Category Archives: Pluto

Pluto Retrograde 14 April 2014

14 Monday Apr 2014

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Pluto, Retrogrades, Retrogrades + Directions

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'Nocturne in Blue and Silver' James McNeill Whistler c1870s {{PD}}

‘Nocturne in Blue and Silver’ James McNeill Whistler c1870s {{PD}}

Pluto retrogrades at 4:47 PM PDT, and may get lost so close to the Lunar eclipse. It’s not that this won’t have an effect–it will send out the psychic equivalent of infrasound–but that it will likely be attributed to the boogy man of the eclipse, which has become the catch-all Lunar basket for every menacing vibe around. The turnaround of Pluto happens below consciousness; we don’t notice it, until we notice it, typically as a shift in background, in tone, in luck–suddenly things aren’t going smoothly, secrets can’t be kept (or, conversely, something is submerged or ‘gotten away with’ which we can count on being revealed on direction), something hidden nags, something dark lingers at the edge of the light. It’s all very ominous–except it’s not; Pluto is just as much a part of the Universe as any other energy. When it’s direct we see the wisdom in taking out the trash, cleaning up the mess, in death and decay as part of the cycle, but on retrograde all we see is the trash, the mess, or the death and decay–we may be so riveted by this display that we forget it’s an integral part of making the whole thing work.

If the representative of the god of the Underworld turns around in hard aspect to any of your natal bodies or points, you may become especially aware of the darkness associated with those areas–or you may need to deal with your own or another’s power displays related to it. Pluto retrogrades for almost six months at a time; this time it goes direct on 22 September 2014 at 10 Capricorn 59. The sheer length of its apparent backward movement means we sooner or later accommodate the planet’s motion within the psyche; it soon feels like it’s ‘just the way things are’–and for nearly half a year, it is.

A Little More on the Pluto Retrograde

16 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Current Affairs, Current Events, current events in the sky, Pluto, Retrogrades

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Another day, another time. 'Rainy Day, Boston' Childe Hassam 1885 {{PD-Art}}

Another day, another time. ‘Rainy Day, Boston’ Childe Hassam 1885 {{PD-Art}}

The bombings in Boston yesterday are, like all such events, horrific, and asto enthusiasts may note this occurred with the Sun-Mars conjunction in Aries–a fiery and martial placement and combination–and with these two sextile Vesta, and widely conjunct a distressed Venus at 29 Aries. This points to values as the motivating force, and, considering the kinds of injuries involved (shrapnel and limb, especially lower limb) and the choice of place and time (Patriot’s Day, a world-renowned marathon) my thought was that this was sparked by rage at such injuries, which are distinctly the kinds created by war, and especially by IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device). I believe the perpetrator (and I think there’s only one) has either suffered this kind of loss him- or herself, or that this has happened to a loved one, and shattered their respective worlds. No matter what their pain, it is no excuse for inflicting the same on others. I send my thoughts and prayers to those who were injured and traumatized, and my gratitude to those who ran toward the blasts, to help–and I’m sure most, likely even all, my readers do, too.

The bombing can be seen in the light of the Pluto retrograde, as part of the need to express that often surrounds a change in direction point. I had planned to talk a little about venting those smaller matters that we bury until such an astrological event cracks open the cellar door, as described in the previous post by the retro’s sextile to Chiron, signifying mild hurts; but of course this applies to deeply seated rage, to passion and obsession, as well, if that is what has been suppressed or ignored. I think we’ll find our personal subjects for the retro period in the House(s) in the natal chart ruled by Scorpio; at least, that’s where I’m finding mine! What House is Scorpio on for you, and what experiences have you correlated with the Pluto retro over the past few days–and are these the same areas, or do they differ?

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All That I Destroy: Pluto Retrograde 12 April 2013

15 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Pluto, Retrogrades

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A 45-minute exposure at the 2600 metre high Cerro Paranal, home of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) array. By Gianluca Lombardi/ ESO, released under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

A 45-minute exposure at the 2600 metre high Cerro Paranal, home of ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) array. By Gianluca Lombardi/ ESO, released under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

How’s the lord of the Underworld treating you? Now that he’s left stationary status and begun the slow backward (from our viewpoint) trek, we may get a glimpse at what’s slated to be plowed under and, inevitably, re-planted. For something that moves this slowly, we typically will only feel the shift in direction acutely if it occurs in close hard aspect to a responsive natal placement or, possibly, when it occurs in close aspect to other transiting bodies that are in play through our charts and our life scenarios. Otherwise the change in direction may only be felt as a background buzz, a difference in tone hard to pinpoint until the body picks up speed (seems like a funny thing to say about a slug like Pluto!) But there it is: despite the potential for sizable, permanent change we are still likely at this point to be unaware of it–but there are things we can do to draw out the Plutonian, and deal with it.

This time around Pluto retrograded 26 minutes from sextile with Chiron; everything else is over 2 degrees, and so excluded. This suggests to me that those mild wounds, those irritations it’s so easy to live with, may be the way to dig up the Plutonian energy and get it out into the light. Does disclosure need to be public, does the dark thing need a witness, in order to create alchemy? No, the only witness needed is our own consciousness, though I would say that if we examine something on our own, but continue to cover or deny it in the presence of others, it will behave as if unexamined; exposure is the stuff on which the retro Pluto thrives.

What things have been eating at you, especially things that concern structure, hierarchy, rules and regulations, the status quo, ‘What Is’, restrictions, boundaries, what’s established, what’s repressed (internal) or suppressed (by externals)? What Dad or the Boss is putting out can suggest just exactly what needs to be modified in our relationship; look too to the matters of the House through which Pluto now transits and the House Pluto rules natally (the one with Scorpio on the cusp)–these are also areas with big potential (or even requirements) that circumstances go from one state to another–and of course, there’s no stipulation that things will be ruined; they can just as easily be replaced or refurbished.

How much control do we have over the change that Pluto brings? Quite a bit, if we are willing to do the destroying, transforming, or re-birthing ourselves; this is, if we are willing to be proactive in recognizing what’s no longer of use or no longer viable in its current form, and then alter conditions or circumstances so that things are at least workable, and at best, exactly what we want. Bringing about this latter condition is often possible–passion is a facet of Pluto, and one that often drives his manifestation–but requires the nerve to stand up to what’s dark, hidden, destructive, or rage-tinged in ourselves or in others–and that isn’t always something we feel safe doing.

But that’s the thing: you can’t expect to feel safe dealing with Plutonian subjects. Just accept that you may be frightened, unnerved, enraged, or that something you thought you valued might be destroyed in your dance with the darkness. That’s sometimes the point of Plutonian conditions that arise outside our control: to obliterate what we didn’t have the guts to get rid of on our own, or what we let languish under non-crisis circumstances. We may mourn what leaves–that’s just the Plutonian thing to do–but this creates an opening into which we can pour whatever we want. The power Pluto hands us to create is real; we should take care not to allow our own fear to cause us to hand that power over to others, or to force it outside ourselves and call it ‘fate’.

Just a Little Astro Essence for Today 11 June 2012: ‘Heavy With Symbolisms’

11 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in current events in the sky, Pluto, T-Square, Uranus

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de Toulouse-Lautrec 1892 {{PD-Art}}

From this week’s ECLIPSE Weekly Aspect Digest:

Today Mercury creates a T-square by opposing Pluto and squaring Uranus, though the two slow movers in the equation haven’t once again perfected their square (that happens on the 24th of June). Though we might think this would be a great time for understanding the square and its impact on us, Merc’s semi-square to Sedna effectively nixes our awareness of it. So, the dynamic is of Pluto/ Uranus effects on our thoughts and communications, but without our ability to see that! Eek! I would bet this will be a day heavy with symbolisms and synchronicities–look for these, and they will be loaded with information about Uranus/ Pluto for you.

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A Little Something About Pluto and Finding Your Passion

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Consciousness Explored, ECLIPSE magazine, natal placement, Pluto, Spiritual Considerations

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Finding your passions in life might be a little like drinking from this fountain, according to this allegory of Love as a mystic and all-consuming experience. By Fragonard ‘The Fountain of Love’ c1785 {{PD-Art}}

This is from the most recent ECLIPSE (the new issue arrives in your email tonight Pacific time) and talks about the role of Pluto in understanding the nature of, and where to find, your passions in the natal chart:

Pluto: is the star in the passion universe simply because of his character; the intensity and depth inherent to the lord of the Underworld make him the essence of passion no matter what his contacts or sign placement. In the natal chart Pluto carries the part of us that is deadly serious, indeed, that registers life and death in our primal consciousness, that lets us know immediately when danger, or the need to walk the life-death-life line, comes into play. In Pluto we are all linked through those passions that are common to all human beings, the ones that drive our major choices, relationships, and that are similar to the life energy dedication of Vesta, but with a twist: where Vesta calls us to dedicate energy in a pure and Selfless way to a cause greater than ourselves, Pluto calls forward that life energy in fulfillment of personal, and often rather primitive, passions. We touch the greater Collective through the Plutonian similarities all humans share and, unlike with the other energies, all manifestations of Pluto are charged with passion, making it a consistent indicator of passion in the natal chart.

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30 September 2010: Recognizing the Seeds

30 Thursday Sep 2010

Posted by in astrology, Ceres, current events in the sky, ECLIPSE magazine, Grand Cross/Grand Square, Juno, Pluto

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We move in the wake of our power issues (see previous post for the 29th) all the way through 7-ish PM Pacific, when the Cancer Moon conjuncts the South Node, joining the Nodes in forming a Grand Cross with the Sun/ Earth axis, plus Saturn; the Moon goes from dealing with those very basic and intense power concerns (and even if you didn’t experience an obvious power situation, you likely sensed one, via the Moon’s intuitive function) to involvement in a heavy kind of life-direction-determining event. This all sounds very dramatic but for most of us it won’t be; it’s instead the small, quiet moment that changes everything–so even if you aren’t aware of a big, life-changing thing, you need to realize that there is something path-determining going on today. Recognize the seeds as they are sown, and that even small choices will reverberate.

A trine to Mars in Water forms in the 2 AM hour PDT of October 1st, suggesting that actions mesh well with the emotions; the trick here is to have already brought the emotional state into harmony with the personal intents (natal Sun). If the Self is vibing all of a piece (as they say!) one’s actions and choices will be supported and the intuition will guide. If disharmonies remain unconscious, are disregarded, or carefully swept under the rug, this aspect can mean it’s really easy to facillitate some bad ideas–or at least, act in ways that may be Self-defeating, in the long run.

By 4 AM PDT of the 1st the Moon trines Venus–and whether we’ve chosen well in our actions or not, we’re likely to feel good about it. It’s a bit odd, but not the time to worry about assessing effects or modifying results; instead, relax into the depth and beauty of Venus and the Moon complimenting each other in the feeling element.

Something remarkable is going on–and by remarkable, I don’t necessarily mean positive, but rather mean that things, mostly intangibles, are happening and require our notice–they need to be remarked upon–and yet, I think most of what we’re perceiving is coming through as an irritant: life seems like a downer right now, but most of us have great difficulty pointing to exactly why, as even our more undesirable circumstances show some obvious pluses. Everything is in flux (and I can almost hear some of you adding, still!) but I think the Ceres/ Pluto exact meeting on October 19th may explain a lot. See more on that here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/new-summer-2010-eclipse/ and see my new book on Juno, its meaning in both womens’ and mens’ natal charts and in synastry here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/ And Thanks to All who’ve supported the book in word, thought, and through purchase–it’s very much appreciated! My ‘Thank You’ for purchasers of JUNO IN THE NATAL CHART is one question answered. Contact me at my email juliedemboski @ hotmail with a specific, focused question, include your birth data, and I will decide how to determine the answer (transits, Solar Arcs, natal indicators, or horary) Please do not try to squeeze a whole reading into one question! At my discretion I will trim ‘too bigs’ down to a one question essence, and you could be disappointed with my choice, so prepare your query with care; and remember, specific questions bring specific answers! If you bought the book under a name and/or email other than the one from which you’re writing, please provide the email address under which it was bought. Please DO NOT send a question before purchasing the book, or your query will be discarded. Also allow me some time to get to your question. Answers will be brief! This is a limited-time offer. Get the book here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com Thanks!

Hades, or Something Like It

25 Saturday Jul 2009

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, Pluto

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According to the best scientific data . . . the average and mean temperatures of Hell have risen 3.8 degrees since 1955. (Thus) occupants of Hell who in 1955 were standing night and day in boiling pitch up to their knees report that, owing to the expansion of pitch at higher temperatures, they now must endure the torment all the way up to mid-thigh, or even higher, during Hell’s warmer seasons.  –Ian Frazier,  The Temperature of Hell: A Colloquim from ‘The New Yorker’

Hell has been on my mind a lot lately, and not just because my computer crashed early Thursday morning and I spent the entire day trying to resurrect it. I was not successful, and it now sits, discarded, an emotional eyesore (“How could you?!”) on a side table. I went right out and got a new, sleek, smooth computer that actually seems to want to do what I tell it to–the only problem came when my new wunderkind was unable to run my Solar Fire–so now I’m in astrology limbo, armed with my trusty ephemeris, table of houses, pencil and paper, and whatever wits I have left after my epic battle to salvage my work–believe me, it’s a very small basket they all sit in.

I’m taking a few days off, then, from the world of push-button calculations (at least until the new program arrives next week) but I’m not exactly plunging in old school to working charts out by hand. Instead I thought I’d tell you about something that’s been going on for a while now, but which I only just connected the dots on. Let me preface my story by saying that I currently have transiting Pluto square my natal Mercury in the 8th,  sextile natal Neptune, also in the 8th, and trine natal Pluto in the 7th.

It started when I first noticed I was having dreams that didn’t make any sense. At least, they didn’t make any sense to me; theyPluto and Proserpina typically involved a feeling that I wasn’t ‘there’ at all. (And here’s where I should say, I’m no aello, who interprets dreams so effectively here http://dreamorpheus.wordpress.com/  In fact, I was on the verge of submitting at least one of the dreams to her when something clicked for me.) In many of the dreams I was an observer, but just as often I was a character in the dream, a person with a full history of which I was aware, who didn’t look or think or act like me, but whose life I was plunged into at what appeared to be a moment of stress (and the difference was distinct–I was vaguely aware, as David Byrne says, that ‘this is not my beautiful house, this is not my beautiful wife,’ while being extremely clear on ‘my’ past, and all the ‘whys’ of the present that would normally be fuzzy conceptions in dreamland at best) .

And this stress is what happened to be the key to understanding the entire sequence of dreams, because I realized that, though the situations were stressful for the individuals, they weren’t necessarily anything I thought was terribly difficult, threatening, or upsetting. For instance, in one dream I was a young woman living in Boston with my boyfriend, and the problem was a neighbor, a big tall man wearing basketball shorts, a headband on his ‘fro-ish hair, tall knee socks and a tank top (very ‘I think I’m an athlete’ a la 1977, the year it happened to be) who came almost daily to our apartment door while walking his brindle great dane; he would bang and bang on the door, demanding that my boyfriend come out to the park (a large open area behind the apartments)–apparently the boyfriend had made some objections to the man about his dog, as no animals were allowed in the building or the park area. This was causing an escalating stressful situation, as the couple was beginning to feel targeted, under siege in their own home by a man they believed was unbalanced. It was, in a word, their own special hell.

That’s what finally clicked for me: I realized that in each dream, I was seeing, and sometimes experiencing, a stress, a hell, very particular to the person in question. One more example will suffice, one where I was an observer, and this is the interesting thing with all the dreams: where the individual was known to me, whether personally or from the world stage, they were dead–and I had to wonder if I was indeed privy to their own unique version of hell, their lot in the afterlife.

In one of the observer dreams, I was at a small Midwestern US high school at the half time of a basketball game (and here I have to wonder, do I have some special association between the game of basketball and hell? Something to ponder!) There was a kind of popularity contest being voted on during this break–two girls stood in the middle of the court, and I knew that one of them, though she looked completely different, was actually Princess Diana (and I’m writing about how they stood “in the middle of the court” and think I was seeing her situation symbolically, translating ‘court’ to my non-royal way of thinking).

The outcome of the vote was announced, and Princess Di was not the winner; she began to sob. There was some comment that she was up against a ‘local’ girl, and that’s why the other had won–but she was inconsolable, crying that she was sure she was more popular than anyone else, that she should’ve received the crown. Though only All That Is can say for sure whether this is a true glimpse into the late Lady’s Soul, it’s not an improbable version of hell for her, given the events of her life.

I don’t claim to know why I’ve had this series of dreams, but will assume it’s to help me develop empathy, to show me how very specific and particular hell is for each and every one of us–and how, whether we admit it or not, hell is definitely a circumstance springing from our own choices, from the demands of the ego, where hell is decidedly of our own making.

                                                                                                                               ~~~

Thanks very much to all who commented on the Solar Eclipse article–I appreciate that each of you took the time to read and comment, and I apologize, I was unable to come to the site and answer in any timely way. It was a period of non-stop work for me (note to Self: any connection to explosion of computer? Naw!) –fun but exhausting–and now I have something of an enforced break until the new program arrives. Obviously, I won’t be posting a detailed Weekly Forecast, but I do have a few remarks on what to look for: Mercury/ Jupiter opposition for a few days at the end of the month=oh we want to talk! The pull to tell all we know, to learn, to expand the Self’s image (Leo), will be strong. Mars through Gemini assists, and with the Moon waxing this week the unconscious may push to expand its influence, as well. Expect the effects to run the gamut, from braggardly to scholarly, and for the ego to be (often sneakily) a more prominent motivating factor than usual–that means step back and ask yourself, In whose best interest is it that I believe (or swallow whole) what I’m hearing? That will make things clear.

And whatever you do, have a great week!

Jeremy Piven and Mercury Poisoning

21 Sunday Dec 2008

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto

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Actor Jeremy Piven (26 July 1965 Manhattan NY USA no time available) last week left performing in David Mamet’s ‘Speed the Plow’ on Broadway due to what was found to be Mercury poisoning. It’s rare, now that the Borgias are out of business, to hear of a poisoning case, and even more so to hear of one involving material that has a planetary namesake. Using a random noon birth time I took a look at Mr. Piven’s natal chart, with an eye toward anything that might say ‘poison’; with no way to accurately determine angles, we are significantly hampered in terms of natal predisposition; in other words, we have no way of seeing whether Mercury poisoning was a potential event for him that could’ve been anticipated, though transits perhaps signal that ‘now’ is the logical time for this to come forward for anyone subjected to heavy consumption (more than once daily) of sushi and other forms of fish, as was Mr. Piven’s habit.jeremy-piven-transits-19-dec

I set the transit chart for Friday the 19th, as I believe this is when the news was announced, and we see that the transiting Moon was entering Libra on that day; with Mercury at 28 Leo 30 in the natal chart, the Moon has just semi-sextiled it, and goes on to square Pluto at oo Capricorn. Of course, we can’t help but notice that transiting Pluto has in recent months trined natal Mercury; perhaps when it first moved within orb of Mercury was the initial, serious adoption of the diet regimen that resulted in the poison build-up–but that’s just speculation. Pluto’s transiting trine to Mercury, if we want to be quite literal, could suggest a destruction/ transformation of the nervous system, to the efficiency of the lungs, and to a slowing of the reflexes (the Mercurial ‘quickness’) all of which are symptoms of Mercury poisoning.

Or should we be looking at Neptune, with it’s ability to hide effects indefinitely, to represent the liquidity of Mercury in general and the potential for another, more insidious kind of poisoning, the ‘fading away’ that comes with many slow, cumulative poisons? Certainly it represents the source of the poison, the oceans and their edible inhabitants. Transiting Neptune is (if we’re generous with orbs) within opposition range of natal Mercury; perhaps both Neptune and Pluto play complementary roles in the poisoning scenario, with the transiting Sun’s approach and conjunction to Pluto shining a light on it in a ‘big reveal.’

Natally, Mercury has only two aspects, a conjunction to Venus (blood sugar) in Virgo (health and diet) and a semi-square to Mars (muscle and blood itself) in Libra (ruled by Venus, and where it’s very weak), so we might not be surprised to find Mercury linked to health issues for Mr. Piven. Mercury’s ruler, the Sun, is posited in its own sign of Leo, and this may suggest possible muscle, and particularly heart, damage as a result of this crisis; this is supported by Pluto as it nears quincunx to the natal Sun, and by the transiting South Node as it sweeps toward conjunction–both imply that damage inflicted in the past may come to light.

I wish Mr. Piven well, and also a speedy and (hopefully) complete recovery; for the rest of us, it’s a useful lesson in going to extremes, dietarily or otherwise.

Monday Poll Round-Up, Past and Present Collide, and the Fog Rolls In

17 Monday Nov 2008

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto

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We only had one poll this week, ‘Is Love or Money your big ‘danger area’ with Venus in Capricorn?’ As of this morning, 28% say Love, 33% say Money, and a puzzling 39% are looking forward to this, as their natal Venus is in Earth; and I say this is puzzling, as we might expect more like 25% of readers to have Earth Venus placements. So what does this say? Maybe that people who are practical and concerned about concrete Venusian issues read astrology blogs out-of-proportion to their Airy, Watery, and Fiery counterparts.

I’ve had some intense, jarring experiences in the last few days where past and present have met in some unusual and intriguing symbolisms. People I haven’t thought of in years have popped into my head (or my dreams!) and the same seems to be happening to people around me–and I’m assuming, to you, too. What’s driving this? Perhaps Pluto at 29 of Sagittarius, exorcising the distant past, and conveying information about the now at the same time–if All is One, and there is no time in a linear sense, then a window is open that allows us to connect and synthesize elements of the past as they apply to the future, surely a delicious opportunity for understanding and acquisition of knowledge.

The Cancer Moon today (the 17th) quincunxes Pluto, suggesting that the emotional implications of the past and present reconciling will be at the forefront of our emotional reality; the Moon will also trine the Sun, then, when it enters Leo, trine Mars at 00 Sagittarius, and what action we might take will come clear. On the 21st the Earth perfects a quincunx to Pluto, bringing the material impact of all this Plutonian dredging and examining into focus (would that we could see this first, then receive the Mars/ Moon impetus to act, but ours is not to question why  . . . ) The upcoming Sun/ Mercury Superior Conjunction on the 24th brings the final message–believe what is communicated at this point, as it will be the key to finishing up with Sag issues successfully.

The fog rolls in–literally, as it has done here in Seattle, and figuratively, with the Mercury/ Neptune square. We know the drill here, know all the keywords that can describe Neptune’s effect on communication, information, short-distance travel, sibling relationships, and so on, so how do we determine which one of the scary (delusion, illusion, deception) or uplifting (inspirational, idealized, dream fulfilled) banners should be hung on Mercury for us as individuals? It’s elementary, dear Watson: look at the emotions behind the messages (Merc in Water) and the ways in which they clash with our ‘mental pictures’ (Neptune in Air). A secondary method involves looking to the positions of transiting Merc and Neptune in the natal chart, noting what they may be aspecting (anything at approx. 19-23 degrees of Air and Water signs, plus the ‘off’ measurements of the quincunx and semi-square)–if this puts at least one of them in hard (conjunction, square, semi-square, opposition, quincunx) aspect to something in the natal chart, then your message and meaning come here–and don’t forget, this is a conflict-meeting of the rulers of several Houses in the natal chart–look here, too, for meaning. If you’re having trouble, describe the situation of the transiting planets in your chart in the comments section (not to my email!) and I’ll see what I can see!

And in the meantime, have a great Monday!

Monday Poll Round-Up, and Identity Shifts: If Barack Obama Wins . . . .

03 Monday Nov 2008

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, current events in the sky, Pluto

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We either see change as fundamental to life, and therefore as having purpose, or we see it as threatening, and so consistently negative. Though I’ve warned of over-simplification of the concepts (particularly the Uranus/ Saturn opposition) that are accompanying the US Presidential election, there is a strong argument to support Uranus as fundamental change that Saturnian forces must deal with; and if that translates to an Obama win, then we have to ask ourselves: What fundamental changes will we feel at a personal level? And definite changes for two specific groups come to mind.

These shifts apply to a basic world view, as innate in what we know as gravity is to living upon the Earth. The first group, white men, will be faced with a symbolic loss of power. The power structure will for the first time in this country look profoundly different than what we are all used to, and for white men, this will be the first time they’ve looked at those at the very top of the pyramid, at the ultimate pinnacle of influence, and not seen themselves. Now, I’m not judging this, or saying that white men will all perceive this change in the same way, and I’m not saying that they think or act as a group, since individuality within all classifications and ways of grouping humans trumps a simple external likeness; but I am saying that in a patriarchal society built on the mostly unspoken presumption of supremacy of the white male as most ‘qualified’ to lead and arbitrate the social order, white men have always enjoyed the kinds of privilege allocated those at the top of the heap. They are more likely to be seen as serious and stable, and therefore a ‘better’ employee, they are in many instances paid more than minorities or women for the same jobs, and, since they ‘look’ just like the power that came before them, they’re more likely to be promoted and mentored by the white men who preceded them. Yes, these are all generalizations, and yes, there are many exceptions–but they typically prove the rule.

So for them, this election may skew the world view in such a way that they may not recognize the landscape as their own. I think this will be true beyond any racism or position of dominance; things just won’t look the same, which is true for all of us, but for the white male, it represents a command to loosen the psychic grip on the reins of power.

The other group affected by this at a profound level will, of course, be Black men and women. Justified pride in looking to the pinnacle of power and seeing one of their own is almost beyond expression for me; I can’t pretend to know the depths of feeling connected to this, but I can know that it will represent a fundamental change for them, too. On the one hand, it will be a peak moment of Collective experience in terms of a group that has been historically underserved, denied opportunity, and has suffered horrific prejudices and injustices, finally seeing a new dawn for themselves within the power structure. This will be undeniably sweet for many in the older generations, especially for the 109 year old daughter of a slave, Amanda Jones, who voted this week for Barack. And for the younger generations, a Black man ascending to the Presidency has to act as a beacon that shows them the truth of the idea that nothing is out of their reach. On the other hand, it makes a demand of the worldview, too: one cannot continue to define oneself as underserved or trodden upon to quite the same extent when one looks at ‘The Man’ (can you tell when I was young?!) and sees distinct cultural, racial, and experiential similarities–suddenly (Uranus) the social landscape changes, quite specifically for different groups (Uranus again) and our disparities may parse out more and more in cultural, educational, and economic spheres, and less and less (I hope) in racial ones. A scant few, married to a victim mentality, may stay with a victim mentality, just as there will be whites who will embarass themselves by railing against the country’s chosen leader, simply because of skin color (but there’s always a chance it’s out of a sense of intellectual inferiority, very Age of Aquarius!)–but there are always some who will be vessels of intolerance, and they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.

The social landscape I speak of is Jupiter; right now it’s still in Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, but the trine it forms with Saturn does not perfect again; each energy goes its own way, Jupiter moves into Aquarius in early January 2009, and Saturn retrogrades December 31st, while Uranus goes direct late November. And what does all this suggest in terms of change in the social sphere? Inevitable, progressive change, the Saturnian grip loosening, forward thinking energies gaining; maybe this is finally, as the long-ago song suggested, the dawning of the age of Aquarius.

But I’m not entirely convinced that Obama will win, despite the polls. I’m feeling we’re in for some real upheaval, and I can’t put my finger on that nature of it. I’ve wondered if a natural event might not supersede the results of the election, not on the day but shortly thereafter; and I’ve wondered if this election might not turn into another contested catastrophe a la 2000, but with a different flair–or maybe Bush as a lame duck will try to institute changes that will bring everyone under pressure and up in arms (maybe literally–a draft?) At least, we don’t have long to wait to find out what happens.

We had only one poll this week. I actually put up two but Polldaddy has issues (!) so until they’re resolved we must be satisfied with having asked just one question: “How do you think Pluto’s move into Capricorn will affect you?” Overall, more people were positive about anticipated changes, or were neutral, feeling it was hubbub over nothing (55% total) than were concerned. A troubling few answered as if they are sure they will be victims of Pluto–but they should remember, as one of the options said, Pluto can’t do anything to us that we don’t agree to.

And have a great Monday!