(And A Great Solstice Ritual For Cleaning Out the Old and Welcoming The New!)

Happy Winter Solstice 2020 - Part 2 (And A Great Solstice Ritual For Cleaning Out the Old and Welcoming The New!)

In this article we’re going to cover more significant factors in the Northern Hemispheric Winter Solstice chart. As I promised, this article includes a ritual I do every year at this time that helps me let go of the old and welcome the new that I want to see in the next year! Yes, it’s fun!!

First, a bit more on the Solstice chart. As I mentioned in part 1, Saturn is the dispositor of the Sun when it is in Capricorn (Aquarius too!) That means Saturn “rules” the Solar backdrop, making Saturn’s sign part of the Sun’s expression.

The Sabian Symbol for the Ruler of the Solstice

First, we take a look back at last year’s Solstice to see themes affecting this past year. The December 2019 Solstice found Saturn occupying the 21st degree of Capricorn, with themes related to "extreme of cooperation and give-and-take in life relationships,” “full surrender of self to service,” and “planned group behavior,” as well as maximizing some group effort in a symbolic “relay race.” These certainly have played out over this past year of the pandemic!

This year’s Solstice finds Saturn with Jupiter at 1 Aquarius. This is The Grand Mutation launching both a 20 year Aquarian Era, as well as a 200 year Air Era, replacing the old 200 year Earth Era with its unfortunate hypermaterialism. So this year is the edge of Time, where future centuries break free from past centuries!

The Sabian Symbol for Saturn at this Solstice is the 1st degree of Aquarius is "An old adobe mission.” In the original Jones notes published in The Astrology of Personality, Rudhyar says this symbolizes “Mastery of man over environment while becoming an integral part of it,” “Recognition of established values,” and “Impressiveness.”

We are told in the Astrological Mandala that this symbolizes “The power inherent in all great human works to endure far beyond the workers’ life spans.” He goes on to state this is about the Aquarian quality of “a more spiritualized and idealistic or creative picture of the social forces at work,” stressing “the enduring character of human achievements ensouled by a great vision.”

He then continues that this is about “the projection of a noble ideal into concrete forms of beauty and significance,” offering others the chance to reach a higher level of activity. He states this symbol “speaks to us of the concretization of an ideal… (implying) the immortalization of an individual within a great collective and cultural enterprise.” This symbol is said to be in the Span of Defensiveness, Act of Capitalization, and is the initial degree of the Actional level of the Scene of Contribution.

Dr. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, says this degree is one of “everlasting sustainment” and the need to be oriented and stable as we move through life. He says it’s about “enduring ties which (we) must neither neglect nor underrate,” which calls us to remember who we really are at core.

He concludes that this is an “emphasis on unbroken continuity between the psychological and physical certainties of (our) being, and a reminder of their continuing value…” He offers us the keyword DURABILITY. He states that when this degree works positively, it is one of “effective breadth of vision and a respect-compelling depth of character.”

So Saturn, backdrop for the Light/Life of the next 90 days, rules from its own sign, and adds to the Light of Aquarius the quality of us opening to a greater vision of how we can contribute to the future of humanity in our unique way by joining with others in some effort. This should create or bring back timeless ties with others who share our vision of a better life and world, however we see that.

As we mobilize in the area of our chart this falls in, and observe the aspects Saturn and Jupiter make in our charts, we will begin to see how this larger global force will impact our particular planetary lights. This marks the beginning of a new Aquarius focus in our lives, as we now can take our practical maturity and find a new understanding of a greater work to be done. This Saturn position, coupled with Jupiter also at the same degree on this Solstice, begins a greater cooperative vision with innovative disciplines of activity.

This is an energy of being “in the groove” with the Higher Law of the moment, in tune with spiritual Brothers and Sisters, building toward a greater idea. 1 Aquarius is a degree of building “spiritually iconic structures,” material and ideological, which will serve future humanity. See what’s opening on the actional, material level in your life, accept your power to make a constructive difference by playing the part you’re meant to play for the fulfillment of the whole effort, and enjoy focusing your understanding, backed by courage, to find the life renewal promised over the next 20 years.

The Moon

The Moon is at 24 Pisces, making it a Crescent Moon at the Solstice. This phase is said to be assertive with a need to make some sort of impact in the world. We are told it “challenges old forms left over from previous cycles,” and shifts the focus from the personal to the impersonal.

The Lunar Sabian Symbol for the 24th degree of Pisces is "An inhabited island.” According to Rudhyar’s notes from the Marc Jones class, this degree symbolizes the “Centralization of supernal forces,” “adaptability and inherent creativeness of man,” and “Extreme of surety in self-expression.”

In the Astrological Mandala, he states the keynote is "the need to consciously accept one’s own personal limitations in order to concentrate one’s energies and to live a centered and fulfilled life.” He notes that this symbol is one of expanding ego-boundaries so they become “a zone of intense interchange between the inner and the outer, between the individual and the community, between man and the universe.” He speaks of the need to fulfill Dharma, or the “place and function in a vaster whole.” He says it falls in the span of Protection, and it’s the technical degree of the emotional, social, and cultural level of the Scene of Perpetuation in the Act of Capitalization.

Dr. Marc E. Jones, creator of the Sabian Symbols, states that here we can demonstrate our "gift for the organization of (our) own private world in any area of (our) special interest." Here we learn about our ability to "function in a complete independence of the alien or the unfriendly" and "develop adequate resources for (our) need" even in "barren situations."

This is a phase of capitalizing on potential and coax it to fruition. He offers us the keyword CULTIVATION, and says when operating in a positive manner, this degree is "achievement through a creative opportunism or inventiveness of exceptional order."

So the specific focus of the next 90 days involves interchanges between us and the visible and invisible world around us, where we learn “centralization.” Here our ego-function “sets boundaries” and shows our unique character, where we learn our oneness within a larger whole. The Moon will express itself through techniques of emotional, social, and cultural perpetuation of deep and vast feelings and the distributive water that Pisces symbolizes.

Other Factors

Because Saturn rules the Light of the Season, efficiency and pragmatic thinking and planning will yield great results. The biggest friction of the season comes from Mars square Pluto, challenging all of us to keep things balanced, clean, and caring, understanding our interrelatedness but also our unique heart qualities which have come forth in answer to this Aries to Capricorn square earlier in the year.

The biggest harmony of the season comes from the Moon tredecile Venus and sextile Pluto, indicating that favorable dance between Venus and Pluto can be expressed through Mars in Aries. And the biggest influence of the season comes from the septiles of both the Moon and Venus to Jupiter and Saturn, indicating destiny is on the move for those who have planets in the affected zones, which I gave you in part 1.

This is first Solstice in a while that doesn’t have a huge preponderance of Earth and Water. This one has 4 Earth, 2 Fire, 2 Air, and 2 Water, restoring a healthy element balance with enough Earth to keep it all grounded. Given what’s happening in this Solstice chart and the fact that many will confront very important choices at major “forks in the road of destiny” because of the Moon and Venus both in septile to Jupiter and Saturn, I will again offer you something I’ve given you in past Solstices. It’s a few lines from my favorite song, 

You might think that I'll wait, but he who hesitates is lost, this is not just a game,
It's the problem of creation and only meditation can make your mind and age the same,
I know, 'cause this all happened once before....

So even as you open to new opportunities to mobilize toward new elements of your destiny thanks to Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius, keep it organized and grounded, go deeper into your experience of life on the deepest levels of your existence, and learn to “think in the future.” Use your feelings to move into doing what you have to do, but remember to slow down from time to time to get a new vision or understanding of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

Humanity continues on its voyage into unknown zones of human experience set into motion about 8 years ago, and this Solstice puts the focus on a new vision and a new understanding. We may be living in a very volatile and conflicted time, but it’s also the birth contractions of a new era. The old ways do not yield easily or quickly, but the greater “Field of Collective Awareness” gets stronger by the day, and by tuning into that collective Field we can feel any sense of separateness slipping down the time stream. Those who have trained are already accustomed to moving more easily through 4D and 5D reality, and so the transformation process is not as jolting for them as for those who don’t have a spiritual practice to keep them in the groove.

The collective field is breaking free of Earth and moving into Air, and we who have been striving to live in higher awareness of our Oneness and connection to All-That-Is are finally at the threshold of seeing the dawning of a new Age. It may take years or even decades to see the concretization of the New Era, the externalization of the Spiritual Fellowship of Brother and Sister Masters of the Wisdom, as well as know which part of the New Group of World Servers we’re here to work with and within, but make no mistake, the advent of the adventure in consciousness is NOW!

On a final note, in the Northern Hemisphere the Winter Solstice ushers in a season dedicated to "seeds in latency," those that will sprout in March when the light force is stronger, the ground is warmer, and Spring is on the way. Whether in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, the Solstices and Equinoxes are special points in the year cycle, marking the end of one season and the beginning of the next one. They are great for getting clear about our resolve, and what we want to see made manifest in times to come. And now for the ritual, after a message from our sponsor!

Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend

Because Saturn plays such a large part in any December Solstice chart, if you haven’t gotten your copy already, please get your copy of my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend. By making friends with our inner Saturn, we are led to a greater spiritual maturity and effectiveness in our world which fulfills our higher purpose for being alive as Spirits in the material world.

Saturn gives us the power to take command of our lives and destiny. If Saturn represents all that limits us and holds us back, it’s only because we must master those lessons so we may become spiritual adults and fulfill our purpose for being alive on Earth and come out of fear and any sense of victimization or powerlessness.

It was written for both astrologers and non-astrologers, and as you read each chapter, you’ll understand how your life lessons gave you the power to steer your destiny as you moved through karmic experiences and turned the patterns from negative to positive. There are chapters helping you understand major points of choices and change, both past and future, and use the crucial points of transition in your life to steer your life into your Higher Purpose and destiny.

This is a book you will reference many times, and each time you re-read it you’ll find undiscovered gems of insight. Over time you will throw off everything which holds you back from becoming your Higher Self, fulfilling your purpose for being alive on Earth! If you don’t have a copy, please consider ordering one today! You can go to the Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend page on Amazon and this should be all you need to order your copy. And if you would, please write a review on the Amazon site, since the more reviews, the bigger the boost on their site.

Now for the fun part!

This brings us to the ritual I mentioned at the beginning. Whether you're in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, there is a special ceremony I do each year that yields some fairly spectacular results. This is not a very elaborate ritual, but it's very powerful in its simplicity.

The Solstices mark points of transition from an old "half year" of the Sun moving South or North (depending on where you are on the Earth) into the opposite direction. In the Spirit of this "coming or going," I first take a moment to note what has left my life the past year while saying goodbye on deepest levels. This creates space for that which is more appropriate to my evolution and well-being.

Then I make a list of everything I want to leave my life in the coming year, and A) find a disposable object associated with each thing (or person, or personal habit) I want to see leave, or B) I draw a picture that represents those things, people, or habits. Then I burn each individual picture in a fire, one at a time, while saying goodbye to each of those. (I make a duplicate list to check the next year to remind me of what I wanted to see leave.)

I also make a list of things I want to see come into my life in the coming year. I try to make it realistic, but also allow my imagination to bring forth what might be or could be, even if improbable. After all, it's supposed to be fun! I play with possibilities, and write them down, without getting hung up on specific forms. This is about content more than form.

Then I draw pictures symbolizing those things, and burn them, one by one, in a fire, welcoming in those better things than I've known up to now, putting it up and out into the "Spiritual atmosphere" so that Divine Mother can bring it forth in the coming months. I also make a duplicate list to check the next year.

Over the years I've done this ritual, I find very often that every single thing I want to leave actually does leave. And, I usually see most if not all that I want to appear show up in the following year. Even when one or both lists falls short by a thing or two, overall I've seen great progress year after year.

It's also very interesting to note how my lists have changed over the years, with some concerns falling away and new things presenting themselves according to my intention. And sometimes, when I have not received what I thought I wanted, it became clear why it wasn't good or necessary for me to have that which I thought I wanted.

To answer a question asked in previous Solstices, yes, you can do this ritual at any point before, during, or after the Solstice. Even if you can't do it on December 21, just find a time, clear your head space, make your lists, and offer your burnt sacrifices to Father Time and Mother Earth. A sincere desire to eliminate the old or welcome the new is sure to be heard by the Cosmos, since you and Cosmos are inextricably linked through all time.

So in this time of transition from the old year into the Winter of the new, take a moment to note what has left your life the past year, thus creating space for that which is more appropriate to your evolution and well-being. And if you feel like doing a Solstice ritual, whether this one or another, open to your greatest good and highest possibility of happiness, and you just may find a measure of that in the coming year.

As "they" say, Mahalo, Aloha, Namaskarams, Aum Namah Shivaya, Happy and Merry Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmastide, Joyous Christ Mass, and Happy New Year!

Part 1 here

© Copyright 2020 Robert Wilkinson - https://www.aquariuspapers.com
Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with persmission from Robert Wilkinson.