The darkest day of this year is the Winter Solstice, Dec. 21st. Here on the East Coast the sun set at 4:38 p.m. and day light lasted 9 hours and 20 minutes. In Sweden on the Winter Solstice the sun set at 2:48 p.m. and offers a mere 6 hours and 5 minutes of daylight. At exactly 11:48 p.m. on Dec. 21 the Winter Solstice occurred. This means that the sun's position in the heavens moves to 00 degrees of Capricorn and the sun pauses in his climb to summer. If you are awake at 11:48 p.m. the feeling is one of breath and light suspended. If we were ancient peoples we might fear that the sun would not return. Fear not! On Dec. 22 we gain one minute of daylight and the light increases as we move to the Summer Solstice in late June.
Astrologically speaking, 00 degrees Capricorn is called a World Point. Every country and human participates in this solstice degree whether consciously or not. And we can create a chart for the positions of all the planets at the specific time of the Winter Solstice and see what these planetary positions predict for the coming year.
All of the great spiritual traditions have a similar story regarding the Solstice. A Great Mother Goddess gives birth to the Sun. This has been the story behind the coming of Jesus, Horus, Krishna, Dionysus, Attis, and Mithras among others. And prehistoric monuments have also marked this turning point in nature. The Temple at Karnak in Egypt, the Moai Statues on Easter Island, the Mayan temple, Chichen Itza, as well as the Great Pyramids are all edifices which by virtue of their geographical position and architectural design marked the movements of the sun.
One site, Newgrange in Ireland, is particularly interesting. Newgrange is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids and every year around the solstice a lottery is held for pilgrims to win a place to view the inner chamber at sunrise and mark the sun's return. The ancient temple is a mound with an underground passage and at the opening to the passage there is a space called the rooftop. At the time of sunrise on the solstice a beam of light penetrate the roof box and travels up the 19-meter passage into the chamber. As the Sun rises higher the beam widens to illuminate the entire chamber. Simply put: After the darkest time the light comes to warm and illuminate.
This year another light graces us. There is a Full Moon on Dec. 25th. The Moon will be in the watery, cozy, sentimental, sign of Cancer. Cancer speaks to hearth, home, and family. Whether you are tearing off wrapping paper from gifts and rushing around from family to family or celebrating quietly the moon will highlight sensitivities.
For my part, I want to thank all my readers for your comments and support. There will be plenty of time in 2016 to catch up with the Astro Heroes, check in with the World Hot spots, and examine how the stars can guide our lives.
Have a full feeling holiday.
