2012: the start of a global revolution

     Did the year 2011 seem a bit rude? Too many drastic changes, a revolutionary atmosphere? Well, take this: apparently, it was only a rehearsal for the years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, which will intensify the trends of the year that just ended. Among the planetary combinations that can be identified as indicators of change and reform, undoubtedly the strongest are the interactions between Jupiter and Uranus, that started happening in early 2011. There was a parallel, a conjunction (which was simultaneous to the revolution in Egypt), a contra parallel (which matched the start of the Lybian civil war) and two semisextiles along the year. Any combination between Jupiter and Uranus is an indicator of a great desire for freedom, and this coincides with a strengthening of social trends that seek radical change. It is rare in itself that these planets make so many significant contacts in the same year. Particularly, the contra parallel and the parallel happened around the equinoctial point, an important axis that reflects the development of international events. Any planet that crosses this axis mirrors important events in the world.

    If this seems hard to believe at first sight, just take note that on March 11th, 2011, Uranus crossed the equinox point, entering the zodiacal sign of Aries  as the tsunami disaster in Japan  and the crisis of the nuclear plant in Fukushima happened. It is inevitable to realize that this terrible event should make us reconsider our relationship with nature and atomic energy. If Uranus normally represents change, now it indicates how necessary it is to redirect our development as a civilization. This cannot  be but a long and painful process in a world dominated by the power of money and corruption, which is based on a philosophy of competition and subjugation, not of unity and freedom . But this transition has made it clear that a significant part of the world population has already responded to this call for renewal, largely thanks to the Internet and technology, also associated with Uranus. However, this change is not expected to occur automatically: the first impulse of Uranus in Aries has been aggressive, and that, we see reflected in the bloody revolutions that have emerged in countries like Syria, Libya, Egypt ...


The beginning of a period of intense change

     But it is not a time to get some rest from such processes, since during the next four years Uranus will interact intensely with another planet that symbolizes profound change: Pluto. Both celestial bodies will be placed in seven occassions at 90 ° from each other, forming a square, a highly dynamic relationship and suggesting an intensification of global change. Pluto is in the zodiacal sign of Capricorn, which represents governments, and Uranus in Aries, which represents the emergence of individuality. Therefore, difficult processes are expected, in which governance structures will be strongly challenged by the citizens' initiative and/or oppositions, secret or not, out of control.

     Uranus transiting the zodiac sign of Aries indicates that this energetic pull is strong and liberating, but thoughtless, impulsive and aggressive, even if it goes forward on the evolutionary path. On the other hand, Pluto is a planet whose character is manipulative: there is a not-so-latent danger in the attempts of control by many governments, who apparently will try to repress a situation that is by nature difficult to manipulate. Such a scenario could most likely be related to the inability of governments to respond to the needs and expectations of the population and to deal with the problems of a decadent civilization. The result is normally a fierce struggle between rebellion and repression. So, nobody wins and everyone loses when  positions get radical. Of course, each country or region will experience things differently, according to prevailing local conditions.


The renewal cycle Uranus / Pluto and its critical phases: 1965/1966 and 2012/2015

     At a personal level there is much that can be done to improve this situation. After all, the masses are made of thousands or millions of individuals. The problem is that they usually respond in an unconscious way to collective trends. We should clearly understand these processes as individuals in order to be abe to manage them. Otherwise, we risk being overwhelmed or swallowed by them without knowing the reason. A greater awareness about the process we are through as a genre and the time we live in, makes us less likely to succumb to History. So, in the next four years it will be necessary to know that this square Uranus / Pluto is only one phase of a 140 year-cycle between the two planets. The cycles of the slower planets of the solar system  are the most important for the evolution of society, as their slow motion makes their "effect" last longer. But a four-year process, is almost half a decade. It is expected then that the coming years are those that will mark the revolutionary character of the 2010s within the XXIst century, just as events in the 1960's are important points of reference in the XXth century. At least, as far as revolution is concerned.

      The present cycle between Uranus and Pluto began with their conjunction in 1965, in the midst of a decade that witnessed a cultural and social as well as technological revolution. In the beginning of a cycle is where lie the seeds of what will be developed later. We can expect that every time there is a significant astrological contact between Uranus and Pluto, the basic themes of the beginning of the cycle are repeated. If we take a glimpse of what happened in the legendary 60's, we can infer that at this stage paradigms are more or less the same as in the era of psychedelia: the need for transgression, for transcendence, the rebellion towards traditional institutions, a political, cutural, religious, social liberation. In this transgression there were of course some excesses, but there were also great events, as the arrival of humans to the Moon, which in turn greatly promoted the same development of technology that today, after 40 years, makes us speak for free in a long-distance videoconference. Not all revolutions have to be bloody, but we still insist to make them that way. Isn't this caused by a lack of awareness?

    Change is not good or bad: it is an essential part of life. Just as there are times and processes where what prevails is stability, preservation, security,  there are other when forms and traditions are broken for different reasons. Humans know, though not always want to acknowledge it, that life is an alternation of generation, preservation and ultimately, destruction processes. At certain times one of them becomes stronger, at other times it will be another one. "There is no evil that lasts a hundred years," says popular wisdom, and in periods of radical change as this, conscious individuals can properly channel the general trend and use it to make advance their own projects for the benefit of others and of themselves. Of course, in a civilization in decline, this process of intense change can bring down a structure already cracked by time, excesses, greed, evil ... But some people will have the mission to strongly push forward in their own field of action in order to go with the tide instead of being swept by it.


June 2012: interaction with the Antennae galaxies and M22

      If we look closely at the first two squares of Uranus and Pluto we wil be able to discern more accurately  what does each one reflect, as both largely define the atmosphere in 2012. The first square occurs on June 24, 2012, with Uranus in opposition to the Antennae galaxies, and Pluto conjunct the star cluster M22. The Antennae Galaxies are a visually stunning example of a collision of galaxies in the constellation of Corvus, the Crow. Both figures are heavily distorted by the interaction, indicating disturbing relationships, but also enriching. The collision of galaxies causes the birth of millions of stars in the compressed gas and dust floating in them. If Uranus is in opposition to them, this may mean a resistance to being influenced or cooperate. Internationally, there may be crisis caused by the refusal of some countries or conservative sectors to cooperate in certain areas. It can also symbolize clandestine or rebellious tendencies that oppose government policies.

     The Antennae Galaxies reflect largely the process of globalization. It is no longer possible to exist in this world without being part of this process and this involves changes in policies and laws. Resistance to cooperate and participate will be difficult and will be one of the main issues around these dates. Interestingly, Pluto, which is usually the "bad boy" of the movie, this time seems to indicate the way out to these problems. Pluto square Uranus makes an ecliptic conjunction with the star cluster M22, one of the most balanced in our galaxy and one that shows coexistence can be moderated through a balance between control and freedom. If Pluto is an evolutionary transformation agent, then this square points in the direction of a balance, which does not sound too bad. But this balance must be strong enough to resist the extremist, rebellious tendency symbolized by Uranus.


September 2012: Interaction with M5 and M69

     Such is the prevailing atmosphere in mid-2012, and that arises from the first square that will serve to "loosen" the groundwork for the changes related to the other six. What about the next square Uranus / Pluto? This will take place on September 18th, 2012, Uranus being in parallel with the star cluster M5 and Pluto conjunct the star cluster M69. Apparently, this is more conflictive, since Uranus, symbolizing the process of change and renewal, is parallel to M5, a cluster that represents conservative tendencies. Somehow, it's as if Uranus were to renovate a structure that does not want to get updated. Resistance to change and ultra-conservative, fascist policies will certainly trigger a significant crisis, probably also extending to the financial field.

     What comes to mind are policies or areas, traditionalist or ultranationalist, that already represent a serious challenge and a threat to international stability: Iran, Pakistan, North Korea ...but also conservative groups in western countries. In a year of the Dragon, provocative statements and threats will be commonplace... Hopefully the moderating trend symbolized by Pluto and M22 will stil be in effect! But this can happen within any country and within ourselves... On several occasions we wil be faced to the challenge of making decisions based on new concepts, making our traditions protest and resist. Probably this will affect our personal finances, and the world.

     This can be inferred from the conjunction of Pluto to the cluster M69, which represents value and wealth. If Pluto involves a regenerative process, in this case is to regenerate the global financial system, and much of the adjustments will merely come out of the Euro crisis, which is likely to intensify greatly as the Uranus/Pluto squares happen one after another. But this is caused by the existing distribution of wealth and means of production, which need urgently to be converted in order to serve people and nature, and not just for the benefit of a few while destroying the environment. This is a long process, of course, but in 2012 we'll see the beginning of a new direction outlined. The political unrest in the financial markets in 2011 is due to the uncertainty and lack of consensus, as indicated by the conjunction of Neptune with the cluster M15 at the end of 2011, which tends to discordant viewpoints and difficulties in making deals. But the real show in the international financial system is just about to begin.


Personal involvement in the wave of renewal

    Not much has been achieved so far, but it is likely that things will change around September 2012. If by then there is already an action plan to help stabilize the Euro, for example, governments are likely to implement adjustments. These are strict and probably have a good effect, to balance somehow the crisis in the political arena. But maybe the reverse will actually happen: the economic crisis is simultaneous with a renewal policy in some countries where governments are conservative or fascist. Yes, the miracles can happen, but the most plausible is definitely the former option. Anyway, severe financial crisis are expected in which the output window is renewal, and the problem will be caused by resistance, non-cooperation, both at a global and at a personal level.

     Each country has an individual chart, so, in order to know what will happen in more detail, it is necessary to see how the first two squares between Uranus and Pluto fit in each one. But this is beyond the scope of this article, which is to expose the meaning and assess the relevance of this phenomenon, an important square between two slow planets. Each country deserves an article, which will be published in the Galactic Guide as the year goes on... But this planetary combination is real, and it is important to know it nature at a critical moment in the evolution of humanity and the planet. More even so when we are being literally bombarded with information about the alleged "Mayan Prophecies". Now even the general trend is against this misinformation, which poses a Hollywood imagination apocalyptic scenario. This can be dangerous, because then a lot of people convinced that something will happen can help catalyze a drastic change, but guided by fear and terror, as has happened on numerous occasions with the rise of fascist leaders to power ... But it doesn't mean that nothing will happen in 2012! It's just a reality, not a fantasy.

     Of course there will be drastic changes, and we must be aware of them, so we do not get exposed to dangers and resistances that generate contradictions. If changes are catalyzed by natural phenomena, change and adaptation will be forced. As you read this, vast quantities of methane aren being released to the atmosphere because of global warming, which melts the ice that has kept it under the surface for thousands of years. Nobody knows what might happen, but surely this can lead to several destructive natural phenomena. If only governments were aware of the astrological trends both globally and in their own countries... But unfortunately the paradigm of our civilization does not include a vision aligned with the Cosmos, and essentially that's what must change in the long run.

     Life on Earth, devoid of its umbilical cord to the universe and nature loses its real meaning. A less materialistic, mechanistic and competitive attitude, a socially oriented policy, with cooperation and truly spiritualized vision is what we need to survive as a civilization and species. The planet will continue turning and live much longer beyond  these squares, over millions of years, even when the human species no longer exists. But the challenge here and now in 2012 is to open the way for rethinking our paradigms, our points of reference, and commit to this process in our field of individual and/or collective action.

But we must do so without fear, as expanding our consciousness is everyone's responsibility.


Carlos Duarte
January 2012