Photo : Mohammed Brzan · Pexels (libre d’utilisation)
The 2017 total solar eclipse, known as the Great American Eclipse, was the first total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States since 1979 and the first to cross the entire country coast to coast since 1918. Its path of totality stretched approximately 70 miles wide, traversing 14 states from Oregon to South Carolina on August 21, 2017. For the occult community, this event carried particular weight: a solar eclipse in Leo, the Sun’s own sign, witnessed by millions.
A Timeline of North American Total Solar Eclipses: 1806 to 2017
The 2017 eclipse belongs to a lineage of total solar eclipses that have crossed the North American continent. Each one carried its own historical weight and left a distinct mark on the people who witnessed it.
The Great Eclipse of 1806 occurred on June 16, 1806. Its path ran from Baja California through the American Southwest and up to New England. Lewis and Clark, then on their return journey from the Pacific, recorded the event in their journals. Meriwether Lewis noted the sudden darkness, the birds falling silent, and the temperature dropping. The 1806 eclipse was the first total solar eclipse to be widely documented by American explorers, and it set a precedent for the scientific observation of these events.
The 1869 eclipse on August 7, 1869, crossed the continental United States from the Dakota Territory to the Atlantic. Astronomers from the United States Naval Observatory traveled to the path of totality to study the sun’s corona. The 1869 eclipse was also the first to be photographed extensively, using the newly developed dry plate process. Newspaper accounts tell of farmers who hid in their cellars, believing the eclipse was a sign of the end of the world.
The 1918 eclipse on June 8, 1918, was the last total solar eclipse to cross the United States from coast to coast before 2017. Its path began in Washington state and ended in Florida. The 1918 eclipse occurred during World War I, and many astronomers were occupied with military work. Nonetheless, astronomer Heber Curtis led an expedition to Goldendale, Washington, to photograph the eclipse and test Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Theosophical circles in the United States saw the eclipse as a moment of spiritual renewal.
The 1979 eclipse on February 26, 1979, was the last total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States before 2017. Its path crossed the Pacific Northwest and Canada, hitting Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota. The 1979 eclipse was a cold-weather event, with totality occurring in winter. Fewer people saw it because the path was less populated and the weather was unreliable. Yet it was the first total solar eclipse to be televised live, thanks to portable satellite gear. The 1979 eclipse occurred in the sign of Pisces, and astrologers noted its potential for dissolving boundaries and opening psychic channels.
The 2017 eclipse differed from its predecessors in scale, accessibility, and cultural context. It was the first total solar eclipse to be anticipated for years through social media, the first to be live-streamed globally, and the first to bring millions of people into the path of totality. The path crossed major population centers, including St. Louis, Nashville, and Charleston. Pagan and occult groups organized gatherings in the path, from the Oregon Eclipse Festival to smaller ceremonies in backyards.
How the Astrological Signatures Differed
The 2017 eclipse occurred on August 21 in the zodiac sign of Leo, at 28 degrees and 53 minutes. Leo is ruled by the Sun, and a solar eclipse in Leo is considered a moment of intense solar potency. Astrologers interpreted it as a time to assert personal power, release old identities, and set intentions for the next 18 months (the eclipse cycle). The 2017 eclipse was also part of the Leo-Aquarius axis, a series of eclipses that began in 2016 and will continue through 2027. This axis is associated with the tension between individual expression (Leo) and collective needs (Aquarius).
Contrast this with the 1979 eclipse, which occurred at 7 degrees of Pisces. Pisces is a mutable water sign, associated with dissolution, dreams, and the subconscious. The 1979 eclipse was seen as a time for spiritual cleansing, psychic work, and letting go of attachments. The 1918 eclipse fell at 17 degrees of Gemini, the sign of communication and duality.
The 1869 eclipse occurred at 16 degrees of Leo, very close to the 2017 eclipse’s position. Both eclipses in Leo were seen as magnifying the Sun’s qualities of royalty, creativity, and courage. But the cultural context was different. In 1869, the United States was still recovering from the Civil War, and the eclipse was interpreted by some as a sign of national healing. In 2017, the nation was politically divided, and the eclipse was used by many as a symbol of unity or of a new beginning.
Practices: From Fear to Celebration
Historical practices surrounding total solar eclipses were often rooted in fear. The Norse believed the wolf Skoll was chasing the sun, and they made noise to scare it away. The Chinese banged drums and pots to drive off the celestial dragon. In the Americas, the Hopi performed rituals to ensure the sun’s return, including fasting and prayer. The 1806 eclipse caused panic among some Native American tribes, who saw it as a breach of the cosmic order.
By the 20th century, fear had largely given way to scientific curiosity, but the occult community retained a sense of reverence. The 1918 eclipse was observed by theosophists who meditated on the corona as a symbol of the spiritual light within. The 1979 eclipse saw small groups of witches and magicians performing rituals of dissolution, using the Pisces eclipse to release old patterns. The 2017 eclipse, however, was the first to be openly celebrated on a large scale. Pagan events like the Oregon Eclipse Festival drew thousands of attendees, and online communities shared eclipse spells and meditations. The difference was not just in the scale but in the tone. The 2017 eclipse was seen as a moment of transformation and collective renewal, not of fear.
One concrete practice that emerged during the 2017 eclipse was the use of the “totality moment” for intention-setting. Many practitioners structured their rituals around the two minutes of darkness, writing down what they wished to release and what they wished to manifest. The 2017 eclipse’s mild August weather and accessible locations made it possible for more people to engage in outdoor ritual.
What the 2017 Eclipse Revealed About the Past
The 2017 eclipse changed how we think about earlier eclipses. Because it was so widely documented, we can compare the experiences of attendees in 2017 to the fragmentary accounts from 1806, 1869, 1918, and 1979. The sudden darkness, the drop in temperature, the behavior of animals, the appearance of the corona: these are constants across centuries. In 1806, Lewis and Clark noted the birds falling silent. In 2017, observers in Madras, Oregon, reported the same silence.
The 2017 eclipse also highlighted the role of technology. The 1979 eclipse was televised, but the 2017 eclipse was the first to be streamed live on multiple platforms, with millions watching from outside the path. This created a virtual community that did not exist in 1918 or 1979. For the occult practitioner, this meant that eclipse rituals could be performed synchronously across distances.
Common Misconceptions About the 2017 Eclipse and Its Predecessors
One persistent misconception is that the 2017 eclipse was the first total solar eclipse in the United States in 99 years. This is false. The 1979 eclipse was visible in the Pacific Northwest, and the 1918 eclipse crossed the entire country. The 99-year figure refers to the time since the last total solar eclipse that crossed the continental United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic, which was indeed 1918.
Another misconception is that total solar eclipses are rare. They occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, but a given location may see one only once every 375 years. The 2017 eclipse was not rare in the global sense, but it was rare for the United States to have a coastline-to-coastline path.
A third misconception, common in occult circles, is that an eclipse is a dangerous time to perform magic. Some traditions advise against working during an eclipse, citing the disruption of energies. But the 2017 eclipse showed that many practitioners felt emboldened by the event. The fear of eclipses is rooted in ancient interpretations, but the shadow can be a source of creative energy, not just dissolution.
FAQ
Why was the 2017 eclipse called the Great American Eclipse?
It was the first total solar eclipse in 99 years to cross the contiguous United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and it was heavily publicized as a national event.
How did the 2017 eclipse path compare to the 1918 eclipse?
The 1918 path went from Washington state to Florida, while the 2017 path went from Oregon to South Carolina. The 1918 path was more northerly and crossed less populated areas.
What did occultists do during the 2017 eclipse?
Many performed rituals for intention-setting, meditation, and solar magic. Some organized group gatherings in the path of totality, focusing on releasing old patterns and welcoming transformation.
The 2017 eclipse was a landmark event, but it was not the last. The 2024 total solar eclipse crossed Mexico and the United States from Texas to Maine, offering another chance to witness the shadow. For a deeper understanding of these events, explore our guide to the history of eclipse magic and the glossary of eclipse terms. The vertical hub on eclipses provides further resources for practitioners.