Seasonal Star Cycles

Capricorn
History of the Holy Day Season
December 2007

Elizabeth Ault MA, CPCC
 
The silent holiness of the Winter Solstice is a potent time for setting intentions and receiving powerful dreams.Capricorn runs from Dec 21st the Winter Solstice through Jan 19th. The stillpoint of this annual turning point is a potent time for setting clear intentions for the following year and being attentive to dreams and omens.

The Sun begins its journey of ascent from the farthest distance away from the Earth, during the depths of darkness, at the Winter Solstice. The sure footed solitary Goat, symbol of Capricorn, navigates steep slopes and precipices to reach the silent rarified air of the summit. With vast panoramas before him he contemplates the architecture of the heights and depths of these realms. Capricorn seeks to understand the laws that structure life.

This is the still point of the yearly cycle, the reset point, when we can imagine (image-in) what we want to create in the coming year. How will we do things differently? It’s Resolution Time!! This time of hibernation and the longest nights can bring inner illuminations across the threshold of sleep with significant dreams.

The four weeks of Advent can be seen as a season to honor all kingdoms of life; to humbly prepare a place in our hearts to re-ignite and receive our eternal Christ light flame within. Advent begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving and runs four weeks. This season can be likened to the washing of our challis (cup). There are three ways to receive: 1. With a dirty cup that rots whatever is placed inside with preconceived notions, feelings etc. 2. With a cup with a hole in it, that drains out whatever is placed inside, 3. Lastly the honorable cup, that has carefully been cleaned to hold the integrity of what is given unpolluted. Which way of receiving applies to you?

Now, when the light of the outer Sun is dimmest and its warmth has waned to its’ weakest point, is when the spirit of our soul urges us inside to our core, to be rekindled by eternal inner spiritual light. Nurture that flame while the shopping frenzy of materialism seeks to distract us!

The Christian tradition of the Twelve Days of Christmas begins on Dec 25th and runs through Jan 5th, the day before Epiphany. Jan 6th. It is also known as Three Kings Day, and is celebrated as the day the three Magi, presented gifts to the baby Jesus. All three were astrologers following a star to find a king. Some Christian cultures today still give gifts on Jan 6th, to commemorate the arrival of the 3 Kings, with their offerings. Yet others share gifts each of the 12 days following Christmas.

The birthday of Christ and the mysteries of Mary were celebrated as the "Festival of Jesus for the first time in Rome in the year A.D. 354."*1 The sharing of sacred tree branches, special fruits, vegetables and seeds was a customary celebration honoring the Goddesses of fertility, during this same season, before the Christians overlaid their customs on this time.

The Thirteen Holy Nights which begin Dec 24th, come from a far more ancient Pagan tradition. Each of the Holy Nights represents one of the thirteen New Moons we see each year. Twelve are full lunar months (New Moon to New Moon) with one addition. Each night is thought to mirror the coming Moon cycles of the New Year. Alert attentiveness to dreams, signs, omens, intentions and the people that we encounter may reveal indications for what lies ahead. Intention plus attention and releasing it to spirit equals manifestation...

Capricorn is ruled by the planet Saturn, known as the Lord of Karma. He is the ultimate old patriarchal task master who will thwart you with obstacles until you turn to your destiny path. Saturn cultivates our capacity for disciple, hard work and determination. He stimulates growth and mastery.

Earthy Capricorns face the tests of how to organize, administrate and accordingly deploy resources with courage. Also tests that deal with the temptation to run away from responsibility as a coward. Which will it be? They can be cool emotionally, empowered by what they know, rigid and out of touch with their feelings. They can also be dependable, meditative, wise and detached, or workaholics. They rule big business and the corporate world. Capricorns can be very organized project managers who excel at forwarding the action, making things happen and closing the deal. The challenge is to let down their guard and connect with feelings. Vulnerability has courage in it. Capricorns quest to understand the laws of nature and manifestation can prompt spiritual awakening to the underlying higher laws of mastery.
Can the Goat develop the inner sight to patiently expose spiritual truths? Can they realize the universal laws that structure our lives? Or will ambition drive a ruthless climb across heads to find the corporate top? Prayer or profit? The procreative power of fertility in rut or regeneration through understanding; these are the challenges of the Goat.

The strength of our spine and our spirit holds us upright to redeem the darker doubts of bitterly cold winter... This deeply meditative time can empower our visions for the future. What is your vision?

Footnotes
1*htt://www.southerncrossreview.org/31/steiner2.htm