The Sun's Sagittarius Ingress, December 15, 2022

Spiraling In Toward the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere

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 some Vedic astrologers. All the astrological charts below are calculated according to the sidereal zodiac and Lahiri Ayanamsa.

On December 15 in North and South America (and on December 16 in the rest of the world), the Sun will begin its month-long transit in the Sagittarius constellation. During this period, from December 17 to 22, the Sun will transit in conjunction with the Galactic Center of the Milky Way Galaxy, which occupies an area extending from about two to seven longitudinal degrees of Sagittarius.

The Galactic Center is the rotational center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Known in the Vedic tradition as Vishnunabhi, the Navel of Lord Vishnu, it is the source of cosmic light and creative power for the whole Milky Way Galaxy including the solar system in which we live. Our Sun, the light of our world, is recharged and rejuvenated through an “energetic upgrade” when it transits here, just in time for the New Year ahead!

From Wednesday to Friday, December 14 to 16, the Sun will transit through the gandanta, the one-degree rashi sandhi (sign cusp) on either side of the constellations of Scorpio and Sagittarius. This is one of the most intense, emotionally sensitive, and transformational areas of the whole zodiac, where the element of water merges into the element of fire. As the Sun transits here, we need to be especially mindful of our surroundings, our thoughts, our intentions, and our actions.

The Sun's entry (ingress) into a new sidereal sign every month marks one of the “sankranti” days according to Vedic astrology. In Sanskrit the term “sankranti” means “course, passage, or entry into.” This month’s sankranti day is known as Dhanu Sankranti, a holy day of celebration in some traditions of India.

According to classical Muhurta (Elective Vedic astrology), we should avoid sankranti days for beginning a new action, such as starting a job or new program of study, making a significant purchase, establishing a new business venture, or getting engaged or married, etc. This is because sankranti days are turning points when the Sun's energy is transitional and “on the edge of change.”

As the Sun is the soul of the world, and it represents the vitality of everything in life, it needs to be strong when we set anything new into motion. If the Sun is weak, our new endeavor will not have positive lasting results.

Often what we set into motion on sankrantis will not have the expected outcome. Instead, these are important days for spiritual practices, inner reflection, and for maintaining the status quo. Additionally, we must be extra careful not to fall off our path and lose our way on these sankranti (and gandanta) days.

The Sun has been transiting in Scorpio since mid-November, at the same time that the solar light has been diminishing in the northern hemisphere. The Sun in Scorpio can be emotional, introverted, and sometimes sorrowful. Though Scorpio's traditional ruler is Mars, friend to the Sun, this transit can be a worrisome time, as Scorpio's operative principle is “stinging.”

Generally, we may start to expect more inner peace, hope, and optimism as the Sun transits through Sagittarius, which is ruled by the Sun's great friend Jupiter. Jupiter is the expansive and jovial planet of grace, wisdom, abundance, and generosity. The Sun comes into Jupiter's sign just in time for a joyful holiday celebration.

All of nature is spiraling inward now as we move toward the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, which will occur on Wednesday, December 21. Once we pass the still-point period that spans three days after the solstice, the Light is reborn, and the days will slowly begin to grow longer.

Until then, we may feel more tired than usual. The Moon (our feeling mind) is also waning with the Sun now. The New Moon will occur on December 23. This means that it’s extra-important to get enough rest in these darkening days, and focus on releasing the old to make room for the new energies coming in with the rebirth of the Light.

How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year! — Thomas Wentworth Higginson