This is an astrological essay on the energies of the Winter Solstice and the Cancer Full Moon occuring December 21-23, 2007. It's all about Family - the Human Family!

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Winter Solstice and the Cancer Full Moon occur within a day of each other this year, on December 21-22 and then December 23rd. A full moon always asks us to become conscious of the purpose of what we instinctively start at the new moon. And with this Cancer Full Moon bringing to light the ‘Light’ being re-born now, it behooves us to look back and see where we have come from in this intense year.

How did you grow and what have you learned since last Summer Solstice (when the Sun is in Cancer), which was also around the time of the last Neptune/Saturn opposition and Venus Retrograde? What did you learn about your values this year? What about our collective dreams – have we made any progress toward creating a more just world? Do you believe in yourself and your life’s purpose? Can you speak your truth? More importantly, are you living your truth?

With Winter Solstice, we arrive at a major shift in seasonal energy. The Light of the Sun begins to grow again, and slowly the darkness recedes. Ideally, it is a time to assume our autonomy – we are the mistress or master of our own domain. We know ourselves, our talents, and how to interact with others. Now we can step into the place of creation as a grown up Human Being. What new light are you giving birth to this Winter Solstice that you want to flourish in the New Year?

Do you realize that Winter Solstice is a time of Grace? Of freely being given the gift of Life again. This is the time to be graciously grateful for our lives, especially since our collective life is getting so hard for so many people. Instead of getting stressed out by the holidays, take time to give yourself and your loved ones some joy in life. That’s what these seasonal holy days are about: we get to stop and re-align ourselves with the energies of the Earth. When we do, we re-balance our energy bodies as well as our physical being. If you’d like to read a Winter Solstice Story about this joy, please go to: http://www.starofthebards.com/wintersolstice

This full moon, the energy is concentrated and very concerned with Family – our personal family and the World family, in regards to our contribution to society. In The God Code, Gregg Braden says that he has proof that we are all one – that humanity comes from the same source, whatever God we worship. Hopefully, we live with and relate to our individual families in a respectful, kind manner; we have to relate to the world and our fellow human beings in the same way. We can create peace where there is antagonism, joy where there is sorrow, love where there is hatred.

We are living in perilous times. The Hopi Elders are calling on us to understand that this is the time when we have to make a conscious choice about if the human race is going to continue to live on our beautiful Earth, or if we are going to destroy ourselves. Please check out this video: A message from the Hopi Elders on our Life on earth in these times.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1213934625/bclid1078637595/bctid1078572954

Capricorn demands that we step out of our personal families and open up to the wider family of our culture and the world. Capricorn’s maturity and responsibility guards and protects the Cancer family and the nurturing functions of life. We have to take up the Capricorn responsibility in the world so that our families continue to grow and thrive and stay safe. Not the way the American government would keep us safe by vilifying other nations for doing what we do ourselves, and then taking away our rights and our privacy for ‘our own protection’, but by ourselves becoming autonomous human beings and creating the changes we need to make. We must find our courage, our honor, our Truth so we can protect all that is beautiful and good.

When are we going to stop fighting each other like little children arguing over a toy? When are we going to recognize that we all – men, women, black, white, red and yellow – have God within us? Braden says that if we translate our chemical DNA coding into Hebrew or Arabic the same message is encoded there. Our DNA translates into one coherent sentence: God/Eternal within the Body. How amazing is that! If this is true, then we are all one family. And if we are ONE, then we’d better practice being kinder and more loving to those who are in our personal families. Otherwise, how will we ever create peace and love in the world?

This full moon, the Sun joins Jupiter in Capricorn as it opposes the Moon in Cancer, conjoined with Mars retrograde (Rx). As the Sun joins with Jupiter, it is energized by its own passage over the Galactic Center on December 18th, and its conjunction with Pluto on December 20th, as well as the energy of the Jupiter/Pluto conjunction from December 11th. It can make us feel expansive, curious, wise and powerful – so remember to keep the egos reined in! This Solstice/Full Moon energy sets the tone for the next three months, so be prepared to be concerned with how you can achieve your life purpose at this moment of history. Are you here to change the world? You bet you are!

The Moon points to the way in which we can achieve our goals. Through Cancer, we have to align with our feelings, give birth to our souls, and nurture our children (concrete or creative). This full moon asks us to think about how we protect and defend (Mars Rx) Cancer issues: Mother, the family, and how we nurture self, others, our creativity, our feelings - the ‘juicy’ living loving aspects of life.

As a psychotherapist, I often see people who can't or don’t want to acknowledge the good things they received from their families. When they are in pain, or are confused and afraid, it is easier to blame one’s family of origin than see the soul issues and tests involved in our immediate struggle. With much teasing, I tell my own children when they get annoyed with me, “I was here first. You picked this family to incarnate into. You need to ask yourself why.”

This is a good full moon to ask yourself, “Why did I pick this particular family soup to swim around and develop in? How did it bring out my strengths or weaknesses? How did my Mother (Cancer) nurture me, and what has come of it? How did my Father (Capricorn) support and defend me until I could take responsibility for myself?” Be grateful for the blessings you have been given, and responsible for the issues that life confronts you with.

This Full Moon tells us that we must have respect for the Mothering energy of life if we are to bring our life purpose (Capricorn) into being. The darkest day of Winter Solstice is the moment in which the renewed light emerges out of the darkness. What good things did you share with your family growing up? Do you still share them? It’s a good Full Moon to remember who you were and what you were like as a kid. Reclaim your inner child and take responsibility for your inner adult.

When Mars goes retrograde, it makes its closest approach to the Earth when it is opposite the Sun. On Christmas Eve, Mars will be opposite the Sun, energizing the holidays. Will you descend into the more negative expression of Mars – a short fuse, a sharp tongue, anger and aggression? Or will you use your Mars to engage in passionate fun, creative activities and daring love! With Mars and the Moon together, be creative about how you protect and defend your feeling life. You could get prickly, but why not just tease back – turn a moment of anger and frustration into fun.

With Jupiter and the Sun opposite Mars and Moon, there’s feistiness in the air, but also good humor. Why not find ways to see the humor in our family’s view of us? How about stopping yourself when your family pushes your buttons and instead, tease or discuss or assert yourself - and do it in a loving manner. Our family is a constant in our lives. Why fight it when you can get more sweetness out of it with love. You can change your whole family dynamic if you are willing to be autonomous – have your own boundaries, know your own self, and not be so concerned with being right and making everyone else wrong. You and everyone else will have much more fun if you do!

Create a truly joyful, light-filled, loving holiday. Our souls need the refreshment that only love and laughter bring! One of the traditions in my family is to pay attention to your dreams over the 12 Days of Christmas, from December 26th to January 6th. Each morning, write down your dream and see if it is prophetic of the next 12 months. Dreams are the best way to understand yourself and your life. They are the Soul’s response to life.

Sabian symbols for this full moon:

Sun at 2º Capricorn: Three rose windows in a Gothic Church, one damaged by war. Rose windows were often dedicated to the Virgin Mary, symbolic of the World Mother. It is through our blatant use of power to make war that the nurturing Feminine Spirit of Life is shattered and with it, our communal life.

Moon at 2º Cancer: A man on a magic carpet hovers over a large area of land. Taking a larger view of the ‘lay of the land’. Using our imaginations to lift us up so that we gain a more spiritual perspective on ourselves and our world.

Other cosmic happenings:

December 18th – Jupiter begins its year’s journey through Capricorn.

December 19th – Saturn at 8º 34’ Virgo turns retrograde until May 2, 2008.

Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, turns retrograde. The principle of discipline, control, responsibility, maturity and manifestation wants us to simplify our lives while in Virgo. Improve or eliminate whatever has become irrelevant or unproductive in your lives. Develop your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance. Don’t let it put a damper on your holiday festivities!

December 20th - Sun conjoins Pluto at 28º44’ in Sag. Watch for any dream messages from the Galactic Center. December 21st-22nd - The Sun goes into Capricorn

Happy Winter Solstice!!!!

December 22 – Sun conjoins Jupiter. It should be a great day – or not, it’s up to you.

December 22 - Venus in Scorpio squares Neptune in Aquarius

Our darker, more selfish feelings are challenged by the larger needs of the times. If we cannot let go of our resentments, negative feelings and overwhelming passions, how will we ever achieve, “Peace on Earth, Goodwill toward All”?

Mars Retrograde in Cancer until December 31st and in Gemini until January 30th.

Mars opposite Mercury in Capricorn on December 22nd, the Sun on December 24th, Jupiter on December 26th, and from Gemini to Pluto in Sagittarius on January 2nd.

Let there be Peace on Earth

And Let it begin with Me.

Have a joyous and blessed Holiday.

Cathy Pagano

www.wisdom-of-astrology.com

www.9muses.biz

Submitter: Cathy Pagano

Submitters Website: http://www.cathypagano.com

Submitters Bio:

Cathy Pagano is a spiritual advisor and Jungian psychotherapist, storyteller, author and teacher.

She is the author of a book on the return of the Goddess, "Wisdom's Daughters: How Women Can Change the World".

Cathy trained at the C. G. Jung Institut-Zurich in dream interpretation, has an M.A. in Counseling Psychology in Feminine Spirituality, and is a certified Life Coach.

As an astrologer and storyteller, she weaves the Cosmic Stories written in the stars. From The Bard's Grove, she writes about emerging archetypal themes in movies and books.

Cathy works with the tools of the imagination - dreams, alchemy, myths, astrology, symbolic language, storytelling, ritual - to awaken the Soul's wisdom.



I believe that Americans are called to a higher consciousness at this point in our history. We are called on to live up to our ideals and create the country our forefathers imagined. Inner consciousness needs to be acted upon for social justice.



Cathy believes that our writers and artists must take up our responsibility to create art that inspires, teaches and heals our humanity.



Cathy writes about political, psychological/spiritual, and cultural issues.