Solar Eclipse in Aries 3/29

Carnelian Revisited

Last year, with the previous Aries eclipse, Carnelian was our crystal. Rather than work with another stone, I decided to harness the retrograde energy that abounds and take us back to complete the cycle with Carnelian. Last year’s mediation took us inwards; this year, let’s push forward as we look at ending this cycle now that the Moon’s nodes have already backed into the Pisces-Virgo axis.

There are so many other astrological energies to integrate; Venus has already skipped back into her exaltation in Pisces on the 27th; retrograde Mercury enters His fall and detriment as soon as He hits Pisces on the 30th, but the biggest news is Neptune's first ingress into Aries, also on the 30th. These days of energy shifting and changing are nebulous, like trying to mix oil with water.

When we are unsure of our emotions, and if we feel that we have been let down by false rhetoric or charmed by snakes, our sense of trust can be challenged, and we wonder where we can turn for stability.

Positive, measured action, taking a stand, or clearing out mental or physical deadwood can help us move forward. Rather than self-flagellation for getting caught up in the oratory of others or our personal demons, take a brush to it and sweep it away. Watching out for the jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire is also key here, clearing space does not mean we can go on a metaphorical shopping spree and fill it up with new crap!

Actions speak louder than words, and while retrograde Mercury finds Himself tongue-tied in Pisces, we can get on with the physical Spring cleaning jobs that can leave us feeling that pleasant tiredness of having worked our body while resting our minds.

Carnelian

Carnelian is a crystal of action. The common colour found in this member of the Chalcedony family is orange. It is a stone representing the combined martial and solar quality, the exalted Sun in the fiery temple of Mars.

Moving onwards, especially from a past that may have caused pain but has become the norm, can be challenging. If you have been stuck in a rut of a dead-end job, a difficult or stale relationship, or just clutter in your home, we can all find something that can be swept out with spring cleaning this eclipse season.

Eclipse energy can be intense, and with many articles and videos on the subject reminding us of this, we can sometimes get ourselves wound up in anxiety at these times of the year. I am a Sagittarius rising, and I prefer thinking that hope springs eternally.

Like birds and butterflies, seedlings cannot become plants until they break through their casings or shells. It is the struggle of birth that brings the most resilience and strength. Many of us will be aware of the phrase “we have to give blood, sweat, and tears”, which speaks of sacrificing something of ourselves for a worthwhile outcome. Carnelian assists us in these pursuits and gives us a physical and mental boost to push forward fearlessly and with courage.

Rather than a step-by-step meditation this month, here are a few ideas for working with this energy. If you want a meditation, here is the link to Carnelian Part One, which I wrote for last year's Aries eclipse.

Wearing Carnelian at this time is the best way to harness the energy; it is an easily obtained and relatively inexpensive stone.

Carnelian makes a wonderful elixir or gem water. You can make it and use it as a spray for your room to lift the energy, or sip it occasionally throughout the day when you feel your strength, will, or resistance begin to fall.

Suppose you feel the Neptune into Aries ingress as energy bubbling over or steam rising with anger. Carnelian can calm that energy while replacing the negative thought patterns that fuel our primitive emotions. I have begun a new practice recently and discussed this with some friends; if I find myself getting caught up in challenging thought patterns, I internally sing the Beatles song “ All You Need Is Love”, mainly just the “Love, Love, Love” bit over and over until I feel my thoughts reset. You may have another phrase or tune that works for you; I chose this one as it is such a simple song with a powerful message.

Spring cleaning, be it your home, garden, or thoughts in your mind, this energy is really good to sweep away the cobwebs and make space for the new phase.

Sweeping can be literal or metaphorical and even fun if you can get hold of a traditional besom broom; I own a tiny hand-sized one. Thoughts and ideas you are ready to release can be written down and then torn up, swept into a fire-safe container with your little broom, and burned. Be careful with this one; make sure your workspace is safe and fireproof; if working outside, beware of sparks that may set off a fire in your environment. There are too many forest fires each year now; let’s not be the cause of another one.

Clear your space in the physical realm by packing up old items to recycle, donate to a charity shop, or, if neither of these is possible, take them to the bin and release them with love!

Moving big pieces of furniture where dust and grime settle and giving those hidden areas a good clean not only makes things more hygienic but also removes the negative energy that has been collected in these spaces. If you speak to a musician, they will tell you about how sound collects in the corners of a room. Sound is, after all, energy, so angry words will also get stored here.

If you argue in a room or have felt the energy level drop in the space, energetically clear the area before trying to find a resolution. Open your windows and start clapping as loudly as possible to drive out the negativity and entities enjoying feeding on that energy. Get right up to the corners of the room and around the furniture. Then get your tingsha bells, tuning forks, or singing bowl and clear the energy with a steady, continuous sound. Lastly, spray your Carnelian crystal essence in the space and feel how the mood lifts.

I hope some of these ideas work for you. May the eclipse energy help you to release the past in a healthy way and bring in the best of fortune to you and your loved ones.

See you on the other side in Taurus season!

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Saffron Dennis is an astrologer, crystal therapist, horticulturalist and tarot reader based in the East Anglia region of the UK. You can book her for a reading or as a speaker at your local or online event at divinebaytree.com