I don't know whether more crimes will be committed on this harvest full moon, but one thing for sure, tonight at 2:48 GMT, we shall definitely witness an extremely rare astronomical phenomenon: a super red moon combined with a total lunar eclipse that will not happen again until 2033 (the last one took place in 1982). And as if that wasn't enough, astrology-wise, this event involves both karmic axes represented by the lunar nodes and the dark moon.
When the “equator” Sol has made his way,
And measures time to equal night and day;
O'er all earth's regions shine his genial rays;
Her poles' extreme may see his radiant face.
~ The Old Farmer's Almanach (1809)
Super Blood Moon
As we all know, contrary to legends and folklore, the moon doesn't shine. It looks so because it is reflecting light from the sun. Unlike the “Blue Moon” phenomenon which has nothing to do with a change of colour, there are few situations that can cause the moon to turn red, hence its poetic given name of “Blood Moon”.
The most common is when the moon is low in the sky, just after moonrise or before it's about to set below the horizon. The second can be caused by some particles in the air such as those you get after a forest fire or a volcanic eruption. The third actual and more dramatic reason is when the moon is eclipsed by the earth (passes into its shadow). Only the red part of sunlight will pass through the earth's atmosphere and get reflected off of the moon giving it its bloody rusty-red colour.
On this occasion, the moon appears to be about 14% bigger than usual because it is at perigee (at closest distance from earth on its elliptical orbit) — the autumnal equinox happened five days ago. Please note that astronomers prefer using the term “perigee-syzygy” over that of “super moon”.
A tetrad of total eclipses
Tonight's lunar eclipse is the last of a tetrad comprised of four total eclipses happening in a row at six-month intervals. The first three occurred on 15th April 2014, 8th October 2014, and 4th April 2015.
Italian Astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli calculated that the occurrence of such tetrads varies over centuries. Some 300 year intervals have several lunar tetrads, while other 300 year intervals do not have any. For example, the years between 1852 and 1908 did not have any tetrads, whereas the next 3 centuries will have 17 tetrads. (Source)
This phenomenon is expected to last 5 hours and 10 minutes and should be visible from most parts of the globe where it will be dark (too bad for Australia and the Pacific zone).
It will start entering the penumbra at 00:10 UTC/GMT. As it penetrates the veil of darkness, the lunar disc should gradually be losing its healthy glow to assume a greyish hue. It will take about 56 minutes to get fully draped into semi-darkness. It should start passing through the Earth's shadow at 01:06 UTC/GMT. This will be the beginning of the partial phase. As its still illuminated part dims to a thin crescent, the moon will take on a dull but subtle shade of grey. (Source)
One more end of times prophecy
Some people believe that the tetrad has special significance because the eclipses coincide with important Jewish festivals (Passover in April and the Feast of Tabernacle in September-October). They suggest it may be connected to the biblical prophecy mentioned in the book of Revelations (6:12): “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.”
The idea of a “blood moon” serving as an omen of the coming of the end times comes from the Book of Joel, where it is written “the sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”
Around 2008, [American pastor Mark] Biltz began predicting that the Second Coming of Jesus would occur in the fall of 2015 with the seven years of the great tribulation beginning in the fall of 2008. He said he had “discovered” an astronomical pattern that predicted the next tetrad would coincide with the end times. When the prediction failed, he pulled the article from his website, but continued to teach on the “significance” of the tetrad. (Source)
Another pastor, John Hagee later seized on Biltz' prediction to write Four Blood Moons, which became a best seller upon release in the spring of 2014, thus attracting mainstream media attention.
Karmic full moon
Full moon in the dirty sky,
That's all we can hope for:
Full moon over dirty hearts.
Astrology-wise, this over-amplified, magnified super full moon will occur at 4 degrees on the Aries-Libra axis also conjuncting the axes of the Dragon (lunar nodes) and of the Dark Moon (all fictional points on the orbital ellipse of the moon around the Earth). Regardless of any end of times prophecy, there is no doubt that some karmic release is about to happen somehow.
This eclipsed full moon highlights aspects of our lives that must be dissolved. It should also help us integrate and receive the unknown as we're letting go of the past. (Source)
I don't know about you, but I have personally started to acutely feel its effects at an emotional level. For the past week, I've had many vivid dreams and my intuitive perceptions are at their highest. Not to mention my mind which seems to take in both details and overviews with incredible ease and at unprecedented levels (hope it stays that way!). Probably because this full moon coincides with a lunar return on my birth moon (to its exact degree in Aries), forming harmonious aspects with my karmic axes (almost exact degrees as well), and soon to be followed by my annual solar return. Beware, upheavals ahead: don't piss me out tonight lest I should turn into a werewolf!