Leave it to Janus

A snowy start to the new year.

I don't understand why the new year begins when it does--why, for instance, doesn't it start on December 21, the solstice? Perhaps Janus, the Roman god for whom January is named, demanded it. He's the god of beginnings and transitions, after all, so perhaps we should let him have the new year. No one else seems excited by it.

Of course we're all hoping it will be a better year, even if better can only be measured in tiny increments. You may have heard that 2022 is the year of Pluto's return. The last time Pluto was at this point in its 248 year-long orbit the United States was being birthed, and since Pluto represents death and rebirth astrologers are predicting . . . change. 

But we knew that already, we've been immersed in change ever since Covid arrived. Over the last two years we have moved from what we called "normal" to chaos and the only thing everyone agrees on is that chaos should end. The problem is, no one agrees on what will take its place. 

Personally I have a lot of confidence in Millennials and Gen Z. They are impatient with what they see as non-action and archaic rules and so am I. We need real economic change, for instance. Why should a few have billions while others who work long hours struggle to pay the rent? And how is it that a country that can spend $768 billion a year on the military can't provide decent, affordable housing? Or reasonable health care? Or excellent schools for our children? And when is climate change going to become an emergency? 

Somewhere along the road we took a wrong turn, and the muddy trail we're on now is taking us awfully near a cliff. We need to get off this scary trail and bushwhack to the top of the hill and take a good look around. Our "normal" life might have been fun but we weren't paying attention to the fragmenting landscape and now we must. You may not like change; you may want to resist it, but it's too late. Resistance is futile.

We will have to be forward thinking and wise. I believe we can do that, but life and change won't always wait for wisdom, and mostly we'll have to muddle through. It's going to be an interesting, exciting year full of drama and hope and tears and laughter. Bring on those transitions Janus, we're (almost) ready.