It’s been unprecedented times and with a lockdown and other challenges, I never got to write as much as I wanted to. As I am writing this short piece, we are going through the lunar eclipse. The eclipse is not visible in Bangalore, where I live.

It is be the first Lunar Eclipse of 2021. As it is a total eclipse, the Moon will be completely covered by the Earth’s Umbral shadow at maximum eclipse. The portion of the moon inside the Umbral shadow will only be illuminated by sunlight refracted through the Earth’s atmosphere and having a reddish hue. The longest duration of totality would be 11 Minutes and 16 Seconds.

The Lunar Eclipse would be visible from east Asia, Australia, Pacific, North America and South America. In India, partial Umbral eclipse would be visible only from the eastern parts of West Bengal. Hence in India, the only well-known location where partial eclipse would be visible is Kolkata.

The eclipse occurs in 11 degrees of Scorpio (Vrischika rashi). Some major changes are expected out of this eclipse. Sun will be in the nakshatra called Rohini and Moon will be in the nakshatra called Anuradha. The Anuradha Nakshatra- which is ruled by the god Mitra. Mitra means friendship – it is time for mankind to get all ready to give and share with friends and family. What we have seen in the past few months in India, is that friends – known and unknown have come together to help each other during the pandemic. Whether looking for beds in hospital, ambulances, oxygen or sending food for affected families. It is quite clear that humanity needs to cooperate with each other and must not succumb to divisive forces of any kind, even if it is in the family.

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Venus is in Taurus and close to Rahu. Venus is beauty – especially the beauty in Nature. The beautiful flowers, animals, mountains and oceans brings closer to the Divine.

During this eclipse Jupiter is also stationing in Aquarius (in the nakshatra of Shatabhisha). Within the Aquarius ground, a group of faint stars forms Shatabhisha Nakshatra. While gazing at the night sky, Sadalachbia (Gamma Aquarii) is the brightest star of this star group.

Shatabhisha translates as “100 healers or physicians”’ and is related to medicine and healing abilities. The nakshatra is ruled by Varuna, the God of Medicine and Cosmic Waters and he is all set to pour healing waters on Mankind.  The shakti of Shatabisha is the power of healing. The symbol of Shatabisha is an empty circle reflecting the independent nature and autonomy experienced through this lunar mansion. It also is represented by 1000 flowers or stars. The most important healing we have to concentrate is to heal our minds and scientists will now focus on the body and mind connection even more.

Shatabisha Nakshatra also influences looking at the stars and understanding if there is life beyond life in Earth. And there is every possibility, that there may be interventions which are extra-terrestrial which will help save humanity. Jupiter is now briefly going to be in this nakshatra and later in the year when it goes back into Shatabisha is when there will be more clarity on this.

During the eclipse Mercury is stationed at 0 degrees of Gemini – and this is all about communication with each other around the world. But the presence of Mars being there is in Gemini really activates things with communications. Mars represents war, and could involve wars on the Internet and cyber wars. So, businesses involving the internet will face challenges.

Lo and behold – we get the news that Whatsapp had filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court challenging the government’s new digital rules saying the requirement for the company to provide access to encrypted messages will break privacy protections. This was in response to the Indian government new IT rules. The section 79 of the new IT rules specifically gives digital media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and WhatsApp immunity against liability for posts made on their networks, third party information or data.

In such cases, if the social media platforms do not comply with the new IT Rules 2021, it has been clearly mentioned that this legal immunity will be withdrawn and digital media platforms will be part of the legal proceedings.

So, let’s see how it resolves as Mars remains in Gemini with Mercury till first week of June. Humanity will triumph even if none of the parties win.

But eclipses are a time to look within and see the areas in your lives that need light. Is it your health, fitness, nutrition or is it relationships or friend circles? A perfect time to meditate, chant so that you come out from darkness into light.