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Astrology and Ritual

Years ago I read an article in Yoga Journal entitled “Endbeginnings.” Most people know this concept instinctively or through adages like, “When one door closes another door opens.” The idea is expressed so often; it has almost become trite. Yet like most things, there’s more to it than meets the eye. More hidden inside.

Every ending is a beginning. Conjoining the words emphasizes how they flow into one another, often so seamlessly, we barely notice them. Most of us focus on one or the other in the transition, the end or the new beginning, usually with anxiety about one, the other or both. The term endbeginning is so yoga-like and a good reminder that change can come with ease if we simply breathe deeply and move our body and spirit in the direction we’re leaning—or being leaned by the universe.

I love the solstices and equinoxes because they are the big zodiacal endbeginnings of each year. Even those who don’t speak astrology are intimately familiar with the changes of season. These turning points offer a perfect time to pause and reflect on Here and There—where you’re going and where you’ve been.

While I’ve co-facilitated ceremonies on these Cardinal shifts for nearly 30 years, the purpose of the group process is to highlight and celebrate individual growth. At all Solsisters rituals, Christy and I focus on ways to encourage self-reflection and provide guideposts on each woman’s individual journey.
 

How to Celebrate the Solstice—All by Yourself or with Others

Sit quietly with pad and pen, maybe with some background music that goes well with this particular endbeginning such as Summer by George Winston. Write down what seeds (changes, goals, commitments) you’ve been sowing since Spring Equinox. Considering the seasons are endbeginnings, no need to Virgo it. If the seeds were planted a bit earlier than the exact Equinox date, write them down anyway.

All you have to do this summer is watch how these seeds grow between now and Autumn Equinox. I suggest revisiting your list at least weekly and making growth notes, measuring them in whatever way fits your internal yardstick. By fall you’ll be able to see what they’ve grown into—and acknowledge yourself for your accomplishments, forgive yourself where you fell short and think about where you want to go next spring planting season, with winter off to rest and reflect, learning even more from your spring and summer’s blooms as your subconscious weighs in on what happened.

And the Sun Stood Still

The dictionary definition of Solstice [1] can be found here, but my favorite part of the word solstice is its derivation. It means the Sun stood still … or at least it seems that way on the first day of summer when we pause and pivot from the longest day, inching into slow-growing darkness till dark dominates at Winter Solstice. Within that concept is the reminder that we, too, should stand still on these thresholds to appreciate where we are in the Turning of the Wheel, as we progress around the zodiac and our lives. It’s in silence and reflection—followed by revelry!—where the richness of life is discovered.

This Week’s Question

In what ways will you celebrate spring into summer’s endbeginning?

You’re encouraged to share in the Comments.

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Related Article: Astrology and Ritual

Note

[1] "solstice". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 17 Jun. 2017. <Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/solstice>.

An Endbeginning for The Radical Virgo

All healing is a quest for wholeness. Few people get there with just one medicine, tool or in a single leap. After much reflection and time away from writing to care for my husband over the past two-and-a-half years, I’ve realized that I want to write about all facets of metaphysics and my personal medicine bag, not just astrology.

And I want to write about intuition, how we hone it as the guide to wholeness and the glue that holds all the parts of us together. To a certain extent, I already have, but my need to make this mixed media approach my main focus was an epiphany.

Like Chiron, the patron saint of this blog, I am a holistic healer. (When I turned 60, I had a croning ceremony where I accepted a necklace that says Heals with Words.) I have always wondered why I’d get to a certain place with astrology and feel uncomfortable, tired of analyzing and writing about its technicalities—and limiting my reach only to those who know its complex language. There are many other astrologers who translate the stars with enthusiasm and endless energy. They do it well.

My role is integrative like Chiron’s. He was a surgeon, herbalist, astrologer, musician, mentor and hero-maker. From this realization, PsychKicks was born. I hope you find much to discover from “all of me.” I'll keep my option open for writing strictly astrological posts whenever the spirit moves.