Gazing up into the early southwestern evening skies, a little after sunset, as the azure carpet is washed inky blue, the worlds of the two largest planets in our solar system appear to merge into one vast mini universe. The 79 moons of Jupiter and the 62 moons of Saturn seem to merge and mingle with each other, whilst the big orange eye and the ringed eye become one, bright star.
Their perpetual celestial dance around our One Light brings them into an utter embrace every 20 years. However, the special circumstances of their union on the 21st of December at 18:20 GMT means that not only do they occupy the same degree of the zodiac as each other, they are also at the same latitude, something that has not taken place since 1226 AD. In other words, as seen from the Earth, two have become one.
This is actually the first time in well over 2000 years that these knowledge bearers have aligned on the Solstice, a feat that will be repeated in 2159 AD. Whilst there have been other alignments close to the Solstice – the 30th of December 1980 was the closest Solstice star since the 18th of December 1603 – this ‘star’ has not perfected since the 13th century. But even then, that alignment took place on the 5th of March!
The Capricorn Ingress is seen as the start of the year for those following the Celtic tradition in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the time when the Light pauses, low on the horizon, before being ‘re-born’ on the 25th of December as it starts its gradual ascent to its throne, six months later on the 21st of June. The sky to our ancestors was seen as alive, teaming with meaning and consciousness and therefore this rebirth of the masculine light, as the Sun was termed, has found its way into lore enshrined in the Christian tradition as the birth of the ‘Sun’ gOd, Yesuah or Jesus.
It was this ‘star’ that the seventeenth century astronomer/ astrologer Johannes Kepler determined as being the star that the Magi followed in 7 BCE that heralded the birth of Christ. During that time, the alignment took place within the zodiacal sign of Pisces on the 5th of December, a sign that is called the Fishes of Humanity.
Our collective consciousness carries within it myths that impel the motifs that outline the way in which that consciousness unfolds over time. The zodiacal signs are ‘understood’ to be consciousness filter, or backdrop, from which our perception is filtered. Over time, the orientation of the Earth gradually ‘moves through’ these signs, remaining for a little over thousand years in each sign. Known in astronomy as Precession, this Great Year commenced in the sign of Pisces around two thousand years ago.
The planets are ‘seen’ as reflecting deeply ingrained psycho-spiritual principles universal to all of humanity and life in general. Jupiter outlines an outwards and upwards growth, whereas Saturn an inward and downwards growth principle. Together, these planets create a motion that defines the way in which our societal world emerges, a motion that occurs through a particular ‘element’ over 140 years. The elements, of which there are five (four of which reflect the consciousness’ tangible to each of us – vision, breath, heart and body), define the way in which the world is perceived. When these two ‘growth’ planets align in Earth, a wave of industry and productivity defines the Way. This is something the world experienced between 1802 and 1980.
When the alignment takes place in Water signs over the 140 years there is a movement towards religious or artistic exploration. This was the element of the 7 BCE alignment, taking place as the two thousand year transition from Fire to Water was taking place. And it was this motion that alerted the three Magi to ‘follow’ the star as they believed that a new consciousness was being born, in an embodied form.
The alignment on Monday arises in an Air sign at the start of a 120 year movement within this element. The fact that it is taking place on the day that the Sun Pauses, in complete latitudinal and longitudinal alignment, is deeply auspicious and strongly points to the birth of a deeper consciousness, one that will unfold gradually and subtly.
This is why there is so much being written about on the internet and the topic of my 5th of January webinar. Yet, even if you do not relate to the consciousness currency within our cosmos, the fact that the Jovian and Saturnine lunar systems will appear to ‘mingle’ is in itself, spectacular. I would urge you to go out and look up to the south west on the 20th – 23rd of December and if you can on Monday (clouds not withstanding) and pay homage to this marvellous ‘star’. You will get another chance to see them on the 15th of March 2080 when they again merge and mingle, but not at the Solstice and not at the start of the seventh Air Wave within consciousness!!
So brave the cold, look up and you will experientially understand the within!
Andrew