This is the last week of the year 2009. It is time to wake up. The twentieth century is over. And, you are far enough into the current one, the twenty-first, for nostalgia to now appear an unhealthy obsession with the past. Which brings me to my first point of discussion about the future: how to avoid the epidemic of madness that will sweep the planet.
People all around you are going to go insane. This is because Neptune is about to enter the sign of its rulership, Pisces. Neptune is currently in the latter days of its stay in Aquarius. Those people who are unable to resist the deceptive rays of this planet are at their weakest whilst Neptune is in the last five degrees of Aquarius. The symptoms usually manifest as talking to themselves (especially while on public transit or driving a car), some obsession involving the past, and a steady erosion of a sense of reality. You will read about people going ‘off’ in the media; you will catch glimpses of them as you go about your business; you will see them crash and burn at your work, in the shopping mall, and as you commute.
Neptune is the planet most closely associated with madness (with Mercury, the Moon, Mars, and Saturn as also rans), and this epidemic will be categorized as an unhealthy obsession with things in the past, which (as Freud and Jung warn us) leads to neurosis, and for some, psychosis. Neptune likes also to cure madness, and is just giving himself some work for when he enters Pisces, which he rules. Yes, there will be great advances in treating madness, but first we have to have the epidemic. Like all Neptune plagues, this will also feature roaming groups of madmen. The crazed will get worse in the presence of other crazed ones. Beware of crazed leaders.
Uranus is poised to transit into Aries. Accidents, when they occur, will more likely draw blood, and leave scars on the head. Political unrest, always a favorite of Aries, will lead to the violent overthrow of unpopular leaders. Expect beheadings. This always happens when Uranus transits Aries. Now, when you add in the epidemics of madness that Neptune is bringing, and color in the backdrop of ruthless Capricorn ambition, lust for power, and naked treachery, you get quite an exciting decade!
Beware of those displaying any signs of madness. Keep the insane away from each other. They make each other worse with their babbling.
Aries: You have suspected for some time that there are alot more crazy people out there than the authorities let on. You are right. It just costs too much to put them in straight-jackets and drug away their violent, un-natural tendencies. So, you will be the first to notice the mad ones in your midst. Nobody will listen to you if you try to warn them; those that you choose to save (locking them up in a closet is good therapy), just might pull out of it. Be discrete about your efforts, af first. Until central authority collapses, such methods will be disapproved of.
Taurus: Sure, there are those around you that are going to go mad. But your sign is too busy at the trough of material wealth, gobbling down all the riches that Pluto in Capricorn is spreading out. Your sign will notice the epidemic of madness, but not much care. You will acheive several life time goals because of this: you will own (more) land, have a full larder, and your garden will be lush.
Gemini: It might take you a bit of time, but you will discover that your witty remarks are driving people insane. It is not your fault of course. How could you know that mentioning ‘winter driving conditons’ would drive the close by Global Warming fanatic to martyrdom? What did I say, you will ask yourself as some hippy or greenie runs around outside in the snow in their sandals and Che shirt, until frost bite, or eternal sleep, quiets their troubled mind.
Cancer: Best to keep a low profile. You will have the gift to spot the earliest symptoms of those going insane. The pale sheen of sweat. The unfocused eyes. The muttering of dialogue, the quotes of Gore; then, of course, you, wise Cancerian, can make yourself scarce before the rabies-like rage descends upon the mad ones. You will have the opportunity to save several lost souls: make them shovel snow at gunpoint. Oh, your sign is also the most prepared for the transitory famines and shortages that will occur at the peak of the madness. Share only with those who have earned your trust.
Leo: There is something about the collapse of Western Civilization that just gets you excited. Of course, you will be the hero, on more than one occasion. When they start to go insane around you (slowly at first, in groups on one, at first; later, in groups) you will be the knight in shining armor that sits on the thrasing psychotic, or ties them to a park bench. Be cautious when you speak to crowds or at meetings. You will be attacked in public by a fanatic.
Virgo: You will become one of the highest ranking influences in the new world that is to come after the mass epidemic of madness. To get there, I suggest that you will not expect the first cases of madness that will strike down those not connected to reality around you. The first one going bonkers will be the worst for you; try not to turn your back on anyone who is foaming at the mouth and has access to scissors. After the first attack, you will get the picture. Your courage in driving a car through a crowd of madmen (with the car still running, if streaked with blood and gore) will draw the admiring attention of the higher powers.
Libra: Being the sign that is always approaching equilibrium, but never staying long at that point of repose, the way people around you begin to snap and crack and go insane will be disturbing for you. Never fear, brave Libra, for as much as you spend your time worrying about going off the deep end, it rarely happens to your sign. You just get to worry. And this epidemic of madness will have you concerned in that special Libra way. When the neighbour is screaming in the snow about Global Warming, should you shoot him and put him out of his misery? Or just offer him a cup of tea? Inevitably, you will find yourself with some insane wretch tied to one of your kitchen. This will be a blessing: you will realize how strong you really are.
Scorpio: Your sign has always suspected that people who advocate fringe politics are on the fringes of sanity, too. Boy, were you ever right! That short list you have of difficult and strange people is going to become the list of those who end up in straight- jackets. You have a good eye to spot those who are going to snap. The cold sweats, the clenching of Greenie amulets, the muttering about non-existant entities … yes, you get to watch. Your sign will have to make some tough decisions in the months to come. Who to leave behind, who will march, or die. This is your destiny, Scorpio. You will enjoy every moment.
Sagittarius: You will develop a new vocabulary of swear words to deal with the crazoids who infest your work, your shopping center, and your commute to work. The first mad man will be set off when his summer tires fail in the deep (and to him, non-existant) snows of winter. His eyes will be unfocused, and he will be wearing sandals in the snow. For you, Sagittarius, a new word will come to your lips as you ka-bong him on the head with a tire iron. New words will come later: when you watch a crazed fanatic run into a burning building to save their Michael Jackson video collection, when you confront a woman who believes there is a polar bear in her cell phone; and when you watch the last of the insane sink into a lake of slush.
Capricorn: This is a year of opportunity. Collect the wallets of the insane. Edge to the back of the crowd when the mad ones gather to make each other worse. As those who are doomed to insanity march towards their own annihiliation, it will be your sign that gets the spoils. I do not need to encourage your sign to profit from this, as it is a natural. Enjoy.
Aquarius: The epidemic of madness will strike close to you, both as people snap and foam at the mouth, but also in proximity. You will see people go quite insane at work, when you are at work. Commuting will be the worst, especially public transit. Your altruistic nature will be challenged by this. Over time, you will realize that those who fall to madness have brought it on themselves. Your challenge is to not push them towards madness, from spite, anger, or vengeful motives. Here is a hint: do not challenge them with reality.
Pisces: Sometimes you think you are living in a horror movie. When you take a steady bead on some sandal clad lunatic, staggering in the snow with a Global Warming banner, aim for the eyes. Shooting them in the foot, while attractive to your gentle nature, is wasted upon these damned souls. At night, as you sleep securely behind the perimeter, you will realize that these people have brought the madness down upon themselves. As the year moves on, a profound spiritual lesson will be give to you, along with prophetic dreams, visions, and some rather impressive small miracles you will be able to work with your own Pisces hands. Neat, eh?