Feeling Blue? Thank the Moon, Astrologers Say

Randy Goldberg, who also practices astrology in Washington, predicted more concrete results for the general public.

"On a collective level, there are some ominous trends that are out there," said Goldberg, who has been performing astrology services for 20 years. "This particular eclipse is very connected with economic cycles, so there is a strong possibility of a strong economic downturn, especially with the property bubble bursting. In April there could be a terrorist thing."

Goldberg said his research indicates that a lunar eclipse often brings to the forefront problems that have been buried in one's subconscious. A person's shadow -- a concept developed by psychologist Carl Jung to describe parts of life one hopes to repress -- can make a sudden appearance around the time of an eclipse, he said.

"Things that are unseen become seen," Goldberg said. "It can be negative in terms of seeing this stuff you're trying to put off and not deal with, a part of yourself you don't accept."

Perhaps the most commonly felt effect of last night's eclipse, San Diego-based astrologer Kevin Burk said, is pent-up frustration. In astrology, an unadulterated full moon is considered a chance to discharge any feelings that have built up over the past month or so. By blocking the moon, Burk said, an eclipse allows negative energy to keep stewing until the next full moon.

A partial solar eclipse March 18 that won't be visible from the East Coast, combined with the fact that Mercury is in retrograde, means that Washingtonians will have unusually high levels of steam to blow off during the full moon April 2.

"If you're in tune with the cycles, you're conditioned to believe that there will be a drop in the energy that's been building up and you'll get a little calmness, but you won't," Burk said. "It may feel really powerful and then all blow up in our faces in the first week of April."

Evidence from the last full lunar eclipse supports the astrologers' argument that strange things can happen: On Oct. 27, 2004, the Boston Red Sox broke the most fabled curse in baseball, winning their first World Series in 86 years.