Tides and Times: The Winter Solstice

In the depth of Winter, the Sun appears to stand still, rising and setting in the same place for a few days. In its stillness, a portal forms – an intersection with the world of Spirit -- and through that portal comes the opportunity for a spiritual rebirth, as we shift from the dark half of the year to the light, here in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Sun, as the governor of our solar system, is central to astrology. As the Earth spins and tilts in changing relationship to the Sun through the seasons of the year, the Sun’s position in the sky is marked by eight particularly powerful points – the two Solstices, the two Equinoxes, and the four Cross-Quarter points, each midway between a Solstice and Equinox or an Equinox and Solstice. This article is the first in a series that will explore the energies of these seasonal shifts, and how we can utilize them to enhance our relationship with the Earth and our spiritual growth.

The word solstice comes from Latin and means, roughly, “sun stands still”. The solstices are the points at which the Sun reaches its southernmost (December) or northernmost (June) distance from the equator. Equinox (from the Latin for “equal” and “night”) denotes the equal length of day and night as the Sun sits right over the equator in March and September.  At the solstices and equinoxes, the Sun is always in 0 degrees of a Cardinal sign. The Cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn – are signs that share qualities of action and initiation.

Capricorn is the sign the Sun enters at the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Acting and initiating in the cold, contracting season requires the strength and determination Capricorn is known for. Capricorn takes the spark of life from fiery Sagittarius and gives it a home on the Earth at the Winter Solstice.

The symbolism surrounding the Winter Solstice is rich and speaks to us of rebirth, of honoring the fire of life, of finding joy, celebration and clarity within the structure and restrictions of the cold time.

Awareness of the importance of this time can be traced back into pre-history, with Stonehenge, Newgrange and other pre-historic monuments that are aligned with the cardinal points of the Sun.  Evidence indicates that the solstices have been celebrated throughout history and throughout the world.

You can use the power available at the time of the Winter Solstice to make shifts and changes in your own life. Clear intention, focused on creative, healing change, always ripples out through the world, but setting your intention at Solsticetide brings powerful energies of shift into play to enhance your work. The portal between the worlds of manifestation and spirit is open, empowering your intention and amplifying its effects. The time also allows you to tune in to the Earth and the changing seasons, bringing body and mind into a healthier relationship with the Web of Life.

Use ritual and ceremony to work with the shift from dark to light. On the eve of the Winter Solstice, think about things that are blocking you, things that you want to leave behind in the old year. Then write those things down, each on its own bit of paper, and burn the papers in a fire, one by one. Let the fire transform them and the smoke carry them away.

Or, if you live near a river, stream or pond, go for a walk and pick up some small stones as you go. When you get to the water, think about what you want to get rid of, put each of those things into a stone, one by one, then throw the stone into the water, letting Nature take that energy away from you and transform it.

On Solstice morning, share the joy of this day of rebirth with those you love or in sacred solitude. Go out and greet the rising Sun, touch the Earth and let yourself just be present in the moment. Be aware, and listen to what Spirit might have to say to you. Open yourself to the consciousness of the land around you – even if you are in a city. Let the Sun, the breeze, the birds speak to you of what is sacred, and how you can become more in tune with it yourself, and then send it out into the world.

Come in and light a candle while affirming what you want to grow in your life in the coming year. Give thanks for your blessings, and have a Happy Solstice!