Copyright Stella Woods (December 2012)

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find, ten years have got behind you,
No-one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.
Pink Floyd - 1973

If you’re reading this it means the world didn’t end on 21^st December 2012 - congratulations on making it into the next 26,000 year cycle!  We humans love drama, especially apocalyptic-like happenings, so as I share my predictions for the year 2013, I’d also like to offer some pointers on how to work with the emerging energy of change and growth. Astrological transits come and go, but your attitude to life is what really makes a difference.

 2013 Predictions 

The outer planets of our solar system only change zodiac sign every 7-20 years, but as you can see from the table above, all the outer planets, (plus Saturn and Chiron) have changed sign since 2008. In earthly terms this equates to a simultaneous change in government in the USA, China, the UK, Australia, France and Germany.

The Players

Uranus in Aries as the harbinger of change and revolution has helped shift the balance of power with the overthrow of oppressive regimes in the Middle East.  This trend is likely to continue as the tools of social networking and international communication put the power back in the hands of individuals rather than governments. On a personal level this means you can use social networking to create revolution and change in your own life, rather than waiting for someone else to make it happen.

Pluto in Capricorn has challenged the power base of banks, governments and corporations. This has led to a worldwide economic downturn with falling house prices, erratic stock markets, spiralling debt problems and mass unemployment. Australia has been spared the worst of these problems as a result of our mining boom coupled with low levels of government debt plus, being a Capricorn country, Australia has a history of self-reliance and the ability to work hard towards long term goals. We are still at the mercy of economic events in Europe and the USA and, in the short term, our low public debt won’t save the property sector from the negative effects of the global economy, but I believe in the medium to long term our low and sustainable public debt means property will continue to be a good investment. With Saturn in Scorpio backing up Pluto in Capricorn, the advice is to pay down debt and limit unnecessary spending. Companies with strong fundamentals and sound business practices will continue to thrive.

The letting go of our individuality so that we can access the ecstasy of the divine is the lesson of water sign Pisces, and in order to facilitate this transition we must release the individuality of Aquarius. The transit of Chiron and Neptune through Pisces coincides with the great social and global political clashes of Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries, suggesting that healing (Chiron) will come to us individually through a greater inward focus and attention to the spiritual side of life (Neptune), a world that lies beyond the material plane.

Summary

The period between 2008 and 2012 has been a momentous one marking the end of the world as we know it. Many are still reeling from the shock while others are looking forward with excitement and anticipation to a new and better way of doing things. All the fuss surrounding the end of the Mayan Calendar when the December 2012 solstice sun converged with the exact centre-line of the Milky Way or Galactic Centre has obscured the fact that we are living through a crucial time in human history that began way before 2012 and will continue throughout the next decade and beyond. After hundreds if not thousands of years of central control, it is slowly dawning on us that with the new social networking technology we can change the world, sometimes overnight, simply by getting together, sharing ideas and deciding to do it differently.

As Uranus and Pluto square up in 2013, any catastrophes that do occur will simply be a reflection of the misuse of the freedoms we’ve enjoyed over the past 40-45 years since the last Uranus-Pluto conjunction in the mid to late 1960s. There will be no easy solutions, but there will be a great deal of awareness of how we’ve created our current situation and when things seem to be at a total impasse (remember the Berlin Wall?) that’s when people have insights and come up with new solutions. Maturity and reflection are keywords for 2013. It’s time for us to grow up, take a more spiritual approach to life, stop being so stubbornly individual and start sharing, cooperating and loving. My recommendation for the year ahead is to spend a minimum of energy complaining about the problems and dysfunction in the wider world and instead spend time following your passion, contributing in your own way and experiencing the personal happiness that flows on from that.

Top Ten Tips for Happiness in 2013

1)    Life is short – work out how many years you think you have left and then decide what you’re going to do with that time so that when it’s your turn to leave the planet you can look back on your personal contribution with a sense of pride, achievement and satisfaction.

2)    Avoid wasting time on friendships and relationships that have clearly outgrown their original purpose. Have the courage to move on and spend time with people whose goals, values and interests are aligned with yours. Be real.

3)    Stop watching the news and start creating your own.

4)    Don’t take yourself so seriously – laugh and have more fun – every day, every week, every year.

5)    Tell everyone important in your life that you love them and then tell them why. Human touch is healing, loving and reassuring – do more of it.

6)    Let go of the need to be right and agree to differ. Practise forgiveness and let go of grudges and long-standing battles.

7)    Clean out your closets and garage and get rid of everything you don’t need or want anymore. Pay off your debts.

8)    Do something you’ve always wanted to but never made the time, space or money for.

9)    Stop complaining about the faults and shortcomings of others and take action to change difficult situations. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

10)  Be kind to yourself and others and give thanks everyday for the miracle of life – you never know when it will end!