December 07/January 08
Power Shift
Ted Glick
Franklin Roosevelt and My Father
Bill Moyers
Mobilizing to Save Civilization
Lester Brown
Feed Your Brain
Jurriaan Kamp
Are You Getting Enough Sun?
Kim Ridley
Kelpie Wilson
Old McDonald Had a Farm … and He Got Arrested?
David E Gumpert
Four-Seasons Harvest
Eliott Coleman
The Health Benefits of Tea
Jody Woodrull
You Can Change The World
Guy Finley
The Power of the Horse/Human Connection
Patricia Broersma
Toxic Toys Banned in Europe Are Still Legal In The U.S.
Mark Schapiro
Films of the Future
Siskiyou Film Fest
Cosmic
Calendar
Salina Rain
Cosmic Calendar
By Salina Rain
As we wind up another year in the Gregorian Calendar’s measuring of time a powerful and timely aspect forms that hasn’t been experienced with this potency for thousands of years. Jupiter and Pluto conjoin every 12-13 years, but only in Sagittarius about every 250 years, and only within a degree or so of the Galactic Center in a few thousand years, which is just where they are now, with their exact conjunction on Dec. 11. This indicates a pattern of great social changes historically, but the meeting of the two planets this year marks a much grander transformation of human consciousness with broader revolutionary implications. In large part at least, a huge struggle in the human psyche is over, between the sky god (Jupiter) and the god of the underworld (Pluto), between darkness and light in our nature. This aspect delineates a perfect blending of light and dark, a huge moment in our escaping the prison of duality. While this doesn’t mean we’ll all of a sudden shift into the unified, non-dualistic larger reality, the gateway is wide open for the masses, and in a much more permanent way.
The potential for this phase is that it is teeming with potent, effective, and straightforward solutions to global and local problems that are becoming startlingly obvious. Jupiter-Pluto in Sagittarius reads foresight, revolutionary ideas, major reforms, and increased effectiveness in magical processes. We have the capacity now to release and renounce the past and present gross ignorance in human behavior and make a leap into luminous, yet unknown territory. Death and Rebirth is the energy of this process on a global and personal level. Where do these planets conjoin in your chart at 28 degrees Sagittarius, the area of your own unique re-birthing? None of us can afford to give our power away any longer to those most imprisoned in the density of ignorance, greed and lust for control. As we burst this nightmarish bubble, the next few years promise a massive infusion of faith and empowerment to transform the world.
Sagittarius New Moon on Dec. 9 at 18 degrees is an important part of the Jupiter-Pluto process at work. Mercury, Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Pluto all line up in the sign of new horizons, the quest for meaning, and the tendency to invest too much in being “right.” Dynamic, erratic Uranus in Pisces closely squares Sun, Moon, Mercury for an extraordinarily high frequency energy field, helping us release past beliefs and defining ideas no longer useful or relevant. If we’re not cooperating with the process this aspect promises shocks and blows to our present reality. We can expect a stormy atmosphere as the planets at work here are clearing the field of whatever is outdated, creating great turbulence in the weather and in human relationships as many try to hang on to their old, familiar reality. Asteroid Juno exactly squares the Moon’s North and South Nodes indicating a collective shift concerning female wisdom and power, a point of destiny in this shift to a new paradigm. Neptune sextiles Sun and Moon, opening our perceptions into new dimensions of intuitive insights, ensuring much broader acceptance of the “unseen” dimensions in general, and bringing forth more compassion and forgiveness for ourselves and our perceived adversaries. Use this beginning of a new cycle to dream especially big, putting forth your heartfelt intentions with great love and faith in the responsiveness of this amazing universe we inhabit.
Jupiter joins the Galactic Center on Dec. 5, just four days from the New Moon and six days from the Pluto conjunction. This point in space, a black hole, is the transformational point of death and rebirth in our galaxy, while the current transits to it are verifications of the Mayan Calendar’s predictions of a new world being birthed around this point in time. Try to take time out today, and on all these significant dates, to sense the energies, to notice more vividly where you’re being called to in your life.
Winter Solstice arrives on Dec. 21, 10:08 pm, as the Sun enters 0 degrees Capricorn, joined by Jupiter, Mercury and Pluto within less than 2 degrees, opposed by retrograde Mars, a particularly well-defined moment in time. Authority, control, discipline and clear boundaries are significant features of this season as indicated by the solstice chart. We’re reviewing our motives and desires, aware of a need for more balance in private and public areas of life. Government is becoming more all-encompassing, spotlighting the need for massive change. But we have to go deeply within ourselves to create the necessary changes, otherwise it becomes trading one group of power hungry leaders for another. The change must truly come from within each of us, and is wholly spiritual in nature. Saturn has made its retrograde station on the 20th, weighing heavily on us with greater emphasis, especially since Saturn also rules Capricorn. Our relationship to authority as a nation and as individuals is up for review over the coming months, along with how we are committing our time and resources. The health care system is also a big part of this review. Wherever Saturn’s turning in your chart (8-9 degrees Virgo) requires more attention and responsibility on your part and will have a depressing effect if you’re avoiding the inevitable.
Full Moon in Cancer on the 23rd at 2 degrees continues to highlight the balancing act between private and work areas of life. As time continues to speed up towards the culminating 2012 turning, we become increasingly stressed with the overload of what we’ve taken on. Are we doing what we came to do, our soul’s fulfillment, or are we acquiescing to the artificial demands of a society gone mad with materialism? Now is the time to take advantage of the vast galactic open doorway that beckons us to fulfill our authentic dreams. Moon-Mars opposing Mercury, Sun, Jupiter, Pluto bring up emotional tensions, hurt feelings, hot tempers and/or increased courage as we feel our way into what we need to do next. Moon at 2 degrees Cancer from Rudyhar reads: “A man on a magic carpet hovers over a large area of land. The ability to expand one’s consciousness by stabilizing one’s point of view at a higher level.” Keeping a broader perspective is crucial in these shifting, stressful, fearful times, as is making sure we stay in touch with our spiritual core where balance and equanimity are always perfect.
Capricorn New Moon on the 8th of January perfects at 18 degrees sextile Uranus the Awakener, stimulating innovative changes at this beginning point, as we take what’s good from the past and combine that with new technologies and humanitarian ideals. Wherever this lunation’s degree falls in your chart is a place of opportunities now for building new structures, making clearer boundaries, committing yourself to work that has greater meaning and long term importance in your life. This can be a turning point also in our political process if we use it wisely, one where we plant a seed with new requirements for the candidates, of integrity, accountability, and concern for the greater good. We can think and act more in terms of coalitions of diverse groups than in terms of “right” and “left.” Mercury, Vesta, Chiron, Neptune and the Moon’s North Node are all in Aquarius at this lunation, placing even more emphasis on communitarian ideals and ethical uses of technology, collectively awakening to our common experience as humans rather than re-creating separatism, elitism and misunderstanding among the peoples of the Earth. This lunation is a good opportunity to look at our personal ancestral lineage, either in specific or general ways, and appreciate our origins, honoring the ancestors whose DNA and spiritual legacy we each share. Group karma is as real as personal karma, and we have many overlapping groups within groups we’re all involved in as far as karmic patterns that must be resolved. We have a need for vigilence and clear boundaries in this challenging time, along with the willingness to protect what’s most important to us. We have all the tools and help necessary to manifest the work we’ve come to do, no matter how big a task it may seem. Our internal commitment is most crucial to achieving our goals.
On Jan. 22 the Full Moon perfects at 2 degrees Leo, opposing Sun in Aquarius as well as Chiron, Vesta, Mercury, Neptune and North Node still clustered in the fixed air sign. The Leo-Aquarius axis illuminates the dance between individuality and group involvements, the need to find our unique role and gifts within the context of community. Mercury will take extra long time in Aquarius this year with its retrograde pass starting at the end of the month, extending its intuitive, spiritual, compassionate and imaginative conjunction with Neptune, off and on, through March 9. Mars in Gemini opposes Pluto and Venus for this lunation, intensifying communications, cautioning us to beware of overblown ideas and emotions, increasing creative and interpersonal passions. Jupiter-Saturn form a trine in down-to-earth Capricorn and Virgo respectively, expanding on opportunities for institutional reforms, long term re-structuring. With Pluto about to enter Capricorn until early 2024 this aspect gives us a look into the kinds of changes we can implement in corporate government and business, society’s patriarchal traditions and institutions, as Pluto always clears away whatever has outlived its usefulness, one way or another. Sabian Symbol for Moon at 2 degrees Leo: “An epidemic of mumps. The spreading power of individual crises through a collectivity.” (Rudyhar) This image cautions us to take responsibility for our lives like never before, as our impact on the larger group is increasingly evident and potentially dangerous. On the other hand we have the power to bring in extraordinary new ideas, forms and institutions, creating a new experience of living on planet Earth.
Salina Rain is a professional counseling Astrologer with major focus on life purpose and gracefully navigating transitions. She is also a Reiki Jin Kei Do Master/Teacher, a lineage of energy healing directly from the ancient Buddhist healing practices. Salina is available for astrological readings and classes, with tele-classes starting in Feb.’07, and Reiki Jin Kei Do master sessions and trainings. Salina may be reached at (707) 668-5408, P.O. Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA 95525, astro@salinarain.com.
