Cities,
with their buildings and blocks and grids of numbered streets, are full of
right angles. They are also full of choices - which way to turn, which diet, which community, which mode
of transport, which route, which style, which career? Right angles are
comparatively rare in the curvy, uncultivated wilds of Nature, and there are
attendantly fewer choices to make. One eats whatever is available and
digestible, travels the path of least resistance, and embodies the style that
will best protect them from predators and the elements, and give them the best
advantage in attaining what they need. Ultimately, one’s choices are best
viewed through Nature’s lens of necessity, but the current planetary
configurations suggest it’s time to expand our definition of necessity, to
expand beyond the needs of the individual to the needs of the species.
Out of
necessity, we are taking a break from our normally scheduled monthly report on
how to align one’s individual consciousness with the evolutionary imperatives
indicated by planetary positions as viewed from Earth. Instead, we will explore
methods of supporting the evolution of the consciousness of our species.
Although Capricorn’s sea-goat is an inspiring image of striving up out of the
depths to the greatest heights, we are taking a break from the imagery of the
zodiac to employ the medicine of the vulture - nourishing life from death, and
protection from poisons. We are taking a break from discussing the shifting
moods of the Moon to discuss the theses of more distant bodies, whose messages
are at this moment best put through the megaphone and magnifying glass of
awareness.
The Perspective of a planet:
Zoom
out. Take a look at yourself from the perspective of the planetoid, Pluto.
What? You can’t see yourself? You can’t even see Earth? Shoot. Well, zoom in a
bit, and try again from the perspective of the gas giant, Uranus. Still can’t
see yourself or Earth? Hm. Well, hop on over to ringed Saturn. Ah, now you can
see a speck of light in the dark vastness of space that you’re pretty sure is
Earth, but there’s still no sign of little ole you.
On some
level, we are everything - we are the Cosmos, the galaxies and multiverses, the
dawn, day, dusk and night, the ocean and the wind, the vastness of infinity and
the intricacies of time. But on another level, we are the minutiae of subatomic
particles, specks upon specks in the limitless unknown, fractions of blinks in
the endlessness of time.
Ninety Degrees of Change:
Once
upon a time, in the mid-1960’s, Uranus and Pluto conjoined in the sign of
Virgo. Whenever any two bodies appear to come together like that, we have the
opportunity for a fresh start. We experience this once a month at the new moon
- the classic time of new beginnings and seed plantings. But whereas the
transiting Sun and Moon are fleeting and personal in their effects, Uranus and
Pluto are plodding and fermenting in time, and their effects are on the
planetary, species and generational levels. Every month, the Sun and Moon
conjoin. Uranus and Pluto will not conjoin again until the beginning of the
next century.
The
effects of this particular alignment of Uranus and Pluto were felt in an arc
that lasted about ten years into the early 1970’s. These are two different
energies of transformation - one abrupt, sudden, inspired, and revolutionary,
and the other deep, slow, requiring great sacrifice for greater gain, and
bringing that which has been hidden in darkness into the light. In that
volatile time, tilt shift merged with death and rebirth in the sign of “the
virgin,” - the one who is whole unto themselves. In a state of holistic
awareness, Virgo seeks purity of action, wholeness of being, and puts its
mastery of skill into appropriate service. In less evolved expressions of
being, Virgo picks apart, criticizes, and seeks to control the world around
itself. At this time, the environmental movement began, and the U.S. was in the
throes of the civil rights movement and a big push in women’s liberation. Great
leaders were killed, and power-hungry leaders called for unnecessary deaths
under various levels of Plutonian expression. The world (influence of outer
planets) sought a new (conjoining of planets) order (in Virgo). Some people
chose to live through Virgo’s light, and some people chose to live through
Virgo’s shadow, but everyone embodied both Pluto and Uranus because their
conjunction fused their energies.
One
week after the Sun and Moon conjoin at the new moon, they enter into a tense
ninety degree relationship at the waxing half moon - one of those rare right
angles in nature. At this point in the lunar cycle, we must make difficult
choices, and focus our energies into action and momentum so that we can
experience fruition in one more week at the full moon, when the Sun and Moon
are on opposite sides of the sky.
Uranus
and Pluto are now at this square, right-angle point in their cycle, roughly
fifty years after their conjunction in Virgo. The square configuration between
these massive bodies is at the apex of its influence from 2012 throughout 2015,
but its overall arc ranges from around 2008 to 2018. Anything set in motion in
the mid-60’s is thus now at a critical point of decision and push, but this is not
the end of the cycle. It will be about another thirty years before Uranus
opposes Pluto - the “full moon” phase and half-way point of this planetary
cycle, when we can expect to attain fruition of that which was set in motion in
the mid-60’s. But even then, the cycle won’t be over until the next century.
The best effects of this current configuration can be attained by first
considering what we want that fruition stage and its fine-tuning aftermath to
look like on both the individual and species level, and then making decisions
now about how to manifest those outcomes. We - as a community, as a society, as
a country, as a species - need a thirty-year plan and a ninety-year plan,
especially in regards to any issues that began in the mid-1960’s - i.e, environmental
stewardship, and gender and race equality.
What decisions do we need
to make as a species?
How can you, an an
individual, live by those decisions now?
How can you creatively
& effectively help foster those shifts in society?
Self and Beyond:
Uranus
and Pluto are “trans-personal” planets, meaning they function on the level of
the species and the society, rather than on the personal level. They take us
beyond our Selves into the We of humanity - collective consciousness rather
than individual consciousness, collective action rather than individual action.
Trans-personal planets are difficult to integrate on the individual level, and
if we are unable to consciously harness their energy, they harness us. This is
when the planet’s shadow comes through on both the collective and individual
level. Because Pluto and Uranus are in a square relationship at this time,
there is - on both the individual and collective level - a tendency to strongly
identify with the energy of one planet and then project the energy of the other
planet onto a convenient screen, such as a government, a corporation, a race,
class or gender of people, a boss, a co-worker, a spouse, etc.
The
only way to avoid this trap, and to thus harness the evolutionary energy of
this configuration, is to become conscious of the presence of the energies of
this entire configuration within ourselves - both the shadow and the light of
both signs and both planets involved. Before we explore this further, consider
this: Scientists have proven that genes carry and pass on not only physical
traits, but also memories. This means that within each and every one of us,
there is the memory of being both the rapist and the victim of rape, the memory
of being both the slaver and the slave, the memory of being both the murderer
and the murdered, the memory of being both the torturer and the tortured. If
you cannot face any part of yourself, you cannot access all of your strength,
and therefore your capacity for doing good by yourself and others is greatly
diminished. We are all human, and we can consciously choose to act in the best
interests of all, or we can knowingly or unknowingly make choices that are
harmful to ourselves and others.
On the
Uranus in Aries level of illumination, we all have within us the ability to act
on an inspired, energizing and revolutionary vision of how all of humanity
could be bettered. On the Uranus in Aries level of shadow, we all have within
us the ability to carelessly and impatiently destroy that which we perceive to
be in our way, and to believe that we are the true saviors, the underdogs with
the only true vision of how things should be for all of humanity, and above
all, the ability to make decisions based on anger - an emotion that is a
byproduct of fear - rather than love. Uranus brings the vision of a better
society, but Uranus utterly lacks compassion. If we allow ourselves to channel
this energy too strongly, we lose touch with our heart. Illuminated Aries
expresses courage - the roots of the word courage mean acting from the heart.
Shadowy Aries re-acts out of anger. Be inspired, and be angry if that’s how you
feel, but stay with your heart, friends.
On the
Pluto in Capricorn level of illumination, we all have within us the ability to
envision a transformative longterm goal (e.g. equality for all races and
genders, redistribution of wealth that dissolves class altogether, and a
symbiotic relationship with our host planet), and then employ the winning
combination of strategy, patience, disciplined effort, and accurately directed
power to manifest these visions. On the Pluto in Capricorn level of shadow, we
all have within us the ability to misuse our power - especially if we are
convinced that “others” have all the power - to needlessly destroy, to fixate
on the wrong goal, to feel defeated and beaten down into apathy and depression,
and to view things through the limiting lens of the past. Keep your eye on the
real prize: respect and stewardship for all people, for all beings, and for our
home, the Earth.
About what/whom has your
heart hardened and grown cold?
What are you inspired
about?
In what ways do you believe
you know what’s best for everyone?
How do you know that’s
true?
What if it’s not true? (Hint: Being wrong is a good way to learn!)
How are you capable of
manipulation of yourself and others?
How are you destructive to
yourself and others?
What is the most
transformative creation you could gift to the world?
The Tree is determined by the Seed, although shaped by the
climate:
We are
fielding conflicting energies, emotions, experiences, and ideas through this
configuration - Pluto in Capricorn’s patience clashes with Uranus in Aries’
impatience; Uranus in Aries’ vision of the future clashes with Pluto in
Capricorn’s lens of the past; Uranus in Aries’ reactive approach clashes with
Pluto in Capricorn’s calculating strategy. You may feel that some things are
happening so fast you can hardly keep up, while other things are moving in slow
motion or seem downright stuck. It’s a battle of gods, but there will be no
winner and no loser. Uranus in Aries will make a lot of noise, and Pluto in
Capricorn will silently, uncompromisingly, and steadily build towards the
transformation and power it desires. In the history books of the future, there
will be pictures of the wild Uranus in Aries events of this time, but the Pluto
in Capricorn effect of this time will be the perspective from which those
events are told. Play both sides of this game, friends. Be angry and inspired,
but also be and build the change you want to see in the world.
Another
clue about this Uranus and Pluto square is found in the initiating energy of
their 1960’s conjunction in Virgo. Virgo’s influence will continue to permeate
the entirety of this Uranus-Pluto cycle until their next conjunction in the
first years of the next century. Illuminated Virgo attains mastery of oneself
and of one’s skills, and puts that mastery into service for the good of all.
Shadowy Virgo criticizes, points fingers, is unable to witness one’s own
imperfections, and is needlessly controlling of outer situations and other
people. In the cyclical story of the zodiac, once we reach the sign of Virgo,
we have already discovered that we exist, that we have value, that we have a
particular way of perceiving things, that we feel certain ways, and that we can
shine and express ourselves. What we learn in the sign of Virgo is how to
organize and put all of those lessons and skills to good use. At this critical
juncture, we must master ourselves, own our destructive, power-hungry Plutonian
shadow and our cold-hearted Uranian shadow, and then put ourselves in service
of the enlightened Uranian vision and the empowering Plutonian creation we wish
to manifest in the world.
Are you being critical of
others - individuals, institutions, a class, gender or race group?
Are you mastering all of
yourself, including your mind, your emotions, your flaws, and your gifts?
Are you being of service to
others and to society in innovative and creative ways?
Are you both taking
immediate action and strategically building towards a deeper change?
Are you acting from your
heart or from your head?
What would you have the
history books of the future say about this time period?
How can you help that
perspective of this history be written?
Six down, one to go:
The
sixth of seven exact squares between Uranus and Pluto occurs tonight (Sunday,
December 14th at 9:14 PM, PST). However, this is the last of these exact passes
with a mutual reception of Pluto and Saturn. Pluto has been traveling in
Saturn’s home sign of Capricorn since January of 2008, while Saturn has been
traveling through Pluto’s home sign of Scorpio since October of 2012. A mutual
reception indicates a deep fusion of the two planets’ energies. It’s as though
they are tuned in so deeply to each others’ frequencies that it’s difficult for
them to be influenced by anything else. This has heightened the tension between
Uranus and Pluto because Pluto fused with Saturn is that much more powerful,
that much more shadowy, that much more destructive, that much more stuck in his
ways - but also, transforming at that much more deep of a level, digging up
that much more deep and valuable of a treasure, and taking as much time as is
necessary to maneuver that much more transformative of a destruction-creation
process.
Saturn enters Sagittarius:12/23/14
Two
days after 2014’s winter solstice, Saturn enters Sagittarius. Plodding old
Saturn will be - perhaps arthritically - leaping about in Sagittarius’ exalted
and spirited realm until the end of 2017, with a brief revisiting of Scorpio’s
sunken treasure throughout the coming summer of 2015. A change in Saturn’s sign
of transit is always a notable event, but this time we’ll feel that shift on a
deep level because it will take some pressure off of that Uranus-Pluto square
by adding the galvanizing energy of Sagittarius to Pluto’s experience of
Saturn-ruled Capricorn. That which has been transforming so slowly beneath the
surface may pick up some momentum and arise into the light. That which has been
dying may finally be reborn. Those experiences of loss may now lead to gain.
This influence inspires hope.
But...
...even
though he’s in jolly, charismatic Sagittarius, he’s still contrary ole Saturn,
playing devil’s advocate wherever he goes:
What do you really believe
in?
How will you respond if
your beliefs are tested?
How can you maintain your
faith in the face of set-backs?
How can you manifest your
ideals in your actions, relationships, and especially in your thoughts?
What personal
responsibilities do your beliefs define?
How do your beliefs limit
you? How might they set you free?
Have your beliefs changed
since you last crystallized them in your mind?
Saturn
represents the structures of society. His transit through faith and belief
infused Sagittarius indicates there will be change in and influence from the
realm of established religion. It is likely that there will be shifts in the
relationships between various religions and governments - blurring the
boundaries in some cases, and strengthening those boundaries in others. But
what this transit all boils down to, on the individual and collective level,
is:
Do you walk your talk?
When
answering that question, please remember Rae’s #1 rule of astrology and
consciousness:
Planets
ask us questions. You can lie to yourself, but it is futile to lie to a body
that is four and a half billion years old. They’ll bloody well know you’re lying,
and they won’t quit prodding you, let alone reward you, until you tell them the
truth.
Sun in Capricorn: 12/21/14 - 1/20/15
The
outer planets are transformative and evolutionary, but the Sun is still king,
and holds even far-off Pluto in his orbit. We must stay aligned with the Sun in
order to maintain our own true orbit and keep our life force flowing. The Sun
enters Capricorn on Winter Solstice, indicating a month of retraction,
assessment and realignment of direction, goals and purpose, and downsizing in
order to focus energies on said goals - hence the popularity of “new year’s
resolutions.” It’s a time to think about the longterm, to consider our reserves
for the future, and to learn from the victories, losses, and mistakes of our
past. Above all, it’s now time to take responsibility for the state of our
lives, assess our resources, and formulate how to use those resources to build
the future we wish to inhabit.
What is the state of
your life? How did you, yourself, create this life?
What do you want your life
to be like in five years?
How can you make
adjustments now that will shift you into that reality?
What do you need to cut
away to help focus your energies towards your true goals?
With that longer range
vision in mind, what are reasonable goals for the coming year?
Coming Soon:
Next
month’s report on the solar month of Aquarius will offer insights into
Mercury’s next retrograde cycle and more. Feel free to like & repost this report as you see fit.
Until next time, wishing you a heart-ful month. Thanks for reading,
