What TikTok Told Me About The Total Eclipse

I wasn't going to write about the total solar eclipse. Not because I wasn't excited or didn't think it was incredibly interesting, but I figured several of us would be writing about it and thought I'd wait a week for another bit of witchy inspiration to strike. But alas, my TikTok feed was not quite as patient.

Do you ever scroll on social media and stumble upon a creepily accurate video that describes your life in perfect detail? Usually, this freaks people out because Our phones are listening to us! but I've always thought it made online shopping much easier and prevented my phone from recommending bad music. Anywho, occasionally my feed provides me with a video that convinces me I'm being watched, not just tuned in to. On Monday, around 3:30 PM, I was lazily scrolling on my phone to recuperate from a long work day when a video popped onto my feed:

@athenascrystals follow for more astrology updates👀✨ #astrologytiktok #astrology #whitewitch #solareclipse #newmoon ♬ The Champion - Lux-Inspira

So, sorry for getting a little TMI, my feed got invasive, but call me intrigued. According to Athena, any woman starting her menstrual cycle this Monday, April 8th during the total solar eclipse is "considered to be a white witch and extremely powerful." Thanks to the new moon and solar eclipse in Aries, the naturally magnetic energy white witches possess makes them the epitome of femininity.

Evidently, this menstrual cycle timing also means white witches have the power to manifest their desires because "the lunar energies are literally working with [them]" rather than against them, even during a chaotic season of eclipse energy. 

I'm not big into astrology, but I do believe there's some power in manifesting and drawing your desires toward you with effort and intentionality. I also think women's health is particularly fascinating, specifically when it's connected to a source of power. Typically, menstruation is viewed as a hindrance, a suffering that women endure, so it's interesting to see it drawn on as a kind of "magic."

Plenty of weird stuff happens during a solar eclipse, and one common theme this year was abnormal menstrual cycles:

"Turns out, loads of women have noticed what may be a strange side effect of today's solar eclipse... Plus, plenty of people on TikTok are claiming that their periods are acting up this month, with some believing that the energy of the eclipse is bringing about an early or heavy bleed, or stronger emotions and PMS."

What's even more interesting is that periods are already deeply connected to astrology thanks to their similarity to the cycles of the moon, taking about the same amount of time and causing just as much chaos to our bodies as the moon does to the tides. In some traditions, the ideal time to start menstruating for this reason is the beginning of a new moon cycle - so adding the total solar eclipse on top of that this week was truly wild. Sadly, there's not a ton of scientific proof of this phenomenon.

"'Dr. Giuseppe Aragona previously told GLAMOUR: “Most often it is coincidence if the moon and menstrual cycles align or sync up, rather than any actual science or biological reasons behind it. However, many spiritual people may like to believe that there are reasons behind this, and in most cases, it is harmless if not a good way of promoting a healthy relationship and connection to our bodies to believe in such things.'"

“'Although many believe the eclipse foretells doom or danger upon us all, it is wrapped only in mystic beliefs and has no scientific validity on negatively affecting one’s health," women's health acupuncturist and infertility specialist Kristen Burris, L.Ac, told Romper.'"

Like we've talked about time and time again though, you can have belief without scientific proof, and strong enough belief makes things relatively real. So if I'm a white witch, what can I do?

A white witch is defined as "a person who practices magic for altruistic purposes." They're generally considered to be good, selfless, nurturing, and connected to nature or a motherly spirit. It's the benevolent counterpart to black magic (which is not racially charged at all...). 

So why did white witches specifically gain power when bleeding during the eclipse? In part due to their connection to nature. Syncing with a rare and incredible natural occurrence reinforces and strengthens their existing connection with elements of nature. I also think the inherent "goodness" associated with the white witch serves as a positive combatant against the dark, unpredictable energy of an eclipse, which allows them to safely harness the power.

Perhaps I'll make some small manifestations in the next few days as I ride the high of the eclipse, but I'll do so in moderation knowing full well I'm not the ideally selfless and motherly white witch archetype. Why pass up the opportunity when the next total solar eclipse won't occur in Texas until August 23, 2044?