As Christians all over the world prepare to celebrate their most important festival of the year, I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the dominant symbol of Christmas from an astrological perspective - the Christmas Tree.
Long before Christianity, evergreen plants and trees had a special meaning during winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, people of the past hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.
In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day - and longest night - of the year falls on December 21st/22nd and is called the Winter Solstice. In ancient times it was believed that the Sun was a god and that winter came every year because the Sun God had become weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen plants symbolised hope and the eternal life force which would bring new growth when the Sun God was strong again.
The ancient Romans marked the Winter Solstice with a feast called Saturnalia in honour of Saturn, the god of agriculture. Interestingly, the Winter Solstice happens when the Sun enters Capricorn - the sign ruled by Saturn.To celebrate the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen branches. In Northern Europe the Druids, priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life.
The Christmas tree tradition as we now know it began in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree after walking home one winter evening and being inspired by the brilliance of the stars twinkling amongst the evergreen trees.
The Christmas Tree is an amalgam of many cultures and religious beliefs. Interestingly, there are no actual symbols of Christianity on a traditional Christmas Tree - unless you place an angel on the top to represent the messenger of God who announced the birth of Jesus. A star at the pinnacle of a Christmas Tree is said to be the Star Of Bethlehem - but even now, in the 21st century no-one can say for sure what the Star of Bethlehem actually was. A comet? A supernova? Perhaps a conjunction of the two 'kingmaker' planets Jupiter and Saturn? Good theory, except for the fact that Jupiter Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years - so why would that one over 2,000 years ago have been particularly relevant? One thing is certain. The Three Wise Men - who were astrologers called The Magi - knew that what they were looking at was something very special.
Most of what we do at Christmas is not a Christian tradition but something which has its origins in nature and astrology. A Christmas tree is a Pagan symbol, the lights are stars, the baubles are planets, and the star at the top probably represents the Solstice Sun.
Merry Christmas 🎄
SYNASTRY
Harry and Meghan's synastry (comparing both natal charts to each other) is outstanding. They have the astrological hallmarks of a very strong relationship. If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you'll have read my comments about Polarity. This combination is present in over 80% of committed partnerships and it occurs when one partner's Sun, Moon, or Ascendant is directly opposite the other partner's Sun, Moon, or Ascendant. Harry's natal Ascendant is in the sign of Capricorn and Meghan's natal Ascendant is in Cancer. Although their Ascendants are not opposite by degree, they do have Rising Sign Polarity.
Another indicator of a solid, stable and committed partnership is Saturn in one person's chart forming an aspect to the Sun, Moon, or Venus in the other's. Once again, this is present in the synastry of Harry and Meghan with his natal Saturn in a square aspect to her natal Sun, as well as in a positive sextile to her Venus.
Harry's natal Sun and Moon are both trine Meghan's natal Descendant (the point of partnerships) creating a beautifully balanced connection between them which is likely to have had a very powerful impact. Not only a strong physical attraction but also a very powerful emotional bond. Deja Vu is a common experience with the Moon in one chart aspecting the other's Descendant, so when these two met for the very first time, it's highly likely that they felt they already knew each other. They definitely 'hit the ground running' with this relationship! No second thoughts, no doubts.
With Harry's Venus conjunct Meghan's Pluto there is a lot of passion between them. There will be intense feelings of love, perhaps tinged with obsession, resentment or jealousy. But, nevertheless, a dynamic, dramatic, and loyal union. Harry's natal Mars in a positive sextile aspect to Meghan's Pluto shows that working with each other will enhance their personal lives. These two have great confidence and courage, and together they will achieve some remarkable feats.
Mars in Harry's natal chart is in a positive trine to Meghan's natal Sun. This indicates that she feels energised by him and he felt compelled to pursue a relationship with her. With Harry's natal Mars square Meghan's natal Venus there is phenomenal chemistry between them. The magnetism pulling these two together must have been impossible to resist. Harry's natal Ascendant is opposite Meghan's Mars and this influence produces a very powerful physical attraction to one another. This couple are hot stuff!
Harry's natal Uranus makes more aspects to Meghan's chart than any other planet with no fewer than seven connections to her Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Vertex, and Midheaven. In synastry, Uranus in aspect to the Sun brings 'love-at-first-sight' and a sudden, magnetic attraction. In their first television interview, Harry said that he knew Meghan was 'the one' from the very first time they met. Uranus aspecting the Moon supercharges the emotions in a very exciting way! You can almost feel the electricity between them.
Harry's Uranus in a trine to Meghan's Mercury indicates a strong mental rapport with many shared interests. His Uranus is also conjunct her Vertex - an indication that their first meeting was a fated encounter which will change their lives forever. Harry's Uranus in a positive trine to Meghan's Midheaven shows greater independence through mutual support for each other. Setting up new ventures together and humanitarian work will be extremely important to both of them.
Harry's Pluto is in a square aspect to Meghan's Nodes. With this aspect between their charts this couple will alter each other's lives in a big way. This is a traditional symbol of star-crossed lovers' and in synastry indicates an instant feeling of familiarity and attraction to one another. It would have been very difficult for them not to begin a relationship. It was meant to be.
