September 21-22 Solar Eclipse: The Cosmic Contract Review
- Pamela McDonough
- Sep 20
- 12 min read
In this edition: New Moon/Solar Eclipse Insights & Rising Sign Guide
🔮 New Moon Insights: A Solar eclipse with an emphasis on karmic reckoning around sacred contracts, relationships, and personal commitments.
🌟 Rising Sign Guide: The dual signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces rising are especially activated during this eclipse, but Taurus and Capricorn rising are also in the eclipse crosshairs!
✨ A Message from Pamela
Eclipses signify a period of change and transformation, often revealing things that need to come to the surface. This particular eclipse occurs the day before the Fall Equinox and the transition of seasons. The Sun also moved into Virgo on September 16, and while the light is shifting in the two hemispheres, many of us are sensing a quiet but undeniable call to re-balance. You don’t have to have it all figured out. But you do have to be willing to see clearly.
The Solar eclipse also coincides with the start of Navaratri, the nine-night celebration of divine feminine power which honors different forms of the Goddess from fierce protector to wise mother, her forms rise through this festival, carrying us through shadow and light alike.
Keep looking up (just not directly at the eclipse!),
Pamela
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Lunar Lowdown: The Soul Contract Eclipse - Realigning Your Life's Commitments
New Moon/Solar Eclipse Snapshot: Your Lunar Coordinates
Date & Time: September 21, 2025 at 12:54 PM PDT
Sign & Degree: 4°52’ Virgo (sidereal)
Nakshatra: Uttara Phalguni – “The Star of Patronage”
Deity: Aryaman – God of Patronage and Favors
Ruling Planet: Sun (nakshatra), Mercury (sign)
Category: Fixed
Planetary Influences: Opposition from retrograde Saturn and Neptune in Pisces; Trine from retrograde Pluto in Capricorn; Trine from retrograde Uranus in Aries, Mercury in Virgo
You will not be able to see this Solar eclipse unless you’re traveling deep into the Southern Hemisphere, but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel it.
You might feel like you are in the midst of a mental fog around the eclipse time. That's because the planet of communication, Mercury ruler of Virgo and the ruler of the eclipse sign is caught in the eclipse's shadow. It's a good idea to wait a few days after the eclipse before making any big decisions.
And this eclipse isn't just about the planets conventionally considered in Vedic astrology. The outer planets: Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are also acting as collective generational catalysts for change. They're adding a deeper and somewhat disturbing layer to this event, challenging you to examine what you're truly responsible for at a soul level. It's about karma, not just convention.
If you're new to understanding eclipses through the Jyotish tradition, I recommend reading this article first, then returning to this guide for deeper insights.
The Sacred Contract Cleanup: The Invisible Ink of Soul Contracts
What really makes this eclipse stand out is that it falls in Uttara Phalguni, which is a nakshatra that is all about contracts, relationships, and the sacred power of partnership.
This particular eclipse is about taking stock of profound inner contracts. Not just the ones that you’ve signed with a pen, but what you’ve agreed to emotionally, spiritually, and energetically. The kind of commitments you don’t realize are always running in the background.
It’s not just about what you promise, but how those promises also evolve over time. Ask yourself: are you still honoring agreements that don’t feel alive anymore? Not out of love, but out of guilt? Or inertia?
Sometimes we just keep playing roles that we outgrew years ago. Maybe its because we haven't really considered them and other times simply because we haven’t figured out how to exit the agreement gracefully. And sometimes? Grace means telling the truth. That you’ve changed. That the contract, spoken or unspoken, needs revisiting.
Think of the eclipse as an an opportunity for renovation rather than punishment. A messy, sacred, soul-level reconfiguration of what’s real, what’s expired, and what wants to be rewritten. The invitation here is reflection, not perfection.
And maybe, just maybe, the kindest thing you can do is admit where your signature has faded, and it’s time to pick up a fresh contract and pen.
Stay Connected for More Insights If you're looking for deeper reflections and exclusive content on Vedic astrology, be sure to check out my Moondance Astrology Substack. With free and paid options, you'll get in-depth articles, personalized guidance, and much more. Subscribe here and dive deeper into your astrological journey.
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– With deep gratitude, Pamela
New Moon Solar Eclipse in Purva Phalguni: Your Rising Sign Guide
To experience the most accurate insights, use your Vedic rising sign rather than your Sun sign. Haven't discovered your Vedic rising sign yet? Calculate your free Vedic Birth Chart to unlock these powerful New and Full Moon guides.
Here’s how the New Moon Solar eclipse in Purva Phalguni may unfold for each rising sign. Please remember that your individual birth chart will add a lot of nuance to your Full Moon experience!
Note: If you are in the planetary period (Vimshottari Dasha) or sub-periods of Sun, this new Moon Solar Eclipse will hold even greater significance for you!
♈ Aries (Meṣa): 6th House Solar Eclipse – Restoring Right Relationship
This eclipse casts its light on the routines of your daily life. Especially around health, habits, and daily work. The 6th house is connected not only the mundane tasks that require we keep up with day to day errands, but also the subtle, often unspoken agreements we make in service to others. With Saturn and Neptune opposing this eclipse, you may feel emotionally or spiritually depleted by responsibilities or expectations that no longer ring true. This eclipse invites you to examine where duty has become distorted. The supportive trines from Pluto and Uranus offer an exit ramp. You can renegotiate terms, release perfectionism, or walk away from energy drains without guilt.
Reflection: Where have I mistaken self-sacrifice for service, and which boundaries needs to be restored? Where am I overextending, people-pleasing, or losing myself in service as avoidance?
♉ Taurus (Vṛṣabha): 5th House Solar Eclipse – Reclaiming the Spark
The heart of what brings joy to your life, whether it is your children (literal or creative), or your self-expression is being called into question. Something that once felt fulfilling might now feels forced, and this eclipse asks whether you’re still showing up from true inspiration or obligatory drudgery. With Saturn and Neptune opposing the eclipse, social commitments or dreams you have held onto for many years or even decades may be clouding your creative expression. You don’t need to abandon your vision, but it is time to reconnect with what truly lights you up. Pluto and Uranus offer powerful support for shaking off learned behavioral patterns done automatically. It is time to step into authenticity, even if it means letting go of how others perceive you.
Reflection: Where have I lost my creative spark and what joy am I ready to reclaim for myself?
♊ Gemini (Mithuna): 4th House Solar Eclipse – Returning to Center
Your attention turns inward to your home and deepest emotions for this Solar eclipse. You may be feeling pressure to hold it all together on the outside, although something beneath the surface is disturbing or feels deeply unsettling. If a living situation or your emotional foundation no longer supports who you truly are, this eclipse may expose some cracks. With Saturn and Neptune in opposition to the Solar eclipse, career expectations or pressures could be pulling you away from what you truly need to do to nurture yourself. The tension between outer success and inner stability is real, but you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. Pluto and Uranus can be the catalyst to reshape the emotional architecture of your life on your own terms.
Reflection: Where do I need to release expectations and return to what truly grounds and nourishes me?
♋ Cancer (Karka): 3rd House Solar Eclipse – Rewriting the Narrative
The Solar eclipse brings focus to how you communicate, learn, and express your personal truth to others. You may feel a growing tension between what you’ve been conditioned to believe and what your inner voice is actually is trying to express. If you’ve been holding back or defaulting to an old story that belongs to someone else, this eclipse can provide a turning point. The presence of Saturn and Neptune may be influencing established belief systems or philosophical perspectives, potentially impacting your capacity to act decisively and communicate with clarity. This alignment could also contribute to hesitancy regarding self-expression or presenting creative ideas. Pluto and Uranus support you in reclaiming your voice and to communicate with depth, courage, and truth.
Reflection: What outdated beliefs or stories are holding me back from fully expressing who I am becoming?
♌ Leo (Siṁha): 2nd House Solar Eclipse – Reclaiming True Value
As your chart ruler, the Sun is at the heart of this eclipse, creating effects that are not only very personal but also incredibly powerful. Your relationship to your value system as well as your finances, your voice and most importantly, your self-worth are being called into question. If you’ve been clinging to outdated definitions of success or financial security, this eclipse may reveal where your foundation needs rebuilding. The opposition from Saturn and Neptune expose financial dependencies, or possibly deep fears that create doubts with confidence. Something you’ve been holding onto out of fear, whether it is a personal value or a source of income, may now be up for review. Pluto and Uranus offer transformative support through your career and daily routines.
Reflection: Where have I been defining my worth through outdated metrics — and what values truly sustain me now?
♍ Virgo (Kanyā): 1st House Solar Eclipse – Redefining the Self
With the Solar eclipse landing in your first house/rising sign, this is an extremely personal event with a potential for a major reset. Your sense of identity, direction, and how you show up in the world is shifting, which may feel simultaneously like a calling and a crisis. If you’ve outgrown a self-image or are living life through someone else’s expectations, this eclipse could bring that mask to light. Saturn and Neptune will highlight your committed romantic or business relationships where roles may have become confusing, one-sided, or unsustainable. The pressure to define yourself through others must give way to a deeper knowing of who you are with or without external validation. Pluto and Uranus support creative, philosophical, and spiritual expansion, especially if you’re willing to let go of needing to be understood first.
Reflection: What version of myself am I ready to retire — and who am I becoming, on my own terms?
♎ Libra (Tula): 12th House Solar Eclipse – Surrendering the Struggle
One of the hidden parts of your birth chart, the 12th house of sleep, loss, meditation and the subconscious mind is highly activated during the Solar eclipse. This is a reflective time where you may be more withdrawn so that you can contemplate surfacing of old emotional patterns that no longer belong in your energetic field. This is not a time to push through your feelings, but to allow space for emoitional clarity to rise to the surface. Saturn and Neptune will continue to intensify pressure around daily routines and health habits, but surprisingly the deeper message is actually about letting go. Not everything needs to be solved or fixed right now. Some things just need to be surrendered. Pluto and Uranus demand a deeper inner shift, helping you unhook from unconscious fears or inherited burdens that have shaped your emotional landscape.
Reflection: What inner struggle am I finally ready to lay down — and what truth emerges when I stop trying to control it?
♏ Scorpio (Vṛścika): 11th House Solar Eclipse – Recalibrating the Vision
The eclipse brings up themes around future goals, community, your earning power. You may feel a growing disconnection from groups, friendships, or long held goals that once felt fulfilling but now might feel misaligned with your personal growth and evolution. If the vision you’re chasing no longer reflects your current values, this Solar eclipse is your cue and a chance to realign. Saturn and Neptune highlight tension between personal creative fulfillment and collective belonging. Are you foregoing joy so that you can fit in to your social or business networks? Pluto and Uranus bring breakthrough energy to your voice and your closest relationships — empowering you to speak honestly and form new relationships built on truth rather than obligation.
Reflection: What vision for the future no longer resonates and which communities or connections truly support who I’m becoming?
♐ Sagittarius (Dhanu): 10th House Solar Eclipse – Realigning Your Public Path
Your career, reputation, and life direction are all up for review. You may find yourself questioning the outer roles you’ve taken on, especially if they’ve become disconnected from your core self. Recognition or ambition that once motivated you might now feel hollow, especially if you feel as though your home life or emotional needs are being sacrificed in the process. Saturn and Neptune place pressure points between public image/private reality and peace of mind. What have you built your success on and does it still feel solid? Pluto and Uranus provide powerful momentum to restructure your values and reshape the way you serve, helping you define success on your own terms.
Reflection: What outer role no longer reflects my inner truth — and what kind of legacy do I actually want to create?
♑ Capricorn (Makara): 9th House Solar Eclipse – Rewriting the Belief
This eclipse makes waves in your dharmic purpose, and religious or spiritual belief systems. As your chart ruler Saturn opposes the eclipse from the 3rd house, the tension between what you know and what you believe becomes impossible to ignore. Outdated worldviews, teachings, or spiritual frameworks that no longer align with your lived experience (especially if they’re rooted in fear, obligation, or someone else’s truth) will be exposed. This is not just a philosophical crisis, it’s a personal reckoning. Transformative Pluto moving through your 1st house in concert with unpredictable Uranus in your 5th house, support creative freedom and unique self-expression. You’re being asked to define your own meaning, to claim a worldview that reflects who you are now, not who you were when the journey began.
Reflection: What inherited belief or philosophy am I ready to release — and what truth wants to emerge in its place?
♒ Aquarius (Kumbha): 8th House Solar Eclipse – Releasing the Grip
As your chart ruler Saturn is in opposition to this Solar eclipse, the message is clear: it’s time to re-evaluate what personal and material values you’re holding onto and why. This eclipse lights up your 8th house of transformation, and shared resources. If you’ve been clinging to old patterns of control, fear, or emotional entanglement, this lunation may push you toward release. There may be endings or revelations around finances in your key business or partnerships especially if they feel imbalanced or energetically taxing. Pluto and Uranus offer powerful support to help you detach from emotional survival strategies that no longer serve you. This is a threshold moment. You’re not losing power, you’re reclaiming it.
Reflection: What fear or attachment am I ready to release — and what trust or truth could take its place?
♓ Pisces (Meena): 7th House Solar Eclipse – Rewriting the Contract
This eclipse falls in your 7th house of committed relationships, shining a light on the emotional contracts you’ve made with others and with yourself. With Saturn and Neptune opposing the eclipse from your first house, there may be confusion or heaviness around sense of self, especially if you have a pattern of defining yourself through your relationships. Saturn brings a demand for clarity: which partnerships are built on mutual respect and truth and which are held together by illusion, guilt, or old agreements? This eclipse may not expose all the answers at once, but it will show you what’s no longer sustainable. Pluto and Uranus support you in communicating with more power and detaching from relationships that no longer align with your evolving path.
Reflection: What relationship or contract no longer reflects who I am — and what kind of partnership feels true now?
Learn More About Pamela, Professional Vedic Astrologer
Pamela McDonough combines ancient Vedic wisdom with practical experience from decades in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds, offering a unique, grounded approach to astrology.
In addition to her deep roots in Jyotish, Pamela is also highly trained in Western astrology — including advanced techniques like astrocartography, secondary progressions, and solar returns. She often bridges clients’ understanding from the Western tropical to the Vedic sidereal system with clarity and compassion.
Dedicated to empowering individuals with deep insights into their birth charts, her practice fosters personal growth and improved decision-making. Through her consultations, clients gain clarity on career transitions, insight into relationship patterns, guidance on optimal timing for important decisions, and a deeper understanding of their unique life purpose and challenges.
Clients appreciate her blend of practical life experience and astrological knowledge, often describing her intuitive, actionable advice as transformative in both career and personal spheres.
In her book "Vedic Astrology for Beginners", Pamela shares accessible teachings on the ancient art of Jyotish, enabling readers to navigate life's ups and downs with astrological guidance.
Ready for a transformative journey of self-discovery? Schedule a consultation with Pamela today and experience how her grounded, intuitive approach to Vedic astrology can guide you toward greater clarity, purpose, and fulfillment. Visit the reviews page. to read about the transformative experiences of her clients.
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