Happiness isn't a state you acquire by luck. It takes hard work and relentless concentration. You have to rise up and rebel against the nonstop flood of trivial chaos and meaningless events you're invited to wallow in. You have to overcome the hard-core cultural conditioning that tempts you to assume that suffering is normal and the world is a hostile place. It's really quite unnatural to train yourself to be peaceful and mindful; it's essentially a great rebellion against an unacknowledged taboo. Here's the good news: 2012 will be an excellent time for you to do this work.

What are your plans for the coming year? Could you use some more help mapping out your dreams and schemes? This week and next week, my EXPANDED AUDIO HOROSCOPES will feature Part 2 and Part 3 of my long-range, in-depth explorations of your destiny in 2012. Tune in! Start brainstorming about the adventures that could be in store for you in the coming months. (P.S. Part 1 of your Long-Range Predictions, which I offered last week, is also still available.)