We are now less than a day away from the New Moon which this month will result in a total eclipse of the Sun visible from various parts of the world. In fact the path of totality stretches from arctic Canada, across Greenland and Siberia, to China and beyond. For more on this please turn to the following link:

[1] Total eclipse 2008

In ancient societies total Solar eclipses were viewed with intense foreboding though modern science now views this attitude as superstitious nonsense. However the New Moon and accompanying eclipse is a exceptionally strong alignment featuring an exact conjunction between Sun, Moon and Earth. As such the energies are particularly intense and total Solar eclipses have often been associated with amazingly devastating earthquakes or other major natural disasters that have claimed thousands of lives.

With regard to moods and emotions it is inevitable that as with any New Moon situation there will be heightened moods and feelings with strong nervous restlessness, apprehension, and anxiety. Emotions will be noticeably tense and on edge with the likelihood of friction and arguments that may erupt on the merest pretext.

As frequent visitors to this site will be aware this months New Moon will be all the more intense as it coincides with one of the years most concentrated periods of planetary alignments. For example overall awareness and perception will be further heightened by the continuing alignment of the Sun and Mercury. This is creating powerful mental and nervous activity with unsettled and agitated emotions that may see a strong need for variety and change.

Another potent alignment is the on going opposition between Mars and Uranus. This has been active for close to a week and lasts up until the last week in August. Likely mood traits include rebellious, self willed, passionate and impulsive feelings with the possibility of bizarre, unusual, or irritable responses that may deviate strongly from ones normal behaviour. Under these circumstances there may be drastic or extreme solutions to even the most mundane of problems with a disposition towards ruthless hard edged moods and attitudes. As well as anything this could mean acute friction within the family setting and highly volatile circumstances may arise quite spontaneously from the merest provocation.

A mellowing influence may come from the on going alignment between Venus and Neptune. This is likely to introduce a better appreciation of the finer things in life and will act as a buffer to the more extreme nature of Mars and Uranus and also the broader New Moon atmosphere. It can also lead to sensitive, refined and delicate emotions with an idealistic or sentimental disposition but one that also inclines to self deception, confusion, and an easy sense of disillusionment. Effectively it means that although there may be plenty of good and sensible ideas there will be little depth of conviction that will be able to withstand even modest difficulties and above average determination will be needed to achieve any proper sense of achievement.

In many respects this represents a difficult and challenging mood atmosphere that will present particular problems for those susceptible to delicate mood atmospheres. Tensions will be running high and it will not be easy to stay calm and collected. On the other hand, as mentioned in previous alerts this does constitute an occasion that may later be viewed as a turning point even if it may not be presently obvious what this entails. Even so this is a pivotal time and despite the difficulties offers an altered psychology that may open the door to possibilities that may never have previously been considered.

Alert is 8.5. Moon 1% illuminated.