The Blood Moon Tonight: The Tetrad with Easter and Passover

Last week, my cat died, this week a dear Alaskan aunt passed away, everywhere I go people are upset, and fighting, or refusing to answer me at the checkout line when I ask simple questions like "did I do that right? Is it beeping at me??"

Apparently, none of us is doing it right. Because all around us, if you truly listen with your inner heart, something is beeping.

Yep, the energies are in hyper drive this week and I had to put my sadness on hold and just deal with a lot of changes that seem to be in the air. Luckily, I am really good at that. I cry like a wailing banshee when loved ones die, and then I clean the house, cook dinner, decorate for Easter, and get on with life the best that I can.

Last year my husband had a stroke 3 days before Easter. We got him home in time for Easter dinner, all the kids and their partners came over and we had a wonderful day filled with gratitude. Somehow you just get it all done. And life goes on, and you get better and better at dealing, and stronger and stronger with each new challenge. And if you don't, well..you're probably not listening to the beeping.

And it's Easter, people, if you're Christian, or Eostre (Ostara) if you're pagan Anglo Saxon, or Passover if you're Jewish,  or just Spring..whatever your belief system might be! And let's face it,it's dark enough with the eclipse and the rain or the snow whereever you might be...time to bring in the light!

So, what exactly does it mean when there is a 'tetrad", a lunar eclipse, a full moon and a biblical event known as a blood moon...all at the same time? Well, the blood red part comes from the diffused light from our sunsets and sunrises combined with the effects of the other astrological phenomena of this season. And this particular astrological  event  is pretty huge and a rather strong portent, some even believe apocalyptic.

A tetrad is four successive total lunar eclipses, with no partial lunar eclipses in between, each of which is separated from the other by six lunar months (six full moons). And in just two short years, we now have one!

According to a biblically based book titled "Four Blood Moons: Something is About to Change".
Christian Pastors, Mark Blitz and John Hagee speak of a lunar tetrad as representing a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy as described in Joel 2:31 (Common English Bible):

"The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood before the great and dreadful day of the lord comes."

That description, by the way, describes both a total solar eclipse and total lunar eclipse. Sun turned to darkness = moon directly between the Earth and sun in a total solar eclipse. Moon turned to blood = Earth directly between the sun and moon, Earth’s shadow falling on the moon in a total lunar eclipse.

Doesn't sound very good to me.

There are a total of eight tetrads in the 21st century but this one is the most significant because it conincides with two Jewish holidays..Passover and Tabernacles. Passover 5775 is of course a full Lunar Eclipse occuring Saturday, April 4th, beginning at 4:58 a.m Pacific, 7:58 a.m. Eastern, a.m. and 2:58 p.m. in Israel.

It is ironic that three of these four lunar eclipses were not/ are not visible – even in part – from Israel. The only eclipse that can be seen at all from Israel is the tail end of the September 28, 2015 eclipse, which may be observable for a short while before sunrise.

The Torah teaches a concept which some refer to as “Doubling”. It’s when something happens twice in order to signify that it is a message from G*d.

When Joseph explained Pharaoh’s dreams, he told Pharaoh that his two dreams were “one” (the dream of the fat and thin cows, and the dream of the fat and thin stalks of wheat). Joseph tells Pharaoh that the heavenly father has doubled his dream to indicate that it is true, prophetic, and divine in origin.

Several times in scripture,  a name is called twice to prove it is a direct call from G*d. “Avraham, Avraham”, “Yacov, Yacov”, “Moses, Moses”, “Shmuel, Shmuel” – these are all “doubled” to ensure nobody mistakes the caller for anyone else but the divine.

Now, we suddenly have this “doubling” of the Lunar Eclipses (twice on Pesach and twice on Sukkot, 2014-2015)

The Talmud (Sukkah 29:a) teaches that Lunar Eclipses are indicative of negative judgement towards Israel. Regarding the eclipse of the Blood Moon, the Talmud states: “If its face is red as blood, [i a sign that] the sword is coming to the world”

Apocalyptic, once again. Not sounding too good.

The moon is the closest planetary body to earth, it impacts our weather, our tides and our seasons. In astrology the moon is in effect, the intuitive principle of the feminine ordinance..it is our heart and thus acts upon the depth of our feelings.  And it also represents how we feel safe, nurtured and comforted...or not.

This eclipses happen on the full moon. Full moons always mark the end of a cycle. They help us let go into and to open up to new feelings and new beginnings. The nature of the moon though is internal and emotional so the endings that full moons mark are within us, it’s us being pushed to detach from that which is no longer an energetic match.

In other words, it is time for change. Specifically, for us to change or to paraphrase "To be the change we want to see in the world."In the world, with one another, and how we, ourselves want to be. For us and how we feel about ourselves. Period.

Eclipses add an additional dynamic and powerful force. A lunar eclipse means that the moon falls into the earth’s shadow (ombra) and the earth comes between the sun and the moon.

The sun's light is literally withheld or held back by the moon. The heart holds back our light. It forces us to look honestly at our own reality. To see beyond our mask and the masks that others wear.

It is not only a call to action, but a compelling push, an urge we must not close our eyes, nor our beeping ears, and most especially not our hearts to. It is a clarion call to change our lives and let go of ALL that is not working for us.

During lunar eclipses we are pushed into changes that can often feel unsafe, but really that is our own fear talking, holding us back, keeping us from the courage we truly have, and the truths we truly know to be all that we hold within us..... and know ourselves to truly be.

Happy Easter, Oestre, Passover and Tabernacles.  The holiest of all days combined. 

I'll be out dancing by the light of the moon. Grief and gladness combines in the heart as one. Thus the pain of both is both amplified and lessened for dispersal in all that is. As the old superstition goes, grab an empty bag..mine is quilted..and yell out to the universe "Fill'er up! Fill'er up!" Time for the rebirth of abundance, of love, of joy, and of gratitude.

shown above:
My small format art quilt titled: "Changing the World" created and donated to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative and purchased by Bill Volkening as the the titled of his book "Changing the World: Quilts from the Alzheimer's Art Quilt, The Volkening Collection, that he displayed in an art quilt show at Anne Amie Vineyards, Carton Oregon from Sept. 1-Oct.31, 2012
Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey from Alaska to Oregon with thousands of free Quilting, Sewing, and Crafting Patterns and Tutorials. Help change the world, one little quilt, art quilt, and prayer flag at a time!