Winter Solstice Wisdom & Magic
The Winter Solstice is now upon us, a mystical time which promises that light and warmth are coming soon. On the shortest day and the longest night of the year we celebrate the beginning of winter and nestle deep down into the cold, the darkness and the unknown. A time of mystery and magic—as are all times of ‘in between’, we call upon the goddesses of the crossroads, the underworld and the portals between this world and the next. Winter Solstice is a time of going within, a season of quiet and tranquility, and wonder. And while this solstice is technically a single day of celebration, I have found that as it also heralds the beginning of Yule, that I can work with its magic until the first of the new year.
Winter is the season of midnight, and it is associated with the dark, still moon, and the archetype of The Goddess as the wise-woman, the crone, the dark mother, the elder, and the wild witch living at the hedge. Just as the year is now ‘dying’, and coming to an end, so, too is the crone, who has come to the end of her life. Having seen and done so much, she now sits by the fires, remembering, reminiscing, telling stories and sharing her wisdom before she parts from this world.
Often represented as the archetype of grandmother, the word crone is an old form of the word crown, which suggests the sage wisdom of the matured queen, and the eminence of light radiating from the crown chakra of one who has reached illumination. The crone is the keeper of women’s mysteries and wisdom, the seer, healer and the midwife. Her knowledge and experience is essential to surviving life’s difficulties and transitions.
Use this season to call upon the archetype of the crone as you go deep within and ask for her to share all that she knows with you about the spirits of plants, the rhythms and cycles of life, the wisdom of the moon and the special blessings of your female form.
Use this time for stillness, slumber, silence, endings, transformation, and for going deep within to seek your own inner wisdom and to contemplate the last year, and the one ahead. It is not a time for action, but rather a time for beholding, visioning, and wondering. Casting wishes, setting intentions, working with your intuition, and making plans are best done in this season, for it is associated with the subconscious, the shadow, dreaming and your private, inner, potent magic.
To honor The Goddess during this most magical and powerful season is to celebrate Her as The Crone and the aspect of winter or death, and so we will call upon the goddess Hekate. And, as this season is also one of going within, traveling deep into the underworlds, first we will call upon the goddesses Cerwidwen, Demeter and Persephone.
HEKATE
During times of energetic transition, such as the winter solstice when darkness gives way to light, we are at a place of in-between, a place that is often called ‘the crossroads'. This is an extremely powerful and potent time where the veils of this world and the next are thin. The goddess of this time is mighty Hekate, who is often called the Queen of the Dead, as she is a very ancient Greek goddess of psychopomp magic, night, the moon, death, rites of passage, death, dying and rebirth, prophecy and mediumship. She has roots as a wise crone (elder) in Greek, Roman and even Egyptian mythology with some ties to mighty Isis, as well as the daughter of Nyx, who is the goddess of night, and Erebus, the god of darkness. Hekate’s symbols are gateways, crossroads, keys, torches, entrance ways, black dogs or hounds, black ewe lambs, cauldron, snakes, all phases of the moon, the sea and graveyards.
CERRIDWEN
Born of Welsh legend, Cerridwen represents the crone, which is the darker, unrevealed and more hidden aspect of the goddess. She has powers of prophecy and is the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge and inspiration in the Underworld. The legend of Cerridwen is heavy with instances of transformation.
As a goddess of the Underworld, Cerridwen is often symbolized by a white sow, which represents both her fecundity and fertility and her strength as a mother.
She is both the Mother and the Crone; many modern Pagans honor Cerridwen for her close association to the full moon.
DEMETER
Demeter, a goddess of winter/spring, hibernation/harvest (most especially wheat), divine order, unwritten law, sacred law and the cycle of life and death.
She and her daughter Persephone were the central figures of the 'Eleusinian Mysteries', which were initiation ceremonies held every year for their cult. Persephone, who was 'abducted' by (it is also thought that she fell in love and ran away with) Hades, the god-king of the underworld, represents the personification of spring, for when she descended into the lower realms, her mother became so distraught that she walked every inch of the earth searching for her, and withheld the growth of all vegetation until her daughter was returned. This disappearance or her essence from the world, put the once thriving world into an eternal winter, and it was only after the near starvation of all life that Hades allowed Persephone to ascend, after which Demeter allowed the vegetation to grow once again, and the world beheld its greening once more.
WINTER SOLSTICE PRAYER
Dark Mother, Crone Woman, Ancient One.
I call upon your knowing. And I ask for the blessings of wisdom.Bones of the ancestors, blood of the moon, stars in the night sky.
I call upon your teachings. And I ask for the blessings of understanding.Wheel of time, wheel of seasons, wheel of wisdom.
I call upon your guidance. And I ask for the blessings of direction.Heart of my heart, soul of my soul, womb of my womb.
I call upon your mystery. And I ask for the blessings of acceptance.Dark moon, starry sky and black of night.
I call upon your magic. And I ask for the blessings of surrender.All that is asked is given. All that is given is received. And, so it is.
SOLSTICE MOON
Until 4:54 pm ET on December 21st, the waning gibbous moon resides in Cancer and then she makes her way in the sign of Leo. Below are aspects and magical information for both signs.
MOON IN CANCER
Cancer Zodiac: June 21 to July 22
Planet: Moon, Neptune
Element: Water
The soul essence of Cancer is to live with a firm sense, and understanding of the spiritual, and to create from this knowing a strong foundation in life, which is anchored through the ability to love unemotionally, or objectively and without condition.
Cancer people are very gentle, conservative, feeling, nurturing, defensive, and contemplative, and their main focus is that of survival, comfort, and protection. These watery, deeply emotional souls provide a special type of spiritual nourishment to others, one which helps us to realize our soul purpose, and for this reason they are also deeply associated with The Divine Mother, and all of Her nourishing, nurturing qualities.
Cancer is cardinal sign. Cardinal means to initiate, introduce, and begin, and so the cardinal signs act as activators of the seasons, helping us to bring forth the essence of the season – which in this case, Cancer is now initiating, and activating Summer.
Cancer Strengths: a strong connection between subconscious thoughts and feelings.
Cancer Challenges: often overly sensitive, and may have difficulty balancing emotions with the intellect.
Cancer teaches us: the art of wellbeing, security, protection, and self-nurturing.
CRYSTALS: pink, rainbow, and black moonstone, angelite, celestite, blue topaz, white (milk) quartz, clear quartz, selenite, aquamarine, white jasper, amethyst, rose quartz, pearl, shells.
PLANTS: seaweeds, mugwort, white, and blue lotus, lilies, hibiscus, poppy, chamomile, rose, hydrangea, iris, juniper, moonflower vine, moonwort, morning glory, orris, passionflower, starwort, hyacinth, willow.
PLANETARY: The Ruling Planets of Cancer are Neptune & the Moon
While technically not a planet, it is often referred to as such, the moon is the traditional ruling planet of Cancer, and governs the inner self, the subconscious, all meditative, trance, and dream states, intuition, the psyche, feminine mysteries, the dark, the night, and the shadow self.
Neptune is the esoteric (hidden) ruling planet of Cancer, and is thought to be the higher octave, or higher vibration of the moon—and also of the planet Venus, as well as all that they govern. Neptune is not visible by the naked eye, and so it appears to have a remote, secluded ‘personality’, much like the nature of those born under the sign of Cancer. Neptune is a planet of inspiration that elevates, refines, purifies, and cleanses all of the aspects of the sign it governs.
ELEMENT: Water
When the moon travels through the zodiac signs of Cancer, she is aligned with the quality of water, which has to do with emotions, feeling, and expression. Water is cleansing, purifying, flowing, transformative, nurturing, and sustaining. It infuses this moon with caring and tenderness, and is an especially powerful time, and most especially if you are a water moon by birth. This is a good time for releasing grief, sadness, hurt, and other painful emotions, and is also a time for seeking guidance, assistance, and support.
POLARITY: Masculine
When the moon travels through the sign of Cancer, her innate feminine essence is quieted by the masculine nature of this sign. Suggested lunar workings during this time: anything having to do with the active pursuit of knowledge, learning, sharing knowledge, wisdom, and guidance, as action is a masculine quality.
RITUAL & MAGIC:
Practice lunar rituals and magic for cleansing, releasing, flowing, healing, emotions, passage, letting go of resentments and grudges, and use this time to heal any feelings of unworthiness, lack of permission to succeed, or doubt that you may have.
MOON IN LEO
Leo Zodiac: July 23 – August 22
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
The soul essence of Leo is to surrender to the Higher Wisdoms of their higher, more divine nature.
Leos are very motivated, action-based folk, who’s deepest desire is to be loved, admired, and seen. Their greatest strengths are power, expression, and protection, and they have a strong connection to their subconscious thoughts and feelings. Leo teaches humanity how to wield strength, manage pride, offer protection, and be in their personal power.
While the fiery nature of Leo corresponds to the active, creative, and expressive nature of life, which presents a constant state of creation/destruction, transformation, and flux, Leo is also a fixed sign, which means its core essence is to be in a state of motionlessness, and it is the purpose of all fixed signs to maintain the current season. Fixed signs focus, and concentrate the energy of the season; in this case Leo stabilizes the essence of summer.
Leo incarnates into physical form to utilize the spiritual aspects of the will, for the benefit of humanity, and to use strength, and power for the purpose helping others, and to provide support, and spiritual nourishment, helping others to realize their soul’s purpose here on earth. In this way, Leo is associated with the strength, and power of The Divine.
Sacred Intention of the Soul While in Leo: to lead myself, and others into the Light of The Divine.
PLANTS: allspice, amber, angelica, basil, bay, benzoin, cacao, calendula, cassia, cayenne, cedar, chamomile, clove, clove, copal, frankincense, garlic, ginger, lemon, peppercorn, rosemary, sunflower, tea tree, vanilla.
CRYSTALS: black onyx, brass, carnelian, fire opal, fuschite, gold, pyrite, red garnet. rose quartz, tiger’s eye.
PLANETARY: The Sun is the ruling planet of Leo
The sun is the giver of life, the life-force, the life-essence, and representative of The Divine Masculine, Divine Light, illumination, and the awakening of the mind into awareness. Technically not a planet, but it is often referred to as such, the sun is the traditional ruling planet of Leo, and governs the outer self, the conscious mind, cognitive thought, expression, creativity, and vitality.
The sun is a bright, energetic essence, and one that cannot be ignored—which is often a very Leo trait, as well, when this sign is not in balance.
Esoterically this sign’s life purpose is to heal, and illuminate others with this divine solar light. The strength, and power of Leo is the embodied strength and power of The Divine, and once Leo has evolved to conquer the egoic self, she then leads others into the solar/Divine light.
ELEMENT: Fire
With its dual essences of creativity and destructivity, fire moons help you to create from a place a power and passion, and also help you to burn your project to the ground if need be. Fire moons amplify impulsivity and a sense of urgency, so remember not to act on the impulses too quickly, and to take time before scrapping your projects. Save all files and notes, for once the fire of this moon cools, you may realize that you have acted in haste. When the moon is a fire sign, incorporate the metals; brass, gold and steel, the crystals; amber, carnelian, citrine, fire agate, fire opal, garnet, red calcite, red jasper, rubellite (red tourmaline), ruby, sard, sardonyx, and sunstone, along with candles, fire, and ashes in your lunar rituals to represent and call upon the element of fire.
POLARITY: Masculine
When the moon travels through the signs ofLeo, her feminine essence is quieted by the masculine nature of those signs. Suggested lunar workings during this time: anything having to do with the actions of others, group events, being social, being in public, life purpose, business, money, increasing personal power, skills, personal achievement, and personal success.
RITUAL & MAGIC:
Practice lunar rituals and magic for fire, light, banishing, courage, healing, dissolving obstacles (both real and perceived), releasing of earthly, egoic attachments in order to attain a Higher understanding.
© 2021 Renée Starr
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