Corrine Kenner
Thousands of years ago, when astrologers were first developing the principles of their art, they saw the Sun rise and set against the backdrop of a different constellation each month. Eventually those twelve constellations became the twelve signs of the zodiac, which led to the development of the twelve-month calendar we use to this day.
Even now, the four seasons of the year are based on the Sun’s entry into the four cardinal signs—Aries in spring, watery Cancer in summer, airy Libra in fall, and earthy Capricorn in winter.
Yule is celebrated on the winter solstice, which is the longest night of the year. After a long season of darkness, it’s time to celebrate the return of the light and the newborn Sun that promises to add fire to our days.
It’s no coincidence that the winter solstice also occurs when the Sun moves into earthy Capricorn. In fact, the winter solstice occurs at the moment when the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.
This year, the Sun moves into earthy Capricorn at 12:29 pm Eastern Time.
Mythic Astrology: Apollo, the God of the Sun
On the winter solstice, the Sun is reborn, and the newborn god promises to add light and heat to days that grow increasingly longer.
In mythic astrology, the Sun was Apollo—the god of music, healing, truth, and light. He rode through the sky in a golden chariot drawn by four fire-breathing steeds.
Apollo was the son of Jupiter and Leto, a nymph that Jupiter had seduced in the form of a swan. Jupiter’s jealous wife, Juno, had pursued Leto throughout the course of her pregnancy, decreeing that she would never give birth on dry land. As a result, Apollo was born on the floating island of Delos. Knowing that Juno was still pursuing her, the young mother turned Apollo over to Themis, the goddess of justice, and fled for her life.
Themis fed the newborn nectar and ambrosia. As soon as he had eaten, Apollo bounded out of his swaddling clothes and sprang to his feet, fully grown.
“The golden lyre,” he announced, “shall be my friend, the bent bow my delight, and in oracles will I foretell the dark future.”
Tell fortunes, he did. He established a sacred site at Delphi, where Gaia herself had revealed the future. It was guarded by the Python, a monstrous, man-eating serpent. Apollo killed the Python with his bow and arrow.
Delphi was said to be the center of the earth, because Jupiter had sent two eagles to circumnavigate the globe—one from the east, the other from the west—and they both reached Delphi at the same time.
In astrology, the Sun is the center of our solar system—and, for all intents and purposes, our universe. Astrology is a geocentric pursuit: we chart the planets and stars from our perspective here on earth.
The glyph for the Sun 
looks like the Sun at the center of our solar system surrounded by a ring of orbiting planets.
The Sun rules fiery Leo, the sign of the lion. The Sun also rules the fifth house, where astrologers look for information about creativity, recreation, and play.
Because the Sun is so visible in the sky, its placement in an astrological chart can highlight areas of fame, public recognition, and acclaim. It also describes your inner light and the ways in which you shine. It illuminates your sense of purpose, as well as your life’s path, and it shows where you’ll expend the most energy in pursuit of your goals.
Reading the Signs
The Sun enters Capricorn, the sign of worldly power, at 12:29 pm Eastern Time.
Saturn has just entered Capricorn, too. This is a monumental event: Saturn rules Capricorn, which puts Saturn at home after a long, 29-year journey around the signs of the zodiac.
The Sun and Uranus are in an easy trine, while the eccentric rebel planet moves backward through Aries.
Venus is in a fiery trine with Uranus, too. Venus, the planet of glamour and illusion, moved into adventurous Sagittarius on December 1. It will move into Capricorn on December 25, and then shift its focus to friends and social groups when it moves into Aquarius on January 18.
|
Planetary Positions |
|
|
• Sun in Capricorn |
• Jupiter in Scorpio |
|
• Moon in Aquarius |
• Saturn in Capricorn |
|
• Mercury in Sagittarius |
• Uranus |
|
• Venus in Sagittarius |
• Neptune in Pisces |
|
• Mars in Scorpio |
• Pluto in Capricorn |
The Moon is already in futuristic Aquarius, in an uncomfortable square with Mars. Be careful with your words—and your actions. If you’re with friends, they might be ultra-sensitive.
That’s because the warrior planet moved into mysterious Scorpio on December 9. Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio, so it’s comfortable with the intensity of the sign—but all that energy could leave some people at your holiday gathering feeling like they’re being targeted for attack.
Most people won’t even realize how their words could be interpreted. Mars and Neptune, the planet of illusion, are combining forces in an easy trine, and hardcore Saturn and crazy Uranus are trine, too.
To make matters worse, Mercury has been retrograde since December 3. On Yule, it’s in an uncomfortable square with Neptune, which could lead to misunderstandings with loved ones, despite everyone’s best intentions. The messenger planet is stationed in Sagittarius, preparing to go direct on December 22. Mercury is weak in Sagittarius; it’s 180 degrees from its own sign in Gemini, so it’s forced to function in a land of opposites. Mercury will find its footing again when it moves into Capricorn on January 11, and Aquarius on January 31.
The good news is that Jupiter, the expansive planet of luck and good fortune, is also in its old sign in Scorpio, where it can spread good cheer and good humor. It’s in a watery trine with Neptune in its own sign of Pisces, and a comfortable sextile with Pluto in earthy Capricorn.
Phases of the Moon
On December 3, the last Full Moon in Gemini was illuminated by the Sun in the opposite sign of Sagittarius.
On December 18, a New Moon, with the Sun and the Moon conjunct in fiery Sagittarius, probably inspired a recent burst of wanderlust and curiosity. Sagittarius is the sign of long-distance travel, higher education, and philosophy.
On January 2, a Full Moon in watery Cancer, across from the Sun in earthy Capricorn, will illuminate matters of hearth and home. Now’s the time to be nurturing and ask for a little extra affection.
On January 17, a New Moon in earthy Capricorn will align itself in a conjunction with the Sun, which is also in earthy Capricorn. It’s a great time to start new projects at work. You can shepherd them toward completion as the Moon waxes toward full, tying up any loose ends as the Moon wanes.
On January 31, the second Full Moon of the month—a proverbial Blue Moon—embodies the fiery energy of Leo. Play games, get involved in an athletic competition, or create something beautiful and artistic.
This Full Moon has an added bonus: a lunar eclipse, when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon.
Practical Astrology
If you’re in North America, Asia, or Australia, you’ll be able to see the lunar eclipse—assuming that the sky is clear. (If you’re in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, or Australia, you’ll be able to see a lunar eclipse on July 27.)
In astrology, eclipses represent sudden and dramatic change. Lunar eclipses tend to be personal, while solar eclipses generally affect widespread groups. Lunar eclipses are almost always followed by partial solar eclipses.