With a lunar eclipse coming up on March 12/13 and a solar eclipse on March 28/29, it’s time to publish my eclipse survival guide once more. Each of these tips apply no matter what type of eclipse we’re going through.
I’ll share a few thoughts about this week’s lunar eclipse towards the bottom, and publish something about the solar eclipse in a week or so.
Eclipse Survival Guide 101
In general, eclipses:
can be hard on your health and bring low energy in their wake. Eclipses can also be especially hard on the eyes, so go easy on the screen time if this happens.
can heighten emotions and lead to unclear thinking. The sun and moon are the luminaries, and when they become eclipsed, we might not see things as clearly as we would otherwise.
can bring drama — and watch out! The effects of an eclipse are felt for months after the fact, so make sure you’re not the one creating the drama.
What you shouldn’t do during an eclipse:
make any major life decisions. If you have the sudden desire to quit your job or get a divorce, hold off a bit before you get the ball rolling. If you still want to make major changes a week or two after the eclipse, well, alright then. However, right before as well as during the eclipse it’s really not the right time for rash decisions.
start something new. You definitely don’t have to stop life and hide in the basement, but hold off on beginning new projects or starting a business, for example, until the eclipse has passed. The general (Jyotish) rule of thumb is to not start any new activities ten days before a solar eclipse or five days before a lunar eclipse.
take drugs or drink alcohol. The world won’t end if you have a glass of wine with dinner, but in general, you should avoid intoxicating substances on the day of the eclipse.
do any manifestation. The energy of an eclipse is intense, and it may ultimately bring positive change. However, the actual time when the eclipse take place is malefic in nature, and therefore definitely not the time to do any type of spellwork of positive manifestation, if that’s your cup of tea.
What you can do to help you cope with an eclipse:
bathe. I don’t mean just hop in the bathtub, although I’m sure that would also help. However, the best would be to take a ritual bath designed to protect against the negativity. I give a suggestion for how to do so at the end of the post.
spend the day at the ocean or a lake. This would be another option if you don’t have a bathtub or aren’t a bath kind of person. In general, spending time in a sacred water space is always a good idea.
meditate and focus on positive thoughts. As my teacher Freedom Cole says in this video about staying on the right side of an eclipse, Vedic astrology in particular stresses the mindset you have during an eclipse will be amplified and echo in the months to come. Do your best to make sure the echo is a positive, uplifting one rather than the opposite.
deepen a spiritual practice or work with mantras; although it’s NOT advisable to kick off a 40-day mantra practice or other discipline on the day of the eclipse itself, you can go much deeper with a practice already in place.
fast on the day before and of the eclipse. Although this can mean really not eating at all, you could optionally just not eat until the sun goes down or forego certain foods and drink. However, these should be ones that are an actual sacrifice for you, like your morning coffee or sweet treats.
If you don’t have the luxury of taking the day off of work (I definitely don’t), try as much as possible to take it easy and avoid unnecessary stress.
Lunar Eclipse on March 12/13, 2025
Many of the topics I describe in this post are also baked into this lunar eclipse.
New Moon in Aquarius
In this episode, I talk about the upcoming new Moon, which will take place on February 27 in Aquarius in the sidereal zodiac.
A Saturn-Sun exact conjunction is taking place just one day before. On the collective level, this speaks to issues with authority figures and democracy (Saturn) at a crossroads. The moon’s nakshatra, Uttaraphālgunī, is related to contracts and union to organize resources, so expect potential drama around partnerships (also between countries) in the weeks to come.
This lunar eclipse features a Sankranti Sun, which means it is in the process of moving into Pisces – which will be the sign in the spotlight for the rest of the month. Sankranti is always a time when you should take it easy and not start new projects or physically exert yourself. Considering these same guidelines apply to an eclipse, this advice is particularly important to follow over the next few days.
How the eclipse will impact you personally
Although emotions can fly high during an eclipse, and they can be physically taxing, they often have a bigger impact on countries, regions and groups rather than on each individual person. You will likely feel the effects of the eclipse more strongly if you have planets in Aquarius or Pisces in the sidereal zodiac, especially if they are in the nakshatras at play here: Uttaraphālgunī and Pūrvabhādra.
However, even if it isn’t particularly affecting you personally, eclipses are stills an ideal time to go within and reflect. Here are some personal questions you can quietly contemplate on during this time that match the energy of this lunar eclipse.
Personal reflection
How do I personally navigate authority and structure – do I resist, submit, or redefine my relationship with it?
Am I honoring my commitments in a way that aligns with my highest integrity?
In what areas of my life do I feel constrained by external expectations, and where do I need to reclaim my sovereignty?
What contracts – spoken or unspoken – govern my closest relationships, and do they serve my growth?
Where am I being called to reorganize my resources, whether material, emotional, or spiritual?
How can I ensure that my long-term goals align with my present choices?
Working with Narasimha for protection
The deity Narasimha is depicted as the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver within the Hindu trinity. Often portrayed with a lion's head and a human body, Narasimha embodies the concept of divine fury and protection.
He’s the go-to deity when it comes to protection from the negative influence of an eclipse.
A great mantra to work with on an eclipse (as well as the days leading up to it) is the following, which is recited 27 times:
ugraṁ vīraṁ mahāviṣṇum jvalantam sarvato mukhaṁ nṛsiṁham bhīṣaṇam bhadraṁ mṛtyur mṛtyuṁ namāmyaham
Not exactly a beginner’s mantra at first glance, but it actually has quite a simple rhythm to it that makes it much easier to chant that one might think.
Here’s a video with the mantra as well as it’s English translation:
Ritual bath suggestion
If an eclipse is stirring up drama or uncomfortable feelings, another way to protect and soothe yourself is with bathing.
For a cleansing ritual bath, use bath salt, preferably natural ones without dyes or perfumes. Set the mood in a way you find relaxing (for example, light candles, play soothing music, etc.). In addition to the bath salt, add some cleansing and purifying herbs. Natural dried or fresh herbs are best. Some great choices include hyssop, eucalyptus, lemon grass, lemon verbena, rue, rosemary and lavender.
Once you’ve selected the herbs you’d like to use, say a little prayer. If you belong to a particular spiritual or magical path, you can do so in a way that aligns with your tradition. If not, just a simple request for cleansing, positive thoughts and peace of mind is fine.
Do not add the herbs directly into the bath (it’s messy and tends to plug the drain). Instead, put them into a standard tea strainer and either add this directly to the bath or steep it in a bowl of hot water first, then add it in later. Now sit back and enjoy your bath.
Michelle R. Dean is a Vedic astrologer and writer based in Berlin. To find out more about Michelle, swing by here.