Diciembre 21/22: Reflexiones acerca del centro de la Galaxia, de la Nebulosa Trífida (M20) y del Solsticio de Diciembre 2012

Diciembre 21/22: Muchas personas han asumido que el solsticio de Diciembre 2012 es especial por estar "alineado" con el centro de la galaxia. Si bien representa el inicio de una nueva cuenta calendárica en el calendario maya, el solsticio 2012 está orientado hacia el centro de la Vía Láctea, pero su correspondencia no es exacta. Según las American Ephemeris for the 21st Century de Neil Michelsen (ACS publications), una de las efemérides más reconocidas a nivel mundial por su calidad y precisión, el 21 de Diciembre 2012, el centro de la galaxia se ubica en el zodiaco tropical en el grado 27 de Sagitario con un minuto (27°01'). Para que el punto solsticial señale exactamente al centro de la Vía Láctea, éste tendría que situarse a los 0° 00' del signo tropical de Capricornio. Esto va a suceder en el futuro, pero faltan aproximadamente 300 años para ello, ya que la esfera celeste se desliza, en virtud de la precesión de los equinoccios, a un ritmo de aproximadamente un grado cada 70 años.


Un deseo colectivo de cambio

     Definitivamente, le tocará a nuestros descendientes experimentar el evento (si nuestra civilización todavía existe, claro está). Lo que se ha venido denominando como "las profecías mayas" o "el fin del mundo" es una creación de los medios, que se han visto ampliamente beneficiados con la atención que le ha dado el público en general. Tal vez muchas personas no hayan creído que el mundo se iba a terminar porque lo dice una profecía, pero sí es probable que la gente ya esté tan cansada de nuestro modelo decadente de civilización, que cualquier pretexto para situar el inicio de un cambio es bueno. ¡Y qué mejor que situarlo en un calendario tan interesante y largo como el maya!

     Los medios han estado vendiendo desde hace años un cocktail de calendarios mayas, milenarismo, Era de Acuario, alineaciones galácticas y profecías apocalípticas. El solsticio 2012, al igual que los del siglo pasado y los de los siglos venideros, sucede aproximadamente en la dirección del centro galáctico, que por cierto, probablemente contenga un hoyo negro masivo que difícilmente tenga la característica de crecimiento de conciencia que le atribuyen. Pero en realidad solamente la repetición durante muchos ciclos seguidos es  lo que realmente determina  un tema específico como un cambio de conciencia,, no un evento único.


Ciclos astronómicos: vivimos en la transición entre las eras de Acuario/Piscis

     Si es que existe un proceso de alineación con el centro galáctico que nos haga cambiar de conciencia, ese proceso lleva mucho tiempo operando. prácticamente lo hizo durante  todo el siglo XX, que se caracterizó por muchos avances, pero también por una gran destrucción. Difícilmente pueda hablarse de una "alineación" con una voluntad superior, a menos que sea la del temible hoyo negro en el centro de la Vía Láctea... Si nos limitamos a un margen muy estrecho, el proceso entonces todavía no comienza y no pertenece a nuestro siglo. Lo mismo puede decirse del inicio de la Era de Acuario, que es muy controvertido pues hay muchas versiones diferentes. Éstas incluyen las versiones que dicen que la Era de Acuario ya comenzó, otros que está comenzando, y otros más, que todavía no llega. En realidad, cada era dura aproximadamente dos mil años, pero como las Eras se prefiguran en referencia a las constelaciones, que son de tamaños diferentes, puede esperarse que todas tengan una duración diferente.

     En realidad, todos estos ciclos son tan grandes, que rebasan por mucho la de una vida humana y hasta la de varias generaciones. Se trata de ciclos históricos o geológicos, cuyas transiciones no se dan drásticamente de un momento al otro, como mucha gente pretendía que pasara en el momento del solsticio 2012. En el presente, seguimos en la Era de Piscis, dominada por el cristianismo y la ciencia, pero estamos situados al final de ésta, en la cual ya se empiezan a ver los indicadores de la Era de Acuario. históricamente, tienen que ver con el descubrimiento de Urano (1781), planeta asociado al signo zodiacal de Acuario y que representa la tecnología, la revolución, el individuo y su libertad. Estos temas están luchando por surgir e imponerse a los patrones de la Era de Piscis, dominada grandemente en la actualidad por el fanatismo religioso y los excesos amorales de la ciencia.

     Entonces, ¿qué es lo que significa este solsticio de Diciembre 2012? Nada más y nada menos que el inicio de una estación del año, de un ciclo, tal cual termina un ciclo contabilizado por los mayas y empieza otro nuevo. En el inicio está la semilla de lo que posteriormente se desarrollará, y de ahí la obsesión del inconsciente colectivo humano, ávido de cambio y de nuevos puntos culturales de referencia, con empezar bien un nuevo ciclo. ¡Si así empezáramos todos los ciclos importantes, tal vez serviría para ampliar nuestra conciencia! pero muchos eventos astrológicos de gran importancia pasan desapercibidos para el público en general simplemente porque los medios no les prestan atención. En casos como éste, se ha generado un mito moderno de la creación, que expresa, a través de un rompecabezas mediático, un arquetipo fundamental de resurrección. Si las masas creen en un cambio, es porque probablemente lo deseen intensamente, para dejar resurgir la esencia creativa y libre del ser humano en medio de un capitalismo deshumanizado y controlador.


La influencia de la Nebulosa Trífida en los solsticios: competencia vs. cooperación

     Por lo pronto, desde hace más de medio siglo, los solsticios de Diciembre suceden alineados con la Nebulosa Trífida (M20) un interesante y vistoso objeto celeste en la constelación de Sagitario. En todo caso, creo que el hecho de que este objeto esté mucho más cerca de nosotros que el centro de la galaxia le otorga una prioridad en la interpretación de los solsticios. M20 es interesante porque combina una Nebulosa de reflexión superpuesta a una de emisión, cuyos respectivos colores azul y rosa contrastan fuertemente dándole una belleza sobrenatural. En el interior de esta nebulosa hay muchas estrellas en formación, pero las que iluminan mayormente a la región desde su interior, como si fuera una lámpara, es un trío de estrellas de muy alta temperatura y gran tamaño, que compiten ferozmente por el espacio del que disponen y disuelven con su extrema radiación ultravioleta a todos los embriones estelares a su alrededor. Se trata de una "nebulosa feroz", a pesar de su gran atractivo visual. Y astrológicamente, representa relaciones de poder, conflictos ideológicos, entre otras cosas...

      Quizás lo que nos indican los cuerpos celestes situados muy cerca de los puntos solsticiales y equinocciales son los paradigmas que serán los puntos de referencia de la sociedad humana aproximadamente durante un siglo... Nuestro punto de referencia puede ser una lucha de poder entre las diferentes tendencias de la sociedad, tanto aquellas que la construyen como aquellas que la hunden. El deseo de competir para tener el poder, económico, militar, social o intelectual es un estándar para nuestra civilización, que coincide más con el simbolismo de la nebulosa Trífida que con el del centro de la galaxia. El que cada solsticio de Diciembre haya una alineación de la Tierra, el Sol y M20 subraya el tema del poder para el inconsciente colectivo. Claro que, como individuos podemos reaccionar personalmente a ello, y decidir si aceptamos para construir nuestra realidad un esquema de competencia o uno de cooperación.


Solsticio 2012: el Sol y Juno cooperan para que M20 luche por causas justas

     En todo caso, deberíamos plantearnos usos positivos para este paradigma de poder y ponerlo al uso de nuestra supervivencia y no de nuestra destrucción. Por lo pronto, el solsticio 2012 contiene una conjunción del Sol con el asteroide Juno, que indica que durante el invierno (o el Verano en el hemisferio sur) el trabajo importante en general, para toda la sociedad humana es en las relaciones, en particular las cercanas: pareja, matrimonio, amigos, colaboradores cercanos. El deseo de Juno es la unión justa, el intercambio equilibrado. ¿Servirá esta conjunción para neutralizar la ferocidad despiadada de M20?

     La unión hace la fuerza, así que más allá de fantasías apocalípticas, intereses mediáticos y mitos modernos, es importante que nos unamos en conciencia para guiar un proceso de cambio que comenzó en el siglo XVIII con la declaración de los derechos humanos y seguirá evolucionando hasta que éstos se conviertan una realidad para cada persona en el planeta. Pero para lograrlo, hay que luchar de muchas maneras diferentes; tenemos, juntos, unidos,  que cuidar de nuestro planeta, por supervivencia.

     ¡Es pues un buen siglo para luchar por causas justas y ayudar al planeta! ¿De qué manera van a cooperar para ello en este invierno (o verano) 2012/2013?

November 13/14: A solar eclipse in opposition to star cluster M34 transformes our social environment, emphasizing enriching exchange and personal value in relationships

November 13/14: Solar Eclipse in opposition to star cluster M34. Eclipses of the Sun represents a task to be performed during the next six months. The moment when they happen only indicate the area in which we must work. All living entities on Earth receive this "cosmic notification", no matter if they are located in the shadow of the eclipse or not. Indeed, despite the dramatic and evocative beauty of the phenomenon, an eclipse is only an alignment between the Sun, Moon and Earth, in which the three celestial bodies are on the same axis in relation to the zodiac or ecliptic. This indicates the start of a new semester cycle. In the beginning of the cycle is contained all the story that will subsequently develop over 24 weeks...

     This time, the alignment occurs in the sign of Scorpio and in ecliptic opposition to an interesting star cluster: M34, an open cluster in the constellation Perseus. The sign of Scorpio is associated with a tendency to deepen, to transform, to regenerate. Meanwhile, M34 is an open cluster or star family with many features that can be activated from the eclipse. The most important of these is that M34 has several double stars, whether only visual (gravitationally unrelated) or binary systems. That is largely the work represented by the eclipse: it is about relationships, the social and the personal formula we have for relating. Scorpio indicates the tendency to go deep, to get to the bottom of relationships and change the rules or patterns of behavior that have proved problematic in recent months.

    Clearly this can match some crises and emotional catharsis. But without a shock, there is no motivation for change. Therefore, it is important to cooperate with the trend instead of taking it as a negative influence. Those who have suppressed their emotions or denied certain emotional reactions will have more difficult to deal with this diving in the depths of the psyche. But those more accustomed to introspection psychoanalysis may even get to enjoy it. But we will all face the possibility of seeing the actual background of our relationships, and this will undoubtedly lead to modify some behavioral patterns that are not working.

     Perhaps the most important one is related to our personal value, and how we handle relationships. If the exchange serves only to put one of the members on a pedestal while the other part is underestimated, the job will  be to balance the nature of the association. Why is this possible? M34 is a cluster that has high metallicity, i.e., chemical elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. This often happens with relatively young clusters, which are formed from clouds enriched with more complex chemical elements  from previous generations of stars.

     The higher the metallicity, the higher the value. In this eclipse, M34 invites us to raise the value of our relationships, increasing self-esteem, properly valuing each person and giving the proper place to our aqcuaintances. The greater the imbalance, the more intense the process, because the effort to correct what is not working is much higher. People who already have built a balanced formula to relate can enjoy an enriching exchange: it is a semester in which we can team up with people who'll bring us good things, while letting go of those contacts that are detrimental or unfair .

     Furthermore, this increase in value can be very important in personal finance: it may involve a diversification of business or revenue. In this sense, the enrichment is not so much in quantity but in quality (although M34 is a rich cluster, with over 400 stars). We can do more with less time or effort, find a better paying job, or just be in the place where one is valued according to their qualities. Obviously, abuse, contempt and excessive convenience will cause widespread unrest in the coming months ... Internationally, the eclipse reveals strategic economic alliances, particularly to deal with the crisis caused by an unequal distribution of wealth. The contrasts between scenes of deprivation and the excesses of capitalism will certainly be seen in social networks, even more than in recent months. The economy will constantly make headlines during this semester...

     But the most important lesson of this eclipse of November 2012 is that union makes strength. If  we mutually reinforce the value of the things we care about, and if there is a real will to improve, corporations and corrupt governments can hardly harm the people of Earth. And if in many cases the imbalance will be visible, it is just to be offset by people united in solidarity. This happens both in the privacy of a home or company, in the streets occupied by people protesting or in a constructive dialogue between civil society and governments, but the important thing is to let it happen. If there is no union, there is no transformation, and if people disperses, it is a kind of betrayal. Over the next six months, choose carefully the associations that represent a real and deeply transformative enrichment.

Carlos Duarte

Research Astrologer

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