How Eclipses relate to Birth

Good morning and happy Monday love, today I wanted to share some recent insights I've had on the current astrological sky, and also on working with eclipses in general.

This message is for you especially if you have been feeling like you're "going through it", struggling, emotional, or sensitive over the past few days ... but it may also be helpful if you've ever felt those things (haven't we all?)

I've been drawn to astrology for as long as I can remember, but really became more curious and interested in learning more in depth over the past 3 years, and I've found it's really helped me to put things in perspective and have a lens to make sense of those things that sometimes just don't make sense. My business coach, Emily, was a wonderful teacher for introducing me to this, and I've expanded into my own studies since working with her.

One of the ways I've focused my learning is through studying the lunar cycles by tuning into the energy each new and full moon brings (literally by reading from other astrologers, but also paying attention on purpose to what is going on in my own life, my clients, and friends and family, and channeling what I can from spirit and using tools like tarot cards). And along the way I started recording meditations for each full and new moon and offering them to my clients as a way to share the medicine.

Once you start following any form of astrology for any length of time, you will come across the term eclipse. Eclipses are not rare; 'eclipse season' comes around about twice a year, bringing 2-3 eclipses (normally a full moon/lunar eclipse and a new moon/solar eclipse). A lot of the mainstream messaging we receive around eclipses has always felt kind of off to me, focusing on the heavy and shadowy and mysterious aspects of an eclipse.

We are currently inside of an eclipse portal - with the lunar or full moon eclipse happening today, March 25, in the sign of Libra (and the approaching new moon eclipse on April 8 in Aries). You can learn more about the details of this eclipse from one of my favorite astrology accounts here https://chaninicholas.com/in-chanis-words-march-25th-2024-lessons-from-the-libra-eclipse/

But what I really wanted to share with you today is how I'm interpreting this period totally different than I have previously.

Perhaps it's because my second baby will likely be born during this eclipse cycle - and I'm already feeling a very thin veil between myself and the spirit world.

Perhaps it's also because I've already shut down from a lot of my work (in prepping for baby) and therefore am experiencing the astrology different, simply by holding more space for my own experiences.

And finally, perhaps it's because my mom and friends held a Mother Blessingway for me on March 17th (which was right at the Spring Equinox, and as some call the beginning or cusp of the eclipse energy portal) - and this event left me feeling extremely supported and held.

Quick side note - HIGHLY recommend a Mother's Blessingway over or in addition to a modern baby shower. While baby showers are a wonderful celebration of preparing for baby, the Blessingway ceremony focuses more attention on the expansion of mama and celebrating her growth and sending blessings to her for birth and the postpartum period. It's a truly beautiful time to honor all that motherhood is, and at least in my experience, it left me feeling a huge wave of release and permission to turn inward, knowing I'm connected in a web of safety and support from the women around me. I received many beautiful words of encourage, trinkets for my birth space, gifts both for baby and my own comfort in postpartum, and we shared nourishing foods and teas and women bonding time.

Regardless of how this shift in perspective came to be, here is what I'm learning that feels new and different about eclipses:

Yes, the energy can feel sticky, hard, challenging, uncomfortable (much like birth).

The challenge and depth and heaviness and “pain” if you want to call it that can feel sudden, unexpected, all encompassing, bringing us to our core.

Maybe you’re feeling like you’re going through something right now? Like life feels extra spinny, hard, or sensitive.

We’ve been told eclipses are dark, highlighting our shadows.

But what I want you to remember is these challenges are here to serve a PURPOSE and meant to be deeply transformative, and I promise you, you are more than capable of handling the challenges life is presenting you with 🙏🏼

Like the 'pains' or sensations or birth - it's bringing us to something beautiful. It's purposeful.

I'll never forget my doula in preparing for my first birth (Leila, a beautiful soul who is now a midwife in Louisana) educating me that pain in birth is different than pain when you get injured like stubbing your toe. Pain caused by an injury is about healing. Pain in birth is purposeful - each contraction bringing your baby closer earthside (holding onto this mindset approaching birth this time around, too!)

And so too is pain or frustration incurred through an eclipse cycle. The frustrations get to be purposeful; moving us closer to who we are meant to be in this season of our lives.

Eclipses are potent portals of release, of lessons, of change.

Often, we can feel caught off guard, as the changes can feel sudden, unexpected, or drastic.

But we can also choose to let the changes happen as they want to; to let go of the urge to hold on or resist; to let it unfold and wash over us like a wave or contraction, trusting that the changes are happening for us, for a greater purpose.

We can look to the astrological signs each eclipse is occurring in for clues as to what area of life these changes may be happening in. For example, this current eclipse is happening on the Libra/Aries axis - which speaks to relationships with others and relationship with self.

Practically, in my life this has been playing out by feeling sharper in my boundary setting; really noticing who I want in my different spaces and how I want them to show up. This is part of a life long journey for me around people pleasing (maybe you can relate?) and while an increased or heightened focus on boundaries would normally leave me feeling super uncomfortable - instead I'm choosing to feel empowered by it, recognizing this is exactly the shift I need as I approach life as a mom of two.

Journal Prompts for working with the eclipse:

✍️ What could become possible for you through practicing trust and surrender in this time?
✍️ What rebirth is unfolding in your life?

How have you been feeling lately?

I'd genuinely love to hear from you what has been coming up.

Whether you knew anything about the eclipse cycle or have been paying attention or not; I know to some level there are shifts happening in your life - big or small. Does it feel uncomfortable or welcome?

As much as I am enjoying the freedom and space of putting down most of my work in approaching this birth, I'm also already really missing being able to share with you all.

I brought up to a friend yesterday who has been following my moon meditations since the beginning that it's actually been really hard to not want to create and share, in particular for this full moon. So thank you for reading this and giving me the opportunity to place these insights here. I'd love to know if this feels helpful or resonates for you.

To answer a couple personal questions I've been receiving:

As you know, I'm planning a natural home birth, and I'm a little over 36 weeks today, so I have no idea if I'll be sharing more here before baby or not. But I promise I'll let you know when they're here. Annnnd I'm not surprised at all this baby is making his or her appearance earthside around or during an eclipse portal - they’ve been a spiritual teacher for me since long before conception

No, we still don't know the gender. Charles and I love to keep it a surprise until birth - and if you have the self control I highly recommend this practice! It's the most beautiful surprise ever when they arrive!!

I will absolutely share my birth story when the time comes, and I'm so excited I'll have some photos to go with it as my best friend and the magician behind all my branding photos, Sierra plans to be there for both birth support and to capture some highlights.

As for homeschooling plans, Ceanna is super excited to learn about birth, breastfeeding, caring for the newborn stage, and I can't imagine a better way for her to learn than through being here with me. I'm genuinely grateful for the homeschool lifestyle for this season, because I couldn't imagine sending her out of our house in a 'normal' routine while our family gets to know our newest joy. Charles will be helping to make sure she still gets plenty of time with her friends, joins in for co-op and field trips if she wants, and of course our family's biggest priority we'll all be getting lots of time outside still throughout postpartum (thank goodness for babies born in sunny Florida spring/summertime!)

Thank you so much for reading and being a part of this community! Hope this message finds you doing well, sending so much love throughout this eclipse portal!