Another year has flashed past at warp speed while Pluto, planet of ruin and renewal, corruption and reform, crisis and transformation, continues creeping along at its painfully slow pace joining the Sun center stage, yet again, in the Winter Solstice chart. This year the Sun and Pluto conjunction in Capricorn, with its aim of demanding some real accountability from one and all, and giving economic, corporate, and governmental structures a shakedown and overhaul, is getting the squeeze by a restricting square from cautious, status quo Saturn on one side and an agitating square from change catalyst Uranus on the other. I have been writing about the build-up of this tough T-square configuration of planets for a few years now, and well … the gang’s all here! The clash between these titanic energies will only be intensifying throughout 2010, so breathe deep, and come alive – we’re in for quite the ride.
We have been experiencing a lengthy, high-tension opposition between conservative Saturn and progressive Uranus with five exact passes. The first exact opposition occurred on Election Day November 2008, and the last will be on July 26, 2010. In the first four passes, Saturn, planet of lack, necessity and responsibility, is in Virgo the sign associated with health care and employment, while Uranus, planet of change and reform, is in Pisces the sign of human suffering, compassion and universal vision. Hence, the ongoing Health Care (debatable) Debates and the prolonged problem of unemployment.
Lost in all the political rhetoric and wrangling are the issues of health and work themselves, and the personal responsibility we each have to care for ourselves and each other, and develop our abilities as well as we are able. When Saturn transits a sign our focus, responsibility and work efforts gravitate toward the issues of that sign both individually and collectively. Saturn has been in Virgo since September 2007 and though it entered Libra for a few months at the end of October, it will pass back into Virgo from April 7, 2010 through July 21, 2010 giving us a little more time to assimilate Virgo’s teachings into our lives. Virgo is one of the earth signs connecting us to our bodies and the natural world and teaches of the medicinal quality of nature’s bounty; clean food and water, herbs, fresh air, sunshine, exercise and therapeutic baths. (Of course, the health of our bodies is directly related to the health of our earth and access to clean water and food for all people - other major crisis of our time calling for responsive action.)
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters to what lies within us.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
Virgo is a sign that relishes work well done, enjoys being productive and proficient and wants work that is both meaningful and useful. Virgo is the sign of apprenticeship and the development of skills, talents and work practices. Virgo is the last of the purely personal signs and is concerned with the fine-tuning of the individual in preparation for full engagement with others. Saturn in Virgo encourages us to get our acts together because as Saturn enters Libra our focus shifts from ourselves to serious work on social needs and the balance of power within our relationships, be they partnerships, marriages, business or diplomatic relations. Politically, civil rights issues of all types will be rising to the fore again, especially once Uranus enters Aries opposing Saturn in Libra in the summer of 2010.
Although we have been feeling the squeeze of the approaching Saturn and Pluto square for over a year now, in late fall and winter, Saturn in Libra exactly squares Pluto in Capricorn on November 15 and on January 31. When the principles of Saturn and Pluto are in conflict, we enter a period of starker realism concerning power struggles over the disparity and scarcity of money, power, energy and resources and fear and loathing loom larger. These planetary heavies can bring out the worst in us as they trigger our survival fears, deep-seated bigotries, denials, and irrational responses. They can also bring out the best demanding the honesty, strength and fortitude to make difficult changes. They are stern teachers demanding that we grow up and give serious scrutiny to harsh truths about ourselves and the institutions that support and govern our lives.
This is a particularly significant time for the United States as Saturn and Pluto have now both returned to the signs they were in at the founding of the country, and are in a conflictual square with each other, as they were then. The current Saturn/ Pluto square confronts us with the potential challenges inherent in the U.S. chart. Our aspirations for a true democracy under a benign and just government (illustrated by Saturn in Libra in the tenth house), are in conflict with an economy fueled by untenable consumerism and the drive for power and wealth of a grasping plutocracy indulging in increasingly obscure and obscene schemes on Wall Street (symbolized by Pluto in Capricorn in the second house). The second house of the U.S. chart signifies the economy, assets, income and values of the country. As Pluto comes home to roost, for the first time since the country’s origins, it is time to reevaluate our economy and values and what they have wrought for our society as a whole, our relations with the rest of the world, and with the earth that sustains us. While Saturn is in Libra, the sign of equality and fair play, is encountering Pluto in Capricorn, we are faced with reconciling the incongruities and dilemmas that exist between our democratic ideals and our economic system.
Whether we consider ourselves aligned with the left, right, center or radical, when we look at the disparity between what has happened on Wall Street and what has happened on Main Street , we are faced with such fundamental questions as “Can we curb and regulate the rapacious greed of the plutocrats, or is it too late? Does the powerful one percent of us who owns 95 percent of our wealth already own the government lock, stock and barrel? What responsibility and power do we have as citizens to affect the course of our country? According to the ideals of our country, we are an empowered citizenry, but a true democracy requires an informed, responsible and a participating people willing and able to hold those in power accountable. The bottom line lessons with Saturn and Pluto are about power and responsibility, money and accountability, and energy and resources and sustainability. The fire is rising under our crucible of conscience roaring for responsibility and transformation. Will we rise to the challenge? cha
Written by Colleen Holden, Winter 2009
Colleen Holden holds a BA in psychology and sociology. Her practice of astrological readings and counsel integrates 30 years of study of astrological, psychological, metaphysical and spiritual knowledge. 774-722-2449 or celestialnavigation.info
