Eclipse: The Demon Who Waits

Tonight’s eclipse falls in Virgo, landing in my 12th house. And this week, The Demon called Anxiety has been loud.

I've written about Anxiety as a Demon, with the idea that Anxiety is a presence you can name, meet, and even befriend. (You can read the full essay here →). This Eclipse has brought The Demon to my doorstep.

Which makes sense: the 12th house is the realm of shadows, of what lurks beneath awareness; the 6th house is where our bodies hold the weight. This eclipse season (we had a lunar eclipse in Pisces on the 7th of September) is pressing directly on those places in my chart. So here Anxiety is, rattling my cage, reminding me that life is fragile, that loss is always a mere moment away, that to love is to invite danger.

I feel it most clearly as I settle my daughter (my youngest) at university, four hours away. I can’t feed her, can’t check she's sleeping safely and soundly in her bed, can't remind her what she needs to do, can't help practically when she is struggling, can’t hold her close. The Demon warns me of every possible danger. The Demon reminds me of every tiny thing that can go wrong, and leaves me wondering how I can possibly keep her safe. The Demon tells me there is inevitable pain in the future and I am almost overcome by the weight. What do I do with all of this fear?

But eclipses show us what has reached its limit. They ask us to release what cannot continue. And so I am trying to thank The Demon. I understand where They are coming from. The Demon wants to keep me safe, after all. The Demon has kept me alert as I've raised my kids. But it's time for The Demon to sleep. We have new lives to live. To embrace. And Anxiety and Joy are not easy bedfellows. I am ready to let Anxiety go. I am ready to surrender into trust.

For All of Us

Eclipse season often stirs anxiety. The light disappears; the ordinary rhythm is broken. The old fear rises: What if I can’t trust the future?

But the chart shows us where The Demon (or are They The Guardian? Read more  here →) stands guard. If you know your rising sign, look to the Virgo house in your chart. That is the gate where Anxiety may whisper this week:

• In the 2nd, Anxiety warns of not-enough.

• In the 5th, Anxiety whispers that joy is dangerous.

• In the 7th, Anxiety hisses that love will leave.

• In the 10th, Anxiety shouts that success will expose you.

• In the 12th, like mine, Anxiety hides in the shadows, speaking through dread and dreams.

The Demon takes a different shape for each of us, but the eclipse offers the same gift: to see him, to name him, and to step past him.

A Question for the Eclipse

What if Anxiety is not the ruler, but simply The Guardian at the gate?

What if the warnings are not the truth, but the last trembling before you step into a new life?

Tonight, as The Sun goes dark, you might ask: What fear am I ready to thank and release, so I can live the life I long for?

Where The Guardian Waits: Rising Sign Guide

During this eclipse in Virgo, the Demon of Anxiety may show up most strongly in the house Virgo rules in your chart. This is the gate where The Guardian stands, whispering his fears.

Read for your rising sign:

Aries Rising — 6th house

The Guardian prowls through your daily work and health. Warning you that you’ll never get on top of things, that your body will falter, that the grind will never let up. Thank Anxiety for the vigilance, then release the fear that life is only duty.

I am willing to trust that my daily rhythm can nourish me.

Taurus Rising — 5th house

The Guardian waits in the realm of joy, love, and creation insisting pleasure is unsafe, love will wound you, and creativity will fall flat. Thank Anxiety for caring, then release the fear that joy is frivolous.

I am willing to trust that joy is a strength, not a weakness.

Gemini Rising — 4th house

The Guardian hides in your foundations: home, family, and belonging and whispers that safety is an illusion, that home can vanish, that roots are fragile. Thank Anxiety for the watchfulness, then release the fear that you cannot build a home.

I am willing to trust that I can create a home that holds me.

Cancer Rising — 3rd house

The Guardian clutters your mind and voice telling you your words will fail, that you’ll be misunderstood, that you’ll trip over yourself if you try to speak. Thank Anxiety for the caution, then release the fear of expression.

I am willing to trust that my words can carry truth and connection.

Leo Rising — 2nd house

The Guardian guards your money and your worth hissing that you’ll never have enough, that you are not enough. Thank Anxiety for wanting you safe, then release the fear of lack.

I am willing to trust that I am enough, and there will be enough.

Virgo Rising — 1st house

The Guardian stands right at your gate of self shouting that you’re flawed, that you’ll never measure up, that simply being you is unsafe. Thank Anxiety for the concern, then release the fear of being seen.

I am willing to trust that I am worthy exactly as I am.

Libra Rising — 12th house

The Guardian lurks in the shadows with a voice that is vague but heavy; filling dreams and moments of solitude with dread and telling you, you will always be alone. Thank Anxiety for trying to keep you alert, then release the fear of hidden enemies.

I am willing to trust that I am held, even when I cannot see how.

Scorpio Rising — 11th house

The Guardian circles your community and your hopes warning that you’ll be excluded, that the future will collapse, that belonging always costs too much. Thank Anxiety for the loyalty, then release the fear of disappointment.

I am willing to trust in the future I am building.

Sagittarius Rising — 10th house

The Guardian blocks your path in the world shouting that success will expose you, that failure is inevitable, that you’re not ready. Thank Anxiety for the vigilance, then release the fear of stepping up.

I am willing to trust that my work belongs in the world.

Capricorn Rising — 9th house

The Guardian follows you onto the path of faith and meaning warning that beliefs will fail you, that wisdom won’t hold, that the road ahead is too uncertain. Thank Anxiety for the warnings, then release the fear of walking blind.

I am willing to trust the wisdom of the journey.

Aquarius Rising — 8th house

The Guardian crouches in intimacy and shared resources whispering that love will abandon you, that dependence is dangerous, that loss is inevitable. Thank Anxiety for protecting your heart, then release the fear of connection.

I am willing to trust in the gifts that come from deep connection.

Pisces Rising — 7th house

The Guardian stands in relationship hissing that love is too risky, that commitment won’t last, that heartbreak is certain. Thank Anxiety for reminding you of your tenderness, then release the fear of being loved.

I am willing to trust that love is worth the risk.

Wherever The Guardian stands in your chart, remember They are not the whole story. Anxiety is one voice in the council; loud, perhaps, but not absolute. Tonight’s eclipse invites us to see clearly, to be grateful for the vigilance, and to release the fear that holds us back. Beyond the gate there are other voices: Venus calling to love, Jupiter to growth, The Sun to life itself. The light will return. The path will open.

An Invitation

Eclipses stir what we cannot ignore. They wake The Guardian of Anxiety and bring Them to the gate, but they also remind us that They are not the only voice in the room.

Your birth chart shows where Anxiety waits and how Anxiety speaks - through your body, your mind, your relationships, your work. But it also shows the council of other Gods around you; the places where love, faith, and possibility are calling you forward.

This is the gift of sitting down with an astrologer. On your own, it can feel overwhelming; The Demon’s voice can drown out everything else. But together we can trace the threads, map the patterns, and remind you of your own strength.

A reading offers clarity, perspective, and relief. It’s a tool to see yourself more clearly, to name what is real, and find the courage to step through the gate into the life you long for.

If you’d like to explore where this eclipse is touching your chart (this is one in a series of eclipses spanning 18 months) and how to meet The Guardian with grace, you can book a reading with me [here →].

A note on AI & my writing:

I use ChatGPT as a writing assistant—not as a writer. These are my thoughts, ideas, and words, shaped by my lived experience and deep love for self-work, self-awareness, the spiritual journey, and astrology. AI helps me refine, structure, and nudge me toward better phrasing, but the voice you’re reading is mine. I use it as a tool to help me put into words everything I believe is valuable in sharing my insights. Honesty matters to me, and this is simply one way I bring my thoughts to life.