Pluto – Page 2 – Joan Porte

DOG DAYS AND BLUE MOONS

As a kid I always remember hearing about the “Dog Days of Summer.” I didn’t have a clue what it meant but it ws hot and humid and the dogs were panting and lying down more than usual so it must have something to do with it – so I decided dog days are hot summer days in August. Little did I know that, of course, had roots in ancient astrology. It is the time of year when the star Sirius (called Canis Major, or the Dog Star) can be seen in the eastern sky just before dawn. Dog Days! Of course! Well we are now in the dog days and watery days they are.

All the big slow guys, Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune in water signs and will be for the foreseeable future. You know water loves to delve deeply into the emotional issues and with Neptune being in retrograde – you can expect those emotional issues to be backing up on you – particularly if you are not getting in touch with them. Use the time to assess emotional issues – don’t keep pushing them under the rug.

OK now August 21 is going to be a hum-dinger because Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto will be in a t-square – that is a bunch of oppositions – Jupiter – Pluto and then a square to Uranus. Emotions will be ragged – oh and did I mention that Pluto is also retrograded. You will feel “picked on” and judged and can find yourself and others lashing out at each other for reasons that are not the real ones. “You made the door slam again could be a cover up for “Why don’t you ever listen to me?” on the 23rd and 24th Venus and the Moon get hung up in this mess. Oh great the goddess of love and the one of emotions in a vast, difficult square with the watery big guys. Everyone remember to count to 10 please!

It might not be a good time to tell you this but there will be a “Blue Moon” on the 20th – the second full Moon of the month it that unique and rebellious sign of AQUARIUS. Yeah folks – hold on to your wigs – this is going to be a bumpy week. Better go outside and play with the dogs!

Pluto Return for USA

I have to admit I didn’t “feel it” this 4th of July…it was a pretty quiet day and I didn’t even think to put my flag out, something I do every year. Things have been in overdrive for me lately but there was something more. I just wasn’t in the mood to celebrate.

It got me thinking of our country and the general sense of ennui so many of us have. We can’t get anything done, the infrastructure is falling apart, we are at least ten years behind in cell phone technology, our immigration policy sucks, we are letting other countries beat us at renewable energy and all we hear about are fat old men talking about women’s bodies and people’s sex lives.

Then it hit me. Pluto is in Capricorn. American was “born” the last time Pluto was in Capricorn, we are in our Pluto return which will hit its apex in 2020. Any “return” of a slow planet is big because that energy returns to where it was at birth and asks the question, what have you done with yourself since I last visited. People never experience a Pluto return unless they are Methuselah’s grandfather. It takes over 250 years for Pluto to walk around the Sun. Any return is a time of stress, of reassessment

Of course, when the planet hit Capricorn in 2008, it did what we expected – cause big change in the structure of society like the banking system. Secrets of the rich and powerful were uncovered (i.e. Penn State, Catholic Church.) It also caused some other troubling changes such as the corporate personhood. Pluto brings change and Capricorn deals with authority, government – the fabric of society.

So what does this mean for the country as Pluto grinds through Capricorn? Frankly I don’t think anyone knows. I have read several articles on the subject. There are the requisite number of “the sky will fall and we will all go back to a nature-based people: America will be no more” articles. I expected that. Astrology has its fair share of alarmists.

My personal take is that government secrets will continue to come out and there will be more scandals and secrets. While I don’t think America will be no more, I do think it will be a vastly different place in 2024 – aware finally that we wasted almost 2 decades appeasing the lunatic right while the world marched on and we will realize what most already know – we are no longer number one.

Pluto was retrograded when America was born – perhaps we will right that backwards movement. Maybe our government will be more responsive to the people not just the rich ones? Perhaps we will head into Pluto Aquarius with a real sense of what is important and work together to catch up what we lost when asleep. I can always hope….

Next time – what does Saturn in Scorpio mean to the US?

Pluto Retrograde – Take Time to Think About Change

A couple of people have told me that they feel “low energy” or a bit confused of late. One person said to me that she just can’t “get her gears in the right speed.” OK you can blame it on Pluto. Pluto, the planet of transformative inner power is in retrograde and will be until September 2013. In fact, it will finally move out of retrograde on Sept. 20th – very close to the autumnal equinox.

Instead of bemoaning the low energy of a Pluto retrograde use it. Pluto is the planet of death, transformation, money, sex and power – all of those light-hearted, fun topics! Where Pluto is in your chart is where these issues are churning right now. If you don’t know where Pluto is – ask me – I will do a chart. And then think about those issues – what do you want to change, how can you change? Go deep inside and ask the tough questions – that is what a retrograde demands.

When Pluto goes direct and that power of the equinox kicks in you will be ready to make those necessary changes!

Pluto and Juno Together With the Sun Right Now

This holiday week we have a funky conjunction in the sky. Pluto, the Sun and Juno are all in conjunction in the sign of Capricorn. I said funky, I should have said a confusing conjunction. Pluto and the Sun together brings and energy to changing ourselves; to “focus like a laser beam” on making ourselves into the person we always wanted to be. Capricorn is a sign that is all about doing things by the book. Develop a plan and follow it to the letter is what Capricorn is good at. So you can see this is a pretty good placement to have at the end of the year when we are working on resolutions and promising to be better in the New Year.

Juno thrown into the picture is a bit odd. Juno and the Sun together is intense loyalty toward a relationship. Juno was the consort goddess in mythology. In the best of worlds this is a good time to work on your relationship with another person together – what can WE do to change to make this relationship work together. Of course, this could disintegrate into well I am doing this what are YOU doing? However, let’s be positive about this and see it as a time to work together to make things work better for both.

Happy New Year.

OK Pluto Keep Your Shirt ON!

–http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2012/11/The-Shirtless-Pictures-and-Mysterious-e-Relationship-of-People-Related-to-Broadwell-and-Petraeus-But-Who-Are-Not-Broadwell-and-Petraeus

Hey guys I know that Pluto in Capricorn exposes the secrets of authority figures and topples the old structure of doing things but this is getting a bit much no?

This whole scandal has got a huge ewww factor and frankly I wish Pluto had kept this under wraps. I never did care much to learn the sex habits of leaders whether it was Clinton or Patraeus.

Akin and Armstron- More Victims of Pluto in Capricorn?

I have written before about Pluto and how it causes change and transforming by bringing out what is hidden into the light. As Pluto grinds slowly through the Zodiac moving from sign to sign it effects change on society in the areas dominated by that sign. In 2008, when Pluto moved into Capricorn, the sign associated with authoritarian structures of society, we saw the positive and shadow effects of this change. The banking system collapsed but we also elected our first African American president. Recently we have seen the secrets of the Penn State sports authorities whose horrible secrets finally came to light. The Wikileaks scandal is another example of Pluto and Capricorn in action.

This week when his ludicrous statements about rape went viral, I thought again about Pluto. Congressman Todd Atkins’ comments were not accidental slips of the tongue; he was honestly voicing the beliefs held by the far right which now has the GOP in a death grip. These concepts of “legitimate” or “forcible” rape have been kicking around the GOP for years. Indeed, the current GOP Vice Presidential nominee cosponsored a piece of legislation using the words “forcible rape.” Their secret anti-woman agenda was now out in the open and ripe for public scrutiny.

A few days later we learned that once beloved Lance Armstrong finally gave up his anti-doping crusade and was stripped of his titles. Another icon falls due to secrets now exposed.

Pluto is going to hang around in Capricorn until 2023 so there will be a lot more icons and pillars of society that will see their secrets come out. How far this will go is anyone’s guess. The last time Pluto hit this sign we saw the French and American revolutions. The uprisings in the Middle East are current signs of this societal angst against oppressive regimes.

Revolution will not ferment throughout every society but these secrets will keep coming out and toppling the once venerated who are rotting from within.

Energy Energy – Uranus and Pluto Squares.

Between 2012-2015 when Uranus in Aries will square Pluto in Capricorn 7 times. This is the ultimate clash of unbridled change energy and slow and steady almost grinding change energy.

For those who like to keep track of such things here are the dates of the exact squares:

June 24, 2012
September 19, 2012
May 20, 2013
November 1, 2013
April 21, 2014
December 15, 2014
March 16/17, 2015

These transits are not always easy. The demand to change and rebel against old stuffy institutions will be intense. There can be even bigger revolutions that we are seeing now, corporate power struggles and even unexpected deaths of people and institituions.

This will also be a time for the further advancement of scientific and technological breakthroughs.

For indiviuals, you could see the end of old relationships.

Remember what I said when Pluto entered Capricorn – this is a time of big change to corporations and government. Well when Uranus throws it’s electical energy into that hang on kids becuase the ride will excilerating and very bumpy!

Solstice Time

I love winter Solstice – it is a time of rebirth in the midst of stillness and “death” and is the ultimate of optimistic universal events. This year the Solstice will actually take place around 12:30 AM on the 22nd of December. That is when the Sun moves into 0 degrees Capricorn. Looking at the Solstice chart I am seeing alot of unsettled energy around Uranus and Pluto (which will be hugging the Sun for at least the first week into the Solstice.)

Now I tend to be a wee more pessimistic than some – that is the Scorpio Sun in me. I had a discussion with another astrologer today who sees this chart as some kind of awakening where people come together and put aside some differences in a Christmas week sing around the Christmas tree like a bunch of Whos. He actually said politicians may come together and do something good for America! Silly boy.

I see it is something “big” happening between the 26th and 29th – some group or person pushing the limits so much that more than just the “Occupiers” will want to do something. I see the Uranus square Sun/Pluto as a real explosive energy and the Neptune, Vesta, Chiron conjunction in Aquarius being the “birth” of a new cooperative energy but from the ground up not the top down.

So sit tight and see who eats crow just before the new year.

Happy Holidays ALL!!

Retrograded Pluto – A Good Time to Refresh

Courtesy of Arlene Weinstock

Pluto has been in retrograde for the past few months and will not go direct again until September 16. Pluto is the planet of change and transformation – and makes us want to eliminate and release the old, outworn, outdated and obsolete in our lives. When Pluto goes retrograde, it is the perfect time to go deep within yourself – do some deep deep soul searching and get rid of the attitudes and ideas that simply don’t work anymore. Think of it as a house cleaning of your inner workings

Ask yourself the questions – what do I really need in my life – what do I really want – what is working for me or what I am doing because I feel I should. THere is nothing worse than a bad case of the shoulds. It is a time to ask – who do I want to be when I grow up (no matter your age.)

Pluto which rules Scorpio, the detective of zodiac, wants us to investigate – go deep and investigate – those patterns that don’t work for us. This isn’t a time for lying to yourself or anyone else. It is a time for brutal honesty. This job, this relationship, this activity — does it really serve me or am I doing it because (insert reason here)?

This is a time for regeneration – for detoxing not only the body but the entire lifestyle you now have Get quiet, go deep and be honest. Get rid of what no longer works and make way for the new fruitful ways of life.

Look at your personal chart and see where Pluto is now transiting. (I can whip one up for you.) That is the area that Pluto is calling you to examine and change. Use the retrograde – heed the call of Pluto – if he isn’t heard he will cause a change – change or be changed. Isn’t it better to be in control of the change?

The Progressed Chart of the United States – What in the World is Going On With Us?

My wonderful acupuncturist, Kate, asked me a question that I frankly wish I had thought of. “What is going on with the progressed chart of the United States?” Eek – after I thought for a second, I replied, “I don’t know but I think I am afraid to look.”

Well, life is all about conquering of fears so I finally looked. What I did was a triwheel – with the birth chart of the United States (the moment the Declaration of Independence was signed) in the middle, the progressed chart of the U.S.next and a current transit chart on the outside. A progressed chart shows the movement of the planets from the time of the birth chart to now. The final transit chart is just showing where the stars and planets are now.

There is so much here that I think it is going to be two blog entries – if not, you may all start snoring. The first thing that grabs me is that progressed South Node is conjunct progressed Pluto in the 9th in the cusp of the 10th house. The 9th house is the house indicates where we go out into the world and search for our larger truths, the 10th house is career and social status – and the house of government.

Any individual who has this combination – progressed South Node and Pluto in conjunction – will be facing a time where past karma must be addressed – and where they must change because of it. Is there much of a stretch to think of past karma coming up with us now? Race relations, hideous debts built by people who now must get our “budget in order” — these are a few issues coming to a head now. We didn’t have to get our budget in order when the GOP destroyed the economy – now it is high priority for them! I think it is hysterical that this conjunction is happening in the house of higher truth. I have a feeling the truth will come out during this whole mess and that is the truth that some people will do anything even destroy the country to make sure a black man won’t win re-election. Sad but true, no?

To make this more interesting, this combination is over the natal Neptune of the U.S. Our natal Neptune is in Virgo in the 9th. Neptune is where we can rise to spiritual awareness and brilliance – but it is also where, when we are in shadow, is where illusion takes over. Happily America is known to come to people’s aid -with food and care (very Virgo) when countries are in trouble. However, we are also in illusion about our place in the world and have a hard time reconciling some of the negative things we have done with our foreign policy. So we swerve from savior to illusionary super power because of our Neptune 9.

Our standing in the world will be effected by this Pluto/South Node – karma issue. This goes beyond the economic catastrophe that will be loosed on the world if we default – it is a matter of how much of a banana republic we appear if we allow a handful of ideologues to NOT face their past accurately and live in Neptunian illusion.

Pluto demands change – if you don’t head Pluto’s call you are headed to a big downfall.

More later……