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Astrology
of the New
Millennium: One of the fundamental issues we are faced with as we approach the new millennium is the question of when it actually begins. Many will celebrate the dawning of the new millennium on January 1, 2000. Others argue that the year 2000 marks the last year of the first millennium and that the new millennium actually begins January 1, 2001. Regardless of what viewpoint we subscribe to it is clear that in the collective consciousness both dates are equally important. After studying the astrological charts for each event I feel that we can gain invaluable guidance by seeing the Y2K chart (January 1, 2000) as a preparatory or initiatory event for the Millennium Chart (January 1, 2001). Specifically, the Y2K chart speaks of the inevitable breakdowns and transformation that precede major breakthroughs that we will experience as we enter the new millennium. In casting a chart for a specific event we are mapping the angular relationships or aspects that occur between the planets on that day. (I have also included the four major asteroids that orbit between Mars and Jupiter: Pallas, Ceres, Vesta and Juno). As each planet has its own cycle of rotation around the sun (faster with the inner planets and slower with the outer), these angular relationships are constantly changing. Within the greater cycle of the planet’s journey around the sun is the lesser cycle that each pair of planets goes through with each other. We can interpret these angular relationships, whether challenging or flowing, as opportunities for growth on both personal and collective levels. We can also view the information obtained in an event chart for a specific day as being symbolic of the influences for the whole year. The Road Map: Planetary Aspects Before I launch into interpreting the two millennium events, I want to explain in more detail the concept of planetary aspects. In many ways the cycle of the planets, through their constantly changing angular relationships with one another, can be likened to that of a giant wave. What we know about waves occurring in nature, whether they are made up of water, light or sound, is that there are other waves that accompany the principle wave which are half as long, one third as long, one fourth as long and so on. These "sub-waves" are known as harmonics of the fundamental or principle wave. In astrology, these harmonics make up what we call the aspect series and are derived from dividing the circle (360 degrees) by 1, 2,3, 4, 5, etc. The most common of the aspects are the conjunction, opposition, trine, square and sextile. When two planets are in the same sign we say they are conjunct; they are "in union" (1st harmonic; the principle wave) with each other and form a whole that is greater then the sum of their individual energies. As the planets move half way through their cycle with each other, they form an opposition (2nd harmonic) which brings awareness to their polarity or complementary energies. A third of the way through their cycle they are in trine (3rd harmonic) which is represented by a balanced and flowing interchange. One fourth of the way they are in square (4th harmonic) which represents the urge for dynamic change and resistance to each other at the same time. Lastly, when two planets are one sixth of the way through their cycle with each other they are in sextile (6th harmonic) which symbolizes constructive utilization of their respective energies. This movement of planetary pairs from conjunction to conjunction, then, is like a giant cosmic wave constantly changing in its flow. When planetary energies are in their trine or sextile positions we feel more aligned with their energy. When in opposition or square we have to be much more aware of using the planetary energies consciously and constructively. Depending on which planets are conjoining each other, we can either be over stimulated or catapulted into action. Utilizing the planetary energies constructively is like learning how to ride the wave. If your timing is off and you are not aware you can get your face slammed into the sand, but if you become one with the wave you are picked up and carried by its gentle but powerful guidance to your destination. The Y2K Chart: January 1, 2000 In comparison to the millennium chart, the Y2K chart has many more challenging or stressful planetary aspects. It is the challenging aspects; the squares and oppositions, that create dynamic tension and compel us into action. There is no question that the threat of Y2K technological breakdown has mobilized a great deal of people into action. The next step, though, is to look at what Y2K is mirroring to us in terms of the deeper psychological and spiritual changes that we are being asked to make. One of the side effects of Y2K preparation is that it has brought people together in a massive cooperative effort. To me this is the heart of what the Y2K chart is about. We are being asked to let go of our separateness and sense of isolation. We are also being asked to channel our will power into humanitarian causes that care for or defend those in need. In the Y2K chart we see this cooperative effort illustrated by the asteroid Ceres in Libra in the 12th house conjunct the Libra ascendant or rising sign. Ceres is the goddess of nurturing and her position in the Y2K chart speaks of our desire, (still somewhat unconscious; Ceres in the 12th house) of learning how to interact with others in an egalitarian manner. Ceres in Libra is also squared (4th harmonic) Mercury and Juno in Capricorn in the third house and the Sun in Capricorn in the 4th. This square speaks to the tension between our need for self-reliance and security (Capricorn) and our need to unconditionally support others (Libra). This tension can be seen in the "survivalist" attitude of some factions of the early Y2K movement. This "every man for himself" or isolationist attitude is also reflected in the T-square formation between the moon in Scorpio, Uranus in Aquarius and Saturn in Taurus. In the T-square two planets oppose each other (moon and Saturn) and square (90 degrees) a third planet which is at the midpoint of the opposition (Uranus). With this particular T-square, the challenge is to resist numbing out and isolating ourselves to avoid feelings of despair and hopelessness. In other words, we are being challenged to stay present to our feelings about the state of the planet even though the problems we face seem overwhelming at times. The gift of this T-square formation is reflected in the advice that the great teacher Khrisnamurti offered many years ago: "If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem". By suppressing our emotional response to the world’s problems (Moon in Scorpio opposite Saturn in Taurus) we also suppress our ability to intuitively sense the solutions (Moon in Scorpio square Uranus in Aquarius). To resolve the issues of this T-Square requires that we align our thinking with the source of creative intelligence or intuitive awareness (Pallas in Leo opposite Uranus in Aquarius). This T-square suggests that the answers to the problems we face can not be discerned at the level of thinking that created them. It is through our willingness to fully experience our problems without denial or repression that opens us to the possibility of innovative solutions that come directly from higher mind. Speaking Our Truth: Chiron & Pluto in Sagittarius Another striking feature of the Y2K chart is the exact conjunction of Pluto and Chiron in Sagittarius in the third house of communication. The desire to share our collective wisdom was heralded by Pluto’s transit into the sign of Sagittarius in November 1995. Pluto’s previous journey through the sign of Scorpio from November 1983-November 1995 challenged us to face our collective shadow and to resolve issues having to do with inappropriate uses of power. Now that Pluto is in Sagittarius, we have the opportunity to use our collective will for building a social consciousness that is inclusive, that is related to collective values rather than individual values. Chiron, which is often described as a comet or planetoid, is also in Sagittarius from January 1999 - December 2001. In mythology, Chiron is know as "the wounded healer" because of a wound he received from a poison arrow. Being immortal, Chiron didn't die as a result of his wound but could never quite recover and was destined to live in pain. This theme of personal suffering, and what awareness and meaning we can derive from it, becomes the central theme of the myth and the planet Chiron. With Chiron and Pluto conjunct in Sagittarius the focus is on healing the wounds we have around trusting our inherent wisdom. On a personal level it is a time for our sages and philosophers, our wise women and men, our crones and priestesses, (you know who you are) to come out of hiding and to share their wisdom! Pluto and Chiron in Sagittarius will empower the truth but only if it is spoken!. It is now time to throw off the injunctions (from past and present lives) that have prevented us from speaking the truth as we know it. This may look like letting go of the thought that we must have advanced degrees or special training to validate and prove our spiritual authority. Or it may require that we learn to let go of the conscious mind long enough so that our inherent wisdom can surface on it’s own without censoring. The ultimate challenge that is revealed in the Y2K chart is to fully own our spiritual truth and to let go of trying to appease outside authorities (Saturn in Taurus in the 8th house inconjunct Pluto and Chiron in the third). As we let go of our need for approval we can then tap into the power of the Jupiter /Chiron & Pluto sesqui-square aspect. This aspect speaks of the desire to shift and transform mass consciousness through personal empowerment (Jupiter in Aries in the 7th) and universal truth (Pluto/Chiron in Sagittarius). Having done our healing work, Pluto and Chiron in Sagittarius will bring us incredible opportunities to powerfully manifest universal truth and wisdom on the planet. Letting Go of Resistance Before we move onto the Y2001 chart I want to mention one aspect in the Y2K chart that was also highly visible in the August 11, 1999 eclipse. With Saturn in Taurus squaring Uranus in Aquarius in both the eclipse chart and Y2K we are being challenged to get out of the way of change both personally and collectively. The fundamental issue here is letting go of resistance. We have all heard by now that the frequency (Uranus) of the planet is increasing while, at the same time, the gravitational pull (Saturn) is decreasing. Whether we like it or not change is not only inevitable but is gaining increasing momentum on the planet. Outwardly, we see the reflection of this dynamic tension of Saturn/Uranus in the resistance by people around the planet to oppressive regimes that stifle freedom and liberation . We also see this tension in the form of catastrophic earth changes that remind us that nothing is permanent. The good news is that individually we can have a profound effect on the external world as we learn to accept and embrace change within ourselves. By letting go of patterns of control, struggle and survival we can accelerate our transformation and learn how to tune into the energy of Uranus in Aquarius without resistance. Uranus’ passage through Aquarius (April 1995- March 2003) represents a major energetic shift as we move more fully into the Age of Energy. We are already seeing the outward manifestations of this energy in global communication technologies, magnetic resonance imagery and ultrasonic or harmonic medicine. On a personal level we can attune to this energetic shift by shifting from Saturnian ways of having power (control, consolidation & crystallization) to Uranian ways of being power (alignment, attunement & ascension.) As we let go of resistance to change (Saturn) the highest manifestations of Uranian energy can come forward: energetic healing, present moment awareness, advanced intuitive abilities, creative innovation, and humanitarian reform. And, as we embrace these changes within, the external world will no longer have to mirror back to us the catastrophic disruptions we are now experiencing. The Y2001 Chart: January 1, 2001 The Y2K chart, as I mentioned earlier, seems to reveal the changes that we are being asked to make on the personality level. As we let go of our sense of separateness and isolation and begin to trust our deepest wisdom we can begin to open to the deeper spiritual potential of the new millennium. In the Y2001 chart, this spiritual potential is symbolized by our longing or desire for unity or oneness with spirit. With the moon in Pisces in the 6th house (squaring Chiron, Ceres and Pluto in Sagittarius in the third house) we are addressing and healing the core thoughts that keep us from experiencing this oneness on a day to day basis. The call with these aspects is to address our issues around abandonment, whether on the level of personality or spirit. All abandonment issues ultimately have an underlying spiritual basis. If we are worried about being abandoned by our loved ones on some level we are worried about being abandoned by spirit, as well. The core issue is trust. Do we really trust that we are supported and unconditionally loved by the universe, god, spirit? Do we have a deep and abiding sense of connection to the divine feminine energy that is always loving and supporting us? Intimate connection to the loving grace of the divine feminine is both the challenge and the promise of the Y2001 chart. The moon in Pisces is in a grand trine (three planets, 120 degrees apart in an equilateral triangle) with the north node of the moon in Cancer and Pallas in Scorpio. This powerful water element trine speaks to our awakening to the healing power of the divine feminine or goddess energy. In addition to Pallas in Scorpio( the healer) in the second house (representing our core values) we have Mars, the planet of will in Scorpio, as well. What this indicates is that we are learning how to dance with the healing power of the serpent; our fundamental life force. The paradox is that this life force is both creative and destructive, light and dark. Our job is to fully accept and express this power as it manifests through us in the form of our creativity, sexuality, passion, power and emotional intensity. As we learn how to channel this power in appropriate ways we become willing conduits or transmitters of the divine feminine energy on this planet. Opening to Surrender To fully develop our connection with the power and grace of the divine feminine requires that we learn about surrender, which is another theme of the Y2001 chart. Many people are scared of tapping into the energies of the divine feminine because they are so powerful and sometimes overwhelming. Equal amounts of people worry that they would misuse these powers if they had them. What is being asked of us in the new millennium is that we learn to align our personal will (Mars) with divine will (Neptune). In the Y2001 chart Mars in Scorpio is squared Neptune in Aquarius. The challenge of this aspect is to learn how to surrender our personal will and power so that it can be guided by spirit instead of ego. The opportunity, both personally and collectively is to see that "our" power is not really our own but a reflection of a collective power that flows through us. Opening to the power of surrender represents a major shift of being because the dominant paradigm on this planet for so long has been around control as a method of manifestation. The new paradigm of surrender suggests that we can exercise the same degree of will, intention and focus that we always have. The difference is in the attachment to the outcome. By letting go of our attachment to the results of our actions we let go of control and allow spirit to support us in manifesting. Depak Chopra calls this "the law of least effort". We could also call it learning how to go with the flow. Regardless of what we call it, surrender is a gift of grace. It allows us to intimately connect to the loving guidance of the divine feminine in every area of our lives. Staying Centered & Being Grounded One of the greatest challenges of the new millennium, as we increase our sensitivity, energy and awareness, is to remain centered and grounded in our own experience. Increased empathy and compassion also lead to increased vulnerability. Increased energy demands that we develop circuits that are capable of handling the increased wattage. Increased intuition requires sensitivity and diplomacy as we share our awareness with others. With the sun and mercury in Capricorn in the fourth house of the Y2001 chart we are being asked to develop a strong sense of center and personal integrity. If are boundaries are weak, we may need to strengthen them so we are not overwhelmed by the feelings we pick up from others. If our boundaries are too strong, we may need to evaluate if it’s still necessary to keep others at a distance. Either way the challenge is to develop inner and outer strength so that we can remain grounded as our awareness increases. Finally, we are being asked to resolve and let go of any resentments or anger that may have accumulated as a result of unconsciously merging with the emotions of others in the past (Mars square Neptune, sesqui-square moon). If we have unresolved fears of merging on a personality level we will also have fears around merging on a spiritual level. Deep within each of us is a longing for unity and oneness with spirit. Along with that longing exists the fear of losing ourselves to the other. By letting go of the past we step into the present deeply rooted in our sense of who we are and where we stand. With that knowledge we can open ourselves up to serve others without the fear of losing ourselves. Y2001: The New Frontier We are being called to radically shift our awareness into a whole new paradigm of understanding. The shift is from third dimensional thinking; time, space, matter, to multi- dimensional thinking. It is time now to let go of our resistance and open to new ways of perceiving reality. Many of the radical earth changes that we are seeing are mirroring to us the need to shift our perception. As we change and begin to shift, the planet itself will no longer have to take on the role of the catalyst for our growth and we will see a restoration of balance and harmony on our planet. What can we do to shift our perception....? We can begin by taking our place as planetary healers by stepping fully into our unique gifts and forms of service. We can begin by surrendering to the flow of universal energies that are always available to support us in developing our highest potential or power. And we can let go of the illusion that we as individuals don’t make a difference. We
each have a calling or spiritual destiny that is essential
to the whole; to the healing of the planet. As we step into
full awareness of this truth we receive increasing guidance
from the masters that have come before us. The only thing
that prevents this guidance from happening is our illusion
of separation; the belief in the limitation of third
dimension reality.
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