a time of great potential
the december 2001 forecast

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saturn & pluto: still with us after all these months
by now it is apparent what the saturn-pluto opposition is about: a stand-off. so many people, groups have factionalized and are engaged in a power struggle. this happens when one faction abuses its power and the other jumps in the abusive pattern with them, whether by mistake or choice. if we are wise, we will learn to step down from our position, or better yet learn not to take a position to begin with. we must learn to seek the middle ground, even when our pride is screaming for us not to.

the king-of-the-hill game
over the past 8 months, we have seen some people engage in a king-of-the-hill game: arafat and sharon, bush and bin laden. however, they seem to be "drawing off the heat" enough that many formerly polarized individuals and groups are especially conciliatory now. even the democrats and republicans decided to bury the hatchet for a while. (now there seems to be a switch in tactics among some members, who seem to want to slip a few quickies by while wearing the mask of conciliation--watch what happens with the nominations sent to the senate judiciary committee if you want an education in these techniques.) it is as if these leaders are holding up the mirror before our horrified eyes, giving us the chance to rethink our own processes, to decide, "i'm not anything like ______," and then to be nothing like that person/group. it gives us a chance to think about our own code of honor--our morals and ethics--something we haven't seen the need to think about as a culture (in spite of the fact that we desperately did need to do so)--something oh so sagittarian!

how can we change?
but it isn't always that easy. a resolve to be different doesn't immediately result in the ability to be different. to change, we must understand how we get into the positions we find ourselves in: we must learn how the king-of-the-hill game develops.

the king-of-the-hill game begins when someone wants to control us. the urge usually arises because they envy us; envy usually develops because we have become detached from outcome and can think independently about that situation that involves them. this threatens the other party, and they attempt to drag us down to their level. their ego is fully in control, and they are trying to prod us into engaging with them from our own ego's perspective. if we succumb--if we let our ego run the show--we join in the power struggle, and they've won the war before any battle is joined (at least until we disengage from the ego again).

their first effort is an attempt to make us doubt ourselves. if we attempt to combat their efforts or accept their manipulation, we begin to play their game. we can respond correctly by remaining neutral and remaining true to our own inner knowledge. we become vulnerable when we want something from someone, whether or not it is that person. when we want something, we have become attached to it. if we can let go of our attachment, it frees us from the temptation to play the king-of-the-hill game.

if we find ourselves prodding, provoking or undermining another person, we can ask ourselves what we envy in that person? what do we feel we lack? once we realize what we are really after, it makes it easier to understand how to get it--and it won't be by engaging in a power struggle with our perceived opponent.

applying these principles to the situation in afghanistan and the israeli-palestinian conflict, for instance, we can see where each player has at least on occasion succumbed to the power struggle. it is very difficult not to engage in it when the provocations are as extreme as the attack on the world trade center or the bombing of shopping malls in israel. it makes the fears and envies of the attackers glaringly apparent. there have been times when our leaders have given in to the power struggle, but for the most part they have acted with admirable resolve and perseverance in the pursuit of their goals, setting clear boundaries around what are the targets of their efforts (unlike their opponents).

in our personal lives...
in our personal lives, these planetary energies can bring us together or pull us apart. in this way, the attacks on the u.s. have made us all appreciate each other more. it may be a very sad holiday season for all of us in some ways, but it will also be a better holiday season because we can feel from within a proper, reverent perspective just what we do have that is of value to us. the attacks on the world trade center will not mend a broken marriage or overcome abuse or addiction, but it can shake us loose from habitual patterns of numbness into greater heart opening. some rifts cannot be mended with a shift in perspective. for those who find themselves in this situation, saturn and pluto will provide you with the motivation, if not the opening, to make a change. if we do need to change, waiting for the right opening and remaining alert until it appears will bring us a smoother transition than if we force matters.

december will make us acutely aware that we can't bury our problems, get on with our lives as they were before and just forget anything ever happened. it is a month of peak planetary events that promise to bring out the worst--and the best--in humanity. watch especially what occurs on the 3^rd, 6^th, 7^th, 13^th, 14^th and 15^th. with the sun in pluto's sign of sagittarius, it is adding its fire to saturn and pluto's hot zones. the eclipse on the 14^th will set up a field of planetary dominoes that will be triggered over the following 18 months. in particular, the u.s. and the geographical area including israel will be most profoundly affected.

we also know, in spite of the danger, that this is bringing out the best in so many people. it is making us all inwardly stronger and healthier. in the u.s., it is bringing back the spirit of those who fought for and founded our nation, something we need if we are going to survive as such. however, the planetary pattern is global, and everyone has the opportunity to rise to a higher, finer level of honor in their nature. if we all respond to it, what a wonderful world it will be.

aries
if you just huddle up in your little blanket, bury your head and don't look out, listen to anything or talk to anyone, you're doing great. however, you can't hide from the world. what can you do? here's the ticket: with the appropriate reverence for those who have suffered, go out and be one of the engines of the new new economy. it's your patriotic duty. while you're at it, it wouldn't hurt to think about long-term prospects. i know you usually think about as far ahead as the next ski trip, but if you can peer into the future to see where you're headed, you might figure out whether your nose is pointed in the right direction or not.

taurus
all this change, all this fast action--it just isn't your style, and you don't like it. you preferred the slower moving times of the late 90s. it was better for your portfolio, and you could hold onto a stock for a week with confidence that it wouldn't bounce like a richter needle in an 8-point quake. your key to surviving this time is one of the things you're supposed to be good at (and we won't let anyone in our little secret that 'tain't so): patience. resist any urge to take impulsive or dramatic actions. ride the pony like the good cowboy (or girl) that you are. you can play your role by being the steady heartbeat of the financial (or whatever) world you inhabit.

gemini
in every crisis, there are those people who carry a burden disproportionate to the ones that others are carrying because of their capabilities. you know you are a person of substance, doing your work quietly in the background while others are distracted by your scintillating repartee. now, with saturn in your sun sign, you have been "awarded" with more responsibility (read: work) than ever before. the key is two-fold (just like everything with you): set boundaries and delegate. if you are currently the culture's beast of burden, you're in league with all others of your sun sign; bear with us as the earth bears with us all.

cancer
what? you a gadfly? well, perhaps not entirely, but with jupiter in your sign, you're definitely out and about more than is typical. it's good, because it gives you time to think out of the box (you know, that familiar thing called home). you've been working on some new ideas for, well, years, actually. they're just about comfortable now, and you might just consider acting on them. after all, you're about as adventurous now as you're going to be. go ahead, be expansive, even if it's only to enlarge your home. you'll be happy you did.

leo
you've been recognized. suddenly every group on the planet sees your potential, and they want you on their board. the trouble is not with the title, but with the accompanying workload. it seems like more than you want to take one--where's all the fun?! whether pro bono or not, organizational work can be a powerful stepping stone to greater things. it wouldn't hurt to emphasize the "bono" in the equation anyway and do something out of the actual goodness in your heart without concern for compensation. after all, this is what makes you tick, or did you lose sight of that?

virgo
what's this about self-empowerment? as soon as you get power, you find out that it leaves you with less freedom to act than before. as soon as you reach the top, you get everyone's projections about their parents, and they stop seeing you. what good is it? the good of it is that you won't use it to twist their minds to your advantage, even if you are misunderstood. the good of it is that you know that power can't be held; it must be shared. giving your power away is meaningless: if you have power, you must give it away (responsibly), or you deny others their right to choose, to act consciously and freely. you may not have sought it, but you will fulfill your new role capably and ethically.

libra
if you look down the road, you can see you're not quite headed in the right direction to reach your goals. perhaps it's time to try something different, to learn something new. the question is: what? the key is to find the right blend of practicality and interest. this may mean working harder than you like to, but if you're truly interested in what you're learning, it won't feel like work--it will energize you. in the meantime, you may have to give up other activities as you build skills and develop a niche for yourself with those skills. it will take time before you will see the results, so don't give up before you get there.

scorpio
"steady on" could be your motto these days, because that's how you've been living (or trying to live). while the world tilts crazily one way, then another, you're trying to remain standing, keeping to your path. the fact is, that's exactly the right thing--your instincts are correct. you may suffer a few financial slings and arrows over the coming month. if so, pay attention. they are messages from above, telling you which way the wind is blowing next. listening now will give you time to respond. if you bury your head in the sand, you'll be left with little choice when the time for change actually arrives.

sagittarius
life has opened up for you over the past seven years, and there doesn't seem like anything more could change. well, let's hope you can find something you want to change, because here it comes! december, especially mid-december, is going to bring a decision up for you--perhaps an important one. it may be anything from an unexpected delight to an anticipated challenge; whatever it is, give yourself time to think it through carefully and set your course. then you will know how to negotiate your way through the process of developing the situation. although you may welcome support and advice from others, ultimately, you must make the decision yourself.

capricorn
if you have extra work to do, it would be nice if it were recognized and rewarded. however, right now, you need to humble yourself enough to do the job without an audience. in a way, that might be a relief. you may have more quiet time to do your work, since no one wants the work to land on them by hanging around. it is, however, just as important to make sure that you are not being taken advantage of. delegate if you can, let go of low priority tasks, and communicate with others about your progress. there is a reward coming, but everyone has to go through periodic phases when their work is not completely compensated, and this is one of yours.

aquarius
your job right now is to keep your finger on the pulse of the group and to smooth the flow of its energies. sounds esoteric, right? this is where your affinity for gadgets comes in: anything from crystals and wands to guitars and drums to a football and goalpost will do. in times of such inhumanity, we need your humanity. we need the arts and social graces that remind us of who we really are--your forte. if anyone can rise above the times and see the big picture, it's you, and we need your inspiration. all this means is to find what sings in your heart and share it with others. chances are, you have very few immediate problems of your own, so why not pitch in?

pisces
you're a visionary, and your special role right now is to provide your vision. so the question is: can you set aside your fears and personal concerns to dream big? the planets are broadcasting their message your way, and you can see it in pictures if you can turn off the local clutter. you will be touched by spirit this month, but it will not be enough to just feel it. you must share it, bring it to ground in the world around you. this could come through acts of personal kindness with others, a shared writing or artwork, or volunteer efforts during the holiday season. the better you are at directing the energy coming your way, the more the results will please you.