Friday, December 21st at 5:35 pm, Eastern Time, is the exact moment of the Winter Solstice of 2018. For many the Winter Solstice is a time of celebration. It is believed by some that December 25th was chosen as the celebration of the birth of Jesus in order to align with the pagan celebration of Winter Solstice.  I believe that the Winter Solstice is the astronomical New Year as it is the start of the Sun’s movement towards more daylight and less night darkness.

Solstice is also known for an energetic increase and it is a good time for meditation and yoga as the healing energies are heightened.  It is a busy time, but even a few moments spent in contemplation, listening to high quality music or a short purposeful walk will align with the solstice energy as we move into the year 2019.

The Solstice chart of this year is more positive and harmonious than the chart for 2018 which had all of the benefic planets locked into patterns with the malefic planets.  2018 has proven to be a challenging and difficult year for the residents of planet earth.  Because of the epoch times in which we live the challenges will continue but 2019 holds the promise of some ease and more positive support.

We have been watching the higher energy of the solstice taking place in the recent past as people find themselves being more emotional than usual and some are experiencing illness as their bodies begin to show signs of the stresses of 2018.  The high emotions can be attributed to the Mercury/Jupiter conjunction in Scorpio.  Scorpio tends to act like a warehouse for painful emotions which are stored away in our chakras and subconscious minds.  Illnesses will often manifest once the body feels as if it can get the attention it needs after not getting the care it requires during times of overwork, anxiety and challenges.

While none of the high emotions and illnesses feel good it is positive to actually have the energy and space to release the past now that Scorpio is free from the afflictions of the past three years.  Jupiter is now in Scorpio and conjunct Mercury (until 12/31/18). Jupiter will stay in Scorpio until the fall of 2019 but he can’t give his positive benefits if we are so burdened by past hurts that we are unable to feel the positive energies.  Venus is alone in the sign of (Libra until 1/1/19). Libra, the sign of balance and relationship, is the home sign for Venus and beneath the unsettling emotions Venus is offering hope and the true nature of love.  The hope of Venus is a good reason to work with the emotions of the past in order to let them go and walk into the future without the fear of emotional pain.  These placements are auspicious for the astronomical New Year of 2019.

Our friend Mars will be moving into the sign of Pisces on 12/23 which is good news.  Mars has been a challenging and big influence during all of 2018.  He is moving into the sign of Pisces.  Pisces is a friendly placement for Mars and is a water sign.  Just as water is used to contain fire a friendly water sign does have the ability to contain the fiery independent and aggressive nature of the ever errant Mars.  Mars can be a difficult planet to contain and there is only one planet that can harness Mars.  That planet is Jupiter.  Jupiter is currently in the water sign of Scorpio and from Scorpio he will not only be aspecting Mars he will also be in an exchange of signs with Mars (parivartana yoga). This is a powerful placement and gives us all another reason to hold on to hope as we plan for 2019.  Hope is important as long as we keep our mental perspective and not decide that only a million dollar lottery win will solve our problems.

As we close out this year it is good to know that we are ending the year with positive light from the planetary patterns.  This light might not always be easy to see but it is there if we take a bit of time to uncover it within ourselves.  The energy of the solstice will be helpful as we seek this light as will finding some moments during the holiday season to be grateful for what we do have.

 

To celebrate the Winter Solstice and the new year of 2019 I am offering an 11% discount on full and half hour sessions.  This will be in effect until January 16th, 2019.

Happy Holidays to everyone!