Here in the Northern hemisphere, we’re in the colder, darker season. Tomorrow night, we reach the darkest point in the Sun’s journey, the longest night of the year.
Solstice means “Sun stands still,” a phrase that captures what we see in the sky: Our star, moving lower toward the horizon, stops to dance in place for three days, then slowly begin climbing again.
We have the promise of spring, even though the coldest days of winter lie before us.
Astrologically, this Solstice occurs when the Sun enters Capricorn, the cardinal Earth sign ruled by Saturn. Capricorn is the sign of the builder, the planner, the worker determined to reach a goal. In Capricorn, we make plans, lay foundations, and build to last.
This year’s Solstice invites us into deep dreaming with the Earth.
The Moon trines the Sun from Taurus, the sign of the Moon’s exaltation. Jupiter, the great good thing, also trines the Sun.
These two, Moon and Jupiter, remind us of the Earth’s goodness. I’m speaking, here, of coherence, the kind of rightness when we look on something and feel its integrity in our bones.
But the Earth is so messy! (You might say.) We can build better, with straight lines, sharp corners, and no decay!
While Capricorn can fall in love with human building, this year’s chart says, let’s dream with the Earth herself.
The Moon and Jupiter also trine Mercury, who will reach their exact conjunction during this Solstice. Jupiter and Mercury are both retrograde, turning our attention inward. What are our thoughts? Principles? Values? What are we focusing on?
Venus just completed her exact opposition to Uranus, Scorpio to Taurus, with Uranus retrograde. Change is coming, we are told. It will emerge slowly, from the deepest places within us. What are we bringing forth?
Saturn in Pisces sextiles the Sun and Mercury, and also the Moon and Jupiter. Again, the importance of deep structures is invoked.
Mars in late Sagittarius trines the North Node of the Moon, and sextiles the South Node. We’re called to act. What will inform our actions?
With the Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Jupiter all in Earth signs, we’re thinking with our bodies. If the cold is not too much, get outside on this day. Get your feet on the ground. Put your hands on tree bark, or stone, or berries, or the salty shore.
Let your conscious mind rest. Allow the world to touch your thoughts.
If you will participate in ritual for this Solstice, or create your own, bring in the Earth and her dreams. Touch the depths of awareness the Earth offers us, when we open our hearts.
There is hope here, hope in the power of Earth.
