Winter Solstice: Return of the Light

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Happy  Winter  Solstice! - which  literally means ‘Sun stands still’ - exact today - December 21st at 11:27am EST - at 0 degrees Capricorn. 

Jupiter and Mars bring a blast of energy to get us through the longest night. Mercury Retrograde is slowing down and getting ready to turn direct tomorrow. In Sagittarius, Mercury activates the higher mind. 

And Saturn - ruler of Capricorn -  is here to make it real!  Luckily - Venus is nearby – reminding us keep our hearts open - even as we face the lessons of Saturn.  In this pregnant pause,  which actually lasts four days -  we can take a moment to breathe in deeply - and feel our  connection  - to the earth and Sun and the stars - and  to the core of our being - as we celebrate the Return of the Light. 

 

As the Sun enters Capricorn- it joins Saturn at the very beginning its journey through Capricorn - its home sign  - completing a 29-year Saturn cycle. Saturn’s special significant at this Solstice, and also with the New Moon in Sagittarius just a few days ago, sets the tone that will carry us across the threshold of  2017 into the beginning of 2018.  

Saturn is called The Lord of Karma - and its prominence at the turn of the year seems to indicate that some kind of reckoning is at hand. As we celebrate the Return of the Light- hurray - we may also find it illuminating what has been hiding in the shadows. 

Saturn has been powerfully linked to the Galactic Core all year (see past posts), which is the centre of our galaxy and highly significant as a marker of human destiny. Saturn’s central position at last weekend’s New Moon – and on the GC – then here again on the Solstice – indicates we could benefit from understanding a bit more about this fated and sometimes dreaded planet.

I have written several times recently about the Galactic Centre or Core – the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy. It is said that when planets align with the Galactic Core – they receive regular energy pulses, stimulating change in the whole galaxy, and bringing things to a new level.  The result - an increased vibrational frequency - means a higher state of consciousness and an era of spiritual illumination. This is obviously an esoteric understanding, rather than a purely scientific one. Science doesn't really ‘get’ astrology anyway (yet).  Perhaps sometime in the future, the effects of the planets on us will be more understood.  That would certainly require exactly the kind of paradigm shift in consciousness that our current astrology is all about. Saturn’s presence at this key point adds gravitas to the Galactic Core’s message – telling us its time to awaken. 

The message (if you choose to accept it) is that - as of 2012 - we have been undergoing a quantum shift to help us evolve to a new level.  Part of that process is to step from left brain mode (masc) into right brain intuitive knowing (fem)  - thus stepping beyond limiting mental constructs that stop us from seeing the bigger picture.  This is about the rise of the feminine- in all of us.

In this latest 26,000 year cycle, the Earth has travelled to the farthest point from the centre of the galaxy. These cycles are called ‘yugas’ in Indian mythology – and this current period has been called ‘Kali Yuga' – the Darkest Age  - as we are as distant from the Divine Light/Source (GC) as we can get (a kind of spiritual winter). The idea is that the Galactic Alignment of 2012 signalled the beginning of a Galactic Spring, where we will enter (or return to) a new golden age of humanity.  That is going to be a  longggg process; the galactic core is in fact a very large area taking years to cross-  and at the moment we are still just at the very cusp of the New Age. The darkness (ignorance, violence, hatred) is still very dominant, and in some ways seem to be getting worse.

Now that Saturn  has passed through Sagittarius (higher mind) - it lands squarely in the sign that rules cultural and societal systems. As things tumble and fall around us (Pluto in Capricorn) – we get to rebuild and restructure the framework of our world. And that starts with accountability. 

Facing up to ourselves, and what we are doing with our lives is at the core  (pun intended) of Saturn in Capricorn. Its time to walk our talk. That can mean different things to different people.

 "Let the beauty of what you love be what you do! " Rumi

Saturn (the grand taskmaster)  wants us to make our life and our love real. That can seem a bit scary – but it is not so  bad. We just need to begin to take responsibility for our life, one step at a time. This is only painful when re resist. Ironically – Saturn will show exactly where we will tend to resist. (Saturn is also the master of irony).

Where it sits in our personal chart indicates where our biggest challenges lie – where we must face limitations or lessons that are guaranteed to make us grow. It may feel like punishment- but it’s really  there to help us get stronger. 

Think of it like lifting weights. When you do – the muscle fibres get broken down – then the body is forced to repair itself -  and your muscles get stronger. That's kind of what Saturn does. The weights (inner or outer) we carry – duties- responsibilities- limitations -  can certainly wear us down - or - they can increase our fortitude . What doesn't kill us makes us stronger! 

And right now the thing we may be resisting the most is change.

Yet change we must if the planet - and the human race- is going to survive.

Although the dominance of Saturn now points to universal lessons, as always - some will feel this energy more than others.  How Saturn is placed in your chart will show how you respond to challenging events.   

Half full or half empty?

Look to see what house it is in your chart right now (see tab above for houses) to see where you will be working hard to build something – and where there may be some challenges ahead). Saturn return is when Saturn returns to its original position in our chart- around age 28-29 – then again at 57-8. These are times that we come face to face with ourselves to see if we have learned our lessons well.

I don't want to scare you - just giving you a heads up.  There are many positive attributes that Saturn brings. In the midst of some much uncertainty – it can help ground and protect us. Saturn also  represents time- authority- father energy. Those all can work in our benefit if we learn to work with rather than against the pressure.

I know its seems like an oxymoron - but there can be freedom in limitations; if everything was completely open-ended, nothing would ever get done. The Moon in Aquarius today will help  us think outside the box.  Interestingly - Aquarius is co-ruled by Saturn - haha - we just can't escape it.

With Saturn so dominant- there is work ahead. We can expect to be pushed harder - get further - grow more- over the next 2- 3 years. There will be a focus on accountability – and perhaps some sort of limitations or boundaries  that need to be set in place. 

Although Saturn transits can be tough- they are the very stuff of what makes things work. Saturn rules the bones- it is our back bone – our structures- our systems. Pluto in Capricorn has been shaking up and breaking down those systems. Uranus in tension with Pluto has been the element of future shock – designed to wake us up and bring in new – potentially revolutionary energy. 

The pressure of radical change has triggered the old guard to resist with all its might; we are seeing the last  gasps of the old system in its death throes. Saturn in Capricorn may bring even more resistance - at first- while eventually (hopefully) bringing some justice to those who have misused their power (Pluto).

Things often seem to get worse before they get better. For example -  I have heard warnings about the financial system going through some blips. Yet,  as the old order breaks down - we have the chance  to build something new and better. 

The transition part (where we are now) is very uncertain and definitely challenging. But the gift in it is – we are now seeing the shadows more clearly defined. As  Jupiter in Scorpio continues to stir up secrets and lies over the coming year -  we will need to face the reality (Saturn) or our situations – both personal and global. Gulp.

It is time to cast off the shackles of our past conditioning and become the author of our own destiny. Saturn is about growing up. Perhaps its time!

Time to turn on the light! 

 One last thing- the other planet that has been playing with our heads all year is Neptune – the polar opposite of Saturn. Where earthy Saturn rules the physical, concrete world of authority and structures - - watery Neptune rules universal oneness and the urge to merge into unity consciousness. 

Neptune calls us to the depths of our being and inspires great creativity and imagination. It can also space us out-  big time- leading us into a fantasy world of illusion and delusion. 

While Saturn urges us to face reality through dealing with our  limitations– Neptune tends to blur the boundaries and invites escapism and denial. Drink/drugs/ addictions are all part of Neptune's illusive charm. As is art/ creativity/music/meditation. It's a thin line between genius and insanity.

Neptune will link to Mercury as it turns direct tomorrow -  bringing in more weird sense of unreality and fake news. Expect more evasions and lies -   even as Saturn (the judge) tries to bring in some accountability. 

Information often comes to light when Mercury changes direction. Wonder what it will be this time?

 Saturn without Neptune is harsh - Neptune without Saturn is lost. The best combination of these two opposites is  combining creativity (Neptune)  with  form (Saturn).  Making our dreams reality will take some doing, but there are ample opportunities now to create something fantastic. Creativity thrives in chaos after all.

So don't despair. Celebrate. Even in your greatest darkness- there is always light.  We can join the reemerging  light of the Sun (c0onsciousness) to help dispel the darkness; each one of us can be a light in the world to help dispel the darkness.

A Winter Solstice ritual:  Light a candle- or fire.  Write down what you are ready  to release. On another piece of paper – write what new energy you want to bring in. Remember Saturn- Make it real. One at a time -  take each piece of paper -  Bless it – Give it to the fire/light. With gratitude. With humility. With love.

Let it be so.