December 26th ~ January 2nd
“Chronos” by Artus Wolffort
Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true. ~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson
The Roman god Janus is the lord of beginnings, endings, transitions and time. Portrayed with two faces, one looking back and the other looking to the future, Janus presided over the doorways and gates of Rome. The month of January, named for the god of transitions, ushers in the New Year. This is also the season of Capricorn when we sweep out the detritus of the year that was, and turn our faces towards the year to come.
The sign of Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, our own astrological Father Time, Chronos/Saturn presides over the festivities at this time of year. Much like Janus, Saturn is associated with time, with planning, with transitions, and setting goals for the future. And with his double-edged scythe, Olde Father Time harvests the experiences, the wisdom gained, all the fruits of the year that was, while clearing the field for the seeds we will be sowing in the New Year to come.
So it is not surprising that this is traditionally a time to make those New Year’s resolutions. And using the commitment and tenacity of the Capricorn season we hope to see these take root. But this year we are being cautioned to know the difference between unrealistic fantasies that are frankly unachievable, and those that are realistic and well worth investing in. Unsurprisingly only about 10% of our annual resolutions are followed through with. And 25% give up after the first week. Being able to discriminate between wishful fantasy and realistic aspiration can make all the difference.
On January 2nd, Chiron will be making its direct station putting an emphasis, less on perfection, and more on things like healthy acceptance, reminding us that whatever we achieve will be enough. So rather than placing unrealistic expectations on ourselves this year, how about sowing some radical self-acceptance resolutions in the mix?
This year, as Chiron stations direct at the New Year it makes a square to Jupiter, the planet of grand expectations and promises, which became exact on December 21st. Rather than trying to be someone or something other than who we are, why not aim to be a better, happier version of ourselves. How about creating the sorts of goals that lead to greater healing and wholeness? This can include rewriting old scripts and narratives that are no longer suitable for who you are now. And over-riding old self-limiting habits with newer and better habits.
Chiron, the rogue asteroid/comet made its way into our solar system way back in some ancient period of history. Like a messenger from beyond, among the many things that Chiron seems to be here for, is to remind us that one of the casualties of the human experience is our vulnerability and propensity for suffering. He also happens to bring us the remedies that can and will relieve us of that suffering. And one of the byproducts of the Chironic healing journey is the cultivation of certain qualities such as compassion, understanding and greater wholeness and well-being.
During the retrograde phase of Chiron in Aries we were being given the courage to cast out the demons from our own psyches, confront the dragons in their own lairs and sweep out the dungeons in our own minds. Doing this important work these past 5 months allows us to now rewrite those old dialogues and scripts in our heads, and pave the way for new and ever better beginnings.
Let our New Year’s resolution be this: we will be there for one another as fellow members of humanity, in the finest sense of the word. ~ Goran Persson
For this week’s horoscopes, click below: