Part of this article was published in the INFINITY Astrological Magazine 2016 Jan-Feb issue
Solar Eclipse: 9th Mar 2016 1:54 a.m. GMT
Location of New Moon: 18 Pisces 55
Ruler: Jupiter in Virgo
Lunar Eclipse: 23rd Mar 2016 12:00 p.m. GMT
Sun: 3 Aries 17 Ruler: Mars in Sagittarius
Moon: 3 Libra 17 Ruler: Venus in Pisces
In 2015, a lot of financial astrologers predicted that the global economy would start to recede; at the same time, bankers and economists, on the contrary, were expecting the economy to revive or the recession to come to an end. The prediction of astrologers is indeed on solid ground. In 2015 and 2016, Jupiter-Saturn and Saturn-Neptune, both of which are related to economic development, would respectively form a square while, coincidentally, both of them will be in the last square of their respective synodic cycles. This suggests that the development of global situation will soon come to the last phase of both Jupiter-Saturn cycle and Saturn-Neptune cycle. The second square ( waning square ) of a synodic cycle often suggests a decision to end. In such upheavals, we would be subject to continual happenings of conflicts, which in turn allow us to be clear about which social institutions and structures should be kept before the start of the next synodic cycle and which of them must be abandoned or abolished. Properties of these incidents often synchronise with what happens in the society when these two pairs of planets are in conjunction.
Solar eclipses and lunar eclipses are an important tool that astrologers use to predict the yearly global situation. When predicting, astrologers often use the four cardinal ingress charts, which includes the spring equinox chart, the summer solstice chart, the autumn equinox chart and the winter solstice chart, to support their judgement. The eclipses charts often suggest which areas of life we should pay our attention to. If there are significant planets located at the ascendant, the descendant, IC or MC of the eclipse charts, we often tend to pay more attention to the influence that such planets bring forth.
Elements, Signs and Rulers of the Eclipses Charts
The solar eclipse in March will be at 18 Pisces 55. The lunar node will locate at the Virgo-Pisces axis, symbolising that water resources, ocean and fishery, which are all under the water element, will still be the focus of our attention this year. It is especially so when this solar eclipse is near the south node which symbolises feedbacks, compensation and response. Hence, how we treat our water and fishery resources will receive a response by then – how we conserve our fish stocks, how we neglect water pollution, and how we emphasise water resources will lead to certain rewards or consequences.
The ruler of this solar eclipse in March is Jupiter, and Jupiter simultaneously forms an aspect to the new moon of this solar eclipse. In traditional astrology, it is what we call “reception”. Jupiter, which is in detriment, may not be of much help here, but its properties, including acceptance, moral values, religion and media, may still be an option to help us navigate through the countless obstacles thanks to such reception. Jupiter in detriment may suggest that what comes to help may not be those large institutes and organisations that we know well; instead, it may be those small media corporations, regional churches or small charitable organisations that would be willing to give a helping hand. It may also suggest that we can experience the bright side of humanity through some small actions when we are in difficulty.
Both Jupiter and the north node are in Virgo. This suggests that the incidents that we are going to encounter and experience are implanted in issues governed by Virgo – including public safety, medical services, labour, agriculture, farming, differentiation and discrimination – and the earth element, such as land, farming and housing. Soon after Jupiter ingressed into Virgo in 2015, Morgan Asia included numerous cosmetic brands into their index-calculation. In addition, the influence of the genetic engineering of Monsanto has aroused the attention of environmentalists and agriculturalists, and it is expected that the March solar eclipse on Virgo will bring these issues back into the spotlight.
The lunar eclipse in March will happen on the Aries-Libra axis. The theme of cooperation and competition in life would become the property of it, and such property will also be reflected in international affairs. Mars will sextile the Moon and trine the Sun respectively, and it also is the ruler of the Sun in this lunar eclipse chart. Mars in Sagittarius would once again emphasise international conflicts, and the Sun-Mars harmonious aspect may suggest that the leaders of different countries will proactively come up with a way to tackle them. Nevertheless, Sun in Aries, an exaltation, may suggest that certain acts of heroism or fights for leadership may lead to unnecessary conflicts, or it may be the case that some cooperation or conflicts, as a result of someone’s intention to consolidate their own leadership, will lead to a change in situation. The moon of this lunar eclipse will be in Libra, which is ruled by Venus. Venus is at 13 Pisces and conjuncts Neptune, forming a T-square with the Jupiter-Saturn square which comes to an exact degree on that day. Both Libra and Venus govern marriage and cooperation. This may remind us that from March to September, which is under the influence of this lunar eclipse, marriages, relationships and cooperation may be subject to drastic changes as a result of social changes and economic crises, a characteristics which corresponds with the property of this Saros cycle. It is especially true when there are planets or angles located at 11 – 19 degree of mutable signs, or when the natal chart of a person, a country or an organisation has planets at 18 Virgo (the solar eclipse point) or 3 Aries (the lunar eclipse point).
The Saros Cycle and 1998
According to Dr. Bernadette Brady’s study of Saros Cycle and its influence, we know that the eclipses in March 2016 belong to Saros Series 18 South and thus they will possess the influence of this Saros Series. The characteristics of the natal chart of this Saros Series include the placement of a Venus-Jupiter aspect, an aspect between the new moon and Neptune, and a connection between the new moon and Venus-Saturn midpoint. These placements suggest a strong sense of ending and separation. Pain is thus an inevitable result, though it will also lead us to another new start. The implication of this Saros Series corresponds with the Venus-Neptune and Venus-Saturn aspects in the lunar eclipse chart.
Next, I will further suggest some different observations. First of all, Dr. Brady mentioned the Venus-Jupiter quincunx in her interpretation of this Saros Cycle – both Venus and Jupiter can be associated to wealth. Sue Thompkins also mentioned that many astrologers regard quincunxes as an aspect related to financial and health crisis. If we integrate these two points of view, at the same time considering that a lot of present outer-planet aspects are suggesting the possibility of financial issues, we should thus pay more attention to our own financial status so as to prepare ourselves to confront another global financial crisis. This is not a groundless estimation. Last time we encountered this Saros Series was in 1998, in which several countries in South-East Asia were under financial crisis, not to mention Russia which was under the same fate at that time. Saturn was at 3 Taurus, forming a waxing square with Neptune which just ingressed into Aquarius. From the current economic situation and astrological transits, it is not difficult for us to derive that the possibility of another upcoming global financial crisis is high.
Important Placements in Solar Eclipse
From various planetary cycles, we can observe that what the solar eclipse in March 2016 suggests is closely related to what happened in late November and early December of 2015. There is a Mars-Pluto semi-square in the solar eclipse chart of March, which is also the last aspect of their synodic cycle symbolising many conflicts in life, from struggles to giving up. The decision involved here should have been realised in early November when Mars and Pluto were in square. The Sun-Saturn conjunction happened at the end of 2015. This time also signalled the beginning of another Sun-Saturn synodic cycle, while this conjunction also triggered the Saturn-Neptune square. In the 2016 March Solar eclipse chart, Sun and Saturn form the waxing square of their synodic cycle, highlighting the need of decision between the plight and the chasing of dreams. It may suggest that what happened in the end of 2015, including the Paris attack, a joint sanction of France, Russia and NATO against ISIL, the conflict between Turkey and Russia, the inclusion of Renmenbi into the Special Drawing Rights basket, and the decision made on COP21 Paris would probably have an obvious influence on 2016. Several aspects in the solar eclipse chart are of significance, and they play an important role through 2015 and 2016.
Uranus-Pluto Square
This synodic cycle is the one which deserves our attention most. It has been influencing the world since 2012. Before discussing what kind of effects it would bring in spring 2016 and 2017, we should first observe how it manifested itself in 2012 – 2015. In these few years, we witnessed numerous conflicts in many places as a result of wealth disparity, and there were frequent occurrence of inequalities and protests against governments. There were large-scale student protests in western societies, Hong Kong and Taiwan, whereas thousands of people also protested when the Japan government announced its military normalisation. Moreover, we see how LGBT social movements become more active.
We can discuss these happenings from two perspectives. First, astrologically, Pluto has a sense of containment, control and an implication of danger, while the properties of isolation, separation and revolution of Uranus often bring forth vigorous conflicts. Many astrologers even agree that Uranus is related to entrepreneurs and the middle class; for Pluto, it not only is the Roman god of wealth, but also governs the hidden treasures. For the word “plutocracy”, we can easily see that its prefix is Pluto itself. Second, all mundane astrologers would observe the starting point of a synodic cycle when they predict. When Uranus and Pluto formed a conjunction in the 1960s, the starting point of the present Uranus-Pluto square, the African-American Civil Rights Movement could be a reference to the frequent racial conflicts in the States in recent years. Besides, in 1969, the time when Uranus and Pluto would soon move apart from conjunction, the Stonewall Riots happened, a demonstration related to gay rights; correspondingly, in 2012 – 2015, we witnessed a lot of changes on gay marriage rights in many countries. Uranus and Pluto will form a rather close aspect again in 2016 spring, and they would only have an orb of one degree thirty-six in the solar eclipse chart. This suggests that the above incidents, as symbolised by these two planets, would still play an important role in our society in 2016.
Jupiter-Saturn Square / Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction in 2000
Jupiter-Saturn Square is one of the most significant placements in mundane cycles. Social development, as symbolised by Jupiter, can be carried out by Saturn; at the same time, the expansion of Jupiter can also be restrained by Saturn. This aspect symbolises the conflicts and integration between political or economical freedom and the conservatives. As Jupiter and Saturn form a square in 2015-2016 and the aspect itself symbolises social conflicts, it suggests that our society has to make certain decisions and give up those plans that are already expired. This square is related to the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in 2000. At the time, the dot-com tumble and other economic crises finally led to the existence of some measures and approaches, some of which will be re-assessed in the upcoming two years.
Saturn-Neptune Square / Saturn-Neptune Conjunction in 1989 (Saturn-Neptune Square in 2007-2009 and the European Financial Crisis)
Saturn and Neptune – another pair of planets which are significant to the economic cycle – will form their waning square in 2016, which once again reminds us to be aware of the economic situation. Due to the fact that the happenings of numerous financial crises did synchronise with the critical timings of this synodic cycle, perhaps we should reflect and see if we are too optimistic towards economic development or if there are any impractical actions. The bubbles as symbolised by Saturn and Neptune often suggest critical financial crisis; this time, the square also signals the end of an era.
The conjunction of these two planets in Capricorn in 1989 symbolises the beginning of an important era. Many countries in Eastern Europe declared independence circa 1989. In the same year, the States enact the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) in the wake of the savings and loan crisis, at the same time establishing different financial regulatory and supervisory institutions. These institutions, which were established during Saturn-Neptune conjunction, confronted many challenges in 2007 because of the subprime mortgage crisis. However, it is worth noticing that the upcoming one would be much more challenging, and the situation by then would be obvious enough for us to abandon those impractical ideas. We should also note that the European debt crisis in 2007 – 2009 is also closely related to the Saturn-Neptune synodic cycle.
As well as economic changes, Eastern Europe also started to adapt themselves into the free society of the rest of Europe in 1989, which simultaneously brought forth issues of economic differences and immigration into the eurozone. All these issues may once again come into the spotlight in 2016. Many astrologers have pointed out the close relationship between Saturn-Neptune aspects and conflicts of Arabian countries. In 2010, a Danish cartoonist depicted Muhammad wearing a bomb in a turban which triggered conflicts between the Muslim world and the West; in 2015, the Charlie Hebdo shooting happened at the moment of Saturn-Neptune square; Salman Rushdie was under a calling for assassination issued by the leader of Iran after he published the Satanic Verses. Now, in 2015, we have already seen that many people accused those immigrants, who failed to adapt themselves into the European society, of being the culprit of the horror attacks in Europe. The European countries can do nothing but bomb ISIL; however, the horror out of this situation also motivates the people to support the far-right parties and Fascism. It was already reflected in France in its vote in late 2015. We must be cautious of how these themes keep on developing in 2016.
Mars-Pluto Aspect and Saturn-Uranus Aspect
In addition, there are other pairs of aspects in presence around the solar eclipse in March. Though they are not hard aspects of outer planets, they still worth our attention. First, Mars and Pluto are in semisquare, and this synodic cycle is a significant indication of political rivalries or conflicts and war. This pair of planets is also closely associated to the price of oil and indirectly affects the financial market. On the other hand, despite symbolising the wrestling between the conservatives and the reform parties, Saturn-Uranus aspect is vitally influential in financial astrology. I have observed that this pair of planets often suggests conflicts between supervisory institutions and entrepreneurs, and it sometimes represents interference or support from government towards new technology. Crisis in free economy, as reflected in the occurrence of the European debt crisis and bankruptcy of Iceland government, may once again ask for our attention.
Triggers
A lot of astrologers believe that we should not limit our focus just to the day of an eclipse when we predict what influences they might bring forth, and they often have their own perspectives on this. Some suggest that the influence of a solar eclipse would last for six months, while some believe that it would last for three years. To me, the influence of solar eclipse is extensive, and its effect starts from three months prior to the day of eclipse to one year after it; for lunar eclipses, the influence is rather weak and is easily manifested in our living, and will dissipate 6 months after the eclipse. However, astrologers tend to agree that when Sun and lunar nodes are in square, the effect of the eclipses would be more prominent, a period which some astrologers call “Moon Wobble Time”. It refers to the period which starts from two weeks prior to the Sun-lunar node square to one week after its exact degree.
2016 Moon Wobble Time
11 Mar Sun-South node conjunction duration 26th Feb- 18th Mar
7 Jun Sun-Lunar nodes square duration 24th May – 14th Jun
4 Sep Sun-North node conjunction duration 21st Aug -11th Sep
29 Nov Sun-Lunar nodes square duration 15th Nov – 6th Dec
Besides, the moment when Mars, Saturn and other outer planets start to influence the eclipses point often suggests the occurrence of major incidents. Saturn will be in hard aspects with the new moon by the time the solar eclipse happens in March, and it will go retrograde in the end of March. We predict that major social incidents, which reflect the properties of the planets profoundly and directly, will be triggered during the time as the eclipses happen; these events may be related to organisations and institutions governed by Saturn, or it could be related to the conservative atmosphere among the countries. Mars, on the other hand, will first trigger the new moon of the March solar eclipse, then the full moon of the March lunar eclipse, while Saturn will once again trigger the solar eclipse point, the influence of which would last to the end of 2016.
If the ecliptic degrees at which a new moon, full moon and last quarter moon are in important aspects to the location of the new moon of solar eclipses or the axis of full moon of lunar eclipses, events of similar nature could be triggered too. Triggers by a new moon or full moon usually would last for one month, while those triggered by first quarter moon or last quarter moon will last for two days. If the interaction between Mars, Saturn, outer planets or Chiron with the eclipses point, as previously discussed, and the happenings of these lunar aspects are found at the same time, or if simultaneously there are significant placements of outer planets or stationary outer planets, the possibility of major social events is very high.
For those months whose new moon is influenced by the March eclipses, the influence could last up to a month.
5 Jun 2016 new moon at 14 Gemini (Moon Wobble Time)
1 Oct 2016 new moon at8 Libra
(Mars triggers the Sun-Moon opposition of lunar eclipse in March + stationary Pluto)
29 Dec 2016 new moon at7 Capricorn
(Saturn triggers the new moon of solar eclipse in March + stationary Uranus)
For those months whose full moon is influenced by the March eclipses, the influence could last up to a month.
14 Dec 2016 full moon at 22 Gemini in square with the new moon of solar eclipse (Saturn triggers the new moon of the March solar eclipse)
For those months whose first quarter moon is influenced by the March eclipses, the influence could last up to two days.
12 Jun 2016 (Moon Wobble Time + stationary Neptune)
9 Sep 2016 (Moon Wobble Time)
7 Dec 2016
For those months whose last quarter moon is influenced by the March eclipses, the influence could last up to two days.
27 Jun 2016 (stationary Mars)
23 Sep 2016 (stationary Pluto)
Regions influenced by solar eclipses and ACG map
In ancient time, astrologers believe that regions over which the solar eclipse was visible would suffer the most severe influence. In spring 2015 when the solar eclipse occurred, most of the Europe could see its happening. Besides, we find that Mars is at the ascendant of the 2015 September lunar eclipse charts of Paris and Brussels, which possibly encompasses the issue of European refugee crisis and the Paris horror attack. It reminds us that the observation of the ancients is somehow valid and worth our notice. The solar eclipse of March 2016 will be over South-east Asia and Australia. In the solar eclipse of 1998, which belongs to the same Saros Series of the 2016 March one, those South-east Asian countries were undergoing the most severe financial crisis they had ever confronted. These two implications reflect that South-east Asia and Australia, regions which can witness the 2016 March solar eclipse, deserve our meticulous attention. If there are outer planets over these regions in the ACG map of the solar eclipse, the attention should thus be further heightened.
National Charts
In the national charts or important charts of the countries enlisted below, Sun, Moon, the ascendant or MC forms hard aspects to 18 degree of mutable signs, the point at which the solar eclipse happens.
Sun: Brazil, Egypt, Denmark (constitution), Italy, Kenya, North Korea, Lithuania, Norway, Syria, Vatican
Moon: Germany, Northern Cyprus, Latvia, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Syria
Asc: Denmark (constitution), Ethiopia, Laos, Libya
MC: Mali, Turkey, Russia (1917 chart), Mauritius, Namibia
In the national charts or important charts of the countries enlisted below, Sun, Moon, the ascendant or MC forms hard aspects to 3 degree of cardinal signs, the point at which the lunar eclipse happens. Many astrologers believe that important placements or aspects at the first few degrees of cardinal signs often pull the important powers or countries into major events.
Sun: China, France (the chart of the First Republic), Croatia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Venezuela
Moon: Estonia, Greece, Indonesia, South Korea, Ireland, Laos, U.K (1066 chart), Spain, Turkey
Asc: Bahamas, Czech, Taiwan, Iceland, India, Kuwait, U.K (1801 chart)
MC: New Zealand, Uganda, Salvador
Astro Map
In addition to determine by considering which regions can visibly witness the solar eclipse, we can also use the ACG map, a modern astrology technique, to predict which regions or areas would obviously be subject to the influence of solar eclipse, especially for those which has Mars, Saturn, the outer planets or Chiron at the angles of their eclipses charts. These regions would be under severe influence of the eclipses.
Solar Eclipse Chart
Asia-Pacific:
New Zealand (Saturn)
The northern coast of Queensland, Australia (Neptune, new moon)
Inland of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia (Mars)
Northern and Central costal region of China (Mars)
Southern Japan (Saturn)
Nepal, Bhutan, North-eastern India and Bangladesh (Pluto, Uranus)
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Western Iran, Central Asia region (new moon, Chiron, Neptune, Saturn)
Iraq, Eastern Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula (Mars)
Europe & Africa
Sweden, Norway, central Finland (Saturn)
U.K (Saturn, Uranus)
France, Spain – Catalonia region (Uranus)
Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece (Pluto)
Somalia, Eastern Africa (Mars)
North & South America:
Brazil (Saturn, Mars)
Honduras, Nicaragua (Uranus)
Western costal region of North America (new moon, Saturn, Chiron)
Inland region of Eastern North America (Pluto)
Lunar Eclipse
Asia-Pacific:
Southern and South Eastern Australia, Northern Queensland (Mars, Saturn)
Coastal region of Western New Zealand (Pluto)
Central China (Longitude: 102E-112E), Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand (Longitude: 102E-112E) (Uranus, Pluto)
India (Chiron, Saturn)
Afghanistan, Pakistan (Mars, Neptune)
Europe & Africa:
Sweden, Poland, Czech, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, Italy, Eastern Germany (Longitude: 11E-16E) (Uranus)
Spain (Pluto)
Coastal Region of North-western Africa (Saturn, Chiron, Pluto, Neptune)
North & South America:
Western South America, Columbia, Peru, Chile (Uranus, Pluto)
Mid-West of North America (Longitude:101W-111W) (Saturn) (112W-122W) (Mars)
Additional note about South Taiwan Earthquake
1.Full moon chart on 24 Jan 2016 have Chiron opposite Jupiter on Horizon
2.New Moon on 10 Jan has Neptune right on Ascendent , we can se this as a sign.
3.Lunar eclipse chart on 28 Sep 2015 has Chiron right on I.C where indicate the wound of land and people. 
4. Most important the 2015 Capricorn Ingress chart have Uranus on Ascendent and Pluto on M.C … According the geologist ,Taiwan maybe face another huge earthquake soon , if we look at Aries Ingress chart , this warning should be treat carefully.
5.The Uranus was on IC when earthquake happened on 3:57 AM 6th Feb 2016. 