There are many myths or historical truths about why this is an auspicious time of year, but suffice it to say, the Winter Solstice is the key point in the year for collectively celebrating the rebirth and return of the Light. Various cultures had celebrations, festivities and holidays beginning on or around December 21 and continuing for five days. Saturnalia was celebrated by the ancient Greeks as the Festival of Kronos and their Roman counterparts commemorated the Temple of Saturn, celebrating from December 17 - 23rd; these five days "outside of time" stemmed from a 12x30 day calendar. The important thing to know here is that Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn, the zodiac sign that the Sun enters at Winter Solstice. Saturn symbolizes focus and concentrated energy, even limitations, that allows the personality to evolve through discipline and responsibility - attributes necessary for manifestation!
Jesus of Nazareth came to be given much of the recognition that was
previously given to a sun god, or Sol, during the celebration of the Sol
Invictus Festival. The Festival of the birth of the Unconquered Sun was introduced in the 3rd Century Roman Empire by Emperor Elagabalus to be celebrated on December 25th and became so popular that under Emperor Aurelian, it was promoted as an empire-wide holiday.
From Winter Solstice on December 21 until Christmas on the 25th, tradition and myths combine to bring us the holidays. This time period is what really heralds in the new year and not the arbitrary date of January 1st. Let us now consider the planetary influences carrying us over the threshold into the new year, beginning with the Sun's entry into the Cardinal Earth sign Capricorn at the Winter Solstice. The solar force here supports all practical matters of business and career as well as physical structures and the skeletal system, including teeth, skin and bones! Make those appointments in January with doctors and dentists, accountants and tax people to make sure you start the year off on solid ground. The Capricorn New Moon on January 11th pulls together this pragmatic energy when the Sun (outer) and the Moon (inner) align to take care of business increasing the focus on material matters. Hard work and responsibility are what it's all about under Saturn's influence!
This past Friday's Full Moon concentrated on safety and security as it took place at 8 degrees of the signs
Capricorn and Cancer. This polarity highlighted nurturing, food, the nest, and family, as well as responsibilities, work, perseverance and the necessity of conserving resources. It is this focus that is emphasized as we transition into 2013 under the Disseminating Moon. While we are quick to note the Full Moon's placement in the
zodiac each month and what it highlights, we sometimes need a reminder
to reflect on the energy available during this particular phase of the
lunar cycle. The Disseminating phase is about follow-through and the best use of your efforts as revealed at the Full Moon. What do you want to continue to build on? I'm going to quote a brilliant Photographer, Greg Davis, whom I met with my daughter recently in Austin Texas, and say "Do not look back, you're not headed that way!"
Today's Moon in Leo can bring out the sunny nature of the kid in all of us, or the teacher, or the benevolent leader, or the drama queen - which one will you be? Which one are you willing to let lead you into the New Year? Be wise, be safe and be loving as The Moon can go either way after 4:52 pm when it begins to travel void-of-course, making the path a bit more adventurous and uncertain. Wait for new starts and declarations of any kind until after the New Moon, if you can!
January 1, 2013 comes in under a Leo Moon influence, but Luna quickly moves into Virgo, creating an opposition to Neptune in Pisces. Here's what you get with this particular Earth/Water polarity: discernment, orderliness, practicality and assimilation of information on one side of the coin (Virgo) and compassion, understanding, receptivity and intuition on the other side of the coin (Pisces). If you work too hard, are overly analytical or worry too much, take the day off to relax and enjoy an old movie. If, on the other hand, you tend toward escapist behavior, (ie. drinking, drugs or denial...) or a lack of boundary-setting, perhaps you'll want to clean out your system, closet or cupboard and replace an old bad habit with a new healthier one. Small steps... This is the energy available to us now, under the Disseminating Moon, as we move into 2013.
I want to wish you all a healthy, happy new cycle of joy and prosperity!! Remember, keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground. Blessings~
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Winter Solstice & The Return Of The Light
The Winter Solstice, and much discussed date of December 21, 2012, is here I am writing this post in a hotel in Austin Texas while my son and daughter still sleep upstairs. The Sun entered Capricorn at 7:12 a.m. CST and I couldn't stay in bed, I had to get up and get to work on finishing this blog post! Today is the shortest day of the year, yet it heralds the turning point for gradually lengthening days... and I will always celebrate the return of the light!!
Capricorn is the Cardinal Earth sign which expresses as responsibility, work and practicality. With its' concentrated focus on attaining great heights, the mountain goat can achieve success in whatever s/he does. If too rigid or pessimistic however, Capricorns can feel held back, when all they need to remember is to enjoy themselves all the while they are being reliable. A good symbol for this is the Seven Dwarfs, who whistled while they worked!! The Sun remains in Capricorn until January 19, 2013, making this the best month to focus on business and career. Wherever you put your focus this next month, and apply all the elbow grease you can, you will see positive results in the future.
We are just after the First Quarter Moon yesterday, indicating it is time to reassess the progress we are making with the goals we set for ourselves at the Sagittarian New Moon on the 13th. The increasing build-up of energy to the Cancer Full Moon on Friday, the 28th, will highlight home and family, when safety and security issues and emotional needs are in the spotlight. In the meantime, review your efforts and responsibilities for this coming week and make adjustments today so you can enjoy the more placid cosmic weather of the next three days under a Taurus Moon.
Christmas Eve looks to be calm and bright while the Moon is still in Taurus. The cautious energy of the Bull is more laid-back with Luna gently exerting her influence here. It is wise to conserve one's resources and not go overboard on last minute expenses that will possibly upset the financial apple cart later on down the road. This is especially true Saturday evening when Venus ( love and money) opposes Jupiter (excess and abundance); don't go to extremes or you could fall overboard!
Mars, representing energy and direction, moves into Aquarius on Christmas Day, ratcheting up the excitement of connecting with others for original new experiences. It's a great day to try something new, but not to take too big of a risk or make sudden changes as the monthly square of the Sun to Uranus on Christmas night can bring unexpected consequences. Cautious optimism and calculated risks make good companions then.
Saturn, Capricorn's ruler, harmonizes with Pluto on December 26th for an opportunity to make headway with self-change and transformation. The Gemini Moon that day brings lots of communication and interaction, so make the most of your connections! The Moon is void-of-course from 1:50 am until 3:06 pm on Thursday, the 27th, when it moves into watery Cancer. The VOC theme is continued from Friday at 9:43 am, just after the Full Moon, through early Sunday morning when the Moon finally enters sunny Leo. A note about Friday's planetary energies - try to go with the flow on and not burn any emotional bridges with challenges coming to a head shortly after the Full Moon, when Luna then opposes Pluto. Instead, resolve to look at both sides of a situation for continuing the process of self-change started by Saturn on Wednesday.
Wishing you and yours a Blessed Holiday with abundant joy, good health and prosperity in the New Year, I remain your faithful guide to the cosmos, with the reminder to keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground~
Capricorn is the Cardinal Earth sign which expresses as responsibility, work and practicality. With its' concentrated focus on attaining great heights, the mountain goat can achieve success in whatever s/he does. If too rigid or pessimistic however, Capricorns can feel held back, when all they need to remember is to enjoy themselves all the while they are being reliable. A good symbol for this is the Seven Dwarfs, who whistled while they worked!! The Sun remains in Capricorn until January 19, 2013, making this the best month to focus on business and career. Wherever you put your focus this next month, and apply all the elbow grease you can, you will see positive results in the future.
We are just after the First Quarter Moon yesterday, indicating it is time to reassess the progress we are making with the goals we set for ourselves at the Sagittarian New Moon on the 13th. The increasing build-up of energy to the Cancer Full Moon on Friday, the 28th, will highlight home and family, when safety and security issues and emotional needs are in the spotlight. In the meantime, review your efforts and responsibilities for this coming week and make adjustments today so you can enjoy the more placid cosmic weather of the next three days under a Taurus Moon.
Christmas Eve looks to be calm and bright while the Moon is still in Taurus. The cautious energy of the Bull is more laid-back with Luna gently exerting her influence here. It is wise to conserve one's resources and not go overboard on last minute expenses that will possibly upset the financial apple cart later on down the road. This is especially true Saturday evening when Venus ( love and money) opposes Jupiter (excess and abundance); don't go to extremes or you could fall overboard!
Mars, representing energy and direction, moves into Aquarius on Christmas Day, ratcheting up the excitement of connecting with others for original new experiences. It's a great day to try something new, but not to take too big of a risk or make sudden changes as the monthly square of the Sun to Uranus on Christmas night can bring unexpected consequences. Cautious optimism and calculated risks make good companions then.
Saturn, Capricorn's ruler, harmonizes with Pluto on December 26th for an opportunity to make headway with self-change and transformation. The Gemini Moon that day brings lots of communication and interaction, so make the most of your connections! The Moon is void-of-course from 1:50 am until 3:06 pm on Thursday, the 27th, when it moves into watery Cancer. The VOC theme is continued from Friday at 9:43 am, just after the Full Moon, through early Sunday morning when the Moon finally enters sunny Leo. A note about Friday's planetary energies - try to go with the flow on and not burn any emotional bridges with challenges coming to a head shortly after the Full Moon, when Luna then opposes Pluto. Instead, resolve to look at both sides of a situation for continuing the process of self-change started by Saturn on Wednesday.
Wishing you and yours a Blessed Holiday with abundant joy, good health and prosperity in the New Year, I remain your faithful guide to the cosmos, with the reminder to keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground~
Monday, December 10, 2012
Keep On Keeping On At This New Moon In Sagittarius!!
Being on the dark side of the moon, as we are now, and being a Sagittarian, I am looking forward to the New Moon on Thursday when the Sun and Moon come together for new starts in this forward-looking and fiery sign of the zodiac! Mercury leaves Scorpio tonight having uncovered the secrets and mysteries we needed for understanding how to co-create our lives. As the Messenger of the Gods heads into the Archers' territory re-fortified, he goes forward with great enthusiasm and renewed hope.
Mercury is actually happiest in Gemini, Sagittarius' polar opposite, sharing tidbits of information and not having to worry about the ramifications of idle chatter. While in Sag, he has to consider the bigger implications of what he now knows. Mercury here waxes more philosophical than usual and has to look in the direction of spiritual momentum rather than short-term gains. This is harder for those in a hurry, or those who think the end justifies the means, than those willing to spend more time on sacred ground, knowing that integrity needs to align with intention on this part of the journey.
The good news is, that Sag's ruler, Jupiter, is in Gemini and Gemini's ruler, Mercury, is in Sagittarius - what we astrologers call "mutual reception". In other words, they are visiting each others homes and while there will be on their best behavior! So enthusiastic Jupiter (the teacher), won't mind all the details that Mercury (the student) will lay out in front of him because a new horizon awaits. Story-telling can be very poignant as long as the broadcaster isn't just telling tall tales... Witty dialogue and humor are apt to be rampant throughout the rest of 2012. I'm not saying we can't take things seriously, just that humor may help the medicine go down. It's the difference between "The News" and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
As Mercury squares impressionable Neptune tomorrow, we also need to ask ourselves, "is it real, or is it Memorex...?" The answer may surprise you, so, if you don't want to know, don't ask! There is the contingent that says, what you don't know can't hurt you, but I am not of that school. If you want to know the truth, ask yourself if what you are hearing is real or not, then listen to your body or your spirit and you'll know the answer right away!! Because Mercury rules the mind, you could go round and round with reasoning, one minute believing this, and the next minute, believing that. Meditate for clarity and wait until after the New Moon to decide anything.
Wednesday is an adventurous day with lots of happenings; set some time aside to spend outdoors in nature to address the wanderlust. The New Moon takes place in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, when Sun and Moon come together in Sagittarius setting the stage for the month ahead. Long-range goals, including travel, higher education or spiritual pursuits are to be taken into consideration. For those writers out there, you may want to take some steps toward publishing or sharing your words with a much larger audience. If you keep things to yourself, how will you know where you might have gone?
Finally we can speak to the meaning of the Sabian Symbol for 22 degrees of Sagittarius, the degree point in the spotlight at the New Moon; it is A Chinese Laundry. Dane Rudhyar say this is about maintaining one's own identity in situations which neither give value for, nor favor what one basically is. The necessity here is self-containment and good humor! Having my sun on this degree, I can relate. Avoid feelings of inferiority and stay alert to opportunities to relate to the bigger society.
Another planetary energy to be aware of this week is revolutionary Uranus turning Direct shortly after the New Moon on Thursday. Let the dust settle around you, or out-in-the world, and prepare to seize the day on Friday when the Capricorn Moon brings an opportunity to begin to achieve a work or career goal. How hard you work and how badly you want to make something happen of lasting consequence, will bring significant benefits down the road. Saturday evening is a time to enjoy shared values and social opportunities, especially if they involve humanitarian concerns.
Remember, keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground~
Mercury is actually happiest in Gemini, Sagittarius' polar opposite, sharing tidbits of information and not having to worry about the ramifications of idle chatter. While in Sag, he has to consider the bigger implications of what he now knows. Mercury here waxes more philosophical than usual and has to look in the direction of spiritual momentum rather than short-term gains. This is harder for those in a hurry, or those who think the end justifies the means, than those willing to spend more time on sacred ground, knowing that integrity needs to align with intention on this part of the journey.
The good news is, that Sag's ruler, Jupiter, is in Gemini and Gemini's ruler, Mercury, is in Sagittarius - what we astrologers call "mutual reception". In other words, they are visiting each others homes and while there will be on their best behavior! So enthusiastic Jupiter (the teacher), won't mind all the details that Mercury (the student) will lay out in front of him because a new horizon awaits. Story-telling can be very poignant as long as the broadcaster isn't just telling tall tales... Witty dialogue and humor are apt to be rampant throughout the rest of 2012. I'm not saying we can't take things seriously, just that humor may help the medicine go down. It's the difference between "The News" and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
As Mercury squares impressionable Neptune tomorrow, we also need to ask ourselves, "is it real, or is it Memorex...?" The answer may surprise you, so, if you don't want to know, don't ask! There is the contingent that says, what you don't know can't hurt you, but I am not of that school. If you want to know the truth, ask yourself if what you are hearing is real or not, then listen to your body or your spirit and you'll know the answer right away!! Because Mercury rules the mind, you could go round and round with reasoning, one minute believing this, and the next minute, believing that. Meditate for clarity and wait until after the New Moon to decide anything.
Wednesday is an adventurous day with lots of happenings; set some time aside to spend outdoors in nature to address the wanderlust. The New Moon takes place in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, when Sun and Moon come together in Sagittarius setting the stage for the month ahead. Long-range goals, including travel, higher education or spiritual pursuits are to be taken into consideration. For those writers out there, you may want to take some steps toward publishing or sharing your words with a much larger audience. If you keep things to yourself, how will you know where you might have gone?
Finally we can speak to the meaning of the Sabian Symbol for 22 degrees of Sagittarius, the degree point in the spotlight at the New Moon; it is A Chinese Laundry. Dane Rudhyar say this is about maintaining one's own identity in situations which neither give value for, nor favor what one basically is. The necessity here is self-containment and good humor! Having my sun on this degree, I can relate. Avoid feelings of inferiority and stay alert to opportunities to relate to the bigger society.
Another planetary energy to be aware of this week is revolutionary Uranus turning Direct shortly after the New Moon on Thursday. Let the dust settle around you, or out-in-the world, and prepare to seize the day on Friday when the Capricorn Moon brings an opportunity to begin to achieve a work or career goal. How hard you work and how badly you want to make something happen of lasting consequence, will bring significant benefits down the road. Saturday evening is a time to enjoy shared values and social opportunities, especially if they involve humanitarian concerns.
Remember, keep your head in the stars and your feet on the ground~
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