The Solstice is one of my favourite times of the year. Occurring twice, once around June 20 and the other around December 20, the Solstices represent the Sun’s turning points.
Think about this for a moment. At the Solstice, the Sun has reached either its highest (Summer) or lowest (Winter) point in the sky. The Solstice is the period where the Sun appears to hang in the sky, and in the days and weeks afterwards, the Sun changes direction.
If it’s Winter in June where you are, after the Solstice, the Sun starts climbing again, bringing longer days.
If it’s Summer in June in your location, after the Solstice, the Sun starts to drop, and days gradually shorten. This isn’t something that happens instantly, but the Solstices themselves represent the peak or ebb – the extreme highs and lows of the Sun.
The Solstice is a turning point. And not just any old turning point. It’s the turning point of the Sun, the heart, centre and fuel of our solar system.
It’s time to pause. Look back at the past six months and reflect on how far you’ve come – or not. Look forward into the next six months. Consider where you’d like to go.
A Solstice is an ancient time of worship. Modern day Christmas has its origins in the traditional festival of Yule, or midwinter. Midsummer celebrations were designed to honour the peak in natural abundance.
Celebration is key. Honour the Sun, the life giving force.
Choose how you’d like to honour your life by acting in line with your light or essence.
My Experience of the Seasons
I’m in Canada at the moment and this Solstice energy is uplifting. Summer has been slow to arrive and today is the first day it feels warm and summery.
The Sun is not only providing long days, but the heat seems to encourage ones spirit to open, like the slow-to-burst first peony in the garden. Under the Sun’s warmth and encouragement, it’s easy to consider possibilities.
This is the magic of Summer – under the bright long days, so many things seem possible.
When I lived in Australia, I LOVED the June Solstice. Even though temperatures were colder in July, the days started to get longer which meant Spring was around the corner. Needless to say, Summer is my favourite season! And, I’m secretly already anticipating next January, when it is Summer in Oz and I’ll be Down Under for work.
Cancer
This Solstice highlights the sign of Cancer and themes to do with home, heart and history. Cancer is a sign we’re all going to dive more deeply into over the next few months, as an extended cycle of Mercury + Jupiter also emphasise this sign/house area (if you know your chart).
Generally speaking, domestic and family themes, as well as possibilities regarding your living situation are likely to be top priority.
Collective Forecasting
Historically astrologers watched for the moment the Sun entered a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and interpreted the chart for that moment (from their location) for insights into the season ahead. You might consider this for your country’s capital city, or for the main city in your state.
Find out more about your personal year ahead in a one-on-one astrology chart consult.
General influences at the time of the 2013 Cancer Solstice include:
– waxing Moon, suggesting growth or progress
– the Moon in a fertile water sign, like the Sun, perhaps indicating some abundance or opportunity
– the Moon is in Scorpio, the sign of its fall, so there will likely be some darkness, difficulty or challenge
– a Venus/Mercury conjunction which can bode well for romance, art, beauty, sweet connections
– Mercury in station, soon to go retrograde, so some delays as regarding communication, decisions, organising, scheduling
What are your Solstice plans? Do you have any big dreams for the next 6 months?