Understanding the Galactic Alignment

There is a lot of talk and print on the so-called galactic alignment and how this is impacting on earth and in particular, our civilization. One thing is certain, there is a lot of press and movie themes on the question of what it means concerning possible apocalypse scenarios. Today, with our focus on the 2012 question, galactic alignment has come to the fore. Some of it is derived from Mayan cosmology, some from Christian lore and a lot of it on pure speculation. To understand what this alignment is physically, we need an overview of the solar system as a whole in relation to the galactic disk as a whole and the changing relationships of both through time.

If we visualize the galactic equator as a plane and the solar system mean ecliptic as another plane, this will serve as our jump off point. Now the two planes are not parallel, nor are they perpendicular. In fact, the two planes are set at an angle of about 55 degrees from parallel. To get a clearer picture, consider the Uranus system in our own solar system. In this case, the equatorial plane is set at 98 degrees to the equatorial plane of the solar system. Thus, during parts of the Uranian system's year, the poles or Uranus point almost directly toward the sun. At other times, the whole system appears edge on with respect to the sun, with the line of the Uranian equatorial plane set 8 degrees from the perpendicular in relation to the solar system equatorial plane. The entire solar system seen as a disk is set at 55 degrees from the perpendicular to the galactic equatorial plane.

Now that we have this view, what does the alignment mean in this case? It means that if we sight along the solar system equatorial plane toward the galactic center, there is a line up with that equatorial plane to the center of the galaxy. The intersection of the two planes thus form a point that lines up with the galactic center. From the viewpoint of the earth during this epoch, the sun is superimposed upon this very point giving the appearance of a conjunction with the galactic center. This superposition occurs in this epoch of 2010-2012 at the time of our northern hemisphere winter solstice.

So why do some people hold this particular conjunction in such high regard. For one thing, it is extremely rare. For the vantage point of the earth's northern hemisphere, it occurs only in a time slot of several years once every 25,800 years, plus or minus a century. There is also the half cycle where the same alignment will occur for the southern hemisphere at 12,900 years plus or minus 50 years during that winter solstice. It takes this long due to the precession of the equinoxes that moves about one degree in approximately every 72 years. At these times, the sun will appear lined up to the galactic center. The plane fact is that while we are in this part of the orbit around the galaxy, the line up will occur is some part of the year.

Now the whole solar system is orbiting as a unit around the galaxy along with all the other stars and dust. This orbital journey is estimated to take around a quarter billion years. And in reference to the planar picture shown, the movement is from right to left. Due to something called gyroscopic stability, the whole plane of the solar system will slowly drift out of alignment to the galactic center, but keeping it's 55 degree slant.

Now that we have the picture clear in our mind, why is it considered so important in some minds? Some of this comes from the Mayan mindset that considered the galactic center between our constellation markers of Scorpio and Sagittarius, called as we understand, the “Dark Rift” of “Great Rift”. To the Maya, this is the opposite point to the “Heart of Sky” located between Gemini and Taurus in the projecting part of Orion into the zodiac. It is safe to say that Gemini, the twins in our cosmogony is equivalent to their “Hero Twins”. The Hero Twins in this mythical account are the good guys. The abode of demons is located at the center of the galaxy and these two warred against one another after the second creation event with the victory going to the Hero Twins in the celestial ball game.

In contemporary understanding, the center of the galaxy harbors a super massive black hole that is inimical to all matters of things living. To the earth and its inhabitants, falling into this black hole would be about the worst case scenario possible. It would literally mean the end of creation. But this not going to happen soon due to the orbital dynamics of the whole galaxy. But the black hole's grip on everything in orbit around it does not end its influence there. When matter falls into the event horizon, prodigious amounts or gamma radiation and anti-matter are produced that can have far reaching effects, including on earth.

For others, this alignment means the emergence of global group consciousness. We wonder if there is any truth in this at all outside of a small community of people who consider such questions. For the rest of us, it is business of usual, dealing with economics, work and day to day life in the face of wars, poverty, corruption and the stubborn resistance to change despite the need to do so. Consider that there are a host of groups vying for attention during this moment of grand galactic alignment. The list is virtually endless from traditional religions, to the modern day saucer cults, technocrats, green promotion and a long, long list of others in a wide spectrum of many sects.

Elsewhere the proof exists that the Mayan celestially auspicious moment of the transition from the forth to the fifth sun occurred during the last galactic alignment of the sun-earth-moon during the winter solstice lunar eclipse of 2010. If we take a look at the moment in the context of historical unfolding, we found that not only was there this alignment, there was also a grand cross of outer planets, also exceptionally rare. During that year, many countries experienced turmoil not seen for a long time. France was in the grip of dual power for a couple of months. Greece was paralyzed by strikes. In Germany, the citizens stopped a nuclear waste train cold in its tracks and forced the police to surrender. Russia experienced massive wild fires that torched regions of nuclear waste disposal and lofted toxins into the atmosphere. Pakistan had the worst floods they have ever experienced, driving millions into starving homelessness as the crops washed into the sea. The world continued its slide into economic depression with liberal doses of austerity and movements against it. The only economies that grew were China and India, but at what cost? For India, it was Maoist insurgency and for China, choking pollution. Korea brought us all to the verge of Mutually Assured Destruction. The US and Iran jousted in war provocations. Geomagenetic reversal confused birds and airline pilots. 2011 started with a bang! Australia had “Biblical scale floods” after a couple decades of drought and wild fires. Krakatoa exploded with the most force since 1883. Birds and fish died in masses and suddenly in large numbers. The year is still very young. All in all, one might ask, “How is any of this auspicious?”

From appearances, it appears that modern civilization is on the road to ruin on multiple and simultaneous fronts, but primarily on economics and the abuse of wealth. Will anything succeed this world view in apparent demise? The answer is yes! What that is remains to be seen. In the mean time, with events unfolding the way they are, we had better fasten our seat belts. We're in for a rocking and bumpy ride! The greatest shock is just ahead by the rumblings going on all around us on all fronts. This is definitely not a time for business as usual, but a time to massively shift our paradigm. This occurs at a time of the galactic alignment, hence the view that world events and this are connected. We must take this with utmost caution for reasons that are multiple and complex and subjects of other dissertations. The fact of the matter is that civilizations have come and gone throughout history for many reasons outside of the galactic alignment during the solstice. Every conceivable disaster has also befallen the world and we are still hear muddling through.

The galactic alignment is interesting, just as any other celestial event, but it does not spell the end of the world. The end of our civilization may well be imminent, but that is our fault and not that of the cosmos. In the end we have ourselves to blame for our wrong choices and unwillingness to change with the changing environment.