A Call for Simultaneous
Global Meditation and Prayer

In 1993, inspired by Rick Tarnas, I started investigating the coming Uranus-Neptune-Jupiter conjunction on my computer. Rick had pointed out that the sixties were a decade-long expression of the slow-moving conjunction of Uranus and Pluto, but that when Jupiter joined them in 1968-69, it was as if the volume were suddenly turned up and everything which marked the '60s came to a head. While the '60s represented the Promethean principle of Uranus liberating the Dionysian energy of Pluto giving rise to violent cathartic revolution, the '90s embody a very different, but perhaps equally potent energy. Uranus is now in conjunction with Neptune, liberating a boundary-dissolving spirituality, and certainly already revolution by dissolution. Rick pointed out that in 1997, Jupiter will join Uranus and Neptune in a triple conjunction which may parallel the importance, though certainly not the content, of what we saw in 1969.

I noticed that there should be a day in early 1997 when Jupiter would be almost exactly halfway between Neptune and Uranus, and on which Jupiter will move into Aquarius. This change of sign of Jupiter by itself is not something I would be inclined to attach tremendous importance to, but I couldn't escape some conditioning by the song from Hair, in the '60s, about the dawning of the age of Aquarius. So, I went looking for the exact day. When I did, I was astounded! Not only are the three big planets in conjunction, but on that day the Sun joins them, with the Moon opposite. Saturn and Pluto are in trine to each other and in sextiles to the multiple conjunction. But what is more, Mars and the North Node are conjoined opposite Saturn, and so in trine to the multiple conjunction! Thus by setting the time of day correctly, the Ascendent completes a triple mystic rectangle! A perfect hexagon. A star of David in the sky naming a moment in time for each place on the Earth.

I was awed by the perfection of the geometric pattern. But what does the pattern mean? Perhaps that depends entirely on us all. Insofar as there has been a noticeable correlation throughout history between the alignments of the outer planets and human affairs, it suggests a precise moment on one day, out of one year, out of one decade, which can already be seen in terms of revolution by dissolution. Don't blink or you will miss it and yet it seems difficult to say what changed or when. The Berlin Wall did not so much come down as dissolve -- overnight.

But there is also another major theme implied by Uranus and Neptune, that of sudden spiritual revolution. In that sense, this might represent an opportunity for collective spiritual transformation of consciousness -- if for no other reason than the fact that the precision of this pattern defines a moment in time when we might all go into meditation together knowing that we are all of one larger mind, knowing that we are in some sense the mind of Gaia. The ponderous cycles of the outer planets tell us that such an event might be likely in this year of this decade. This pattern might provide the timing for an event which is more internal than external, in a sense invisible, and yet potentially more powerful in its long-term consequences than much of what bombards our outer senses every day.

A Proposal for a Creative Response to the 1/23/97 Astrological Alignment

In addition to individual birth charts, astrology may also illuminate the transpersonal texture of time. Like the hands of a cosmic clock, each planet represents an energetic cycle, from hundreds of years down to the moment of the day. This chart illustrates a moment at which there may be a unique opportunity to initiate sudden spiritual change -- a moment of opportunity marked by a mandala pattern which is itself so clear that everyone may recognize its symbolic symmetry without necessarily knowing the details of astrology.

Our world seems imperiled today. Many see the earth itself at risk. Some speak of human overpopulation as a cancer on the earth, as cancer seems the only example of such growth in nature. Yet there is one other model of rapid biological growth -- fetal development. What if we are Gaia growing a nervous system? What if we, collectively, are the organ of this planet's new self-reflexive consciousness about to be born?

We know from transpersonal psychology that as the individual approaches birth, or spiritual rebirth, it looks to them like death. Perhaps this is also the case as we approach collective planetary birth. Thus many prophesies [Native American, Mayan and others] simultaneously speak of both apocalypse and transcendence. The key insight for the planet, as for the individual, may be to experience death psychically rather than acting it out. This may explain why the media, seen as the planet's fetal nervous system, is so exclusively fascinated with the third perinatal birth matrix issues of violence, sex and death right now.

Transpersonal experiences from shamanism to synchronicity suggest that the connection between matter and consciousness may be a two-way street. What we hope, fear and believe may have a causal effect on matter. Individually, the effect seems subtle. But what transpires may be, at least in part, the outcome of our collective consensual hallucination.

Therefore, I would like to suggest that on January 23rd, 1997, groups of people all over the planet simultaneously go into non-ordinary states together, with the specific intention, not of healing ourselves individually, but of collectively catalyzing the emergence of planetary consciousness. I suspect that this may represent a particularly effective opportunity to set in motion a collective intentional transformation of human consciousness prior to the change of the millennium.

Just as with a massive pendulum, the aspects of the planets occilate. If one steps in front of such a pendulum, opposing it in full swing, it will bowl you over. But at the moment it pauses at the extreme of its swing, the slightest touch may change the trajectory of history. This alignment may represent a nodal point in a year which promises to be to the '90s what 1968-69 was to the '60s. While the '60s were characterized by a Dionysian revolution, the '90s have already been marked by revolution by dissolution, and are pregnant with the potential for sudden spiritual transformation in 1997.

May we all have a hand in bringing this into being together -- perhaps by envisioning how everything, including that which seems most evil and wrong to us, might be part of a necessary process of oscillation, leading to the birth of collective planetary awareness.

May we envision GaiaMind, in unison, in time.

Imagine people all over the world sharing a moment of meditation and prayer, a moment of unified global consciousness when people from the world's many diverse spiritual traditions simultaneously focus attention on our interconnected relationship with Gaia -- the living earth. Each person bringing love, compassion and understanding to embrace the possibility of healing the social, ecological and spiritual challenges before us. As we approach the dawn of the new millennium, increasingly aware of our interdependence, we may choose to join together as a global community in such a moment to catalyze planetary transformation by both facing the darkness of our times and envisioning the light.

What influence could millions of people joined in simultaneous meditation and prayer have on the future? Is it possible that we can intentionally advance the evolution of consciousness? Many have speculated about such questions, and research suggests that large-scale meditations have had demonstrable effects on other areas of human affairs, but how might we choose a time to explore this in unison?

On January 23rd, 1997 there will be an exceedingly rare and archetypally appropriate planetary alignment, a moment in time expressed in the heavens as a perfect six-pointed star. This pattern comes on the exact day that three outer planets, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune are conjoined for the first time in almost two hundred years. Not since the Renaissance have all five outermost planets been so harmoniously arrayed. On January 23rd, this cluster of planets will center on the first degrees of Aquarius, joined by the Sun, with the Full Moon opposite them all. Therefore, perhaps this pattern may be a symbolic representation of the long heralded dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

We would like to invite you to participate in a global meditation and prayer on January 23, 1997. The auspicious symbolic significance of the planetary alignment pattern on this day offers an unprecedented opportunity for focused collective intention. We hope that by joining together we may initiate a shift in our understanding of our relationship with Gaia, from one in which we fear that our species might be a cancer on the planet, to one in which we recognize ourselves as the living Earth's emergent self-reflexive consciousness. Our intention is to use this astrological mandala to identify one moment for people to join together in a resonant expression of unified global consciousness. Perhaps through the power of intentional synergy we may help catalyze the evolution of consciousness and potentiate global healing.

Participation is simple. On January 23rd, meditate, pray or do whatever brings you into closer contact with the Divine for five minutes starting at the local equivalent of 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time (11:3O a.m., Central Standard Time). Then, at 17:35 GMT (11:35 a.m. CST), join in a minute of focused visualization. White light seems to be the most universal spiritual archetype, so we suggest envisioning white light in unison as a way to bring ourselves into resonance at the moment the astrological star pattern becomes exact in New York City. Some people may also choose to extend their meditation, prayer and visualization for a longer period of time and/or express their intention through ritual, ceremony or celebrations throughout the day and into the evening under the Full Moon.

In addition to the simultaneous global meditation and prayer, many may choose to celebrate the moment when this pattern in the heavens becomes exact at their own unique place on the Earth. The alignment pattern will sweep around the planet over 24 hours like a vast relay race in consciousness, perfecting sometime between noon and 1:00 p.m. across each time zone. The easiest way to find the precise time for your location is to have an astrologer cast a chart with four degrees Gemini rising on January 23rd at your latitude and longitude. Astrologically, this particular date represents the first of a series of exceedingly rare multiple conjunctions in the first degrees of Aquarius spanning several weeks. Archetypically, the major planets involved represent the benevolent expansion of spiritual liberation.

If you have Internet access, visit the GaiaMind Project's website at http://www.gaiamind.com. We invite insights and creative contributions from anyone who would like to participate in this unfolding process and welcome cross links with other sites. The web site has pages with the chart and basic text in a number of languages so that international participants with Internet access can print out, photocopy and share this information with others. Individuals can also register their intention to participate using a form on the web site. Those without Internet access can register by mail or fax.

Your help is crucial to spread awareness of this opportunity to catalyze the transformation of global consciousness. By sharing this information with others in your community you will help to ensure that this is truly an international event. Please photocopy and distribute these pages to give to anyone who might be interested.

Planetary Alignment

The geometric perfection of this astrological pattern serves as a symbol of a unique moment of opportunity, a day on which people all over the world may come together to participate in an intentional expression of unified planetary consciousness -- to affirm that we are all one. Through shared intention we may move toward the emergence of a new planetary awareness, perhaps toward a noosphere of GaiaMind.

White light seems to be the most universal archetype imaginable. Envisioning clear white light together in unison may be the most effective way of bringing all of our individual minds into resonance. We invite you to participate in this experiment in collective intention and share a moment of meditation and prayer for the healing transformation of the Earth.

Participation is open to all and is in no way directed by or associated with any particular religion or ideology, including belief in astrology.

The GaiaMind Project is a not-for-profit transdenominational effort dedicated to spreading awareness of a global meditation and prayer on January 23rd, 1997. The auspicious symbolic significance of this alignment pattern offers an unprecedented opportunity to join together in an intentional expression of planetary consciousness. Through the power of synergy and positive intention we feel it may be possible to catalyze global healing and transformation through simultaneous prayer and meditation.

The GaiaMind Project may accessed at www.gaiamind.com and at 20 Sunnyside Avenue, Box A325, Mill Valley, CA 94941. e-mail: info@gaiamind.com.