By Leo Knighton Tallarico
This week we experience one of the four annual turning points into a new season: Winter Solstice.
Winter Solstice 2018 is December 21 at 5:23 PM EST.
Dark minutes of the day are at their greatest on Winter Solstice; then right afterwards light minutes begin to gain in strength. It is not mere coincidence that the Christian religion has put Christmas close to this annual turning point.
The chosen day for Christ’s birth, which can be seen as the light of hope being birthed for humanity, fits so well with Winter Solstice.
At Winter Solstice dark, yin, inward energies are at their greatest. There is a pull to honor contemplation, inner reflection, sadness, darker feelings, and compassion for those who suffer.
But in this darkness a light is born, hope is seen at the end of the tunnel of our despair. Spring, the next season, is of course nature’s breath of fresh air and renewed light and hope.
Every year as we get closer and closer to the depths of Winter Solstice, it may seem somewhat of a contradiction that the Sun has been in uplifted, inspirational Sagittarius.
Sagittarius is the fire that keeps burning with faith as the days get darker in the Northern Hemisphere.
And this year Jupiter is also in Sagittarius as we enter Winter Solstice. This adds a feeling of expanding joy and upliftment even as dark days get darker.
The holiday season is part of the Sagittarius joy and upliftment, and many use this holiday spirit to distract them from deeper feelings.
Holding both Sagittarius joy and Winter Solstice sadness will test us this week.
Some get very depressed at the holidays, and these darker days contribute to these feelings.
Some people get rather manic with holiday preparation and anticipation.
Both are extremes at this time of year. To hold the joy and happiness while also holding a feeling of sadness, nostalgia, or connection with the “down” feelings of life is the best one can do at this time.
Right on the Winter Solstice of December 21, the Sun every year moves out of Sagittarius and into Capricorn.
Capricorn is “ruled” by the planet Saturn, and Saturn is gravity which obviously is a pull downward.
But it is basically not a pull down into feelings; instead it is a pull down into facing what one needs to do, what obligations need to be met, what responsibilities need to be tended, what accomplishments need to be met, what goals need to be set.
Capricorn is about organizing, discipline, boundary setting, limits, time constraints, rules and regulations.
Its goals are building, especially building success, outer world recognition and respect, and career advancement.
Interestingly this year, the day after the Winter Solstice passage of Sun into Capricorn brings us into a Full Moon in Cancer.
Since Full Moons always have the Sun exactly opposite the Moon, this Full Moon has the Sun at one degree of Capricorn and the Moon at 1 degree of Cancer.
The Full Moon is on December 22 at 12:49 PM EST.
So the recently entered Sun in Capricorn meets the Moon in Cancer in opposition.
And the ruling “planet” of Cancer is the Moon. So the Moon swoons in Cancer, making it stronger than ever.
In many ways this Full Moon shows us a traditional Father archetype(Capricorn) versus a traditional Mother archetype (Cancer).
This Cancer Mother is more unconditional, without strict boundaries or rules. It is rather permissive, nurturing and emotionally safe. It also can hover over in its protectiveness, and resist boundaries between Mom and child, all blurring together.
The Capricorn Father is rather stern and a task master, expecting one to take responsibility for oneself, and to follow a strict regimen of discipline and accomplishment.
I am sure you can see how these archetypes can translate into politically conservative (Capricorn) and liberal (Cancer).
And we all know how polarized these parties are from one another now in America.
So watch this all play out in the world now between Democrats and Republicans, potentially stretching the budget or taking the government down.
And the stock market and economy are in trouble now too.
And since we are now in a new Eclipse Season, with the first actual eclipse on January 5, 2019; these government and economic issues will be intensified and likely in crisis mode.
But remember that the light of hope from the turning of the Winter Solstice will be shining, promising a new day, a new age coming.
Jupiter in Sagittarius, which will continue into December 2019, brings expansion into more progressive causes, more inspiration, broader perspectives and higher meaning.
As you watch the old world crumble in the hands of the Trump administration and Washington DC Corporate Establishment, keep your eye on what is being born at the same time.
Just as in the transformation of a personal life, old beliefs and old ways of living die. And sometimes that happens with the breakup of a relationship, a death, the ending of a job or career, a deep realization of what no longer holds our heart, feelings of despair and even dark nights of the soul.
And through it all there are new beginnings, renewed inspiration, a new sense of purpose, better relationships, a sense of more love in one’s life, and a feeling of being more true to the true nature of who you are.
There is the feeling of being part of a global community of people who are creating a new and better world.
As we move deeper and more intensely into the challenging transition into an Age of Aquarius, keep your focus on the bigger picture.
Know all is happening meaningfully, and that the death of an old era and age can be quite difficult at times.
Release the old ways and old beliefs inside your self, which makes space for new light and love to enter your heart, soul, body, and mind.
That light and love will help you create the life that is best for you, in alignment with the Age of Aquarius.
Till next week,
Leo
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