winter solstice 2016

Merry Solstice! Today (@5:44 AM EST) the Sun “stands still” over the Tropic of Capricorn and marks the Northern Hemisphere’s entry into the Winter season. The Winter Solstice marks the renewal of light, from here on our – each day rings with greater amounts of Solar influence in our daily doings.

Ever since I was younger, the Solstice and Equinox times were always a highly anticipated time. My friends and I would gather under each and naturally created honorings to the sea…son (Solstice) or to the mid-points (Equinox). Here on Crow Hill we go for late night walks on these special days and commemorate the festivity of the cycles we live within. 🙂

Astrologically, the Sun in this position enters Capricorn – the sign of ambition, success, drive, stoicism, authority, and structure. Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn and is a Cardinal Earth sign. Cardinal signs start seasons (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and so too in our lives, when the Sun enters these signs – we find new initiations, new “starts.” Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) are focused on making things real, grounding, reliability and steadfastness.

The Sun represents for us life force energy, expression of self. Where we have Capricorn in our natal chart and any planets contained therein are infused with Cardinal Earth energy now. Our focus turns sharply to the house of Capricorn in our charts and there, we will find a greater investment of our time and energy over the next astrological month. All of us will find a draw towards shaping things up, leaning things out, asserting authority, saying what we mean, expressing ambition and we may find too some issues crop up with Capricorn ruled body parts such as our skin, knees and bones and joints.

What does Capricorn mean for you? What area of life in your chart is now lit up and ready for new starts? What Solstice traditions do you have?