but that in no way detracts from the message. Libra curates and is concerned about image – both the image and the message needed to be ‘on point’.
Catherine’s video also achieved something far greater than reinforcing relationships – it also enabled her to reclaim her power (Pluto). When you are at your lowest point (and a cancer diagnosis is one of life’s low points) it is usual to feel disempowered. Life is fragile and may be stripped away from you. You are not in control. In that situation, taking control of the narrative is empowering – especially when the narrative has been overtaken by the rumour mill.
In Catherine’s natal chart, the lunar eclipse fell in her third house of communication and made a close trine to her natal Venus retrograde and Mercury conjunction in Aquarius in the sixth house. The sixth house is concerned with health issues – and lunar eclipses are also associated with health matters. It’s also concerned with duty and responsibility. To be seen to be responsible and to communicate that is hardwired into Catherine’s natal chart. Venus retrograde in the sixth house shows that she may have had to overcome her desire for privacy (Pluto) in order to say the things that needed to be said in order to achieve peace (Libra).
Libra Lunar Eclipse: A Personal Note
The revelation of the Princess’s illness resonated with many at a personal level – myself included. A few hours after the lunar eclipse, I attended a hospital appointment with my oncologist. Five years ago – almost to the day – I had a hysterectomy (the Moon is associated with the womb) and was subsequently diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Fortunately, my cancer was caught at an early stage and I have made a full recovery. However, I needed to have regular examinations for five years after my diagnosis. The 2024 lunar eclipse in Libra marked the completion of my cancer treatment.
I am no longer a cancer patient. I am a cancer survivor – thank you Pluto. For me, this lunar eclipse has been deeply emotional – as you would expect with the Moon and Pluto in aspect. The lunar eclipse occurred in my fifth house of joy and trined (exactly) my Moon – Saturn Midheaven conjunction. It’s made me think about the Midheaven in this context: it’s where things hang over you – like the famous ‘sword of Damocles’. That sword is no longer there, and I feel a sense of deep emotional release after five years of holding in my feelings.
On a serious note – and with that Saturn placement I am bound to be serious – any of you who were affected by this lunar eclipse will have noticed it by now. It has worked in many different ways, but the symbolism remains true to the core principles I outlined at the beginning of this post. Whatever has reached culmination in your life, let it be transformational and not destructive. Resolution and peace are more valuable that you could ever imagine: they are the treasures that are found in this lunar eclipse with its trine to Pluto.
Further Reading
Lunations 2024 | Lunar Eclipse in Libra
Solar Eclipse in Libra: October 14th 2023
Transits | Pluto in Aquarius: The Trailer
Pluto: What Fresh Hell Is This?
Jupiter Conjunct Saturn: The Great Conjunction
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© Sara Shipman 2024
Picture Credit: Image by jbundgaa from Pixabay
