October 14 Solar Eclipse Highlights South Node in Libra
Putting a Face on It: Waylon Smithers, Jr.
A Solar Eclipse is a special kind of New Moon that takes place close to one of the Moon’s Nodes. This coming Saturday, October 14, 2023, the New Moon in Libra will occur close to the South Node in Libra, making it a Solar Eclipse. Read on to learn about the physical and symbolic qualities of this Solar Eclipse.
Where and when to see it
The New Moon at 21° Libra is exact at 1:55 pm EDT (10:55 am PDT) on October 14, 2023. However, the Solar Eclipse is visible in the western United States a bit earlier that day. Its path cuts diagonally from the Oregon Coast to Texas.
GreatAmericanEclipse.com provides a detailed table of when the eclipse is visible in each city along its path. For example, where I live in Eugene, Oregon, the partial eclipse begins at 8:05 am PDT, the annular eclipse begins at 9:16 am PDT, and the partial eclipse ends at 10:39 am PDT.
Don’t forget your eclipse glasses!
One key difference between a Lunar Eclipse and a Solar Eclipse is that you must have special glasses to look at a Solar Eclipse. It’s never unsafe to look directly at the Moon, and that is also true during a Lunar Eclipse. However, it is always unsafe to look directly at the Sun, and that is still true during a Solar Eclipse.
Although you may have eclipse glasses, typically with frames made of cardboard or heavy paper, left over from a previous Solar Eclipse, look at the fine print on the inside: some manufacturers say you shouldn’t reuse the glasses after three years. I tried to find out more about this on Google, but the results were inconclusive. As inexpensive as new eclipse glasses are, I figured I’d rather buy new glasses than worry about it.
The Bi-Mart stores in the Pacific Northwest are now selling eclipse glasses for 99 cents per pair. Look at them closely before you buy them — I had to return the first pair I bought because it was scuffed, and you do not want any scuffs or scratches compromising your protection from the Sun.
My new eclipse glasses are branded as suitable for both the October 14, 2023, Solar Eclipse and the April 8, 2024, Solar Eclipse. However, I do not live along the path of the April 2024 Solar Eclipse, which runs diagonally from Maine to Texas. The only part of the United States in the path of both eclipses is a portion of Texas.
Don’t forget to engage your other senses!
The sight of a Solar Eclipse is pretty spectacular, but you’re not the only one looking at it! During the August 2017 Solar Eclipse, I made sound recordings of neighborhood birds reacting loudly to the event. They clearly don’t have paper eclipse glasses from Bi-Mart, so I don’t know how they protect their little eyes.
South Node in Libra Archetype: Waylon Smithers, Jr.
The South Node in any Zodiac sign tends to bring out the worst qualities associated with that Zodiac sign. In the case of Libra, an honorable focus on nurturing relationships can unfortunately cross the line into codependence and getting pushed around by others. I have the South Node in Libra myself, and I definitely relate to the character of Smithers on The Simpsons.
Simpsons Wiki notes that the year of birth of Waylon Smithers, Jr., is unknown, so I can’t say for sure that he was born during a South Node in Libra transit. However, the devoted executive assistant to Mr. Burns is a good image of how the South Node in Libra can manifest.
Smithers may be sexually attracted to Burns, but the dynamic doesn’t always have to be about sex. Regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of anyone involved in the situation, the South Node in Libra tends to be fascinated with power yet unwilling to claim it openly.
Mr. Burns is known for being ridiculous and unreasonable. That would make him an absolutely enticing challenge for someone who has the South Node in Libra.
The South Node in Libra wants order and harmony. Of course, a threat to order and harmony reliably occurs whenever an unreasonable person is told no. Some unreasonable people are capable of creating a storm of drama on the level of a full-on natural disaster! They are simultaneously as helpless as a baby and as destructive as an erupting volcano, and only the total capitulation of the South Node in Libra can save them (and everyone else) from their catastrophic distress!
How does the South Node in Libra feel after calming that storm?
The North Node in Aries is ruled by Mars, and this is a very Mars image that I made using the NightCafe AI art generator. (I also captioned both memes on imgflip.com.) I suspect it’s exactly how nerdy-looking Smithers feels on the inside when releasing the hounds for Mr. Burns!
It’s important to recognize that a South Node in Libra person could be living out their powerful Mars energy in ways that aren’t immediately obvious — and that a situation outsiders see as appalling might actually be a source of great pride for them. Although you may feel compelled to suggest alternatives to them, do it in a way that honors their dignity.
If you are exasperated with your South Node in Libra loved one and trying to convince them that they need to say no to whoever is walking all over them this time, first make sure that they are allowed to say no to you too. The South Node in Libra has an acute radar for any hint of unfairness in that regard!
When I did office work in the past, it absolutely brought out the Smithers in me. Self-employment has its challenges, but I think it is currently the best strategy for me to avoid some of the ways that my South Node in Libra can go very wrong. I cannot hide behind anyone else as I move toward embodying my North Node in Aries!