I’ve been waiting for a new chapter.
It feels like my life is about to take a major turn, like all of the changes I’ve been making on the inside are going to suddenly snap into shape on the outside. I imagine it will be unceremoniously instantaneous, a blink-and-you-miss-it manifestation of maximal order. It’s my one-way ticket to the beginning of the beyond, a place where all I need to do is smile and the world will unflinchingly smile back at me.
The only catch is, this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way. At so many moments in this period of deep change, I have seen myself step bravely over the threshold into a reality that looks surprisingly similar to the one I already inhabit. I’ve seen my subtly strained expression of disappointment in the mirror more times than I can count, and I’ve consoled myself with the confidence that climactic change is just around the corner.
While I know fisthand that miracles are entirely possible, maybe it’s time for me to also acknowledge that mindsets are not designed to invert with immediacy. Maybe what I’m really sensing is that I’m ready to commit to a change in direction. Maybe this well-worn way has taken me as far as it can go, and what I want now is to forge a pristine new path through the deliciously dense forest ahead. And maybe I don’t want for that path to magically appear, maybe I want to be present for every single step as it takes form beneath my feet.
So maybe this is my new chapter, knowing that I don’t need to wait for it when I can work for it. As much as I love building castles in the sky, I have to admit that they’ll never put a roof over my head. So when I stop projecting my hopes and dreams to the end of the story, I see that I can always open my eyes with the crisp clarity of a blank page - if only I am willing to pick up the pen and write.
When I look up, I see this blank page midsent stretched across the sky. The Sun’s entry into Capricorn tomorrow will mark the solstice, a day when every place on the Earth experiences its most extreme levels of light and darkness. It is the precise occasion when sunlight starts to wane in the South and wax in the North, a pinnacle point in the annual solar cycle that marks a palpably potent change in course. It is the heavens showing us that we can no longer continue along our current trajectory, reminding us that progress is inevitable and best served either piping hot or ice cold.
Solstices treat us to inescapable inception energy, and Capricorn comes with a hearty helping of hard work. It’s the time of year when we rediscover the joy of climbing the mountain, when our everyday efforts are reliably rewarded with the exhilaration of exertion long before we stand atop the summit. In the Northern Hemisphere where Western Astrology finds its origins, Capricorn announces the arrival of winter and is imbued with the image of the Sun crawling back into its own light. The dogged Capricorn Sun calls on us to aspire and achieve, and it demands a solid strategy to move us upward into who we can be.
This year, we have a special guest star on the solstice stage. The planet Mercury - currently in retrograde - will come into the heart of the Sun just as it crosses into Capricorn. Mercury manages our mental patterns, and this cosmic cleanse strikes me as an opportunity for divine reprogramming. With Capricorn’s considered approach to conservation, Mercury gives us a chance to bring our synapses back to the basics. We can ask ourselves, simply and straightforwardly: Is this thought useful?
I’ve beend doing this, and I’m noticing how nice it is to say NO to thoughts that don’t serve me. In true Capricorn style, I have even hatched a five-point plan to claw back consciousness from wasteful feedback loops. It’s like an efficiency blueprint for my brain, and I’ve already noticed how much more bang my energy gets for its buck. I’m glad to share it with you here, and I invite you to join me in any way that resonates:
No more complaining. I’ll never move forward if I reject my reality. While commiseration can help connect me with other people, I see how much more joyful it is to talk about things we love.
No more worrying. I’ll be too scared to take the next step if I project my fear into the future. While worries can show me what I care about, I feel much stronger when I find the peace of mind that everything is already okay.
No more self-doubt. I’ll inevitably stumble and fall if I question whether I know how to walk. While self-doubt can show me more of what I want to be, I find that confidence carries me with ease when I remember who I am.
No more guilt. I’ll weigh myself down if I believe that I’m not deserving. While guilt can show me that I want to give, I will be more generous if I feel worthy to receive the support that others offer.
No more suffering. I’ll cower in the corner if I think the world is out to get me. While suffering can help me recognize our shared humanity, I know I am of greater service when I feel good about my life.
I want to be clear that I do not view these commandments as ways to chastise myself, but rather as a tongue-in-cheek charter for my well-being. I am surprised by how quickly it has become part of me, and it turns out these bright lines are wonderfully refreshing. I don’t even have to think about whether a thought makes sense to engage with, I can just follow the rule and bring myself back to center.
I hope this solstice brings you similar lucidity, and if you’d like to follow my train of thought further, I invite you to check out a conversation that
and I had on the Winter Solstice and Capricorn season for her Somatic wisdom podcast. We talked about turning inward, the power of darkness, reducing stimulation, giving and receiving, and stewardship. I share more about working with Capricorn energy in the Weekly Oracle, along with some tips for navigating the cosmic weather over the (Western) holidays.And if you haven’t already, I also invite you to explore the details for my upcoming Moon and Money change circle once the holiday dust has settled - full details below.
Love,
Patrick
The Moon and Money: 4-Week Change Circle
Thursdays, January 11 - February 8: 9:30 - 10:30 am London / 8:30 - 9:30 pm Sydney
Come join the circle with me and my friend / colleague Nadia to get into full financial flow with the lunar cycle. Each week we’ll offer you cosmic guidance, embodiment practices, and energy exercises to help you redefine your relationship with money. We’ll get together online for five sessions that track the major turning points in life’s most fundamental creative rhythm, and you’ll see how smoothly you can surf the ever-changing economic tides. If you want to learn about how to grow your investments or set a budget, this probably isn’t for you. But if you want to find a new level of trust in your internal resources, you’ve found the perfect place.
Weekly Oracle
This week, we get cozy with Capricorn energy and pause to connect with the wisdom of the heavens as Mercury meets the Sun. We give ourselves permission to feel higher love as Venus in Scoptio comes to play with Neptune in Pisces, and we find principles that we can stand for as Mercury kisses Mars in Sagittarius. We also get emotional (this is a good thing!!!) with the Full Moon in Cancer, and I invite you to feel how much I love you.
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