It's a New Dawn, it's a New Day, It's New Year!!

Here it is folks!  2012! 

 The long awaited, long maligned year that the Mayan Calendar ends. Though I don't personally believe most of the hype around this event, I do think it signifies a turning point for the human race and the planet we live on.

The waxing (growing) Moon today crosses Uranus in the warrior sign of Aries today...  squaring the Sun in Capricorn and activating the Uranus Pluto square. An interesting signature to begin the year with.

The coming exact square between Uranus and Pluto in June 2012 is a powerful marker for the great change and upheaval that is building everywhere.  

At this fulcrum point, we may take one more pause,  one last in-breath, before we breath-out into 2012.

The gap we just had between Christmas and New Years was like an extended Solstice pause ... giving us a moment to integrate 2011 and prepare for 2012.

Starting with looking back for a moment: 2011:

What a year! 

Catastrophic oil spills, mind-blowing earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear meltdown, catastrophic oil spills, severe economic instability and collapse (Europe, Uk, USA...to name the big ones), the Arab Spring, the Occupy movement, various political scandals, (well those are always there!)...etc etc

...  just some of the outward manifestations of the powerful tensions and changes heralded by these archetypal planetary forces.

The outer planets (Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Pluto) move very slowly and thus signify generational changes and collective forces. Significant eras of history can be linked to their passing through various signs and lining up in particular configurations, such as the Cardinal grand Cross we just went through. 

And that's just what goes on on the outside. 

Where the 'outer' planets sit at any time in relation to your own birth chart will show how they affect you personally.

 I know of many people with their own planets close to the Aries point of the Grand Cross...0' of any sign really,  and especially Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) ...  that got heavily triggered by these transits.  Many have been having quite a ride of it; going through massive shakedowns, breakdowns, and breakthroughs throughout this past year; experiencing on a personal level some of what the planet was going through on a global level.

If you are one of those... you have my admiration for getting through it thus far (if you did...). If you didn't this might help explain why.

For all of us, the gift of these times (and the curse if you will) is a wake-up call of epic proportions.

There are also many signs of  hope in tthe midst of everything falling apart, with Pisces and Chiron bringing healing and blessings to our deepest core; stirring our spiritual longing, and this year a rare  eclipse when Venus will cross in front of the Sun... showering love and kindness on our beleaguered souls.

Last year's Solstice eclipse at the Galactic Core (and repeated at several eclipses through 2011) began the inner call... a call to arms if you will... though a fight on another level; a fight for the rulership of the heart.

There is of course the current fight for a more just world,  a world based on equality and fairness,on human dignity and respect and care for this planet and its resources (and a noble fight that is). 

And... there is  another battle being fought on an deeper level: for meaning in a meaningless world; a fight against ignorance and emptyness... an inner call to know who we are and why we are here.

For without that deep sense of knowing, how are we to stand up for what is right and true. How are we to know what that is?

If we are to survive these changes we will need to be solid inside in a way we have never been before. And not in some dogmatic, rigidly coded  inherited behavior or belief system that judges others and divides us from each other (all that is part of what is being broken down), but more of an inner knowing that comes from the same source in all of us. A source that is based in love.

Once I stabilize in my own center, I can then see what needs to be done, changed, adapted to etc., starting with my personal environment.

Meanwhile, as I said at the beginning. Uranus (the Awakener) has moved forward again in Aries, speeding up time itself (or so it seems) and crashing headlong into the extremely tense relationship with Pluto (the Destroyer) bringing  more radical revolution and transformation to a planet near you.

Hold onto your hats!! (and your money!)...(if you have any left!)

For now,  as the days begin to grow longer  (what a wonderful thought)  we mark this passage from one year to the next with a celebration of the New Year.

In the midst of the revelries,  we have a chance to bring forward into 2012 those  intentions made  at the Capricorn New Moon on Christmas eve ( the actual end to the Solstice pause).    

Not silly edicts and promises one never fulfills;  I am talking about a different type of intention, more far reaching and meaningful than losing weight or exercising more (beneficial though they may be... if you actually carry them out  ; )

This is about our highest intention ... one that is in alignment with our soul purpose.

You can make one now, while we are still in the energy of a waxing Moon... which sits strong in Aries, the sign of initiative and new beginnings. Uranus close by adds an infusion of vision and innovation as it impells us forward at mock speed.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”

Then, strap your self in, it's going to be one hell of a ride!!

"There is a river flowing now very fast.

It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore.  They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.  See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves.  For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.  The time of the lone wolf is over.

Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.  All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for."

                                       Oraibi, ArizonaHopi Nation