February marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Spring, that glorious season of renewal, is starting now according to tradition. Despite the Northern Hemisphere's snow and cold, Imbolc is a celebration about the returning light. Imbolc is a time to consider intentions and tools; it is a time to clarify aim and dedicate one's self for the coming year. Now is the time to consider spring cleaning, to let go of clutter of the physical and mental varieties, and to prepare for the season of growth. Spring cleaning is better done before the warmth of a fresh spring breeze calls us outside.
Earth Magic
Imbolc - Celebration of returning Light
- 24 Jan
- Written by Geoffrey
- Hits: 222
What was that all about? - Winter Solstice 2011 by Marcus Mason
- 30 Dec
- Written by Marcus Mason
- Hits: 347
Winter Solstice 2011
22nd December, 05.30 Universal Time (GMT)
Jupiter opposing Saturn – going nowhere fast
An opposition between retrograde Jupiter and Saturn, which began on November 25th, forms the ‘backbone’ of the chart for this Winter Solstice. The opposition lasts until 25th February 2012, but will be somewhat eased when Jupiter turns direct on Christmas Day – our ‘gift from the gods’.
Normally, Jupiter represents the ‘accelerator’ and Saturn the ‘brake’ to our forward movement. Whenever they are in opposition, this creates a push-pull situation in many areas of our lives; now it is manifesting particularly in the areas of finance, and our ability to further our vision for the future. Trying to make forward progress, with Jupiter retrograde, is often having the opposite to the desired effect.
Winter Solstice: the Holly King vs. the Oak King by David Beaulieu
- 12 Dec
- Written by David Beaulieu
- Hits: 466
Christmas holly and the approach of the Christmas holiday don’t hold the same meaning for everyone. For those of us keenly aware of the cycle of the seasons, the approach of Christmas means the winter solstice is coming. In the snowy North, the winter solstice is the day on which the rest of the year pivots for lovers of landscaping and gardening.
“Things have to get worse before they can get better.” Those of us in northern climes who enjoy seeing plants growing outside understand the wisdom behind this observation, when autumn draws to a close and the winter solstice approaches. On the one hand, with each passing day of autumn we are robbed of more and more daylight. On the other hand, we know that, when the winter solstice does arrive, we’ll turn the corner: the shortest day will have been reached, and from then on we can only gain daylight — imperceptibly, to be sure, but also inexorably.
Ancient peoples, who spent more time outdoors than we do, were acutely aware of this annual ebb and flow of daylight, the two poles of which are the winter solstice and its summer counterpart.
