Welcoming the Light, Winter Solstice
Yesterday you received NEXT week’s post rather than THIS week’s post. I’ll call that one last Mercury retrograde glip! Here is THIS week’s post
This week, gratitude fills my heart as I look around at all that is arriving, shifting, and making itself known. I’m thrilled to share that my author copies of How to Read & Interpret the Birth Chart: Guideposts for Understanding Natal Astrology have finally arrived! Seeing this book—born of countless hours of writing, reflecting, and teaching—resting in my hands feels like the culmination of a long, meaningful journey. To celebrate, I’m offering a free signed copy to anyone who signs up for my mentorship program within the next month, or to anyone who purchases three gift certificates before the end of the year. Contact me directly I hope these books find their way into hands and hearts eager for deeper understanding.
As the Winter Solstice arrives, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude. The sun returns! The longest night will soon give way to the light, and with it, a reminder of the cycles we move through—of rest and renewal, of release and growth. I hold deep appreciation, too, for this year’s end. While 2024 has brought its share of challenges and lessons, it also brought healing. My total knee replacement continues to improve, and I hold hopes of moving into 2025 with steadier steps—ready to hike more trails, explore the coast of Maine, and dream of a tiny spring book tour.
May we all pause to reflect on the light returning, both within and around us. And may the close of this year be a doorway to renewal, possibility, and joy.
With gratitude always,
Laurie
FINDING SOLID GROUND – Monday, December 16, 2024
The Cancer Moon draws us inward, stirring memories, emotions, and the desire for comfort and security. After Mercury stationed direct yesterday, a subtle shift begins to take place. Mercury’s pause between retrograde and forward motion allows us to steady ourselves, reflect, and reconnect with clarity. If the past weeks have been confusing or uncertain, today marks the first step toward forward movement—but patience is still required. Let yourself recalibrate. The Moon in Cancer supports gentle nurturing, quiet introspection, and tending to what feels unsettled within.
Mercury stationing direct invites us to revisit conversations or plans with fresh eyes and a more grounded mind. This is a day to listen to your intuition and ensure that emotional needs are aligned with practical realities. Trust that momentum will gradually build; for now, soft steps will do.
Questions for Contemplation:
- Where do I feel emotionally unsteady, and what would help me feel supported?
- What insights from Mercury’s retrograde period can guide me now?
- How can I approach my plans with both care and clarity today?
Support Laurie on Patreon or Substack
Follow me on Patreon or Substack to stay informed and connected. Your membership on Patreon is a great way to keep up with the planetary cycles and support my work for a mere $5/ mo. Currently, I’m not charging anything on Substack, yet.
FROM TENDERNESS TO TENSION – Tuesday, December 17, 2024
The day begins under the nurturing Cancer Moon, encouraging us to hold close to what feels safe and familiar. The bulk of the day invites emotional reflection and simple comforts. There is a soft, quiet wisdom here—an opportunity to care for yourself and others.
At 6:38 PM EST, the Moon enters Leo, immediately opposing Pluto. Pluto stirs the waters beneath the surface, setting up a more complex and intense evening. Leo’s vibrant energy seeks expression and recognition, yet Pluto’s penetrating presence brings power struggles, buried emotions, or hidden issues to light. The evening may feel charged—moments of dramatic tension could arise, within yourself or in interactions with others. Be mindful of any urges to control situations or overreact. Use this energy to examine what is driving your emotions. The Leo Moon asks for authenticity and expression; Pluto demands honesty and willingness to change.
Allow space for whatever surfaces tonight. Even insights that are less than comfortable hold the potential for growth if you meet them with curiosity rather than fear.
Questions for Contemplation:
- What emotions or realities might I be avoiding, and why?
- How can I balance my desire for self-expression with the need for deeper understanding?
- When faced with tension, how can I respond with integrity instead of defensiveness?
WALKING THROUGH FOG – Wednesday, December 18, 2024
The Moon moves through Leo today, suggesting an emotional need for self-expression, validation, and fun. However, today is colored by the Sun in Sagittarius squaring Neptune in Pisces at 9:28 AM, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and blurred boundaries. The vibrant Leo Moon might urge you to step into the spotlight or assert your presence, but Neptune’s ethereal influence makes it difficult to feel fully seen or understood. Your sense of direction may momentarily be obscured, as by a fog.
This square aspect challenges clarity and focus, making the day better suited for gentle creativity or exploration rather than decisive action. Under Neptune’s spell, illusions can appear as truth, and idealizations may cloud judgment. Be mindful of where you might be overestimating or misunderstanding a situation, particularly in interactions where pride or ideals come into play.
Find lighthearted moments today, even amidst confusion. Express yourself authentically, but with humility and flexibility. Allow creativity, imagination, or spiritual practices to ground you without trying to force answers. The fog will lift, and with it, the clarity you seek will return.
Questions for Contemplation:
- Where am I seeking validation or recognition, and is it coming from a genuine place?
- How can I honor my creative or emotional needs while staying grounded in reality?
- Can I accept the unknown today and trust that clarity will come in its own time?
HEART WIDE OPEN – Thursday, December 19, 2024
The Leo Moon continues today, encouraging confidence, creativity, and an open-hearted approach to life. Embrace the uplifting quality of Leo as it invites you to embrace joy, playfulness, and bold self-expression. The spotlight is yours to claim, through creative work, meaningful connections, or by shining as brightly as possible.
At 9:10 PM EST, Venus in Scorpio forms a harmonious trine with Jupiter in Pisces, magnifying themes of love, abundance, and connection. This is a beautiful aspect that invites warmth, generosity, and emotional expansion. Venus in Scorpio brings depth and intensity to relationships, while Jupiter in Pisces offers compassion, optimism, and a sense of flow. Together, these energies create a fertile space for meaningful conversations, shared pleasures, and moments of quiet gratitude for all that is sweet in our lives.
Questions for Contemplation:
- Where can I invite more joy, creativity, or connection into my life today?
- How can I balance emotional depth with lighthearted gratitude?
- What does abundance mean to me, and how can I recognize it in small moments?
SMALL STEPS, BIG IMPACT – Friday, December 20, 2024
The Moon enters Virgo in the early hours of the morning, shifting the emotional tone toward practicality and mindful attention to detail. After the expressive energy of the past few days, today offers a stabilizing influence, encouraging you to simplify, organize, and attend to what needs tending. Small, meaningful actions are what is important today, whether clearing out a space, tending to your health, or refining the details of a plan.
The Virgo Moon reminds us that care is often found in the little things: a thoughtful gesture, a task completed, or the satisfaction of restoring order where there was once chaos. This is an excellent day for making progress on practical matters. Don’t get caught in perfectionism or over-analysis. Focus on what you can do.
Allow yourself the comfort of routine and the satisfaction of tangible results. A steady, clear mind has the power to transform the ordinary into something purposeful and meaningful.
Questions for Contemplation:
- What small steps can I take today to bring more clarity or organization into my life?
- How can I find joy in the process rather than fixating on the end result?
- Where might I be holding myself to an unrealistic standard, and how can I practice gentler expectations?
THE LONGEST NIGHT, THE BRIGHTEST DAWN – Saturday, December 21, 2024
At 4:20 AM EST, the Winter Solstice arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the longest night of the year and the quiet promise of light’s return. The solstice is a threshold—an invitation to reflect, pause, celebrate, and rejoice. The Sun, having reached its lowest point, begins its gradual climb toward brighter days. This is a turning point, rich with meaning: a time to honor the stillness and to welcome the spark of renewal.
The Moon in Virgo encourages grounding and intention, offering you an opportunity to choose how you engage with this day. Perhaps you feel called to embrace the quiet stillness of the season—lighting a single candle, journaling your reflections, or resting in the peace of a dark winter’s night. Let the wisdom of this pause hold you, reminding you that growth begins in the depths of silence.
On the other hand, the solstice may stir in you a more exuberant spirit, eager to celebrate the light’s return with joy and warmth. This could look like gathering loved ones for a shared meal, surrounding yourself with candlelight, or finding simple, meaningful ways to honor the turning of the wheel. Dance, laugh, create, and celebrate the light rising again—within the world and yourself.
Both perspectives hold value: one honors rest and stillness, the other joy and renewal. Trust what you need most today. Whether you choose quiet reflection or exuberant celebration, the solstice is a reminder of life’s cyclical beauty. Even on the longest night, the light always finds its way back.
Questions for Contemplation:
- Do I feel drawn to stillness and introspection, or to joy and celebration today?
- What rituals or practices can help me honor both the darkness and the returning light?
- How can I carry the hope of this turning point forward into the season ahead?
Ready for Your Consultation or Reading?
Schedule a Zoom consultation or order a recorded reading today to start your journey towards deeper self-awareness and insight.
Follow Us!