Set amidst much other astrology, Friday, Nov. 1 was the fourth of seven exact square aspects between Uranus and Pluto. This a rare series of outer planet aspects that spans from June 2012 through March 2015, and have effects that spread at least three or more years on either side.
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Photo by Eric Francis.
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After watching this approach for many years (I’ve been reporting on this since at least 2009), we are now at the center point of that series of aspects; which is another way of saying at a turning point in the 2012-era. In many ways, the Uranus-Pluto square is a last, best hope — astrologically, anyway — that enough people will wake up so that we can turn around the problems that are threatening humanity and the planet itself.
Clustered around this meeting of two distant planets (Uranus, with an 84-year orbit, and Pluto, with a 250-year orbit) are Mercury retrograde in Scorpio, Mars opposite Chiron and a powerful eclipse of the Sun conjunct Saturn. These aspects describe the need for introspection, polarized clarity of vision, the need for action and a sober statement about a limit on how short a human lifetime is: an eclipse in Scorpio conjunct Saturn, the old Grim Reaper himself.
The astrology describes both personal material and collective material and as usual these days, the many places they intersect. Looked at one way, the problems of the world are nothing more than our collective problems projected into a gigantic relational system. The dysfunction of government reflects the neuroses and crises of our families.
The sensation of Uranus-Pluto and the 2012 era is similar to a lot of potent astrology going off — everything all at once. It’s difficult to know what to prioritize, or how exactly to handle it, since most of our problems are unprecedented. To give one example, there is a major crisis brewing at Fukushima Reactor 4, where 1,500 fuel rod assemblies are dangling in a building that cannot withstand any further seismic activity. Nobody has ever tried to remove that much nuclear fuel from a damaged, contaminated structure before.
The world is being overrun with genetically modified foods, which are being revealed as increasingly dangerous, but which also seem unstoppable. Is that not the metaphor for our lives at this time in history — what affects us profoundly that we cannot control and can barely influence?
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Full chart for the fourth exact contact of the Uranus-Pluto square this Friday. Notice all the planets with a bold “09″next to them (and with numbers close to that). Those are all planets in aspect to each other this week, and in aspect to the Uranus-Pluto square.
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The Uranus-Pluto square set amongst so many other cosmic events is saying to focus on what matters. Take the time to consciously prioritize. Remember that knowledge and thought are useless if they don’t lead to decisions and to action. As you have no doubt noticed, it’s not easy to focus, and we live with the sensation of time running out of control.
That’s nothing more than an invitation to use our minds, remember our priorities, filter out what we know does not matter, and most of all, to honor the passage of time. It is true that all kinds of quantum phenomena are available, perhaps to advanced yogis, 33rd degree Masons and miracle workers; we, however, live in the world of time, and we need to honor time boundaries and focus on efficiency of thought and action.
There are often progressive gains and progress made when Uranus and Pluto get together, but there are two things to consider. One is that is humans, not the planets, who make things happen. The other is that these gains are often fragile. They are subject to disruption, subversion and outright attack. They must be respected and built on, or they are for naught.
The astrology that’s happening now will never come this way again. Other things will — but what we have now is a special opportunity for our truly unusual, critical, beautiful moment. Time is fleeting, and if we don’t focus on healing, madness does indeed take its toll.
Mother Nature heard you, Len and Geoff, and protected my eyes by pouring rain. As the eclipse was moving on by in the east, the sky was clearing in the west, too late for my trek up the hill to watch the sun rise out of Penobscot Bay. Ceremony yesterday moved a lot of energy, and am still process who and what came to join us.
Eric, I am heartened that this exact square is a turning point. My review of the Venus Transit is a reminder that the Universe responds to our attention. Danger and Idiocy everywhere is a reminder that the opposite: safety, healing, and sacred human heart intelligence abound in equal measure and greater power.
We humans are miracle makers, so let’s get it on!
“Time is fleeting”, yes Eric! And as you all express so beautifully the theme illuminating and focus is now shifting to our healing and togetherness. Of course the opposite is separation and as a reminder to myself of our great joining and moment of eclipse today let us remember what we must turn from, to cross that bridge as we are invited to that open door.
“Separation is but empty space, enclosing nothing, doing nothing and as unsubstantial as the empty place between the ripples that a ship has made in passing by. And covered just as fast as water rushes in to close the gap, and as the waves in joining cover it. Where is the gap between the waves when they have joined, and covered up the space which seem to keep them separate for a little while? Where are the grounds for sickness when the minds have joined to close the little gap between them, where the seeds of sickness seem to grow?”
“Be not afraid, but let your world be lit by miracles. And where the gap was seen to stand between you, join your brother there.”
ACIM
Lizzy, couldn’t agree more. We should help people who are going through crisis.
P.Sophia, so glad you noted Saturn’s Sabian symbol. Very illuminating.
be
Echoing Len: Inspired, Eric. Our time “runs out” not just because we die but because our ideas are eclipsed by subsequent generations holding different views from our own. Love and peace, everyone.
Today’s eclipse is also a rare hybrid, both total and annular. Where you are on earth will determine which, if either, you will see. According to NASA, calculations show that just 3.1% (7 out of 224) solar eclipses in the 21st century are hybrid. Reasons to feel special, 1, 2, 3! Make the most of this unique astrology.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131103.html
Echoing Len: Don’t look directly at the eclipse, even with sunglasses. Here’s a global map tracking the shadow of the eclipse:
http://www.universetoday.com/105651/rare-hybrid-solar-eclipse-on-november-3-2013-how-to-see-it/
And thank you, be, for your wise, kind words.
Yes, thank you for this wonderful piece, Eric.
And thank you for the beautiful Sabian symbol and explanation P Sophia.
This is energy that takes no prisoners, I’ve been ridng it for many moons, particularly when I lost my job last December and went through a pretty dark night. But it was also powerful medicine that is helping to set me free from insecurities, dependencies and fears.
Now my sister is being hit hard, is forced to leave her job, though she’s superlative at it, and is in the middle of a real crisis, while my friend who got over leukemia is back in hospital again, having blood transfusions. And I’ve never felt so strongly how much we are all in this together, how when we feel strong we should help people who are going through it, and vice versa.
Eric,
THANK YOU
Sabian Symbol and Degree of our Saturn now-
14º Scorpio: Telephone linemen at work installing new connections.
The will to association regardless of time and space. Linkage of separate realms. Spiritual living “in spite of” nature.
P.S. Eric speaking of aspect subjective to fragile, I tried to comment to Jude’s article earlier today, but is not accepting /allowing any replies from us public folk. Seems only publishing those of your contributors/ staff. Maybe due to… “subject to disruption, subversion and outright attack”? Let me know when the lines opens up!
FYI Eric and Jude, I tried to leave a reply to Jude’s post earlier today and again now but it seems the comment section for replies is still not allowing / accepting them there. So guess I will post here:
”— standing in the ashes without, as yet, a sign of the rising Phoenix — but as with the Death card in Tarot, this energy indicates both an ending and a beginning, appropriate to our shifting age. ”
Thank you for this moving article and interpretation of this time Jude. I appreciate it because it offers softness and comfort in it’s perspective in the union we share and find ourselves in.
An interpretation of Pluto I read somewhere that has stuck with me is understanding it brings us face to face with our deepest fears and our highest destiny.
I drew the Death Tarot card in my personal reading a week or so ago which seems to relate to our ‘sign of the times’, and here generally as you explore…”The great unraveling.”
The reading’s main positions start out as:
1st Position (Here/Now) the Two of Wands; a person that has the world in their hands but knows they still have something yet to do.
4th Position (What you want) The Tower; disruption, divine intervention, destruction of old ways, change.
8th Position (outcome at present course and speed) Temperance 14; reconciliation of opposites, cooperation.
10th Position (outcome philosophical approach) The Devil 15; confrontation, with inner-fear, temptation, bondage, self awareness, death.
11th Position (outcome -protective influence) Ace of Cups; portal, potential, intuitive knowing, unconditional love, blessedness, enlightenment, intimacy, individuality.
Truer words were never said, “we must focus on healing”. Thanks Eric for providing this chart of the 4th square between Uranus and Pluto. If it reflects the “agenda” for this particular square, or if it is symbolic of the stage we have reached in the overall (7 conjunction) process, then it seems to me that inner work, at least for the U.S. government (chart set in DC) will be paramount because of the emphasis on Scorpio in the 1st house. No arguments there, but it is Libra, not Scorpio that is rising.
Venus then rules the chart for the U.S. as a whole, specifically the framework (Saturn in 1st house) of the government. Venus sextiles the ascendant she rules, Venus being at 26+ Sagittarius and the ascendant at 25+ Libra, doubling her influence. She is conjunct the Galactic Center and trine Pallas-Athene in Leo too. With her clear connection to the center of the cosmos it would appear that love is key in the country’s specific healing therapy. My guess is that Pallas-Athene in Leo is paramount if not key in reviving pride in how U.S. citizens view their country. Not excessive or boastful pride, but pride in overcoming crisis and making inroads into achieving goals that reflect their values.
Jupiter as the highest elevated planet rules the sign and house that Venus occupies in this 4th Uranus-Pluto square. Jupiter is the planet the Moon in this chart will next aspect; the Moon also ruling the sign that Jupiter occupies. The Moon has Venus as the ruler of the sign she’s in, Libra, but Moon is in the 12th house of confinement or withdrawal. The connection between Venus, Jupiter and Moon reflects a dependency on one another; Jupiter on the Moon, the Moon on Venus, and Venus on Jupiter, and requires cooperation between them. Note that two are considered the Benefics (Jupiter, Venus) and two are the ancient (visible) astrological symbols of the Feminine (Moon, Venus).
Most of the major planets in this chart are below the horizon, therefore an emphasis is on the inner “life” or work to be done. In an uncommon role, Mars in Virgo is key to advancing the healing process through his sextile to the Sun in Scorpio and trine to Pluto in Capricorn and the south node in Taurus. Restoring health to the planet starts at home and for the U.S. it will involve communities (Pluto in 3rd house), partnerships (south node in the 7th house) and organizations (Mars in the 11th house) with a common purpose to heal what has been damaged through hubris, greed and ignorance. Mars sextile Sun put their combined energies to work through their aspect with Uranus, a yod, or finger of god in the 6th house of service. Unique (Uranus) individuals (Aries) will make up a workforce (6th house) providing innovative (Uranus) and original (Aries) concepts on many fronts where the country cries for healing.
Change is traumatic and people fight change by and large. However, the U.S. Sibly Moon (symbol of the People) at 27+ Aquarius is getting the benefit of a sextile from this chart’s Venus in Sagittarius, helping to overcome any distress from her new-found awareness that the conjunction from transiting Nessus has brought on. Having the series of 7 squares between Uranus and Pluto has allowed transformation and evolution through baby steps. It’s hard work even so.
be
Also: Everybody watching the eclipse – please protect your eyes! This is just as serious as Eric’s inspired piece. Sunglasses will not cut the mustard. Watch an image projected on to a piece of paper through a pinhole, but unless you have serious eye protection, please do not look at the eclipse directly. Okay?
Eric: Inspired! Absolutely inspired! The best from the best, this piece is. You rise to the occasion, and (as you elucidate) the occasion is profound. Can’t thank you enough.