Leo 2008

The new moon eclipse in Leo on August 1 was a convergence at the peak of passion, a powerful turning point in this year of historically reinforced earth energy, the physicality of deeper nature, magnifying our experience and responses. Now this built-up wave of energized passion breaks out into expression, moving us forward. In two weeks, at the full moon on August 16, it will forge a new power alignment, the full heart enlightened with the dream of spiritual healing.

This year, big influences are shifting to physical manifestation. Expansive, creative, 12-year-cycle Jupiter is in Capricorn, the first of the three earth signs, rebounding off the bottom of our seasonal cycle with primal power. (You can see Jupiter, big, bright and beautiful in the southern sky at night.) Its counterbalance, 30-year cycle centering, grounding Saturn, is moving through Virgo, the last of the three earth signs, guiding all the new physical energy that Jupiter is generating toward a truly fruitful outcome. Deep, heavy Pluto, moving into Capricorn this year for the first time since 1762, has now moved back into the passion of fire sign Sagittarius one last time before completing its historic shift into Capricorn at the end of November. Right now there is great energizing force grounding us in the physicality of nature, with the weight of deep transformation anchoring us in the passion at the bottom of things.

There is much talk of 2012 and the Mayan Calender. People have heard that it is the culmination of a 5,000 year cycle ending at the winter solstice on December 21, 2012, when, it is sometimes inaccurately alleged, our planet's axis will be aligned with the galactic center for first time in 26,000 years. This scenario sounds pretty grand, but the reality of 2012 is much bigger than that.

The groundbreaking research and insight of the Swedish biologist Carl Johan Calleman seems to have cracked the code on the Mayan Calendar, and it is truly stunning. What Calleman has found and described (Barbara Hand Clow has also written a book attempting to distill his work) is that the cyclical rhythms defined by the Mayan Calendar actually trace the energy dynamic which has driven the process of life evolution on our planet since the Big Bang that initiated the spreading manifestation of our "universe" over 16 billion years ago. Calleman has shown how the calendar outlines a systematic developmental process that periodically jumps to a new level with an accelerated vibratory energy, catalyzing the initiation of new life forms through nine essential levels that precisely parallel what modern science says has been the timing of evolutionary emergence. And according to this more accurate delineation of the Mayan Calendar, it culminates on October 28, 2011 with the simultaneous completion of all nine levels and the graduation of human intelligence and life on this planet into a clarified relationship with universal interconnectedness.

The period that began 5,000 years ago (suddenly seems like six months with a spiritual learner's permit) has been an awkward and troubling transition, mythologically described as the "fall" of human consciousness from integrity with nature, where expanded cognition and awareness left us confused and uncomfortable, seeking either intellectualized control-assertion (figure out what is right and make it happen) or dangerous denial (tune out what troubles you and go for compensatory gratification), growing a social reality based on domination, exploitation and insensitivity, even as most people everywhere are really good at heart while struggling to create a decent life in a world threatened with scarcity and hostility. This, it is alleged, is being superseded by the forces of nature that are now being intensified (especially since 1999) to the point of reclaiming our mis-aligned planetary culture and, by 2012, restoring the natural harmony of divine interrelationship to humanity and this planet, whatever the trauma of transition.

The Leo new moon eclipse of August 1, a reinforcement of passion in a time of intensified nature force, has generated a powerful wave of heat and light that now moves out into our world, taking us with it. I remain concerned about what this could bring where old tension and restrained hostility are reaching the breaking point, and the planet itself may manifest the magnified physicality we are all experiencing. But the reinforcement of deep nature is a good thing, catalyzing truth and strengthening the foundation of healthy living. At the full moon on August 16, the fully-empowered heart sensitivity (moon) will be counterbalancing impassioned soul vitality (opposite the Leo sun) in the visionary awareness of the enlightened mind (Aquarius), joining the forces of healing, spirituality and dreams there (Chiron, moon node and Neptune). This is a glimpse of where we're headed: Beyond this year's shift to earthy physicality is next year's energized meeting of healing and dreams in enlightened awareness.

Let us all awaken to acceptance of underlying nature at every moment, allowing it to have its way with us, freeing us from misplaced tension and anxiety, bringing us into the peace and health of a purified relationship with the miracle of creation.