New Moon in Capricorn x Winter Solstice. 12.24.22.
Happy New Moon in Capricorn, beautiful souls!
And happy Winter Solstice, too. <3
On top of Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa, this week brings a whole other level of gifts in the form of beautiful astrology to work with for reflecting on and letting go of 2022 and setting intentions for what we want to manifest in 2023.
With Saturn ruling both yesterday’s New Moon and the Winter Solstice—marked by the Sun making its way into Capricorn on Dec. 21st—this moment is resonating deeply for me as an invitation to work with the magic of time. And with Jupiter squaring this Saturn-ruled New Moon, we’re being encouraged to remember that time becomes abundant when we cut out the things that aren’t essential and set boundaries so we can focus on what matters most.
On that note, and adding to an already big week of astrology, Chiron stationed direct in Aries yesterday at nearly the exact same time as the New Moon, and just a few days after the Solstice—taking the mic to remind us as we set our intentions for what we want to manifest in 2023 that the present moment is where magic happens; where our true power lies; and is the only place where we can fully embody and align with our Higher Self.
As someone who, until the pandemic hit, used to inhabit a work culture where my day was routinely scheduled up in 15-minute increments—and where multi-tasking was both a badge of honor and a way of life—I realize this may sound like a radical, unreachable state of being for busy professionals trying to keep all the balls in the air.
But with boundary queen Capricorn associated with the 10th house of work and career in astrology-—and with Chiron ruling the 6th house of work routines and work-life balance, as well as the body and physical health—this week’s astrology feels deeply like an invitation to reexamine and realign our work schedules and daily/weekly routines, and to set intentions around how we want to work with time in 2023 to be maximally effective at manifesting what we want to bring into reality. . . to maximize the amount of our day-to-day that we spend in the present moment and thus in our full power, vs. divided by thinking about what just happened or distracted by what’s to come. . . and to ensure that our work accomplishments don’t come at the expense of our physical health and wellness.
So, here with love, I’m sharing the 6-card tarot spread (which can also work as journal prompts) that I was inspired to craft this week to work with the Moon in Capricorn x Solstice x Chiron energy at its highest vibration, as well as a simple Solstice ritual for letting go of 2022 and setting intentions for 2023.
I hope you find this helpful, and as with all horoscopes, take what resonates and leave the rest!
XOXO,
Rebecca
How do I work with a New Moon?
In astrology, New Moons are the time for setting intentions and visioning new beginnings for the upcoming six months. (By contrast, Full Moons are a time of culmination and harvest, of reaping the seeds/intentions sown at the New Moon.) So: the intentions we all set now are what we'll be reflecting back on when we get to the Full Moon in Capricorn six months from now in June 2023. This makes New Moons a great check-in moment for long-term planning and conscious goal-setting. (And with the Solstice happening in this same week, this is a super-charged window for intention-setting).
New Moon in Capricorn tarot spread.
Here are the prompts for the 6-card tarot spread I crafted to work with the highest vibrations of this week’s New Moon x Solstice x Chiron energy in case you feel called to see where they take you as well. (As always, feel free to use any/all of them as journal or meditation prompts and skip the cards.)
What abundance do I want to manifest in and through my career and calling in the next 6 months?
What do I want to build/make tangible/accomplish by June 2023 when it comes to my work and work projects?
What boundaries am I ready to set to prioritize self-care in 2023, so that my work accomplishments don’t come at the expense of my physical health and wellness?
What does it feel like when I’m fully present, undivided, and in my full power? What new organizational systems, structures, or boundaries would support me in spending more time present, in the moment, and in flow (vs. multitasking) at work and in my day-to-day life?
What edits am I ready to make to my work routines and daily/weekly schedules to allow for more spaciousness, greater joy, and a more easeful pace, vs. rushing from one thing to the next?
What joyous no’s am I ready to say at work so I can focus my time on the projects and priorities I most want to bring into reality next year?
Solstice ritual: Letting go of 2022 and setting intentions for 2023
The Winter Solstice marks the day when the Sun enters Capricorn—which for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere is the shortest day of the year. From here on out, the Sun’s light begins increasing again with each day, and once again light reigns supreme over darkness. The Solstice is thus observed as a moment of symbolic rebirth—and a moment of celebration.
While in modern times, many in the West set new year’s resolutions on January 1, astrologers and others who live by the seasonal and planetary cycles observe the Solstice as the time for letting go of the year that’s ending, and setting intentions for the year ahead. To that end, here’s a simple ritual to work with the Solstice for closing out 2022 and setting intentions for what you want to manifest in 2023.
[You’ll need a candle, a quiet place where you’ll be uninterrupted for a few minutes, a piece of paper, and a matchbook or lighter, and a metal trashcan/large ceramic bowl or other fire-safe receptacle.]
Light a candle (it can be a tea candle, or whatever you’ve got at home) and find a comfortable seated position.
Close your eyes and take a few deep, cleansing breaths to ground and center.
Fold the paper in half length-wise and draw a line down the middle of the page. Write on the left side “letting go of 2022,” and on the right side, “intentions for 2023.”
Start by writing down on the left side of the page what you’re ready to let go of—these might be limiting beliefs you’re ready to say goodbye to, habits you’ve been working to break, or things you’ve been tolerating that you’re ready to release. Use your imagination and write down whatever comes to mind.
Once that feels complete, move to the right side of the page and write out the intentions you want to put out into the universe for 2023. Be as specific as feels good while you’re writing it out.
When that feels complete, crease the fold deep enough to tear the page down the middle.
Re-read the list of things you want to leave behind in 2022 out loud.
Burn the 2022 letting go list, and as you watch it get engulfed by flame, say: “I leave all of these things behind. By my will so it is.” (Be safe: this is where the metal trashcan or fire-safe bowl comes in!)
Once that feels complete, read your 2023 intentions list out loud and say: “These are the intentions I will make real in 2023. By my will so it is.”
Ask your guides for support in letting go of the things on your 2022 list and in making your intentions manifest in 2023.
Blow out the candle, and keep your 2023 intentions list on your altar, vision board, or somewhere safe so you can come back to it.
