Aquarium Age - Transformational Astrology

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Saturn/Pluto: Part 1

It takes a great deal of heart to stay optimistic in the midst of the madness that surrounds us. From a political and collective perspective, each day unfolds with yet another report on the dire consequences of global warming and those reports run simultaneously with news stories on the blatant corruption of the Trump administration and other governments around the world. Some very smart acquaintances of mine have assured me that climate change is just another conspiracy theory and that political corruption for personal gain is just another predictable aspect of the human condition. Some of these same friends imply that the reason I am concerned about these issues—climate change and corruption to name just two—is because I am reading and listening to false reports created by fake news. And when those same people are also explaining how this is the best time to be alive on Earth, with the fewest number of wars and longest lifespans in history, my head explodes. All I can think is, “Really? Let’s ask the polar bears what they think about the melting ice. Or the people suffering from the devastation of war how it feels to be suffering from starvation and the many other egregious atrocities they have endured. Or what the value of a long lifespan might be if there are no other sentient beings to share it with.”

Then my uterus exploded this week from the desperate attempt of the religious right to keep women trapped in the Dark Ages. Make no mistake about it—those efforts to keep women subjugated are no conspiracy theory. It was announced publicly, years ago, that the objective of the religious right was to win the political war so they could implement their agenda on the country. It seems their strategies are working and they are almost giddy with success. Four years ago I recommended a documentary on Kent State, The Day the ’60s Died. One of the most poignant moments in that film is when people interviewed on the streets of Kent, Ohio, actually say that the National Guard should have shot more of the students. (When I hear it, and even as I repeat it, I still need a moment to take in and acknowledge the voice of such hatred.)

The other really telling moment in this film is during the Pat Buchanan interview, when he says the right realized that while the left had won the cultural war, the right had won the political victory. And over the years, with few interruptions, they have continued to win political victories and hold their gains. Reagan’s double term as president fueled their momentum and despite the brief detour of Presidents Clinton and Obama, and even during those terms, the Republican imperative to take us back to the ’50s continued. It has only recently been countered by the midterm election results of 2018, and while that wasn’t a complete win, it was an indication of the public’s righteous indignation at a pussy-grabbing old white guy grabbing the White House and anything else he could get his hands on in the name of restoring America’s greatness. Buchanan was right: the right won the political war.

Reagan became president in January 1981, nearly two years after the start of the last Saturn/Pluto conjunction, which occurred at 27° Libra in November 1982—and he embodied the conservative approach symbolized by that conjunction. Trump became president toward the end of that cycle—he is its distillation—and he will be president at the beginning of the next Saturn/Pluto cycle, which starts on January 12, 2020.

As Michael Lewis points out in The Fifth Risk, Trump wouldn’t be possible without Reagan. Reagan espoused the Republican doctrine of less government; Trump espouses (well… that’s way too big a word for him and he would probably spell it “ex-spouses”) the doctrine of no government. You can view that doctrine at work through his systematic dismantling of the government, a process that began the first moment he took office (and some might argue even before). His constant complaints about the rule of law undermine the fabric of daily life. He doesn’t want big government; he wants chaos and all the fear and uncertainty that chaos can deliver because then he can rationalize putting into place new and increasingly cruel controls.

We are at that time of the month when the Moon, in Capricorn, transits the ongoing Saturn/Pluto conjunction, and as it does, it illuminates the fundamentally constrictive force of that conjunction while simultaneously ratcheting up the intensity. This aspect also allows us to see the purpose and intent of the agenda behind the Trumpian curtain. From an astrological point of view, the seeds that were sown years ago during the last Saturn/Pluto cycles—at least as far back as 1947 and 1982—have taken root (more about those cycles in the following weeks). It’s up to those of us who are aware of what’s being put in place as a result of those cycles to stay awake in the “field of poppies.”

The good news is that no matter how well planned or cleverly conceived and executed these conservative strategies may be, Earth is still a free-will planet—nothing is fait accompli. Every moment is a creative moment that opens up the possibility for transformation. But because so much is in need of transformation, I’m stealing a line from Hamilton—“this is not a moment, it’s the movement.” For those aligned with the principles of evolution, probably the only way out is a true revolution, a paradigm shift that expresses the positive possibilities of Saturn/Pluto. One of the possible positive manifestations of the combined energy of Saturn and Pluto is the potential to truly manifest on the basis of awareness; this is the basis of real magic. It’s the level of consciousness embodied by spiritual adepts. This is what we need to aim for as we align personal intentions for the highest good of all sentient beings.

Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.  

Aries March 21-April 19
The Saturn/Pluto conjunction occurs in your Solar House of career and because of that placement you may be experiencing confrontations with reality; you want to expand but your world appears to be contracting. I’m not suggesting a magic wand as a solution, but I am reminding you of the first rule of magic: whatever you focus your attention on becomes your reality.

Taurus April 20-May 20.
Just for now, try imagining that you don’t belong in just one place—you are a true global traveler and that might even include off-planet destinations, if only to pick up additional wisdom. Yes this sounds unrealistic, but if you pay close attention to what’s been unfolding since January, you’ll get a glimpse of the pattern and message of Saturn/Pluto in your Solar House of existential search.

Gemini May 21-June 21
One of the things that money provides is agency—when you have money you can move in the world more freely. Saturn/Pluto has been transiting your house of “other people’s” money—partners’ finances, whether personal or professional, and other joint value systems. As this transit continues applying pressure to shared life choices, stay on the field; the game isn’t over.

Cancer June 22-July 22
The Saturn/Pluto conjunction has been turning the screws in your Solar House of relationship for too long—and the transit isn’t over until next year. So take a deep breath and try to integrate the notion (if you haven’t already) that all of your relationships are in the midst of an overhaul. You can cling to old ways of relating and be continually disappointed or you can opt for a new paradigm—one you’re in the process of creating.

Leo July 23-August 22
The transit of Saturn and Pluto through your Solar House of health is an opportunity to see where you may have ossified into negative habits that are adversely affecting your health. Try to ferret out habits you persist in that might have a negative effect. Bad eating patterns? Repetitive stress aches? Be honest with yourself about what you’re doing and what needs to change and your strength and stamina will return.   

Virgo August 23-September 22
Answering the call of Saturn/Pluto in your Solar House of creativity has been difficult. First, because Saturn doesn’t necessarily encourage free self-expression. Second, because Pluto only wants authenticity. When you combine those two impulses, tension mounts, as does the fear of making a mistake you can’t correct. Try not to judge yourself so harshly—creativity is never easy.

Libra September 23-October 22
With the Saturn/Pluto conjunction anchored in the deepest sector of your Solar Chart, you’re feeling tethered to your family history, ancient and modern. The problem with this tether is that you may not be interested in spending so much time in the past, but untying the knots that are holding you back requires processing the past and making peace with it.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
You’re right… sometimes it just feels like too much talking, especially as the Saturn/Pluto conjunction insists on depth and analysis. You’re not naturally talkative, but this conjunction is in your Solar House of communication. Resistance is futile, so dig deep and figure out what you want to say about certain subjects and be clear about your boundaries. Also try taking the time to just listen—to yourself but also to others.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
The Saturn/Pluto conjunction has been shining a bright light on financial matters and even though it feels like a barrage of obligations and transitions, it’s still an opportunity for you to create greater clarity about what matters to you—what you truly value—and what isn’t a top priority. Try not to go unconscious for this round; there are more valuable lessons to learn.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
The transit of the Moon is going to add a heightened emotional tone to the week and it probably won’t be easy tolerating the stress. But you can do it, especially if you take responsibility for your feelings, whether or not others do the same. You may not be able to agree with everyone about everything—go figure. But if you stay clear about what’s yours, the air won’t get as cloudy.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
The Saturn/Pluto conjunction has surfaced several psychological patterns in need of rehab. Not that you need to go into an addiction program, but it would be wise to consider just how many of your repetitive thoughts you’re mindlessly entertaining out of habit. Think about it—do you really need all those negative tapes? Or would you be fine if you turned them off?

Pisces February 19-March 20
It’s been a confusing time because on the one hand you’re beginning to feel a part of your community, however it is you define community, yet on the other hand, you’re still in need of quiet hibernation phases that allow you to digest and metabolize the increased social contact. There’s no conflict—it’s just a scheduling problem. Figure out what you need and then, as Picard says on Star Trek: The Next Generation, just make it so.