The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 = Vedic New Year 2024

By Edith Hathaway © 2024

The Total Solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 has been called the Great North American Eclipse, as its path runs through Mazatlan in northeastern Mexico up through Texas and 14 other states in the U.S. before reaching Newfoundland in northeastern Canada. This year it also coincides with Vedic New Year, which is the last New Moon in Pisces prior to the Sun entering the sign of Aries (all in the sidereal zodiac, Lahiri ayanamsha). Its Sanskrit name is the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada.

It is relatively rare when the two events coincide, as we shall see, and when they do it makes for a more dramatically action-packed year. This chart will tell us in what ways that happens for the country in which the chart is set. Further, a confluence of factors make 2024 an extraordinarily eventful year, as I described in my recent article on The Long View of 2024. Among the points I cover is the fact that 2024 is also a year of Solar Maximum in the 11-year Sunspot Cycle. It is also a year containing national elections in at least 64 countries worldwide, including the United States as well as the European Union. All in all, that is about 49% of the global population.

In the Vedic tradition, the date of the Vedic New Year is considered when Brahma created the Universe, so it has strongly sacred meaning as a major time of renewal. In this era it coincides with springtime in the Northern hemisphere, but due to the precession of the equinoxes – in some 1000 years Vedic New Year will fall in the middle of sidereal Aquarius.

This chart is used in Vedic astrology to forecast events for the coming year and is typically set for the capitol of a country to forecast events for that country up to the next New Year chart. As you can see from the list below, it is relatively rare for a Total Solar eclipse to coincide with the Vedic New Year. Currently it has to coincide with when the eclipse axis is cycling through the Virgo-Pisces axis. The full cycle of the eclipse axis runs 18 years, with Rahu and Ketu, North and South Lunar nodes, respectively. Its half cycle is 9 years.

Over a 150 year period, from 1900 to 2050, this merging of the two events occurs only 7 times, and only once prior to the year 2000. (There are several other eclipses in Pisces in this 150 year period, but only 7 of them are Total eclipses.) Almost half of these are concentrated in the 18 years between 2006 and 2024. That means that in this time frame there is a major intensification or acceleration of world events!

Total Solar eclipses from 1900 to 2050 at the Vedic New Year

- - - - March 17, 1988. Total Solar eclipse at 4:00 Pisces, Rahu at 29:23 Aquarius.
      - March 29, 2006. Total Solar eclipse at 14:38 Pisces, Rahu at 10:25 Pisces.
      - March 20, 2015. Total Solar eclipse at 5:23 Pisces, Ketu at 16:42 Pisces.
      - April 8, 2024. Total Solar eclipse at 25:12 Pisces, Rahu at 21:27 Pisces.
      - March 30, 2033. Total Solar eclipse at 16:01 Pisces, Ketu at 27:44 Pisces.
      - March 20, 2034. Total Solar eclipse at 5:32 Pisces, Ketu at 8:57 Pisces.
      - April 9, 2043. Total Solar eclipse at 25:22 Pisces, Rahu at 13:41 Pisces.

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Among these Total Solar eclipse charts that are also Vedic New Year charts, the only one that has its eclipse path running across continental United States is on April 8, 2024, as noted above. A previous Total Solar eclipse path on Oct. 14, 2023 cut across the western U.S. states, with its path intersecting the April 8, 2024 eclipse path in the state of Texas. This gives special importance to Texas in 2023-2024 and beyond. And as we have seen, Texas is the only border state with Mexico that has put up a legal battle against the U.S. federal government while attempting to protect its state militarily from the flood of illegal immigrants, since the Biden administration has refused to stop the flow, and in fact has done everything to encourage and organize it, along with the United Nations and various church organizations. A recent payment of $20 billion to the Mexican government has slowed down the flow temporarily, but is probably just an effort to protect Biden during an Election year. (Source: Todd Bensman, author of Overrun, 2023.)

The three Total Solar eclipses in 2033, 2034 and 2043, as listed above, have eclipse paths that involve Alaska, northwestern Canada, and the northwestern portion of the U.S at the very outermost region of the eclipse shadow. This makes the April 8, 2024 eclipse all the more consequential for the United States. Though the eclipse path can be several hundred miles wide, its direct path over specific areas of the world affects those regions in particular, especially over the next 6 months to a year, or even longer.

An example of this, though not a contender for coinciding with the Vedic New Year, the Total Solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017 had an eclipse path that cut right across the middle of the United States and was symbolically very decisive in reflecting the political polarization of the nation and the ensuing culture wars. It was the first such eclipse to cross both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the USA since 1918. The Aug. 2017 eclipse path started in Salem, Oregon. It swept across continental United States in a southeasterly direction, with the final point of contact at Charleston, South Carolina. This location, in turn, was historically a hotbed of secessionist activity during the American Civil War. Just 10 days prior to that Aug. 2017 Total Solar eclipse there were several very intense and violent events that occurred in Charlottesville, VA. A firestorm erupted over rallies and marches objecting to the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Many such historic statues were removed in 2017 and in subsequent years.

The Eclipse path of the Total Solar Eclipse Aug. 17, 2021

There was a Hybrid Solar eclipse on April 8, 2005, and since it nearly makes the above list, I mention it here. Hybrid eclipses are also known as Annular-Total eclipses. They are only total at certain locations on the eclipse path. Its eclipse path cut through the Panama Canal zone, Central America and the northernmost portion of South America, in addition to the Pacific Ocean. The lower southeastern United States was in the outermost portion of the eclipse shadow.

A Total eclipse has a more dramatic effect on people and events than the other types of eclipses, i.e. partial, annular or hybrid eclipses. An eclipse affects some individuals and/or collectives more than others if they have planets or important points in their charts within 3 to 5 degrees of the exact Total eclipse degree, even more so inside of 1 to 2 degrees. In any case, it will affect that house or sign area, and Vedic astrology tends to use whole sign houses, as I do.

Brief review of How to Read a North and South Indian chart.

As we look at the Total Solar Eclipse chart for April 8, 2024 – which is also the New Year chart for 2024 – we see that there is an intense concentration of planets that occur in the chart. This too is not replicated in any of the 7 Total Solar Eclipse charts listed above that coincide with the Vedic New Year. In this case all 7 classical physical planets are situated in only 3 signs (a Sankya Shula yoga): in this case Aquarius, Pisces, and Aries, and in Houses 9, 10 and 11. Such a bundling of planets on one side of the zodiac can sometimes bring seismic events on the earth, especially when conjoined with an eclipse, and we have already had an acceleration of seismic events in the U.S. just in the week preceding this April 2024 eclipse, both on the East and West coasts, which is unusual. But this need not be confined to the United States. The principle applies to all locations on the earth, though locations on the eclipse path get particular attention.

We have already covered why the Vedic New Year chart of 2024 would be a standout year in the early 21^st century as a powerfully eventful, if not also tumultuous year, though many changes are clearly needed in order to cleanse the world of problems and corruption that have accumulated. We have already seen several events involving the collapse or near-collapse of some major bridges in the U.S. in the weeks leading up to this eclipse. In fact, the Baltimore Bridge collapse occurred some 24 hours after the Lunar eclipse on March 25, 2024. The focus of planets in the WATER sign of Pisces in the 4^th house of the USA (Kelleher) chart shows that there will be major emphasis on infrastructure, especially related to waterways and/or real estate related to water or perhaps affected by flooding or heavy rains, as has happened recently along the California coast, but also due to the huge influx of illegal immigrants. We have already seen big problems with illegals taking over houses and/or apartments and using “squatters’ rights” in the U.S. This plays along with Marxist/Globalist goals to remove property rights, which is a key point in The U.S. Constitution. With issues like these, we see how the 9^th house of legal matters gets so much focus in the Vedic New Year chart.

The Ascendant of the chart is at 22:19 Cancer in Ashlesha nakshatra, symbolized by the coiled snakes, or Sarpa. Cancer rules over family, tribe, and nation, but this nakshatra brings more confusion or cunning psychologically, and may use some form of poison if needed to defeat its enemies. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and Ashlesha is ruled by Mercury. Tr. Moon is in the 9^th house in Pisces, and tr. Mercury is retrograde and gandanta at 0:36 Aries in the 10^th house. Gandanta degrees – the last 3:20 degrees of WATER and first 3:20 degrees of FIRE– are considered unstable and potentially even treacherous, since there is no nakshatra to bridge the juncture between WATER and FIRE signs.

Coincidentally, the USA chart (see further below) is currently in Rahu-Mercury Dasha (planetary period) from Sept. 9, 2023 to March 29, 2026, and both planets are located in the 8^th house of the USA chart. Thus, 8^th house themes seem to reverberate through this upcoming 12 month period, and in the USA chart that implies propaganda, and propaganda posing as public relations or journalism. But on the upside we remember that the USA (Kelleher) chart has an 8:59 Sagittarius Ascendant, very close to the Galactic Center and with Sagittarius undoubtedly being the strongest possible sign for the nation-state and matters of patriotism and national pride. That is very much needed as the sovereignty and viability of the nation-state is under serious attack by Marxist/Globalists inside and outside our nation who are systematically aiming to undermine it. I have described this elsewhere in other articles, including The Long View of 2024.

The prominence of Mercury in this chart and to some extent its vulnerability reflects many of the themes of 2024 (up through March 29, 2025, which has a partial Solar eclipse at 14:47 Pisces). There are themes of censorship and suppression of information unless the conveyor of information follows the “official narrative.” These themes appear to continue to run rampant, including with all the Orwellian names currently presented to us: malinformation, misinformation, and disinformation. The most Orwellian is probably “malinformation,” which is information that is true and factual but considered harmful by authority figures since it does not follow the “official narrative.” Translation: If you know what’s good for you, do not speak the Truth. Do not feel free to give your personal opinion. Remember too that basic words like “mother, father, daughter, son,” and the like are forbidden as the Marxist/Globalists seek a gender-neutral world. That too must become part of the “groupthink.” Fortunately, many citizens are bucking these repressive edicts, though sometimes at great personal sacrifice. Massive reform is needed to turn around these trends, again reflecting the vulnerable Mercury.

Mars, Lord of the 10^th house (Aries) is situated in the 8^th house, indicating that the current leadership of the U.S. could either die or lose power in this upcoming period of time, there being of course the upcoming election Nov. 5, 2024. Mars is conjoined Saturn, lord of the 8^th house, which in turn is aspecting Mercury and Jupiter in the 10^th house of leadership. None of this bodes well for the current U.S. leadership.

But since 9^th lord Jupiter is strong in the 10^th house, creating a Maha Raja yoga, this is a hopeful sign that the matters of the 9^th house will have some improvement. However, Jupiter is receiving an aspect from 8^th house Saturn, which is a classical malefic and not a planetary friend to the chart.

Obviously 9^th house matters are receiving a great deal of focus, with the Sun, Moon, Rahu (north Moon node) and Venus in that house. The 9^th house covers the legal structure of the U.S. and its judiciary, the media, education, publishing, religion, and also immigration. It seems that Democrats want to use illegals to alter the census and therefore the number of representatives in each state, assuming that the flood of “newcomers” (Biden’s term for them) will vote Democrat.

Venus is exalted in Pisces and gives some hope of financial improvement, with Sun, Moon, and Venus forming a Dhana yoga of wealth. However, being on the eclipse axis there is some turbulence and unpredictability as to how this all comes about. The USA chart is experiencing a Pluto return to the 2^nd house of finance. Thus, a radical change of financial structures could be coming, and there are different ideas about how that could manifest.

But we need to keep a close eye on the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, especially given the adverse concurrent transits of tr. Jupiter and Saturn (using Ashtakavarga for transiting Jupiter and Saturn to the Fed chart). This starts May 2, 2024 and runs through March 30, 2025.

The U.S. Fed has had a record loss of $114 billion because of Biden’s policy on government bonds. Adding to the subterfuge, the Fed is refusing to be audited or to reveal their gold holdings at Fort Knox. This secretiveness may be reflected by the 8^th house placement of Mars and Saturn in the New Year 2024 chart for the USA.

There may also be a constrictive element to finances coming from Mars and Saturn in the 8^th house. Further, Saturn aspects Mercury and Jupiter in the 10^th house. Both Mars and Saturn oppose the 2^nd House of financial income. Constriction may not be an entirely bad thing, as the U.S. national debt is now totally out of control. But there is a plan in place to move the U.S. and other nations into digital currency controlled by the Central Banks coordinating with the federal government. There would likely be massive resistance to this plan, more so in the U.S. than elsewhere. In the EU, they want to start mass surveillance of private chats, which signals that they may be eager also to start digital currency sooner than the U.S.

Since Mars is considered King of the Year, according to the rules of Vedic astrology for the Yearly chart, its movements through the year are especially important. Saturn is the First Minister, or Prime Minister. Being a slower moving planet, it is easier to keep track of it, knowing that Saturn remains in Aquarius for the entire 12 months. In any case, tr. Mars and Saturn play primary roles in the upcoming 12 months and in the New Year chart.

Tr. Mars is extra aggressive when conjoined with Saturn, but also has extraordinary powers and at times revolutionary powers. This Mars-Saturn combination is in play in Aquarius from March 15 to April 23, 2024. Then tr. Mars reaches perihelion on May 8, 2024. This is its nearest point to the Sun, since its orbit is elliptical. Mars can run hotter then, and potentially more aggressive and emotional in Pisces. It conjoins Rahu and Mercury through May 10, 2024, then just Rahu (and Neptune) through the end of May. Rahu expands and exaggerates whatever it touches, and Mars-Rahu is no exception, whereas Neptune can obfuscate and/or over-idealize.

While tr. Mars is in Pisces (April 23 to June 1, 2024) we may see conflicts erupting and international tensions hard to keep under control. U.S. infrastructure is under maximum stress, Pisces being 4^th house of the USA chart. Late May 2024 is also when the WHO meets to discuss their new Pandemic Treaty, which the Globalists are eager to implement. From April 23 to May 2, 2024 there is a brief period when Mars and Jupiter exchange signs, giving a more diplomatic influence to Mars. A similar component applies to when tr. Mars and Jupiter join together in Taurus from July 13 through Aug. 27, 2024. Tr. Mars in Gemini (Aug. 27 to Oct. 20, 2024) coincides with a Mars return to the USA chart (see below). The U.S. may experience attacks during that period and/or become more aggressive with military actions abroad. The 7^th house has to do with foreign allies and adversaries.

Tr. Mars enters Cancer, where it is debilitated, Oct. 20, 2024 to Jan. 20, 2025. However, it will be on the 2024 Vedic New Year chart Ascendant, and with Mars as Year lord this defines a very eventful period of the year, with Mars a positive factor as Raja yogakaraka for Cancer Ascendant. Tr. Mars turns Stationary Retrograde Dec. 6, 2024 at 11:57 Cancer. Tr. Mars then spends the rest of the span of Vedic New Year 2024 in Gemini. Mars transits Gemini again from Jan. 20 to April 2, 2025. Mars turns Stationary Direct at 22:48 Gemini on Feb. 23, 2025, and this SD is close to exactly on the USA Sun at 22:38 Gemini. So we can expect to see some decisive action from the next U.S. President in Feb. 2025, shortly after the Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, 2025. We can assess these transits from the New Year chart and the USA chart.

Brief review of How to Read a North and South Indian chart.

Since Mars and Saturn are both located in the 8^th house of the Vedic New Year chart doubling as Total Solar Eclipse chart, we are probably assured of some major unrest and major restructuring. I have discussed in previous articles the likely outcome of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. But whatever the outcome, there is likely to be strife and tumult, especially with so many millions of illegal immigrants potentially adding to the chaos and/or disruption.

Given all of these factors, and knowing what an extraordinary year of change and possibilities there are for the upcoming 12 months, it is all the more important to keep the inner spiritual light kindled and bright at all times, being in this world but not of it.

Here is a brief prayer and meditation from The Upanishads, Chapter IX: Chandogya. (Brahman is God in this tradition.)

May quietness descend upon my limbs,
My speech, my breath, my eyes, my ears.
May all my senses wax clear and strong.
May Brahman show himself unto me.
May I never deny Brahman, nor Brahman me,
I with him and he with me – may we abide always together.
May there be revealed to me,
Who am devoted to Brahman,
The holy truth of the Upanishads.
OM….. peace, peace, peace.

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Edith Hathaway

Vedic Astrology

The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024 = Vedic New Year 2024

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