The Planets: 2012 Ahead ~ The Year the World Changed
by Richard Giles
” Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.” - Garrison Keillor
The world’s financial system is moving to that final period when its darkest just before the dawn and, from where many of us stand, it looks as if the entire edifice of western capitalism is going to come crashing down in the not too distant future and be ready for total reform. With the birth of the Occupy Wall Street movement back in mid September 2011 we see a whole new attitude in the streets. Events since July/ August have turned the financial leaders of the world on their heads collectively and economists, rulers and politicians around the world are struggling to stay afloat. The ordinary person in the street has lost their respect for the financial headquarters of the world and often now identify themselves as the 99 Percent. This is in contrast to the One percent, the wealthy who hold 90% of the world’s riches. This is the slogan of the Wall Street Occupation movement – We Are the 99 Percent!.
The whole process began when Pluto the transformer planet went into Capricorn, the sign of business, banks, governments and authority in early 2008. Its been a roller coaster slide since then which we have all watched in the headlines, or in the loss of our incomes and superannuation schemes. Disillusionment has set in. Even mainstream journalists write,
” Everything we’d been told for the last decade turned out to be a lie. Markets did not run themselves; creators of financial instruments were not infallible geniuses; and debts did not really need to be repaid – in fact, money itself was revealed to be a political instrument, trillions of dollars of which could be whisked in or out of existence overnight if governments or central banks required it. ”
Occupy Wall Street rediscovers the Radical Imagination, David Graeber, 25 Sept. 2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk
The Major Transits of 2012
The forces that drive the energy on our planet, are setting the scene for a major transformation and 2012 will herald it from around the middle of the year. There are several signs in planetary events signalling the next financial reformation. What happens now though is not unique. Its a part of a long term cycle that runs through world affairs every 110/135 years – two of the outer planets, Uranus and Pluto, go through a cycle of connection and disconnection traceable though history. If you look to the pattern of the Uranus/Pluto conjunctions from medieval times it goes like this – 1090 CE in Aries, 1201 in Cancer, 1343-1344 in Aries, 1455-1456 in Leo, 1597-1598 in Aries, 1710 in Leo, 1850-1851 in Aries, and 1965-1966 in Virgo. After they conjunct they then go through a period of separation, squaring each other off about 43 years later, then oppose each other and finally come together again. We are about to hit the first waning square from the beginning of June 2012. It will last until 2015/16 after which the energies gradually pull away. There’s going to be no quick fix around December 2012 (21:12:2012), but more an ongoing period of radical reform and social consciousness change plus scientific breakthroughs that will transform our world, as well as test it to the limits.
In 2012 Jupiter the expansive planet, goes into Gemini the sign of information. Chiron and Neptune both settle into their places in the boundariless sign of Pisces with a push on the need to suffer and to experiences other’s worlds first-hand. Later in the year, Saturn the task master and reorganiser moves into two years in Scorpio, the sign of joint money, taxes and people’s collective ownership. Saturn will move weightily through that intense sign.
Jupiter in Taurus and in Gemini
Jupiter moved into Taurus the Bull, the earthy sign of pleasure and fertility in June 2011. It stays until mid June 2012 and then begins the quicksilver journey into the airy sign of Gemini the twins where it stays until June 2013. With the king of the gods, Jupiter (Jove) in the airiness of the twins of communication there will be lots of expansive moves in the fields of media and teaching communications. Jupiter in Taurus was a period for increasing the well-being of all and trying to focus on mending for the earth. Back-to-nature movements, simplicity and healing methods with easy solutions to environmental problems are there for the discovering. In Gemini there begins a broader understanding of the world and history as we delve into what makes the planet tick. Intellectual curiosity, social research and a broadening of friendship links around the world can bring us together as a family. Travelling teachers will go on the move to bring change to the world.
Mars goes Retrograde
About every two years the red planet goes backwards in the skies and makes a very visible spectacle as it grows brighter. This year its from 24th January until 14th April in Virgo. Mars is the planet of action, war, self-identification and ego. As it goes retrograde the energy of action and male creatively goes backwards with it. All planets in our solar system will go retrograde at some point in their orbits as each planet moves at a different speed. When one overtakes the other that’s when we see them visually move backwards in the sky.
The effects – it will seem like new plans backfire, we lose momentum, develop too slowly or we fail to sufficiently activate ourselves. Not the best time for new events that call for enterprise and initiative. Mars retrograde asks you to constructively alter energy patterns that end up becoming too self-depleting and non-productive. Temper, irritability, impatience and frustration of your drives are likely outcomes, or it manifests through cuts, burns, wounds and accidents; and fights or arguments with others around you. Anything new that you start on at this time will likely have to be redone after the retrograde is over. Its best then only to plan at this point and wait until afterwards to begin something new.
Venus Retrograde In Gemini
Venus turns retrograde every eighteen months and this coming year its part of a big event as it passes across the face of the Sun. Venus turns retrograde on 16th May at 23 degrees Gemini and doesn’t go direct again until 28th June. During the period expect your attitudes towards love to alter; your attractions, your conscious emotional responses and personal values and partnership considerations will all go through changes. And your outlook on the current financial situation will go through big shifts. Misinterpretations of people’s opinions and their value systems as well as their attitudes to finances can get mixed up or misinterpreted. Not a good time for financial investments – its best also to re-examine your attitude to close relationships.
The Venus Transit of the Sun – 6th June
The peoples of the Mayan civilisation identified the movement of Venus as the most important indicator of all sorts of special events in history so the occultation of the Sun (the passage of Venus across the face of the Sun) was an incredibly important event for the Mayan priests, astrologers and people.. It happens approximately once every 104/5 years. Pairs of Venus passages occurred in the years 1761/ 1769 and 1874/ 1882 with these next two at 2004 and 2012.
The study of the Venus passage was a key item in the American Philosophical Society founded in 1743. The American Philosophical Society is a scholarly organisation of international reputation, that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in research, meetings, publications, library resources and community outreach. The fact that the world’s first international scientific collaboration project over the Venus passage attests to the fact that at that time, a planetary framework of consciousness was starting to emerge.
In the finest of surviving Mayan books, the Dresden Codex, the beginning of the Great Cycle on the 11th August, 3114 BC is referred to as the Birth of Venus. Several of the surviving Mayan manuscripts even refer to Venus as a Sister Planet of Earth. One ancient Mayan prophecy says that the new world of consciousness will be born on the occasion of the Venus Passage in June, 2012. Its visible through Australia, most of Asia, the Pacific Ocean and North America. It lasts about 6 hours and in Brisbane (as example) it will begin at 8.34am and be at its peak at about 11.30am. Do Not look at the Sun to observe it, but observe with the aid of a projected image of the Sun.
Neptune into Pisces from February
Neptune has a great association with matters spiritual and sensitive as well as the psychic. Pisces is the home sign of Neptune and this is the first time since its discovery in 1846 that Neptune slides into its own sign. Neptune as a planetary force will ask us all to be much more creative and sensitive to others and the environment around us. Neptune rules over fantasy, hypnosis, meditations, creative art and music, mystical and trance states plus the experience of the cosmos being brought into everyday life. Subtle energy as a healing development will come into being using unusual technologies over the next decade.
The breakdown of boundaries between this dimension and others is going to be realised by the mid 2020s. How will that manifest – ghosts, fairies, wizards and witches, elves, orbs, and other dimensional beings are all likely to be integrated into our existence in the years ahead. Swimming will become hugely popular as an exercise interest. People will use subtle healing forms and new technologies will become Star Trek like in their manner of operation. Art will become more imaginative and abstract and cosmic music will become a formal medical healing technique.
Saturn Into Scorpio
It begins from October 6th as the planet of form and structure moves into the deep and intense Scorpion of the zodiac. Its likely to bring much of a sense of responsibility into financial affairs and the reform of corporate systems will be likely. Under Scorpio there is intense commitment to your tasks so expect much serious business around taxes, insurance, and corporate affairs. There’s a thoroughness that will drive affairs to do with tax and large scale finances. Saturn remains there until September 2015. The economic and financial stresses in the wake of the years 2008-2012 will spread world-wide and affect many countries and communities. The economic realities of the era 2012-2015 will be one of strong financial trouble and reform because of widespread corruption over the previous 20 years. Saturn’s entry into Scorpio will be most manifest in the anger of populations over the loss of job opportunities and corruption of natural resources, unleashed during the Uranus-Pluto square years of 2012-15. Saturn is authority and Pluto is power – together they tussle over a revolution on who’s in control. The last time mutual reception occurred (Saturn & Pluto in each other’s signs) was 1776 to 1778. During that period the American Revolution and armed struggles with the British raged on. The torpedo was invented. Spain declared war on Britain and the siege of Gibraltar began. The US congress acted to prohibit the import of slaves into the country. It was powerful time of large revolutionary events .
Mercury Retrograde in 2012
Each year there are times when its good to cut back on and watch how your communications with others is going. The planet Mercury rules all our communication abilities. Its about thoughts, words and the way we express ourselves. It turns three times a year in retrograde motion, that is, it turns backwards in the heavens as it passes our Earth in orbit. Mercury takes 88 days to go around the Sun and the Earth takes 365 days. Each time it passes us it appears to be backwards in the sky. The retrograde period lasts about 21 days. During that time its a poor idea to buy or sell, sign contracts and otherwise enter into agreements as the details will often get mixed up or confused.
Typical events during a retrograde Mercury include strange weather, uncovering information relating to the past, old news coming back into print, and communications stuff-ups. Mercury retrograde can also be used to reorganise your data and files and journey back into the past to reconnect. Old creative material can be revived and reworked.
Mercury retrogrades three times this year;
from March 12th – April 4th in Aries/Pisces,
from July 15th – August 8th in Fire sign Leo
and November 7th – November 27th in Sagittarius/Scorpio.
The Fire signs rule enthusiasm and creativity so you need to be more quietly creative in those periods and don’t buy any expensive artworks or start new art projects then.
The Bigger Planetary Movements
Pluto and Uranus come together to challenge everything during 2012. This is the biggest event in the 2012 planetary calendar and begins June 24th at 8 degrees Capricorn and Aries, then again on September 19th at 7 degrees Capricorn/Aries. They clash another 5 times until 2015 so its a long campaign of changes and upheaval as well as thorough reforms of the social, cultural and financial structures of the world. In the past in the mid 1960s, Pluto/Uranus came together to profoundly shift all the values of that current historical time – the music, the art, films, medicine, natural therapies, rebellion of whole countries and the swinging sixties. Its all to be tested again from 2012. December 21st, 2012 is the date being discussed and theorised about through the Mayan calendar and indigenous leaders and at least 5,000 books and articles in the past 10 years. Do not pin your hopes on December 21st. It could just turn out to be another day. The changes have begun already and are part of a 14 month integration cycle from October 2011 to the end of 2012. And then the sun rises and another day begins! Celebrate rather than fixing on 21/12/2012. Its important not to get stuck with one single day.
The Year’s Eclipses
There are two Solar Eclipses this year: May 21st at half a degree Gemini (an annular eclipse) and November 14th at 22 degrees Scorpio (a total eclipse). The November 14th eclipse is a total one crossing over north Queensland in Australia. Its beginning is near Darwin at around 6 am and going straight through Port Douglas above Cairns. This is the first full-on total eclipse on the Australian mainland since the 1970s in Victoria. There was a brief one in Ceduna, Sout Australia in 2004. This eclipse signals the countdown to December 21st, 2012 with Australia, the great southern land, in the limelight.
Lunar Eclipses: there are two and they occur on June 4th at 14 degrees Sagittarius (partial eclipse) and on 29th November at 7 degrees Gemini (an annular eclipse – this one begins on the 28th). Both are visible in Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. If you have planets at those degrees or the opposite, they will effect you strongly depending on the nature of the planet. Lunar eclipses bring on inner events and solar are in the external world around you.
What Do I Do Now That 2102 is Here?
Before you think another thought, turn off your TV and start listening to your own inner intuition. If you need news, keep it simple from an occasional newspaper. Get to know your local community and those people who live nearby to you. Start a community garden nearby. With mobile phones and wireless modems – absolutely minimise their use. Find alternative news information to help you focus on the positive in the world. Celebrate all the New and Full moons and the equinoxes/ solstices. Have fun, dance, meditate, connect with family, look after people, animals and plants. Find what you can do to see the positive now and support everyone around you to do the same.
And best of all, see beyond 2012.
Richard Giles lives in SE Queensland at Crystal Waters community where he runs a Feng Shui, Geomancy and Astrology consultancy business. Check his website at www.RichardGiles.info and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/richgiles89. Richard lectures for local groups on the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Contact him on (07) 5435.0158, email: ricgiles [at] powerup.com.au And change [at] to @.
