WHY THE WORLD WON’T END ON 12/21/12

Lately, the question I am asked the most seems to be whether I think the world will end on 12/21/12—the date the Mayan calendar ends.  An extremely significant formation among the planets moves into place on that day, but it is composed of very beneficent aspects.  So, the short answer is:  No, the world will not end. The Mayan calendar had to end some time; the Mayans were people, after all—they couldn’t just keep projecting forever and forever into the future.  The date they picked is about as good as any.

The major formation of that day is called a Yod, which is known as the finger of God.  It points to something that MUST be done. Saturn in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn will be in an exact sextile to one another (60 ° apart).  Each of them will be in an exact quincunx with Jupiter in Gemini (150° apart).  This forms a very long triangle:  Saturn and Pluto form the short side of the triangle and each of them, along with Jupiter, forms a long side. Jupiter, therefore, is at the apex of the triangle; it’s the planet that is being pointed to.

Planets in a sextile relationship normally work well together, but the quincunxes to Jupiter have an unsettling effect, which Jupiter must help to resolve.  Fortunately, it is known as the Great Benefic.  It’s involvement shows that things are going to happen in a big way, but also a hopeful, helpful way.

Saturn in Scorpio (the sign Pluto rules) and Pluto in Capricorn (the sign Saturn rules) will have a stronger bond than a usual sextile because they are in each other’s signs.  The two of them show that the structures, rules, laws, and institutions of society have to go through a purging, or destruction, of what is outworn.  But Jupiter’s presence means that what will drive the change is faith, optimism, and hope for the future.  Saturn and Pluto must find a way to purge the old and then rebuild for the future, using the expanded consciousness symbolized by Jupiter.  Such a consciousness includes  a new social vision and a moral philosophy that embrace tolerance and opportunities for all to expand his or her own development.

To polish off this positive convergence of planets, Venus will be moving into the trigger point of the Yod on 12/21/12.  The trigger point is opposite Jupiter, which means it will be in Sagittarius.  Venus is the love planet, but also the planet of values.  Sagittarius is the sign that Jupiter rules, so again, there will be a lot of mutual cooperation between Jupiter and Venus.

What I believe will happen at this time—not necessarily on that day, but within a couple of weeks on either side of it—is that a charismatic leader will emerge who can articulate the values we must embrace in order for individuals and society to heal past wounds and evolve.  Because Venus will be in Sagittarius, this leader will be a spiritual person—and is likely to be a woman.

From now until then, Uranus will continue to form a square aspect with Pluto, delivering shocks to the old ways of doing things and creating both a revolution of consciousness and the will to take action.  The rebuilding that will be necessary requires a leader in whom the rest of us can believe. 

THE YEAR OF REVOLUTION

The Year of Revolution:  1848.  Uranus and Pluto in Aries, in hard aspect to one another.  Neptune in Pisces. Revolutionary fever swept through Europe, one country after another.  Italy, France, Germany, Prussia, the Austrian Empire—including ethnic factions of Serbs, Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, pushing for their own nations.

Now, here we are again:  2011.  Uranus moving into Aries, in hard aspect to Pluto.  Neptune moving into Pisces.  This time, the fervor seems to be sweeping the Arab nations but, astrologically, the most extreme aspects have yet to arrive.

Freedom-loving Jupiter led the way by going into Aries on January 22^nd and making a  square to Pluto in Capricorn.  Jupiter does things in a big way, but tends to make things easy, thus the relative ease with which the regimes in Tunisia and Egypt gave way.  However, Uranus will follow, entering Aries on March 11^th, also making a square to Pluto.  That’s where the going gets tough—or at least, more volatile and unpredictable.  Such is the nature of Uranus.

In 1848, the aspect between Uranus and Pluto was a conjunction, fusing their energies.  Both were in Aries.  Aries is great at initiating, but not so good at follow-through.  The revolutions of 1848 petered out over the next few years and the autocrats returned.  Back then, Neptune in Pisces seems to have contributed a great deal of spaciness to the efforts of the people.

This time, the aspect is a square, providing much more overt tension.  Squares demand more than action.  They demand change.  And Pluto is in Capricorn.  Because of the serious, steadfast nature of Capricorn, this time should bring about a deep-seated destruction of entrenched powers, forcing an overhaul of society’s institutions.

Why is this happening in the Arab world?  Probably because Europe has, over the years, become more democratic and less oppressive while the Arab countries are primarily in the grips of leaders who insist on absolute power.  The situation is ripe for transformation.

Not that the rest of the world is off the hook.  Anyplace where the privileged continue to gain at the expense of the people is going to experience unrest, protests, revolts.  That certainly includes the United States.  It began with the Tea Party, but that’s not the end.

Hopefully, when Neptune enters Pisces, on April 4^th, the beginnings of a peaceful path will appear.  However, Neptune’s stay in Pisces is brief before it retrogrades back into Aquarius for next fall and winter.  Even though it returns to Pisces in February, 2012, the square between Uranus and Pluto is more powerful than Neptune—and the square remains in place for the next six years.  All this disruption is going to take time to sort itself out and find a constructive direction, but more change—even bigger and more unsettling than we’ve seen so far—is still on the way.