the longest night of the year..

On Saturday 21st June 2:41pm NZ time, we celebrate the Solstice!

In the Northern Hemisphere, they experience the longest day of the year, whereas in the Southern Hemisphere, we experience the longest night of the year.

This duality is a cosmic display of the dark and light that live within all things and marks our experience in this earthly realm. We cannot have the dark without the light. But dark doesn’t necessarily mean bad, dark is the hidden, the depths, and the richness of heavy emotions that fold into our being.

For those in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a good time to journey into the soul and to sit with any pains or discomforts that may arise and try not to be too "crabby".. (read on....)

In Māori culture, the winter solstice is a time for reflection, renewal, and celebrating Matariki, the Māori New Year. Matariki is a time to remember those who have passed away, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. To also give thanks for the harvest, acknowledge ancestors, and prepare for the planting season. 

It is also Yule, the longest night of the year. In pagan traditions around the northern hemisphere, witches, druids, and Wiccans celebrate the sun’s rebirth - many gather at Stonehenge to watch the sun set behind the stones. Yule was a time for turning inward. Much of the work of the year was complete. The harvest finished, provisions stockpiled to last through the winter, and the wind howled outside, bringing driving snow with it.

But we also have the Sun moving into Cancer...

Cancer is known for its watery, heart-felt energy but it is also a great time to find our strength and courage. We can only do this when we feel secure and strong within ourselves. Cancer Season asks us to take this journey and to mother ourselves in the ways we have always longed to be mothered.

When it's Cancer season, which lasts between mid-June and mid-July, it's best to focus in on themes that are associated with the sign's ruler, the moon. In other words, consider reflecting on nurturing, intuition, emotional self-expression, instincts, and your sense of security.

It's also important to note that Cancer is one of the most emotionally intelligent and self-protective signs of the zodiac. Because of this, you might find it easier to tap into your sixth sense during Cancer season. This is a time of year when emotions run high — for better or worse — so there's a higher chance you'll find yourself swimming in the deep end of your feelings. And, like the sign of the crab, you'll be more likely to retreat into your shell if you're not feeling 100 percent supported, seen, heard, or understood.

During Cancer season, you might be more of a homebody than usual. Even if you’re typically someone who loves novelty and adventure, the comfort of domesticity now seems inviting, even luxurious. While Gemini season was a time for meeting new people, Cancer season invites you to deepen your relationships with those closest to you — whether that’s your family of origin or your true-blue friends. In other words, while Cancer season may push you to delve into your innermost feelings, you don’t have to do so alone. This is an opportunity to nurture and be nurtured, to make room in your life for all kinds of care.

The flip side is that getting into a new friend’s trusted inner circle — or letting new people into yours — can be a challenge right now. The sign of the crab is famous for its hard outer shell; Cancer can be defensive, evasive, and intensely private. Even the most outgoing of Cancers can be difficult to really get to know. They feel deeply, but they don’t tend to wear those feelings on their sleeve. Have some patience, though, and the hard work of building intimacy will be more than worth it.

People born with their sun or other personal placements in Cancer aren't the only ones who will be affected by Cancer season. Anyone born with their sun or major planetary placements in any of the other cardinal signs — Aries (cardinal fire), Libra (cardinal air), and Capricorn (cardinal earth) — could come away from Cancer season feeling more emotionally centered and prepared to hit the ground running.

(Information gathered from All over the internet and my Brain)

So combing all this energy together I ask you....

How will you allow yourself to reflect in a nurturing way, where you can celebrate your journey so far?

What can you bury in this time of darkness and heart led energy, that can transform and grow into courage and emotional security for when the light comes back?

If you would like to align your Heart for this powerful opportunity to honor the cycles of nature, ancestral wisdom, seasonal transitions and astrological energy. Click here.