Come Monday, April 8, a wide swath of the United States will witness the celestial event of the decade when a total solar eclipse in Aries will momentarily blot out the sun and render the world in eerie shades of gray.
Eclipses have long been associated with fate, reversals of fortune and points of no return. The word itself comes from the Greek ekleipsis meaning “to abandon, to forsake a usual place.”
In this sense, we can begin to understand the energy of this eclipse as a disembarkation, shedding skin and wading/walking/stumbling raw and renewed into our next stage of being.
Illuminating the eclipse effect for us is the brilliant astrologer Evan Nathaniel Grim, founder of Inner Worlds Astrology.
Grime explains to The Post that this eclipse is in close cahoots with Chiron, the archetype of the wounded healer.
If we allow it, this can be an auspicious moment for healing on a personal and collective level and a powerful moment to abandon modalities and patterns that keep us from processing and progressing.
“The eclipse will expose how ‘toughing it out’ is no longer effective in dealing with deep-seated wounds or challenges,” Grim told The Post. “Although Aries typically asserts a raw masculine energy, Chiron is tightly wound up in this eclipse, begging us to address our vulnerabilities and insecurities. Chiron will bring up complicated emotions within us and ask us to fully process anything that surfaces.
Everything to know about the 2024 solar eclipse
- The solar eclipse will take place Monday, April 8, blocking the sun for over 180 million people in its path.
- The eclipse will expand from Mexico’s Pacific Coast across North America, hitting 15 US states and pulling itself all the way to the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
- New Yorkers will experience the solar eclipse just after 2 p.m. Monday.
- A huge explosion on the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, is anticipated, according to experts. This happens when massive particles from the sun are hurled out into space, explains Ryan French of the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, Colorado.
- To avoid serious injury to the eyes, it is necessary to view the event through proper eyewear like eclipse glasses, or a handheld solar viewer, during the partial eclipse phase before and after totality.
- The next total solar eclipse will take place on Aug. 12, 2026, and totality will be visible to those in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small slice of Portugal.
“If we respond by opening up to others, then stronger, more supportive relationships can await us.”
Bring on the pain and the path forward, my babies.
Read on to learn more and see here for your full April horoscope.
Take care and make time for quiet
Grim also cautions to be more careful around loose cannons and aggro bros on and around the solar eclipse.
“The eclipse will expose the drawbacks of unhealed masculine energy within the collective. This could stoke senseless aggression or a worsening of geopolitical strife,” Grim said. “It’s important to be mindful around anyone who typically has a poor handle of their emotions.”
Regardless of your sign, Grim recommends honoring the darkness to come with meditative quiet.
“This eclipse is best used to sit in your heart space and quiet the mind. The heart can facilitate higher consciousness and can open an empathetic bridge to those around us, raising collective frequencies in the process. I hope this eclipse can support widespread healing for those who have suffered quietly up until now.”
Cardinal conditions
While all of us under the zodiac wheel will be affected by this eclipse, Grim explains that four signs will feel the burn more intensely.
“The cardinal signs — Aries, Libra, Capricorn and Cancer — will be most personally affected by the total solar eclipse in Aries because the eclipse is forming a hard aspect to these signs. Those with a cardinal rising sign will experience the effects in foundational areas of their lives, while others who have major placements near 19 degrees of the cardinal signs will also be impacted relative to the area of consciousness the placement represents.”
Grim maintains that while the cardinal signs will be most acutely affected by the eclipse, they will experience it in different ways.
Read on if you have major placements in the following four signs.
Because this eclipse is going down/getting dark in Aries‘ first house of identity and self-hood, Grim explains that rams will be grappling with who they are becoming.
“Aries placements are digging deep into themselves to find self-love and compassion, and this will help them harmonize with others who are navigating the same challenges. Aries will be more candid about their fears or insecurities. By vocalizing these emotions, they will discover true strength.”
Grim tells The Post that the crab contingent will see changes in the realms of vocation and authority,
“Cancers are establishing different career goals or they might find a new job. Cancers are becoming more motivated to step into a career that serves their authenticity or a vocation that deals with a certain healing modality — for example, therapy, health, wellness or spirituality. Other Cancers might witness dramatic changes with a parent or authority figure. Some Cancers might have to respond to a potential health challenge that a parent is going through. Alternatively, some may heal a strained relationship with a parent.”
Grim tells the Post the focus for the people of the scales will be their intimate connections.
“Libras will experience a total reset of their significant relationships. They could reconcile with an ex or heal and move on from one. Other Libras might feel betrayed by someone but find another connection who is truly trustworthy in the aftermath.
“In essence, Libras are discovering who their true allies are.”
“Capricorns are directing their focus toward home and family matters. Similar to Cancers, they could either play a nurturing role for a family member who falls ill, or they could reconcile with an estranged family member. Other Capricorns are seeking to move or change the nature of their current home environment.
“However, it’s important to keep in mind that Mercury will be retrograde; therefore, moving homes could pose some challenges or setbacks,” Grim explained to The Post
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girl’s guide” to strip clubs, and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.
