With the Spring Equinox (here in the Southern Hemisphere) just a few weeks away, new starts are blooming. The upcoming New Moons in Libra and Scorpio offer fresh beginnings in relationships, while the September Full Moon in Pisces brings a spiritual breather before October’s Full Moon in Aries spices things up again. But more on all that at the end of the forecast.
First up, with October just around the corner, and the news of more world disasters, including Hurricane Irene in the US, I’m being asked lots of questions about Carl Calleman’s Mayan calendar end date (28 October 2011) and Comet Elenin’s closest pass to Earth (16 October 2011).
Calleman, the Mayan researcher who brought forward the commonly accepted December 2012 Mayan calendar end-date, believes 28 October this year is the key culmination date for ‘unity consciousness’. Here’s a quote from Calleman to put his work into context:
“I have emphasized that the Mayan calendar is fundamentally about the evolution of consciousness and Earth changes are either serving this evolution or are spin-off effects of it. I have thus made the point that the current Ninth wave of the Mayan calendar shows an irreversible direction towards the unity consciousness that will culminate later this year.” http://www.calleman.com/content/articles/Comets_Honda_Elenin.htm
So, Calleman’s interest is in the evolution of consciousness through the Mayan calendar. ‘Unity consciousness’ seems to be a current fashionable term for what’s been strongly in the air since the 60s – the New Age movement toward peace, love, co-operation, equality and compassion because we are ‘all one’. The desire for this to be the norm sooner rather than later is getting stronger, plus the wish for the ‘us versus them’, winner-takes-all polarity consciousness to well and truly reach its expiry date.
I’m not a Mayan calendar expert so I can’t comment on how exact I believe either of the Mayan end-dates to be, but from my perspective as a Western tropical astrologer, finding key dates means looking for stand-out planetary alignments. The planets continually cycle in different relationships with each other, like wheels within wheels. As they circle about, certain powerful cycles coincide.
The first cycle to look at for Planet Earth’s evolution is the Precession of the Equinoxes. This is the baseline cycle against which all else is set. And it’s often used to measure the great ages of humankind. Right now, the Precession of the Equinoxes is at a major ending and new beginning point because the precessed December Solstice Sun is aligning with the Galactic Centre.
This rare event happens once every 26,000 years. Ancient Mayan mythology tells the story of this alignment and the Mayan calendar ends during this rare event. No wonder the Mayan end-date is receiving so much attention. Yet with precession being such a long slow cycle (26,000 years), it actually takes about 36 years for the Sun to make this drawn-out alignment with the Galactic Centre. A generally accepted window for this alignment is from 1980 to 2016.
Even though it’s happening right now, it’s a slow ‘now’. It feels a bit like a long, gradual eclipse effect, yet it’s one that we can’t see. The Sun is the life-giving force of our solar system and the Galactic Centre is a supermassive black hole that both creates and destroys matter in our galaxy. Both have intense magnetic forces. We know the Sun’s magnetic solar flares affect life on Earth, and it’s possible the Galactic Centre’s magnetic forces do too.
From certain places on earth each December solstice between 1980 and 2016, it’s possible to see the Sun aligning with the Galactic Centre, which is in the core of the Milky Way. The alignment will be visible on the Mayan calendar end-date of December solstice 2012. Even though it won’t be visible on Carl Calleman’s end date, his research is exhaustive, so if he has pinpointed the Mayan calendar to end on 28 October 2011 that’s worth paying attention to.
As if to highlight the Calleman end-date, Comet Elenin makes its closest pass to Earth in October and seems to fulfil ancient Christian and Hopi prophecies about end-times. Just a couple of weeks ago, NASA posted this very helpful article on Comet Elenin to address conspiracy theories going viral on the web: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-255
According to physics as we know it, it’s not possible for such a small comet as Elenin to make a large impact, especially as it will not come any closer to Earth than 22 million miles away. Yet NASA also says in the above article link, ‘This intrepid little traveler will offer astronomers a chance to study a relatively young comet that came here from well beyond our solar system’s planetary region’.
Astrology works with symbolism, so a comet arriving from beyond our usual planetary region speaks of new material entering our space. This resonates with what many are experiencing – a sense of trying to assimilate the ‘new consciousness’ or the ‘new data’ of our times.
It’s important to find more than just the background 26,000-year precession cycle in the hunt for key ‘unity consciousness’ dates. What jumps out to astrologers is the very cycle that triggered the wave of ‘all we need is love’ in the 60s. And that’s the Pluto-Uranus cycle.
During the 60s those two planets were at the start of their next cycle with each other, a cycle that will last 140 years. Uranus (consciousness raising planet) was aligned by conjunction with Pluto (planet of transforming dark to light) in October 1965, April 1966 and June 1966. The Uranus-Pluto cycle syncing with the 26,000 year cycle, makes it highly significant.
Every cycle has four major turning points. When we watch the moon in its cycle with the Sun each month we see those turning points as New Moon (conjunction), 1st quarter Moon (waxing square), Full Moon (opposition) and last quarter Moon (waning square). Between the years 2012 and 2015, Pluto and Uranus make their 1st quarter waxing square to each other in their 140 year cycle. How relevant then that at the first profound meeting of Pluto and Uranus since the 60s, the intensification of the desire for ‘unity consciousness’ has greatly increased.
So, during 2012 and 2015 we get our next instalment of the ‘all you need is love’ theme. Square alignments bring crisis energy and for sure we have been seeing crisis after crisis. Right now in 2011, we are in the build-up year to the Uranus-Pluto square alignment. The waning year at the end of the Pluto-Uranus square is 2016, which matches the end of the window for the Precession of the Equinoxes’ Sun-Galactic Centre alignment.
In searching for the exact date of the peak culmination clash point between the old and new consciousnesses, it seems there’s an assortment of possible dates. We can consider either the two Mayan end-dates of October 2011 and December 2012, but we can also consider the seven exact alignments of Uranus and Pluto: June 2012, September 2012, May 2013, November 2013, April 2014, December 2014 and March 2015.
The peak could be as early as October 2011 or as late as 2016. After the end of 2016, the Sun-Galactic Centre alignment eases out of phase, as does the Pluto-Uranus square, so theoretically the peak culmination of bringing in unity consciousness should be over by then.
In practice, we are all participating in creating reality as it happens, so I prefer to look at all the above dates as possibilities for consciousness raising. It remains to be seen whether there will be an obvious notable huge event or whether there will be a series of events like we’ve already been seeing. Our current choices affect the outcome.
If you wonder how true it is that our current choices affect the outcome, you might like to check out this brief YouTube by Gregg Braden: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRQeIsfQtE4&feature=youtu.be In it Braden discusses some of the findings in his book, Fractal Time: The Secret of 2012 and a New World Age. Like many 2012 researchers and commentators, he believes that our current collective choices, behaviours and heart responses directly influence the future.
He reveals the powerful effect of collective human heart responses on the earth’s magnetic field by describing how satellites detected two incredible spikes in earth’s field at the time of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Imagine if at stressful times, instead of staying with an automatic fear response, we concentrated on a strength response. It of course takes effort to shift a natural fear response to a more balanced one, but the effort sounds important to our future.
Who knows how the Earth’s, Sun’s and Galactic Centre’s magnetic fields all interact? Perhaps the powerful magnetic field generated by the human heart (5,000 times stronger than that of the human brain) affects more than just the earth’s energy field. If the collective human heart response affects the earth’s magnetics so greatly at times of huge global events, perhaps we influence not only what happens on earth but also what happens beyond.
Pluto in its positive helps clear dark, hidden, destructive forces through deep, purifying, cleansing processes. Like the Judgement card in tarot, it cleanses right to the core so that our bodies are clear of toxic thoughts, attitudes, behaviours, chemicals or other pollutants. Uranus in its positive is like a thunderstorm that freshens everything up, revitalises and re-energises. Uranus brings the opportunity to crack our hearts open through the outpouring of compassion that comes when bowled over by disasters. It also cracks our hearts open through unbelievably joyful surprises. Both planets open us up so that we can evolve rapidly, just like in the 60s.
These two planets show us the dangers of staying on automatic pilot (e.g. mass fear responses affecting the earth’s magnetic field), but also the rewards of persistently clearing out past hurts and choosing the challenges of an open heart in preference to dissociated rationalising. Maybe Uranus and Pluto might help facilitate a massive peak consciousness surge that clears past negativities and gives us a good CTRL-ALT-DELETE reboot. But even if such a dramatic consciousness download did take place, it’s still up to each of us to clear our inner blocked pipes so that we can actually receive and digest any new energy.
On 17 September, Pluto shifts into direct motion after travelling retrograde since April. With Pluto moving direct again, its energy becomes more focussed and powerful in the build-up to the Uranus-Pluto square. Uranus is still travelling retrograde, so it’s not quite as effective yet as Pluto. In December, Uranus shifts Direct and starts to get closer and closer to Pluto for their first exact alignment in June 2012.
On 27 August, Mercury moved forward again after being Retrograde pretty much all of August. That should help conversations, travel and all other exchanges flow a lot more easily. If you had trouble getting your message across back in August, after 10 September have another go if the matter is still important. From 10 September, Mercury is completely out of its shadow window and fully back on track.
Jupiter went Retrograde in Taurus on 31st August and will stay that way until Boxing Day. This leads many of us to revise our plans after ’stocktaking’ our resources, whether money, time, talents or other assets. Jupiter Retro in Taurus challenges us to look at our values and to make purchases accordingly. Each small money-related decision has positive or negative ripple effects for ourselves and all on the planet.
While Retro in Taurus, Jupiter brings a deep review process to world economics. We can be sure there’s a lot going on behind the scenes under this energy. After Boxing Day we’re likely to have more upfront information to know what to do financially. In the meantime, caution (a Taurus keyword) seems sensible. It’s of course important to spend money so that the wheels keep turning and our favourite shops don’t close down, but Jupiter in Taurus says think deeply about who you support with your money, both directly and indirectly.
Throughout September and October, Saturn is still in Libra helping us with relationship commitments. Saturn supports us to finish what’s not working and to commit to new relationships, whether friendships, marriages or business arrangements. Saturn also has us seeking justice over what’s not fair, whereas Chiron in Pisces has us practising forgiveness. These two archetypes have different aims. It can be very healing to seek justice for past wrongs, but sometimes in the current winner-takes-all paradigm, wrongs don’t necessarily get met with obvious justice and this can create a fresh round of wounding. With Saturn in Libra we might find ourselves weighing up whether to seek justice or find an alternative.
Chiron in Pisces helps us let go when it would be more damaging to keep fighting for what’s fair. When behaviour becomes too hurtful and unfair, it’s often difficult to keep relating with the same level of trust as beforehand. Forgiveness doesn’t require us to keep relating in the same way to those who harm us. Forgiveness helps us approach hurtful behaviour with empathy and compassion that frees us up for new beginnings. Chiron in Pisces shows us that forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or saying that’s okay to something that was not okay. Instead forgiveness means not continuing the cycle and putting our focus on the heart, appreciation and gratitude.
Neptune is still Retrograde in Aquarius before moving forward in November and finally settling into Pisces properly in February 2012. While having its last pass through Aquarius, Neptune shows us the pitfalls of getting caught up in the collective technological ‘hive mind’ of the internet, social networking, TV, movies, video games, mobile phones etc instead of tuning into our souls. Technology of course has its great sides, but it’s worth considering how much technology is too much for you. After a few minutes on a mobile phone I can feel the disruptive energy inside all my chakras and in my brain and need to do a cleanse. Regular breaks from technology keep our energy systems in good shape. Neptune’s back in Aquarius helping unplug us from anything that disrupts the all-important connection with our soul selves through our energy systems.
This year, the Spring Equinox falls on 23 September. Spring brings smiles to our faces as we rebirth from winter’s hardships and hibernation. Even if tough experiences are still happening to you or around you, finding happiness and joy in even the simplest things can help bring your heart out of a fear response. How wonderful to drink in birdsong, smell flowers in bloom and allow blue skies to infuse our auras. What a great season to be uplifted and supported by nature’s beauty.
On 12 September, there’s a Full Moon in Pisces. Under the Pisces energy we can either feel exhausted or magnificently connected to life’s flow. If you feel vulnerable and unsupported at this full moon, ask for help from your soul self and spirit guides. The timing is just right to experience this divine connection more easily than usual. This is a fantastic full moon for each of us to connect with our intuitive, spiritual natures. Yoga or deep relaxation work wonders as do meditation or spiritual classes. It’s also a great full moon for creative expression through music, dance, art and nature walks. Whatever makes your soul sing to you.
On 27 September, there’s a New Moon in Libra. New Moons help us plant seeds for manifesting new cycles. Under the Libra energy we become aware of how beautiful or not-beautiful we look and feel. Libra helps us attract the right people through aesthetics. So take a look at your wardrobe, your hairdo, your style in general and see whether they reflect how you feel on the inside. This isn’t about superficial fake beauty. It’s about checking your outer and inner selves are in harmony. This New Moon is also great for dating and networking. It gets fresh connections underway and helps mend rifts in current relationships through diplomatic approaches or mediation.
On 12 October, there’s a Full Moon in Aries. This full moon is around the time of Carl Calleman’s Mayan end date and the arrival of Comet Elenin. Aries is a zodiac sign often associated with upheaval, war or emergencies. We might see some alarming things in the news at this time. On a personal level, Aries calls us to action. If there’s something you’ve been putting off that you know you should do, now’s the time to do it. Aries can be impatient so watch out for tempers at this full moon. On the positive side, Aries helps us get lots done quickly. We get off our backsides, get to the gym, go for a walk or steam ahead with our goals.
On 27 October, there’s a New Moon in Scorpio. After September’s Libra New Moon, here’s a second chance to get a new relationship off the ground or repair problems in a current one. Scorpio demands facing the deep stuff. This is the time to get everything out in the open, but in a respectful way. Old hurts and betrayals can be healed as long as deep tenderness and mutual vulnerability are applied. Under this powerful New Moon, it’s important to reflect on how empowered or disempowered you generally feel in life. This is the best new moon for getting to the core of your soul’s longing and embracing it. It’s the perfect time for depth insight work, therapy and healing to let your true power flow.
As usual, there’s lots going on in the planetary scheme of things! May your truth guide you in each moment. More from me in November.