New Year’s Resolutions
After the Summer Solstice we begin to gradually move towards the shortest and darkest day of the year on the Winter Solstice. On the evening or early morning of the Winter Solstice we begin to shift back to increasing the light every day until we again celebrate the Summer Solstice.
In ancient times, winter was a time to rest or literally hibernate. It was also a creative time when our minds were somewhat freed from some hard labor after the crops were harvested, preserved, and stored for the cold months. It was also a time when we could lay out our plans for a new cycle of prosperity, our new crops so to speak. When the days shifted from darkness to lightness again after the Winter Solstice, we could move into action.
This is why I think the day after the Winter Solstice is the best time to make New Year’s Resolutions. In taking a cue from nature, we can begin to lay out our aspirations and plans of action for the upcoming year by literally following the light.
Prior to the Winter Solstice, I begin cleaning out my house. We are all familiar with the tradition of spring cleaning. That made sense when homes were only heated by fireplaces that accumulated soot and created poor air quality. Naturally we would want to clean and air out our homes as soon as the weather permitted.
In the 21st century, however, our homes are more likely to be polluted by material things. We spend a lot of money bringing new things into our homes over the holidays but often give little thought to what is already there. Now that I am older and my daughter is grown, I am focusing more on releasing and re-homing things that are no longer of use to us.
This year I have paid particular attention to the mounds of paper in my office. Over a period of two weekends, I went through every single page of loose paper on my desk, in my closet and file cabinet, and on my bookshelves. I eliminated approximately 60% of these papers and organized the remainder into groups so that I could easily find things by subject matter. Not only are my desk and paperwork all tidy now, but this process allowed me to review many projects and goals I have generated in the past. This process of pre-holiday cleaning will help me step into the new year with more clarity and with a clean slate. This is even more important to me in light of upcoming astrological transits.
In 2024 we have some important and rare astrological phenomenon to consider. Jupiter and Uranus will form an exact conjunction in Taurus. This conjunction is one of the most benefic in astrology and is thought to bring good luck to the person whose chart forms an aspect with this duo. This will occur in April 2024.
We have some other unique opportunities coming our way in 2024 through 2025. Pluto, which spent a short time in Aquarius in 2023, will be spending most of 2024 in Aquarius and then spend 19 years there starting in November 2024. Aquarius is a visionary sign and Pluto in this sign could generate a big shift in collective thinking. For example, the last time Pluto was in Aquarius was during the American and French Revolutions.
In 2024 Neptune will be spending time in the last degrees of Pisces before moving into Aries for the first time in over 160 years. That will take place on March 31, 2025. In the meantime, we’ll be feeling this shift as well. The last time Neptune entered Aries, the American Civil War broke out shortly afterwards. Saturn will also conjunct Neptune at 0 Degrees of Aries in July 2025. Saturn and Neptune may prompt us to look more closely at the destruction humans have wrought on our planet.
And finally Uranus will be moving rapidly through Taurus before entering Gemini in July 2025. The last time Uranus moved into Gemini was in 1941 and we entered World War II a short time afterwards.
With these aspects, it seems clear that we are entering an important time in human history. Great social change often accompanies times of great political conflict. So we also have an opportunity to change the nature of civilization as we know it, especially since all these planets will be in harmonious aspects to each other and feeling energetically cooperative. This could potentially initiate a time of new ideas and prosperity the likes of which we haven’t seen in the several centuries since Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus were in a similar configuration. We all must seize the opportunity to level up our consciousness to expand and evolve at this unique point in history.