HAPPY HERMES, THE ISLAND ASTROLOGER: A Flash in the Dark
Happy winter solstice, everyone. In the Northern Hemisphere, Thursday, Dec. 21 is the longest night of the year and the slow return of the light as the amount of daylight starts to increase daily from that day onward. We have survived our descent into darkness, and will carry the lessons we’ve learned and the relationships we’ve forged into the year ahead. We experience the sun’s shift from Sagittarius into Capricorn, instilling a renewed focus on determination, practicality and goal-setting for a new year-long solar cycle.
This year, the solstice coincides with an exact opposition of Venus and Uranus, infusing this new beginning with a need to balance grace and rebellion, relationship and freedom, art and technology. Simultaneously, this winter solstice also coincides with the middle of Mercury’s retrograde period, an astrological moment known as Mercury cazimi. We experience a moment of increased intellectual prowess and flashes of insight when Mercury moves through the heart of the sun. The solstice is always a time to reflect on the year past and imagine the one to come. This year we seem to have a special opportunity to see things as they are and a special challenge to revolutionize love. Blessings to everyone at this time of year. Onward ho.
Here are your horoscopes for the winter solstice. Read for your rising and sun signs.
Capricorn
Dec. 22 – Jan. 19
The beginning of Capricorn season is heralded by a Mercury cazimi, and you are being granted a powerful moment of self-awareness. How do you think about yourself and how can you make your self-image manifest? You are receiving a lot of support from your friends and allies right now, but this presents a challenge to your unique self expression. You can forge your own path while also honoring your friendships.
Aquarius
Jan. 20 – Feb. 18
How do you make the most of your time alone? You are being granted the opportunity to see clearly how your solitude can be put to good use. Hold on to that insight for the year ahead. It might feel as though your public life and private life are in conflict right now. Lean into your relationships at work to help you find independence at home.
Pisces
Feb. 19 – March 20
Is there an adventure calling out to you? There is a magnetic pull drawing you toward lands unseen or ideas unthought. Following that call will help to free you from the monotony of too familiar territory and let you revolutionize how you communicate. I think you are being offered a new set of hopes and dreams for yourself. Pay attention to the people who will help you achieve them.
Aries
March 21 – April 19
A career opportunity or a fresh boost to your reputation is flashing before you. How will you harness this brief vision of what is possible? Trust your intuition and start to lay a foundation for your public persona. While you feel drawn to invest yourself in projects with other people, remember to honor your own needs at the same time. Your freedom relies on taking care of yourself first and foremost.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Love for another person is challenging your personal independence. The choice is not one or the other, however. There is an opportunity to honor yourself while also caring for another person. How can these two parts of life exist in dynamic tension? An aha moment for a fresh course of study or a grand adventure is upon you. Trust this sudden realization.
Gemini
May 21 – June 21
You’ve been reflecting on how you share your energy and your resources with other people, and now you are being granted a brief flash of clarity. Don’t let this insight escape you. Make changes where they are needed. Making sacrifices to get the important things done might feel like giving up some independence, but giving of yourself does not mean giving up yourself.
Cancer
June 22 – July 22
Letting yourself fall in love with your own creative projects can help free you from friendships that no longer serve you. I think you are experiencing something akin to this right now. Let go of the people holding you back. An important relationship in your life has been on your mind lately, and you are being offered some major clarity in your contemplation.
Leo
July 23 – Aug. 22
In order to live the life we want, we have to give of ourselves in order to achieve it. This can be as big as working full-time to afford our dreams or as small as sweeping the floor to have clean soles. You’re being granted a eureka moment related to your routines. Learn the lesson and run with it. Investing your heart at home will provide the freedom you seek at work.
Virgo
Aug. 23 – Sept. 22
How do you express yourself creatively? You’ve probably been turning this over in your mind lately, perhaps even second-guessing your methods. An epiphany is very close at hand. Don’t let the insight pass you by. Let your love for your immediate community fuel your adventurous freedom right now because these are not mutually exclusive experiences.
Libra
Sept. 23 – Oct. 23
Your values and your finances are front and center, and they go hand-in-hand. Make sure that your monetary ebbs and flows are reflecting your personal values, and you will discover investments that honor your innovation. An important insight related to home and family is being offered to you. Pay attention and use this insight to set your goals for the year.
Scorpio
Oct. 24 – Nov. 21
Self-love is incredibly important right now, so be sure to give it to yourself freely. An important partner in your life is supporting your need for self care through their own independence. While you might feel some conflict here, trust that this is an important balance for you. Your communication is clear and concise right now, so put this power to good use.
Sagittarius
Nov. 22 – Dec. 21
An aha moment regarding your finances is flashing before you. Perhaps you finally found the job you’ve wanted or you can clearly see new monetary avenues that were invisible to you before. Don’t let this awareness slip away. Taking some time to love your moments of solitude will help you to change up your daily routines. Embrace these shifts.
