As the great wheel of life turns yet again, signaling the coming holiday season, and then closes 2015, and in Chinese Astrology, heralding the coming year of the Monkey (February
8), we pause to reflect on this ending. Finding an ending, is
actually to begin again, to renew, to birth again a new cycle
of hope. This is the time we start over. This month, on December 21, we mark the Winter Solstice, which by definition,
is an astronomical event that happens twice a year- once at
the beginning of winter and at the start of summer. During
the time of the solstice, the sun will reach its zenith or highest
point about the celestial equator. The celestial equator is the
imaginary circle that is on the same plane as our equator. The
word solstice means, “sun stands still”, and that is precisely what seems to happen during the solstice point from our
vantage point on Earth.
The Winter Solstice occurs when the Sun stands still at the
southernmost point of the equator (the Tropic of Capricorn)
and then slowly begins to trek north again. This Winter Solstice on December 21 marks the shortest day of the year. Astrologically, it coincides with the start of the Cardinal zodiac
sign Capricorn. From a soul perspective, the Winter Solstice
is about celebrating the rebirth of life in all forms. From here
on out, the days will get longer, and the Sun will shine brighter. Hope is renewed.
2016 is a year of Mastery and in numerology, a nine (9) signals completion and new beginnings in 2017, one (1). We
must face the truth that doors have closed, loose ends must
be tied up, and the past needs to stay in the past, where it
belongs. This is a time of personal endings that are in fact,
leading to amazing beginnings, if we can only hang on to the
rough parts of the ride!
If we can stand where we are now and look lovingly at the
past without fear, judgment, anger, regret, betrayal or feelings of “would have, should have or could have”, then we
can step through the open doors that present themselves
ushering in times of magic and mystery!
My personal journey has led me to a place of really looking
at the past and the physical, emotional and mental baggage
that may have accumulated during times of expansion and
contraction. As an example, I opened a jewelry drawer and
scanned the various items inside to see if there was anything
that no longer represented the person I am now. My eyes
went to a beautiful turquoise beaded and clasped Chili Rose
bracelet that my ex-husband had gifted me some fifteen
years ago when that love then was in full bloom. I remember how wonderfully loved and abundant I had felt upon receiving it. At this moment, while I still like the design of the
bracelet, and hoped to have one again one day, the message it sent was more of betrayal and loss. It was clearly time
for it to move out of my jewelry drawer to make way for a new
gift of love that represents who I am now at this moment.