YULE BLESSINGS
This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
December 21, 2020 2:02 am PST
(Winter Solstice)
The Wheel of the Year has turned again and we find ourselves back in the darkness which is the primordial womb of life. Let us begin again…
THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR
While modern traditions honour the yuletide with gatherings and celebrations, this year more than ever I encourage everyone to honour the deeper peace and stillness this Sabbat offers. Solstice means “stationary sun” or “sun standing still”, as the Sun appears to pause in the sky before beginning its ascending journey.
It may seem like this year has been full of forced isolations and restricted movements, but neither of those things is true retreat or stillness. Stress and general mental health imbalances are very high (due to both physical and emotional resistance to these changes) so treat yourself to some true peace this Yule. Let go of frustrations and resistance to the energies of this year, allow acceptance to flow, consider the possibilities these changes may afford, and sit in the darkness that is the beginning of all things new.
The God at Yule
As the Sun moves into Capricorn – the sign of authority, status, and mastery – the shadow of the Sun God reaches maximum strength (shadows are longest when the sun is lowest) and is honoured as the Holly King, a sometimes-antlered old man with long white hair and beard, adorned with holly and mistletoe (sound familiar?). It’s no coincidence that Saturn – the planet representing Father Time and the Wise Old Man – makes his home in Capricorn.
The Goddess at Yule
As for the Goddess, the Earth moves into Cancer, the liminal sign of the womb and tomb – and births the Sun’s light again. The shadows shorten and the days grow brighter and longer, as the Oak King’s reign begins. Cancer is also home to the Moon, the planet overseeing cycles and connection with the Divine Feminine, the Matriarch of life. She will support the growing Sun and ensure the continued cycling of the Wheel of the Year.
The Gates
The Cancer/Capricorn axis – where the Milky Way crosses the ecliptic – marks the gates in and out of incarnation; cosmic death and rebirth. (The Taurus/Scorpio axis marks the gates in and out of the underworld; earthly death and rebirth.) So it is with the Earth Goddess in Cancer that the Oak King finds incarnation, while the Holly King in Capricorn exits incarnation, and is accepted back into the womb (which has become the tomb) of the Great Goddess.
It is interesting to point out here that the fourth chamber – Cancer’s chamber of residence in the zodiac – represents home and where all life returns in the end.
THE GREAT CONJUNCTION
December 21, 2020 10:20am PST
We are living in significant times. 2020 is a year of the Great Conjunction. A new era is upon us!
Every 19-20 years Jupiter and Saturn meet in the sky, referred to as the Great Conjunction. However, this year is particularly significant as the meeting of these giants is happening right on the solstice, and it marks the start of a 200 year cycle, shifting these meetings from the materialistic earth signs to intellectual air signs.
The mythology of Saturn and Jupiter is multilayered but, as it relates to Yule, they represent the Oak King and the Holly King; the light and shadow of life perpetually cycling as the Wheel of the Year turns. Jupiter, as the Oak King, represents the half that grows, spreading life and abundance. Saturn, as the Holly King, represents the half that surrenders to time, accepting age and death as necessities in the cycle. Yule 2020 they meet, do battle, and open the door to a new era.
See my Great Conjunction post for a deeper exploration of the energies and significance of this meeting.
THEODOMY
In the language of Theodomy, the 12 signs of the zodiac are further divided into 36 primordial energies of the divine feminine, called the Girdle of the Goddess.
At the time of the winter solstice, the sun moves into the 28th primordial energy activating Holle, the Goddess of Midwinter.
See my HOLLE post for more information.
Wishing everyone a very Blessed Solstice and a peaceful Yuletide season…and may the gifts of Frau Holle be well deserved.