Winter Solstice 2010

Welcome to the Solstice Astrology blog. As promised, this week we’ll be looking at the chart for the upcoming winter solstice on 21st December.

As solstices are events, such charts are generally best read as applying on a social level, or, if one is interested in esoteric practice, as portraying the influence of the incoming Earth tide that will be relevant until the Spring Equinox. I’ll come back to this later, but will first concentrate on the social level. It’s worth noting that if the features of this chart contact any of your natal planets, you may experience the chart on a personal level as well.

Social Level
The outstanding feature of the Winter Solstice chart is the cardinal T-square formed by the opposition between the Moon in Cancer and Mars in Capricorn, with Saturn in Libra at the apex. As the Moon is Full, it is also opposing the Sun, plus it is close to the nodes as this Full Moon is also an eclipse (exact at 29 degrees Gemini/Sagittarius at 08.13 am GMT). We’ll look at this eclipse in detail next time. I have drawn the chart for London as this is the main political hub of the UK.

In mundane (world) astrology the Moon is associated with the general public, Saturn with tradition and authority figures and Mars with a nation’s fighting spirit. In this light, the T-square can be seen as indicating a prevailing public mood that could be confrontational and centred on testing existing social structures.

The Moon in Cancer suggests a preoccupation with family and the young in society, Mars in Capricorn as determined to pursue its goals and Saturn as embodiment of the Establishment and the forces of law and order. This opposition across the 10th and 4th houses squaring the 1st could indicate considerable differences in attitude between those in power and the general population about the country’s future direction: the bonds that support social cohesion and affect a nation’s self-image.

These planets will be swift and effective as all are essentially dignified in these cardinal signs, the Moon by its rulership of Cancer and Saturn and Mars by exaltation, and are in angular houses, thereby providing accidental dignity. Saturn close to the cusp of the 2nd house highlights constraints on finances and possible doubt about those in charge having sufficient resources to handle situations over the next few months. Venus in the 2nd trine the Moon could indicate a public reassessment of social values and finances. With Venus close to the 3rd cusp, free speech, the transport system and education could be included in these concerns.

Education, trade and communication networks are emphasised by Mercury, ruler of the chart’s Virgo rising sign and Gemini midheaven. Mercury in Sagittarius is the only Fire planet and is retrograde, turning direct on 30th December. Sagittarius seeks a deeper meaning in life, and Mercury is connected with students and young people, so it’s possible that interpretations could include having to rexamine an issue that has already been dealt with, or having to restate a viewpoint. Either way, Mercury’s conjunction with the Sun and square to the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Pisces indicate that this is likely to be considered very important and a source of strong disagreement that could flare up unexpectedly and have considerable unforeseen implications. Jupiter and Uranus conjunct the Descendant could imply an ‘us and them’ situation with the possibility of legal challenges.

The chart’s mutable angles indicate that this could be a time of uncertainty, when adapting to circumstances may seem to be the wisest option. However, with the Sun, Mars and Pluto now in Capricorn and opposing the Moon, opinions are likely to be entrenched.

A quick look at the UK’s national horoscope provides some extra information. Here is a bi wheel with the UK 1801 chart in the middle, and the Winter Solstice 2010 chart in the outer wheel:

The Winter Solstice Moon in the UK’s 9th house conjunct its MC highlights higher education and long term planning, as well as the beliefs underpinning social attitudes to these. Fears about the future may have a strong emotional influence on the country and affect the UK’s profile internationally very quickly, as the Moon is on the UK’s Ascendant/MC midpoint.

Additionally, the Winter Solstice Mars in Capricorn is exactly conjunct the UK’s Sun and the IC, focusing on national pride, the Armed Forces and the physical landscape of the UK, including agriculture and housing.

The separating opposition between the Winter Solstice Venus and the UK Mars across the 2nd and 8th houses could indicate the continuance of heated disputes over social benefits and entitlements. This preoccupation with who owns what could extend to the UK’s financial transactions with other countries, while the stellium of the Winter Solstice planets in the UK’s 3rd house reinforces the emphasis on education and transport found in the Winter Solstice chart.

Esoteric Level

Please note: this chart is drawn for London and the angles and houses will change for your location. If you’d like a copy of it drawn for where you are, please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I”ll sort it out for you.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of seasonal tides, I’ll provide a brief introduction. In occult tradition, the solstices and equinoxes bring in astrological tides that are determined by the sign being entered by the Sun at that time. At the Winter Solstice, the tide is of Earth as the Sun is entering Capricorn. The influential occultist Dion Fortune stated that:

‘all states of consciousness are influenced by the Cosmic tides, for the Cycles of the Cosmos form the background of all manifestation.’
(Aspects of Occultism, Thorsons, 1995, page 161)

By mentioning some of the main features of the chart, I hope to suggest some areas which you might like to employ in your ritual practices if they seem useful to you. This year’s Earth tide is strengthened by Mars and Pluto in Earth as well as the Sun, indicating a strong, determined and persistent tide able to battle through obstacles. This could prove useful if there is an ongoing issue you are working on; also, there is considerable potential in learning through experience as Saturn is dignified and ruling the Sun, Mars and Pluto in Capricorn plus Neptune and Chiron in Aquarius.

Mercury, in its function as psychompomp (a being who can move between different worlds or realities) is squared by the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction in Pisces. Mercury is the only planet in Fire and retrograde, as well as the Chart Ruler, (although this could change depending on your location). This mutable square could imply a shifting of barriers or limits, an instability that could make it difficult to rationalise some exciting insights. These could seem to much to take on board, or rather risky, but offer huge potential as well. As Mercury is retrograde, it’s likely that these arise from past rituals and may be rather more radical than expected. Its direct station on 30th December could assist progress.

Jupiter is strong in its own sign of Pisces and rules Mercury in Sagittarius, so there is scope for spiritual illumination and advancement, but progress may be sporadic because of the square between Mercury and Uranus, with ideas perhaps being hard to assimilate at first.

One of the most profitable ways to work this these ingress (entry) charts can be to look at emphasised planets and consider working rituals involving deities connected with them. For example, Mercury can be connected with Hermes in Greek myth and Thoth in the Egyptian tradition, so a ritual designed to help participants learn, either because they are formally studying anyway or just out of interest, can be useful.

As this is an Earth tide ruled by Saturn, a practical outcome could be sought. Saturn is also concerned with the beings or ideas coming into matter (it may be helpful to think of this as force and form), time and incarnation, so these can be relevant themes too.

It’s also very worthwhile to compare the chart to your natal chart. I would suggest using orbs of 5 degrees for conjunctions, oppositions, trines and squares, 3 degrees for sextiles and 1 degree for minor aspects. This can really bring out effective themes for you to work on. You will also be experiencing this transits in your daily life, so being attuned to all levels of symbolism could pay dividends.

Finally, as this Winter Solstice is also a lunar eclipse, I would personally avoid working a ritual on the day itself as eclipses can bring tricky working conditions, and this eclipse could be particularly influential. Full Moons are associated with culminations and fulfilment, the Winter Solstice with the start of the solar year and the beginning of a new solar cycle. However, those of a brave disposition may relish this.

Next week we’ll look at the Eclipse and why it’s so significant in more detail, with a few additional comments on why your Moon sign in so important in everyday life. Please do contact me if you’d like any charts drawn or have any views on the blog.

See you next time

Deborah