by Robert Wilkinson
The 2014 Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice/Southern Hemisphere Summer Solstice happens 3:03 pm PST, 6:03 pm EST, 11:03 pm Greenwich, on Dec 21, 2014. This is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the longest in the Southern! In the North the Solar force will begin to get longer and stronger, a welcome relief for those of us who need lots of sunshine to keep our dispositions equally sunny. The Winter Solstice is a special time for me, where I do a specific ritual every year that yields great results. I’ll explain after we discuss the Solstice chart.
It has been put forth over the centuries that the charts done for the Solstices and Equinoxes give snapshots of what we can expect during that season. In this article, I’ll offer you some insights about the Solstice chart, and discuss how this Solstice relates to the very important past Winter Solstices that were conjunct Pluto at the Galactic Center, since those profoundly impacted how we will experience the major shifts happening at this Solstice.
Today is the last day of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, the last day of Spring in the Southern. If you’re wondering how I reconcile the seemingly opposing energies between the hemispheres, when you’re done here please take a look at The Mirroring of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere Year Cycles in Astrology. It may help readers “down under” see how the important points of seasonal change, though opposite in physical manifestation, actually have similar challenges at each point of shift.
There is an old tradition that offers us two times when "the year begins," one at the Vernal Equinox, the other at the Autumnal. Perhaps that tradition came from explorers who saw the seasons flip between the Northern and Southern, going from the beginning of warm to the beginning of cold as they moved up and down the latitudes.
This is an excellent time for looking at what has ended, what is emerging, and making decisions about how we want to live in 2015. We up North have now reaped the harvest of what we've done and not done, and can figure out how we want to claim our power in 2015. In the Southern latitudes, you've finished your "Spring planting," and will now see how these labors will come to fulfillment over the next 90 days.
Whether North or South, keep following through on the emergent archetypes you've already begun to live, since this is the time to embrace personal power in some public way. Regardless of where we live, what follows explores elements we all can expect to experience over the next 13 weeks.
As mentioned, the charts for the Summer and Winter Solstices provide guideposts for what will follow in the 90 days after those points in time, just as charts for the Vernal and Autumnal Equinox each show what will follow in the period after those points in time. In this chart, two very important factors jump out, those being the New Moon about 2 hours after the Solstice, with Uranus exactly stationary direct at 13 Aries!
That means you can find out all the juicy details of this Solstice chart by going to the article on the New Moon at 1 Capricorn that posted yesterday, as well as the one that will post a few hours from now. Those articles will give you the important aspects, Sabian Symbols, and other factors that will also pretty much describe this Solstice chart.
Obviously, since the Sun is the key to the Solstice, the aspects it makes are extremely important. In this December 2014 Solstice chart, the Sun makes only one forming aspect, a sextile to Neptune. The only other aspect of note is the extremely tight separating biseptile to Uranus in Aries, which is set into play by the Moon also forming a biseptile from 29 Sagittarius. As those biseptiles will be past by the time of the New Moon, we’ll discuss them in this article.
In a brief nod to what “brought us to this dance” in years past, the conjunction of the Sun with Pluto was exact or very close back when Pluto was exactly conjunct the Galactic Center between 2006-2009. This set some extremely long wave energies into play on our Earth, and marked a huge renewal for the next 250 years, mas or menos. We are now solidly launched into that new Era.
The Sun square Uranus was close or exact on Winter Solstice 2010, 2011 (exact!) and 2012. So the seed forms created by the Sun and Pluto when they powered up the Galactic Center energies for the next “season of the Millennium” back in 2006-2009 were moved into revolutionary newness by Uranus in the first sign of the zodiac since then.
Due to the square energy from Capricorn to Aries, we have been constantly shown the greater collective need to bring forth positive Cancer and Libra energy, which is what we’ve been working on between Winter Solstice 2006 and now. Consider these 8 years as our metaphoric “6 Days of Creation,” with off-again, on-again Cardinal T-squares all along the way as testing points for how well we’ve mastered these energies.
The Sun and Mercury straddling the Galactic Center show that those past Galactic Center energies and how we decided to use them are again front and center for the next 90 days. The sextile to Neptune shows it’s a very productive time (and has been since 2011 till now) in aligning ourselves with a greater human ideal, an easier flow within our collective setup, and becoming more sensitive, compassionate, and forgiving as we and everyone we know stand collectively on the edge of this great evolutionary leap.
Choices, changes, and decisions will have to be made in areas where we have Aries, Cancer, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Aquarius. The Moon biseptile Uranus puts us all at a critical point of self-dedication to an ideal and getting in shape to see and give shape to a future-in-the-making. Those most affected have planets or angles near 27 Sagittarius- 1 Capricorn, 19-23 Aquarius, 11-15 Aries, 2-6 Gemini, 23-27 Cancer, 14-18 Virgo, and 5-9 Scorpio. Given the planets involved, anyone impacted by this septile series will find flashes of fiery inspiration, brilliance, truth, broader futures, or an open path to a greater individualization.
Obviously, this series will be triggered by any Lunar transit to any of these spans. Times that will be triggered by the other planets during the coming season include Dec 27-Jan 4 (Mars), Jan 17-22 (Venus), February 6-12 (Sun), Mar 1-5 (Venus), Mar 3-8 (Mercury), and Mar 4-12 (Mars), along with any of the Lunar transits. Clearly March 3, 4, and 5 will be very important days related to this Solstice, and the Full Moon on March 5 at 15 Virgo will no doubt kick off a very important 2 weeks, activating Sag, Aquarius, Aries, and Virgo energies!
This is the last December Solstice with Saturn in Scorpio until December 2041. Though it will make a reappearance at the June 2015 Solstice, that’s the final one with Saturn in Scorpio for 27 years. So this is the final season of Saturn direct in Scorpio leading us to restructure our lives wherever we have Scorpio in our charts. (Yes, you may find some interesting information by putting the Solstice chart on top of yours, and see where those transits fall.)
Saturn ruling the Sun is a primary dispositor influence, and so Saturn always plays a big part in the December through March season. Saturn has three forming aspects; a novile from Mercury, a tight semisquare from Venus, and an out of sign (oos) square to Neptune. Mercury shows realizations about roles will come forth, along with enjoyment in settling into those roles. These will involve learning how to manage pressure and stuck emotional energies.
Speaking of stuck emotional energies, Venus semisquare Saturn will put more than a few at some sort of internal crisis or turning point about how to exercise power over fear, or discipline over degeneration, or a sense of responsibility when faced with pressured situation and people. Venus show us that tender care is all important when managing pressure or unregenerate energy. Those most likely to face these or something related to these have planets or angles around 13-17 degrees of Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn, 28-30 Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius, and 1-2 degrees of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.
Other forming aspects of note (those showing future patterns; separating aspects show things past) include Moon conjunct Mercury (oos), conjunct Sun (oos), and sextile Neptune (oos). (No, Moon is NOT “void of course” because it makes a semi-sextile to Saturn before it leaves Sagittarius!)
We also find Mercury conjunct Venus, sesquisquare Jupiter, square Uranus, and conjunct Pluto, activating that powerful square that is indicative of the massive upheaval and revolutionary transformation of our times. Stay balanced, protect what needs protecting, and find ways to be flexible, strong, imaginative, and playful.
Venus is biquintile Jupiter and barely separating biseptile Neptune, showing the Grand Irrationality has been in play during the days before the Solstice. Besides those mentioned, the only other forming aspect is a wide opposition from Mars to Jupiter. Pleasant events should occur for those with planets or angles near 14-18 Capricorn, 26-30 Pisces, 8-12 Gemini, 20-24 Leo, and 2-6 Scorpio.
In a final reflection, the North Node in Libra shows us that our line of growth and development these next 90 days involve finding ways to retire from old dramas, contemplating them as showing us how to find peace. We’re still doing needed repair or reconstruction work, and many events over the next 3 months will show us that late October was in fact the beginning of reflection and finding peace as a result of successfully navigating old storm and trials in relationships.
Enjoy digesting the information in this article, and I’ll post part two soon!
As "they" say, Mahalo, Aloha, Namaskarams, Aum Namah Shivaya, Happy and Merry Solstice, Happy Hanukkah (slight return!), Merry Christmastide, Joyous Christ Mass, and Happy New Year!
© Copyright 2014 Robert Wilkinson
Thanks Robert!
Posted by: Nic | December 20, 2014 at 03:12 PM
Happy solstice to you Robert! May this long gestational period bring you a rich and abundant reward. I am most grateful to you for bringing all of us the celestial news and bringing hope to the forlorn. Your words have been inspirational for many among us in this past year. Thank you for passing that light within you to others. We have been truly blessed by it. A very happy new year to you and to all of you out there. May it bring a newfound peace and resolution to a better way of being to us all.
Posted by: ellen | December 20, 2014 at 03:17 PM