Doomed Star Eta Carinae

From Images 108

Eta Carinae may be about to explode. But no one knows when - it may be next year, it may be one million years from now. Eta Carinae's mass - about 100 times greater than our Sun - makes it an excellent candidate for a full blown supernova. Historical records do show that about 150 years ago Eta Carinae underwent an unusual outburst that made it one of the brightest stars in the southern sky. Eta Carinae, in the Keyhole Nebula, is the only star currently thought to emit natural LASER light. This image, taken in 1996, brought out new details in the unusual nebula that surrounds this rogue star. Now clearly visible are two distinct lobes, a hot central region, and strange radial streaks. The lobes are filled with lanes of gas and dust which absorb the blue and ultraviolet light emitted near the center. The streaks remain unexplained.
(APOD)
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Cool video:
The helical model - our solar system is a vortex
YouTube

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Jupiter, Aldebaran, and the Pleiades cluster are visible for the next few months- check them out.

From Images 108

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New Year's Resolution: "To tolerate fools more gladly, provided this does not encourage them to take up more of my time." ~James Agate

NGC 6188 & NGC 6164

From Images 108

Fantastic shapes lurk in clouds of glowing hydrogen gas in NGC 6188, about 4,000 light-years away. The emission nebula is found near the edge of a large molecular cloud unseen at visible wavelengths, in the southern constellation Ara. Massive, young stars of the embedded Ara OB1 association were formed in that region only a few million years ago, sculpting the dark shapes and powering the nebular glow with stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. The recent star formation itself was likely triggered by winds and supernova explosions, from previous generations of massive stars, that swept up and compressed the molecular gas. Joining NGC 6188 on this cosmic canvas is rare emission nebula NGC 6164, also created by one of the region's massive O-type stars. Similar in appearance to many planetary nebulae, NGC 6164's striking, symmetric gaseous shroud and faint halo surround its bright central star at the lower right. The field of view spans about two full Moons, corresponding to 70 light years at the estimated distance of NGC 6188. (APOD - Kfir Simon)

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"We now know that the Moon is demonstrably not there when nobody looks." ~N. David Mermin

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The Lunation Cycle, by Demetra George

"Since ancient times the Moon has been worshipped as the Queen of the Night. Dating to at least 35,000 years ago, artifacts from the upper Paleolithic era, consisting of sequences of notches carved into bone, stone, and ivory are thought to be the earliest lunar phase calendars. By gazing at the Moon and tracking her phases, early peoples regulated their lives according to lunar rhythms. They watched the Moon change place, color, shape, disappear and reappear each month. She gradually unfolded from a slim silvery waxing crescent, increasing in light until she was totally illuminated at the full Moon, and then decreasing in light until she became altogether invisible at the dark of the Moon.

The phases of the Moon are not simply a manifestation of the Moon herself, but rather a display of the changing relationship between the Sun and Moon as the Moon circle the earth each month. They reflect the pattern of her increasing and decreasing light as she separates from the Sun and then returns back to him, and in that process tapping out the rhythm of how it is that life is created, sustained, and renewed.

Various cultural traditions have divided the Moon’s cycle by three (new, full, dark), four (new, first-quarter, full, last-quarter), eight (new, crescent, first-quarter, gibbous, full, disseminating, last-quarter, balsamic), twenty-seven (Hindu nakshatras), and twenty-eight (days of the lunar month). The eight-fold cycle of transformation as seen in the in the increasing and decreasing light of the Moon’s monthly cycle is also evident in the increasing and decreasing light of the yearly solar seasonal cycles, marked by the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days. The lunation cycle as a whole describes the various qualities of energies that comprise the successive stages of any organic life process of coming to be and passing away. In Dane Rudhyar’s seminal work in 1936 on the lunation phases, he used the metaphor of the growth of a plant to illuminate the successive stages of growth symbolized by the phases of the lunation cycle.

We are each born during a particular phase of the Moon, as determined by the angle of separation between the Sun and Moon at the moment of our birth. In terms of personality functions and types, each person reflects the characteristics of the phase of cyclic process during which he or she was born. The phase signifies the kind of energy that flows between our solar consciousness and lunar instinctive awareness, and indicates the quality of interactive energy that we can best use to express (Sun) and actualize (Moon) our life purpose. Our lunation phase also points to current stage of our soul’s development within a larger cyclic process."
Read More
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A Wider Perspective

Besides the 26,000 year precession of the equinoxes, the longest planetary cycle tracked by astrologers is the nearly 500 year Neptune-Pluto cycle. The most recent Neptune-Pluto conjunction(s) were 1891-2 at 8-9 Gemini. This conjunction marks the birth of our modern era of scientific, technological, and cultural innovation- plus the rise of the US as a major world power. Uranus is always revolutionary and Pluto deeply transformative. Of course, these planets are linked to the development of nuclear power-energy; Uranus = Uranium and Pluto = plutonium. (Pluto was not discovered until 1930.) The zodiacal degree where major conjunctions occur remain sensitive throughout the duration of their respective cycle.

The key configuration of the 2012 Winter Solstice that heralds the end of the Mayan calendar (5125 year cycle) and the once in 26,000 year Galactic Alignment (between the ecliptic and the equator of the Milky Way), is the Yod aspect between Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto. Saturn and Pluto are currently in a constructive sextile to each other, and Jupiter is -150- or quincunx both (Saturn & Pluto). So Jupiter is then the focal planet of this Yod, and at the Saturn/Pluto midpoint. Harmonious Saturn-Pluto aspects support doing the work that most needs to be done, and general reorganization. While the quincunx or -150- aspect (with a 6th-8th house flavor) tends to imply necessary adjustments. As Jupiter is essentially a favorable influence, it's position as the focal planet of this Yod is a hopeful sign of expansive growth that results from dealing with the crucial matters at hand, doing what must be done- which may include letting go of whats not working, and restructuring.

Focal planet Jupiter is hitting the 1891 Neptune-0-Pluto that sets the tone for our modern era. On the 2012 Winter Solstice Jupiter was 8.54 Gemini conjunct the Neptune-0-Pluto at 8.37 Gemini. And Jupiter is stationary-direct Jan. 31 at 6.20 Gemini, activating the Nov. 28 lunar eclipse (6.47 Gemini) that fell within orb of the epic Neptune-Pluto conjunction. Therefore, we see the current revolutionary upheavals of Uranus-90-Pluto, are unfolding within a broader 500 year historical period whose seed moment (NE-0-PL) is now being invoked by Jupiter at the apex of the Solstice Yod.

From United States

Bhutto's son Bilawal promises democracy

"The son of Pakistan's murdered ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has promised to fight militancy to maintain democracy, in his first major political speech.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari told party supporters marking five years since his mother's death that she "sacrificed her life to uphold democracy".

Ms Bhutto died in a gun and bomb attack during her 2007 election campaign."
BBC News

Hopeful Jupiter is now conjunct (by antiscia) Benazir Bhutto's death chart Ascendant.

From Asia & Mideast

Cancer Full Moon Dec. 28

The Xmas season tends to put the focus on home, family, and emotional connections. So the Dec. 28 Full Moon in Cancer is more of the same, but with an added element of powerful change stirring, instigated by the Uranus-Pluto square. Strong bonds can weather the most extreme circumstances.

From Mundane Charts

The ongoing contact between Pluto, lord of the underworld, and the Moons fateful North Node suggests that our collective destiny involves crisis- facing matters of life or death, in order to align with original intent.

The Full Moon conjoins the star known as Mirzam that relates to "having one's say" (B.Brady).

Luna is still near bright Jupiter in tonights sky (Dec. 26).

The Christmas Star – Fact or Fiction?

From Universe Today:
‘Tis the season… And every year around this time people notice the brilliant ‘star’ to the west just after sunset. For astronomers, we know it’s the appearance of the planet Venus, but noticing it for the average person brings on questions about the holidays. Was the Christmas Star real?

Regardless of your faith, the story of the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ is one of the most powerful and enigmatic symbols of Christianity. For centuries, scientists, scholars and historians have debated about the nature of this biblical light that heralded an event. Was it purely a divine sign, created miraculously to mark a special birth? Or was it an astronomical event in its own right?

David Reneke, news editor of Australia’s Sky and Space Magazine, believes astronomers may have found the answer – or at least something that fits all the known facts – basing his research on the highly esteemed gospel according to Matthew, the first of the four gospels in the New Testament. It would appear to be the first written and this version places key players together in the same time period. “It’s generally accepted by most researchers that Christ was born between 3 BC and 1 AD.” says Dave. With the aid of modern astronomy software programs astronomers can reproduce the night sky exactly as it was, thousands of years ago. Humans are curious and so was Dave, so he turned back the hands of time and the stars to the time of that long ago Christmas…

“We found out something startling.” said Reneke, “It looks like the ‘Christmas star’ really did exist,”

Two thousand years ago, astronomy and astrology were considered one and the same. The motions of the heavenly bodies were used to determine the events of history, and the fate of people’s lives. Of the various groups of priests and prophets of this period, those which commanded the most respect were the Magi – whose origins are not entirely clear. Known as ‘wise men’ , we can only assume they were actually priests who relied on their knowledge of astronomy/astrology."
Read on-> Universe Today
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Xmas Quote: “The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.” ~George Carlin

The Maya and the Pleiades

"In the beginning, the Maya understood that they came from the Pleiades, or “Tzab-ek", (Rattlesnake's tail), as they are known by the Maya. The relationship with the Pleiades and the Mayan world is written in the sacred books of the Maya. It is in the consciousness of the grandmothers and grandfathers who had it passed on to them. It is an important record. The elders say the universe comes from the Pleiades." Maya Astronomy

Luna glides close to the Pleiades and Jupiter on December 24

From Images 108

Benefic Jupiter is transiting back and forth over the royal star Aldebaran, Eye of the Bull, that rose with the Vernal/Spring Equinox Sun around the time the Mayan 13 Baktun (Long Count) calendar began in 3114 BCE during the Age of Taurus (signified by a bull).

Comet Hale-Bopp Over Val Parola Pass

From Images 108

Comet Hale-Bopp, the Great Comet of 1997, became much brighter than any surrounding stars. It was seen even over bright city lights. Away from city lights, however, it put on quite a spectacular show. Here Comet Hale-Bopp was photographed above Val Parola Pass in the Dolomite mountains surrounding Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Comet Hale-Bopp's blue ion tail, consisting of ions from the comet's nucleus, is pushed out by the solar wind. The white dust tail is composed of larger particles of dust from the nucleus driven by the pressure of sunlight, that orbit behind the comet. Observations showed that Comet Hale-Bopp's nucleus spins about once every 12 hours. A comet that may well exceed Hale-Bopp's peak brightness is expected to fall into the inner Solar System next year. (APOD - Image: A.Demai)

"The famous turn of the century author, Mark Twain was born when Halley's comet was blazing across the sky. Mark Twain swore he would live until he saw Halley's Comet return 76 years later. Legend tells us that Mark Twain lived long enough to see Halley's comet as he lay on his death-bed. Consider the Great Comet of 1843. Not only did it blaze brightly in broad daylight- being visible to the naked eye 1° from the Sun's limb- but its ominous head and large tail in a dark sky were seen as a "thrilling warning to all the inhabitants of this precious and transitory Earth," wrote Bessie Jones and Lyle Boyd of the Harvard College Observatory."
What's Up! Fact & Fantasy about comets & the return of Hale-Bopp

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Hale Bopp: Harbinger of Government Flop, by Deborah Houlding

Orion over El Castillo

From Images 108

Welcome to the December solstice, a day the world does not end ... even according to the Mayan Calendar. To celebrate, consider this dramatic picture of Orion rising over El Castillo, the central pyramid at Chichén Itzá, one of the great Mayan centers on the Yucatán peninsula. Also known as the Temple of Kukulkan it stands 30 meters tall and 55 meters wide at the base. Built up as a series of square terraces by the pre-Columbian civilization between the 9th and 12th century, the structure can be used as a calendar and is noted for astronomical alignments. In fact, the Mayans were accomplished astronomers and mathematicians, accurately using the cyclic motions of the stars, Sun, Moon, and planets to measure time and construct calendars. Peering through clouds in this night skyscape, stars in the modern constellation Orion the Hunter represented a turtle in the Mayan sky. Tak sáamal. (APOD)

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2012 The Astronomy Connection

December 21. 2012 Galactic Alignment

From Carol Ann Ciocco

"Many people, including Mayan researcher John Major Jenkins, believe that the Mayan calendar date of December 21, 2012 is an important point in time when our solar system aligns in a special way with the Milky Way galaxy.

Munro Edmonson, American linguist and anthropologist had earlier theorized that the Maya based their calendar on observations of the Great Rift or Dark Rift, a band of dark dust clouds in the Milky Way, which, according to some scholars, the Maya called the Xibalba be or "Black Road". The Maya were aware of where the ecliptic (the plane of our solar system) intersected the Black Road (the plane of our galaxy) and gave this position in the sky a special significance in their cosmology.

To understand this alignment, remember that our solar system resides within the Orion arm of the Milky Way galaxy. As such, our sun and its solar system (including the earth and all of the other planets) orbit the center of our galaxy. I.e., imagine the Milky Way - a huge spiral with a black hole at the center - whirling and churning in space, and you will realize that the arms of our galaxy are moving ever so slowly around the center." Read More

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"We began the eclipse season with Sandy the Storm. And we end the eclipse season with the Sandy Hook School shooting." ~Anne Orelee

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. The Full Moon on the 28th activates the epic Uranus-Pluto square, making the last week of December unusually dynamic. The Sun-Uranus square on the 25th is an awakener, introducing the unexpected, surprising, and even shocking on an otherwise traditional day. The Sun-Pluto conjunction on the 30th is a power day, when those in charge assert their control and influence. ~NeptuneCafe

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We and the ancient Mayans share the same environmental concerns

We can (probably) ignore the Mayans' prediction of the end of the world, but the way their society collapsed must be a lesson
Read-> theguardian

Maya Calendars Actually Predict That Life Goes On

Doomsday? No way. Ancient Maya said we’ll be around another 7,000 years or so.

By Catherine Zuckerman for National Geographic News
Published December 13, 2012

"This December, not everyone is concerned with making plans for the New Year—especially not the people who think doomsday will get here first. Instead of planning parties, they're stockpiling food, refining escape routes, and honing survival skills ahead of the alleged date on which the Maya calendar "ends"—December 21, 2012.

So should we all be preparing for imminent apocalypse? According to the scholars, no.

The ancient Maya are usually cited as the predictors of the world coming to an end this month: One of their "great cycles" supposedly ends now. But the Maya were brilliant mathematicians and fantastic record keepers. They didn't have just one calendar. They developed many different kinds, including a cyclical solar calendar and a sacred almanac. They also measured time with something known as the Long Count, which were great cycles of 5,000 years.

Somewhere along the way a rumor spread about the current great cycle, indicating it ends on December 21, 2012. This sparked the belief among some that the last of our days are upon us.

Rebirth

It's not the first time that the possibility of apocalypse has sparked the human imagination. Doomsday prophecies have a rich history, and believers tend to overlook the scientific evidence that disproves them. In this case, the doomsdayers fail to take into account the intricacies of Maya timekeeping.

"There's only one [Maya] monument that even has the 2012 date on it," says Maya scholar Ricardo Agurcia, adding that apocalypse anticipators are ignoring that according to the Maya, when one great cycle ends, another begins. "It's about rebirth, not death."

Indeed, the Maya predicted the world would most certainly not end in 2012. Earlier this year, archaeologist and National Geographic Grantee William Saturno discovered a series of numbers painted on the walls at a Maya complex in Guatemala. The calculations included dates that go far into the future. "The ancient Maya predicted the world would continue, that 7,000 years from now, things would be exactly like this," he said in a press release. (See ultra-high-resolution, zoomable pictures from inside a newfound Maya chamber.)

"We keep looking for endings. The Maya were looking for a guarantee that nothing would change. It's an entirely different mindset."

It Came From Outer Space?

That should be enough to soothe Maya-inspired worries about doomsday scenarios. But what about other potential agents of catastrophe—coronal mass ejections, a "killer planet," polar shifts?

On these possibilities, NASA can shed some light. On his blog Ask an Astrobiologist, NASA space scientist David Morrison has fielded some 5,000 questions about doomsday 2012. People want to know about the existence of Nibiru, or Planet X, and whether it's coming to destroy Earth or not. Others inquire about alignment of the heavenly bodies, shifting of the magnetic poles, and bursting of solar flares. In a YouTube video, Morrison said, "There is no threat to Earth in 2012. Nibiru does not exist. There are no special forces when planets align. Don't worry about 2012, and enjoy 2013 when it comes."

Despite this emphatic professional pushback, anxiety over our impending demise persists. According to an article in the New York Times, a number of Russians have fallen under the apocalypse spell, snatching up essentials as December 21st approaches. The story also cites apprehension in southern France, where certain camps believe Bugarach mountain has the power to protect in a doomsday scenario.

In the United States, doomsday preparers have help from people like Larry Hall, who is building underground luxury "survival condos" in Kansas missile silos leftover from the Cold War era. Careful not to judge anyone's reason for worry, he said, "I'm not saying you're right or you're wrong. I'm just trying to have a one-size-fits-all solution to whatever your threats may be."

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Doomsday 2012: Watch the 'End of the World' Live Online

"Anyone worried that the world will come to an end Friday (Dec. 21) can scan the heavens online this week for any signs of death from above.

The online Slooh Space Camera will broadcast a series of live cosmic views all week, beginning today (Dec. 17). The free webcasts will help the public keep watch for any monster solar storms, impending asteroid strikes or other potential agents of the so-called "Mayan apocalypse" that doomsayers claim is set for Friday." Read More @ SPACE.com

Tonights Sky

If you look in a clear western sky after sunset on Monday, December 17, you can spot the waxing crescent moon. The planet Neptune is near the waxing moon tonight, but you can't see Neptune without a telescope. Astrologically, the Moon and Neptune are both yin, and watery celestial bodies. The water element relates to feelings, emotions, and psychic sensitivities.

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December Solstice Traditions and Customs

"The December solstice has influenced the lives of many people over the centuries, particularly through art, literature, mythology and religion. The December solstice is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere.

In the northern hemisphere, the December solstice occurs during the coldest season of the year. Although winter was regarded as the season of dormancy, darkness and cold, the coming of lighter days after the winter solstice brought on a more festive mood. To many people, this return of the light was a reason to celebrate that nature’s cycle was continuing." Read More-> timeanddate.com

Newtown, CT. School Shooting

The signature aspect of Fridays tragic shooting in Newtown, CT. is the complex Saturn = Uranus/Pluto. Heavy Saturn rose in the US northeast at yesterdays Sagittarius New Moon that conjoined Pluto (by antiscia)- while Uranus (sudden, unexpected, often radical events) went direct. And the Nov. 28 lunar eclipse Midheaven in Newtown, CT. was 8 Scorpio with Venus also at 8 Scorpio. Transiting Saturn is now at 8 Scorpio (antiscion of Uranus/Pluto).

Astrology is about time and space/place, and it's not enough to just point out Saturn in Scorpio, or the Uranus-Pluto square, but there must be natal or mundane charts that link these planets with specific locations. In this case, the activation of the 11/28 lunar eclipse Midheaven & Venus (8 Scorpio) by Saturn (now at 8 Scorpio) can only occur near the longitude where Newtown, CT. is located. And as mentioned above- Saturn rose in the US northeast when the Sagittarius New Moon was exact (Dec. 13).

From United States

Newtown school shooter Adam Lanza's Progressed Sun at 22.47 Taurus is just past -180- natal Pluto at 22 Scorpio, that got hit by the Nov. 13 solar eclipse at 22 Scorpio. Both natal Saturn/Pluto (violence & cruelty) at 4.46 Capricorn, and his Progressed Mars (aggression) 5.40 Aries are being activated by stationary direct Uranus (excitation).

From United States

His Pre-Natal eclipse of Jan. 4, 1992 fell at 13.51 Capricorn, and the Nov. 28, 2012 lunar eclipse Ascendant in Newtown, CT. is 13.11 Capricorn- highlighting the Pre-Natal eclipse degree, which is considered sensitive one's entire life. Transiting Saturn spot on the Nov. 28 eclipse chart Midheaven (8 Scorpio @ Newtown), reflects local, headline-making events of a grave Saturnian nature.

A Few Links

1. Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight; Comet Wirtanen may add sparks

2. Mayan apocalypse: Serbia's mystic mountain targeted by believers

3. Be honest: Apocalypse seems kind of exciting, in a way

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~Current Quotes from Astrologers~

"Today is the New Moon closest to the Solstice (also a New Moon point of the Solar Year) so it is the perfect time to reflect on what has happened this past year and to dream into what is coming into form as we enter a new year. Plus, this New Moon is being framed by the Geminids Meteor Shower peaking." ~Cayelin K. Castell

"The early morning sky is wonderful, if you do not have any clouds! Saturn, Venus and Mercury all rising before the Sun - Ptolemy called this a doryphory (there are different versions) or spear bearers. But on a bigger picture we have this lovely clustering around the luminaries. Mercury is currently in the jaws of the Scorpion and the Sun sits on the foot of Ophicuchus, the Healer." ~Bernadette Brady

New Moon in Sagittarius

The Dec. 13 New Moon at 21.45 Sagittarius is widely conjunct (5 degrees) the Galactic Center of the Milky Way (27 Sagittarius) where a massive black-hole is located. The solstice point or antiscion of 21.45 Sagittarius is 8.14 Capricorn, and Pluto is now at 8.40 Capricorn. This contact is similar to a conjunction between the New Moon and Pluto which will greatly intensify the energetic force.

From California & San Francisco

Uranus the Awakener, the planet of sudden, radical change and revolution, is stationing-direct at the New Moon after a retrograde period of 5 months. As the square between Uranus and Pluto is the signature aspect of our times- the fact that both these planets are in play at this New Moon shortly before the end-date of the Mayan Long Count calendar, is clearly meaningful. Uranus-Pluto is about building on the ruins of the old- revolution and evolution, by almost any means necessary.

The sign of Sagittarius is known for it's broad vision, freedom-loving philosophical air, and jovial spirits. These traits are related to the planetary ruler Jupiter, which is expansive, magnanimous, and a source of hope, optimism, confidence and generosity. Currently, Jupiter is transiting the royal star Aldebaran- Eye of the Bull (10 Gemini). "Aldebaran is the Greek Omma Boos, Latin Oculus Tauri, and the early English 'Bull's Eye'. Bull's-eye is what we call the center of a target, which usually carries the highest score, and a precise or highly effective achievement. The great red giant, war-like Aldebaran is one of the four 'Guardians of Heaven'- sentinels watching over other stars. It formed one of the four royal stars of Persia as 'Watcher of the East'." (from Constellation of Words)

Interestingly- the great star Aldebaran was located near the Vernal(Spring) Equinox Sun, roughly around the start of the 5125 Mayan calendar cycle in 3114 BC, and was then rising shortly before of after the Spring Equinox Sun. Most astrologers consider the Vernal-Spring Equinox when the Sun enters Aries and crosses the equator, as the true birth of the New Year. Whereas the Winter Solstice heralds the return of the light, when the days begin getting longer in the northern hemisphere.

The Dec. 13 New Moon in future-oriented Sagittarius, that links up with Pluto- lord of the underworld, and dovetails with Uranus (the Awakener) going direct, is a fitting prelude to the Mayan end-date on Dec. 21, 2012 and a momentous turning of the ages. Our personal and collective awareness of being at a critical tipping-point may be important as time goes on if it determines a mindful way of life.

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2012: Mayan Prophecy and the Dark Rift Alignment

Baku Moonrise & Jupiter

From Images 108

A Full Moon rises in this waterfront scene. Its colorful, watery reflection is joined by harbor lights and a windowed skyscraper's echo of the western horizon just after sunset. The tantalizing image is a composite of frames recorded at 2 minute intervals on November 28 from the Caspian Sea port city of Baku, Azerbaijan. Still, this Full Moon was not really as big or as bright as others, though it might be hard to tell. In fact, November 28's Full Moon was near apogee, making it the smallest Full Moon of 2012. As it rose over the Baku boardwalk (along with much of the eastern hemisphere), it was also in the Earth's lighter or penumbral shadow. The subtle effect of the penumbral lunar eclipse is just discernible as the slightly darker left side of the lunar disk. Opposite the Sun in planet Earth's sky, the Full Moon was also joined by bright planet Jupiter, only a few days from its own opposition. (APOD)

Earthquake and Eclipse Activation

From BBC News:

"A 7.3 magnitude quake has struck off Japan's eastern coast, triggering a small tsunami and sparking evacuations.

A one-metre wave hit Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture and many people heeded calls to move to higher ground before all alerts were later lifted.

The quake epicentre was about 245km (150 miles) south-east of Kamiashi at a depth of about 36km, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Miyagi was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011."

This is an interesting example of the local angles of an eclipse chart being activated by the 3rd Quarter Moon. The Nov. 28 lunar eclipse Ascendant (location specific) at Ishinomaki was 14.21 Virgo and the Midheaven 12.10 Gemini. So Mercury rules the eclipse angles. The Dec. 7 3rd Quarter Moon fell at 14.55 Virgo, tightly conjunct the lunar eclipse Ascendant (14.21 Virgo), and the 3rd Quarter Sun was 14.55 Sagittarius- just into the 4th house (earthquakes) of the eclipse chart.

From Asia & Mideast

Also worth noting- are the angles of the 3rd Quarter Moon in Ishinomaki at 0 Cardinal, i.e. the Aries-world point. 3rd Quarter Moon Ascendant = 0 Libra, and Midheaven = 0 Cancer. Transiting Mercury is another factor here as it rules the angles of the eclipse chart (Virgo AS & Gemini MC), and conjoined the fateful Moons North Node when the 7.3 quake struck off the coast of Japan.

Our ongoing research of eclipses and their activation will continue, as events occur and we are able to analyze them with the gift of hindsight.

Mayan sages perform sacred rite on Cuba beach

From the MercuryNews.com:
BACURANAO, Cuba— "Three Guatemalan sages burned wood resin, seeds, fruits and flowers on a beach outside Havana on Thursday in a ceremony marking the end of a Mayan calendar cycle that some have wrongly interpreted as a prediction of a looming apocalypse.

Raising their hands to the sky and praying in their indigenous language, they kissed each offering before tossing them into the flames or the waves to invoke the gods' favor.

"We are at a moment of profound connection," Pedro Celestino Yac Noj said. "We came here to share the sacred fire and make offerings to mother Earth and the sea."

The ceremony in Bacuranao, 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of the Cuban capital, took place two weeks before Dec. 21, 2012, when a more than 5,000-year period of the Mayan calendar ends.

While doomsday theories connected to the sacred date have inspired hundreds of books, TV shows and at least one mega-budget Hollywood disaster movie, Celestino explained there's nothing to the idea that the impending solstice will bring an end to the world.

"The 21st is for giving thanks and gratitude and the 22nd welcomes the new cycle, a new dawn," he said.

Dressed in black trousers, blue shirt and a red-and-white kerchief covering his head, he led the ceremony steps from the Straits of Florida next to circles of flowers symbolizing the elements: wind (white), fire (red), earth (yellow) and sea (purple).

Rosalina Tuyuc Velazquez and Maria Faviana Cochoy collected offerings of fruits, vegetables, cigars and multicolored candles from the 200 or so Cubans who came to participate. The sages fed herbs such as basil, laurel and thyme to the blaze, giving its smoke a spicy aroma.

Visitors were asked to turn off cell phones, cameras and recording devices to keep "negative energy" from interfering. Many kneeled in a circle with eyes closed and arms raised in supplication.

The Guatemalans were invited to perform the ceremony by Cuba's Casa de las Americas cultural center.

Celestino said they chose Thursday for the rite as "the day of movement, represented by the holy serpent, energy that rules the lives of leaders, the famous and the government."

The Maya dominated large stretches of southern Mexico and Central America centuries ago." (MercuryNews.com)

Planet Watcher

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All the Planets Are Visible

It's possible to see every planet of the solar system on these December 2012 nights. With the International Astronomical Union reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006, that leaves a total of eight known full-fledged planets inhabiting our solar system. In their outward order from the Sun, these planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Given clear skies – and optical aid in the case of Uranus and Neptune – all the planets can be seen now. (EarthSky)

From Images 108

Black Marble Earth

This spectacular night-time view of Earth is called Black Marble.

From Images 108

"I have been told that one of the reasons the astronomers of the world cooperate is the fact that there is no one nation from which the entire sphere of the sky can be seen. Perhaps there is in that fact a parable for national statesmen, whose political horizons are all too often limited by national horizons." ~Adlai Stevenson

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The Meaning of the Mayan Calendar End Date Within The Context of Modern Astrology

Saturn = Uranus/Pluto

As of this writing, the midpoint of the epic Uranus-Pluto square is located at 21.31 Aquarius, or Uranus/Pluto = 21.31 Aquarius. Unless you have been living under a rock, you are aware of the Uranus-Pluto world transit that's informing most if not all major global events for the next 3-5 years.

According to Reinhold Ebertin, the fundamental principle of the Uranus/Pluto (midpoint) is "the process of transformation. The collapse of the old order of things, the construction of the new. Revolution."

The solstice point or antiscia of 21.31 Aquarius = 8.38 Scorpio- and these solstice points are sensitive to activation. Transiting Saturn will 'hit' the Uranus/Pluto solstice point around Dec. 17-19. And Ebertin says about the picture Saturn = Uranus/Pluto; "One-sideness, self-will, egoism, stubbornness, hatred. - Exposure to extremely great pressure from others, separation caused by force majeure."

Saturn can bring a reality check to the profound changes already unfolding under Uranus-90-Pluto, and might also serve to crystallize the mass impulses aimed at overturning and revolutionizing the status quo thats unsustainable in it's current form.

At the 2012 Winter Solstice or Capricorn ingress, the Uranus/Pluto will be 21.47 Aquarius which has it's solstice point at 8.12 Scorpio, and Saturn will be 8.39 Scorpio. So as the Capricorn ingress sets the tone for the Winter- Saturn on the Uranus/Pluto solstice point will have an influence for the entire Winter season.

*Saturn was in a critical position when todays 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Zohan, Iran. Zohan Quake Chart

In the Center of Saturn's North Polar Vortex

From Images 108

What's happening at the north pole of Saturn? A vortex of strange and complex swirling clouds. The center of this vortex was imaged in unprecedented detail last week by the robotic Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn. These clouds lie at the center of the unusual hexagonal cloud system that surrounds the north pole of Saturn. Saturn's north pole precessed into sunlight just a few years ago, with Cassini taking only infrared images of the shadowed region previously. The above image is raw and unprocessed and is being prepared for release in 2013. Several similar images of the region have recently been condensed into a movie. Planetary scientists are sure to continue to study this most unusual cloud formation for quite some time. (APOD)

Cassini Images Bizarre Hexagon on Saturn

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Gobekli Tepe: The World’s First Temple?
Predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years, Turkey's stunning Gobekli Tepe upends the conventional view of the rise of civilization: Smithsonian.com

Quote of the Day

Today is the day Venus (15 Scorpio) is exactly with the Zubenelgenubi passing between the Scales. In Egyptian mythology this is the scales that weighs the heart of the dead against the feather of Maat (truth) to determine where the soul is going next. Again...This alignment has a lot to do with moving through this stellar gateway either into a whole new way of being or perhaps finding it is about going back and doing it again. Which one is it for you? ~Cayelin K. Castell

The Mayan Calendar and the Great Year

The rollover of the 5125 years Mayan Baktun/Long Count calendar refers to the end of times and the start of a new cycle of evolution for planet earth, humanity and the cosmos. This prophecy has been hyped through a general misunderstanding as an apocalyptic ‘end of the world’ scenario. However, the Mayan elders say that the ancients were informing the modern global collective to prepare for a great transformation- a turning of the ages.

There would seem to be a meaningful correspondence between 5 of these Mayan calendrical cycles (5125 years) and the 26,000 precessional cycle (caused by a subtle wobble of the Earth on it's axis), that relates to Plato's concept of a Great Year (26,000 years).

Here's an excerpt about the Great Year from Wikipedia:

"The Great Year or Platonic Year (Latin: annus platonicus) is a concept attributed to Plato. Plato in his dialogue Timaeus defined the "perfect year" as the return of the celestial bodies (planets) and the fixed stars (circle of the Same) to their original positions:

"And so people are all but ignorant of the fact that time really is the wanderings of these bodies, bewilderingly numerous as they are and astonishingly variegated. It is none the less possible, however, to discern that the perfect number of time brings to completion the perfect year at that moment when the relative speeds of all eight periods have been completed together and, measured by the circle of the Same that moves uniformly, have achieved their consummation."

And more on the Grand Precession of the Equinoxes:

"In anthroposophy, based on teachings by Rudolf Steiner, a cosmic year represents the Platonic year, a period of 25,920 years. This is the time required for the Sun's position at spring equinox to traverse the complete zodiac. So each zodiacal sign covers about 2160 years. The year 747 BCE marked the transition from Taurus to Aries and since 1453, the spring equinoctial sun is in Pisces. This cosmic cycle has a considerable influence on humanity in both physical and spiritual respects. For instance, the Aries period covered the Greek/Roman culture period ranging from the foundation of Rome (753 BCE) to the fall of Byzantium (1453), whereas the Taurus period marked the Egyptian/Chaldaean era. Another example is human breathing rhythm: an average of 18 cycles per minute represents 18 x 60 x 24 = 25,920 cycles per day. The number of daily sleep-wake-cycles of the conscious mind in an average human lifetime of 72 years adds up to the same platonic figure. Shao Yung's cosmic year represents exactly five platonic years (5x25,920=129,600).

Vedic scriptures delineate a cosmic cycle of creation and destruction marked by 4 Yugas. There is considerable debate on the duration of one Yuga, varying from 1200 to 432,000 or millions years. Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri estimates the duration of two total cycles (an descending and an ascending part) to comprise 24000 years. According to Vamadeva David Frawley the Yuga cycle relates to the precession of the equinoxes, thus suggesting a relationship with the platonic year. In the interpretations of these and other vedic scholars, modern times (1700–1900) have witnessed the end of the dark Iron Age (Kali Yuga), a notion supported by Rudolf Steiner."

And More:

"An astrological age is a time period which astrology postulates parallels major changes in the development of Earth's inhabitants, particularly relating to culture, society and politics. There are twelve astrological ages corresponding to the twelve zodiacal signs in western astrology. At the completion of one cycle of twelve astrological ages, the cycle repeats itself. Astrological ages occur because of a phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. One complete period of this precession is called a Great Year or Platonic Year[1] of about 25,920 years.[2]

There are two broad approaches about the effects upon the world due to the astrological ages. Some astrologers believe the changes upon Earth are caused and marked by the influences of the given astrological sign, associated with the Age, while other astrologers do not follow the causative model and believe it is a matter of synchronicity.[3]

Many astrologers believe that the Age of Aquarius has arrived recently or will arrive in the near future."

A Quadruple Lunar Halo Over Spain

From Images 108

Sometimes falling ice crystals make the atmosphere into a giant lens causing arcs and halos to appear around the Sun or Moon. This past Saturday night was just such a time near Madrid, Spain, where a winter sky displayed not only a bright Moon but as many as four rare lunar halos. The brightest object, near the top of the above image, is the Moon. Light from the Moon refracts through tumbling hexagonal ice crystals into a 22 degree halo seen surrounding the Moon. Elongating the 22 degree arc horizontally is a circumscribed halo caused by column ice crystals. More rare, some moonlight refracts through more distant tumbling ice crystals to form a (third) rainbow-like arc 46 degrees from the Moon and appearing here just above a picturesque winter landscape. Furthermore, part of a whole 46 degree circular halo is also visible, so that an extremely rare -- especially for the Moon -- quadruple halo was actually imaged. The snow-capped trees in the foreground line the road Puerto de Navacerrada in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range near Madrid. Far in the background is a famous winter skyscape that includes Sirius, the belt of Orion, and Betelgeuse all visible between the inner and outer arcs. Halos and arcs typically last for minutes to hours, so if you do see one there should be time to invite family, friends or neighbors to share your unusual lensed vista of the sky. (APOD ~ Image Credit: Dani Caxete)

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Todays Quote: “It is accurate to say that I live for astrology. For everything that happens of significance, I consult a chart. The vastly creative expression of the symbols and their correspondence with life events always astonishes me. A day without astrology is a wasted day. It connects me to the wonder of the sky, and to the mystery and magic of the world.” ~Kathy Allan

2012: Beginning of the End or a New Beginning

From The San Francisco Bay Guardian-SFBG:
"In recent months, I've been exploring the rabbit hole of 2012 prophecy and possibility, a beguiling mixture of myth, spirituality, and hope that humans will finally awaken to the global ecological and economic catastrophes we're creating and make a fundamental shift in our approach, whether that's sparked by cosmic energies or our own earthly intention.

When the Mayan calendar ends on Dec. 21 – a date that also marks the Winter Solstice and the peak of our alignment with the galactic center (Earth, sun, and the dark center of the Milky Way lining up for the first time in recorded human history) – it will be a day anticipated by millions of people around the world. Thanks to the modern amplification by pop culture and the Internet, it will be an unprecedented and potentially auspicious astrological, energetic, and cultural moment.

“The earth is being flooded with energies from the galactic center,” San Francisco Astrological Society President Linea Van Horn, who has been giving presentations for eight years on the significance of a cosmic alignment that occurs once every 26,000 years, told us. “That was the alignment that the Mayans were marking on their calendars.”

It isn't just the Mayan Long Count calendar that indicates the current age is ending and a new one dawning. Some Aztec, Toltec, Indian, and Egyptian scholars and writer Terence McKenna (who used the I Ching to make the revelation in his book The Invisible Landscape) and various New Age authors have predicted we're entering a new era, one many believe will be marked by enhanced human consciousness.

But one needn't believe any of this to understand the pressing need for humans to wake the fuck up and start working together on issues ranging from global warming and the alarming decrease in the planet's biodiversity to the many shortcomings of global capitalism and the escalating social unrest it's creating. So why not use this grand mystical moment to spark that discussion, as many progressive activists and conscious community advocates have suggested.

“It allows us to have a stage for the question, a frame for the question. We have to ask very basic questions about our survival,” said Rev. Billy Talen, an artist/activist whose latest book, The End of the World, delves into the earth's ecosystems reaching their tipping points. “We have the uncanny, mythic, prophetic calendar ending and beginning. And then we have scientists saying the same thing, so where does that leave you?”

There will be many epicenters and gathering points on Dec. 21, both real and virtual. Personally, I'm headed down into the heart of the Mayan empire to Chichen Itza, Mexico, where I'll be attending the Synthesis Festival and doing daily dispatches through this website. Daniel Pinchbeck, author 2012: The Return of Quetzacoatl, will be in Egypt at The Great Convergence “celebrating the dawning of a new era.”

“Basically, we are going to have to have a rapid shift in global consciousness,” Pinchbeck told me, arguing that shift has already begun, as seen in movements from Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street. “It is happening in terms of horizontal, peer-to-peer, cooperative movements with no top down hierarchy...We can make a much more rapid transition than most people realize.”

Both festivals, and many others around the world, will be heavily attended by people from the Bay Area, where many of the concepts behind transformational possibilities and alternative organizing models have incubated and evolved for decades. The organizers of Synthesis have also set up a World Unity 2012 online hub where people can participate with livestreams from where they are and join in conversation about what's next.

“It's probably one of the most pointed to and significant times ever,” said Synthesis Executive Producer Michael DiMartino, who has been leading tours of Mayan sites for almost 20 years, establishing a close working relationship with the Mayan community in Piste Pueblo adjacent to the pyramids at Chichen Itza that he's tapping for this event. “We're at a crossroads in human history – and the crossroads are self-preservation or self-destruction...We create the future. As we make our decisions, we create the future now.”

While DiMartino and other festival organizers believe in the spiritual and energetic possibilities of this moment, they emphasize that it is an opportunity to bring together people with a variety of worldviews and belief systems and have a conversation about how the global community of people can work together on solutions.

“Obviously, the planet has been getting out of balance and there is a need to go back to basics,” said Debra Giusti, founder of the Harmony Festival and author of Transforming Through 2012. “We need to get back to the values of the indigenous people, but in the modern context making use of our technology.”

As I've interviewed people about 2012, from true believers to skeptics, mystics to scientists, a common theme has been that nobody knows what this intriguing moment portends. They have their hopes and their fears, their doubts and their desires. I'll be looking at the 2012 question from a variety of perspectives in my upcoming coverage, and I'm open to your suggestions and observations as well.

But for now, for me, I'm maintaining an open heart and an open mind. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, that are dreamt up in your philosophy,” Shakespeare's Hamlet said, a statement for ages that our modern minds, so rational and cynical, too often forget.

Maybe this metaphysical moment will be the anticlimactic New Age equivalent of Y2K, or maybe it will be an important signpost on the road to global transformation in consciousness, or something in between. Whatever happens, it's bound to be interesting, and I hope you'll join me on this journey." (2012 Progressive Religion)
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In Panicky Russia, It’s Official: End of World Is Not Near
New York Times

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Jupiter at It's Best Tonight

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2012 Mayan Apocalypse Rumors Have Dark Side, NASA Warns

Heads Up! The Writer's Astrological Almanac

By Kathy Watts ~ December 2012

We start the last month of the year on a Saturday (Saturn's day) withthe Moon at home in Cancer. It may be an emotionally rich (andemotionally charged) month, so protect your heart and try to beopen-hearted with others. Feelings always rate high this time ofyear, given the holiday season and family involvements, without anyextra help from the planets. Make it a deep, deep month!

Sun Dec 02 the Moon is in the final degrees, void of course, in Cancerwhen Jupiter exactly opposes the Sun. This means that Jupiter will behigh in the sky at midnight, and that it will be at its brightest.Plus, Jupiter is situated in the midst of the beautiful stars of theconstellation Taurus the Bull. Go out and look. Astrologicallyspeaking, no matter how big and empowered you may feel, you shouldhave some reserve of critical thinking to keep things under controland to make the most of this bright aspect. You may even be called onto be the focus of attention when you don't want or ask for it. Twelveminutes after the opposition is perfected, the Moon moves on andenters Leo. The glamour and grandstanding of the weekend may beapproaching its peak.

Wed Dec 05 the Moon is in Virgo all day. We have a month ofWednesdays with the Moon in a mutable sign. Is that not appropriatefor such a socially intense time of year? Don't let all your work timeget eaten by social demands. There is a ton of inspiring socializingthat you can write about later, though. Take notes, at least mentalnotes. Let Virgo help you stay disciplined today.

Mon Dec 10 the Moon conjuncts Saturn in Scorpio early in the day. Beserious about the truly serious stuff and give everything else a lighttouch. Afternoon, Mercury changes signs, to leave Scorpio and enterthe expansive generous sign of Sagittarius. Thoughts get bigger andbrighter.

Tue Dec 11 the Moon is Scorpio when the planet Mercury squares theplanet Neptune. Even uncomfortable dreams full of conflict can be fullof inspiration. Ten minutes later, the Moon conjuncts Venus inScorpio, then goes void of course. Venus in Scorpio can get a littlekinky, but with Saturn around you won't have to get into a whole lotof trouble. Put those racy impulses and flashy comments into the handsand mouths of your characters. Eleven hours later, the Moon conjunctsMercury in Sagittarius. Be content with the days' efforts. Perhapshave a chat and a drink with a writer friend.

Wed Dec 12 the Moon is in Sagittarius all day. If you can't write,edit. Is something finished? Submit it! At least read. It's also theday before the New Moon. Heads Up. Make an extra effort to be safe andpractical.

Thu Dec 13 is the New Moon at 21 Sag. Be grateful for the big thingsand big people in your life. Look in the mirror and say, 'Thank youfor being me.' Mean it. Now share yourself with the world in a big wayall lunar month long. Be gracious about it, though, and don't forceyourself on anyone.

Fri Dec 14 the Moon is in Capricorn when Mercury trines Uranus. Uranuscarries a bit of an extra kick, since it just turned stationary directyesterday. Don't expect to feel much influence, though, unless Uranusis strongly placed in your own natal chart. Five minutes later theMoon conjuncts Pluto in Capricorn. A lot of us usually feel this one.Luckily, it's all very early in the day, perhaps before some of us areeven out of bed. This can still be a productive, creative day.

Sat Dec 15 the Moon conjuncts Mars in Capricorn. This can give you alift and extra energy. Work and play may blur together. At night,Venus changes signs, moving out of Scorpio and into Sagittarius.Wherever you are, whomever you're with, be sure to smile. Venus is nowa guest in Jupiter's house. Let the holiday spirit begin in earnest!

Mon Dec 17 the Moon is void of course in Aquarius when Mercury opposesJupiter. This could be big constructive critical thinking, or bigmischief, or both. Heads Up. Seven hours later the Moon conjunctsNeptune in Pisces. This will definitely not help with the criticalthinking part of life. Dream responsibly.

Wed Dec 19 the Moon is in Pisces almost all day, going void of coursein the evening. You can churn out a lot of crude but effective firstdraft today. You don't have show it anyone, either. Shortly before endof day (on the US west coast, anyway) the Moon enters Aries. If youcan't sleep and are compelled to do a night owl shift of writing, whyfight it?

Thu Dec 20 the Moon conjuncts Uranus in Aries. Fresh ideas may justfall out of the sky into your head. It's also the last day of the Sunin Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius. Heads Up. This can sometimes be ahigh-energy, heady kind of day. A lot of people might be compelled tobig actions and big feelings. Tomorrow the world may develop a deeper,more solid and understated nature.

Fri Dec 21 is the first day of the Sun in Capricorn. It's the wintersolstice in the northern hemisphere, giving us the shortest day andlongest night of the year. Cast an ingress chart for your location toget a glimpse of what the next three months may be like for you. Thisyear, 0 degrees Capricorn also coincides with the galactic center ofthe Milky Way, our home galaxy, or so people are saying. If you thinkthe motion of the outer planets is slow, well, the precession of thestars is even slower. For the last several years, and for the nextseveral, 0 degrees Capricorn will be be conjunct the galactic center.Oh, and the galactic center is not exactly a point in the sky but itoccupies several minutes of arc, depending on what frequency you'relooking. I am not going Mayan apocalypse with this; in fact I'm noteven giving this a heads up. The Sun is now in Saturn-ruled Capricorn,and I have every expectation of the world still being here tomorrow.If nothing else, Saturn has staying power. Dig deep into new life andlet the new cycle of the Sun begin! Shine on!

Mon Dec 24 the Moon enters Gemini at the very end of day. Look forwardto a mentally and socially active Christmas eve, Christmas, andKwanzaa. A ton of classic works have been written about this time ofyear. Consider writing one of your own. Regardless, it's the Moon'sday of the week. Enjoy the people in your company.

Tue Dec 25 the Moon is in Gemini all day. The Moon conjuncts Jupiterlate in the afternoon. It's a lucky, happy day that you can writeabout later. Don't eat or drink too much, especially if you'redriving. Thirty-one minutes later, Mars moves out of Capricorn andenters the sign Aquarius. Robust Mars is still sort of on a Saturntether (Saturn traditionally ruling Aquarius) but now there's maybe atouch of Uranus (the modern ruler of Aquarius) to give that Marsenergy some outlet. Make it creative, fun, surprising, and positive.Yes, in addition to being a complicated sometimes baggage-laden majorholiday, it's also an astrologically complex day. Merry Christmas!

Wed Dec 26 the Moon is in Gemini all day. Have a great Kwanzaa! Wantmore holidays? It's Boxing Day. Also St. Stephen's Day. I'm no doubtmissing several more. You can still carve out some work time, if onlyto get a little privacy, peace, and quiet to recharge thosewriter/artist batteries.

Thu Dec 27 the Moon is in Gemini for the first half of the day, thenenters its home sign Cancer. If you're a night owl writer like me, youmight sleep through most of the morning. The Moon in Cancer can bringgood food and and smells to the workplace, though. Go easy on yourselfand do what you can. Let the year wind down naturally and go with theflow. If things are hectic and involved, you can navigate that, too.Just keep those emotions honest and under control and nobody's buttonswill get pushed.

Mon Dec 31 the Moon is in Leo when Mercury changes signs and entersthe sign of Capricorn. Here's the anchor that we want to take into thenew year. If you're the sort to make resolutions for the new year,this is a gift. The universe is offering a clearer head and morepractical thinking at this pivotal time. The Moon is also reminding usto love our work, ourselves, and the glory of life that every writerand artist is constantly exploring and celebrating.

We end the year with Saturn exerting its power over the Sun, Mercury,and also Mars (if you accept the traditional notion that Saturn rulesAquarius). Don't feel glum about this. Be grateful for the moderatinginfluences made available to us. Saturn has staying power, remember?So do we. Saturn is the embodiment of "perseverance furthers.' No onecan stop us from creating, no one but ourselves.

Be grateful for all the good that happened in the departing year (yes,there was some, no matter how it looks or feels at the moment) and begrateful for the incoming year and all its seen and unseenopportunities that have our names on them. These may be seriousdifficult times for many of us (can you say 'Saturn in Scorpio?') butwriters and artists have a strong, serious backbone of conviction andcommitment. All of us. Yes, you, too. Saturn sometimes bringirrational fear (especially combined with Neptune) but we canacknowledge that fear, call it by its true name, and plug onregardless. We are creators. That's what we do. We create. Then weperfect it. In the end, even Saturn respects us, if we respect ourwork. Face the uncertain future and call it by its true name, which isthe Present.

And on we go! Have a marvelous, rich, and splendid coming year, oneday at a time.

Heads Up!

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Mayas hope for better Baktun. . .

Mayas hope for better Baktun, complain of government banning rituals at archaeological sites

MEXICO CITY— "Mayan priests started off ceremonies aimed at marking the end of the current era in the Mayan long-count calendar Thursday, with dancing, incense and rituals designed to thank the gods.

The Mayas performed the “New Fire” ceremony at a park in Mexico City, but complained they have been barred by authorities from performing rituals at their ancestral temples in the Maya region.

The Mayas measure time in 394-year periods known as Baktuns. The 13th Baktun ends around Dec. 21, and 13 is considered a sacred number for the Maya.

The estimated 800,000 surviving Mayas in Mexico are hoping for a better new Baktun than the one now ending, which began around 1618. It included the painful aftermath of the Spanish conquest in which Mayas and other indigenous groups saw their temples and sacred writings systematically destroyed and their population decimated by European diseases and forced labor.

“This is the ending of an era for the Maya, an era which has been very intense for us, in which we have had suffering and pain,” said Mayan priest Jose Manrique Esquivel, 52, who wore a feather headdress and body paint for the ceremony. For the new Baktun, he said, “we are praying the wars, the conflicts, the hunger to end.”

The Maya survived all of that suffering with their pride intact.

“We were not conquered, we are still here, we are alive and so is our culture our language, our food, our history,” Manrique Esquivel said.

The priest, who is in agreement with most archaeologists and astronomers, doesn’t believe the ancient Mayas predicted the world would end with the close of the current Baktun. Some bloggers and astronomy enthusiasts have suggested the Mayan calendar would “run out” on Dec. 21.

Despite the generally festive atmosphere at the ceremony, there was some discontent that the government won’t allow Mayan priests and healers to perform their ceremonies inside archaeological sites like Chichen Itza, Coban and Tulum that their ancestors built.

“We would like to do these ceremonies in the archaeological sites, but unfortunately they won’t let us enter,” Manrique Esquivel said. “It makes us angry, but that’s the way it is ... we perform our rituals in patios, in fields, in vacant lots, wherever we can.”

Francisco de Anda, the press director for the government’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, which oversees archaeological sites in Mexico, said there were two reasons for the ban on ceremonies. “In part it is for visitor safety, and also for preservation of the sites, especially on dates when there are massive numbers of visitors.”

For example, he noted, at the spring equinox in 2011, about 35,000 people visited Chichen Itza on a single day. Throngs of that size create potential hazards on stairways and in other steep or narrow spots, and holding ceremonies with fire or incense might add to that, he said.

“Many of the groups that want to hold ceremonies bring braziers and want to burn incense, and that simply isn’t allowed,” De Anda added.

Moreover, they probably couldn’t perform rituals on the temple platforms where their ancestors worshipped, because the structures could deteriorate under the weight and the foot traffic of the gatherings.

“For conservation reason, there is a ban on climbing up about 80 percent of the structures at Chichen Itza,” De Anda said.

De Anda said a big spike in visitors was also expected at sites like the ruins of the Mayan city of Coban and the seaside ruins at Tulum, where similar rules are in effect.

Saul Ancona, the tourism secretary for Yucatan, the state in southern Mexico with the largest Mayan population, said the Mayas would be very much present in what is being billed as the “Festival of the Maya Culture” planned to coincide with Dec. 21.

He said that a presentation called “Sacred Moments of the Maya” would be performed by about 250 Mayas in the Yucatan city of Valladolid and that the state was promoting the date as a chance for visitors “to enjoy Mayan culture and get to know the Mayas.”

Ancona is so sure the world isn’t going to end that the state tourism department is already planning the 2013 edition of the festival. “What we have done is to plan a series of festivals, to celebrate a new era, a new beginning,” he said.
The Washington Post