Thus, if Mars rule over the sign in which the eclipse falls, and is placed in the eighth house of the figure, it will denote some grievous calamity, causing many sudden and terrible deaths: if in the sixth house much sickness, if in the third many terrible railway accidents. The same with the other malefics. When the benefics rule over the place of the eclipse, the effects are better, but much depends upon the strength of the ruling planet.
The effects of eclipses are spread over a long period in proportion to the duration of the eclipse. If a solar eclipse, then the effects will last as many years as the eclipse is hours in duration. Thus the total eclipse of November 1 st, 1910, lasts 4h. 35m., equal to four years seven months. If a lunar eclipse, then the effects will last for as many months as the eclipse is hours long. The lunar eclipse of November 16 th, 1910, lasts for 3h. 14m., equal to three months seven days. It is not altogether certain whether this period of duration means from the date of the eclipse, or from the commencement of its effects, but it is more probably the latter.
Several rules are given in regard to this matter, and experience alone can best decide which are correct. Cardan says, “To know when the effects of an eclipse will begin to be felt, take the distance of the rising of the luminary to the middle of the eclipse, or from the middle of the eclipse to the next rising of the luminary in hours and minutes. The proportion of time the length of day may bear to the year in the case of a Solar eclipse, and the proportion of time the night may bear to the year in a Lunar eclipse, will show the proportion of the year due to the interval obtained. ” Ptolemy says:
1. If the eclipse falls in the eastern horizon, the effects will manifest themselves about the next four months, and most strongly will operate during the first third of such period.
2. If it falls in the midheaven, the events thereof will begin to appear from the fourth to the eighth month following the eclipse, and the chief effects will happen during the second or middle part of that period.
3. If falling in the western horizon, the effects will appear from the eighth to the twelfth month, following the eclipse, and the chief effects will be felt in the last part of that period.
The most reliable rule, as far as experience goes, is to calculate the time of Sunrise or Sunset from the middle of the eclipse, and reckon this time at the rate of one day for every four minutes, or 24 hours to the year.
In the next two chapters are given the effects of solar and lunar eclipses when falling the three decanates of each sign. These observations have been handed down to us, and have been found to be very reliable, if not entirely so.
It should be observed here that a decanate is the third part of a sign, and consists of ten degrees. The first decanate of a sign extends from 0° to 10°, the second from 10° to 20°, and the third from 20° to the end of the sign.