The Winter Solstice and New Year Ahead

Why you should get ready for major changes and revelations in 2025

Hi, I'm Juliana, a full-time Vedic astrologer. Subscribe for free to receive my monthly astrology forecasts and calendars. Upgrade to a paid subscription to receive all of my articles, including personalized astrology guides, my Pluto return video presentation, and more!

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The Winter Solstice is almost here!

In the northern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice will occur on Saturday, December 21, at 4:21 AM EST (9:21 AM UTC). This will be the shortest day and longest night of the year. In the southern hemisphere, it will be the Summer Solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year.

As I reside in the northern hemisphere, I will focus on the Winter Solstice in this article. However, if you live in the southern hemisphere, you could read my most recent Summer Solstice article to understand more about the general meaning of this seasonal event.

After I discuss the Winter Solstice, I will use the astrological chart for this event to give you a preview of what's to come in 2025. I'll conclude this article by explaining how my family celebrates this special time of year.

Let's get started!

The Rebirth of the Light

At the Winter Solstice, the Sun will reach its southernmost point in its seasonal declination cycle. At this time, the Sun will appear to stand still for three days and then slowly begin its movement northward again. During the three-day standstill, we will experience a “spiritual rebirth,” i.e., the rebirth of the Light.

The days around the Winter Solstice are a very mystical time. During this part of the year, we should spend time in nature, enjoy spiritual contemplation, and celebrate with our loved ones.

According to Vedic astrology, nothing of material import should be initiated during the three days before and three days after a solstice. This would include things like starting a new job or business, getting engaged or married, or moving to a new home. This means that you should avoid initiating any new long-term projects from December 18th to the 24th.

The Sun’s Regenerating Transit in the Galactic Center

Our Sun, the soul of the world, will transit in the Galactic Center from December 17th to the 22nd during the time of the Winter Solstice. This is known in the Vedic tradition as Vishnunabhi, the Navel of Lord Vishnu.

The Galactic Center spans from about two to seven degrees of sidereal Sagittarius. This center is the source of cosmic light and creative power for our whole Milky Way Galaxy, including the solar system in which we live. Our Sun is recharged and rejuvenated through an “energetic upgrade” when it transits here, just in time for the New Year ahead!

Uttarayana and Dakshinayana: The Sun’s Waxing and Waning Cycles

At the Winter Solstice, we move into the half of the year when the Sun’s light gradually begins to grow stronger. This part of the year leads up to the Summer Solstice on June 21 in the northern hemisphere. This cycle is known as Uttarayana, when the Sun’s involutionary cycle of conscious energy is projected into the world of matter. This is the most productive half of the year for establishing anything of material or worldly consequence.

The second waning half of the year extends from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice. It is known as Dakshinayana, the evolutionary cycle when nature’s creative rhythms will slowly begin moving back to the Source. Dakshinayana is generally the time for winding down and finishing what was established in the first half of the year.

Archangel Gabriel’s Blessing

As the guardian of the winter season, Archangel Gabriel opens a spiritual gate for humanity every year around the winter solstice on December 21. At this time, good tidings of love, hope, and joy descend to us from the heavenly realms through Gabriel’s intercession.

As the Divine Messenger of hope, love, and eternal life, Gabriel brings a divine spark of creative inspiration that can help us manifest our dreams and resolve our problems now. Gabriel helps prophets gain clear vision and is also the protector of children, their parents, and caretakers.

As we remember and invoke the blessing of Archangel Gabriel and all the holy angels at this time of year, we draw them ever closer for our inspiration and protection. Gloria in excelsis deo!

The 2024 Winter Solstice Horoscope for the World

I use the winter solstice chart to analyze the upcoming new year. The basis for this chart in Vedic astrology is in the Nārada-saṁhitā (Jyotiṣa-grantha).

Below, I have posted the sidereal wheel chart and the North Indian charts calculated for coordinated universal time (UTC) at the time of the solstice in Greenwich, London, in the United Kingdom. The information in these charts is the same, though the formats are different. This Greenwich chart set at the prime meridian can be used to analyze the collective karma for the entire world at large.

The rising sign in this horoscope is Purva Ashadha nakshatra (in Sagittarius). Although this nakshatra represents renewal and revitalization, it can also exhibit a fiery, extreme, fierce, and aggressive nature. This nakshatra ultimately brings cleansing and purification, but it is not necessarily always an easy process.

Uranus occupies the destructive last degree of Aries and is conjoined the IC (imum coeli, also known as patala lagna in Vedic astrology). The IC in a mundane world horoscope represents all the lands and the peoples of the Earth, farmland and agriculture, mines, public buildings, housing and real estate, weather conditions, seismic events, forest fires, overall living conditions, education, and the common people. The IC relates to reflection, review, unseen influences, the impact of the past, and the end of certain matters.

Uranus poised on the IC at the end of Aries suggests instability, upheaval, and unpredictability in global affairs. This also means that there could be major fires, storms, and seismic events in the new year.

Rahu is conjoined Neptune in Pisces, suggesting ongoing mystery, confusion, and obfuscation related to worldwide UAP and UFO sightings, referring to Unidentified Aerial or Anomalous Phenomenon, and Unidentified Flying Objects. Rahu points to events in the sky, and Neptune/Pisces indicate the amphibious realms and naval forces which are likely connected to UAPs/UFOs.

Mars-ruled Aries is the main signature of the horoscope based on the preponderance of cardinal and fire signs. This also fits with the dominant Mars theme in the year 2025. This is because 2 + 0 + 2 + 5 = 9. Therefore, 2025 is a nine year, and Mars is the planet that correlates with the numeral nine.

The main emphasis of a Mars year is to develop greater strength, and to identify and overcome the inner and outer enemies, as in taking action to resolve any longstanding difficulties and problems. Since the Mars year occurs at the end of the nine-year numerological cycle, it tends to be a very active year marked by unraveling, completion, and tremendous change.

Because Mars is debilitated and retrograde in the Eighth House, we will need to dig deep to access the courage and strength needed to navigate this coming year with its intense tests and challenges. With Jupiter forming a square to Saturn, there will be plenty of opportunity for personal and professional growth if we can work hard, maintain healthy habits, keep a positive attitude, and stay focused and steady.

I will write more about the mundane astrology forecast for 2025 in the future. I will analyze both the January 1 horoscope and also the Vedic New Year chart set for March 29, 2025. Subscribe to my newsletter to make sure that you see these articles!

Some Simple Ways to Celebrate the Solstice

For now and in the week ahead, it’s a beautiful time to tune into traditional holiday festivities. I like to celebrate with candles, evergreen decorations, bright sparkling lights, music, social gatherings, delicious seasonal foods, and gift-giving.

Meditating and praying while focusing on the inner Light within the third eye and the heart chakra can be a very helpful practice in the days around the solstice. If you know them, you can chant mantras to the Sun, as with the Gayatri, or a Surya mantra, or the Aditya Hridayam sloka.

Spend time in nature if you can and especially out in the sunshine if it breaks through where you are. I like to bless the trees in my neighborhood in this season by hanging ornaments on the bare branches.

The night before the winter solstice is an especially important time for spiritual ceremonies (this year it will be Friday night, December 20). In my home, we like to play Celtic Christmas music on the stereo as we gather by a sweet crackling fire and share a special candlelight meal.

Afterward, we write down some significant things that have happened along with our feelings about them in the past year. Next, we burn the written pages with the intention of healing and transmuting the past year and preparing for the new year ahead. We then toast each other and all our loved ones and make prayers and wishes for the new year as we ring bells and chimes to seal our intentions.

I wish all of my dear readers and friends a blessed Winter Solstice. And for those in the southern hemisphere, I wish you a very merry Summer Solstice, as well. May love and light prevail in all realms for all beings everywhere. So be it!

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Please note that this and all my other forecasts are based on the sidereal zodiac used in both Vedic and Western sidereal astrology, not the tropical system used by most Western and a small number of Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts that I work with and share are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.