Working with the Cosmic Weather: A Solar Eclipse Through the Lens of Ayurveda & Jyotish
Photo by Laura Wencker: Rituals of Alchemy Retreat, Mallorca 2024
I have always been fascinated by the role the cosmic weather played in the lives of our ancestors.
Long before calendars and weather apps, people looked to the sky to understand the rhythms of life on Earth. Ancient sites such as Stonehenge bear witness to how closely our ancestors observed the movements of the sun, moon and stars — helping them mark the seasons, anticipate changes in weather and understand when to sow and harvest.
The sky was not separate from life.
It was a map.
And perhaps, in our very modern lives, we have lost a little of that connection.
Ayurveda has a long tradition of observing and interpreting the sky through Jyotish, the Vedic system of astrology, which differs slightly from the Western astrological tradition.
The cosmic weather right now
The sky is particularly interesting at the moment, with several significant celestial events taking place around the same time: the New Moon, a total solar eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower and a planetary alignment.
And while everybody seems to be going a little crazy about the eclipse, I felt called to look at it from a different perspective.
What if, rather than watching the eclipse, we used it as an invitation to turn inward?
Surya Grahana — the Solar Eclipse
In the traditional Hindu understanding, a solar eclipse — Surya Grahana — is considered an unusual and spiritually sensitive moment. Traditionally, rather than looking at the eclipsed Sun, one is encouraged to turn inward through meditation, mantra, prayer and contemplation.
So, first of all: you don't need to look at the eclipse.
And if you do choose to observe it, please use proper certified solar eclipse glasses. Ordinary sunglasses do not protect your eyes from the intensity of the Sun. Instead, perhaps let the eclipse become a conscious pause in your day.
Looking inward
According to Jyotish, the August 12, 2026 eclipse takes place in late Cancer (Karka), in the nakshatra Ashlesha, using the Lahiri sidereal zodiac.
Cancer is traditionally associated with home, nourishment, emotional security, belonging and our inner world.
Ashlesha carries the symbolism of the serpent — something that coils, holds, binds and eventually sheds.
I find this symbolism particularly beautiful and reminds me of the ouroboros. The snake biting its own tail.
It invites us to become curious about what may have become deeply embedded within us. The emotional patterns, attachments, habits and stories that we may have inherited — sometimes without even realizing it.
And perhaps the eclipse offers a moment to simply notice. It’s really not about fixing. Because when you notice, you’ll already have a big aha moment, that will ignite healing.
A simple eclipse practice
You don't need an elaborate ritual.
Create a little space around the eclipse. Put your phone away. Sit quietly. Meditate. Practise a few rounds of Nadi Shodhana. Or simply sit with a journal. If you follow traditional Ayurvedic practices, you might choose to eat very simply or prepare a light, sattvic meal such as kitchari. The essence here being to keep it simple.
It is about creating enough quiet to hear the depth of your feelings.
Journal with these questions:
What has been coiled up inside me and is asking to be seen?
What did I inherit — and what am I ready to stop carrying?
Which emotional patterns have travelled through the women before me?
Where am I holding on when I could soften?
What do I want to nourish now?
Perhaps simply let the questions accompany you.
There is something deeply beautiful about the symbolism of an eclipse. The light is temporarily obscured — but it has not disappeared.
Perhaps we can see this as a reminder that there are moments in life when clarity comes. Often it is not from doing more, but from becoming quiet enough to see what is beneath the surface.
With love,
Isabelle
