Today marks the fourth phase in the dynamic square (90 degree) alignment between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. The conflict between individual self-expression (Uranus in Aries) and the power establishment and need for control (Pluto in Capricorn) has been seen in virtually every area of our personal lives as well as the landscape of the world political arena. (See the sidebar for all dates)
Although the first exact event took place in June of 2012, Uranus and Pluto came within just a few degrees of exactitude back in 2011 so this dance has really been going on for over two years during which time we can see the Uranus/Pluto conflict of revolution and power imbalance played out in the news:
2011:
Osama bin Laden was killed by the US.
South Sudan splits off from Sudan
The Arab Spring of rebellion and revolution sweeps across the middle east
Occupy Wall Street protests spread throughout the US
Muammar Qaddafi is killed and the Libyan civil war revolutionaries take over the country.
2012:
Civil war in Mali ousts the sitting president and Azawad secedes from Mali.
The “God Particle” is discovered (radical new idea (Uranus) that explodes conventional thinking (Capricorn)).
Hurricanes, typhoons and earthquake create significant damage
2013:
North Korea undergoes several missile tests
The most powerful meteor in over a century explodes in Russia
Pope Benedict resigns (first pope to resign since 1415).
He is replaced by Pope Francis, who is a walking Uranus Pluto square himself, exploding paradigms of Catholic thought.
Edward Snowden exposes US surveillance secrets
Egyptian president Morsi is deposed in a coup
The US Republican Party splits into at least two ideological camps and struggles to find a new identity.
And we’re just in the middle of the cycle. One thing is clear: this Uranus Pluto square is having the effect of breaking through patterns of negativity and repression in order to awaken the sleeping urge for liberation and freedom.
Today’s Uranus/Pluto square #4 is supported by harmonious aspects which will help to facilitate the surrender and letting go that is required before the new energy can effect transformation and liberate us from the ideas and patterns that hold us back. The Sun harmonizes with Chiron and Pluto today, illuminating the power of healing (Chiron) energy that softens hard edges, and assisting in the process of elimination (Pluto) that is required when old ways of thought and feeling must die away.
The Sun and Mercury conjoin today, and while traditional astrologers called this “combust” and believed that the Sun weakened the influence of Mercury I have not seen this to be true. The light of the Sun opens up our eyes so that we can see and think (Mercury) more clearly – our ability to understand is quickened and enhanced by the light of the Sun.
This will help prepare us for the Scorpio eclipse coming up in a few days. Stay tuned!
The story of Bitcoin has the Uranus square Pluto story written all over it. Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 and began to turn the structures of our life (Capricorn) upside down, tearing down our economy so that it can be rebuilt. Of course our economy didn’t actually break down and it’s not being rebuilt in a healthier way. In fact, things are progressing pretty much as they did before the Great Recession which means that we are heading for ANOTHER breakdown. If a tornado (Pluto) tears down your home because it sits on a weak foundation (Capricorn), and you rebuild your house the exact same way, you can’t really expect a different result. Uranus represents new ways of doing things, and it also represents technology. Uranus is in Aries right now where it is radicalizing individuals and forging fresh new ways of innovating our society. Because it is in a challenging aspect to Pluto in Capricorn right now, these fresh new ways are challenging the old ways and potentially leading us to radically different forms of business entities, family structures, and money. One such radically different forms is the Bitcoin, a form of currency that lives exclusively on the Internet. There are no actual coins, and the value of the Bitcoin isn’t tied to anything tangible. It isn’t administered by any state or nation (Capricorn). It is a purely Uranian form of currency. It’s an interesting “coincidence” that Bitcoin was originally conceived in 2008 when Pluto entered Capricorn. But its use as actual currency didn’t begin until Uranus entered Aries in 2010 and began the square to Capricorn. Of course, our whole financial system is not that different from Bitcoin. In our family we hardly ever see any real currency. Our salary is automatically deposited into our account. Our bills are automatically drafted. We pay for everything with a credit card and then pay the credit card every month online from our bank account. Our financial world is already on the Internet. The fact is, as the Onion pointed,out, “money is, in fact, just a meaningless and intangible social construct.” At one time our currency was actually tied to gold and silver, and the dollar bills were a representation of a tangible currency that had intrinsic value. But in today’s world, money is just an idea – an agreement that something has value. On March 18 of this year a division of the US Treasury, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, attempted to assert control (Pluto in Capricorn) over this independent currency (Uranus in Aries), something that Bitcoin is resisting. Meanwhile, the aggregate value of Bitcoin is now somewhere around $1 billion and the currency is in somewhat of a bubble. Hedge fund investors are seeking out Bitcoin plays. When the financial establishment (Pluto in Capricorn) takes ownership of Bitcoin (Uranus in Aries), the currency will lose its anti-establishment qualities and become a part of the stodgy status quo. This will help Bitcoin to succeed as a market currency, but at the cost of losing its independence – the classic Aries/Capricorn dilemma.
Photo from the Laird of Oldham. The entry of Uranus, planet of independence and revolution, into Aries, the sign of the warrior, brought the Arab Spring, Occupy Everything, and numerous other minor and major revolutions around the world. Now it is even inspiring thoughts of secession in Scotland.
Young people all over the world are rising up (Uranus in Aries) against the establishment (Pluto in Capricorn) for a variety of reasons. In many countries (Algeria, Syria, Chile, Spain, India, Egypt, Israel, Tibet, Russia) young people with little to lose are expressing the revolutionary force of the Uranus/Pluto square which began last summer and intensifies later this spring.
Analysts fear that Scottish independence could have a domino effect in an already weakened Europe:
Analysts in Brussels say Scottish independence could trigger a fundamental redrawing of the relationship between Britain and the European Union – something that could have profound implications for countries such as Belgium, Spain and Italy which have their own powerful separatist movements.
“Would the way the EU handles Scotland also apply if other states were to split, like Belgium or Spain?” asked Piotr Maciej Kaczynski of the Centre for European Policy Studies.
“The impact on other countries, especially Spain and Belgium, could be enormous,” he said.
Analysts predict that some member states could target a multi-billion-euro rebate Britain gets from the EU budget, as well as “opt-outs” from the troubled euro and the Schengen open borders agreement.
The European Union itself was a brainchild of the Uranus/Neptune conjunction in 1992 and 1993, with its wildly creative and generally impractical application of revolutionary (Uranus) idealism (Neptune). It took hold during the Pluto in Sagittarius period from 1995-2008, during which globalism (a Sagittarian concept if ever there was one) seemed like a very good idea. Now with the contraction of Pluto in Capricorn, the chickens are coming home to roost and the world faces a reality check.
Mercury trine Saturn
4/3 Sun square Pluto
4/5 Venus enters Pisces
4/7 Mercury enters Aries
4/8 Sun opposite Mars
4/11 Venus conjunct Neptune
4/14 Mercury square Jupiter
Mercury opposite Uranus
Pluto turns retrograde
4/15 Mercury square Pluto
Lunar eclipse at Full Moon 25 Libra 3:42 am
4/16 Mercury opposite Mars
4/17 Venus trine Jupiter
4/18 Venus sextile Pluto
4/19 Sun enters Taurus
4/20 Jupiter square Uranus
Venus conjunct Chiron
Jupiter opposite Pluto
4/21 Uranus square Pluto
4/22 Mars square Jupiter
4/23 Mars opposite Uranus
Mercury enters Taurus
Mars square Pluto
4/25 Venus trine Saturn
Sun conjunct Mercury
4/26 Mercury sextile Neptune
4/27 Sun sextile Neptune
4/29 Solar eclipse at New Moon 8 Taurus 2:14 am
Mercury trine Pluto
4/30 Mercury sextile Jupiter
Dates and times are Eastern time zone – please adjust for your own locality.
MAJOR EVENTS
Unlike recent months which have been full of minor planetary aspects that move quickly and don’t create lasting impressions, April’s big news is the Cardinal Grand Cross which will be building throughout the month but will peak in the middle of the month beginning with the lunar eclipse on April 15th and continuing through the following week.
Some of you will remember back in 2010 and 2011 when there were similar alignments as Uranus and Pluto began their dance and other faster-moving planets joined in. At that time many astrologers called this dance the “Cardinal Crisis” or “Cardinal Climax” because the planets were in cardinal signs, the signs that initiate the seasons (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn). I used the term “Cardinal Drama” instead, because to me this was neither a crisis or a climax but just one stop along the way of personal transformation. At one point there were seven planets in a nearly exact alignment.
At the core of this drama is the square between Uranus and Pluto (see the sidebar for more information if this is new to you). This intensely transformational planetary system has been operative since 2010 and in April we have the fifth of seven exact alignments. Pluto, representing the destructive/regenerative force, turns retrograde in the middle of April so its influence is particularly powerful right now.
In April both Uranus and Pluto join three other planets in a Grand Cross alignment: Mercury and Uranus are aligned in a conjunction in Aries and they oppose Mars in Libra. Jupiter in Cancer is opposite Pluto in Capricorn (see the sidebar for more information about this alignment) and both planets are in a square formation to the other planets. For a few hours on April 14th the Aries Moon is also involved as it approaches the lunar eclipse on the 15th.
The energy now is a push to awaken from the struggle of the past few years. The pressure for change is powerful and many of us have resisted the call to surrender the shackles that hold us to the earth (Pluto in Capricorn) and let go to a new energy that is breaking down the old ways so that something totally and radically new can replace it (Uranus in Aries).
Planetary cycles are opportunities for transformation. It is the resistance to transformation that creates difficulties in our lives. During this month of intense planetary energy, find time and space in your lives to be aware and awake. Look at the problems you are facing with new eyes. Open your mind to the possibility of new solutions that can change your world forever. And most importantly: surrender your idea of What Should Be. Generally, we are the co-creators of our lives. In April 2014, we are being shaped and molded by Universal Wisdom.
April details
April begins on the heels of a New Moon in Aries that initiated the stirrings of the powerful forces that will be erupting in April. Between the 1st and the 3rd the Aries Sun forms a more exact alignment with Jupiter (expansion), Uranus (change) and Pluto (destruction/rebirth), illuminating the growing tension and shining light on areas of our lives that require adjustment so that growth and change can take place. A harmonious trine from Mercury (mind/communication) to Saturn (structure and organization) will aid us in understanding the underlying energies and helping us to create structures that support and aid us in the transformative process.
Venus (love, beauty) enters Pisces (transcendence) on the 5th, and for a few weeks we will be drawn towards the mystical – creativity blossoms now and the desire for spiritual connection is strengthened. Under this influence our relationships can become magical – or deluded. This mystical force can help us to move more easily through the planetary energies if we keep our eyes open and don’t succumb to the power of illusion.
Mercury (thoughts, ideas) enters Aries (initiation, self-direction) on the 7th and begins to align with the cardinal formation. The self-preservation of Aries conflicts somewhat with the transcendent urge of the Pisces Venus, but we can merge these two dynamics consciously by holding the sense of self (Aries) as we allow ourselves to surrender to flow (Pisces).
On the 8th an opposition from the Sun (conscious mind) to Mars (aggression and excitement) helps to energize us but could also bring up conflict that requires resolution for a day or so. A conjunction from Venus to Neptune on the 11th calms the nerves and enhances creativity and feelings of romantic and universal love but may also blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
By the 14th and 15th the Grand Cross is in full swing when Mercury (mind and communication) interacts in stressful aspects with Jupiter (righteousness), Uranus (radical ideas) and Pluto (intensity and conflict). Pluto is stationary as it turns retrograde on the 14th, and it is more powerful than ever at this time so our thoughts and communication with others will be intensified. Pluto tends to expose secrets and unearth emotions that have been submerged and there can be an explosion of compulsive and obsessive traits under this influence.
These qualities are a part of the Full Moon in Libra that is also a solar eclipse as the sun eclipses the lunar light. A lunar event becomes an eclipse when it occurs near the lunar nodes and because the lunar nodes represent our fate, eclipses have long been tied to events that are important and which can change our very destiny.
The Libra Full Moon is opposite the Sun in Aries, offering an opportunity to find balance between our desire for harmony and peace (Libra) with our need to assert ourselves and find our own way (Aries). Because of the Grand Cross in the cardinal signs of action, this is a time to forge a new direction and wake up to a new integration of forces that may appear to be pulling us apart.
This Full Moon eclipse is not all difficult and full of conflict – Jupiter, planet of abundance and opportunity, harmonizes with Chiron (expanding our ability to find healing in the midst of stress), Venus (opening hearts and facilitating optimism), and Neptune (enhancing our connection to our spiritual source). Watch the pages of Astrological Musings for more details.
The intense light and awakening energies of the Full Moon continue for several days as the strong formations between Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto continues to draw closer and more exact, culminating on the 20th and 21st of April. Where the eclipse on the 15th will expose the cracks in the veneer of our consciousness and our day to day lives, the coming together of these three planets will bring about a peak experience of transformation and change. Doors of consciousness will open and soul memories will make themselves known. This can be frightening as we feel the ground beneath us open up, but if we can find a way to let go into conscious awareness and mindfulness we will find the pathway that will lead us to our highest aspirations.
The addition of Mars (energy and aggression) to the planetary mix which peaks on April 22-23 will simply continue to energize the energies, making them nearly impossible to manage. Surrender and moving THROUGH rather than fighting against or attempting to move around will be the key to using this time wisely. Challenging interactions between Mars and Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto can be time of danger and increased conflict, so please be careful to avoid inflammable personal situations if at all possible, and use care when traveling, especially from the middle of April through the end of the month.
Mercury (mind and ideas) enters grounded and serene Taurus on the 24th, so once the Mars influence calms down after the 25th our thinking and communication will be more grounded and we will begin to feel more stabilized. The Sun and Mercury form a harmonious sextile to Neptune on the 26th and 27th which is marvelous for creativity and clarity of expression.
The Taurus New Moon will continue to stabilize us and help us to find a grounded sense of peace after the storm of the previous planetary energies. The Grand Cross is still in effect so transformation is still continuing to occur, but because we will be feeling more grounded at that time the integration may come more easily. Mercury harmonizes now with Chiron, Jupiter and Pluto which helps us towards greater understanding on an intellectual level. However, Taurus is a fixed sign and if we become too fixed in our views and unable to embrace the necessary adjustments, we may find ourselves facing more challenges.
The intensity of April’s planetary alignments contains real gifts if we look for them amidst the chaos. In any case, resistance is futile so we may as well adapt and go willingly into the crucible of transformation!
Mercury sextile Mars
Sun trine Chiron
Sun sextile Pluto
Sun conjunct Mercury
Mercury trine Chiron
11/3 Sun sextile Mars
New Moon & solar eclipse 11 Scorpio, 7:50 am
11/5 Venus enters Capricorn
11/6 Sun conjunct Saturn
11/7 Jupiter turns retrograde
Venus sextile Neptune
11/8 Mercury sextile Venus
11/9 Mars sextile Saturn
Mercury trine Neptune
11/10 Mercury turns direct
11/11 Mercury trine Neptune
11/12 Sun trine Jupiter
11/13 Neptune turns direct
11/14 Venus square Uranus
Venus sextile Chiron
11/15 Venus conjunct Pluto
11/17 Full Moon 25 Taurus, 10:16 am
11/19 Chiron turns direct
Mars sextile Jupiter
11/20 Mercury trine Chiron
Mercury sextile Pluto
11/21 Sun enters Sagittarius
11/23 Venus sextile Saturn
11/24 Sun square Neptune
11/25 Mercury conjunct Saturn
11/27 Mercury sextile Venus
11/28 Mercury trine Jupiter
Dates and times are for Eastern time zone, please adjust for your own locality.
MAJOR INFLUENCES
The biggest single planetary influence in November is the fourth alignment of the square between Uranus and Pluto. (If this is new to you read the short synopsis in the sidebar and visit this most recent article.) This planetary dynamic has been fostering breakdown of old patterns and introducing new energies and change of all kinds both in our personal lives and in the world at large.
Mercury is retrograde until November 10th, during which time we are asked to reflect and revise our preconceived ideas and judgments. This is not the best time to begin new ventures although sometimes we must begin new projects or sign contracts during Mercury retrograde periods. In that case we do our best to anticipate potential problems or communication glitches, and when they occur we can be comforted by the fact that it’s a normal part of the cycle of life!
Mars (action) is in the industrious and organized sign of Virgo throughout November which makes this a great month for cleaning and weeding through old possessions which we no longer need in order to clear the path for the transformation of Uranus and Pluto. This will be particularly effective during the Mercury retrograde period which offers us an opportunity to look back and RE-organize.
Jupiter and Neptune both change direction this month (Jupiter will turn retrograde and Neptune will turn direct) and they have both slowed down to a crawl in preparation for the turnaround. Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces and Neptune is its modern ruler, and with both of them at a standstill and beaming their energies with focused direction, the sense of possibility (Jupiter) and imagination and creativity (Neptune) are both more available than usual. This openness and creativity can help us to rise above the tension of the planetary dynamics and connect more easily to our spiritual center.
Chiron will also change direction as it turns direct. Chiron has a tendency to apply pressure to a sensitive wound until we are forced to notice it and do something about healing it, so there may be an underlying emotional sensitivity throughout the month.
NOVEMBER DETAILS
The fourth square (90 degree angle) between Uranus and Pluto occurs on November 1st. Supporting the pressure for change on that day is a series of harmonious aspects from the Sun and Mercury which help to illuminate (Sun) and clarify our thinking (Mercury) so that we are able to make effective responses to the pressure to let go of the past (Pluto) and allow the radical new energies (Uranus) to shift and realign where necessary.
The Scorpio New Moon is also a Solar Eclipse at 11 degrees Scorpio. This is a particularly powerful Scorpionic event because we have four planets in Scorpio aligned within six degrees (Mercury, Sun, Moon and Saturn).
This is a Scorpionic time in any case – we are approaching the midpoint of the Scorpio solar cycle which is associated with the ancient Celtic cross-quarter festival of Samhain, and under Scorpio’s influence we are called to fearlessly dive deep into the unconscious to uncover both the treasures and horrors that lie hidden in the underworld of the senses. With an eclipse in Scorpio at the New Moon, there may be an unmasking of a secret that is holding us back – keeping us from awakening to the new reality that is calling us.
The North Node is tightly sandwiched between the Sun and Mercury, giving this a more powerful eclipse effect than some others we have had recently and strengthening the force for awakening that is at work under Uranus and Pluto. The New Moon conjoins Saturn which suggests a time for solitary process and experience and perhaps the need to ground the shamanic experience of the eclipse into something practical that will build something for the future.
A trine from Mars to Pluto in earth signs is supportive of that need to ground the experience and helps to stabilize and encourage us in our journey; however, Mars is just moving away from an opposition to Chiron which may enhance our emotional sensitivity.
Venus enters Capricorn on November 5th and for a few weeks commitment and responsibility to those around us become more important. This is enhanced on November 6th when the Sun conjoins Saturn (stability) but this could also be a day of self-doubt and insecurity. Any negativity from the Sun/Saturn conjunction will lift from the 5th to the 12th as Venus, Mercury and Mars make a series of harmonious alignments that will support creativity and love (Venus sextile Neptune, Mercury trine Neptune, Mercury sextile Venus), focus and discipline (Mars sextile Saturn), and general good fortune (Sun trine Jupiter).
Mercury turns direct on November 10th but it won’t pick up speed for a few days so it could take a week or so for things to seem like they are getting back to normal.
Venus is active on the 14th and 15th when it interacts with the Uranus/Pluto square, shaking the cobwebs out of our interactions with others (friends, colleagues, loved ones) and perhaps forcing something hidden out into the open. A harmonious sextile from Venus to Chiron will help to soften any difficulty of this process and foster healing of old wounds.
The Taurus Full Moon on November 17th instills calm and serenity, an island in the whirl of change we have been experiencing. The Full Moon brings the peace of Taurus to balance the intensity of Scorpio, and requires that we align within ourselves in order to integrate the two. Jupiter harmonizes with both the Sun and the Moon to bring an expansive sense of well-being, but relationships could be somewhat stressful with the connection of Venus to both Uranus and Pluto which can create a rocky road that requires a great deal of negotiation.
The 19th and 20th bring fast moving harmonious aspects that encourage our self-confidence (Mars sextile Jupiter) and greater understanding (Mercury trine Chiron and sextile Pluto). A harmonious sextile from Venus to disciplined Saturn on the 23rd helps to stabilize our relationships, but on the 24th we may feel some confusion with a challenging square from the Sun to Neptune. Neptune inspires us to seek an experience that goes beyond our material reality, but on this day we may be tempted to seek this transcendence through escape rather than a spiritual connection.
Mercury is active at the end of the month, fostering discipline and focus with a conjunction to Saturn, aiding in communication with a sextile to Venus, and opening to a renewed sense of confidence with a trine to Jupiter.
The focus in November is the continuing need to let go and allow transformation to take place. Between the Scorpio eclipse and the Uranus/Pluto square, the energy for November is fairly intense but that will lessen towards the end of the month and December will offer a respite from the intensity and an opportunity to recharge.
And it’s on time! You can read the article in its entirety here, and if you are on my mailing list you will soon receive your translation into easy to understand English. (If you’re NOT on my mailing list, please sign up in the sidebar.)
Meanwhile, here is the overview for May:
Over the past few months we have moved from a dreamy and creative emphasis in Pisces, through a fiery Aries stellium with lots of passion and incendiary events. We are now in a Taurean period where we crave stability and the kind of peace that comes from knowing t hat our lives are secure. However, with Uranus and Pluto moving into phase three of their big challenging cycle, this security is limited. Taurus inspires us to hold firm to our ground, but the Uranus/Pluto square is forcing us to let go of anywhere that we hold onto something that lacks a solid foundation. Our ideas of what our lives should be – fears that keep us from moving forward. The tide is turning now, and we have to somehow find a way to find that peace and serenity while the world around us is shifting.
You can catch up on that here (as well as read my take on last month’s bombing in Boston). Uranus rules surprising events that shatter the status quo and create change, while Pluto regulates the regular destruction and regeneration of that which has decayed and is no longer useful. When these two planets interact in strong aspect (conjunction, square and opposition) the result is an earthquake of social and political change.
This can sound frightening, and of course there are aspects of this dynamic that will create fear and imbalance as old ways fall away and are replaced by new ones. But this intense cycle of transformation does not occur in a vacuum. There are other, more harmonious cycles which add comfort and support. One such cycle is the harmonious sextile between Saturn and Pluto which has been in effect since December of 2012. Saturn adds structure and integrity to the deconstruction process of Pluto and helps us to handle change in a practical manner rather than lose our footing and slip down a vortex of chaos. Saturn and Pluto are both retrograde now, so their influence is more strongly personal as we discover ways to anchor our experience (Saturn) while still encountering the depth of our internal reality (Pluto).
Saturn is also in a trine to Neptune that began last October and will remain in effect over the next few months. In its role as master of the physical world, Saturn aids us in connecting our spiritual yearnings (Neptune) in a more practical application that can help us to find meaning in the change that is occurring all around us.
[There is] the arising of something new in humanity. I sometimes call it the unconditioned consciousness. But it is also a field of stillness, where you see the torn roots of the human mind. Once it emerges, it’s a process that cannot be reversed. It emerges more and more fully, and you become less and less identified with the structure of thought. And then thought is no longer dysfunctional. It is actually beautiful. It can be used for helpful purposes. It’s wonderful—you are no longer looking for an identity in the structure of thought because now you know that who you are is deeper. You are the very awareness prior to thought. You are the stillness that is deeper than thought, much vaster than thought. We call it “stillness” but it’s just a word. We’ve reduced it to something. It’s more than that. It’s consciousness itself, unconditioned. Which is the essence of each human being. It’s that when you meet anybody in a state of open, aware attention, without labeling them mentally or judging them, then that you are already operating as a current or conscious awareness between human beings.
That [will] dramatically change human relationships. When aware presence operates between human beings, they are no longer dominated by mind structures. On a deepest level, that is also love. That is the only dimension from where love can come into this world.
We are in the transition from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius, and this ongoing planetary aspect between Uranus and Pluto is facilitating that process. As the old ways are destroyed (Pluto in Capricorn) a new and radically different way of looking at the world through new eyes (Uranus in Aries) emerges and what is left, ideally, is a reality that extends beyond the boundaries of the small mind.
Uranus represents the Higher Mind – the intuition and insight that comes to us from a multidimensional reality that we are only now beginning to grasp. In order to move into this new consciousness we must let go. 2012 was just the beginning – the process of consciousness shifting continues.
Uranus square Pluto: revolution and counter-attack
As you may know if you follow this and other astrology writings, we are in the midst of a major planetary event: the opening square of a new Uranus/Pluto cycle. Uranus represents the breaking apart of the established order – the rebellious force that resists conservatism and the status quo. Pluto represents destruction and regeneration as well as power, and tends to create obsessive behavior in the sign through which it is traveling.
Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn now – the sign of business, corporations, marriage – all of the structures that create a foundation upon which our societies depend, so with Pluto going through this sign since 2008 we are seeing the destruction of many of these structures as well as an attempt to consolidate power and authority. Uranus is in Aries – the planet of the revolutionary in the sign of the individualist. The major theme in this planetary dynamic is individual (Aries) liberty (Uranus) vs. the power (Pluto) of the status quo (Capricorn).
This cycle began back in 2011 when the two planets came within a degree of an exact square (90 degree angle), but did not begin in earnest until last June when the angle reached exactitude. We are now moving towards the third phase of that cycle. This is a major cycle indeed, with seven exact stations within seven degrees. Here are the dates of the Uranus/Pluto square:
June 24, 2012 at 8 degrees Aries/Capricorn
September 19, 2012 at 7 degrees
May 20, 2013 at 11 degrees
November 1, 2013 at 9 degrees
April 21, 2014 at 13 degrees
December 15, 2014 at 12 degrees
March 15, 2015 at 15 degrees
This month of April has been particularly fiery as we moved from the watery emphasis of a Pisces stellium in March to a fiery stellium (grouping of planets) in April that peaked on April 10th at the Aries New Moon with five planets in Aries and with the Sun, Moon, Mars and Venus tightly connected within two degrees. Mars is the ruler of Aries, the sign of Cardinal (initiatory) fire, and is the fieriest of all the planets.
Fire is an essential element of the human experience. It motivates and inspires – it creates the need for action and gets us up off the sofa. But it can also be extremely destructive, and has a wild quality that cannot be tamed. The Aries New Moon on April 10th can be seen as a trigger for the upcoming Uranus/Pluto square which is tightening every day as we approach the exact event on May 20th.
Pluto turned retrograde on April 14th, and it had been stationary for most of the month as it prepared to change direction. When a planet is stationary, its influence is at its most intense and stationary Pluto is often associated with destructive events.
Boston Bombing and the Tsarnaev brothers
The bombings at the Boston Marathon turned out to likely be not part of a global revolutionary conspiracy, but an act of two isolated and disaffected brothers in a country into which they felt unable to assimilate. However, we can see the workings of Uranus and Pluto in the (in my opinion) radically overblown reaction in which an entire metropolitan area of over four million people was shut down by order of the state (Capricorn) and its fear of radical extremism (Uranus in Aries). This kind of reaction is unprecedented, even after the London bombings which killed 52 people and injured over 700, and the Oklahoma City bombings in which 168 people died.
In a square formation such as this, each planet reacts against the other. So we have the rebellion of Uranus reacting against the imposition of power by Pluto, and Pluto’s compulsion to maintain power reacting against the radical actions of Uranus.
I predicted long ago that the entry of Uranus into Aries in 2010 would change the landscape of global warfare from nations and large terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda and Hezbollah to rebellion (Uranus) of individuals (Aries) instead. I believe we will continue to see this more and more as we move through this cycle of Uranus and Pluto through 2015.
Eric Francis posted the chart for the event on his Planet Waves site here along with an interesting analysis of the mundane aspects of the chart. The Sun and Mars had been in a very tight conjunction ever since the Aries New Moon on April 10th, and culminated in the exact conjunction a few days after the bombing.
I am always more interested in the psychology of the event. The older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who died in the aftermath of the bombing, had an exact square between Mars and Pluto in his chart. This is a difficult aspect that often (but not always) involves abuse in childhood and difficulty in getting one’s needs met. With the Sun in Libra he would have tried to please others in order to make his way in the world, but the underlying rage of Mars/Pluto would make that a challenge. Saturn opposed his Moon which can make it difficult to connect with others and especially in younger life can denote loneliness and isolation. Tamerlan competed in boxing tournaments but was thought to be a coward underneath a veneer of arrogance.
We don’t know what sign was rising in his chart without a birth time, so we can’t really assess that veneer astrologically. But the isolation and rage is clear from the chart.
The younger brother, Dzhokhar, is a Cancerian at the last degree. Sensitive and committed to family, he also has a Virgo Moon which needs to have a sense of safety and security. That Moon conjoins Mars, so he too has anger issues like his brother. These difficult lunar aspects in the two brothers suggest that the relationship at home, particularly with the mother, threatened their security.
With Mercury (mind and mental function) opposite both Uranus and Neptune, which are conjunct in the chart, he likely suffered from some kind of attention deficit disorder that would have made it difficult to concentrate, and he did not do well in school. Saturn is retrograde in his chart which generally denotes someone who is particularly self-critical, and it opposes Chiron which suggests a deep wounding and emotional sensitivity. I suspect this younger brother went along with the plan out of a need to belong and be accepted by the older brother. It appears from news reports that both of the boys’ parents had moved back to Russia, and that they were living on their own.
Moving through these incendiary times
When our lives are falling apart and being reconfigured in new and unfamiliar patterns it can be difficult to find a perspective that has any meaning to us. The traditional concept of faith, that good things happen if our faith is only strong enough, doesn’t really work in the real world. But there is a different type of faith – a faith in a process of Universal Intelligence that is unfolding in ways that we are unable to imagine and which will bring us exactly the lessons that we need to learn and the experiences that we need in order to progress in our lives.
A friend of mine told me yesterday: “This is where you are in your story. This is not the end of the story.” I love this concept, and know it to be true. The experiences which seem like they will destroy us in the moment, can be the most amazing times of our lives. Even when we are faced with critical illness and death, there are gems of wisdom that can be given, including an insight into the very nature of life and the passing of time.
The only way I know to reach this level of understanding is through meditation. Meditation helps us to let go and connects us with the inner guidance of the higher self.
Pluto’s lesson is that we can only control so much of our lives – the rest we must let go. I like to use the example of tubing down a river – if you try to reach out for something to slow down, you and your tube are whipped against the rocks with sometimes disastrous results. If you let go and let the flow of the river take you through the path of least resistance, you experience the exhilaration of the journey.
Better late than never! The complete article can be found here and here is the introduction with thoughts on the Solstice and 2012:
INTRODUCTION: WINTER SOLSTICE 2012 AND THE MAYAN CALENDAR
For quite a few years now there has been a great deal of discussion of December 21, 2012 as the end of the Mayan calendar. There is some debate about whether this is the actual date of the calendar as you will see in these articles. I personally believe, however, that the idea of the end of the world, or the end of the earthly paradigm upon which we build our lives, would not have taken hold had there not been an energy of change that is palpable and impossible to deny.
When Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 after 23 years in Sagittarius it began to break down (Pluto) the structures of our worldly existence (Capricorn) that were corrupt and decaying. Economic systems, centers of power – until Pluto leaves Capricorn in 2023 we will see continued breakdown of infrastructure and the underpinnings of our world which no longer fit with the expanding paradigm of human existence.
Between 2008 and this year there have been a series of planetary connections that have fostered tremendous inner change (Chiron/Neptune conjunction) and outer transformation (the cardinal alignments and the ongoing square between Uranus and Pluto). You don’t have to be an astrologer to see that the world is changing and will never again be the same.
Personally, I am skeptical of the claim that the Mayan calendar ends in 2012. Mayan elders say that this is very like saying our calendar ends on December 31st. But this iconic event has become the symbol of the transformation that is taking place and for that reason it is important.
The Winter Solstice chart is not particularly significant astrologically, and will not mark a particularly powerful time of planetary energy. It IS interesting that the Solstice occurs precisely at 11:11 GMT which has numerological interest as a master number. Regardless of the trigger that we use, there is no doubt that change is afoot. We can either open to transformation willingly and allow ourselves to be repatterned into the new energy, or we can resist and become stuck in fear. The choice is ours.
MAJOR INFLUENCES FOR DECEMBER
December continues the pattern of the past few months with a relatively quiet planetary climate. The larger planetary cycle of Uranus square Pluto is still operative (the two are still within five degrees of an exact square formation), so the process of destruction and rebuilding with new paradigms continues to apply pressure on our individual lives as well as in the global arena. But other than this, there are no major planetary challenges this month.
A harmonious trine from Saturn to Chiron continues to provide us with an opportunity to diligently work (Saturn) on healing any wounds that hold us back (Chiron) so that we can release them and emerge with new wisdom and clarity. Chiron and Neptune continue traveling together as they have for the past five years or so, never allowing us to forget that we are soul beings having a human experience.
Uranus turns direct this month so its energy is quite strong now. Uranus governs illumination and ascension, as well as the type of radical departure from the ordinary and the rigid that is occurring now. If Uranus is aspecting your personal chart you will likely experience difficulty sleeping as well as a continual pressure to liberate yourself from any area of your life which is not serving your highest good.
Today is the first exact square alignment between Pluto in Capricorn and Uranus in Aries. Saturn is stationary right now, putting a clamp in any urge to flee, and it will change direction tomorrow. Jupiter is in a square alignment to Neptune in an aspect that will culminate tomorrow.
So if things are feeling a little intense for you right now, it’s not surprising.
We had some friends over last night and the topic of discussion was how to navigate these difficult waters. When we see the old order (Capricorn) crumbling around us (Pluto), and the forces for revolution (Uranus) awaken, what can we as individuals (Aries) do to aid the Universe in the rebalancing process? What can we do when we see corruption and devastation everywhere we turn?
This rebalancing is the very essence of the human experience. When a political system or national identity becomes corrupt or diseased to the point where it is no longer viable, that system will crumble or collapse under its own weight. Sometimes the decay is so great that the system needs to be destroyed (Pluto) so that it can be rebuilt, and there is no way to save it. Patching and band-aid repair are no longer viable, and at that point all we can do is get out of the way as the system collapses.
Then the rebuilding comes in, and that is when we are needed.
In our personal lives, the more authentically true that we can be to ourselves, and the more fearlessly we are able to face the cycles of change, the less difficulty we tend to encounter in the outside world and the better we are able to manage times of crisis. We can extend this philosophy to the fate of our planet as well: to take a longer view and resist the cycle of fear that keeps us from understanding the deeper energies that are at work right now.
Transformation is not always easy and during the process we encounter forces that are beyond our control. Astrology helps to identify the teachers and the essences at work so that we can have greater understanding, but ultimately the rebalancing process must be allowed to take place so that as humans we can continue to evolve and grow in understanding and wisdom.
Astrological Musings
Today marks the fourth phase in the dynamic square (90 degree) alignment between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. The conflict between individual self-expression (Uranus in Aries) and the power establishment and need for control (Pluto in Capricorn) has been seen in virtually every area of our personal lives as well as the landscape of the world political arena. (See the sidebar for all dates)
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