Tag Archives: Pluto

Just a Little AstroEssence 14 August 2017 It’s All About Pluto

13 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Finger of God, forecast, Horoscope, The Daily Word Image, Transit Effects Explored

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‘My Dream, My Bad Dream’ 1915 by Fritz Schwimbeck {{PD}}

Today it’s all about Pluto. With less than thirty minutes still to travel in apparent retrograde before direction (28 September), the god of the Underworld squats on our chests like the succubus of legend, making it pretty darn hard to breathe. Other energies, at least somewhat more timid than Pluto, sidle up and form aspects, and the result is an almost constant testing of our relationship to Power, and to the ideas of transformation (do you believe?) and destruction (do you feel the pull toward the cliff?) Most of us aren’t completely at ease with the idea of actually being as powerful as we have the capacity to be; we take refuge in cynicism (“People don’t change”) or in Self-sabotage (“See? Nothing ever works out for me!”). If we truly felt our own power, we would believe in the power of transformation, and would have no need for destruction–the clearing out of the outmoded or worn would happen without effort, falling away as we move forward–and change would be, not something that stirs fear or uncertainty. but something that has an almost magical quality, a kind of infinite possibility as our everyday atmosphere.

So, what outlets for power do we have right now, as the dark one sits oh-so-still, making us watchful and uneasy? There’s Venus, moving into opposition, almost begging us to project our negative qualities onto others in relationships, or financial dealings; there’s Mars, moving into quincunx, pugnacious and perhaps looking for a fight over slights, misunderstandings, over a too proud or insistent ‘I Am’; and there’s a square from Zeus, intimating we might fear destruction of our ambitions, dreams, and goals, possibly from our partners (Zeus is in Libra).

Whisperings of Love, 1889 William-Adolphe Bouguereau {{PD}}

Those are all fear scenarios, where we might go if we were unconscious of the Universal flow–but we don’t have to. Instead, we claim our Plutonian power, and we see it united with the contacting energies to make some very positive outcomes. With Venus we may experience the transformations that occur when we apply Love or Money in a completely Self-responsible way, probably in a difficult situation or scenario (the opposition). With Mars we see that true Self-assertion from a position of power requires adjustment, a subtling-down of the ego, so that we move the Universe not through a punch-in-the-nose, but through a quantum vibration that acts in our own best interests–action through inaction, you might say. And with Zeus, we confront the parts of our own power plans, our ambitions and desires, that are calling for others to make it happen for us, or that will disempower us if we attain them–and we take back that initiative, that can-do-ness, for ourselves.

And, through roughly 16 September, we see Jupiter sextile Black Moon Lilith. This makes the bogey man bigger; it exaggerates our anger and our sense of righteousness, too. Beliefs or facts may cooperate with matters ignored or denied to make a potent stew bent on righting (or subjecting others to!) injustice. With Merc retro this could hijack thoughts and make for some over-the-top scenes. Those with natal placements around 20 Taurus need to be especially vigilant, as these transiting elements form a Finger of God with the natal point, prompting expression of this combo in some unfortunate ways related to the natal body or the House(s) it rules. (If you have a natal point 19-21 Taurus and you’d like my brief guess as to what it might bring, leave a comment that includes what body is in this range and what House, if any, it rules.)

By Mutante – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56224749

Today’s word image is a red and gold paper Chinese dragon, the kind you see dancing through the streets at Lunar New Year. Think back to late January–how does what was happening then figure into now?

Focus on: Merc Meets Pluto 29 January 2016

28 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in astrology, Capricorn, Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, Mercury, Pluto

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We may wonder in our own world which side of the power struggle is Jacob, which one the Angel? 'Jacob Wrestling with the Angel' by Léon Bonnat 1875 {{PD}}

We may wonder in our own world which side of the power struggle is Jacob, which one the Angel? ‘Jacob Wrestling with the Angel’ by Léon Bonnat 1875 {{PD}}

Merc and Pluto both show up for this meeting in button down shirts, clutching their wallets and pearls, equipment for weighing and measuring carefully calibrated, posture rigid and eyes glazed over with ‘the rules’–they’re ready for business. Mercury has finally given up flight and is headed back to where he left off; he’s ready to talk, to negotiate, to inform, as long as things stay on topic, and he’s aware of the status quo, conscious of the need to deliver the establishment’s message. Pluto is out to change the system, destroy boundaries, and he’s been in this territory for a while; once he’s altered or transformed what is, a strange thing happens: the destructive energy is dissipated, and expressions of power come forward, power that enforces a new set of rules, boundaries, and installs a new authority in place of the old. The question is, where do these two meet in expression? Capricorn gives them both a tone, a background, a set of attitudes to play with, but each carries its own essence, bringing about a kind of chemical reaction that, despite their meeting in the same sign, may bring confrontation.

The root of the conflict may be this: Mercury is messenger of those who hold the reins right now; Pluto, half way through the sign, has already thrown the acid, the Molotov cocktail, and is in the process of taking the ruin of what was and constructing something new from it. That, my friends, is a fundamental conflict of interest. These two come together, and one, the quicker-moving one, is interested in making the argument for keeping things as they are; the other has been at work for quite a while, and is in the midst of creating a kind of re-birth in our ideas of authority, boundaries, and restraint. And both claim practicality, and the health of both personal life structures and those of governments, countries, and large systems, are best served by their methods.

What can we expect? The voice of current power-holders may carefully craft their message, with restrictions on who knows what, meant to keep things static, for safety, for the well-being of all, and of course, to retain power; the agents of change may claim a moral superiority in their very existence, a ‘change for change’s sake’ stance that does not acknowledge the new authorities rising from the ashes, intent on replacing the old, are just as distorted in priorities and viewpoint as the previous holders of power were. In other words, change does not equalize anything, nor does becoming part of the current power structure, because both are intent on grabbing power and keeping it–and when that is the goal, no message will assuage those without influence, and no revolution will make the situation more equitable.

So, what we may witness today are communications that have power acquisition and retention at their core–and this may be played a thousand ways, with harsh or destructive words, transformational ideas, the resurrection of concepts we thought were surely gone, and the obliteration of the old rules–but all of it concealing, one way or another, the power struggle currently at the heart of the Universe. In your own life an awareness that power is behind literally everything we deal with at this time will help reveal the layers of meaning. We need to understand that there’s an intensity to this (thanks, Pluto!) that goes beyond the normal level of power-seeking we see everyday, giving even the simplest exchanges a life-or-death tone that may seem over the top–but if we purge our minds of clutter and propaganda, we see the Truth of what’s being negotiated beneath.

Bits ‘n Pieces for 3-5 January of the New Year 20 and 16!

02 Saturday Jan 2016

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

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Sure, women can be Plutonian, and it doesn't mean she'll devour you, either! John Collier 'In the Venusberg Tannhäuser' 1901 {{PD}}

Sure, women can be Plutonian, and it doesn’t mean she’ll devour you, either! John Collier ‘In the Venusberg Tannhäuser’ 1901 {{PD}}

Do you have any Plutonian people in your life? If so, do you find you’re able to understand (or maybe withstand!) the sheer energy they emit better than the average human? And do you notice they don’t seem to understand their own psychic strength? If you’re hanging around with Plutonians, you’ve probably got a strong Plutonian inclination yourself–nobody else could put up with the x-ray vision that burns as often as it’s insightful, or the ripple that runs through the Cosmos every time one of these Hadean natives gets upset. This came to mind when I was interacting with my very Plutonian husband; he entered this plane in one of those waves of Uranus-Pluto in Virgo, and he has the added bonus of Mars also conjunct this pair, with an Aries Sun like a cherry on the energy sundae, focusing an enormous drive and powerful persona through the individual identity. We were talking about effective communications, and I mentioned to him that the way he goes at interaction is highly Plutonian: he charges forward, bludgeons the unsuspecting with words, then dashes away to his (mental) cave. For him, every conversation is a confrontation, everyone else someone to be bested; he’ll drag you into his own special hell, if given half a chance. It’s not a bad place, it’s just the one he’s comfortable in, and if you can stand the heat, you can get a lot out of that kitchen. Luckily I have Venus in Scorpio; I adore this energy, and I’m absolutely not afraid of the dark, literally or figuratively. What about you? You might be a Plutonian if:

3 points and you can definitely sympathize, empathize, and understand the Plutonian viewpoint; 4-6 points and you find that shadow in you at times; 7-8 points suggests a Plutonian facet to your nature that is definitely a vital expression of who you are; and 9 or more points makes you the Plutonian others make way for.

Somebody searches me every day, and every day they spell my name wrong; they add a ‘w’ where there is none. I don’t mind the misspelling, I mind what it says about the person seeking help. They are bothering to search out what I have to say, but they aren’t observant enough to realize that, day after day, they are searching incorrectly. It implies they aren’t really seeing what’s in front of them, and that implies they aren’t really understanding the posts they find. Whoever you are, slow down and really look–it can only make things easier.

Mercury hit 29 degrees on the 31st and we experienced a cascade of equipment failures over the following hours: my camera and memory card died (after being lost all summer and then working strangely); our car battery died with no warning; and our phone didn’t stop working, but it no longer rings and the speaker function doesn’t work (to everyone’s delight, really, because who likes to be on speaker?); and the cable ‘disappeared’, taking television service but not the internet with it! By the time Merc entered Aquarius in the AM Pacific time of the 2nd, all was resolved, but with Merc going retro at 5:06 AM PST on the 5th, we may have been dealing with what amounts to material world electrical/ modern method chaos, shaped by the sign and degree placement, but spurred by the upcoming retrograde. Leaving Capricorn may have strained the physical components of what carries energy impulses of one kind or another, as if the components themselves were being dragged across a rough surface; drained and damaged, the stress is only cleared with Merc’s entry into the tech-aligned sign of Aquarius. Also of note is the way Merc retros only 2 minutes from completing a square to Mars, suggesting that during the retro period we may want to act, or express our energy or anger, but may not be able to, or may first try words–which may prove woefully inadequate.

But with the retro only days away, I’m anticipating we might have a recurrence of the situation we just saw when Merc once again moves into Cap. This happened between my Whole Sign 12th and 1st Houses, suggesting that what manifested may have been expressions of ‘me’ and my unconscious, specifically in the ways I wanted to change communications, especially communications that were personal (the 1st). Where did it happen for you, and what effects did you notice, if any?

3 January we may discover our active philosophy of life and our working beliefs clash somehow with our highest ideals. With Mars entering Scorpio, we’ll have the energy and drive to dig it all up and resolve the discrepancy–and that’s a good thing to do, as carrying that kind of dissonance disrupts everything. A lucky ‘shift’ in Love or Money is also on the agenda; it’s change you can embrace and enjoy, a kind of reward for those open to modifying the current arrangement (Jupiter contra-parallel Vesta, Venus nov Pluto)

4 January is the day to ‘do it’: we enjoy almost unprecedented internal harmony, a surfeit of wisdom, practical skills are on point or we receive required help within the social sphere, and thoughts vibe to Love, though for a few Money might be the mental tuning fork. What we seek is right in line with our deepest values, and honors what we truly care about (but be prepared to see what you or others really care about–we could find our emphasis is on Love, Money, Relationships, or Life Values when we thought it was on a different one of the four). This is a day with ‘Success!’ written all over it, for those who trust themselves and the Universe–everybody else just gets a nice little boost so really, nobody loses (Jupiter trine Pallas, Venus trine Vesta, Merc parallel Venus)

5 January is an important day, though it might not be an easy one. We see what needs to change, and we may have to answer for missteps made yesterday that were based on misperceptions, fantasies, or lies. As a result, tempers will flare, even if our touchiness is only within our own minds; we won’t like having to face matters we’d rather ignore (especially if we’ve been successfully ignoring them up to now!) but doing so will have the virtue of clearing up a lot of shadows and handing back to us wasted, stolen, or misplaced energy (Venus sq Neptune, Merc sq Mars–though it doesn’t perfect–and Sun conjunct Pluto, both sq Black Moon Lilith)

Many thanks to my Twitter followers! It’s become overwhelming to keep up with and respond to RTs and other kind gestures, but I do appreciate them, and will try to keep adding original content in addition to the notices for blog posts. Thanks again!

See my books here–donate if you follow these posts and find them useful–and enjoy your week!

For Your Perusal: An Excerpt From The New VESTA Book

17 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by in astrology, Pluto, Vesta

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BAL11062 Charon and Psyche (oil on canvas) by Stanhope, John Roddam Spencer (1829-1908) oil on canvas 95.2x138.4 Private Collection Roy Miles Fine Paintings English, out of copyright

Here’s Pluto’s boatman and the representative of consciousness. ‘Charon and Psyche’ by John Roddam Spencer Stanhope 1882 {{PD}}

A little weekend reading for you, a sample from my latest, ‘We Are All Vessels: VESTA IN THE NATAL CHART’ with Vesta indicating what we revere in life and dedicate our energies to, as well as describing the attitude toward the home and the mate:

Vesta in Aspect to Pluto—power is what’s really revered, though in hard aspect the individual may rebuke power or see those in authority as abusive—but still be striving to hold some form of power, if only over him- or herself. They may be genuinely interested in reform, or could simply overthrow the current system and install one of their own. This person could truly understand and embrace the idea that change is the way of the Universe—and they could act as a powerful example to others because of it. Sex may be especially intense for and with these individuals, even when it’s casual.

These people may create major transformations, either through their own agency or by changing elements within their environment; witness the impact of ‘Father of the Atom Bomb’, nuclear physicist Robert Oppenheimer (22 April 1904 8:15 AM-time may not be correct- New York New York USA/ Whole Sign). Pluto and Vesta are only 39 minutes apart in Gemini; transformative ideas, ones in this case involving actual generation of power, the splitting of the atom, is what this man was dedicated to. Not enough symbolism for you? Ceres opposes this pairing and Saturn trines it (and that trine contact is exact, to the minute, to Vesta); that puts Oppenheimer tuned-in to reality but in opposition to Mother Nature, at least in terms of her relationship to humans. She’ll split her own atoms, thank you, in our Sun and other stars—not in a lab, or a bomb.

An interesting side note: The natal Sun is in Taurus, square Aquarian Chiron and quincunx Pallas in Sagittarius. This suggests a Soul Purpose (the Sun) that may have compelled him to do things he didn’t actually think wise (Pallas) or far-sighted (Sagittarius) in terms of effect, intellectual exercises (Aquarius) made reality, that may wound (Chiron) the earth (Taurus) and possibly Oppenheimer’s own psyche (Aquarius, with the sign also holding Black Moon Lilith at 29 degrees=things hidden or ignored are uncovered under stress, and Juno-Saturn as mentioned previously, which makes the empowerment Oppenheimer accesses literal). Of course, this is read with hindsight—it’s unlikely we could’ve discerned this possibility before the Manhattan Project—but after seeing the explosion of the first atomic bomb, mid-July 1945, Oppenheimer said he thought of words from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” An appropriately reverent thought for Pluto-Vesta.

A Pluto-Vesta contact could also make for an individual who reveres renewal and re-birth, and so someone who either takes on the unpleasant tasks of destruction for the Collective (anything from trash collector to mortician) or who compulsively destroys situations or relationships, not from a lack of Self-esteem or a penchant for Self-sabotage, but because for them a sense of a ‘clean slate’ carries something of the holy about it. This person may also be too quick to honor a ‘might makes right’ mentality, or to use extremes in temperament as a mechanism to exert control over people or situations. It’s like a statement: “My temper is a sign I’m dealing with sacred territory, therefore what enrages me must not be questioned or ignored”.

Order VESTA and all my books here, and if you’ve already got it, consider a rating or review at Dog & Sunflower or at GoodReads–thanks! Have a great weekend!

Just a Little Something from ECLIPSE 4-10 July 2014

04 Friday Jul 2014

Posted by in astrology, ECLIPSE magazine, Pluto

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Persephone and Hades Enthroned, 500-450 BC, Greek, Locri Epizephirii, Sanctuary of Persephone--Photo by Daderot {{PD}}

Persephone and Hades Enthroned, 500-450 BC, Greek, Locri Epizephirii, Sanctuary of Persephone–Photo by Daderot {{PD}}

Here’s a little something from ECLIPSE, on finding the parental influence in the natal chart through contacts to the personal planets and lights–in this case, we’re looking at Pluto:

Pluto—this is the symbol of what’s commonly known as ‘The Devouring Mother’, but that’s too narrow a definition by far; this is really a designator of a power figure, male or female, who overwhelmed the individual, and likely persuaded them that, whatever energy Pluto contacted was not to be theirs; the typical indoctrination involves framing the energy as destructive, as likely to obliterate the individual if she or he engages with it. Who would tell (or imply) something like this to a mere child? Sometimes it’s done out of fear, in an attempt to protect, but just as often it arises from rage, an attitude that says, ‘If I can’t have this, neither can you!’ When this is the voice we carry in our minds, we are likely forbidden to even think about the energy too much; we have been so conditioned to see it as, essentially, death, that we avoid it actively. As we see others access it, though, this leads (at least at first) not to accessing it ourselves, but to rage of our own at being denied something we see others have: we in essence become in attitude the mirror of our caretaker in regard to this subject. The classic example is Venus square Pluto, which traditional literature calls a denial of Love for the individual until they learn to be loving. I find this a misunderstanding of the dynamic at work: the individual appears to not understand Love and to behave badly because of it, but they are actually reacting to the denial of Love, in that they are raging at being denied what they see everyone else have. They are not devoid of Love themselves, but so afraid of it (and in some cases this applies to money/ assets, too) that they dare not approach it. Remedy begins when the individual first tastes genuine Love (not romance) and finds they don’t die; dramatic as it seems, that’s what it takes to show them they can not only have it, that they are worthy of it—and that is the essence of the positive Plutonian Archetypal form, the ability to be powerful and unafraid, and so abandon the need to rage and destroy.

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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.

Just a Little AstroEssence 23 April 2013: ‘A Paradigm Shift’

22 Monday Apr 2013

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

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Each of us will hold the key to something special today; for some this will presage the upcoming Lunar eclipse. Detail of 'Death and the Gravedigger' by Carlos Schwabe c1890s {{PD-Art}}

Each of us will hold the key to something special today; for some this will presage the upcoming Lunar eclipse. Detail of ‘Death and the Gravedigger’ by Carlos Schwabe c1890s {{PD-Art}}

This is from the current issue of ECLIPSE; order now to get all three issues that include analysis on the upcoming eclipses, and to receive a new issue each week!

23 April may be a paradigm-shifter, or, at the very least, we will seriously consider altering what it is we want, what we hope to attain. Pluto proceeds in retrograde to trine Pallas, bringing massive power and immense wisdom into alignment, underground; change can happen, much of it ‘out of sight’, guided by what’s wise, and communications will be infused with our truest beliefs. Philosophies may be shared, and transformation visits practical skills; what doesn’t fare well at this time is the personal agenda, the desires and ambitions for the individual. Instead we have a rare day when major change, physical and mental, may occur, with the unusual condition of the perfect ability to transform combining with the perfect realization of wisdom–a unique set of elements that should result in a highly unique outcome–just don’t push too hard for these energies to fit your specific plans–they may end up drawing new ones for you. (Pluto trine Pallas, Mercury sextile Jupiter, opposed hZeus)

Will this presage the first eclipse, which promises to show us how something, some goal or dream or ideal we thought was impossible is, somehow, now within our reach? It may, or it could be its own thing, more focused on the noble aim or betterment for the social sphere than on the individual want, though the eclipse could encompass either–today the emphasis is on the bigger picture, and on our role in making the world, even just a little, a better place. To know if the upcoming Lunar eclipse will be personal or Universal for you, check where it will fall in your natal chart: 1st through 5th House, it’ll be first person all the way, 7th through 11th, your focus will be on the wider world and those in it, 6th or 12th could go either way.

 

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’.

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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