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January/February 2012 Featured Stories
2012: The Year of Revolution

The coming year of 2012 is poised to be a time of world-wide revolution in how we treat each other — will you react with compassionate strength or with oppressive domination?

On a personal level, many people are waking up and realizing that their world has been stagnant, filled with old ideas of how to interact with others. However, this power-based status quo no longer applies to world economies, businesses, governments and families.

The game changer in 2012 is a revolution in relationships — how people interact is changing from me, me, me to we, we, we. Stand up, speak your truth and be prepared to get to know your neighbor in a deeper, more fulfilling way this coming year.

How to Thrive in Transitional Times

Kingsley L. Dennis

Within the long tail of evolutionary time, there are periods of upheaval that serve cosmic purposes (to put it simply). And most of the time, these upheavals create havoc for the creatures resting on the skin of Earth.

To the general masses, these are often seen as times of craziness, when war and strife seem like everyday madness. As P. D. Ouspensky stated, “There are periods in the life of humanity which generally coincide with the beginning of the fall of cultures and civilizations, when the masses irretrievably lose their reason and begin to destroy everything that has been created by centuries and millennia of culture. Such periods of mass madness, often coinciding with geological cataclysms, climatic changes and similar phenomena of a planetary character, release a very great quantity of the matter of knowledge.”

This release of knowledge that comes with upheaval can be used to help civilization push through to a higher level of functioning. Information is itself a catalyst for rapid evolutionary change. Evolutionary progress appears to operate through various release and gearshift mechanisms, in that physical chaos provides the release of energy and information necessary to fuel a leap, or “phase change,” in evolutionary development.

The problem in the past has been that these transitions often create disturbances for life on the planet. However, to be forewarned is to be prepared. Such transition stages can be best navigated when people are more aware of the coming changes and can act as conscious participants. The bottom line is that there is never an end — everything is in the process of further transformation.

So the world is not coming to an end, despite what some soothsayers and doom mongers predict. What these upcoming times foretell is a period of accelerating evolutionary change. And more important, what the coming transformation requires is that we, as individuals, consciously participate through our own creative and positive energies.

One of the highest forces at our disposal is conscious and unconditional love. It sometimes seems that Earth is degenerating or devolving as a result of human life lacking the reception and transmission of such forces and energies.

As Duane Elgin writes, “It is the immense suffering of millions — even billions — of precious human beings coupled with the widespread destruction of many other life-forms that will burn through our complacency and isolation. Needless suffering is the psychological and psychic fire that can awaken our compassion and fuse individuals, communities, and nations into a cohesive and consciously organized global civilization.”

It is fair to say that Earth is in ecological crisis and humanity is in spiritual crisis, and that a similar response is required for both, as the two crises are fundamentally tied to the same source. Humanity needs to evolve, not just physically but also psychologically and spiritually, as time is both speeding up and running out simultaneously.

Our lack of conscious contribution may be said to be behind much of our life dissatisfaction and disconnection. Yet we can connect. The cords are in place — we need only to ask, reach out and sincerely offer our intentions to do so.

These unprecedented times that we now find ourselves in are ripe opportunities for personal growth, knowledge and understanding. Why? Because we are now, as a planetary species, moving through an historic civilizational shift. And during such times, how we think is of paramount importance.

In periods of relative stability, the consciousness of individuals does not usually play a critical role in the behavior of society, as there is a generalized level of social consensus. However, when there are signs of cracking and chaotic moments in societies, life becomes more sensitive and responsive to the consciousness of the people.

There occur fluctuations in the values, beliefs, worldviews and aspirations of the people, and as Margaret Mead famously said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

It is the mind-set — the consciousness — of people during transition times that will be challenged and, it is hoped, found responsive to the challenge. Human consciousness — how one perceives the world and our part in the world — needs to evolve in order to better adapt to the requirements of a changing world.

Kingsley L. Dennis, author of New Consciousness for a New World, is the cofounder of WorldShift International. Visit www.kingsleydennis.com.

Choose Your Reality

Mark Dodich

There is an abundance of hype about 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar. Opinions range from earthquakes dropping California into the ocean to mass ascension into advanced dimensions. Still others suggest that 2012 is another Y2K non-event.

The truth of the matter is that we each choose our own reality, and 2012 energies push you to make a choice about the next step in your life. And you will be pushed!

Explosive Uranus inserts itself more deeply into impatient Aries, but in 2012, there is an added death and rebirth factor that continues through 2015. You saw the early impact last year through earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand. It went on to detonate political change in the Mediterranean, the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street movements and the debt crisis.

Regardless of your belief about the New Year, it is clearly evident that old methods and paradigms of thinking no longer work. It isn’t so much what you actually do in 2012, but it is critically important to decide on the attitude and beliefs by which you will live your life during these shifting energies.

If you choose a fear-based perspective, there will be no shortage of outer world events to support your view. Earthquakes and climate-related catastrophes continue as revolutionary Uranus and destructive Pluto bounce off each other. The birth charts of Japan and New Zealand continue to be activated, while Syria and Cuba are ready for transformation.

But, do you really want to live in a fear-based reality? The positive approach to Uranus and Pluto is to awaken to the fact that the old way doesn’t work anymore. It is wise to take the “let go and let God” approach as you move into new frequencies.

Watch Israel and Palestine in the spring as expansive Jupiter in Taurus adds harmony to the natal charts of their countries. Both have fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) in their charts, which can be stubborn and hard-headed. Countries and people born under these rigid signs are helped (or shall we call it “kicked in the butt?”) in making necessary changes.

Yes, you will need to invest some time and money in opening to new ideas, technologies and methods of living your life. Universal law demands that you pay your dues to move into new energetic frequencies.

Before you complain about the cost or learning curve of a new piece of technology, starting your own business, or opening/changing your relationship status, consider the cost of not changing. If you agree that you chose to be incarnated on Earth during this great time of planetary evolution, then you must bite the bullet and step into the incoming vibration.

Fortunately, the shifting energy this year is not all associated with head-banging Uranus and destructive Pluto. Visionary Neptune moves into compassionate Pisces on Feb. 3. It would be wise to make friends with this softer, feminine tone because it will be with you until 2025.

Neptune and Pisces sneaks up on you like the fog quietly blowing onshore at the beach. As you read the blaring Uranus and Pluto front page headlines, remember to turn a few pages to read about Neptune in Pisces quietly showing people helping each other to live a more gentle and compassionate life.

Intuition, meditation and spiritual healing will get more attention in the changing world. Compassion for starving people in the Sudan and other places receive assistance in spite of challenging economics.

In the world, you will increasingly see overabundance or drought issues with water.

The plight of poisoned fish and ocean issues such as drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean and desalination will be in the news. New drugs (both good and bad) and advances in television and film technology are coming.

Hidden secrets come to light. This can include spies, archaeology finds that contradict current beliefs (especially religious), and tragedies such as the Penn State child abuse discovery or mass murders in African countries.

The early months of 2012 ask you to look at the reality you want to create, and then make choices in your daily life that reflect the beliefs by which you choose to live.

Begin 2012 by cleansing your body, mind, emotions and spirit — that includes your overflowing closets. Ambitious Mars is retrograde in purifying Virgo from Jan. 23 to April 13. Prepare future projects in a behind-the-scenes way during this time period. You will be called upon to act upon your renewed vision after April.

Mark Dodich has been a professional astrologer and intuitive consultant since 1980. Receive a free Astromark newsletter and download a free Basic Astrology Primer at www.astromark.us.

New Business Paradigm

Diana Cooper

The banks, financial institutions and big businesses of our world are not aligned to the highest good. Exactly in accordance with the time line predicted in the Mayan calendar, the current economic structure has started to collapse for we must accommodate a new paradigm. The system will continue to break down and evolve until an economy based on fairness, honesty, openness and integrity is in place.

Big businesses are the dinosaurs of our time. Only those companies that operate for the highest good of all will survive, although in a very different form from the present way.

The new business paradigm is based on creating or producing for the highest good of the community and the planet. There will be an emphasis on cooperation, seeing the best in others, empowering them and offering excellence. People will do what makes them happy. Businesses that work for the good of animals, the nature kingdom and humanity will continue to be successful during the transition period between 2012 and the start of a new golden age in 2032.

There are many individuals currently being made redundant or who are unemployed. This is very challenging and is a wake-up call prompting them to seek a living which brings them soul satisfaction.

Diana Cooper is the author of 2012 and Beyond and 18 other spiritual books. Visit www.dianacooper.com.

The Path of Balance

Candia Sanders

Humanity is evolving. We’re on the path of moving toward the androgynous, the equality within ourselves that occurs when you combine action with empathy, and emotion with intelligence. This is the next evolutionary concept of balancing the masculine and feminine.

The next leap is to integrate these energetic pieces, creating a new union within ourselves and the divine so that we can embrace being totally and completely human. We always talk about being a spiritual being in a human body, but what if we’re a human body with a spiritual being?

What if we have it all backward? What if the Earth really is our home, our Eden? And like reckless teenagers who don’t get their way, we have destroyed the planet’s incredible beauty with pollution, industrial waste, chemicals and frequencies that disrupt the world’s natural rhythms.

In discovering our true role — our authenticity — we remember the loving, respectful, intelligent wisdom that has guided us throughout the millennium and reclaim our rightful power. Once again, we take responsibility and clean up our emotional world as we clean up the planet.

In doing so, we balance the left and the right, the male and the female, the interior polarities that have served our growth, education and expansion. We had to be blind to finally see.

Candia Sanders is an intuitive and energetic healer. Visit www.candiasanders.com.

Wisdom of the Heart

Nicki Scully and Mark Hallert

We believe in our ability to create change. It begins with any heart-felt response to events and situations, and grows when fueled by a passionate commitment to serve in creating a better future for ourselves and for future generations.

Use the following heart breath practice for centering and directing your intentions for healing, creation and transformation from the heart.

Relax. Close your eyes, and take a couple of deep, calming breaths. Focus on your heart. Look within and find the eternal flame of your being that dwells in the sanctuary of your heart center. This flame is the spark of your soul that endures throughout time.

As your heart flame brightens within you, breathe as though you are drawing power and vitality from the heart of the Earth up through all the strata of the Earth, drawing from all the elements, minerals, and plants. Hold your breath for a moment while the power and intelligence of Earth mingles with the love that you continue to pour on your heart flame. As you exhale, the charged energy radiates out from your heart center, igniting every cell of your body with life-force energy and love.

While you continue to breathe the Earth breath, simultaneously extend your consciousness upward toward the heart of the cosmos. As you inhale the power of Earth, you are also inhaling from the sky, drawing down power, vitality, and intelligence from the billions of stars and all the heavenly bodies, and the intelligence that permeates the universe. As the power of sky joins the power of Earth in your heart center, see-feel-know-imagine the further nourishment of your heart flame.

Hold your breath for a moment as these energies combine with your love. With each out-breath, experience the growing life-force energy, intelligence, love, and radiance that extend throughout your body and beyond. Notice how the heart breath works like bellows, fanning the fire until you are sitting within the bright glow that radiates from your inner heart flame.

Now you are ready to move forward with whatever is before you, or simply meditate quietly within this glow until you are ready to open your eyes.

Nicki Scully and Mark Hallert are coauthors of Planetary Healing: Spirit Medicine for Global Transformation. Visit www.shamanicjourneys.com.