By Tarot.com
2012 was an eventful year for all of us, on both a personal and a global scale. Wild weather, political uprisings and economic shakeups rattled us all, and it's only the beginning of a period of profound change. Join us as we take a look back at the key Astrology events of 2012 and how they played out.
All Year Long: The Sun Approaches Solar Maximum
2012 has seen more solar activity that usual as the Sun approaches its solar max, which is the peak of its 11-year cycle. Earth experienced more solar flares than usual, and these fiery surges are known for disrupting power grids, GPS and airplane flights worldwide. But not only do solar flares affect Earth physically, they affect each of us on a deeply personal level. The Sun is our primary influence, shaping our character and moods on a daily basis. So if you felt a bit "off" in 2012, you can blame a large part of it on the Sun's solar cycle nearing solar max!
May 20, 2012: New Moon Solar Eclipse In Gemini
The turbo-charged New Moon Solar Eclipse in Gemini on May 20 was an event so powerful that it was pointed out by the ancient Maya as a rare occasion when the Earth, Sun, Moon, and Pleiades would align to create great forces of transformation. Many claim Nostradamus also referenced this date in his Quatrains, as well. Our own master astrologers called out this "annular eclipse" (when the Moon's diameter appears just slightly smaller than the Sun, making the Sun look like a ring), as a time of information overload, when our minds would become clouded as dreamy Neptune made a stressful square to the New Moon. A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck northern Italy on this day -- will there be more to come as a part of these transformational times?
June 5, 2012: Sun Conjunct Venus
It is one thing to feel the effects of Astrology, but it's quite another amazement when you can actually see it! On June 5, millions of people reached for their safety goggles to look up and watch as Venus passed between the Earth and the Sun. The love planet appeared as a small speck visible to the naked eye in this once-in-a-lifetime event, which won't happen again until 2117. This Venus-Sun conjunction was more than just great media -- it was great news for love and relationships, which were infused with new and positive energy around this time. Did you feel it?
June 24, 2012 And September 19, 2012: Uranus Square Pluto
Master astrologers have been abuzz about Uranus square Pluto, as the two planets make an epic series of seven squares from 2012 to 2015. This series of seven exact squares between Uranus, the planet of radical change, and Pluto, the planet of transformation, signals a period of great change on a personal and global scale. The first of these exact squares took place on June 24 and Sept. 19, 2012, and we'll continue to be rattled by these two planets as we move into 2013 and beyond. The effect is an environment of revolution that will eventually lead to a whole new way of life. In 2012 we got a taste of the big changes to come, including housing, insurance and bank failures, the Occupy movement, the Tea Party, concern for the environment and overall economic uncertainty. Even Hostess went bankrupt, putting the future of the Twinkie in jeopardy. Stay tuned, it's going to be wild to watch!
October 29, 2012: Full Moon In Taurus
October's powerful Full Moon in Taurus hung overhead as Hurricane Sandy bore down on the East Coast of the United States, and at the same time there was a nasty square between Mercury, which rules transportation and communication, and Neptune, which rules water. This cosmic combination strengthened "Frankestorm" into a Category 2 superstorm that was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, causing at least $20 billion in damage and killing at least 199 people in seven countries on the path of the storm. In New York City, the streets, tunnels and subway lines were flooded, and power was lost in and around the city. One of our own astrologers, Maria DeSimone, not only forewarned of this event, but her own house and car were damaged in the storm. We are grateful she and her loved ones are OK, and she is now busy rebuilding her life. We also give her permission to say "I told you so."
November 6 - 26, 2012: Mercury Retrograde
Mischievous planet Mercury was retrograde from Election Day on Nov. 6, 2012, through Thanksgiving, finally turning direct on November 26. Mercury Retrograde messes with communication, technology and transportation, which is not ideal when it comes to counting votes and traveling home for the holidays. Mercury put a backspin on most of November, and we saw its effects on Election Day with long lines and confusion at the polls. Among the Election Day news headlines was a story about a voting machine in Pennsylvania that kept choosing "Romney" even when the "Obama" button was pushed repeatedly. Thanksgiving holiday travel was also disrupted for many, and we suspect there was many an overcooked turkey.
December 21, 2012: Sun In Capricorn, Winter Solstice -- End Of The World?!
No, December 21, 2012 is not the end of the world. It's just the end of a cycle in the Mayan calendar, but we know many people are frightened as the infamous date grows near. No longer a distant date in the theoretical future, many are anxious to know what will happen and what, if anything, we should do to prepare. Astrologer Emily Trinkhaus explains that the ending of the "Great Cycle" in the Mayan calendar does not signal the end of the world, but a new way of living in the world. This parallels the many things we've heard about Uranus square Pluto from Astrologers Rick Levine and Jeff Jawer, which mean that as we near the end of 2012, we are at a pivotal point in a shift in consciousness. The next few years will be dramatic, and could ultimately lead to a whole new way of life! Bring on 2013!
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