Why Eclipses Have Historically Been Bad Omens

Eclipses have been viewed as ominous for thousands of years, often associated with death, downfall, and disruption in both personal and political realms. Ancient cultures worldwide saw these celestial events as warnings from the gods, signals of instability, or precursors to disaster. Even with modern astronomy and a better understanding of their mechanics, the historical perspective remains relevant, because time and time again, eclipses continue to align with political upheavals, natural disasters, and significant turning points in human history.

Ancient Fear: The Gods Are Angry

Many early civilizations believed eclipses were direct messages from the divine, often foretelling war, famine, or the death of a ruler. Some examples:

• Mesopotamians (Babylonians and Assyrians): They meticulously recorded eclipses and noticed their correlation with kingdom instability. To counteract the supposed curse, they sometimes placed a substitute king on the throne, a puppet ruler who would "absorb" the bad omen before being executed. (This continued through Europe centuries later)

• China: Eclipses were thought to signal the death of an emperor. The character for "eclipse" (食) means "to eat," as they believed a celestial dragon was devouring the Sun or Moon. Imperial astronomers were tasked with predicting eclipses so they could prepare rituals to ward off calamity.

• Norse Mythology: The wolf Sköll was said to chase the Sun and eventually catch it, causing an eclipse. This was one of the warning signs of Ragnarok, the Norse apocalypse.

• Maya Civilization: The Maya linked eclipses with chaos and destruction. Pregnant women were warned to stay indoors to avoid giving birth to deformed children, and ceremonies were held to prevent disaster.

• India: The demon Rahu was said to swallow the Sun and Moon, causing eclipses. To this day, some Hindus avoid eating or drinking during an eclipse, fearing it will bring bad luck or illness.

The Demon Rahu eating the Sun

Norse wolf Sköll chasing the Sun

The Inca feared that a lunar eclipse was caused by a jaguar attacking the moon. They'd try to drive it away by making noise, including beating their dogs to make them howl and bark.

Historical Events That Prove the Fear Was Justified

Even outside of mythology, eclipses have aligned with political turmoil, natural disasters, and dramatic shifts in power, sometimes within days of the event.

• The Death of King Henry I (1133 CE)
  A total solar eclipse darkened the sky over England just before King Henry I died, leading to civil war and instability known as The Anarchy, a period of chaos where rival factions vied for control of the throne.

• The Fall of Constantinople (1453 CE)
  A lunar eclipse was seen over the besieged city just days before the Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople. This event marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and a massive power shift in Europe.

• The Execution of Charles I (1649 CE)
  A solar eclipse occurred weeks before the execution of King Charles I of England, reinforcing the belief that eclipses signaled the fall of rulers and upheaval in governments.

• The Wall Street Crash (1929 CE)
  The Stock Market Crash of 1929, which launched the Great Depression, occurred just days after a solar eclipse on October 22, 1929. Given that eclipses have long been seen as bringing economic instability, the timing is eerie.

• The Assassination of John F. Kennedy (1963)
  A total lunar eclipse occurred on July 6, 1963, just a few months before Kennedy was assassinated. Eclipses have often been tied to the deaths of powerful leaders, and this was no exception.

• The 9/11 Attacks (2001)
  The 9/11 attacks happened within days of a lunar eclipse on September 2, 2001. In hindsight, many astrologers have pointed to this eclipse as a harbinger of destruction and global crisis.

Eclipses and Modern Instability: Why the Fear Persists

Even with our modern understanding of the cosmos, eclipses remain markers of massive change. Astrologically, they are points of disruption, revelations, and endings and history shows that their impact is often dramatic.

1. They Bring What Was Hidden to Light

   • Scandals, secrets, and hidden power struggles often surface around eclipse cycles.

   • Governments, corporations, and leaders can suddenly fall from grace when an eclipse aligns with their chart.

2. They Disrupt Stability

   • Natural disasters, economic downturns, and unexpected shifts in leadership tend to cluster around eclipse seasons.

   • The pattern is too consistent to ignore.

3. They Mark Endings and New Cycles

   • Eclipses have historically been tied to the deaths of leaders, wars, and revolutions.

   • The world often doesn’t look the same after an eclipse season passes.

Should We Still Fear Eclipses?

Fear may not be the right word….but respect? Absolutely. Whether you look at them through the lens of history, astrology, or psychology, eclipses have always been tied to major shifts in power, fate, and fortune.

If an eclipse is hitting something important in your life, pay attention. Eclipses don’t bring slow, gradual change, they bring sudden, undeniable, and often irreversible shifts. Whether or not you believe in omens, history shows the warning signs have always been there.