Winter Solstice 2011

Missed publishing anything about the Winter Solstice on time. What I had surmised about it I found on Michael Lutin's site anyway (michaellutin.com). He said something about walking through doors. I think that's what this Solstice is about. Unfortunately there is an unfortunate side to extreme, immature and impulsive behavior among humans. Nothing dumber than trying to herd toddlers through a doorway. Trying to get those big butts and heads to coordinate together looks a lot like Washington politicians on any given day, that's for sure. Bring da diapers. I guess we all pretty much know at this point that we need to forge ahead with something new.

Kind of interesting when you look up the planetary symbols of doors in Rex Bills book of Rulerships.

Doors are ruled by Saturn, Capricorn, Uranus. Saturn is in Libra right now. Libra is the fence sitter sign. Actually, being Cardinal it's not a sign to sit still, it's just a sign that knows how to get what it wants by doing nothing and grabbing the brass ring after everyone else has fallen on their asses trying.

Libra is my North Node, can you tell I struggle with this way of working out life's plan? I've had to watch Libras take over by doing just this. Last year was the end of a long painful relationship with an ex-double Libra. So, when Libras and Virgos start telling you what's wrong with anyone else, or right with them for that matter, beware the underlying motive. Scorpio comes after those signs and is finely tuning his skills at understanding motive.

Doorways, according to Rex, are ruled by Gemini and Aries. These signs are often motive free, or at least, motive-ridiculous. They just sort of walk into the room willy nilly.

Aries in this rulership makes total sense because it is the first sign of the Zodiac. First degree Aries is the birthing degree. MOst important point in the astrological wheel.

That leap from Pisces to Aries is a mighty creative jump and that's where we are now.

Interesting the Uranus is on that point.

Gemini relates easily to Doorways because Gemini likes to walk around and wiggle things like doorknobs with their grubby little hands. Gemini will be most likely to open a new door because Gemini is curious, not because of some big plan about how to interact with whatever's on the other side. And we all know what happens to the curious cat. Gemini Governors like Spitzer and that South Carolina Guy and that other Senator who didn't kill Chandra Levy but, uh, opened her door, so to speak, get caught. Just read the news and watch these guys go. (I apologize for making fun of Levy who was tragically murdered by some random nutzo in the park and not the Senator).

For funsies I looked up the rulership for the word "Threshold". Threshold seems to be a high octane version of "Doorway." Something that God and the Pope would approve of. Sort of says things menteo and spiritio about how to walk through a door, etc. Endings, beginnings, clutching to the very end and screaming for help the way we Cancers do.

Rex says that Uranus rules Thresholds. How cool is that? The groom takes the bride over the threshold of their new home. That ought to be a Libra thing, because Libra rules marriage and one on one partnerships. But, Uranus rules the threshold and Uranus also rules Divorce. Hahaha. Surprise, surprise.

The thing that might be useful in understanding walking through Doorways and Thresholds is how stressful it is. People are often sort of confused that Uranus transits bring so much stress. Uranus represents Hopes and Wishes. You wish for something. You get it and you regret getting it. "Be careful what you wish for." Uranus.

And then it might be useful to understand how it's easiest to deal with these stresses when they occur. And I propose that you look up your Pluto. No, not up your anus (haha, sorry, just couldn't help the pun).

Pluto rules a water sign and all the water signs, imo, are connected with memory. And memory creates problems when trying to move into the future. It makes the future glow with depth and wisdom, but often it just holds you back and makes you fearful. The Water Signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Cancer doesn't let go of anything it develops an emotional reaction to. Cancer represents your deep, long memory, your genetics, where you were born, your roots. You spent the first year of your life doing nothing but completing Lunar returns going goo-goo with your Mommy, for good or bad. So she taught you how to react. You don't need to forget those things but sometimes you do have to have a conversation with yourself about letting go or just letting things happen without you.

Then there's Pisces which is the last sign of the Zodiac and the sign which dumps you through the doorway over that big Spring Solstice point, Aries. Neptune practices forgetfulness on a daily basis because everything is just so emotionally painful and delicate. But, Neptune has that big universal memory to draw on of how we are all connected over some sort of ethereal universal plasma. Neptune has no boundaries and includes all. And anything with no boundaries doesn't work on earth, or at least that's what makes the world spin around. And, in reality, we have compassion only for the things that we know we aren't bonded to. Trust me, this is true. No family bond, friendship, or law of bondage can create compassion for that little ant which needs to be allowed to walk around. Well, pesticides are also Neptunian, so that's not all it's racked up to be...

But, Pluto and Memory. Pluto is interesting in Mythology. Two really interesting stories tell how the underworld deals with Memory and I think this is relevant for us right now. First there is the story of Pluto abducting Persephone. He takes what he wants. Pluto's selfish. Then along comes Demeter who demands her daughter back. Pluto gives daughter back, but for only half the year. He can give things up, halfways. Pluto represents shared resources. As a woman I resent that Persephone is called a resource rather than a person, but maybe Pluto is where we need to make adjustments in fighting for equal rights.

The second story of Pluto and Memory is of Orpheus. Orpheus is a poet in love with Euridice. I can't remember the whole story, but Euridice dies and goes to the underworld and, grieving and heroic, Orpheus goes after her. Because he's not dead Orpheus can't stay in the underworld and because Euridice is dead she can't come back to earth. Orpheus is allowed to return to the real world but only on condition that while walking on the path out he never looks behind him for a second chance to see Euridice. This is very difficult. He has to say his good byes. Pluto rules Death, of course, and the grieving process. And, Pluto seems to represent this way of moving forward with intention, not allowing ones self to look back because it is understand that one can't have things both ways. What did my Scorpio Father used to say? "You can't have your cake and eat it too." (I actually used to argue back that what's the point of having a cake if you can't eat it too? Scorpio logic is easy to argue which is why I think they often don't say anything. Water signs aren't supposed to do the logic thing.). The feelings are all there, heavy as hell, but there is this extreme discipline involved in also moving forward.

Anywhoo. Thing that got me on this tangent was an episode on the Freakonomics website about research which may show that walking through doors seems to automatically cause forgetfulness in people. This does seem more Uranian than Plutonian. Uranus does things sort of automatically or without intention. That's the wonder of Air.

This also seems more connected with the Aries and Gemini rulership of doorways. Aries and Gemini rule the brain and neurology, along with Uranus/Aquarius. I think that Taurus is probably also involved as a motivator. Taurus represents our first attachments to physical objects and the sensual delight they give us. It's a lot easier to walk through that doorway if we think there is a bone on the other side. It's all connected to that big rotating wheel.

At any rate, the Winter Solstice had Uranus at 1 Aries. So, this symbology (that is a word, isn't it?) really seems relevant.

Here's what I wrote a few weeks ago. I was sick and getting the shit gang stalked out of myself so am having some problems working on anything. Oh yeah, and I knit 4 scarves for Christmas because I'm sometimes a nice bitch.


Dec. 22, 2011 12:30 am EST Washington, DC

Sun 1 Capricorn (H3); Moon 27 Scorpio (H2); ASC 8 Libra; MC 9 Cancer; NN 14 Sagittarius Rx

or WEST COAST

Dec. 21, 2011 9:30 pm PT Sacramento, CA

Sun in Capricorn and Moon in Scorpio is sort of a preparation for when Saturn moves into Scorpio. Ought to know when that will be. Either way Saturn and Pluto will be in mutual reception. This is great if you live around well bred and kind and trustworthy people because they will be motivated to work extra hard to build solid structures of whatever people build solid structures of. If you live around people who are ruthless worthless dishonest pigs, then you are in for some grief and pain.

Mars is unaspected in this chart, except for square to the Nodes which is not a particularly good sign unless you're a creative person. So Mars could be trigger happy, especially since next Saturday's Total Lunar Eclipse has the Sun-Moon opposition squaring Mars. This is a mutable sign signature so people who talk too much are really going to piss other people off.

There's a real sense that things are ending and other things are just starting because all the planets except the Mars-Nodes are at the very end or beginnings of signs.

That particular degree situation of the Nodal Axis sort of reminds me of 9/11, 14 Gemini-Sagittarius, but I'm a Cancer Sun and cling on to old outdated ideas. Arab Spring Envy as brought to us by Eastern Europeans living in British Columbia. Well, Jupiter's sorting himself out in Taurus these days. Material possessions seem to look a lot like Human Values. Have to sabotage just a little bit more to even out the playing field.

Uh, well, the Sun at 1 Capricorn is conjunct Pluto 9 Capricorn and Mars at 18 Virgo is unaspected except for a square to the Nodal Axis. This is in Mutable Houses for the East which tells me to say that maybe it's not the best day on earth to be driving or taking a train or walking the dog. This is violent, maybe on a personal level because all inner planets involved.

In California Mars is in the 1st house squaring the North Node-Sun in the 4th House. So, it looks like it's a great day for shooting up the neighborhood. Or maybe Jerry Brown who's an Aries will take a roller coaster ride and the local TV channel will advertise. Or, maybe a really psycho person will set fire to some prime Real Estate.

Mars is in the 12th House of the Washington chart so it looks like convicts will escape their prisons and secret enemies will be young men. With Libra Rising, maybe the young men will be dressed as young women. Maybe he Occupy Wall St. group is going to hack the banking system. 12th House represents secret enemies, institutions, prisons, escapism and surrender. It also rules artists but in general California is too full of nouveau riche people to ever foster a decent art movement.

This chart has a Jupiter-Saturn opposition which shows some social stand-off or balancing act. Jupiter 1 Taurus Rx-Lilith 1 Taurus shows some tricks with cash and banking.

Oh, yeah, and then there's Uranus. He's extra potent at the first degree of Aries the way he's been for the last year and is Stationing Direct on this day. In the Washington DC chart he is in the 6th House within 4 degree orb conjunction with the Descendant. So he's hooked into the angles and working on behalf of jobs, service employees, public health, good habits and small household pets among other things.

Uranus is also connected with the other major aspects of the Washington DC chart. He is trining the Moon 27 Scorpio in the 2d House (emotional bankers) and is squaring the Sun 30 Sagittarius in the 3d House (siblings, neighbors, communications).

Pluto is in conjunction with the IC. So it looks like we're walking on quicksand a little. Be sure to bring a long rope and something to hook it on to if you plan on saving anyone.

In California, Uranus is in the 8th House of Sex, Death, and Taxes. He's trining the Moon in Scorpio which is in conjunction with the Scorpio IC so the Pluto thing is still involved. The Sun in this chart is in the 5th House conjunct Pluto. That's nice and strong.

Dudes!!!! Party Hardy! 3 hours behind and 11 light years ahead.

All I can think about is leaving so I can have a happy rest of my life.

There's an out of sign Grand Trine between the Leo Ascendant, Sun in H5 (Sagittarius) and Jupiter 1 Taurus-Lilith 1 Taurus (H9).

Mercury's conjunct the Sagittarius NN. Something good must be cooking in the education field. Maybe immigration as well.

In the astrolocality chart for Washington DC Solstice chart I sort of just x'd out everything except Uranus. Should have looked up Mars too. Uranus AS line passes over the very Eastern edge of Australia and bottom of Japan. The Uranus MC line runs through Pakistan and Russia, etc. The Uranus IC line runs through San Diego and up to the border of Idaho and Oregon/Washington. (ew, earthquake?)

The Venus ASC line runs through Iran. Wonder what that means. Maybe they'll calm down now that we're out of Iraq.

The Mars ASC line runs through the middle of the U.S. Looks like it crosses the Nodal Axis line in Minnesota. Whoa, wonder what Target's new product line will be. The heartland will be on fire. Good thing it's Winter. That line runs through some countries on the other side of the earth as well. Are they fracking over there as well?

I wonder if you could predict Presidental hopefuls through these charts. Neither Jupiter nor Saturn has a line running through the U.S. which pretty much sums up the political weather in the States right now.

Moon line running through Ventura/Santa Barbara. Neptune line running through Bay Area. Remember, the Sacramento chart has Moon conjunct IC and Neptune c. DESC.

Ew, Pluto line running through Washington DC in the DC chart.

California Dec. 21, 2011 9:30 pm

Sun 30 Sagittarius (H3); Moon 27 Scorpio (H4); ASC 29 Leo; MC 24 Taurus; NN 14 Sagittarius Rx (H4)

Washington DC Dec. 22, 2011 12:30 am

Sun 1 Capricorn (H3) Moon 27 Scorpio (H2); ASC 8 Libra; MC 9 Cancer; NN 14 Sagittarius Rx (H3)

Total Lunar Eclipse
Dec. 10, 2011 9:36 am EST New York, NY

Sun 19 Sagittarius; Moon 19 Gemini; ASC23 Capricorn; MC 17 Scorpio; NN 15 Sagittarius Rx (H11)