There are two important words we need to apply to our experience when we think about an eclipse: emphasis and crisis. For a few weeks before an eclipse, matters in relation to the area of our lives about to be charged seem very comfortable, unthreatening and safe. In fact, if we are asked about something related to this part of our lives, we would probably respond, "Everything is fine. No problems." Often we cannot come up with any alternative to what we are experiencing in this area of our lives, so we are focused on other things that call for our attention.
An eclipse tends to bring matters related to at least one area of our lives to a crisis stage during the months immediately following the time of the eclipse. Everything changes, we feel challenged to transform and change all of the old, familiar things we have become accustomed to in important parts of our lives - we just don't know how, yet!
Metaphysically speaking, if we can begin to work with issues relating to the affected house or planets (preferably a bit before the time of the actual Eclipse), we can ease the effect of the crisis. The easiest way to work with the issues is to create a vision of how we would like thing to be - if we didn't have to think all the same thoughts we have been thinking for a while. Then, when the vision has been created - let it go out into the Universe - forget about it, and get on with life, taking advantage of the opportunities and chances offered to make changes in our life!
In our individual charts, Eclipses are experienced in the house in which they occur, and through the "mirror" of the opposite house. In our individual lives, Eclipses are experienced in the areas of our lives in which they occur, and through the "mirror" of the other people, environments and circumstances we have chosen to be a part of our experience.