In this episode of “5 Minutes”, Dr. Robert Svoboda explores eclipses and their significance from both astronomical and traditional perspectives.

An eclipse is an example of syzygy. Dr. Svoboda appreciates this word because it describes when three celestial objects come into what appears, from the observer’s perspective, to be a straight line.

During a solar eclipse, the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon.

Solar eclipses are possible because of a remarkable relationship between the size and distance of the Sun and Moon. The Moon is approximately 400 times smaller than the Sun, and the Sun is approximately 400 times farther away from the Earth than the Moon. Because of this relationship, they can sometimes appear to be the same size in the sky from our perspective.

When these celestial bodies obstruct one another, a solar eclipse can only be seen from a limited area of the Earth, especially when it comes to totality. This is because the Moon’s shadow only falls along a specific path on the Earth.

A lunar eclipse is a much larger event because the Earth casts a shadow that can cover the entire Moon. Therefore, anyone on the night side of the Earth can observe a lunar eclipse while it is occurring.

Eclipses can only happen during specific periods called eclipse seasons, which last approximately 35 days. They usually occur twice a year, although occasionally there can be three eclipse seasons in a year.

The reason eclipses do not happen every month is because the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun and the plane of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth are not exactly the same. They are tilted by about five degrees. The two points where these orbital paths cross are called the points where eclipses can occur.

If the two orbital planes were identical, there would be an eclipse every month. However, because they are not aligned, eclipses occur only during certain times of the year, usually about every six months.

Typically, there are one or two lunar eclipses each year, although occasionally there can be three. There are usually a couple of solar eclipses each year, sometimes as many as five. However, not all of them are total eclipses. Total solar eclipses are uncommon because the Moon must be positioned precisely in front of the Sun, and the Moon’s orbit is not perfectly regular.

Dr. Svoboda explains that eclipses have a particular significance in spiritual practice. They are especially suitable for reciting mantras and meditating. His mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda, taught that reciting one mantra during an eclipse is equivalent to reciting a thousand mantras at any other time.

Eclipses are not considered suitable times for auspicious activities. One should avoid eating, drinking, and engaging in celebrations during an eclipse because the energy present is not the normal energy we experience from the Sun and Moon.

The body can sense that something is different during an eclipse. Therefore, rather than using that time for ordinary activities, it is better to use it consciously for meditation, mantra practice, and spiritual focus.