In this final hour before LightShift Y2K, let's take a look at the astrological forces of this climactic moment in mass consciousness. Though giant anticipation abounds on many levels around this propitious beat of the clock and flip of the calendrical page, a strange and surprising complacency seems to have set in around this razor's edge in time. I will freely admit, the only thing I know in absolute certainty about Y2K is precisely when it will happen. Then again, just last night I watched a program that pointed out that of the 190 countries on the planet, over half have a shocking FOF policy toward the millennium bug: Fix on Failure! Hmmmm? The conventional wisdom shared by think tank, technical analyst, and coffee shop philosopher alike says if we don't shift our direction immediately, we will not be able to make the necessary changes in time for our culture to sustain itself. Will the massing of millions of humans together in positive focused intent during the 24 hours of January 1st fertilize and ignite the unified field of consciousness for all the projects of goodwill and transformation to succeed? Or will the disruptions of Y2K be our saving grace from the unstoppable wheels of progress which are gobbling up the planet? Let's see what the stars have to say.

Surely you remember the summer of Grand Crosses surrounding the August 11th Total Solar Eclipse, and what I termed the opening of "The Window?" (If not please reference "The Window into the Third Millennium" at http://www.lightshift.com/Inspiration/window.html). Though not in as tight of an "orb," the chart of 1/1/2000 again finds a Grand Cross in the powerful fixed signs of the zodiac: A veritable royal flush to greet the dawn of the new century and start of the millennial year. The Scorpio Moon directly opposes Saturn in Taurus with both bodies squaring Neptune in Aquarius and the North Karmic Node (or dragon's head) in Leo. Furthermore, Uranus in Aquarius also forms a potent T-Square with the Moon/Saturn opposition, providing the release point. What does this all mean?

The Moon, the most sensitive point and ruler of the subconscious in Pluto-ruled Scorpio, is opposing Lord of karma, structure, limitations, and lessons Saturn: A time to dig deeply into our self love and to connect with loved ones, and not feel victimized by looming feelings of abandonment, paranoia, or insecurity. Saturn, the reality principle, squares off with Neptune, the illusory escape artist, calling the true cards in this royal flush between what is real and what is fantasy -- what will stand and what will fall. The Moon squaring Neptune can be a time when there is confusion between the way we feel and the way we perceive the world. Saturn squaring the nodal axis signals all the deep karmic lessons sitting on the table from an age, a century, and a millennia where the indiscriminate and greedy scramble for wealth and power have eclipsed the quality of life for many -- to the point where our very survival are the stakes. The quirky awakener, Uranus, ruling high technology and the unexpected, squares both Saturn and the Moon, which are in opposition, and serves as their release point. Will the complexity of our technology meet the challenge of the karmic floodtide, two thousand years building up? Or will the potential breakdowns serve as the catalyst for the human family to come together through adversity, or fall apart in chaos? If the disruptions are not so severe, perhaps the awareness of being spread-eagled on the razor's edge of meltdown and anarchy through this eye of a needle in time will open our collective eyes to live on more solid and sacred ground.

And January 1, 2000 is right in the middle or mid-point of "The Window," the highly charged evolutionary period between the August 11, 1999 Total Solar Eclipse, and the Grand Planetary Alignment of May 3, 2000.

However, the most striking feature of the 1/1/2000 chart is the conjunction of Pluto and Chiron at 11 1/2 degrees of the Jupiter-ruled fire sign of higher consciousness, Sagittarius. Pluto represents the archetype in consciousness for total transformation, ruling the powerful domains of birth, death, sex, rebirth, and regeneration. Chiron, the mythical wounded healer, is our archetype to heal in response to our primary hurt or unexpected upset, beckoning the Hipocratic oath; physician heal thyself. Pluto, governing the root chakra, is the most powerful planet, and the conjunction is the most potent of aspects. We are thoroughly involved in a cathartic healing crisis, a collective near death experience, as humanity crosses this mystical threshold in time.

The good news is that this conjunction occurs in the benevolent territory of fiery Sagittarrius, ruled by the planet of the angels, Jupiter. Though humanity is in critical condition on the operating table of intensive care, the prognosis indeed holds promise. I think the outcome has much to do with the energy -- the collective vibration -- surrounding the patient, humankind. The stars say that Mother Gaia, all the spiritual heirarchies, the invisibles, all the nature spirits are pulling for us with everything they've got. The collective energy of the radiance of millions of people merged passionately in the divinity of Spirit will provide the most positive outcome to this millennial challenge. May the force be with us.

Two years ago in Columbia, an oil company bought the mineral rights and leases from the government of the land of an indigenous tribe. Push came to shove, and the 5000 Indians of the tribe banded together and threatened to run off the cliff en-masse, if the oil company proceeded with their plans. When the day of reckoning came, the Indians took their mark and started their charge, only to get their reprieve a few steps before they reached the cliff. It is always darkest right before dawn, and resolution usually resides a step beyond despair. May we dig a little deeper and shine a little brighter than we ever have before as we ignite the way into the 21st century.