Sun Signs Everything Under The Sun!
Energy Update and Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse
It is significant that on the day of the Winter Solstice Lunar eclipse, Venus (finally!) emerges from her retrograde shadow (the degrees of the zodiac she has been trekking through and dealing with since early September). The love and money lessons and challenges we’ve dealt with since then will start to come to some real resolution if they haven’t already.
It’s Sagittarius time of year when we are prone to buoyant joy and optimism. However, we are also moving through a space of transitional tension for the rest of the month. There is a deep fundamental change happening. It’s slow and complex, and some days can feel like an uphill climb. Even if the change is not yet obvious in your life, recently we are witnessing history in the news almost every day.
The Planetary Combination
The planetary combination most responsible for this right now is Mars, Pluto, Mercury, and the North Node all meeting up at the beginning of Capricorn. Saturn, the ruler of or “outlet” for Capricorn, is in Libra, a sign in which it functions well, supporting and expediting this potentially volatile and impactful combination.
We are in the process of a breakdown and renovation of old outworn structures that no longer serve us. New truths are emerging that we may not fully understand or have a context for yet, similar to what we experienced, in brief, this past summer.
It is a time of release and purging of the old, while we’re being invited to open our collective awareness in new ways. Even if you have your head in the sand in your personal life it’s hard to ignore the hidden truths beginning to emerge in the outer world, one of the most prominent examples being the spotlight on Wikileaks.
This pronounced battle between truth and secrecy in the public arena is evidence of the established systems being challenged and tested for functionality and validity. Saturn likes to clear things up and make them real, obvious, and unmistakable. Reality comes out.
Total Lunar Eclipse
In addition, we have a Total Lunar Eclipse happening right before the Winter Solstice (Dec 21 at 12:14 am PST). It will be visible to all of North America – look for the moon to be a rich russet color at that time. Full Moons are about culmination and something big is culminating with this one. We are at the end of the calendar year and this eclipse happens on what astrologers call an “analytic degree”, which is the 29th and last degree of each sign.
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These are the ripest expressions of the signs, and there can be a certain “extinction explosion” intensity when planets cross these degrees. With the Moon in Gemini and the Sun in Sagittarius, we are confronted with the balance between facts and their broader meanings, and releasing imbalances like over-rationalization and extremism.
Fear of Eclipses
Historically people had a great collective fear of eclipses when we didn’t know what they were; people thought the gods were angry and/or the world was ending. There is still some mystery around what exactly eclipses do astrologically, but it is something similar to a doorway between worlds.
They are like portals – we have a chance to get to places that may not have been heretofore accessible, at least not easily. Think of them as opportunities to warp or jump ahead to other potential timelines in your life. They are wild cards, and groundbreaking change is possible if you’re ready.
To be ready, start to let go of what’s no longer working and hold a general idea of what you want to bring into your life. Be honest with yourself about what you should clear to make that happen. To deal with eclipses “apply your consciousness in the general direction of what you want, and allow yourself to be moved to where you truly want to be.” So even if you’re not sure what that is, focus on how you want to feel.
Winter Solstice Eclipse
Venus spent this entire retrograde cycle in a section of the zodiac called the “via combusted” – traditionally a rather tough place for any planet – and we have been sorely tested on self-worth and relationships this fall. Did you pass?
Several people have reported they are so ready for change but are wondering where it is or how it’s going to happen. But with Mercury retrograde until December 30th, right now is more about sorting and releasing.
Continue to have patience with the process. Stay unattached to the outcomes and ruminate on what you’d like to see happen for you in the coming year. January will see new influences coming in that require a lot of space, flexibility, and openness. Clear out as much old energy as you can now to make room for them, but don’t forget to make room for fun and joy as well. Enjoy the holidays!
See Also: Dreaming of Winter
See: Feng Shui Cures for Winter