Winter Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of light of the year.  The good news is that we will begin to start walking towards the Sun and increasing the daylight hours from now until Summer Solstice, when the darkness starts to inch its way back into our lives.  It is a cycle of renewal and change, ebbing and flowing with the natural rhythms of life.  In the Northern Hemisphere, all the trees except the evergreens have lost all their leaves, exposing only their skeletal structures. The cold temperatures mixed with rain, snow and ice have reminded us it a time for retreat, for recuperation as we head into winter.  At the Spring Equinox in a few months, we will experience rebirth as the time of hibernation concludes and the Earth blossoms with new life.  Now begins the last few hours the Sun is in Sagittarius and will move into the hardy and strong sign of Capricorn at 8:49 PM, Pacific Standard Time.  Capricorn is resourceful, practical and disciplined.  Associated with the Hermit, the Father, the Authority and the Wise One, it is not hard to begin to form an understanding of the characteristics necessary to withstand the harsher and sometimes isolating conditions of this time of year.  It is a sign of great strength, learning to work towards integrity and solitude as a means of self-reliance.  At this time of year, we can begin preparing and setting goals for the year ahead.  The internal shift can be a productive and revitalizing time as we release many of the distractions and start to embrace our own inner compass. Many will be contemplating the end of the year and begin to envision their New Year resolutions, the parts of life that may be worth changing and planting new seeds for growth. 

The astrological chart at the time of Solstice has Pluto meeting up with Mercury.  As Mercury is the winged Messenger associated with Hermes who was able to traverse our world and the underworld, we may have a hard look at that which has been unconscious that which we may be asked to have the discipline to transform in our lives.  Pluto makes the unconscious conscious and as it aligns with the winged messenger, we may get a message of some realities we may need to face to set us on the noble path.  As Saturn, the Ruler of Capricorn, is in the sign of Sagittarius, there may be an inclination to see the greater meaning of it all, regardless of the truths that may be unearthed.  With Venus in Scorpio, ruled by Pluto, we may be exposed to the real and raw components of our relationships, not settling for the “niceties” but rather a desire for the emotional and honest truths, no matter how harsh or intense they may be in order to bring us closer to real intimacy.  Mars is “driving the bus” towards compromise and fairness, influencing us to not let things explode but to also weigh in on the others viewpoint.  The Moon is in “sensory aware” Taurus, seeking to keep things calm and peaceful as we savor the scents and pleasing rituals of the holiday season.  We may feel a connection to our bodies, remembering that we are in these “earth suits” that need nurturing, support and rest to feel happy and content.   May the unfolding of the light awaken your commitment to yourself to do the best you can do to become self-actualized, self-sustaining and authentic as we evolve and grow with the seasons.  Happy Solstice!

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