Winter Solstice 2009

by Robert Wilkinson

Winter Solstice 2009 occurs at 9:47 am PST, 5:04 pm GMT on December 21, 2009 (22 Dec. in Thailand and points east.) This is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and from now on the Solar force will get longer and stronger, a welcome relief for those of us who need lots of sunshine to keep our dispositions equally sunny.

This Solstice has 15 Aquarius rising in Santa Monica (PST), 26 Capricorn rising in Vancouver, and 17 Aries rising in Washington DC (EST). London (GMT) has 25 Cancer on the Ascendant, Amsterdam has 29 Cancer, Berlin has 5 Leo, Johannesburg has 13 Cancer, and Tallinn has 18 Leo rising. Istanbul has 10 Leo, New Delhi has 17 Virgo, and Trivandrum has 14 Virgo on the Ascendant. Bangkok has 8 Libra rising, Hong Kong has 20 Libra, and Tokyo has 9 Scorpio. Perth has 4 Scorpio, Melbourne 13 Sagittarius, Wellington has 13 Capricorn, and Maui has 11 Capricorn on the Ascendant.

It is said that a chart done for the Winter Solstice gives us a picture of the next year, or at the very least a snapshot of what is to come the next 13 weeks. The 2007 Winter Solstice had the Sun exactly conjunct Jupiter at the Galactic Center, offering promises that began to sprout beginning at the 2008 Solstice, which had the Sun exactly conjunct Pluto at 1 Capricorn.

This indicated the radical transformations of this past year. This 2009 Winter Solstice, the Sun is still conjunct Pluto, continuing to shine a light on the transformation of the world we're all living through. Certainly the seeds of many things have been sprouted the past year which will continue in 2010.

Of note is that because of the Sun's conjunction with Pluto in the Winter Solstice charts for 2008-2009, it is also in a wide but significant septile to Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune, showing The Grand Irrationality as a dominant feature of 2009-2010.

In a peculiarity, while the Moon is in an out-of-sign sextile with the Sun, it is still within orb of a septile to Pluto, so it too is involved in this larger configuration. This opens the spread of degrees affected beyond its normally tight focus. It also "heralds" the future Aquarius degree span of the Grand Irrationality, helping us anticipate what's coming down the road not very long from now when Neptune moves into the last 3 degrees of Aquarius.

As you know from other articles on this long wave phenomenon, this would indicate humanity as a whole will continue to go through major "forks in the road of destiny" this year, especially for the next 13 weeks. Expect dramatic results whenever the Moon or any other transiting planet occupies any of the 7 "hot zones" of the Grand Irrationality.

When you're done here, please visit the linked articles to find where these 7 important zones are at present. Given the planets involved in this configuration, you can bet there will be major turning points in areas in our charts involving Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Saturn, ruler of the Sun, Mercury, and Pluto, as well as the stellium of Moon, Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius, is in a strong set of frictional aspects with numerous planets, showing the coming year will be challenging for many. For most, the end of old ways of showing their authority and expertise. For some, a crash and burn. For others, dynamic releases, corners turned, and new initiatives throwing them away from old enslavements into important new cares and concerns.

These are indicated by Sun and Pluto both square Saturn with Mars semisquare Saturn. Those most affected include people with planets or points in early Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, as well as around 15-20 degrees of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. The times when this will be triggered are so numerous in 2010 you should get an ephemeris and track the transits so you can get a heads up as they occur.

The only supportive aspects to Saturn are the Moon biquintile and Venus binovile. The lunar aspect, while not "strong," shows some measure of unique interactivity, along with a boomerang effect.

Basically, since the Moon occupies the exact degree that Jupiter went stationary retrograde in June 2009, it indicates that if we did the preparations (regardless of how difficult) that point indicated these past 6 months, we should find some very favorable unique circumstances helping us do well. However, due to the nature of the biquintile, those who slacked off these past 6 months may find the supports they need not materialize, or only materialize with difficulty.

The squares made between the Sun-Pluto conjunction and Saturn indicate a year where we have to let go of lesser obligations, responsibilities, and limitations, re-orient, and take on more important duties that challenge our creative capacities. We are challenged to learn an efficient discrimination regarding the many influences swirling around us, not get disoriented and become aimless, and find ways our sensitivity will have a creative or productive outlet.

Mars waning semisquare Saturn from its stationary retrograde point in Leo indicates we're at the "death knell" of whatever the past Mars-Saturn cycle was about. Many things will fall apart in the process of us getting free of useless disputes that only distract us from our higher or greater purposes indicated by transiting Saturn. Be sensitive to consequences, and disregard immediate or lesser obligations when greater things are at stake.

Venus offers us anticipation of powers we are practicing, building through the sextiles to the Aquarius planets and releasing through the square to Uranus. This makes for productivity in opening to wider, more idealistic visions and opportunities, while showing how we've grown through our ability to achieve quick closure on old drifting tendencies.

It also challenges us not to jump to conclusions as we get sufficiently focused in a productive larger vision, and learn how to capitalize on sudden, unique, or peculiar developments. This will help us give direction to larger tendencies that have only been a vision or promise up to now. These lessons will be most evident when planets transit 22-26 Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.

Especially pay close attention if you have planets or points in the Gemini zone, since that area both builds (through the Venus sextile the Aquarius planets while trine Mars) and releases through the square to Uranus. Mars is retrograding from the opposition to the Aquarius stellium, showing some form of delay, or internalizing of impending oppositions (and/or awarenesses) that will break the surface when it transits through the oppositions in May and June 2010.

Other aspects in play are Mercury conjunct North Node quincunx Mars, showing forced adjustments that help us grow through conforming to something that's already established, or surrendering in order to achieve a form of spiritual victory. This year will still seem like a rehearsal for something bigger, but we can still find our "choir" to find hope amidst difficulty. Mercury sextile Uranus is great for innovative technologies, and given the signs involved, should help us toward a greater efficiency and/or release usually un-noticed elements of human genius.

Saturn is still at the degree of its retrograde station. The Sabian Symbol indicates this is a degree of "A man teaching the true inner knowledge," showing an ability to communicate deeper truths to those who embrace a higher way of "being-ness." Rudhyar says this degree is one where the truth in the student salutes the truth in the teacher and teaching. Also that this is a degree of "knowledge and experience put to the test," "ordered seeking," "distrust of appearances," and "greatness calling its own to itself."

Dr. Marc E. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, states that here we can find integrity in a "continual self-orientation... in terms of ultimate potentials." The keyword is AFFINITY, and we are told when positive it indicates "a genius for understanding and calling out the underlying realizations by which human character comes to know itself at its best." That implies we shall find those fellow seekers with whom we share a timeless knowledge and wisdom and can find the best within us in community with others who share the same path.

It's a See Saw Jones pattern, so expect a lot of oppositional thinking and behavior that shows us what's peripheral and what's central to any situation or argument. Stay centered, don't get lost in marginal thinking or behavior, and find a balanced view. This offers opportunities to triangulate in any oppositional situation, where we can find a third or fourth point generating mutual understanding that relates the two poles to a larger view.

The See Saw posits Mars and Saturn in one half of the chart, and all the other planets in the other half. Keep finding ways to connect with the sources of life while finding forms to express this higher way of "being-ness." These will balance the anticipatory energies of Venus leading the other occupied span that release through Uranus' closing energies where we demonstrate powers and understanding beyond our normal means.

Due to the nature of the See Saw, and given that as the year develops we'll again be in the middle of the very powerful Saturn opposition Uranus energies, expect this long wave ongoing opposition to be very powerful in the year to come. There will be more oppositions, tensions, polarizations, and challenging divisions between the old and the new, the crystalized power structures and the revolutionary pulses, as well as the surfacing of forms of new understanding and global awareness.

Echoing last year's Winter Solstice chart, there will be new dedications to forms of selfless service, many will find themselves performing beyond what they ever believed they could, and many diverse causes will find their rallying points and standard bearers. Beginning in April, observe where the occupied sector between Virgo and Pisces falls in your charts, since those houses will be areas of intense activity through the Spring and Summer.

The Moon is at 28 Aquarius in its Crescent lunar phase, showing emergent assertive energies. This will bring more confidence in the areas we've been preparing for since Summer 2009, and demands forms of exteriorization.

We are told this lunar phase challenges old forms leftover from previous cycles, so you can bet there will be more social experiments that weaken old forms, whether governmental, economic, business models, or personal lives. We also find that this phase will help us repolarize "from personal emphasis to individual concern," so ignore those who want to make it or take it personally, and focus instead on more important common concerns where your individuality can come forth.

Feelings will run very high this year, and drive most of the decision-making process. The trick will be to find a new view after a decision or action, finding newest up-to-date information that allows a greater understanding. Those who cling to old visions and information will be the greatest obstruction to things moving forward. This year is about finding and exchanging new information, overcoming those who insist the old ways and knowledge can serve the urgent needs of the present and future-in-the-making.

The past year we were offered opportunities to embody our personal ideals and beliefs into systems. Those on a path to higher awareness found ways to apply spiritual principles to practical affairs, and learned to see how these spiritual principles are at work behind broader social processes.

In 2009, we all did a lot of "dues paying," expiating old karmas. We now turn our focus on managing our individual-spiritual energies in a larger civilizing energy field. Follow new discoveries, and find those with whom you can swap knowledge and feedback in an "open field" of exploring new possible applications to confirm what of the new knowledge works on a practical level.

On a final note, the Winter Solstice ushers in a season dedicated to "seeds in latency," those that will sprout in March when the light force is stronger, the ground is warmer, and Spring is on the way (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). The Solstices and Equinoxes are special points in the year cycle, marking the end of one season and the beginning of the next one. They are great for getting clear about our resolve, and what we want to see made manifest in times to come.

To close, in this time of transition from the old year into the Winter of the new, take a moment to note what has left your life the past year. This created space for things to come more appropriate to your evolution and well being. Then take another moment to welcome in something better than you've known up to now, putting it up and out into the "Spiritual atmosphere" so that Divine Mother can bring it forth for you in the coming months. And if you feel like doing a Solstice ritual, whether this one or another, open to your greatest good and highest possibility of happiness, and you just may find a measure of that in the coming year.

Mahalo, Aloha, Namaskarams, Aum Namah Shivaya, and Happy New Year!

© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Laura]

Thank you for this in-depth and focused overview of the energies in motion.
Your work is a great service to us all!

Namaste

[Valerie]

Thank you for such an informative article. That part about Jupiter stat/Rx (squared my MC) back in June really caught my eye. That was when I lost my job. Hoping to turn that next corner any time now. I'm all set to blast off. :)

[Adam]

thank you so much for these articles

[GODesSMARGA]

THIS N'FO IZ NEED'D, THX!

:::HAPPI YULE:::

[Morvah]

Dear Robert, The best thing that 2009 brought into my life was finding my way to your Cantina. Solstice Blessings to you and all at the Roadhouse!
Aum Namah Shivaya Shanti Shanti Shanti

[anon]

Thanks for this entry Robert, the Sabian Symbols\ Rudhyar link is spot on to what I am experiencing. A remarkable opportunity.

[Jen]

Hi Robert, it's the Summer Solstice here today in Australia, and I thought you might be interested in a physical manifestation of the triple conjunction which occured 20th. Dec. aust. time. The hospital ship which was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1943, killing nearly 270 people was found in the ocean off S.E. Queensland. It's name is "Centaur". Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, and a safe 2010 to you and all the readers.

[WarriorLady]

Happy Solstice, Robert!

[Rayne]

Wishing you a happy, fruitful year ahead with the return of the light.

[dcu]

Thank you Robert for your always timely and insightful information. Here is a really cool link to the Souledout.org web page on Christmas and the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Be sure to scroll all the way down the page. Much Love to all this Solstice Season. We will be snowed in here in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the next few days and staying home as a winter blizzard is moving into the Midwest of the U.S. It will be fun to actually have a white Christmas.

http://www.souledout.org/christmas/heavenlychristmas/heavenchristmas.html