Nobody could have foreseen the young Mohandas Gandhi becoming a world leader. Small and unassuming, with a big nose and jug ears, the Hindu boy was so shy he couldn’t speak up for himself. But another side of him began to arise after he was married at 13 to a girl of the same age. He became a bossy husband who fought constantly with his wife. But at least he began to assert himself, a skill that later served him well.
Gandhi, born Oct. 2, 1869, had the Sun in airy, articulate Libra and Moon in fiery, stubborn Leo square Mars and Venus in shrewd, steamy Scorpio. In 1888, at 19, he moved to England to study law, leaving his wife and sons behind with family. He began wearing dapper suits and became a strict vegetarian. He also studied the Bhagavad Gita (Hindu scriptures) and learned the importance of non-violence.
After he passed his law exams, Gandhi was invited to work on a case in South Africa. That year, 1893, transiting Saturn was crossing his Libra Sun. And that spring, there was a total solar eclipse on his Sun, setting off that do-or-die Saturn transit. Gandhi embarked on a train for South Africa, which was then overwhelmingly nonwhite but ruled by the white minority. A white passenger complained that he was traveling first-class, and he was ordered to move to a lower-class compartment. Gandhi refused, and was thrown off the train. He spent the night huddled against the rain, asking himself if he should fight for his rights or go back to India.
Gandhi decided he would fight not just for his rights, but for the rights of all people. Soon he made his first public speech, urging the Indian population of South Africa to band together and fight for their independence. As he traveled the country, giving interviews, Europeans grew outraged. At one point a lynch mob gathered, demanding his life. But he later refused to identify or prosecute his assailants. His fame grew. Over the years, the man known as Mahatma (Great Soul) was repeatedly jailed and even subjected to a year of hard labor. But he continued fighting for justice and freedom until 1948, when he was assassinated.
On the 155th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth, we’ll be experiencing an annular solar eclipse at the Libra New Moon (Oct. 2, 11:49 am PT). Also known as a Ring of Fire eclipse, this rare event happens near the South Node of the Moon, marking the final Libra solar eclipse of this type for the next few decades (the last one was Oct. 14, 2023).
With the Sun and Moon closely conjoined Mercury in Libra, this New Moon eclipse is about peace, justice and speaking up – especially around long-standing conditions or relationship-oriented matters. Venus in Scorpio rules this lunation, forming a watery grand trine with Mars in Cancer and Saturn in Pisces. Though the eclipse happens in a strategic, intellectual air sign, strong feelings lie at the root of it.
When the Sun’s light is eclipsed, even partially, there are often disruptions, especially with world leaders. Prickly Mars is square the Sun, Moon and Mercury – an aspect which evokes that fateful shove off the train, prompting the decision that changed Gandhi’s life. If you have planets between six and 12 degrees of cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn), you also may reach a point of no return in some area of life. Because this New Moon is so decisive, demanding, yet potentially liberating, it may be best to wait for a week or so for the dust to settle, before forging ahead with any major new undertakings.
Many people will be speaking their peace around this eclipse. Heated words – in person or online – are likely. Yet thanks to all this Libra energy, our powers of persuasion are unusually keen. We’re able to make the case for truth. If you’re unsure what to do, dialoging with someone you trust can help (so can fact-checking on Snopes to weed out fake news). Perhaps you will feel prompted to channel your inner Gandhi and speak out for yourself or others. If so, honor that call. The Mahatma’s spirit will be with you.
Thank you, Lisa!
Beautifully written.