COAST TO COAST AM SHOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS SYMBOLISM DEC 16TH 2011 SHOW
Source-Christian answers.net-The Star of Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-9: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. (New King James Version)
There have been many attempts to explain the Christmas Star scientifically, and three ideas will be mentioned here.
Some scholars think this “star” was a comet, an object traditionally connected with important events in history, such as the birth of kings. However, records of comet sightings do not match up with the Lord's birth. For example, Halley's Comet was present in 11 B.C., but the first Christmas took place around 5 to 7 B.C.
Others believe that the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, or gathering of planets in the night sky. Since planets orbit the sun at different speeds and distances, they occasionally seem to approach each other closely. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) preferred this view. However, multiple planets do not look like a single light source, as described in Scripture. Also, planet alignments are rather frequent and therefore not that unusual. There was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 6 B.C., but an even closer gathering in 66 B.C., much too early!
Finally, an exploding star, or supernova, has been proposed to explain the Christmas Star. Some stars are unstable and explode in this way with a bright blaze. However, historical records do not indicate a supernova at the time of the Lord's birth.
All three explanations for the Star of Bethlehem fall short of the nativity story as predicted in Numbers 24:17 and recorded in Matthew 2:1-12.
Two details in Matthew are of special interest:
First, the text implies that only the Magi saw the star. However comets, conjunctions, and exploding stars would be visible to everyone on earth.
Second, the star went before the Magi and led them directly from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. This is a distance of about six miles, in a direction from north to south. However, every natural object in the sky moves from east to west due to the earth's rotation. It also is difficult to imagine how a natural light could lead the way to a particular house.
The conclusion is that the Star of Bethlehem cannot be naturally explained by science! It was a temporary and supernatural light. After all, the first Christmas was a time of miracles.
God has often used special, heavenly lights to guide his people, such as the glory that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and the temple (1 Kings 8:10) and that shone upon the apostle Paul (Acts 9:3). Such visible signs of God's presence are known as the Shekinah Glory, or dwelling place of God. This special light is a visible manifestation of divine majesty.
The great mystery of the first Christmas is not the origin of its special star. It is the question of why the Magi were chosen to follow the light to the Messiah and why we are given the same invitation today.
Matthew 2:1-9: Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. (New King James Version)
There have been many attempts to explain the Christmas Star scientifically, and three ideas will be mentioned here.
Some scholars think this “star” was a comet, an object traditionally connected with important events in history, such as the birth of kings. However, records of comet sightings do not match up with the Lord's birth. For example, Halley's Comet was present in 11 B.C., but the first Christmas took place around 5 to 7 B.C.
Others believe that the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, or gathering of planets in the night sky. Since planets orbit the sun at different speeds and distances, they occasionally seem to approach each other closely. Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) preferred this view. However, multiple planets do not look like a single light source, as described in Scripture. Also, planet alignments are rather frequent and therefore not that unusual. There was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 6 B.C., but an even closer gathering in 66 B.C., much too early!
Finally, an exploding star, or supernova, has been proposed to explain the Christmas Star. Some stars are unstable and explode in this way with a bright blaze. However, historical records do not indicate a supernova at the time of the Lord's birth.
All three explanations for the Star of Bethlehem fall short of the nativity story as predicted in Numbers 24:17 and recorded in Matthew 2:1-12.
Two details in Matthew are of special interest:
First, the text implies that only the Magi saw the star. However comets, conjunctions, and exploding stars would be visible to everyone on earth.
Second, the star went before the Magi and led them directly from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. This is a distance of about six miles, in a direction from north to south. However, every natural object in the sky moves from east to west due to the earth's rotation. It also is difficult to imagine how a natural light could lead the way to a particular house.
The conclusion is that the Star of Bethlehem cannot be naturally explained by science! It was a temporary and supernatural light. After all, the first Christmas was a time of miracles.
God has often used special, heavenly lights to guide his people, such as the glory that filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and the temple (1 Kings 8:10) and that shone upon the apostle Paul (Acts 9:3). Such visible signs of God's presence are known as the Shekinah Glory, or dwelling place of God. This special light is a visible manifestation of divine majesty.
The great mystery of the first Christmas is not the origin of its special star. It is the question of why the Magi were chosen to follow the light to the Messiah and why we are given the same invitation today.
Geminid Meteor shower Dec, 6th-19- PEAKS TONITE!
Arizona and North America is in the midst of the Geminid Meteor Shower, right now.
This annual celestial event is considered the best meteor shower in the heavens. Named after the constellation Gemini, this celestial event produces up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour.
The peak of the shower usually occurs between December 13 - 14, but there will be meteors visible worldwide from December 6 - 19. During the peak days visibility will be best in North America between midnight and 2 a.m., but meteor activity will be constantly viewable from 10 p.m. to dawn all the way through December 19th.
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the strongest meteors showers of the year, but in 2011 the moon will interfere with the prime viewing hours. The gibbous moon this year will hide many of the faintest meteors. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Gemini and specifically the star Castor in the same constellation.
Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight from a dark location.
This is more than enough activity to dazzle viewers from Earth and is an amazing opportunity for photographers. The shower is visible with telescope, optics and the naked eye during the darkest early morning hours, this should still be an excellent show.
Bill Cooke from the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office was quoted on earthsky.org as saying,"Our all-sky network of meteor cameras has captured several early Geminid fireballs. They were so bright, we could see them despite the moonlight."
One of the most interesting details about the Geminid meteor shower is that it is not caused by a comet, therefore is an oddity astronomically. Most meteor showers happen when the Earth crosses orbital pathways with any major comet. As debris from comets enter the upper atmosphere of our planet, the vaporizing particles are visible by night as meteors. The Geminid shower appears to originate from a near-Earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.
This meteor shower is visible in both hemispheres of the Earth. Try to be away from main city lights and under open sky outdoors. It is an event the is worth camping out overnight to witness fully. Showers of meteors come in spurts and are interspersed by lulls. Give yourself at least an hour to watch the Geminids. Meteor activity is nearly invisible when the moon is down, so the moon is your guide for timing and is an easy reference to watch the shower by.
For updated information, both earthsky.org and seasky.org are great references. Enjoy the show and take some time to watch the wonders in the heavens tonight or through the week coming. Make your wishes on those falling stars my friends in Arizona and the rest of the world. Although they are not really falling stars at all.
Let the powers of Gemini entertain our planet Earth from the sky these December nights.
UK DAILY MAIL
Arizona and North America is in the midst of the Geminid Meteor Shower, right now.
This annual celestial event is considered the best meteor shower in the heavens. Named after the constellation Gemini, this celestial event produces up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour.
The peak of the shower usually occurs between December 13 - 14, but there will be meteors visible worldwide from December 6 - 19. During the peak days visibility will be best in North America between midnight and 2 a.m., but meteor activity will be constantly viewable from 10 p.m. to dawn all the way through December 19th.
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the strongest meteors showers of the year, but in 2011 the moon will interfere with the prime viewing hours. The gibbous moon this year will hide many of the faintest meteors. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Gemini and specifically the star Castor in the same constellation.
Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight from a dark location.
This is more than enough activity to dazzle viewers from Earth and is an amazing opportunity for photographers. The shower is visible with telescope, optics and the naked eye during the darkest early morning hours, this should still be an excellent show.
Bill Cooke from the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office was quoted on earthsky.org as saying,"Our all-sky network of meteor cameras has captured several early Geminid fireballs. They were so bright, we could see them despite the moonlight."
One of the most interesting details about the Geminid meteor shower is that it is not caused by a comet, therefore is an oddity astronomically. Most meteor showers happen when the Earth crosses orbital pathways with any major comet. As debris from comets enter the upper atmosphere of our planet, the vaporizing particles are visible by night as meteors. The Geminid shower appears to originate from a near-Earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.
This meteor shower is visible in both hemispheres of the Earth. Try to be away from main city lights and under open sky outdoors. It is an event the is worth camping out overnight to witness fully. Showers of meteors come in spurts and are interspersed by lulls. Give yourself at least an hour to watch the Geminids. Meteor activity is nearly invisible when the moon is down, so the moon is your guide for timing and is an easy reference to watch the shower by.
For updated information, both earthsky.org and seasky.org are great references. Enjoy the show and take some time to watch the wonders in the heavens tonight or through the week coming. Make your wishes on those falling stars my friends in Arizona and the rest of the world. Although they are not really falling stars at all.
Let the powers of Gemini entertain our planet Earth from the sky these December nights.
UK DAILY MAIL
Huiffington Post
NASA spacecraft has captured the image of a huge "cloaked" alien ship near the planet Mercury. Unless, of course, it didn't.
On Dec. 1, NASA's Heliospheric Imager-1 telescope photographed a huge coronal mass ejection (CME) streaming from the sun.
But ever-observant, keen-eyed ET hunters claim that the short video also reveals a previously hidden or cloaked giant spaceship.
Probably not, says a scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
"I'd rather not comment on what other people are thinking," said Nathan Rich, a ground systems engineer for the Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation, a group of scientific telescopes that observe the sun's corona, a region where solar wind and X-ray radiation originate.
"We get this kind of reaction quite frequently," Rich told The Huffington Post. "The Naval Research Laboratory has provided the telescopes that are on the NASA spacecraft. We built and operate the instruments."
He explained that the CME took place while Mercury happened to be in the center of the image.
"The camera wasn't focused on Mercury. It passes through the field of view on a regular basis. (Image left) By going to our website, you can get a movie for any day from this telescope.
"On the video, you're observing what we call coronal mass ejections -- basically refraction from electrons and other particles coming off the sun. It's part of the solar wind and it's a very dynamic place called the heliosphere," he said
But as this solar wind material streamed across Mercury, something very large and bright appeared to the right of the small planet -- something that UFO enthusiasts are hoping and claiming is the real alien deal. (Image left)
"It's cylindrical on either side and has a shape in the middle. It definitely looks like a ship to me, and very obviously, it's cloaked," suggested YouTube user sinXster, who uploaded the short video to the video site.
While UFO enthusiasts hope the video reveals something akin to a cloaked Romulan or Klingon ship hiding out in the shadow of Mercury, Rich explains that, in essence, the "alien" image is a visual after-effect or ghost artifact of Mercury that was photographed the previous day.
"It's a complicated effect," Rich said. "It's basically the background that is removed from the image to bring out the faint coronal signal. It's a negative imprint on the background."
Those who believe otherwise -- that the video really does show an ET craft playing a cosmic game of hide and seek -- will be hard to convince there's a purely scientific explanation for the unusual telescopic imagery.
But others may be interested to check out Rich's more detailed analysis of the "alien ship" on the
Secchi
The Truth about Christmas
London
New York
Source-Rapidnet.com
There is no Biblical warrant, precedent, nor precept for remembrance of the day of Christ's birth as a day of special religious celebration. This is not to say that we shouldn't remember Christ's birth and its significance, but for religious commemorations or celebrations, we must have Biblical command or precedent! The fact of the matter is this -- the early church did not celebrate Christ's birth, but such celebration only came into the church with the "Christianization" of pagan rites as Catholicism was made the state religion by Constantine in the fourth century A.D. Since the Word of God does not support the tradition of Christmas, a Christian's conscience ought not and must not be bound.
The following outline describes the origin of Christmas (with its associated pagan customs, symbols, and terminology), details the Scriptural support against celebrating Christmas, attempts to show that celebrating Christmas violates the spirit of every one of the ten commandments, attempts to demonstrate that celebrating Christmas does not fall in the realm of Christian liberty, and attempts to debunk eight of the major rationalizations Christians put forth for celebrating Christmas.
I. The Origin of Christmas
A. A Long Evolution -- Christmas customs are an evolution from times long before the Christian period -- a descent from seasonal, pagan, religious, and national practices, hedged about with legend and tradition. Their seasonal connections with the pagan feasts of the winter solstice relate them to ancient times, when many of the earth's inhabitant's were sun worshipers. As the superstitious pagans observed the sun gradually moving south in the heavens and the days growing shorter, they believed the sun was departing never to return. To encourage the sun's return north (i.e., to give the winter sun god strength and to bring him back to life again), the sun gods were worshipped with elaborate rituals and ceremonies, including the building of great bonfires, decorating with great evergreen plants such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe, and making representations of summer birds as house decorations. The winter solstice, then, was the shortest day of the year, when the sun seemingly stood still in the southern sky. Observing the slowdown in the sun's southward movement, and its stop, the heathen believed that their petitions to it had been successful. A time of unrestrained rejoicing broke out, with revelry, drinking, and gluttonous feasts. Then, when the pagans observed the sun moving again northward, and a week later were able to determine that the days were growing longer, a new year was proclaimed.
B. Not Among the Earliest Christian Festivals -- Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. It was not celebrated, commemorated, or observed, neither by the apostles nor in the apostolic church -- not for at least the first 300 years of church history! History reveals that about 440 A.D., the Church at Jerusalem commenced the celebration of Christmas, following the lead of Roman Catholicism (see I.C.). It was sufficient for the early Christians that Jesus, their Lord and Savior, had been born. They praised God that Jesus Christ had, indeed, come in the flesh. The day and the time of His birth had no relevance to them, because Jesus was no longer physically on earth. He had returned to heaven. And it was the risen, exalted Christ to whom they looked, and that by faith -- not a babe laid in a manger. Jesus Christ is no longer a baby; no longer the "Christ-child," but the exalted Lord of all. And He does NOT somehow return to earth as a baby every year at Christmas-time -- though this is the impression given even in certain hymns sung in Protestant services. (See sub-report.)
C. The Role of Religion in Ancient Rome -- Seemingly forgotten is the essential role religion played in the world of ancient Rome. But the Emperor Constantine understood. By giving official status to Christianity, he brought internal peace to the Empire. A brilliant military commander, he also had the genius to recognize that after declaring Christianity the "state" religion (Constantine forced all the pagans of his empire to be baptized into the Roman Church), there was need for true union between paganism and Christianity. The corrupt Roman Church was full of pagans now masquerading as Christians, all of which had to be pacified. What better way than to "Christianize" their pagan idolatries. Thus, the Babylonian mystery religions were introduced by Constantine beginning in 313 A.D. (and established a foothold with the holding of the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.). The Constantine-led Roman Church was more than willing to adapt and adopt pagan practices in order to make Christianity palatable to the heathen. Constantine used religion as a political tool, totally devoid of any true spirituality:
Pagan rituals and idols took on Christian names (e.g., Jesus Christ was presented as the Sun of Righteousness [Malachi 4:2] replacing the sun god, Sol Invictus ).
Pagan holidays were reclassified as Christian holidays (holy-days).
December 25th was the "Victory of the Sun-God" Festival in the pagan Babylonian world. In the ancient Roman Empire, the celebration can be traced back to the Roman festival Saturnalia, which honored Saturn, the harvest god, and Mithras, the god of light; both were celebrated during or shortly after the winter solstice (between the 17th and 23rd of December). To all ancient pagan civilizations, December 25th was the birthday of the gods -- the time of year when the days began to lengthen and man was blessed with a "regeneration of nature." Moreover, all of December 25th's Babylonian and Roman festivals were characterized by 5-7 day celebration periods of unrestrained or orgiastic revelry and licentiousness.
December 25th was particularly important in the cult of Mithras, a popular deity in the Old Roman Empire. Robert Myers (a proponent for celebrating Christmas) in his book Celebrations, says:
"Prior to the celebration of Christmas, December 25th in the Roman world was the Natalis Solis Invicti, the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun. This feast, which took place just after the winter solstice of the Julian calendar, was in honor of the Sun God, Mithras, originally a Persian deity whose cult penetrated the Roman world in the first century B.C. ... Besides the Mithraic influence, other pagan forces were at work. From the seventeenth of December until the twenty-third, Romans celebrated the ancient feast of the Saturnalia. ... It was commemorative of the Golden Age of Saturn, the god of sowing and husbandry."
In order to make Christianity palatable to the heathen, the Roman Church simply took Saturnalia, adopted it into Christianity, and then eventually many of the associated pagan symbols, forms, customs, and traditions were reinterpreted (i.e., "Christianized") in ways "acceptable" to Christian faith and practice. (In fact, in 375 A.D., the Church of Rome under Pope Julius I merely announced that the birth date of Christ had been "discovered" to be December 25th, and was accepted as such by the "faithful." The festival of Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithras could now be celebrated as the birthday of Christ!) The pagans flocked into the Catholic places of worship, because they were still able to worship their old gods, but merely under different names. It mattered not to them whether they worshiped the Egyptian goddess mother and her child under the old names (Isis and Horus), or under the names of the "Virgin Mary" and the "Christ-child." Either way, it was the same old idol-religion (cf. 1 Thes. 1:8-10; 5:22 -- Paul says to turn from idols, not rename them and Christianize them). Roman Catholicism's Christmas Day is nothing but "baptized" paganism, having come along much too late to be part of "the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
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Source-Planetary Influence
FULL MOON DECEMBER 10TH
December 2011 Astrological Forecast
by Kerry Shamblin
Please note that the planetary positions are based on the sidereal zodiac and that this forecast is written from a Northern Hemisphere perspective.
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Forecast Archive
Mars Occupies Leo December 1 - December 31
Saturn Occupies Libra December 1 - December 31
Full Moon Total Eclipse in Taurus December 10
Mercury Resumes Direct Motion December 13
Sun Enters Sagittarius December 16 - January 15
Venus Transits Capricorn December 16 - January 8
New Moon in Sagittarius December 24
Jupiter Resumes Direct Motion December 25
Mars Occupies Leo December 1 - December 31
December is the second of eight months that Mars will occupy Wall Street, I mean Leo. Though I jest, its not difficult to see the parallels. Mars represents power and how we as humans relate to power and resources. Mars has a youthful, pioneering and fiery energy, and without it, people would be much easier to control and subdue.
Leo, ruled by the Sun, the Sovereign among the planets, is very much the domain of the status quo. It is symbolic of royalty, leadership and central authority. Leo has the ability to hold and maintain power and resources, while Mars' relationship with power has more to do with seeking, exploring and utilizing.
The collective global movements that aim to deconstruct economic and social systems that support an elite class that holds the lion's share of power and resources are very much a reflection of Mars energy manifesting through the lens of Leo.
With both Mars and the Sun (ruler of Leo) having in common the tendency toward self-centeredness, it's interesting to see the play of these similar energies. On one hand, we have people fighting to protect self-interest (Mars), and on the other we have people fighting to retain that which has been gained by exercising self-interest (Leo.)
On a personal level, we may experience themes that involve power struggle and resource allocation. There may be a sense of “personal discovery” as we delve deeply into hidden places within our own psyche. We will have the opportunity to regard firmly established systems from a fresh but challenging perspective of direct experience and consideration.
Mars from Leo also aspects his own sign of Scorpio, currently hosting Rahu, the Moon's north node, and Mercury, retrograde until December 13. Rahu acts mysteriously as an amplifier that will bring issues long buried to the surface via Mercury, our agent of communication and exchange.
There could be even more buried scandals coming to the surface, as the impetus for change and accountability grows among people who share the common vision of serving truth and justice so that all may thrive. People will feel more comfortable about coming forth and speaking in the name of what is right. Resources that are taken from below the surface of the earth, like coal, oil and natural gas are ruled by Scorpio. Mercury retrograde in that sign is like the proverbial canary that's taken to the mines to report on safety. Let's see what comes up.
Saturn Occupies Libra December 1 - December 31
As Mars from Leo calls attention to that which is bubbling beneath the surface, Saturn continues his slow entrance through the early degrees of Venus' Libra. Libra is associated with the scales, and the Sanskrit name for Libra is "Tula" which translates to "balance." The theme for finding balance will be present for Saturn's transit through Libra during the next 3 years.
Saturn gives his influence to the third, seventh and tenth signs from his position. This month, the only planet to be directly influenced by Saturn will be Jupiter, currently occupying Aries, the seventh sign from Libra. This condition actually remains through April 2012, when Jupiter moves into Taurus.
Jupiter and Saturn have opposite tendencies. Jupiter is expansive, positive and growth promoting. Saturn is constrictive, negative and subtractive. The lessons that each one teaches are essential for creating balance in one's life and actions.
Jupiter and Saturn are located in Aries and Libra, respectively, and ruled by Mars and Venus, respectively. Aries and Libra are both "cardinal" signs that are domains of action and initiation. Both signs encourage creativity, exploration and activity.
Jupiter and Saturn in opposition offer us a check and balance system in which we are urged to evaluate our actions in light of how they will affect goals. Saturn generally offers us the sometimes difficult gifts of limitation and restriction; we are urged to explore the concept that acquisition and attraction sometimes create sticky situations that require responsibility that we are unwilling or unable to fulfill. As Saturn settles into this new position, we may experience Saturn's gift of loss in some way. The true gift is the experience of detachment, the endurance required to move through difficulty and the strength that is the result of enduring difficult situations.
At the same time, Jupiter offers us the gift of hope, the desire to grow and to acquire new knowledge and tools. We stand in a channel in which the flow offers us situations in which we can practice both "yes" and "no." Each choice can be one step closer to or one step further away from creating healthy, sustainable balance.
Full Moon Total Eclipse in Taurus December 10
The Moon reaches the apex of the cycle begun on November 24 early in the morning of December 10. The full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon occupy opposite signs, and the Moon is able to fully reflect the light of the Sun, becoming strong and bright.
Rahu and Ketu, also known as the "nodes of the Moon," are points in space that indicate where eclipses occur when the Sun and Moon conjoin them. The Moon will join Ketu in Taurus and the Sun will join Rahu in Scorpio to create a full lunar eclipse. The eclipse will be readily visible to central and eastern Asia and Australia, as it occurs during the night. From Africa to central Asia, the eclipse can be seen during moonrise (sunset) and for North America, the eclipse can be seen at moon set (sunrise.)
Eclipses are traditionally seen as negative influences, as our greatest sources of light are swallowed by shadows. In a sense, they create an environment of vulnerability, and we are encouraged to sit for a moment in contemplation as our luminaries and guides are darkened. It is an opportunity to sit with insecurity, darkness and fear while at the same time connecting with the light that dwells within.
The Sun and Rahu in Scorpio are joined by retrograde Mercury, and aspected by Mars from Leo, already a setup for exploration and analysis of the dark corners that many of us avoid at all cost. The Moon becomes full and eclipsed while in Venus' sign, lending us courage, creativity and vulnerability as we regard the darkness.
This temporary condition of darkness mimics the annual journey into darkness (for the northern hemisphere) that culminates in the winter solstice on December 22. We are invited by the darkness to slow our actions and assume a posture of surrender and humility from which we can move up and out, into the light, as it slowly emerges and guides us.
Mercury Resumes Direct Motion December 13
Always an added challenge during holiday season is a Mercury retrograde cycle. Mercury retrograde in the sign of Scorpio begins on November 25, Thanksgiving Day for those in the United States, and resumes direct motion on December 13.
The first layer is that Mercury retrograde effects are generally standard: difficult communication, unreliable plans, technological mishaps and gaps, transportation glitches. The general remedies for this include: slowing down, double checking, light agendas, flexibility, extra attention to speech and writing and Mercury's gift to everyone, a sense of humor.
The second layer is that Mercury's nature makes him easily influenced by other planets. So, his situation with Sun and Rahu in Scorpio takes our capacity for communication and exchange deep below the surface. In general, this could be difficult in the face of trying to create merriment and brightness.
There is a choice here. 1. One could barrel through in an attempt to prepare for holidays and pretend like we're all riding along in a one-horse open sleigh without a care in the world. 2. One could slowly approach the holiday season with a sense of deep thoughtfulness about the reality of how life is unfolding around us, making careful choices in consideration of creating and maintaining the balance that Saturn encourages at this time. The consequence of choosing #1 could lead toward a state of frazzled, unsatisfied imbalance.
At any rate, the effects of Mercury retrograde can often be felt up to a week before and after the actual retrograde period. With Rahu occupying Scorpio, we have somewhat of an amplifier action on Mercury, so leave those Mercury remedies in place through the solstice.
Sun Enters Sagittarius December 16 - January 15
Shortly after Mercury resumes direct motion, the Sun moves away into Sagittarius, Jupiter's fire sign. Each year, this brings to mind the Sun's position during the winter solstice, which is roughly in the direction of the Galactic Center, which we would reach if we set out in the direction of the early degrees of Sagittarius. The Sanskrit word for Sagittarius is "Dhanus" which translates to "bow." This is akin to the western view of Sagittarius' symbol as the archer.
Both symbols urge us to point ourselves toward the center and quest until we reach the core of our being. Each year before the winter solstice, the Sun moves through the depths of Scorpio, where we use that powerful light to explore the dark corners and root out that which no longer serves. Then we emerge from that crucible into a new journey. The Sun in Sagittarius pushes us toward new horizons and encourages the planting of seeds that will crack and grow as the season evolves toward spring.
The Sun in Sagittarius also helps to create a triad of powerful and fiery energy. Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius and is currently located in Mars' fire sign, Aries. Mars, ruler of Aries, is located in the Sun's fire sign, Leo. This sets up a very powerful base for decisive movement and positive growth. If change is desired, these three planets located in the three fire signs should be harnessed for forward movement as the new year dawns.
Venus Transits Capricorn December 16 - January 8
Venus also moves signs on December 16, from Sagittarius to Capricorn. This puts Venus into an exchange of signs with her friend, Saturn. Saturn occupies Venus' air sign, Libra, while Venus makes a quick journey through Saturn's earth sign, Capricorn. What to do with this?
How about gracefully getting down to the business of creating beautiful and practical situations and things? How about connecting with others under the auspices of making the world in which we live a place where each person is considered on equal ground for a chance to work and love? How about making a poetic attempt at striking a pose that balances love and effort? How about introducing devotion into work projects? The possibilities are myriad.
New Moon in Sagittarius December 24
Just a couple days after the winter solstice, we begin a new lunar cycle when the Sun and Moon conjoin in the early degrees of Sagittarius. This occurs at about 8° Sagittarius, in the lunar mansion called "Mula" which translates as “root.”
The Moon's energy ebbs considerably as it wanes, and is at a most vulnerable, receptive state when new. Having come from a full eclipse just a fortnight before, the Moon enters Sagittarius and joins the Sun in a weakened state. The beautiful aspect of this is that Moon symbolically reaches a state of emptiness and openness to the Sun's energy, allowing for the filling of the vessel with the reflected energy of the Sun as the Moon waxes. It's very romantic, actually.
This occurs in the lunar mansion that points in the direction of the Galactic Center, Mula. This very fiery and active nakshatra cuts straight to the heart of things, like an arrow well aimed. There is also the theme of roots; roots penetrate deep places, much like the theme of Scorpio, which is in extreme proximity to the stars of Mula. Mula is ruled by the goddess Niritti, who rules destruction, calamity and the path that they open toward rebuilding and new growth.
This would be a good time to realign with the concepts of destruction and calamity. When we hold tightly to material constructs, destruction is frightening. When we can gain perspective and see destruction as instrumental to converting the corrupt, spent and decaying into fodder for new growth and building, we can find a healthy expression for that energy.
The day of the new Moon is generally best for withdrawal and consolidation of energy. Try to make this period of time between the solstice and Christmas day very easy and nurturing. Aim for getting major activity done by Wednesday, December 21, so that you are able to settle in for a good reboot through the solstice and new moon.
Jupiter Resumes Direct Motion December 25
As if on cue, Jupiter, so bright in the early morning sky, stations for a moment on Christmas day, and resumes direct motion. Jupiter, the planet of joy, spiritual pursuits, positivity and expansiveness is known as “Guru” in Sanskrit, which translates as "guide/teacher.” Jupiter has been following an apparently retrograde course since September.
When planets are retrograde, especially ones with positive associations, like Jupiter, we can sometimes feel the repression of positive movement and growth. With Jupiter's retrograde status compounded by Saturn's entrance into opposition with Jupiter, things feel especially hard to move and initiate.
The ideas are there and possibilities can be sensed, but initiation has not been realized. With Jupiter resuming forward motion in Mars' fire sign, Aries, we may meet with new possibilities and cleared paths toward goals. Not that obstacles will disappear or be removed, but our ability to surmount them will become more powerful.
With the triad of fire signs currently being occupied by Mars, Sun and Jupiter, all in forward motion for now, as we move into the new year we are boosted by a powerful, fiery energy. This comes with enthusiasm and with warnings. The Sun and Mars have very strong self-centered tendencies. The Sun is tempered by its location in Jupiter's sign and Mars is tempered by Jupiter's occupation of Aries. Both are tempered by Jupiter's aspect. We are all fortunate to be guided by wisdom as we put forth our efforts.
NASA spacecraft has captured the image of a huge "cloaked" alien ship near the planet Mercury. Unless, of course, it didn't.
On Dec. 1, NASA's Heliospheric Imager-1 telescope photographed a huge coronal mass ejection (CME) streaming from the sun.
But ever-observant, keen-eyed ET hunters claim that the short video also reveals a previously hidden or cloaked giant spaceship.
Probably not, says a scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
"I'd rather not comment on what other people are thinking," said Nathan Rich, a ground systems engineer for the Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation, a group of scientific telescopes that observe the sun's corona, a region where solar wind and X-ray radiation originate.
"We get this kind of reaction quite frequently," Rich told The Huffington Post. "The Naval Research Laboratory has provided the telescopes that are on the NASA spacecraft. We built and operate the instruments."
He explained that the CME took place while Mercury happened to be in the center of the image.
"The camera wasn't focused on Mercury. It passes through the field of view on a regular basis. (Image left) By going to our website, you can get a movie for any day from this telescope.
"On the video, you're observing what we call coronal mass ejections -- basically refraction from electrons and other particles coming off the sun. It's part of the solar wind and it's a very dynamic place called the heliosphere," he said
But as this solar wind material streamed across Mercury, something very large and bright appeared to the right of the small planet -- something that UFO enthusiasts are hoping and claiming is the real alien deal. (Image left)
"It's cylindrical on either side and has a shape in the middle. It definitely looks like a ship to me, and very obviously, it's cloaked," suggested YouTube user sinXster, who uploaded the short video to the video site.
While UFO enthusiasts hope the video reveals something akin to a cloaked Romulan or Klingon ship hiding out in the shadow of Mercury, Rich explains that, in essence, the "alien" image is a visual after-effect or ghost artifact of Mercury that was photographed the previous day.
"It's a complicated effect," Rich said. "It's basically the background that is removed from the image to bring out the faint coronal signal. It's a negative imprint on the background."
Those who believe otherwise -- that the video really does show an ET craft playing a cosmic game of hide and seek -- will be hard to convince there's a purely scientific explanation for the unusual telescopic imagery.
But others may be interested to check out Rich's more detailed analysis of the "alien ship" on the
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The Truth about Christmas
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Source-Rapidnet.com
There is no Biblical warrant, precedent, nor precept for remembrance of the day of Christ's birth as a day of special religious celebration. This is not to say that we shouldn't remember Christ's birth and its significance, but for religious commemorations or celebrations, we must have Biblical command or precedent! The fact of the matter is this -- the early church did not celebrate Christ's birth, but such celebration only came into the church with the "Christianization" of pagan rites as Catholicism was made the state religion by Constantine in the fourth century A.D. Since the Word of God does not support the tradition of Christmas, a Christian's conscience ought not and must not be bound.
The following outline describes the origin of Christmas (with its associated pagan customs, symbols, and terminology), details the Scriptural support against celebrating Christmas, attempts to show that celebrating Christmas violates the spirit of every one of the ten commandments, attempts to demonstrate that celebrating Christmas does not fall in the realm of Christian liberty, and attempts to debunk eight of the major rationalizations Christians put forth for celebrating Christmas.
I. The Origin of Christmas
A. A Long Evolution -- Christmas customs are an evolution from times long before the Christian period -- a descent from seasonal, pagan, religious, and national practices, hedged about with legend and tradition. Their seasonal connections with the pagan feasts of the winter solstice relate them to ancient times, when many of the earth's inhabitant's were sun worshipers. As the superstitious pagans observed the sun gradually moving south in the heavens and the days growing shorter, they believed the sun was departing never to return. To encourage the sun's return north (i.e., to give the winter sun god strength and to bring him back to life again), the sun gods were worshipped with elaborate rituals and ceremonies, including the building of great bonfires, decorating with great evergreen plants such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe, and making representations of summer birds as house decorations. The winter solstice, then, was the shortest day of the year, when the sun seemingly stood still in the southern sky. Observing the slowdown in the sun's southward movement, and its stop, the heathen believed that their petitions to it had been successful. A time of unrestrained rejoicing broke out, with revelry, drinking, and gluttonous feasts. Then, when the pagans observed the sun moving again northward, and a week later were able to determine that the days were growing longer, a new year was proclaimed.
B. Not Among the Earliest Christian Festivals -- Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. It was not celebrated, commemorated, or observed, neither by the apostles nor in the apostolic church -- not for at least the first 300 years of church history! History reveals that about 440 A.D., the Church at Jerusalem commenced the celebration of Christmas, following the lead of Roman Catholicism (see I.C.). It was sufficient for the early Christians that Jesus, their Lord and Savior, had been born. They praised God that Jesus Christ had, indeed, come in the flesh. The day and the time of His birth had no relevance to them, because Jesus was no longer physically on earth. He had returned to heaven. And it was the risen, exalted Christ to whom they looked, and that by faith -- not a babe laid in a manger. Jesus Christ is no longer a baby; no longer the "Christ-child," but the exalted Lord of all. And He does NOT somehow return to earth as a baby every year at Christmas-time -- though this is the impression given even in certain hymns sung in Protestant services. (See sub-report.)
C. The Role of Religion in Ancient Rome -- Seemingly forgotten is the essential role religion played in the world of ancient Rome. But the Emperor Constantine understood. By giving official status to Christianity, he brought internal peace to the Empire. A brilliant military commander, he also had the genius to recognize that after declaring Christianity the "state" religion (Constantine forced all the pagans of his empire to be baptized into the Roman Church), there was need for true union between paganism and Christianity. The corrupt Roman Church was full of pagans now masquerading as Christians, all of which had to be pacified. What better way than to "Christianize" their pagan idolatries. Thus, the Babylonian mystery religions were introduced by Constantine beginning in 313 A.D. (and established a foothold with the holding of the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.). The Constantine-led Roman Church was more than willing to adapt and adopt pagan practices in order to make Christianity palatable to the heathen. Constantine used religion as a political tool, totally devoid of any true spirituality:
Pagan rituals and idols took on Christian names (e.g., Jesus Christ was presented as the Sun of Righteousness [Malachi 4:2] replacing the sun god, Sol Invictus ).
Pagan holidays were reclassified as Christian holidays (holy-days).
December 25th was the "Victory of the Sun-God" Festival in the pagan Babylonian world. In the ancient Roman Empire, the celebration can be traced back to the Roman festival Saturnalia, which honored Saturn, the harvest god, and Mithras, the god of light; both were celebrated during or shortly after the winter solstice (between the 17th and 23rd of December). To all ancient pagan civilizations, December 25th was the birthday of the gods -- the time of year when the days began to lengthen and man was blessed with a "regeneration of nature." Moreover, all of December 25th's Babylonian and Roman festivals were characterized by 5-7 day celebration periods of unrestrained or orgiastic revelry and licentiousness.
December 25th was particularly important in the cult of Mithras, a popular deity in the Old Roman Empire. Robert Myers (a proponent for celebrating Christmas) in his book Celebrations, says:
"Prior to the celebration of Christmas, December 25th in the Roman world was the Natalis Solis Invicti, the Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun. This feast, which took place just after the winter solstice of the Julian calendar, was in honor of the Sun God, Mithras, originally a Persian deity whose cult penetrated the Roman world in the first century B.C. ... Besides the Mithraic influence, other pagan forces were at work. From the seventeenth of December until the twenty-third, Romans celebrated the ancient feast of the Saturnalia. ... It was commemorative of the Golden Age of Saturn, the god of sowing and husbandry."
In order to make Christianity palatable to the heathen, the Roman Church simply took Saturnalia, adopted it into Christianity, and then eventually many of the associated pagan symbols, forms, customs, and traditions were reinterpreted (i.e., "Christianized") in ways "acceptable" to Christian faith and practice. (In fact, in 375 A.D., the Church of Rome under Pope Julius I merely announced that the birth date of Christ had been "discovered" to be December 25th, and was accepted as such by the "faithful." The festival of Saturnalia and the birthday of Mithras could now be celebrated as the birthday of Christ!) The pagans flocked into the Catholic places of worship, because they were still able to worship their old gods, but merely under different names. It mattered not to them whether they worshiped the Egyptian goddess mother and her child under the old names (Isis and Horus), or under the names of the "Virgin Mary" and the "Christ-child." Either way, it was the same old idol-religion (cf. 1 Thes. 1:8-10; 5:22 -- Paul says to turn from idols, not rename them and Christianize them). Roman Catholicism's Christmas Day is nothing but "baptized" paganism, having come along much too late to be part of "the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
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Source-Planetary Influence
FULL MOON DECEMBER 10TH
December 2011 Astrological Forecast
by Kerry Shamblin
Please note that the planetary positions are based on the sidereal zodiac and that this forecast is written from a Northern Hemisphere perspective.
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Forecast Archive
Mars Occupies Leo December 1 - December 31
Saturn Occupies Libra December 1 - December 31
Full Moon Total Eclipse in Taurus December 10
Mercury Resumes Direct Motion December 13
Sun Enters Sagittarius December 16 - January 15
Venus Transits Capricorn December 16 - January 8
New Moon in Sagittarius December 24
Jupiter Resumes Direct Motion December 25
Mars Occupies Leo December 1 - December 31
December is the second of eight months that Mars will occupy Wall Street, I mean Leo. Though I jest, its not difficult to see the parallels. Mars represents power and how we as humans relate to power and resources. Mars has a youthful, pioneering and fiery energy, and without it, people would be much easier to control and subdue.
Leo, ruled by the Sun, the Sovereign among the planets, is very much the domain of the status quo. It is symbolic of royalty, leadership and central authority. Leo has the ability to hold and maintain power and resources, while Mars' relationship with power has more to do with seeking, exploring and utilizing.
The collective global movements that aim to deconstruct economic and social systems that support an elite class that holds the lion's share of power and resources are very much a reflection of Mars energy manifesting through the lens of Leo.
With both Mars and the Sun (ruler of Leo) having in common the tendency toward self-centeredness, it's interesting to see the play of these similar energies. On one hand, we have people fighting to protect self-interest (Mars), and on the other we have people fighting to retain that which has been gained by exercising self-interest (Leo.)
On a personal level, we may experience themes that involve power struggle and resource allocation. There may be a sense of “personal discovery” as we delve deeply into hidden places within our own psyche. We will have the opportunity to regard firmly established systems from a fresh but challenging perspective of direct experience and consideration.
Mars from Leo also aspects his own sign of Scorpio, currently hosting Rahu, the Moon's north node, and Mercury, retrograde until December 13. Rahu acts mysteriously as an amplifier that will bring issues long buried to the surface via Mercury, our agent of communication and exchange.
There could be even more buried scandals coming to the surface, as the impetus for change and accountability grows among people who share the common vision of serving truth and justice so that all may thrive. People will feel more comfortable about coming forth and speaking in the name of what is right. Resources that are taken from below the surface of the earth, like coal, oil and natural gas are ruled by Scorpio. Mercury retrograde in that sign is like the proverbial canary that's taken to the mines to report on safety. Let's see what comes up.
Saturn Occupies Libra December 1 - December 31
As Mars from Leo calls attention to that which is bubbling beneath the surface, Saturn continues his slow entrance through the early degrees of Venus' Libra. Libra is associated with the scales, and the Sanskrit name for Libra is "Tula" which translates to "balance." The theme for finding balance will be present for Saturn's transit through Libra during the next 3 years.
Saturn gives his influence to the third, seventh and tenth signs from his position. This month, the only planet to be directly influenced by Saturn will be Jupiter, currently occupying Aries, the seventh sign from Libra. This condition actually remains through April 2012, when Jupiter moves into Taurus.
Jupiter and Saturn have opposite tendencies. Jupiter is expansive, positive and growth promoting. Saturn is constrictive, negative and subtractive. The lessons that each one teaches are essential for creating balance in one's life and actions.
Jupiter and Saturn are located in Aries and Libra, respectively, and ruled by Mars and Venus, respectively. Aries and Libra are both "cardinal" signs that are domains of action and initiation. Both signs encourage creativity, exploration and activity.
Jupiter and Saturn in opposition offer us a check and balance system in which we are urged to evaluate our actions in light of how they will affect goals. Saturn generally offers us the sometimes difficult gifts of limitation and restriction; we are urged to explore the concept that acquisition and attraction sometimes create sticky situations that require responsibility that we are unwilling or unable to fulfill. As Saturn settles into this new position, we may experience Saturn's gift of loss in some way. The true gift is the experience of detachment, the endurance required to move through difficulty and the strength that is the result of enduring difficult situations.
At the same time, Jupiter offers us the gift of hope, the desire to grow and to acquire new knowledge and tools. We stand in a channel in which the flow offers us situations in which we can practice both "yes" and "no." Each choice can be one step closer to or one step further away from creating healthy, sustainable balance.
Full Moon Total Eclipse in Taurus December 10
The Moon reaches the apex of the cycle begun on November 24 early in the morning of December 10. The full Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon occupy opposite signs, and the Moon is able to fully reflect the light of the Sun, becoming strong and bright.
Rahu and Ketu, also known as the "nodes of the Moon," are points in space that indicate where eclipses occur when the Sun and Moon conjoin them. The Moon will join Ketu in Taurus and the Sun will join Rahu in Scorpio to create a full lunar eclipse. The eclipse will be readily visible to central and eastern Asia and Australia, as it occurs during the night. From Africa to central Asia, the eclipse can be seen during moonrise (sunset) and for North America, the eclipse can be seen at moon set (sunrise.)
Eclipses are traditionally seen as negative influences, as our greatest sources of light are swallowed by shadows. In a sense, they create an environment of vulnerability, and we are encouraged to sit for a moment in contemplation as our luminaries and guides are darkened. It is an opportunity to sit with insecurity, darkness and fear while at the same time connecting with the light that dwells within.
The Sun and Rahu in Scorpio are joined by retrograde Mercury, and aspected by Mars from Leo, already a setup for exploration and analysis of the dark corners that many of us avoid at all cost. The Moon becomes full and eclipsed while in Venus' sign, lending us courage, creativity and vulnerability as we regard the darkness.
This temporary condition of darkness mimics the annual journey into darkness (for the northern hemisphere) that culminates in the winter solstice on December 22. We are invited by the darkness to slow our actions and assume a posture of surrender and humility from which we can move up and out, into the light, as it slowly emerges and guides us.
Mercury Resumes Direct Motion December 13
Always an added challenge during holiday season is a Mercury retrograde cycle. Mercury retrograde in the sign of Scorpio begins on November 25, Thanksgiving Day for those in the United States, and resumes direct motion on December 13.
The first layer is that Mercury retrograde effects are generally standard: difficult communication, unreliable plans, technological mishaps and gaps, transportation glitches. The general remedies for this include: slowing down, double checking, light agendas, flexibility, extra attention to speech and writing and Mercury's gift to everyone, a sense of humor.
The second layer is that Mercury's nature makes him easily influenced by other planets. So, his situation with Sun and Rahu in Scorpio takes our capacity for communication and exchange deep below the surface. In general, this could be difficult in the face of trying to create merriment and brightness.
There is a choice here. 1. One could barrel through in an attempt to prepare for holidays and pretend like we're all riding along in a one-horse open sleigh without a care in the world. 2. One could slowly approach the holiday season with a sense of deep thoughtfulness about the reality of how life is unfolding around us, making careful choices in consideration of creating and maintaining the balance that Saturn encourages at this time. The consequence of choosing #1 could lead toward a state of frazzled, unsatisfied imbalance.
At any rate, the effects of Mercury retrograde can often be felt up to a week before and after the actual retrograde period. With Rahu occupying Scorpio, we have somewhat of an amplifier action on Mercury, so leave those Mercury remedies in place through the solstice.
Sun Enters Sagittarius December 16 - January 15
Shortly after Mercury resumes direct motion, the Sun moves away into Sagittarius, Jupiter's fire sign. Each year, this brings to mind the Sun's position during the winter solstice, which is roughly in the direction of the Galactic Center, which we would reach if we set out in the direction of the early degrees of Sagittarius. The Sanskrit word for Sagittarius is "Dhanus" which translates to "bow." This is akin to the western view of Sagittarius' symbol as the archer.
Both symbols urge us to point ourselves toward the center and quest until we reach the core of our being. Each year before the winter solstice, the Sun moves through the depths of Scorpio, where we use that powerful light to explore the dark corners and root out that which no longer serves. Then we emerge from that crucible into a new journey. The Sun in Sagittarius pushes us toward new horizons and encourages the planting of seeds that will crack and grow as the season evolves toward spring.
The Sun in Sagittarius also helps to create a triad of powerful and fiery energy. Jupiter is the ruler of Sagittarius and is currently located in Mars' fire sign, Aries. Mars, ruler of Aries, is located in the Sun's fire sign, Leo. This sets up a very powerful base for decisive movement and positive growth. If change is desired, these three planets located in the three fire signs should be harnessed for forward movement as the new year dawns.
Venus Transits Capricorn December 16 - January 8
Venus also moves signs on December 16, from Sagittarius to Capricorn. This puts Venus into an exchange of signs with her friend, Saturn. Saturn occupies Venus' air sign, Libra, while Venus makes a quick journey through Saturn's earth sign, Capricorn. What to do with this?
How about gracefully getting down to the business of creating beautiful and practical situations and things? How about connecting with others under the auspices of making the world in which we live a place where each person is considered on equal ground for a chance to work and love? How about making a poetic attempt at striking a pose that balances love and effort? How about introducing devotion into work projects? The possibilities are myriad.
New Moon in Sagittarius December 24
Just a couple days after the winter solstice, we begin a new lunar cycle when the Sun and Moon conjoin in the early degrees of Sagittarius. This occurs at about 8° Sagittarius, in the lunar mansion called "Mula" which translates as “root.”
The Moon's energy ebbs considerably as it wanes, and is at a most vulnerable, receptive state when new. Having come from a full eclipse just a fortnight before, the Moon enters Sagittarius and joins the Sun in a weakened state. The beautiful aspect of this is that Moon symbolically reaches a state of emptiness and openness to the Sun's energy, allowing for the filling of the vessel with the reflected energy of the Sun as the Moon waxes. It's very romantic, actually.
This occurs in the lunar mansion that points in the direction of the Galactic Center, Mula. This very fiery and active nakshatra cuts straight to the heart of things, like an arrow well aimed. There is also the theme of roots; roots penetrate deep places, much like the theme of Scorpio, which is in extreme proximity to the stars of Mula. Mula is ruled by the goddess Niritti, who rules destruction, calamity and the path that they open toward rebuilding and new growth.
This would be a good time to realign with the concepts of destruction and calamity. When we hold tightly to material constructs, destruction is frightening. When we can gain perspective and see destruction as instrumental to converting the corrupt, spent and decaying into fodder for new growth and building, we can find a healthy expression for that energy.
The day of the new Moon is generally best for withdrawal and consolidation of energy. Try to make this period of time between the solstice and Christmas day very easy and nurturing. Aim for getting major activity done by Wednesday, December 21, so that you are able to settle in for a good reboot through the solstice and new moon.
Jupiter Resumes Direct Motion December 25
As if on cue, Jupiter, so bright in the early morning sky, stations for a moment on Christmas day, and resumes direct motion. Jupiter, the planet of joy, spiritual pursuits, positivity and expansiveness is known as “Guru” in Sanskrit, which translates as "guide/teacher.” Jupiter has been following an apparently retrograde course since September.
When planets are retrograde, especially ones with positive associations, like Jupiter, we can sometimes feel the repression of positive movement and growth. With Jupiter's retrograde status compounded by Saturn's entrance into opposition with Jupiter, things feel especially hard to move and initiate.
The ideas are there and possibilities can be sensed, but initiation has not been realized. With Jupiter resuming forward motion in Mars' fire sign, Aries, we may meet with new possibilities and cleared paths toward goals. Not that obstacles will disappear or be removed, but our ability to surmount them will become more powerful.
With the triad of fire signs currently being occupied by Mars, Sun and Jupiter, all in forward motion for now, as we move into the new year we are boosted by a powerful, fiery energy. This comes with enthusiasm and with warnings. The Sun and Mars have very strong self-centered tendencies. The Sun is tempered by its location in Jupiter's sign and Mars is tempered by Jupiter's occupation of Aries. Both are tempered by Jupiter's aspect. We are all fortunate to be guided by wisdom as we put forth our efforts.
Nasa video of YU55 Asteroid November 8th
Source-Astronomy.com: Not the end of the world December 2012
The myth that the world will end in December 2012 started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is heading toward Earth. Zecharia Sitchin, who writes fiction about the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer, claimed in several books (e.g., The Twelfth Planet, The Stairway to Heaven, The End of Days) that he has found and translated Sumerian documents that identify a planet — Nibiru — orbiting the Sun every 3,600 years. Sitchin's Sumerian fables include stories of astronauts visiting Earth from an alien civilization called the Anunnaki.
After these books appeared, Nancy Lieder, a self-declared psychic, wrote on her web site ZetaTalk that the inhabitants of a fictional planet orbiting the nearby star Zeta Reticuli warned her that Earth was in danger from Nibiru. The prediction said the collision of Nibiru and Earth would occur in May 2003.
When nothing happened in that month, claimants moved the doomsday date forward to December 2012. Only recently have people linked these two fables to the end of the Mayan long-count at the winter solstice in 2012 — hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.
Nibiru is a name in Babylonian astrology sometimes associated with the god Marduk. Scholars of ancient Mesopotamia refute Sitchin's claims that Nibiru is a planet and that the Sumerians knew about it. Sumer was a great civilization, but they left few astronomical records. They had no understanding that the planets orbited the Sun. That idea first developed in ancient Greece two millennia after the end of Sumer.
Some people claim NASA found Nibiru in 1983 using the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), which carried out a 10-month sky survey. IRAS cataloged 350,000 infrared sources, and initially many of these sources were unidentified. Astronomers have followed up all of these observations with more powerful instruments both on the ground and in space. The rumor about a 10th planet erupted in 1984 after a scientific paper appeared in Astrophysical Journal Letters titled "Unidentified point sources in the IRAS minisurvey." In 1987, scientists published the identification of these mystery objects as distant galaxies. No IRAS source has ever turned out to be a planet. To an astronomer, persistent claims about a planet that is nearby but invisible are just plain silly.
Claims of a "Planet X" being Eris also are absurd. Eris is one of several dwarf planets recently found by astronomers in the outer solar system. All these objects are on normal orbits far from Earth. Eris is smaller than our Moon, and its orbit never brings it closer than about 4 billion miles (6.5 billion km).
Believers in the Nibiru collision myth tout photos and videos on the Internet that appear to show the planet. The great majority of the photos and videos show some feature near the Sun. Some proponents believe Nibiru has been hiding behind the Sun for the past several years. The photos are secondary images of the Sun caused by internal reflections in the lens. Photographers know this effect as lens flare. Such images appear opposite the Sun, as if reflected across the image's center. Lens flare is especially obvious in videos because as the camera moves, the false image dances about always exactly opposite the real image.
Lacking facts, some collision supporters claim our government is keeping the details secret. Uh huh. If Nibiru were real, thousands of astronomers around the globe would be tracking it right now.
With all we know about this myth, why is there so much excitement then? Who is promoting such claims? The simple answer seems to be Columbia Pictures. As I write this, publicity for Columbia's new film 2012, to be released in November 2009, is everywhere. The film's trailer shows a tidal wave breaking over the Himalayas, with the following words: "How would the governments of our planet prepare 6 billion people for the end of the world? [long pause] They wouldn't. [long pause] Find out the Truth. Google search 2012."
For the film, Columbia created a fake scientific web site (www.instituteforhumancontinuity.org). This site belongs to a fictitious organization called the Institute for Human Continuity (IHC). According to the web site, the IHC's mission is the survival of mankind.
The site further says that in 2004, IHC scientists confirmed with 94 percent certainty that the world would be destroyed in 2012. OK, I'm a sci-fi movie buff. But let's settle for buying a ticket. Don't buy the hype that the world will end in 2012.
Part 1
Part2
Part3
Part 4
Part 5
The myth that the world will end in December 2012 started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is heading toward Earth. Zecharia Sitchin, who writes fiction about the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer, claimed in several books (e.g., The Twelfth Planet, The Stairway to Heaven, The End of Days) that he has found and translated Sumerian documents that identify a planet — Nibiru — orbiting the Sun every 3,600 years. Sitchin's Sumerian fables include stories of astronauts visiting Earth from an alien civilization called the Anunnaki.
After these books appeared, Nancy Lieder, a self-declared psychic, wrote on her web site ZetaTalk that the inhabitants of a fictional planet orbiting the nearby star Zeta Reticuli warned her that Earth was in danger from Nibiru. The prediction said the collision of Nibiru and Earth would occur in May 2003.
When nothing happened in that month, claimants moved the doomsday date forward to December 2012. Only recently have people linked these two fables to the end of the Mayan long-count at the winter solstice in 2012 — hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.
Nibiru is a name in Babylonian astrology sometimes associated with the god Marduk. Scholars of ancient Mesopotamia refute Sitchin's claims that Nibiru is a planet and that the Sumerians knew about it. Sumer was a great civilization, but they left few astronomical records. They had no understanding that the planets orbited the Sun. That idea first developed in ancient Greece two millennia after the end of Sumer.
Some people claim NASA found Nibiru in 1983 using the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS), which carried out a 10-month sky survey. IRAS cataloged 350,000 infrared sources, and initially many of these sources were unidentified. Astronomers have followed up all of these observations with more powerful instruments both on the ground and in space. The rumor about a 10th planet erupted in 1984 after a scientific paper appeared in Astrophysical Journal Letters titled "Unidentified point sources in the IRAS minisurvey." In 1987, scientists published the identification of these mystery objects as distant galaxies. No IRAS source has ever turned out to be a planet. To an astronomer, persistent claims about a planet that is nearby but invisible are just plain silly.
Claims of a "Planet X" being Eris also are absurd. Eris is one of several dwarf planets recently found by astronomers in the outer solar system. All these objects are on normal orbits far from Earth. Eris is smaller than our Moon, and its orbit never brings it closer than about 4 billion miles (6.5 billion km).
Believers in the Nibiru collision myth tout photos and videos on the Internet that appear to show the planet. The great majority of the photos and videos show some feature near the Sun. Some proponents believe Nibiru has been hiding behind the Sun for the past several years. The photos are secondary images of the Sun caused by internal reflections in the lens. Photographers know this effect as lens flare. Such images appear opposite the Sun, as if reflected across the image's center. Lens flare is especially obvious in videos because as the camera moves, the false image dances about always exactly opposite the real image.
Lacking facts, some collision supporters claim our government is keeping the details secret. Uh huh. If Nibiru were real, thousands of astronomers around the globe would be tracking it right now.
With all we know about this myth, why is there so much excitement then? Who is promoting such claims? The simple answer seems to be Columbia Pictures. As I write this, publicity for Columbia's new film 2012, to be released in November 2009, is everywhere. The film's trailer shows a tidal wave breaking over the Himalayas, with the following words: "How would the governments of our planet prepare 6 billion people for the end of the world? [long pause] They wouldn't. [long pause] Find out the Truth. Google search 2012."
For the film, Columbia created a fake scientific web site (www.instituteforhumancontinuity.org). This site belongs to a fictitious organization called the Institute for Human Continuity (IHC). According to the web site, the IHC's mission is the survival of mankind.
The site further says that in 2004, IHC scientists confirmed with 94 percent certainty that the world would be destroyed in 2012. OK, I'm a sci-fi movie buff. But let's settle for buying a ticket. Don't buy the hype that the world will end in 2012.
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Source-Crystalinks:Mayan Calendar
Most ancient civilizations found a way of marking time to predict changes that would affect their survival and destinies. These 'calendars' were often linked with one or more gods, who at some point in their progression, would return. Today, as human consciousness evolves in the age of healing, awareness, technology and reasoning, our attention is riveted to one calendar in particular, the Mayan Long Calendar, as something within its end time date, resonates for many souls. The date is December 21, 2012 (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count) as projected by Jose Arguelles and others. I have been taught that 13=4=closure or the end of linear time.
Reality is a holographic construct create by the patterns of sacred geometry that repeat in cycles called linear time. Reality is myth, math, and metaphor. The movement of all consciousness follows a sequence called the golden spiral - the Fibonacci numbers published in 1202.
There have been many calendars throughout history that do not necessarily correlate to our Gregorian calendar or the Mayan calendars. Therefore, how can one be sure that this date is the beginning of what some call a Golden Age? The term 'gold' takes us to alchemy now understood as a metaphor for the evolution of consciousness in the alchemy of time. It is something you feel within your soul, something that follows your life with synchronistic reminders that all is connected as consciousness moves through the gears, or wheels of time to evolve into something beyond the physical experience/experiment.
Did the ancient Mayans know something that we don't? Are we meant to find and understand something as the date, December 21, 2012, comes closer? Look within your soul to determine a greater meaning. We are evolving, learning, and not by accident, putting the pieces of the puzzle together, as guided by the grids through which our consciousness experiences as our souls return 'home'.
The Mayan Calendars
There were 3 Mayan Calendars: Haab', Tzolk'in and Long.
The Mayan Long Calendar speaks of the end of one cycle of time moving into the next on December 21, 2012.
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is a non-repeating, vigesimal (base-20) calendar used by several Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya. For this reason, it is sometimes known as the Maya (or Mayan) Long Count calendar. Using a modified vigesimal tally, the Long Count calendar identifies a day by counting the number of days passed since August 11, 3114 BC (Gregorian). Because the Long Count calendar is non-repeating, it was widely used on monuments.
Among other calendars devised in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, two of the most widely used were the 365-day solar calendar (Haab' in Mayan) and the 260-day ceremonial calendar, which had 20 periods of 13 days. This 260-day calendar was known as the Tzolk'in to the Maya and tonalpohualli to the Aztecs.
Tzolk'in (Round)
The Haab' and the Tzolk'in calendars identified and named the days, but not the years. The combination of a Haab' date and a Tzolk'in date was enough to identify a specific date to most people's satisfaction, as such a combination did not occur again for another 52 years, above general life expectancy.
The Tzolk'in, the most fundamental and widely-attested of all the Maya calendars, was based in the 26,000-year cycle of the Pleiades, and was a pre-eminent component in the society and rituals of the ancient Maya. The tzolk'in calendar remains in use amongst several Maya communities in the Guatemalan highlands. Its use is marginal but spreading in this region, although opposition from Evangelical Christian converts has erased it from some communities.
The word, meaning "count of days", was coined based on Yukatek Maya. The corresponding words in the K'iche' and Kaqchikel cultures of Guatemala, which have maintained an unbroken train of observance for over 500 years, are, respectively, Ajilabal q'ij and Cholq'ij. The actual names of this calendar as used by the pre-Columbian Maya are not known. The corresponding Postclassic Aztec calendar, probably based on extinct central Mexican observance, was called by them tonalpohualli, in the Nahuatl language.
The Maya used several cycles of days, of which the two most important were the Tzolk'in, or Sacred Round of 260 days and the approximate solar year of 365 days or Haab. The Sacred Round combined the repeating cycle of numbers 1-13 with 20 day names ... so that any particular combination would recur in 13 x 20 or 260 days; the day name and the number changed together: 1 Imix, 2 Ik, 3 Akbal ... as we might say Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3, and so on.
Because the two calendars were based on 365 days and 260 days respectively, the whole cycle would repeat itself every 52 Haab' years exactly. This period was known as a Calendar Round.
To measure dates over periods longer than 52 years, the Mesoamericans devised the Long Count calendar.
The Long Count calendar identifies a date by counting the number of days from August 11, 3114 BC. Rather than using a base-10 scheme, like Western numbering, the Long Count days were tallied in a base-20 scheme. Thus 0.0.0.1.5 is equal to 25, and 0.0.0.2.0 is equal to 40.
The Long Count is not consistently base-20, however, since the second digit (from the right) only counts to 18 before resetting to zero. Thus 0.0.1.0.0 does not represent 400 days, but rather only 360 days.
Continued Wikipedia
Jose Arguelles
Jose Arguelles gained notoriety for his role in the Harmonic Convergence on August 17, 1987 and his mystical book about the Maya calendar, The Mayan Factor: Path Beyond Technology. Born of Mexican-American descent, the Mayan calendar became a childhood passion for him in the 1950s during the decade in which astronomers began to realize that Native Americans practiced a sophisticated astronomy. After more than 30 years of research, he is known as one of the world's foremost authorities of the Mayan calendar.
The overwhelming evidence of Mayan prophecy in the last decade of the millennia supports the accuracy of the calendar and the Arguelles' interpretation of the Dreamspell and Time Shift of July 26, 1992. After perceiving the final sequencing of the Mayan calendar in 1987, the Time Shift in 1992 was an adjustment of the annual calendar's beginning to July 26, so that the Dreamspell New Year falls on that date each year.
Since the Maya codices were destroyed during the European Conquest, the tables of dates and interpretations of codes were mostly destroyed. During the 500 years since the Conquest, Mayan tribes have adopted various new year dates and interpretations. In 1992, the University of Guatemala identified the July 26 date based on an eclipse of July 11, 1991 and the Dresden Codex. Arguelles interpreted that date as the new beginning of the solar year.
In 755 AD, Mayan Priests prophesied that the total solar eclipse of July 11, 1991 would herald two life altering events for humankind - Cosmic Awareness and Earth Changes. Shortly after 1:00 PM, on July 11, 1991, the prophecy seemingly began to unfold.
Mount Popocatepetl and the UFO's
Beneath the eclipse that the Maya had labeled 'The Sixth Sun', a silvery disc shaped object hovered silently above Mexico City. 17 people, unknown to each other, in different locations of Mexico City, videotaped the UFO. This sighting became the earliest most documented mass sightings in history. For months, teams of international researchers from the U.S., Mexico, and Japan followed a wave of UFO activity that connected with the volcano, Mount Popocatepetl. Sightings still continue.
Based on the July, 1991 eclipse, Jose identified the July 26, 1992, Time Shift. Using a day-by-day count, Euro-American astronomers could finally synchronize their calendars with the Maya Priests. The visitors from the sky that Jose called the Galactic Maya in The Mayan Factor, had perhaps made good on their promise to return on that date.
These are all just theories.
In 2009, a History Channel presentation of "Decoding the Past", discussed the last page of the Dresden Codex. If you understand the metaphors, you will get the messages.
"The last page of the Dresden Codex shows the destruction of the world via water. Waves gush from the mouth of a celestial dragon. More flood waters pour from sun and moon symbols on the underside of the monster's body. An aged goddess also pours flood water onto the Earth. At the bottom of the picture crouches a ruler of the underworld. Above the picture, about half of the 15 glyphs have been destroyed, but a few of the remaining ones consistently refer to "Black Earth" or "Black on High"."
Most ancient civilizations found a way of marking time to predict changes that would affect their survival and destinies. These 'calendars' were often linked with one or more gods, who at some point in their progression, would return. Today, as human consciousness evolves in the age of healing, awareness, technology and reasoning, our attention is riveted to one calendar in particular, the Mayan Long Calendar, as something within its end time date, resonates for many souls. The date is December 21, 2012 (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count) as projected by Jose Arguelles and others. I have been taught that 13=4=closure or the end of linear time.
Reality is a holographic construct create by the patterns of sacred geometry that repeat in cycles called linear time. Reality is myth, math, and metaphor. The movement of all consciousness follows a sequence called the golden spiral - the Fibonacci numbers published in 1202.
There have been many calendars throughout history that do not necessarily correlate to our Gregorian calendar or the Mayan calendars. Therefore, how can one be sure that this date is the beginning of what some call a Golden Age? The term 'gold' takes us to alchemy now understood as a metaphor for the evolution of consciousness in the alchemy of time. It is something you feel within your soul, something that follows your life with synchronistic reminders that all is connected as consciousness moves through the gears, or wheels of time to evolve into something beyond the physical experience/experiment.
Did the ancient Mayans know something that we don't? Are we meant to find and understand something as the date, December 21, 2012, comes closer? Look within your soul to determine a greater meaning. We are evolving, learning, and not by accident, putting the pieces of the puzzle together, as guided by the grids through which our consciousness experiences as our souls return 'home'.
The Mayan Calendars
There were 3 Mayan Calendars: Haab', Tzolk'in and Long.
The Mayan Long Calendar speaks of the end of one cycle of time moving into the next on December 21, 2012.
The Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is a non-repeating, vigesimal (base-20) calendar used by several Mesoamerican cultures, most notably the Maya. For this reason, it is sometimes known as the Maya (or Mayan) Long Count calendar. Using a modified vigesimal tally, the Long Count calendar identifies a day by counting the number of days passed since August 11, 3114 BC (Gregorian). Because the Long Count calendar is non-repeating, it was widely used on monuments.
Among other calendars devised in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica, two of the most widely used were the 365-day solar calendar (Haab' in Mayan) and the 260-day ceremonial calendar, which had 20 periods of 13 days. This 260-day calendar was known as the Tzolk'in to the Maya and tonalpohualli to the Aztecs.
Tzolk'in (Round)
The Haab' and the Tzolk'in calendars identified and named the days, but not the years. The combination of a Haab' date and a Tzolk'in date was enough to identify a specific date to most people's satisfaction, as such a combination did not occur again for another 52 years, above general life expectancy.
The Tzolk'in, the most fundamental and widely-attested of all the Maya calendars, was based in the 26,000-year cycle of the Pleiades, and was a pre-eminent component in the society and rituals of the ancient Maya. The tzolk'in calendar remains in use amongst several Maya communities in the Guatemalan highlands. Its use is marginal but spreading in this region, although opposition from Evangelical Christian converts has erased it from some communities.
The word, meaning "count of days", was coined based on Yukatek Maya. The corresponding words in the K'iche' and Kaqchikel cultures of Guatemala, which have maintained an unbroken train of observance for over 500 years, are, respectively, Ajilabal q'ij and Cholq'ij. The actual names of this calendar as used by the pre-Columbian Maya are not known. The corresponding Postclassic Aztec calendar, probably based on extinct central Mexican observance, was called by them tonalpohualli, in the Nahuatl language.
The Maya used several cycles of days, of which the two most important were the Tzolk'in, or Sacred Round of 260 days and the approximate solar year of 365 days or Haab. The Sacred Round combined the repeating cycle of numbers 1-13 with 20 day names ... so that any particular combination would recur in 13 x 20 or 260 days; the day name and the number changed together: 1 Imix, 2 Ik, 3 Akbal ... as we might say Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3, and so on.
Because the two calendars were based on 365 days and 260 days respectively, the whole cycle would repeat itself every 52 Haab' years exactly. This period was known as a Calendar Round.
To measure dates over periods longer than 52 years, the Mesoamericans devised the Long Count calendar.
The Long Count calendar identifies a date by counting the number of days from August 11, 3114 BC. Rather than using a base-10 scheme, like Western numbering, the Long Count days were tallied in a base-20 scheme. Thus 0.0.0.1.5 is equal to 25, and 0.0.0.2.0 is equal to 40.
The Long Count is not consistently base-20, however, since the second digit (from the right) only counts to 18 before resetting to zero. Thus 0.0.1.0.0 does not represent 400 days, but rather only 360 days.
Continued Wikipedia
Jose Arguelles
Jose Arguelles gained notoriety for his role in the Harmonic Convergence on August 17, 1987 and his mystical book about the Maya calendar, The Mayan Factor: Path Beyond Technology. Born of Mexican-American descent, the Mayan calendar became a childhood passion for him in the 1950s during the decade in which astronomers began to realize that Native Americans practiced a sophisticated astronomy. After more than 30 years of research, he is known as one of the world's foremost authorities of the Mayan calendar.
The overwhelming evidence of Mayan prophecy in the last decade of the millennia supports the accuracy of the calendar and the Arguelles' interpretation of the Dreamspell and Time Shift of July 26, 1992. After perceiving the final sequencing of the Mayan calendar in 1987, the Time Shift in 1992 was an adjustment of the annual calendar's beginning to July 26, so that the Dreamspell New Year falls on that date each year.
Since the Maya codices were destroyed during the European Conquest, the tables of dates and interpretations of codes were mostly destroyed. During the 500 years since the Conquest, Mayan tribes have adopted various new year dates and interpretations. In 1992, the University of Guatemala identified the July 26 date based on an eclipse of July 11, 1991 and the Dresden Codex. Arguelles interpreted that date as the new beginning of the solar year.
In 755 AD, Mayan Priests prophesied that the total solar eclipse of July 11, 1991 would herald two life altering events for humankind - Cosmic Awareness and Earth Changes. Shortly after 1:00 PM, on July 11, 1991, the prophecy seemingly began to unfold.
Mount Popocatepetl and the UFO's
Beneath the eclipse that the Maya had labeled 'The Sixth Sun', a silvery disc shaped object hovered silently above Mexico City. 17 people, unknown to each other, in different locations of Mexico City, videotaped the UFO. This sighting became the earliest most documented mass sightings in history. For months, teams of international researchers from the U.S., Mexico, and Japan followed a wave of UFO activity that connected with the volcano, Mount Popocatepetl. Sightings still continue.
Based on the July, 1991 eclipse, Jose identified the July 26, 1992, Time Shift. Using a day-by-day count, Euro-American astronomers could finally synchronize their calendars with the Maya Priests. The visitors from the sky that Jose called the Galactic Maya in The Mayan Factor, had perhaps made good on their promise to return on that date.
These are all just theories.
In 2009, a History Channel presentation of "Decoding the Past", discussed the last page of the Dresden Codex. If you understand the metaphors, you will get the messages.
"The last page of the Dresden Codex shows the destruction of the world via water. Waves gush from the mouth of a celestial dragon. More flood waters pour from sun and moon symbols on the underside of the monster's body. An aged goddess also pours flood water onto the Earth. At the bottom of the picture crouches a ruler of the underworld. Above the picture, about half of the 15 glyphs have been destroyed, but a few of the remaining ones consistently refer to "Black Earth" or "Black on High"."
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