Have you ever read something that made so much sense that you slap your hand immediately and directly to your forehead?

“Why didn’t I think of that?”

Such was my reaction to a column by a statistics expert no less, one Trevor Butterworth, who wrote a column last week in Forbes Magazine calling on the news media to adopt a kind of “slow food” philosophy as espoused by the likes of Alice Waters and her restaurant “Chez Panisse.”

Late Thursday night on the West coast (11:11 p.m.) and early Friday morning on the east (2:11 a.m.), the first new moon of 2010 occurs at 25 degrees Capricorn. It’s also a solar eclipse, signifying something essential, concerning things Capricorn rules (governments, politics, politicians, mountains, ladders, goats, crystals, diamonds, etc.).

The personality-building seed thought for Capricorn is “Let ambition rule and let the door stand wide.” As we build our personality (over thousands of lifetimes of experiencing form and matter), ambition drives us to achieve (ladder to the top). At first fear, instinct, competition and the drive to succeed rule the life. These blind us into believing freedom is gained through accumulation of material objects, through money (Ray 3). There is a Gate (Capricorn Gate) to higher levels of awareness but until the personality is built and there is conscious awareness, that Gate is locked. However, there comes a lifetime when the needed experiences are complete, the personality is strong, when the Gate leading to intuition and freedom opens. Illusions (mental distortions), glamours (emotional distortions) and maya (physical distortions) fall away and the inner spiritual reality is recognized.  Here we are transfigured (essential change) and the rising Sun, the Light Supernal, is revealed. We rest awhile on this Capricorn mountain after our long journey from Aries. The disciple (Scorpio/Sag) becomes the Initiate (Cap). It is then that the cries of humanity are heard rising up.

On Friday, 8:52 a.m. (Pacific time) Mercury turns stationary direct (5:35 degrees Capricorn). Mars and Saturn remain retrograde. Sunday, Jupiter enters Pisces. Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK was Capricorn Sun), “I’ve been to the mountaintop” youtube.com/watch?v=BI_tQ5DdFAk). Venus enters Aquarius, Monday , following by the Sun Tuesday evening. Wednesday is Aries moon.

Plus Letters to Good Times
Altered States
No New Water for UCSC
Good Signs

When we sought to find several inspiring stories for the New Year, we didn’t have to look much farther than UC Santa Cruz. It seems that there is always something innovative unfolding at the university, so this week, News Editor Elizabeth Limbach shines the light on five interesting UCSC individuals and/or projects that are worthy of your attention. But beyond that, these projects happen to be fascinating and are poised to bring more attention to the Central Coast. There’s a man who’s eager to alleviate blindness—yes, it’s true—and another team busy researching a cure for cancer. Gamers will appreciate a forward-thinking UCSC game designer. Meanwhile, farming is actually fun for one group while several Long Marine Lab researchers can’t stop making new discoveries here in the Bay. Find out more details in this week’s cover story.

Keep to his word, legalize gay marriage, and save the planet.
Yarrow Ricki Jones
Santa Cruz | Checker

Mars and Mercury remain retrograde. On Wednesday, Jan. 13, Saturn (in Libra) also retrogrades. Saturn represents society’s structures, ways of thinking, time, discipline, the father and the Teacher. H.P. Blavatsky, in her Secret Doctrine writes, “Saturn, Shiva (Hindu) and Jehovah (Hebrew) are One.” Esoterically Saturn is (transmits to Earth) Ray 3, the Divine Mind of God. Saturn and Ray 3 are also the Law of Economy. Numerologically 2010 is number three, correlating with Ray 3 and Saturn. In 2010 we will experience the continuing restructuring (reorienting) of money and finances.
Saturn influences the rules, regulations and all physical structures in our lives. It rules our bones and teeth, defines boundaries, sets limits (of/on self and others), creates disciplines. Saturn, along with Taurus, can say “No!” without worry. However, when Saturn is retrograde outer limitations become wobbly. We can become confused about boundaries for, as in all retrogrades (and with Mercury and Mars retro), our focus is inward. We see only interior realities.
However, as Saturn is more of a social planet, when retrograde, all social and societal structures and organizations worldwide are reviewed, evaluated, examined and analyzed. During Saturn retro we return to and assess previous choices and commitments. We change our minds. During retrogrades we work with the past, never assuming new commitments or responsibilities. If we must, we then review data multiple times very carefully, understanding when the retrograde is complete, new data and information emerge.

Plus Letters to Good Times
High Times
Making the Most of the Coast
Spending Locally
Holiday Deadlines

So long 2009, hello 2010—and a new decade, too. If you haven’t already been waxing philosophical as the year and the decade draw to a close, the time is certainly ripe for it now. In this issue, we take a look back over the last 10 years and pluck out (only) 10 things that stood out and deserved mention. There’s so much more, of course, so send us your thoughts ([email protected]) on the issues that held us captivated during 2000-2009 and we’ll print some of your insights. But be sure click to this week's cover story and look at the local standouts.

Happy New Year of 2010, everyone! Two years to the countdown, yes? 2010 begins under the light of a blue Capricorn/Cancer full moon (revelation, Initiation); the shadow of a lunar eclipse (much in matter simply dissolves away); Mars (the Nine tests of Scorpio) retrograde (activities are internal and hidden); Mercury retrograde (thoughts are withdrawn); and a void-of-course (no connections) on the very first day (Jan. 1). It’s a most unusual beginning to a new year. 2010 will be a year of internal reflection, great tests (Mars), surprising revelations with unfulfilled aspects of our lives surfacing in forms we may not recognize. Our energy will feel withheld, suspended, pending and internalized. 2010 offers constant change and transformation symbolized by four major planets in cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). Cardinal signs initiate new realities, cannot stand back to mull things over (mutable signs), or stay with “business as usual” (fixed signs).

Cardinal signs remove hindrances and obstacles that inhibit forward growth, change and progress. Here is the 2010 dialogue we can expect from the cardinal signs: Aries says, “I’ll initiate the new realities.” Libra says, “I’ll get everyone to participate.” Capricorn says, “I’ll reshape and redesign leaders, governments and our entire civilization.” We, too, individually and collectively, will be summoned to reshape our world. We will need to be practical in all areas, explore and search in all directions for solutions to world problems that create greater resilience and equanimity for all peoples of the world.

Plus Letters to Good Times...
Matters of the Art
A Harvest for Second Harvest
Obama’s Nation
Holiday Deadlines

We have published a few days earlier this week because, well, there’s so much to share before our New Year’s issue.  At the top of the list is, of course, the obvious—the holidays and the fact that the year is racing to an end. But first, there’s plenty of celebrating to do—whether you’re doing it for spiritual or religious reasons, or just gearing up for a festive time on New Year’s Eve. It’s certainly been one whopper of a year, so, in my book, it doesn’t hurt to celebrate just getting through it.

It's better to give because in giving
we receive.
Lauren Miller
Santa Cruz | Waitress

We’re well into the Christmas shopping season (note to self: is it proper to refer to Christmas?) and it’s a key time for local merchants (answer to self: it is Christmas, dammit, so that’s what we should call it).

Every year since I’ve been in Santa Cruz, there’s been some self-imposed pressure to buy gifts in Santa Cruz – even if there might be slightly better prices or more selection elsewhere.

For years, there was a practical rationale for me – as an editor at the local daily, and I of course was interested in supporting our advertisers. It was a lot easier to interview someone for a story if they knew that I was a supporting member of the community. Plus, it just seemed like the right thing to do.