December Solstice 2011 with recap of 2010

by Cayelin K Castell

This article is excerpted from the Celestial Timings at cayelincastell.com

Witnessing a Solstice Sunrise or Sunset is a powerful way to engage the energies being beamed in from the Galactic Center via the Sun. Wednesday, December 21, 2011 marks the exact Winter Solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere) and Hannukah begins. Here in Tucson, Arizona the sunrise is around 7:53 am depending on your horizon line and the sunset is at 5 pm also depending on your horizon line. Different latitudes will have different sunrise and sunset times. You can check your local newspaper or on-line to find out the time in your part of the world.

The Sun enters Capricorn at 9:30 pm, marking the exact December Solstice moment. Plus, the Sun is also square Uranus. (see Dec 22) Witnessing a Solstice sunrise or sunset is a fabulous way to engage the powerful light codes or energies being beamed in from the Galactic Center via the Sun, the primary source of light and energy for our beloved Earth. (Sunrise is 7:25 am and sunset is 5:18 pm in Tucson, Arizona. The time will vary depending on where you are located.) See YouTube of the December Solstice Sun on the Galactic Cross its about 4 minutes with sky maps etc…

The Sun is the seasonal metronome marking time via the four primary Solar Gates located at the Solstice and Equinox points. Ancient cultures understood the importance of these gateways and aligned with them through ceremonial intent, building monuments in stone to capture these seasonal gates in the Sun’s rising and setting points.

The Sun is the source of light, life, energy, and health as well as letting us know what time it is during the day as it rises and sets and in the year as it reaches the seasonal gateways. It is fascinating to consider how we have been programmed to fear the Sun as the source of skin cancer and aging of the skin increasing the experience of depression for those who avoid the Sun.

Ultimately, the Sun carries vital life force and light information to our bodies (scientifically proven to be our primary source of vitamin D). Research suggests a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes a day of sunlight on our skin and through our eyelids feeds and nourishes the physical body including converting the light into life enhancing Vitamin D as well as other essential nutrients. Plus, sunlight helps to attune (or entrain) our bodies to the light frequencies of planetary ascension. It also aids in dispelling depression when used wisely. One of the greatest things about basking in sunlight is it is a free restorative energy source when used wisely.

At the Winter Solstice the days are shortest (the least amount of light in a day), representing the turning point symbolized by the return of the light and the time when the days begin to lengthen. The solstice window lasts three days (the day before and the day after the exact Solstice) marking a seed point or an intentional choice point, in the annual completion and renewal of the Sun’s yearly cycle.

Additionally, zero Capricorn (or the exact moment of the December Solstice) is now aligned on the Galactic Cross near the Galactic Center where the Sun sits for three days. Said another way, the Sun is on the Cross for three days, symbolizing more than ever a galactic perspective that is outside our fixed experience.

This alignment takes place every 26,000 years and lasts for at least 72 years and it’s probably more likely is that it lasts for at least 144 years. The center point of this alignment occurred in 1998 and continues to influence us for many more years. December Solstice 2012 is not any more special than the December Solstice of the last few years. Many have argued that last year’s total Lunar Eclipse within a few hours of the exact Solstice was more spectacular than next year’s December Solstice 2012. And this year’s December Solstice square to Uranus is also more spectacular, meaning we are definitely already well into the time of prophecy and have been for many years.

This Timing is a portal that has the ability to take us beyond our middle world reality where we have access to the part of our self that knows – an inherent knowing or intelligence that is receiving an acceleration or evolutionary energy via the light codes that are beaming our way from the Galactic Core at this time. It may be subtle. It may reorient your whole perception of reality. It may expand your Earthly and Galactic Consciousness and further activate whatever awakening is already happening for you. It may feel like nothing you have ever felt before. This is about being open and receptive to the incoming heightened light energy.

One way to do this is to be a part of a living ceremony with the intention to align with the evolutionary energies available now. Ceremony is a way to focus intention. It may simply be that all you need to do to focus your intention on this time is to have the intent to be witness to what is taking place. Said another way, a visible or non-visible connection with this celestial alignment through our intention and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation is a ceremony in itself. When we have a sacred intent and then find ways to energize that intent in the world of form we are in the realm of Living Ceremony. Calling in sacred space, setting up an altar, drumming, chanting etc are also ways to engage this time if that helps you to focus your intent and feel like you are participating with this time. It isn’t necessary to do any of these things or anything for that matter. However, sometimes doing these things can help us connect more deeply. Let your heart be your guide.

Note: The Celestial Timings are written each month from the space of Living Ceremony with an intent to invite, through invocation, the energies that are present to co-creatively express with our personal intent as it harmonizes and aligns with the emerging New Earth energies. Reading the Celestial Timings is also a part of that Living Ceremony supporting the intention to inform as well as be informed by the mysteries and I thank you all for joining me in amplifying this sacred intention each month, each day and each year.

…the Gift of Ceremony
Not the sterile barrenness of repeated sameness…
As a stagnant ritual,
Rather the Living Ceremony…the Ceremony of Life…
the Ceremony of NOW….

~ Galactic Shamanism the Star-Stone Ones by Mary Saint-Marie/Sheoekah
http://www.marysaintmarie.com/artist.html

December 22, Thursday.  The Sun (0 Capricorn 43) squares Uranus (0 Aries 43) at 2:14 pm. This is the closest Uranus square to the Winter Solstice that will happen for 84 years. In 2095 Uranus will be at almost 2 degrees of Aries during the Winter Solstice and in 1927 Uranus was still in the last degree of Pisces. That means this is the closest square of Uranus at the Zero Aries (the Spring Equinox Point) to the exact Winter Solstice alignment from 1927 to 2095. This suggests it is especially important to acknowledge the initiatory energy of Uranus at this seasonal gate.

Uranus is the revolutionary change agent catalyzing unexpected change. Last March Uranus was conjunct the Sun at the Spring Equinox in the closest conjunction since 1927 and closer than the conjunction that will take place in 2095. At that time the first waves of revolution were becoming evident as the people of Tunisia and Egypt and the state of Wisconsin and other countries began taking to the streets. That was the beginning and certainly not the end of the revolutionary energies that will continue to grow and gain momentum over the next few years. (See audio overview of Uranus and Uranus in Aries audio too…)

The Sun and Uranus at the zero Aries point (Spring Equniox) in March and now square at the December Solstice further fuel the changes already in process. This is creating an additional dislocation of the old hierarchical assemblage point for the purpose of creating greater freedom for all life on planet Earth.  Said another way all the old regimes and control programs are destined to fall.  Aries is willing, and committed, to do what it takes to make sure this happens. Uranus is the great disruptive catalyst producing events of extreme novelty that are beyond human control creating a tidal wave of sweeping innovative and revolutionary change. Uranus in Aries is a magnificent force fueled by the quickly spreading Occupy Movements along with protests around the world. All those involved in the protests are demonstrating through their actions that they are ready for change. They are demanding change and they are saying:  “Bring It On!”

Plus retrograde Jupiter (O Taurus) is trine the Sun (0 Capricorn) entering the Still Point of the Jupiter station direct on December 25. (See Dec 25 for more on the Still Point)

Waning crescent Moon passes 2.7 degrees SSW of Mercury (9 Sagittarius 11) at 7:10 pm and the Moon is 4.2 degrees N of Antares (9 Sagittarius 48) at 8:00 pm. This of course is not visible in the evening sky in the western times zones but the Moon is visible approaching Mercury and Antares in the early morning sky and will be past Antares by tomorrow morning. (See Dec 3 and 23)

The December 2010 Winter Solstice was highlighted by a Total Lunar Eclipse just hours before the exact Solstice. This represented a maximum synchronization of Solar and Lunar cycles as described in Daniel Giamario’s article last month. In 2010 the exact Solstice was at 3:39 pm Pacific Time on December 21.

Witnessing a Solstice Sunrise is a powerful way to engage the energies being beamed in from the Galactic Center via the Sun. This year we have the extra special and unique situation of a Full Moon that has just gone through a Total Eclipse setting on the Galactic Cross located at the Galactic Edge at 7:39 am (again, Tucson, Arizona time) within minutes after the Sunrise. Witnessing these celestial events inspire awe and open our hearts, bodies and minds in ways that can assist us in aligning with the Celestial Magic of the Sun and the Moon on the galactic cross and how these events are supporting the fulfillment of the ‘original intent’ for our lives.

The Sun is rising on the Galactic Cross near Galactic Center in the East just before the Moon sets in the west

The original intent is not defined by middle world standards but rather by the part of our self that knows – an inherent knowing or intelligence that may simply be to embody love and compassion and/or kindness and caring and/or to be an anchor for the accelerating light codes of energy that are beaming our way at this time. It may be subtle. It may reorient your whole perception of reality. It may expand your Earthly and Galactic Consciousness and accelerate whatever awakening is already happening for you. It may feel like nothing you have ever felt before.

One way to engage a living ceremony around these events is to simply witness them with intention. Said another way, the visible and non-visible connection with these celestial alignments through our intention and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation is a ceremony in itself.

When we have a sacred intent and then find ways to energize that intent in the world of form we are in the realm of Living Ceremony. Calling in sacred space, setting up an altar, drumming, chanting etc are also ways to engage this time. It isn’t necessary to do anything but sometimes doing these things can help us connect more deeply. Let your heart be your guide.

This article has more on the Solstices

The Full Moon sets in the West near the Galactic Cross at the Galactic Edge a few minutes after the Sun rises in the East on the exact Solstice Morning