Astrology of the 2024 Winter Solstice: America’s Karmic Crossroads
AstroGnosis || Functional Astrology
See part I of this post, here.
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What secrets will the Winter Solstice of 2024 unveil about America’s destiny? Will the solstice alignment offer a solution, a way out of an otherwise highly chaotic astrological weather pattern forming in the US?
My personal take? We are just now experiencing the outer bands of a mighty storm.
As the Sun continues through the shadowy corridors of the United States' twelfth house on the Winter Solstice of 2024, it brings with it an illuminating yet disquieting question: who are we as a nation, and who must we become?
This year, the Sun’s presence in the twelfth house is amplified by its square to the transit nodal axis, which spans the cusps of the nation’s fourth and tenth houses. This aspect suggests that the United States finds itself at a karmic crossroads, grappling with the dualities of leadership and legacy, homeland and ambition, the seen and the unseen. And the consequences of that which is purposely hidden.
Astrologically, the twelfth house evokes a world behind the curtain—a realm of hidden truths, institutional power, and collective anxieties. When the Sun, symbolic of (in this case, national) purpose, traverses this enigmatic space, it shines a spotlight on what is kept in the shadows: covert actions, systemic vulnerabilities, and unresolved national wounds. In mundane astrology, this transit is particularly potent, signaling a time when a nation’s deeper truths are dredged to the surface.
A 12th house winter solstice Sun is nothing new for the U.S.; it’s been the country’s experience since its founding. However, due to precession, the Solstice Sun is segueing ever deeper into the U.S.'s twelfth house at a rate of one degree every 72 years. This year, the Sun’s square to the nodal axis—with Rahu (North Node) on the cusp of the fourth house of homeland and Ketu (South Node) on the cusp of the tenth house of public authority—demands a reckoning.
Natally, a nodal square indicates a "skipped step" or avoided karmic challenge. Here, the opportunity arises to face this challenge head-on, or risk burying it further under the rug. Just as individuals have freedom to choose, so do collectives. The stars reveal the energies, choices, and potentials present. Free will, however, remains the wildcard.
A Nation Divided by Its Aspirations
The North Node’s placement on the cusp of the fourth house highlights a karmic pull toward domestic issues—from the literal ground beneath our feet to the symbolic foundation of what it means to be American. Questions of national security, public trust, and the well-being of citizens loom large here, particularly as economic and social inequalities deepen.
By contrast, the South Node on the cusp of the tenth house draws attention to the residue of past ambitions. The United States has long positioned itself as a global leader, projecting authority and power. Yet this placement highlights the diminishing returns of such pursuits, suggesting that clinging to outdated methods of dominance—both at home and abroad—may hinder the nation’s growth.
The square to the Sun in the twelfth house asks: can the United States let go of its obsession with maintaining its external image to address its internal fractures? Or will it double down on secrecy, shadow, and subterfuge, sacrificing the stability of its foundation in the process?
The 12th House Spotlight: Institutions Under Scrutiny
With the Sun in the twelfth house, this moment in time amplifies themes of institutional reckoning. As covert government actions and systemic weaknesses come to light, the nation will be forced to confront uncomfortable truths about its power structures. Revelations will spark public outrage or lead to significant shifts in national policies, especially as they pertain to homeland security and the tension between transparency and control.
It comes as no surprise to me that the documentary "Surveilled" was released just a month ago. How much privacy (4th house), as a collective, are we willing to give up for the illusion (Neptune, 12th house) of security (4th house)? And do we trust those in power (10th house) to make that call?
Homeland vs. Global Leadership
The 4th/10th house axis symbolizes the eternal push-pull between domestic stability and international ambition. Rahu in the fourth house highlights the urgent need to invest in the homeland: infrastructure, housing, and public welfare demand attention. Meanwhile, Ketu in the tenth house states that the United States’ role on the world stage must evolve to remain relevant. Do we flex power internationally, or use that power to better our foundations at home?
This tension is further complicated by the square’s inherent friction. As the Sun attempts to reconcile these opposing forces from its vantage in the twelfth house, the nation will find itself at an impasse. Will leadership prioritize the needs of its citizens, or will it continue to project strength outward while leaving foundational issues unresolved?
And more importantly, how will the collective respond to the nation’s refusal to “come clean” on those skeletons in the 12th house closet? If the rest of the chart is an indication (see this post), likely not with simple, “peaceful protests”.
Karmic Crossroads and the Path Forward
Astrologically speaking, the Sun squaring the nodes represents a critical inflection point. This is not a moment of gentle growth but a reckoning, where inaction could lead to stagnation or further division. The United States must make a choice: to align its actions with the needs of its people (Rahu in the 4th house) or to cling to an outdated sense of dominance abroad (Ketu in the 10th house).
The stakes are high. As the Sun’s light pierces the twelfth house’s veil, it reveals not only the shadows but the potential for redemption. This Solstice is a reminder that evolution requires courage—the courage to face our failures, recalibrate priorities, and walk the harder, but truer, path forward.
But as we all know from the perspective of our personal lives, knowing what to do is one thing. Actually doing the thing is quite another. This is what “karmic crossroads” and “skipped steps” are all about.
A Critical Juncture: Mars-Pluto and the U.S.'s Volatile Transformation
If you think the Solstice Sun's square to the nodes is intense, consider the other astrological transits currently shaping up in the United States’ chart. Pluto’s return continues its wrecking-ball sweep through the nation’s structures while Uranus hovers near the fixed star Algol, Neptune opposes its natal position, and Chiron approaches its return. Layer on the Mars-Pluto opposition that shakes the 2nd/8th house axis, and we are staring at a perfect storm of transformation and upheaval.
And that’s just the beginning of the building storm.
This Mars-Pluto opposition (covered extensively in this post) is especially significant, aligning at a time when collective fears, shared resources, and deep power dynamics come under immense strain. Historically, similar alignments have coincided with upheavals like the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution—moments of reckoning that reshaped the trajectory of entire nations. The volatility extends to markets, security, and our collective values, forcing an urgent confrontation with what truly holds worth.
[We take a deeper look at these dynamics—and how they impact personal charts—in our Functional Astrology community. Click here to join and explore the full story.]
As the winter nights stretch long and cold, the nation stands poised at this celestial threshold, called to action by forces far beyond its control. The question remains: will it answer? Or will it continue to operate in the shadows and force the collective’s hand?
And, in closing…
Because of my shamanic studies and continuing practice I get asked quite frequently about potent astrological timing and “traveling the realms". Is this winter solstice - especially so within this 80 year span, and closing of the Kali Yuga - a potent time to journey? It is. And incredibly so.
The caveat being - and this is a HUGE caveat - that just because the "veil is thin" during this winter solstice doesn't mean it's all puppy dogs and rainbows on the other side. The Universe IS duality. No Messiah without the serpent; no light without the dark. Crack Pandora's Box, and you better be able to handle whatever is inside.
I’ve seen my fair share of psychotic breaks that were the result of “unskillful” breaches of the veil. So be careful what you ask for.
No matter what your solstice practice is, one thing you might go in with as an intention is this: your ability to experience the light is limited by your ability to see and accept the dark. And your ability to disavow darkness is equal to your acceptance, within yourself, of that same darkness. To remove the veil of illusion (Neptune, 12th house, the Piscean Age), is to accept the serpent that comes with the Messiah. And to accept that same serpent within.
There are no free passes.
Keith