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December 2009: Season of Capricorn (December 21 – January 19, 2010
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A Solstice Star
The gloom of
winter can be illuminated by stellar light for those who see beyond the
darkness of the moment, and such a possibility comes to us at this
year’s Winter Solstice. The new season is accompanied by a
configuration in Aquarius that will usher in a new paradigm for many.
At our nation's capitol, the Moon and asteroid Chiron join Jupiter and
Neptune in an Aquarius conjunction on December 21st,
quietly setting a trajectory for the New Year that seeks to meld
environment, education, and health in a grand plan for change and progress.
The ingress of the Sun into the sphere of Capricorn is
viewed as the pacesetter for the coming year, financially and
politically. Looking at the event from Washington DC, the Solstice Sun
on December 21st is accompanied by Pluto, indicating a transformative
change in the Ninth House of Government. The world will monitor this
change, to judge if the new values it presents will ripple into waves
of empathy and responsibility for others of less fortunate
circumstances around the globe.
The key to this change lies in the symbolism of Chiron –
healer (“chirurgery”), peacemaker, and the legendary teacher of the
physician Asclepius and the hero Achilles. As he now travels in the
celestial sphere with a progressive Aquarian Moon and the lords of sky
(Jupiter) and water (Neptune), he brings us to a place of reckoning for
the state of our environment, within and without. At this
Solstice, Mars opposes this stellium of powers, but Chiron is well versed in the art of war and a veteran of many hazardous
conflicts. He teaches us to resolve our discord through nature, his
exclusive realm, and he promises victory over blind aggression. Change indeed will come to pass under his tutelage.
Cosmic Events
The New Moon takes place on December
16th at 7:02 am EST (24 Sagittarius 40’), with the Moon conjoining
Pluto later in the day. This presages the transformative process that
will take place for the next thirty days, one that will bring as much
bitterness as liberation from outworn conventions.
The Sun enters Capricorn (Winter Solstice) on December
21st at 12:47 pm EST, following the Aquarian conjunction of Moon and
Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune, at 3:53 am EST. The atmosphere throughout
the day will be one of wonder and trepidation, as what was long sought
for becomes unfamiliar and challenging.
The Full Moon takes place on December 31st at 2:13 pm EST,
(10 Cancer 15’), also known as the Yule (Winter) Moon. This year, it
features a partial Lunar eclipse that foreshadows a coming year of
doubts and a desire to retreat to old habits. Resist the gravity –
illusions may obscure our sight for the duration of this eclipse, but
in the following months Chiron will be offering each of us a path to
healing or heroism.
The New Year 2010 is inaugurated between the Lunar eclipse
of December 31st and an Annular Solar Eclipse on January 15th at 2:11
am EST, along with a Mercury in retrograde motion – all in wintry,
stern Capricorn. These cosmic influences will encourage a frustrating
decline in government initiatives due to financial instability and
obstructions from the status quo.
Other delays in moving international agreements forward
can be expected, with more than the usual seasonal transportation
slowdowns. But these disappointments will be short-lived – on February
11th Chiron joins Neptune in a decisive finale that will mend many of
the rifts that separate people from the powers that heal, educate, and
govern with harmony.
The Education of Achille by Chiron – James Barry (1741–1806)
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November 2009: Season of Sagittarius (November 21 – December 21)
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Keepers of the Sacred Fire
In the season of
Sagittarius, the fire of prewinter is renewed and tended to illuminate
the darkness of the coming solstice. Associated in the Greek tradition
with the centaur Chiron, teacher of the physician Asclepius, it draws
together the disciplines of healing, the military arts, and weaving –
an eclectic combination at first glance but reflecting the powerful
motif of the Sacred Fire. It is this universal substance that sustains
life, protects the community, and inspires creativity.
In ancient Egypt, the goddess Neit governed warfare and weaving,
wearing a headdress of crossed arrows and alternately, the red crown of
the Lower Kingdom or the shuttle loom of weaving. In all of these
images, she preserves and protects life and guards the borders of
divine territories. Similarly, the lioness Sekhmet, Lady of the Red
Linen, embodies the scorching fires of combat and purification. She
purges the body of afflictions and banishes the enemies of the Sun from
sacred places. The priesthoods of both deities were healers and
exorcists, tending the temple fires that purified instruments of both
warfare and surgery.
Both the Pleiades and the constellation Orion set in November,
signaling the onset of the cold, stormy season. As they hibernate, we
call on the keepers of the Sacred Fire to protect and preserve us, so
that we may remain custodians of their power.
Neit, Lady of Sais – Luxor Temple, Egypt (19th Dynasty)
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Goddesses Times
November 15th celebrates the Feronia, a feast
of the ancient Etruscan goddess of fire, fertility and woodlands. Most
importantly, she was patroness of liberty and refuge of the enslaved.
At her shrines located in tree groves, slaves were emancipated and
received a pileus on their shaved heads, a cone-shaped hat that
symbolized release from bondage. This is a day to reflect on the
freedoms we possess rather than the restrictions, and the
possibilities offered us by the liberties hard won by those gone before
us.
November 25th honors St. Catherine of Alexandria, the
Fourth Century patroness of philosophers and preachers. Her symbol is
the wheel that shattered when she was to be martyred upon it, and on
her feast day jewels in the form of wheels are worn, circle dances are
performed, and round “Cathern” apple cakes are baked. In the Eastern
Orthodox tradition, it is believed that her body was conveyed by two
angels from Alexandria, Egypt to Mount Sinai, where it was discovered
in the Fifth Century by an anchorite and taken to the monastery erected
by Emperor Justinian in CE 527. Now known as the Monastery of St.
Catherine, countless miracles are attributed to the site.
The unorthodox believe the legend of St. Catherine is the
transposed history of Hypatia (CE 370–415), known in the ancient world
as the “Virgin Philosopher,” daughter of the mathematician Theon and a
teacher in the Alexandrian Academy. As a Neoplatonist and pagan,
Hypatia was demonized by Bishop Cyril for her academic achievements and
influence, leading to her murder by a crowd of Christian fanatics.
December 4th brings the festival of Athena Parthenos, the
Greek goddess of wisdom and culture, patroness of the Parthenon (Roman:
Minerva). As companion of warriors, she also governs weaving, once more
echoing the themes of fire, healing, and protection that so many
ancient divinities embodied in one role.
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St. Catherine of Alexandria
by Michelangelo da Caravaggio (1571–1610)
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Aztec goddess Tonantzin
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On December 8th the Hari No Kuyo
is celebrated in Japan, a women’s day of rest and recreation. Similar
to the ancient Saturnalia when slaves and masters exchanged roles, this
festival features a slight modification – the genders reverse roles
somewhat so that housework is eschewed by the women. Also known as the
Festival of Broken Needles, it is a day assigned to completing all
needlework of the community, again recognizing the healing power of
weaving and sewing.
December 12th is the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who appeared
in 1531 to an Indian farmer in Tepeyac, Mexico. Formerly the site of
the Aztec goddess Tonantzin, the pre-Columbian indigenous people of
the region made annual pilgrimages to the site at the Winter Solstice,
honoring the Mother of Sustenance, among her many names.
December 12th is also the eve of St. Lucia, another Christianized
deity – this time standing in for the Solar goddess Lucina, “universal
light.” In Western Europe, adherents look at midnight for the mystical
“Lucia shining,” to be inspired of the future. Night-long vigils are
kept for baking bread and fashioning sweets for the coming solstice
festivities. |
Goddess Offerings
Gifts
to the keepers of the Sacred Flame include instruments of Tin and Brass
that banish lethargy and hopelessness with the sounds of inspiration
and bravery. Altars of their temples are made of enduring Diorite and
Basalt, the stones of Sekhmet’s images and sanctuaries. In the healing
sanatoria, balsam incenses and Copal are burned, while the gems of
Sapphire and Fire Opal reflect the oracular light of the future. Wear
purples and blues in this season, with Sandalwood and Oakmoss scents.
The healing herbs of Sagittarius include essences of Cajeput, Ti Tree,
and Solomon’s Seal – remedies for burns and the ills of winter.
Cosmic Events
The
New Moon takes place on November 16 at 11:14 am PST (24º Scorpio
32’), with the Moon becoming “void of course” (lacking contact with
other planets) for the rest of the day. She is said to be fruitless at
this time, but this allows the psychic atmosphere to be cleared of the
confusions of previous days. This is known as the Blood Moon, when
grapes are crushed for the fermentation cycle of Scorpio, now coming to
a conclusion as we enter the domain of Fire in the coming days.
The Sun enters Sagittarius on November 21st at 8:23 pm PST, marking a
weekend that will be unusually quiet for the ingress into a fiery
season. Later in the week, the sparks fly – Thanksgiving get-togethers
will be lively, to say the least.
The Full Moon takes place on December 1st at 11:30 pm PST (10º
Gemini-Sagittarius 15’) following Venus’ entry into fiery Sagittarius.
This, combined with the forward motion of Uranus at the same
time, promises a day of revelry and surprises.
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October 2009: Season of Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
Lifting the Veil
In Scorpio, life enters the cavern of hibernation, a
place where the darkness insulates us in a cocoon of transformation.
This is not a place of fear and avoidance, but an occasion for repose
and renewal. In the season of Scorpio, we may lift the veil that
separates light from dark and mortality from eternity.
The theme of entering the realm of the dead for a season
is enacted in the Orphic Mysteries, a Hellenistic tradition based on
the descent and return of Orpheus and Persephone from the underworld.
Persephone, daughter of mother-goddess Demeter, is abducted by Hades,
lord of the underworld. Though separated from nature, she becomes queen
of all souls as her mother mourns and the Earth grows fallow. And in
another legend, Orpheus enters the realm of the dead to retrieve his
wife Eurydice, and is thus empowered as lord of oracles and “caster of
spells.”
We recapitulate these themes when the light of the growing
season becomes dim and the night of winter begins. At this time the
maiden transforms into the crone, the giver of life becomes the
harbinger of death. These images are distinguished in many cultures –
on October 30th with the South American celebration of El Dia de los Muertos
(“Day of the Dead”), on October 31st with the Wiccan cross-quarter of
Samhain (“sa-win”), and November 1st with the Celtic Hallowmas.
Goddesses Times
Witch, enchantress, and sorcerer are elevated in Scorpio.
We may honor Makaria (“blessed death”), daughter of Hades who leads
souls to the legendary Islands of the Blest at the end of life. Praise
may be given to Cerridwen, shapeshifter and lady of the cauldron of
wisdom, the vessel that grants inspiration, poetry, and divine madness.
And patroness of the season is Hecate, goddess of the dark Moon and
guardian of crossroads.
The Orphic Mysteries were a metaphor of the soul’s
transmigration and eternal nature. One of its pre-winter observances
was the offering to Melinoe, another daughter of Hades. She is goddess
of ghosts and funerary offerings with black and white limbs, an image
similar to the Hindu Kali, goddess of change and transition. In her
name and all those who have passed through the veil, we may erect an
Altar of the Dead with bones, stones, and fallen leaves.
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Persephone by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
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Goddess Offerings
Offerings to the dark goddess include pomegranate and wreaths of palm,
with incenses of Patchouli, Cypress, and Opopanax (sweet myrrh). Her
priestesses are veiled in maroon and black, and don ornaments of
bloodstone and serpentine.
The scents of Scorpio include Musk and Civet – one legend relates that
the Narcissus flower lured Persephone away from her companions so that
Hades was able to abduct her. Scorpio medicinals include Mace, Hops,
and Juniper.
Irish Cauldron – Late Bronze Age (BCE 700)
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Cosmic Events
The New Moon takes place on October 17th at 10:33 pm PDT
(24º Libra 59’), a day that brings stimulating ideas and optimism.
Use these influences well, as the energy level drops when the Sun
enters Scorpio on October 22nd at 11:44 pm PDT. This inaugurates a
changeover that may bring melancholy and depletion of physical
energy until October 24th.
The Full Moon takes place on November 2nd at 11:14 am PST
(10º Taurus-Scorpio 30’), a time of contention and polarized
thinking. Best to stay out of arguments and reserve your opinions for a
later time.
Two major planets, Jupiter and Neptune, now go into
forward motion as they both transit the Sign of Aquarius. On October
13th Jupiter continues his passage through the Waterbearer, and on
November 4th Neptune follows suit. All of this bodes well for their
mutual conjunction with asteroid Chiron, a sublime event that will take
place in the coming weeks at the Winter Solstice (December 21st).
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September 2009: Season of Libra (September 22 – October 23)
Balance and Justice
As we enter the season of Libra, we cross the threshold from
personal endeavor to collective participation. The first six Signs of
the Zodiac signify the development of Will (Aries), Values (Taurus),
Self Expression (Gemini), Relationships (Cancer), Ego (Leo), and
Socialization (Virgo). In Libra, one enters the world of communal
interests and engagement. Throughout this season, we are prompted to
relinquish the things that serve only ourselves and find a genuine
place in the collectivity.
In some cultures, the Sign
of Libra is represented by the mirror, signifying the processes of
reflection and identity. Through relationships, personal and
collective, we gain an understanding of the wholeness that arrives from
being a part of the whole. In Libra we learn the lessons and skills of
negotiation, compromise, understanding, and harmony. From these
experiences, our values are shaped and continuously adapted to the
changing world around us. And so as we transition to the Sign of the
Scales, it is important to weigh our values against the transitory
conditions of the hour and be reminded that balance in our lives will
prevail against the disharmonies of the outside world.
Sacred Marriage
In Libra, the hieros gamos (sacred marriage) inspires us
in our relationships to seek divine consonance. This ideal was enacted
in ancient ritual with purification of the couple, community
acknowledgment of the union, and symbolic consummation, intended to
enrich society as well as the individual participants. But the hieros
gamos alludes to other significant unions of opposites – the conscious
Ego and the unconscious Self, the Ida and Pingala forces of the Chakra
body, the Sun and Moon in celestial life. In this time of equal day and
equi nox, “equal night,” we come to know that even in seasonal terms the visible world achieves balance and equilibrium.
Pharaoh MenKauRa and Queen KaMeriNebty – Egypt, 4h Dynasty
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Goddess Times
The Autumnal Equinox takes
place on September 22nd at 2:19 pm PDT and the Sun begins his seasonal
journey into the southern hemisphere of the sky. Now begins the cosmic
mystery of light’s descent into the field of hibernation and the onset
of Winter’s darkness, the ageless narrative of death and the triumph of
rebirth.
In ancient times the
Fall Equinox marked the observance of sacred dramas that enacted the
diminishment of daylight in the following months. The Full Moon of
Libra that followed (this year on October 3-4) commenced the Greek
Eleusinian Mysteries, which honored the archetypal journeys of the
mother goddess Demeter and her daughter (Kore) Persephone. The descent
of the daughter into the realm of her abductor Hades was reprised by
initiates; four days later they emerged from caves beneath the mother
temple endowed with oracular powers.
The modern neopagan
festival of Mabon, which opens the harvest season with communal feasts,
reprises the traditions of all ancient societies that honored the Earth
as provider and source of renewal. Celebrated at the Equinox, it
likewise observes the close of the growinng season and preparation for
winter’s needs and the vigil of the Sun’s return in the Spring. |
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Goddess Offerings
The many faces of Venus, who instills the striving for beauty and
harmony, are reflected in the Libran universe. Gardens at their
fruition are governed by Libra, with flowering plants that include the
Primrose, White Rose, and Heartsease.
The Libran bounty includes the
grape and olive, earliest cultivated foods and mainstays of refined
cooking.
Libran metals include Copper and Electrum, precious materials used for
casting images of the divine consort in the ancient temples, placed on
altars of Rose Granite or Pink Alabaster from the quarries of the
goddess. Before these images, incenses of Cyprinum (Henna) and Myhrr
were offered, along with wreaths of Jasmine and Tuberose.
A goddess
shrine in your own space could emulate this timeless tradition and
invite her blessings to your endeavors.
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Cosmic Events
The
New Moon takes place on September 18th at 11:44 am PDT (25º Virgo
59’), inviting a month of disruptions and disappointments in matters of
health care. Despite this, it is the ideal time to pledge a regimen of
personal attention to your own well being in the last days of
health-conscious Virgo. Plant remedies that contribute to this goal
include Rosehips, Lemon Thyme, Hibiscus, and Strawberry.
The Full Moon takes place on October 3rd at 11:30 pm PDT
(11º Aries-Libra 10’), bringing the Harvest Moon (Full Moon
closest to the Fall Equinox) that rises low and bright on the horizon.
With the benefit of Lunar light lengthening our waking hours, cosmic
influences seem close indeed.
It’s reported that some traditions call for a community
feast for those who are born near the Harvest Moon. That would include
Virgo and Libra Sun Signs, but all are to be welcomed into the harvest
festival.
Mercury goes forward in the sky on September 29th at 6:14 am PDT
(21º Virgo 37’) in the Sign of the celestial maiden. It brings
more than respite from delays and disappointments, with a fortunate
union of the Moon and Jupiter – the classic aspect for physical joy and
conjugal happiness.
August 2009: Season of Virgo (August 22 – September 22)
The
season of the celestial virgin brings together past, present, and
future through the images of heavenly maiden, guardian of hearth and
home, and mother of the harvest. In Virgo, a pantheon of goddesses from
every world culture embodies these images at this time of year. It is
the time of rest from the labors of agriculture, of harvesting Earth’s
yield, and preparing for the hibernation of Winter. In Virgo we may
experience the providence of past efforts, the ripeness of nature in
the present, and the hope of what is to come through the roles of this
season’s divinities.
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Nurturing and Cultivation
In
places where the goddess spirit is honored, much is said of nurturing
and cultivating knowledge in the next generation. Though we may
acknowledge these acts as essential to communal progress, we often
overlook their importance in everyday life or leave such tasks to
others.
In ancient Greece it was Demeter, mother of grain and the seasons, who
with her daughter Persephone initiated the youth Eumolpos into the
sacred science of agriculture. He then became the legendary founder of
the Eleusinian mysteries, whose descendants served as high priests of
a tradition that oversaw the annual sacred drama of the fruition,
reaping, hibernation, and renewal of life in the harvest month of the
year.
Such dramas are
metaphors of both the human life cycle and the soul’s entry into divine
worlds. They remind us that coming generations must carry the seed of
our knowledge and experience, a gift to the future that may yield a
harvest of harmony and prosperity if we scatter the kernels of our
maturity wisely and cultivate it in others unselfishly.
Whether you are a mother of
experience or a daughter of learning, this is a time to consider the
breadth of what you have acquired and how it may best serve the future.
We tend to forget or trivialize the hard-won lessons we have known and
the wisdom that arises from them. In the Virgo season, we may assess
this reservoir of knowledge and begin to scatter that seed for the
future.
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Demeter and Persephone
consecrating Eumolpos
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Goddess Times
The Volcanalia is observed on August 23rd, a fire festival best
celebrated with the lighting of candles for those departed. The flames
represent the souls of ancestors who remain our inspirations and guides
through difficult times. This is the theme of the Japanese Obon, a three-day
celebration in mid-August that honors ancestors with the lighting of
lanterns that are placed in rivers and streams to return their souls to
heaven. It is followed by the Bon Odori, the dance of joy.
August 24th is the Cerealia (“cereal festival”), the Roman festival
honoring Ceres, goddess of the grain harvest. In this event we honor
the accomplishments of those in our local communities, no matter how
small, by sharing summer’s bounty. And in keeping with the ancient
tradition of remembering those gone before us, we also nourish those who
will carry our harvest into the future.
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Goddess Offerings
Plants governed by Virgo come from the families of digestive aids,
antiseptics and diuretics. These include Parsley, Fennel, Rosemary,
Melissa (Lemon Balm), Spearmint, and Peppermint. Scents are sweet,
flowering greenery, including Gardenia, Magnolia, and bulb flowers such
as Hyacinth and Tulip. Perfumes are Storax (Liquidamber) Lily of the
Valley, and Honeysuckle.
Most grains of the ancient world were governed by the harvest goddess,
and so the Virgo New Moon is traditionally known as the Barley Moon. It
is the most auspicious time to prepare the Octoberfest beer from the
first threshing of barley.
The Virgo New Moon is also known as the Corn Moon to Native Americans,
and the Red Moon to stargazers, because the lunar body is low on the
horizon at this time of year and is colored reddish-yellow by
refraction from the Earth.
The Constellation Virgo
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Cosmic Events
The Sun enters Virgo on August 22nd at 4:39 pm PDT,
ushering in the time for preparations, practical and spiritual, that
ensure nourishment for body and soul in the coming months. Earth-ruled
Virgo reminds us to tend to the essentials of our nature – food,
family, and community. These are indispensable in the current climate
of insecurity and change, but they are dispensed by the harvest goddess
wherever she is honored.
The New Moon takes place on August 20th at 3:02 am PDT
(27º Leo 32’), with both Sun and Moon under the influence of
Neptune. Some progress in the prevention of epidemic risks are
expected, along with the development of a worldwide program to address
anticipated hazards.
The Full Moon takes place on September 4th at 9:03 am PDT
(12º Virgo-Pisces 15’), moving into alignment with the ongoing
Saturn-Uranus planetary opposition. This should be a lively week at the
very least, through a period of disruption and turmoil is expected.
Calm should prevail to overcome these transitory conditions, with the
knowledge that conditions will rapidly change in the coming days.
Mercury turns retrograde on September 6th at 9:45 pm PDT
(6º Libra 13’), which should actually bring respite from the
emotionality and confusion of the last week. Mediation and compromise
are highlighted, though it won’t bear fruit until Mercury turns direct
and passes over his retrograde station in mid-October.
On September 15th the ongoing opposition between the major
planets of Saturn and Uranus (24º Virgo-Pisces 43’) reaches
peak volume. Conservative vs. progressive forces are at issue under
this influence, the status quo vs. change. They continue to move in
opposition to each other, peaking again in April and July of 2010
before resolution. |
July 2009: Season of Leo (July 22 – August 21)
It
is once again the time of year in the northern hemisphere that
coincides with a forty-day period when Sirius – the alpha star in the
constellation Canis Major (the “greater dog”) – rises with the Sun.
Hence, this time is known as the “Dog Days” (July 4 – August 11). But
throughout the ages, Sirius (Greek for “scorcher”) also represented the
appearance of a foremost goddess – Sothis of the Greeks, Sopdet of the
Egyptians, Rudra (Shiva) of the Vedas.
Isis-Sothis
Herald of the New Year
Temple of Philae, Egypt
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Goddess Appearing
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky that rises after the
constellation Orion. The forty days of her rising with the Sun were
regarded as most sacred in the ancient cultures of the Levant – from
Egypt to Babylonia, including Greece, India, and as far East as China.
Near the end of the forty day Solar conjunction, the star appears on
the horizon at dawn before the solar aura becomes visible (the heliacal
rising). This was viewed by the ancients as “the herald of the Sun’s
divine companion.”
The lore associated with this event has been passed down through the
ages. A shade of the naturally blue-white star is significant – if it
appears bright and clear, the ancients foretold an abundant harvest and
a year without conflict. If it was dim or reddish, a poor harvest would
be expected with hostilities from foreign lands.
Standing alone in the heavens before the daylight illumines the sky,
Sirius is indeed a marvelous sight. Greet the time-honored goddess
rising in the East from your location:
Latitude
Date
Sirius Rises
30º N (Los
Angeles)
8/06 05:26 am PDT
35º N (San Francisco)
8/08 05:37 am PDT
40º N
(Denver)
8/10 05:24 am MDT
45º N
(Portland)
8/10 05:47 am PDT
A remarkable theory of Sirius’ alignment in Egyptian
sacred space was proposed by astronomer Virginia Trimble in the 1960’s.
The southern shaft in the so-called Queen’s Chamber in the Great
pyramid of Giza was apparently sited to the culmination of Sirius
overhead. As this occurred, the star Al Nitak – the largest and key
star in the constellation Orion – was sited to the southern shaft in
the King’s Chamber above. It was Orion that the Egyptians regarded as
the returned Osiris, in his incarnation as the royal Sun, Horus.
And so in the stellar landscape of Orion’s passage over
the pyramid shaft, his companion/mother Isis stands watch overhead, to
bring forth the a new cycle of divine light. Trimble’s theory is not
far-fetched – a century before, Sir Norman Lockyer, Scotland’s royal
astronomer, discovered that several of the temple Mammisi (birth
houses) in Egypt were aligned to the heliacal rising of Sirius in
ancient times.
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Goddess Times
July 31
is Midsummer or Lammas Eve, with August 1 the midpoint between Summer
Solstice and Autumnal Equinox. It opens the period of First Harvest and
the festivals of thanksgiving that will follow. We celebrate by
offering the first fruits of our summer’s labors – if they are not
grain or the yield of the soil, we should offer sustenance for all in
our circle. In the Celtic/Old Irish tradition, this day is known as
Lughnasadh, a feast of the goddess Tailtiu and her consort Lugh
(deities of Life and Light). In Celtic communities, it is traditional
to hold handfastings at this time.
Cosmic Events
The
Sun enters Leo on July 22nd at 9:36 am PDT, opening the season of the
divine monarch. As the Solar light is in ascendancy, we are reminded of
those who distinguish themselves through leadership, inspiring great
ideas and acts that elevate all in the community. Besides queens and
kings, it includes those who seek justice over the status quo,
compassion over retribution, and healing over harm. It is also a time
to reflect on the inner divinity of all, which embodies these qualities
when awakened by the light of devotion.
The New
Moon takes place on July 21st of at 7:35 pm PDT (29ª Cancer 27’).
With it comes a total Solar eclipse, the longest in duration for the
21st Century (until June 23, 2132). The influence of eclipses is
measured in years – this event of 6 minutes and 39 seconds is
equivalent to six years and 237 days. Conditions of this eclipse denote
economic inhibition, though peaceful resolutions to chronic conflicts
are also indicated. However, transformative influences also prevail –
the world in six years is going to look dramatically different for the
general public as nature’s assets become accessible to greater numbers
and economic power is redistributed.
The Leo New Moon is regarded as the Wort Moon, so named for the season
of year it represents – the gathering of herbs (wyrrt or wort, the old
English term for plants). When the Sun is high at this time of year,
medicinal and culinary herbs are at their peak of potency and ideal for
storing into the winter months. Plants governed by Leo include
bloodwort (Rumex Sanguineus), used as a blood tonic; lungwort
(Pulmonaria), an expectorant; and motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), a
cardiac tonic and nervine. Other herbs ruled by the lion include bay
leaf, saffron and sesame; florals are marigold, sunflower and peony.
The Full Moon takes place on August 5th at 5:55 pm PDT
(13º Aquarius 43’), bringing a second penumbral Lunar eclipse
following the same type of event on July 7th. Lunar eclipses affect psychic and
emotional currents, this one may bring misinformation and confusion to
the rational approach of Aquarius. This is the ideal time to place your
mind on vacation, and use the heralded creative influence of Leo to
inaugurate new projects before Mercury turns retrograde on September 7th.
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Sunflower, ruled by Leo
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June 2009: Season of Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
2005 Summer Solstice at Stonehenge by Andrew Dunn
Solstice Season
The month of June brings a solstice, a “standing still” of the
Sun as it appears at the zenith in the sky, it’s most northerly
position on the horizon for the year. In Neopagan lore it is the feast
of Litha, opposite the feast of Yule at the Winter Solstice in the
sacred year.
To honor the peak of the Sun’s passage through the sky,
bonfires are lit throughout Europe, with each country interpreting the
Sun’s ascent to the north in a distinctive way. But a commonality is
shared as well – all recognize the creative fire of the Solar gods,
past and present, east and west.
Native American Plains Indians hold the renewing Sun Dance
at the Summer Solstice and Hindu tradition holds a number of
celebrations throughout the month to the goddess Parvati, consort of
Shiva and mother of Ganesha.
The day before the Solstice is Midsummer's Night's Eve,
traditionally a time of magic and power. Dreams and the visitation of
fairies are attributed to this night, as Shakespeare so cleverly
demonstrated in his timeless play of this event.
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Tradition also has it that medicinal plants and magical herbs gathered
at midnight are said to be at their full potency of the year and may be
dried or distilled for the coming months. Cancer-ruled plants harvested
on this day include St. John’s wort (Hypericum), associated with John
the Baptist, whose feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic church
on June 24. The plant is said to banish depression and treat
alcoholism. Others include Catmint, Lemon Balm, Poppy, Cardamom,
Chamomile, and Licorice.
Midsummer Night’s Eve also marks the Egyptian festival of
Lailat al Saratjan (“Night of the Crab”). Charms are fashioned and hung
on walls to drive away the insects of summer.
The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania
by Sir Joseph Noel Paton (1821–1901)
Scene from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
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Goddess Times
June 18 commences the season of Ethiopian rains that bring the Nile
floods. It was honored by the ancient Egyptians as Gerh-en-Matuiy
(“Night of the Teardrop”), when the goddess Isis wept on learning the
death of Osiris and commenced her journey down the Nile in search of
his body. The Islamic and Coptic communities similarly celebrate it as
Lailat al Nuktah.
June 27 honors Aestas (“summer) the Roman patroness of the season, a
corn goddess and consort of the Sun god Phoebus. She brings warmth and
protection to all that grows in her season.
July 3 begins the “dog days,” so named for the star Sirius (alpha Canis
Majoris, in the constellation of the Great Dog), which rises near dawn
for the next month. This event brings the hottest days of the year, but
also the most honored as Sirius is the ancient guide through the
underworld, the brightest star in the night sky. Its rising at dawn
marked Summer Solstice in the Pyramid Age and the seasonal rising of
the Nile throughout Egyptian history.
Cosmic Events
The Sun enters Cancer on June 20 at 10:46 pm PDT, ushering in the
season of active Water, a month of motion and at times, turbulence. But
the Sun is at his peak, thus should we emulate the celestial theme and
reach for the possibilities we had set aside for another time.
The New Moon of Cancer is regarded as the Mead Moon, when the first
grain crops sprout and honey is gathered. Together, they will be
fermented into Mead for the harvest festivals. But the New Moon on June
22 at 12:35 pm PDT (1º Cancer 30’) follows the Solstice,
indicating a cycle of rapid growth for the next six months in the
public sector. The Moon also opposes Pluto shortly after her
conjunction to the Sun, indicating radical changes to the status quo
for the coming month. This is a time to think outside the box of our
own limitations, as opportunities arise that may not be repeated for a
long time. Expect to see major confrontations in the political sphere,
nationally and internationally.
The Full Moon on July 7 at 2:21 am PDT (15º Capricorn 24’) brings
a Lunar eclipse that is not expected to be visible and thus, not
adversely afflicting our psychic security as eclipses tend to do.
Still, there are some cultures that today regard the event as
threatening, enough to bring out the drums, rattles, pots and pans to
banish disruptive spirits that come out when the Moon is “devoured” by
the shadow of the Earth.
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May 2009: Season of Gemini (May 20 – June 20)
From Earth to Air
As the gentle climate of May hastens
our gardens to bloom, the sanctified Earth welcomes the winds of change
and motion brought by elemental Air. The season of Taurus now
transitions to Gemini, while the mistress Hathor gives way to the
matron Juno, Roman goddess who presides over marriage and the essential
union of family and state. But while she oversees these affairs in
one’s culture, she also opens the door to individual wisdom as the
“bringer of light,” a power in the sky who gives vision to newborns and
insight to her followers.
How often do we bypass our own insights, allowing instead
our desire for acceptance or fear of criticism to subdue our better
instincts? An understanding of what Goddess truly provides – the inner
sense of what is true around us – is what this season awakens. As the
plants in our gardens sprout, let our natural gifts of knowing the ways
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Goddess Times
In the ancient world, some were dedicated for life to know the ways of
the inner senses, fulfilling this duty to both gods and men. In Rome it
was the Vestals, a celibate priestesshood of custodians who safeguarded
legal and historical documents and the genealogies of the aristocracy.
But in addition to these civic duties, their task was the keeping of
the sacred fire from which all hearths in Rome were alighted. This, in
reflecting the character of their patroness Vesta, “the living flame.”
In Greece, Hestia also embodied the powers of the hearth to bless those
who were nourished by its fires. In this role the goddess lives among
mortals, to protect orphans and children and ensure they always
returned to the altar of sustenance. She is honored by the charity we
extend to others by sharing the food we prepare from our kitchens.
Between June 9–14 the Romans celebrated the Vestalia, both in public
and private. The hearth flame was renewed from the sanctuary of the
Vestals, and special cakes of salt and freshly-ground grain were
prepared and offered at the family altars.
This is an ideal time to share the duties of cooking with a gathering
of friends and family. On the 15th of June, homes are cleaned by
ceremonial sweeping, the burning of incense, and baking of
newly-leavened bread.
The Vestal by Frederick Lord Leighton (1830-1896)
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Astrologically, the asteroid Vesta governs the transformation of plant
life to food, the alchemy of cooking and the culinary art. Her glyph
represents the flame rising from the hearth and the creative power of
fire, the action that makes ordinary tasks sacred. We should recognize
this miracle in every meal we prepare and offer to others and ourselves.
We
also call on Vesta, as keeper of records, to help us locate our lost
keys and wallets. She protects door bolts, storerooms, and warns of
dangers to the safety of the domicile. Now is the time to scrutinize
the integrity of your living space with an offering to Vesta and a
thorough check on your house locks and keys.
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Cosmic Events
The Sun enters Gemini on May 20 at 2:51 pm PDT and the Moon conjoins
Venus in Aries several hours later, bringing a streak of enthusiasm to
the new ideas Gemini ushers in. This will be a fortunate day to present
your case, though Mercury may delay results until the end of the month.
Gemini is one of four “double-bodied” Signs, representing influences
that alternate between the practical and ideal, the earthly and the
heavenly. Just as Mercury transmits information from the Olympian
heights to the mundane world, we must divide our time and render to the
powers that be our attention, yet not forgetting our obligations to
ourselves. In Gemini, it is awakening to the inner wisdom and paying
heed to the intuitive guidance that Mercurius communicates to us.
The
New Moon on May 24th at 5:11 am PDT (3º Gemini 28’) is a quiet,
introspective affair with only Saturn casting a serious eye on events
of the day. Since Memorial Day follows, it would be appropriate to
honor those who have made the transition to the next life and to
reflect on values that inspire you.
Mercury, ruler of Gemini, turned retrograde in his own Sign on May 7th
but moves into direct motion on May 30th at 6:22 pm PDT. While it is
particularly annoying when the patron of journeys is asleep at the
wheel, plans for Summer and Fall may go forward as vacation discounts
proliferate throughout the month of June; Mercury also oversees sales
and bargains!
The Full Moon on June 7th at 11:12 am PDT (17º Sagittarius 07’)
brings another cold Saturn influence, but recalling the past becomes
effortless. Whether it’s far memory or yesterday’s happenings,
conjuring the old and forgotten dominates the events of the day.
Mercury by Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617)
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April 2009: Season of Taurus (April 19 – May 20)
Springing Forward
We enter a
new season with the planet Venus, who brings rejuvenation and harmony
in the cosmic environment, moving forward on April 17. While retrograde
planets are so viewed from only the Earth’s perspective, delays and
obstacles inevitably take place when they appear at a standstill or
move backward in the sky. With the kind influence of Venus waxing once
more, we can also move forward and look to fortunate events ahead.
Goddess Times
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22nd, a time to reflect on our bond
with the planet we inhabit and the great spirit that enlivens it. Even
if some do not relate to Deity as mother, it is self-evident that all
existence is dependent upon one’s cooperative relationship with nature,
and what it provides us to grow and mature throughout its rhythms and
seasons as that bond deepens.
The ancients seemed to understand this intrinsically and consistently.
The Romans honored the goddess Flora, patroness of Spring, from April
28–May 2nd. The Floralia was both a festival and an evocation of the
dormant powers of life in the soil to awaken. Though reported to be an
event of indulgence and licientiousness, it is one of many ancient
festivals acknowledging the bond between mortals and nature, the mating
of humankind with the Earth. It marks the onset of the agricultural
calendar, the first sowing of the seed.
The Goddess Flora by Luca Giordano (1634–1705)
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The union of man and goddess, the seeding of the soil and
the fertilization of the land, was celebrated in ancient Egypt with the
Festival of the Joyous Union, the annual mating of the goddess Hathor
with her consort, Horus. In an elaborate holiday involving temples,
citizens, and fleets of Nile boats, the image of the goddess sailed
from her great house at Dendera upstream to the god’s domain at Edfu at
the New Moon in Taurus (this year on April 24th). Shut within the
sanctuary for 14 days, the powers of the deities fused, to later
disperse in a great ceremony at the Full Moon of Taurus (this year on
May 8th-9th) marking the conception of their child, Ihy lord of
harmony. In modern Egypt, the ancient festival is still commemorated in
the public holiday of Sham el-Nessim (“breathing the air”), held on the
Monday following Coptic Easter (this year on April 20th).
The Goddess Hathor embraces Pharaoh Seti, embodiment of her consort Horus
– from the Tomb of Seti I, Valley of the Kings
The eve of April 30th is
Walpurgisnacht, marking the commencement of the annual mid-Spring
European festival of Walpurgis through May 5. Bonfires fueled by
outworn winter goods are lit at night, followed by the May 1st ritual
of dancing around the Maypole, symbol of the fertilization of the Earth
and the flowering of vegetation to come. The roots of “spring cleaning”
are arise from this celebration, this year make it a labor of
rejuvenation with recycling and regifting.
This time is honored in the
Celtic/Welsh feast of Beltaine, honoring Blodeuwedd, Goddess of
Flowers, and Llew, the Oak king and lord of the waxing Sun in the
northern sky. Mystical union is the theme of this season, as the seeds
of life take root in the womb of nature. Bring these powers into your
own environment with seedlings at your windows and ribbons bound on
budding branches at your door.
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The
esoteric fraternities of the Renaissance preserved wisdom from the
ancient traditions through the art and architecture of their milieux.
In art, talismanic paintings served as keys to unlocking the creative
forces of the viewer and one’s environment.
Primavera by Alessandro Botticelli (1445–1510)
In the Primavera, Botticelli portrays the drama of Spring and the
spirit of the season that is awakened; Venus (harmony) presides over
the renewal of life in her garden, remniscent of the Empress figure in
the traditional Tarot deck. From the right, a budding vine in the mouth
of Chloris (growth) is symbolically fertilized by her consort Zephyrus
(bringer of seasons), resulting in the appearance of Flora, goddess of
Spring. At the left, Mercury (knowledge) penetrates a cluster of clouds
with his cadueus sceptre, while the three Graces (Cheer, Beauty, and
Joy) who protect vegetation, join in celebratory dance. Amor (love)
points his arrows toward them.
This is the garden of our own creative pulse, and the gods who inhabit this realm await our awakening.
Cosmic Events
The Sun enters Taurus on April 19th at 3:45 pm PDT, a day filled with
harmony and delight. The Moon travels with both Jupiter and Neptune,
bringing optimism and inspiration, setting off an ambitious trend of
ideas that reach fruition on May 27th, when the two latter planets
conjoin. The season of Taurus is indeed the gardener’s time, but it
also calls on all to cultivate the fecundity of the imagination and the
rich uncultivated potential of our innate talents.
The New Moon on April 24th at 8:23 pm PDT (5º Taurus 04’) promises
creative beginnings, as Venus also moves into a new realm when she
enters fiery Aries earlier in the day. What has been put aside for
better times now comes to our attention – create plans, agendas, and
timetables of your own so you are not quickly overwhelmed by the
ambitions of those around you.
The Full Moon on May 8th at 9:01 pm PDT (18º Scorpio 41’) could
bring confusion and delay, with Mercury turning retrograde two days
beforehand. Though plans may be temporarily blurred, the weekend
accommodates spontaneity and celebration. Mother’s Day on the 9th
brings harmonious influences to gatherings and respite from details for
creative projects.
Baleful Saturn turns direct on May 16th (14º Virgo 55’), banishing
some obstacles from business plans and clarifying mattters of health
and recuperation. Overall, this is a good year for reforms to take root
in health, education, and labor with Saturn moving through Virgo, the
institutional sector of the Zodiac.
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March 2009: Season of Aries (March 20 – April 19)
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New Beginnings
The seasonal transition that takes place between Winter to Spring has
been universally regarded as the time for renewal and regeneration. In
celestial terms, it is the Sun’s passage from the watery torrents of
Pisces to the fiery warmth of Aries, a restatement of creation when the
spark of life arose from the depths of the cosmic ocean in timeless
time.
The Vernal (from Latin vernalis, “of the spring”) Equinox (equi nox,
“equal night”) is the first of two events in the Earth’s annual circuit
around the Sun when the terrestrial axis is upright, when night and day
hours are of equal length. Likewise, we may be raised up from the
incline of winter and the preoccupations of physical existence, to
reach for the sky’s intangibles once more.
In ancient Greece, the renewing forces of Spring were embedded in the
great mythos of Persephone, daughter of the Earth goddess Demeter.
Abducted by Hades and forced underground for part of the year, her
return to the ream of the living was commemorated in the Eleusinian
Mysteries, which celebrated the reunion of mother and daughter at the
Vernal Equinox. Persephone’s return from the underworld signifies the
return of nature’s fecundity and our return to nurturing and growing.
Return of Persephone by Lord Frederick Leighton (1830–1896) |
Goddess Times of Spring
The embodiment of Spring is the Greek
Chloris, goddess of greenery and growth. Consort of Zephyrus, god of
the West wind, she governs fields and gardens, which come to life in
her season. She brought the Rose into being from a lifeless nymph, a
metaphor of nature’s power to awaken our inner beauty. With her
consort, she also gives life to the supreme goddess of devotion,
Aphrodite.
Detail of Chloris and Zephyrus from Alessando Boticelli’s Birth of Venus (1445–1510)
Cybele, the Phrygian mother of the gods and
personification of Earth, chose Attis, an innocent shepherd youth, as
her consort. Believed to have been born from a virgin birth, he was
tricked into suicide by jealous gods and died on a Friday. Cybele
resurrected him mystically after three days of mourning, and each year
his return to life was reprised during the Spring Equinox. The
festival, known as the Hilaria, is celebrated on March 25th with the
raising of a Pine tree. This is the time to organize the coming
plantings, start your seedlings, and visibly engage the mystic force of
life in your environment.
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April 1st is the feast of Veneralia, dedicated to the Roman Venus
Verticordia (“changer of hearts”), the goddess who restores purity and
intent. As we are in the season of renewal, this deity gives attention
to the ideals that have hibernated through a winter of isolation from
our kindred spirits, those who share life with us on Earth. Let us
“change our hearts” from personal concerns to share with others what
the goddess has already provided in our lives.
April also heralds the season of Fortuna Virilis, the goddess “who
makes men virile.” She was invoked by Roman women to ensure happy
marriages and strong sons. Regarded as Bona Dea, “the good goddess,”
she brings abundance and assures a time of plenty. We would do well to
invoke her for the sake of all who seek respite from the fears of the
present.
Venus Verticordia by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
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Cosmic Event
s
The Sun
enters Aries on March 20th at 4:44 am PDT, a predawn awakening to a new
season and the renewal of life. Venus remains retrograde in the
inhospitable domain of Aries, but she softens the harsh winds of change
and brings an early bloom to gardens. Your plans for Spring could also
meet rapid fruition, while the week of the Equinox promises travel,
brisk communications, and the welcome transfer of ideas to action.
The New
Moon on March 26th at 9:06 am PDT (6 Aries 08’) takes place with
planets Mercury and Venus joining the Solunar coniunctionis. The gods
move swiftly now, ushering in change with a climate of good news and a
map of action for the coming year.
The Full Moon on April 9th at 7:56 am PDT (19 Libra 53’) marks the
beginning of Passover and Good Friday observances. In ancient times, it
was the first Full Moon following the Spring Equinox that signaled the
return of the slain hero and hibernating god of agriculture – Osiris,
Adonis, Attis, Dionysius. We celebrate it as Easter, borrowing the name
from the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility, Eostre. No matter what the
tradition, recognizing the regenerative powers in our lives is a
welcome start to a new season.
February 2009: Season of Pisces (February 18 – March 19)
Passion and Compassion
In Greek myth we are told of the monster serpent Typhon, who sought to
overthrow Zeus and the Olympian gods. As he battled the divine
patriarch, the gods sought refuge in Syria and Egypt. Among them,
Aphrodite and her son Eros plunged into the river Nile to escape the
predations of Typhon, and took the form of fishes. Their images were
placed in the heavens as the Ichthyes (“fish”), forming the
constellation Pisces.
As the Roman Venus, the goddess finds the house of Pisces
to be both her refuge and exaltation, her place of greatest power.
Here, Venus in Pisces offers the utmost devotion and protection from
terrestrial terror, a portal to the realm of divine inspiration.
Passion (the red or southern fish) and compassion (the blue or northern
fish) are blended in the image, joined by the cosmic cord of eternity.
The Sun enters Pisces on February 18th at 4:47 am PST, on
a day that brings Venus and Mars together in a conjunction. No matter
where you are, a soft landing is promised. A few days of respite from
the worries of our times will follow, as Aphrodite and Eros find refuge
once more.
Poseidon with the Ichthyes by Johfra Bosschart, 1919–1998
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Goddess Times
March 1st is a day sacred to the the Roman Juno Lucina (Greek: Hera),
guardian of women in childbirth. It was celebrated in ancient times as
the festival of Matronalia, when women would unbind their hair and
remove all knotted clothing, to dispel any hinderings of a safe
childbirth. For husbands, it was customary to bring offerings to the
temples for the well being of their wives and children. The day was
also honored by the Vestals, keepers of the royal genealogies and
divinatory records of the temples.
March 8th is International Women’s Day. This is a time to honor all who
bring life into the world and ensure that in some way we support safe
and accessible childbearing resources. If you know a physician,
midwife, or family counselor, show your acknowledgment and
appreciation. Likewise for all organizations – local and global –
dedicated to providing health care for the safe delivery of children in
countries less fortunate than ours.
The Greek Hera
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Cosmic Events
The New Moon of February 24th (6 Pisces 35’) at 5:35 pm
PST heralds a wonderful beginning of optimism as Mercury conjoins
Jupiter to encourage big ideas moving forward. It takes place on Shrove
Tuesday, the beginning of Mardi Gras. Celebrate in the Piscean waters
of revelry and inspiration!
On
March 6th, Venus turns retrograde (15 Aries 27’) at 9:17 am PST, a
phenomenon that occurs every 1.5 years. What happens when the deity of
devotion pursues a backward path? In this event the goddess leaves the
domain of martial Aries and returns to her house of exaltation, Pisces.
She turns direct on April 17 in the last degree of the Sign of
the Fishes, where she may evoke a last infusion of harmony and good
will until next year. This retrograde period of Venus is the ideal time
to make amends, offer apologies, and rekindle friendships.
Venus and Mars by Sandro Botticelli, c. 1483
The Full
Moon on March 10th (20 Virgo 40’) at 7:38 pm PDT could bring disruption
and pessimism into the picture for those who are reacting solely to the
news of the day. Remember that baleful Saturn and rebellious Uranus are
in a transiting opposition for the next year and a half, meaning that
the struggle between conservative, outworn ways and innovative
approaches to the future continue in varying stages. This Full Moon
touches off the conflict, but it too shall pass, as the expectations of
youth inevitably steer our collective destination.
January 2009: Season of Aquarius (January 19 – February 18)
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A Bit of History
At the second inauguration of George Washington as U.S. president in
1793, the ceremony for taking office was established for March 4, when
the Sun is in Pisces. But in 1937 the 20th amendment to the U.S.
Constitution changed the start date of the presidential term to January
20, the day the Sun enters Aquarius. Appropriately, that new date
ushered in the second administration of Aquarian Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The swearing-in ceremony begins at noon at the Capitol Building, with
the statue of Freedom at its summit pointing toward the Sun at the
Midheaven. Looking at these factors, with the Sun culminating overhead
in a new astrological season, it’s obvious some cosmic considerations
went into the formation of this American ritual. Whether by design or
“coincidence,” the nation will follow in the cosmic rhythm of this
inauguration for the next four years and possibly for more to come.
Many will watch this event with some expectation, subjectively and with
a degree of patriotic sentiment. But it is also an opportunity to renew
our commitment to the collective good, by taking our own spiritual oath
of allegiance to the vision of those who founded and sacrificed for the
continuance of the American endeavor.
The U.S. Capitol Building with the Statue of Freedom at its summit
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Inauguration: January 20, 2009 at Noon EST, Washington DC
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Insights at the Inception of 2009
This year, the Sun enters the Sign of the Water Bearer on
January 19 at 2:41 pm PST, followed the next morning by the
inauguration of President Barack Obama. A stellium (grouping) of
planets in Aquarius marks this period, with six planets and the Sun
contained in a 60-degree span of the upper sky. We view such a pattern
as a genesis of sorts, the inception of a new rhythm that unfolds as
the planets disperse through the Zodiac in time.
The planets in the stellium disclose the influences that
bring about this genesis, and convey our most “pressing matters.” Mars
in his exaltation of Capricorn speaks of a restrained military force,
one that is cognizant of law and order, tradition and honor. Mercury
exalted in Aquarius reflects the ideal of equality and agreement of
principles among human groups. But his apparent retrograde motion
suggests resistance and delays that must first be overcome. Venus in
her exaltation of Pisces brings a unity of values; she conjoins the
futuristic Uranus to promote innovative approaches that will solve the
most urgent problems of the disadvantaged. Access to water, health, and
new technologies are indicated.
The pessimistic will ask, “What about the bad news?” For
that we could look at the Inauguration horoscope, where the Moon (our
national identity), is posited in the 29th degree of Scorpio, where she
is traditionally “in her fall” – indicating a loss of power – and at
the portal of the next Sign of Sagittarius. This surely describes our
current station in modern history – nearing the end of a confrontation
with those who have shapeshifted into a medley of religious, moral, and
cultural images, as allies and enemies all at once, benevolent and
deceptive, and still mysterious and misunderstood. If the public mind
moves beyond the confines of Scorpio, from suspicion and retribution,
into the light of Sagittarius, which is inclusive and tolerant, we will
fulfill the promise so powerfully indicated in this horoscope for the
next four years.
Indeed, all these are pressing matters, but many will
question whether or not they will be resolved in the next four years.
The wisdom of the astrological art tells us that these promises of
change do not happen in an instant, but over the passage of time and
the transit of planets through cosmic environments that alternate
between propitious or dangerous powers. Knowing this, we can
reserve action for the auspicious moment and exercise prudence when the
atmosphere is unwelcoming.
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Goddess Times
The Celtic Midwinter festival of Imbolc is celebrated on February 2nd,
the first of four cross-quarter (falling between a solstice and an
equinox) festivals of the pagan year. Though traditionally a time given
to predicting if winter will linger (a precursor to Groundhog Day), it
is a spiritual doorway that promotes divination. Associated with the
original fire goddess Brighid, the purification of hearth and lighting
of candles are rituals enacted to bring forth the patroness of light.
The Brighid Cross is a talisman signifying the four Cross-Quarter festivals in the Celtic year.
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Cosmic Events
The
year started off with Mercury in retrograde motion on January 11 (at
7º Aquarius 45’), causing some concern about the viability of this
month’s events to advance change of the status quo. At best, the only
actions that will matter are those which address conditions
already underway – economic, unresolved election outcomes,
international conflicts supported by the United States. However, delays
will be short, as Mercury moves forward on February 1st.
The
first New Moon of the year on January 25th (6º Aquarius 30’)
brings a Solar Eclipse at 11:55 pm PST. It sets the stage for some
dramatic turnarounds throughout the year, ruled in the oriental
calendar by the Female Earth Ox. Risk and speculation will be replaced
with prudence and restraint, practicality will prevail over
uncertainty. This will be a year that promotes centering, grounding,
and establishing control – if we engage these influences with a
willingness to be part of the spirit of change.
The Full Moon follows on February 9th at 6:49 am PST (21º Leo
00’), with the first of four Lunar eclipses throughout the year. Each
will bring turmoil if we fail to relinquish old habits, but each offers
opportunities to reset goals. Lunar eclipses disrupt, but they also
open the window to fresh ideas and remove blocks from avenues of
progress.
Midsummer 2009 will feature the longest duration of a Solar Eclipse in
the 21st Century, setting the pattern for critical issues and their
unfoldment as the decades progress. This is something each can prepare
for now, as we consider not only our own future mandates, but how we
can be part of the collective march into new worlds of knowledge and
experience for the rest of the century.
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December 2008: Season of Capricorn (December 21 – January 19)
Awaiting the Birth of Light
We
approach the fourth time of transition in the year, when light is
diminished and darkness prevails over the season. We have celebrated
the ascent of light in the Spring, its culmination in the Summer, and
its senescence in the Fall. We are now in the time of inward
enlightenment, when light hibernates in the womb of darkness and we
await validation of its return in the coming months.
The Winter Solstice the shortest day of the year, when the
Sun is seen at its most southerly point in the sky (in the northern
hemisphere). Cultures past and present have universally regarded this
moment as a time of rest, peace with the powers of nature, and
fellowship with society. It is the first day that marks the beginning
of many winter festivals.
Soyalangwul, the Winter Solstice ceremony of the Hopi
Indians, is honored with a dance performed to ceremonially bring the
Sun back from its winter slumber. Kachina spirits return to the world
at this time, and the Awehai Kachina (“fertile goddess”) is said to
accompany the dancers through the night to Sunrise.
For the Germanic peoples, the solstice was celebrated from the 4th Century, when it took place in the month of Fuma Jiuleis. Later in Anglo-Saxon England it was known as Giuli,
corresponding to our December-January calendar and the season of
Capricorn. For the Druids, it was Alban Arthuan (“Light of Arthur”) a
festival when gifts were bestowed on the less fortunate. King Arthur
was believed to have been born on the Winter Solstice in Castle
Tintagel in Cornwall.
In ancient Persia, the solstice marked the birth of
Mithras, god of light. His mysteries were brought to the the occidental
world by Roman soldiers, and the day of his virgin birth was known as Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, “birthday of the unconquered Sun.”
Amaterasu, the Sun goddess of Japan, comes out of her cave
at the Winter Solstice after a prolonged period of darkness in the
world. Shut away in the heavenly realm due to her brother’s sacrilege
of destroying her rice fields, she now emerges to remind the human race
of the divine light that is diminished by irreverence and impiety.
Amaterasu Emerges from the Light by Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Goddess Times
December 15 marks
the beginning of the Halcyon (“happy, carefree”) Days, traditionally
counted from seven days before and seven days after the Winter
Solstice, beginning on December 14 and lasting until the end of the
month. This period is named for Alcyone, one of the stars in the
Pleiades and legendary wife of king Ceyx of Thessaly, who threw herself
into the sea to join her drowned husband. The gods turned them into
kingfisher birds who brood their eggs on a floating nest in the calm
winter sea waters. Her festival honors the tranquility of the season
that we must recognize and foster in our own lives.
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The Festival of Sophia (Greek: “wisdom,” Latin: Sapientia)
is celebrated on December 16, honoring the goddess of knowledge and
learning, and to the Gnostics, the soul of the world. She is associated
with the wise King Solomon of the Old Testament, and venerated by the
Eastern Orthodox Christians. Her image has prevailed as a source of
divine intelligence throughout the ages, and inspires us to support the
scholarship and achievement of women everywhere.
Shrine of Sophia at Ephesus, Turkey
The Opalia, Roman festival of Opis, was held on 19
December. Mother of Saturn and goddess of the plentiful Earth, she is
patroness of sowers, bringing help to the harvester and abundance to
the planter. May the powers of this deity soon bring us opulence!
Opis As Abundance by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640)
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| The Saturnalia, a Roman carnival of extravagance, was held on December
17. Celebrants visited friends and gave gifts on this important holy
day (Feriae Publicae) to honor Saturn, god of sowing. But it also
instituted the holiday custom of reversing roles, from master to
servant and vice versa. Members of a familia (including slaves) would
gamble for the appointment of Saturnalicius princeps, the “Lord of
Misrule” for the day. |
December 20
is the Norse Night of Helya (“the mother”), a time said to evoke
prophetic dreams. At this feast children are placed under the
protection of the goddess, who takes the form of ancestors or elder
female relatives. This is also the celebration of Midwinter Eve, which
brings the tradition of censing the home with Sage and Cedar, and the
hanging of Holly boughs, Pine wreaths, and Mistletoe. A ritual herbal
bath should be undertaken at this time, to clothe the body with scents
of the season.
December 21 is the Roman festival of Angeronalia, honoring Angerona,
goddess of the Winter Solstice, “she who helps the Sun travel through
the darkness of the season.” Her statue was found in the Sacellum
Volupiae (shrine of Voluptas, goddess of pleasure), near one of the
most ancient gates of Rome on Palatine Hill.
Jan.
6 is the traditional celebration of Epiphany – the adoration of the
Magi – marked in some cultures by the exchange of gifts on the
evening beforehand (“the vigil”).
Cosmic Events
The
Sun enters Capricorn (Winter Solstice) on December 21 at 4:03 am PST.
Just as nature knows no beginnings or endings, this is a day of renewal
that may be marked with resolutions for a new agenda as the coming
months bring the growth of light in the sky and a stronger pulse to our
resolve for a better world.
The New
Moon takes place on December 27 at 4:23 am PST (6º Capricorn 07’).
The warm empathy of the Moon is said to be stilted in the cold confines
of Capricorn, so it is a time to reach out to others and express our
sentiments, kindly and inclusive.
Saturn, lord of the season, turns retrograde on December 31 at 10:09 am
PST, bringing some respite to our fears for the future and sense of
loss for time ill spent. Yet Saturn teaches us that no good intention
is lost and every effort contributed to the good is accumulated in the
treasury of the soul. Rewards and returns are denoted during this
period, lasting through mid-May, 2009.
The next
Full Moon takes place in the new year, on January 10 , 2009 at 7:27 pm
(21º Cancer 02’). Lunar powers are busy on this day, creating
harmonious aspects to the planets and ushering in ideas and plans that
will set the year on a track of rapid change.
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