Sunset time and the Winter Solstice

Sunset at Llandudno, North Wales, on 15th December 2012 at 15.45

Watching the Sun set on 15th December from the top of the Great Orme, a seaside mountain adjacent to the rather grand Victorian resort of Llandudno in North Wales, I thought it would be interesting to look at the chart, and share some of the photos I took of the event. First, the chart.

Three things are immediately obvious.

• The Sun is setting so is right on the horizon, the DC, and at the time was making semi-sextiles to Mars and Venus. How appropriate this was is borne out by the fiery beauty of the event (see photos).
• The Projection figure aspect pattern, a feature of the forthcoming Winter Solstice chart for 21st December and the end of the Mayan calandar, is already in place and will have been for some time. At the time of this particular sunset, the Moon was conjunct Pluto, one of the pinning planets in this pattern (see below for my previous posting on the Solstice chart). Moon/Pluto can be pretty intense - as were the effects on me of the changing aspects of this sunset.
• Jupiter, at the apex of the Projection figure, is in 12th house, so has just risen above the horizon but would not have yet been visible. But look up at night because Jupiter is shining brightly right now and is easy to spot in the night sky. When you find it, look to the right and slightly upwards to find the Pleiades(also known as the "seven sisters"). If you don't look directly at them, you'll see them better. Best of all is to use binoculars to see this stunning group of stars.

Astronomy and astrology can sit side by side quite easily and if you're an astrologer it's always an inspiring and humbling exercise to look up at the sky and relate what you see to the chart. Now for the photos. May the return of the light at the Solstice fill you and inspire you.

 

The setting sun at 15.52....

 

 

 

 

....and 15.53....

....at 15.54....

...and at 15.57