Rare Hybrid Solar Eclipse

On April 19-20 parts of the world will witness a rare hybrid solar eclipse which occur only once every ten years.

A hybrid eclipse is a solar eclipse that changes as the Moon’s shadow moves across the Earth’s surface (it involves all three areas of the Moon’s shadow and combines all three types of solar eclipses).

From a Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) perspective, this is what you need to know…

This eclipse will appear in the sign of Aries and in Aświni Nakśatra (lunar constellation) which rules healing, in particular natural healing systems such as Ayurveda.  This lunar constellation is also ruled by the node Ketu, a  spiritual node and connected to Ganesh, the remover of obstacles.

Jupiter will be transiting in Aries the very next day after the eclipse bringing a positive and spiritual influence to this eclipse (I’ll be sending information to everyone on my email list on how Jupiter will be affecting each rising sign, so if you’re not on my list, sign up).

Mercury will be going retrograde in Aries, just as Jupiter is transiting in Aries, and could inhibit and slow down communication.  Anything attempted during the eclipse period will probably not fructify and may need to be repeated, and with Mercury retrograde, it just adds to this poor discernment and inability to complete tasks.

At the same time, the Moon enters its sign of exaltation in Taurus while the Sun is exalted in Aries.  The luminaries in their sign of exaltation bring a lot of clarity, so once the energy of the eclipse subsides, you will feel better and see more clearly.

Overall eclipses are a time to go within, to focus on your spiritual practice, which is definitely the theme of this eclipse.

Here is what you should keep in mind during this eclipse –

• If you are born during this month, or your Moon’s nakśatra is Aświni, watch your health, and recite the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra.  You might also want to receive a Vedic Astrology consultation to review your chart more closely.
• Avoid food and drink during the eclipse
• Bathe after the eclipse before you go on with your day
• De-clutter and clean your home
• Recite mantras, pray, and read spiritual scriptures, the energy of these spiritual practices are multiplied tenfold during the eclipse

I also recommend the following mantra to be recited during the eclipse which begins at approximately 9:35pm EST on April 19th and ends at approximately 3:00am EST on April 20th:

Narasiṁha mantra:

उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम्।

नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम्॥

ugraṁ vīraṁ mahāviṣṇuṁ jvalantaṁ sarvatomukham|

nṛsiṁhaṁ bhīṣaṇaṁ bhadraṁ mṛtyumṛtyuṁ namāmyaham||