140 SIMPLIFIED SCIENTIFIC ASTROLOGY
square occurs. Conversely, if the initial aspect of the eclipse is good, more benefit will be experienced during the months when sextiles and trines are formed.
The cycle of lunations is nineteen years; for example, in July 1900 the lunation occurred on the 26th of July in three degrees of Leo, and in 1919 another Lunation will occur on the 26th of July in three degrees of Leo. Thus the student may calculate the lunations of future years with sufficient accuracy for all practical purposes.
Eclipses may also be calculated for future years in a similarly easy rough and ready manner if the student has the ephemerides for past years.
During her monthly course the Moon zigzags across the ecliptic, and at the conjuctions, or New Moons, is generally a number of degrees away from the ecliptic. Under such conditions we have just an ordinary New Moon. In order to have a total solar eclipse the Moon must be directly in the Sun’s path as seen from the earth, and the declination of the Sun and Moon must be practically the same; also the moon must have practically no latitude.
There are never less than two eclipses in a year, and they are solar, nor are there ever more than seven, but these extreme numbers happen very seldom. The usual number of eclipses is four; two solar and two lunar eclipses, and they usually come in pairs and six months apart. The Full Moon preceding or
