The Cosmic Dance for 2012

 by Deane Driscoll

 

Are you ready for 2012?  Are any of us?  Is the sky really falling?

 

No; probably not; and heck no. Believe it or not, the questions I actually get asked the most by clients these days are: “Were the Mayans right?” and “Are we all gonna die?”  To which, of course, the answer is a bit complicated, but…no, we’re not all gonna die.  (And I have to add a question of my own at this point: What exactly is wrong with you people, anyway? If you could stop writing crazy letters to me that would be ideal.  Thank you.)

 

OK, well, the Mayans were right about a lot of stuff.  Amazingly right, as it turns out.  The Mayans were absolutely stellar timekeepers—the best.  Better than us (come on, leap year is just silly! Who’s with me on this?).  They viewed time as vast cycles (within cycles, within cycles) and were incredibly accurate astronomers. They were able to predict the positions of the planets and constellations centuries before they occurred.  They even knew the exact hour and location of the eclipses.  As a result they created one of the most complex calendars ever.  But I think that the whole “end of the world” thing is a premature conclusion that the rest of the world just kind of jumped to somehow.  The Mayans to my knowledge (no, I’m not a Mayan scholar…I just like to read), never actually said that the world would end on December 21^st 2012 (or Dec 23^rd, depending on which translation of the Mayan calculations you buy into).  Their calendar most likely ended then because 2012 signals the beginning of an entirely new age for us.  Now, what on Earth would be the point of having a new age if all the people in it were going to die?  Not much point, I’m thinking, so probably we all just need to get a grip and figure out what the new age means. 

 

The only thing the Mayans actually said about what would happen in 2012 is that that is when one of the Gods of Creation (whose name is long and hard to spell, but who is essentially the “Destroyer God”) would descend to his “house” or temple on Earth.  The Mayans believed that the beginning and the endings of one of the cycles of time was a very big deal; and to herald an event of such auspicious magnitude, one of the Gods of Creation (there were a handful of them) would appear on Earth at that time.  Now, no one living on this planet today knows precisely what the appearance of the God of Destruction means, but we do know something old is ending and something new is beginning.  What this all sounds like to me is that the old has to be swept away to make way for the new.  So, for instance, sometimes nature is destructive.  But the tearing down process is just as important and necessary as the building up.  You need both for the Earth to maintain a balance.  Of course I’m just speculating here, because the Mayans never spoke about actual Earth changes or catastrophes in their writings.

 

As I look at the overall “Cosmic Dance” for 2012, I would say that we’re in for an exciting—and perhaps bumpy—ride at times.  But while I have seen some serious weather stuff ahead for the next few years, I haven’t seen any astrological charts that foretell the end of the world.  On the contrary! Earth is being reborn now and we are privileged to witness her rebirth. We stand at the threshold—the dawn of a new age, a completely new cycle of time.  Yes, this probably means that weather patterns will continue to become more severe for a few more years as the Earth regenerates herself.  So, if any of you were hoping that those pesky weather problems would all just go away so you can “get back to your normal life”…well, you people are in for something of a rude awakening.  Better yet, why not recognize that something new is happening and simply begin preparing for a few more years of what I like to call “interesting times?”  It’s been my experience that being well-prepared combined with some common sense and an upbeat attitude will get you a lot further than building survival apartments in abandoned underground missile silos (yes, sadly, some people are actually doing this).

 

Lest you think I am advocating that we all just stick our heads in the sand and hope for the best, let me assure you that I do know how serious things have gotten lately.  I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice that 2011 seemed to be especially bizarre weather-wise.  One of my newer “hobbies” lately has been tracking the weather patterns/Earth changes.  Here are just a few of the more notable highlights from the past year:  In March, Japan suffered its worst earthquake in over 1,000 years, triggering a monster tsunami that killed almost 20,000 people along its northern coast. That earthquake was one of the strongest ever recorded (magnitude 9.0).  Meanwhile, the U.S. had its own problems (in 2011, 43 separate states declared over 100 different disasters).  New York had its snowiest January since 1869 and snowfall records across the country were broken as well.  As spring approached—between massive snowmelt and excessive rainfall—floods were almost commonplace (just ask the poor people who live in Louisiana).  As spring continued, the tornados began.  In one 48-hour period in mid-April, nearly 200 tornados ripped through 16 U.S. states; Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Joplin, Missouri saw the most deadly of them.  The summer wasn’t much better—bringing record-breaking heat and draught, with Arizona and Texas being especially hard-hit (Dallas, Texas experienced over 70 days in a row with heat over 100 degrees).  In fact, Texas had its hottest summer ever recorded and over half their cotton crop was lost.  Then, a long draught season combined with strong winds to produce massive fires in both states.  In late August, Washington, D.C. experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake (unusual for the D.C. area).  Also in late August Hurricane Irene (originally a category 3 hurricane) hit the Bahamas and then hit the U.S. east coast from North Carolina on up.  Much of New York City and the surrounding areas were evacuated due to the fear of what a strong hurricane storm surge could do (just ask Hurricane Katrina victims about the 25 foot storm surge that put New Orleans virtually under water).  But fortunately for New Yorkers, Irene began to run out of steam when she hit landfall and by the time she got to New York she was much calmer than expected (though there were some flooding problems).  Meanwhile, the fall brought more flooding to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York. And late October held a surprise early snowfall for many of us (Halloween was even cancelled in Brookfield, Connecticut—what were they thinking?!?).

 

So, for 2012, it stands to reason that the coastal areas will probably continue to see flooding as storms become more intense.  Drought-prone areas will probably continue to experience drought and fires. So what can we do?  First of all, we can stay calm and centered.  Negative or obsessive thinking helps no one.   To that end, please, please, PLEASE stop watching those disaster movies.  You know the ones I mean.  Those movies (usually on the Sci-Fi channel) that show every possible, conceivable way that Earth (and all its inhabitants….even tiny helpless kittens) can be destroyed by comet, earthquake, Armageddon (fill in the blank with disaster of your choice).  You name it, they made a movie about it (and, I mean really, do we actually need movies about psychotic mutant worms?).  These films are the worst possible expression of our collective future and they do nothing but promote panic at exactly the time when we need to be staying as positive and level-headed as possible.  There is a collective unconscious that houses our memories and emotional states.  Think about how and what you are contributing to it, because we are all affected by it.

 

Next, we can raise our level of awareness.  Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.  To make the most of the new age, we’ll need to evolve. Luckily for us, Neptune will be helping out with that.  In February of 2012, Neptune will be entering the sign of Pisces.  This is a long term transit (about 13 years) and will usher in a new age of spiritual growth and development, in addition to providing a new appreciation for creativity.  Musicians, artists, poets, psychics, mediums, intuitive healers…all should do very well with Neptune in Pisces.  You are being “called” now to put your gifts to use.  Religious organizations will be growing and transforming themselves (or they will just dissolve away in a Neptunian fog and cease to be).  People will be actively seeking out a personal sense of spirituality as well as an actual spiritual community now.  Neptune rules the sign of Pisces and is strong here, so I think this is a very positive sign for the future.  But of course in addition to all the wonderful spiritual and creative things that Pisces rules, the “downside” of Pisces (and every sign has one) is addiction.  So, some of us will be “dropping out” with alcohol and drugs during this time, trying to fill the empty places inside that Neptune will be illuminating.  For those who have suffered from alcohol or drug addiction in the past, you now have a chance to embrace the higher octave of Pisces by focusing on your own higher power.  In fact, we can all use this energy now to purify our spirits in order to heal ourselves and the planet.  Every one of us can have access to a higher calling if we learn to listen.

 

Speaking of healing, Neptune in Pisces is also all about compassion.  Chiron, the healing asteroid, has been traveling near Neptune for awhile and will continue in 2012, helping to promote all types of health and wellbeing.  And this goes much deeper now than just our physical health—although that too is helping us to transform.  Family issues will surface so that we can finally deal with them through forgiveness.  Making a new start within families (or without them, for those who aren’t yet able to move forward) will be a major theme in 2012.  This type of Neptunian healing is profound and goes straight to the heart of the matter.  It helps us transcend our personal issues and reach for the divine love and light within us all.

 

The eclipses also offer a positive glimpse into 2012.  Eclipses act like little vacuum cleaners as they “Hoover” out the signs and houses they hit.  They shine a light into whatever we’re hiding in our collective closets, helping us to sort out the debris and get our affairs in better order.  Each year I chart out the eclipses and then I use a book called An Astrological Mandala by Dane Rudhyar to help interpret them.  This book lists all 360 individual degrees of the zodiac along with a corresponding psychic impression or vignette for each one.  Here I have listed the eclipses for 2012 with a phrase for each from Rudhyar’s book, along with some potential interpretations.  I have found that sometimes these phrases are just suggestions or impressions (evoking themes) but sometimes they can also be quite literal.

 

May 20, 2012: Solar Eclipse at 0 degrees Gemini

“A Peacock parading on the terrace of an old castle.”  This represents individual effort, creativity, and the personal display of inherited gifts.  It also denotes the owner of the ancestral estate.  This is inheritance…for some it is literal, and can represent property, but for others it represents the unique family traits, talents and abilities that have traveled down through the blood lines.  What have you inherited from your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents?  Time to use (and show off!) what you’ve been blessed with. Share what you have with the world.

 

June 4, 2012:  Lunar Eclipse at 14 degrees Sagittarius/Gemini        

Sagittarius: “The Great Pyramid and the Sphinx.” The power of spiritual ancestry; re-establishing knowledge from the past.  Deep and ancient spiritual understanding.

Gemini: “Bridging Physical space and social distinctions, two men communicate telepathically.”   Techniques of transcendence; the capacity to transcend the limitations of bodily existence.  Meditation, going within to find answers, inner life.  Finding understanding on your path, with like companions.  Listening in the ethers.

Nov 13, 2012: TOTAL Solar Eclipse  at 21 degrees Scorpio (the total eclipse is the strongest)

“Obeying his conscience, a soldier resists orders.” Inner freedom, a readiness to face the results of a refusal to follow the authoritarian patterns of an aggressive society.  An individual asserting his own values, then quietly ready to accept the consequences of that decision, whatever the cost.  People are waking up now, no longer willing to blindly go along like the rest of the sheep.  Listening to your own inner voice. Being true to yourself and your own values.

 

Nov 28, 2012: Lunar Eclipse 6 degrees Gemini/Sagittarius

Gemini: “Workmen drilling for oil.” Ambition, teamwork, attaining new forms of knowledge that lead to wealth and power.  Perhaps this represents oil becoming a new form of currency. Also, this will be a time when we need to deal with noxious waste products and pollution.  A time for developing energy alternatives to oil.

Sagittarius: “A game of cricket.” Group skill and solidarity, Collective goals.  Games teach us personal skill sets and also fairness and cooperation.  Group synastry.  People will be actively engaged in community building activities now.  Knowing that the outcome of any endeavor depends upon each individual persons contribution.  Being part of something bigger than yourself.

 

And Finally—Some Things to do Before the Apocalypse (oh my gosh, lighten up, I’m just kidding!):

 

I suppose the real answer to my opening question is that the world is changing, not ending. And probably a lot of us aren’t ready at the moment, but we can be if we start to think ahead a little bit. Those who can adapt best to change will be the ones who thrive, not just survive.  The way I see it, we have a rare and golden opportunity now to transform ourselves in ways that we may never see again.  We can broaden our horizons and deepen our spiritual commitment to our soul’s true purpose.  And if nothing else, we can at least get to know our neighbors.  So, my watchword for 2012 is community.  Together we can survive anything.  Even psychotic mutant worms.