These are the last few hours before winter solstice, the moment when Sun changes its course & moves northwards. The exact moment of winter solstice is 7:59am PST. As the light emerges again in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere commences its journey inwards – not to be confused with Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana & Makar Sankranti are astronomically disconnected in this space-time continuum)
In the last hours before the solstice embrace the dark completely for it is the dark matter that gives birth to the light. Remember space is dark while the stars are light. The dark space which is infinite, births & holds all the celestial luminaries which are finite in time. Even avatars in India are called Krsna, literally translated black, or depicted as dark-skinned (Shiva, Rama, Draupadi). For some embracing the dark may look like more sleep, rest & hibernation while for others it may look like more meditation – all of which is perfect; don’t judge yourself as lazy for wanting to rest more
Sun is not just a star in the sky it is also within you – its energy encompassing plant & animal life, & therefore human life. Uttarayana is therefore also a time when Sun’s light re-births within you. Such is the importance of Uttarayana that all ancient advanced cultures emphasized it through their festivals & rituals
After ~6 months of gradual withdraw from the world, Uttarayana is a time to shed the old & blossom into the new based on all prior inner reflections. Sun in Moola nakshatra on this solstice helps with shedding & uprooting. Sun sign of Sagittarius is also important on this solstice. Sagittarius is the centaur with a bow & arrow. Like the arrow is pulled back on the bow before it’s propelled towards its target, so are your innate tendencies inclined to retreat before they can emerge. The plane of the galaxy passes through Moola-Ardra (in Gemini) also opening opportunities to purge & create
Love, Light & Blessings,
Dr. Malini Iyer
