Hopefully your solstice, the beginning of a new season, has infused you with a sense of initiative, because ‘the’ aspect defining 2012 – the square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn – makes its first exact contact this Sunday. Pallas Athene, an asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, is conjunct Uranus for this event, adding the theme of law and justice.
This is one of those aspects that future astrologers, looking back and trying to figure out what was going on back here in 2012, are going look at and say, “Gee whiz, that’s interesting.”
Let’s back up a moment and consider Uranus. Rick Tarnas, in his 1981 book Prometheus the Awakener, postulated that Uranus was probably misnamed. Rather than being associated with the deposed sky god Uranus, he thinks the planet — which has a provocative and inventive quality — should have been called Prometheus. Rather than being a member of the old generation who was defeated by his son, Wikipedia describes Prometheus as “a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind.”
If you recall, he is the one who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the people he helped create. Prometheus/Uranus (the planet) shows up prominently in the charts of many inventors nd inventions. As an astrological factor, it’s inventive and surprising. That said, it requires awareness and foresight to work productively and positively with what Uranus brings, since the energy can throw you off center. With Pluto rumbling through the foundations of our lives (personal and cultural/institutional) and Uranus/Prometheus potentially hiding a little fire up its sleeve, where might Pallas Athene channel all that energy?
Well, a quest for justice. One sector to watch is the U.S. Supreme Court, which happens to have so many pending cases hey are considering extending the current term by a few days.
The justices are due to release a number of decisions on high-profile cases fairly soon (June is one of their scheduled times to do that). Two of the best known are the Arizona immigration law and the 2010 health care plan derisively called “Obamacare” (which should be called Heritage Foundation Care, since it was invented by them and not by Obama) by those seeking to reinforce the negative connotations attached to Medicare — and bring the president down with both.
Now, it’s possible that the justices of SCOTUS could surprise us with their inventiveness. This does not necessarily mean their inventiveness will be progressive, however. The silver lining is that any regressive moves by the court could lead to a progressive response by the public. (And by that we don’t mean little stunts like sending a case of Pallas Athene soap to the SCOTUS judges, so they can scrub themselves clean after their dirty rulings – though that would be fun.) Having the ability to act is why we all need to be looking sharp, feeling grounded and centered, and get that we really are the fire that powers the engines of our own lives – and by extension, in tandem with others, our communities.
This brings up the question: what is the ‘fire of the gods’? Mainly, it’s a kind of awareness and inventiveness that we can’t seem to handle, or that we tend to eschew. But if it’s the same fire that powers life itself, we don’t really have that option these days. Consider the following lines, written by nationally known slam poets Jonathan Sands and Rachel McKibbins, in a poem titled Fighter’s Plea:
this earth was never meant to be too big for us
you can’t be terrified of something when it’s all you have
We could just as easily recognize that we can’t be afraid of our own life force when it’s all we have actually powering us through the day, the years, the many lifetimes we don’t recall and those we have not yet lived.
Politics is undergoing some kind of change — like the whole system is about to be shocked by its own lack of ability to evolve. A revelation of some kind is at hand. Events of the next few weeks will demonstrate that something is actually changing, as a matter of necessity. What kind of fire do you have up your sleeve?
This meeting of Pallas and Uranus Pluto square, I see him also as of the resistance of the people by a record of voting in the presidential and legislative election. I see it as a process of passive resistance which will burst by cycle (March in opposition and square in July), then end of September it will be the Tower of the Sun in opposition and square…
Another blog on the case of Valerie Trierweiller tweet the concubine to president François Hollande, in synastrie the only point contact Pallas/Uranus opposition Moon/Venus. Early June Eros passed on this moon/Venus conjunction, quand sera – t – it with the passage of Mars in July? , be you he expected was a failure? (the two March in the synastrie square)
To return a Pallas/Uranus/Pluto enabled by Mars in July I see as of the upcoming protest
Thank you Planet Waves 🙂
Well now I know what costume I shall wear to the Blackfly Ball in August. Last year I went as Pallas Athena, with a painted headress sporting an Owl………inside out decision driven by the possession of a 30 year old Grecian style dress I still owned, & my admiration for that Goddess. I had no precognition of the impact I would make. The first person I spoke to inside the Grange Bldg. headquarters to the moving marvelous festival, ranging from 1 park across the footbridge high up over the rushing Little Bad Falls, to the lower park, a dance floor in each place with a bandstand & band, cirque du soleil type performances, LGBT friendly, and lit by colored lanterns…………Mardi Gras has nothing on us up here. My first encounter was a young man rushing up to me shaking my hand saying “Hi Pallas” I am Steven, I came up from NY, looking for adventure……… (Hmmm he recognized me,without my wearing a label!) AS THE EVENING WENT ON most of the YOUNG people in their teens and 20’s, in this totally homogenous crowd, were drawn to come over & start a conversation…….they were all familiar with Pallas…………My chats/encounters with my peer group & in between were the standard, familiar, social pattern. OK..these are the Pluto in Scorpio/Indigo kids I taught at the YWCA 11 years ago. They were so brilliant then as 6-12 year olds and so talented artistically, I knew at that time they would bring about a renaissance. Three of my four Grandchildren are in this group, Grandaughter being the LAST DAY. Next morning after her birth, Pluto went into Sag., where baby Brother lives………..My path began to be clear that night.
This year with Pallas & Uranus just 2o away from a conjunction with my N Venus in the 10th, I will go as Prometheus! Deeming David’s slingshot inadequate to the task I have begun using a flame thrower, to direct the righteous “fire of the Gods” at our Congress people. Indignant, that 22 Democrats voted to table D. Sen; Gillibrand’s amendment to the Food Stamp &SNAP ( Supplimental Nutrition Program) increase attached to the Farm Bill, I systematically called most of them ( some aren’t EVEN available) WHile I don’t expect the bought and sold ones to change their votes…………their Interns are YOUNG & MALEABLE………….My approach is ” I love you, DON”T MESS WITH ME. With the majority I am getting through, making them think. THey can’t give explanations…just take comments…………..$50. per hour Sens & Reps are buffered. 1/2 way through I figured it out and started telling them………….the Dems inthe big Agribiz states, ( who are for crop insurance should the Monsanto crops fail) voted to table of course………Sen Snowe whose state has the largest number of small organic farms in the nation.& possibly the poorest per capita,population,…. & who is stepping down!,voted for it!
Blackfly BAll is put on by a wonderful band of Activists, & funded this year by the Maine Arts Commission,called The Beehive Collective, based in Machias Maine, http://www.beehivecollective.org/ http://www.machiasblueberry.com/events-info.php/Beehive-Design-Collective-7th-Annual-Blackfly-Ball-10/
Come on up!
Thank you, Planet Waves Daily Astrology for cutting a huge, historic, far-reaching and intimidating aspect down to size and making it accessible now. This piece today makes me proud of Planet Waves.
Dear or dear, it must have been the other trickster. . not Prometheus but Mercury that made me mix my myths today. I knew Uranus had a famous belly but it wasn’t because he swallowed his offspring; that would be his son Saturn. But did you know that Uranus orbits on his belly? He travels at a 90 degree angle from the way all the other planets are aligned. No kidding!
Still, how could I have jumbled those stories unless. . .unless. . the Moon was conjunct Varuna just before she was conjunct Mercury at the time. Did you know the god Varuna later became Ouranos (Uranus) to the Greeks, and that he created the whole universe by himself, through just his sheer willpower? I suppose it’s possible the Moon picked up a little of that maya which could have rubbed off on to Mercury in passing. Mercury had just finished his square to Saturn and . . No? Mercury’s not a creator? But I am, and so are you and aren’t we supposed to be in the business of co-creating the world as we wish it to be? Well, never mind then. Uranus doesn’t need to swallow us literally; leave that to Saturn and his suffocating little confines. He will still make us crazy and creative for a while. And that’s the truth.
be
“Fear means you are in the ‘hood of freedom (moksha, if you’d rather). It is not something to be eliminated – even if we could (hahaha). Nor can “we” transform it. That freedom is a presence in us, within us and by definition, uses us for its purposes – which I’ll be goddamned if I can tell you what that might be.”
My husband reminds me all the time that more than fear of failure, we fear success. We fear our own power because we have seen how power corrupts and we know the Kali destruction human beings can bring. So we fear this change we know is coming because what if this change means living our power at last? What if we realize our power and choose badly? What does it mean to be powerful, enlightened beings? He said we all fear turning into the dark, power-corrupted beings that are all around us. Yet he also said that very fear will keep us in check even as the realization comes over us and we stand up in our collective and individual power. I think he is right.
‘Both/And’ rather than ‘either/or’ is my impression of Uranus/Prometheus as symbolically represented by the planet Uranus. No doubt he can share the fire of the gods as our famous inventors do testify. He can also swallow us whole at times, leaving us shaken and wondering just who and where we are. I suspect michele has a bit of Uranus disorientation judging from her reply below. Still we will be disgorged from the belly of the god, still intact but “different”. Best case scenario is as a wiser, more conscious being and more “whole”.
Another example of Pallas-Athene as “protector” and strategist” is the lynch mob out to get Eric Holder for denying them carte blanche access to Fast and Furious documents. The impulse behind this is a Pallas-gone-awry sense of defense against the evil Obama Empire, coupled with Uranus, the “freedom, no matter the cost” mentality of the gun-slinging faction of the Republican party. Yes, Uranus can represent “madness” too.
It does promise to be a season of the clashing of swords between the giant Gods Pluto and Uranus. The power of the establishment against the power of the individual. The highest of man vs. the lowest of man. It will be on display as the SCOTUS decision is revealed, indeed. One way or the other, the old and disfunctional in governments and other Capricornian establishments will be rendered and repurposed. Aries’ fire needs to remove the suffocating Capricorn confinements in order to breathe oxygen, in order to survive, in order to be reborn from the belly of Uranus.
Many thanks PW, and to the commenters who share, and a special thanks to mystes today for her “Skinny Dipping in the Dream Pool” quote.
be
Just brilliant, Mystes. Thank you. So much to say, also would like to reply to Michele’s comment. But have to fly. Thanks guys – this is an inspiring, amazing place, crackling with creativity and energy.
Well on one hand we have: “While awake, we only vaguely remember the longing for such freedom. That memory is more than most of us can bear — so it withdraws, receding from our voices and faces, waiting quietly in the spinal tree until our heart stops racing, our breathing begins to glide. There it shapes our experience, pulling the One True Thing out of the smaller patterns of our identities, motives, appetites.” Skinny Dipping in the Dream Pool, Eleusis D
and on the other…
“This brings up the question: what is the ‘fire of the gods’? Mainly, it’s a kind of awareness and inventiveness that we can’t seem to handle, or that we tend to eschew. But if it’s the same fire that powers life itself, we don’t really have that option these days. [. . .]
We could just as easily recognize that we can’t be afraid of our own life force when it’s all we have actually powering us through the day, the years, the many lifetimes we don’t recall and those we have not yet lived.”
The kind of freedom that persists around the edges of the dayself is sometimes quite terrifying. That’s why we have the dreamstate, drugs, the arts — to open a conduit into that freedom. To state flatly “don’t be afraid” of that energy is to misunderstand its origin and function – and the very process of surrendering to it. “Every single angel is terrible,” said our friend Rainer, and that is *no* shit.
Fear means you are in the ‘hood of freedom (moksha, if you’d rather). It is not something to be eliminated – even if we could (hahaha). Nor can “we” transform it. That freedom is a presence in us, within us and by definition, uses us for its purposes – which I’ll be goddamned if I can tell you what that might be.
***
**
*
OK. I am starting to get a bit creeped out. Not really. But, yes, a little bit. I really really need to figure out what is generational vs. what is personal re: astrology. I’m getting universe dumps all over the place. Every minute is a freaking road trip to somewhere. Every minute.
My point. Every time the current astrology is described here (as in every day), it’s like the macro of my micro. Politics, supreme court, judges, pallas, eris… eclipses, solstice, pluto, uranus, venus, mars… Ad infinitum. Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. I have Pallas/Mercury conjunct in the Pluto Uranus scope/sight. I should just be saying: Oh. Certainly.
But this calmed me down. (Not that I was freaking or anything.) “We could just as easily recognize that we can’t be afraid of our own life force when it’s all we have actually powering us through the day, the years, the many lifetimes we don’t recall and those we have not yet lived.”
And it’s almost midnight on the longest day of our year and the sky is pale blue and pink. And spectacular. I can still see the sun… Calling out for sleep dust…
But before I try, I really must pose the question: I wonder just how well I would be handling all of this if I hadn’t crashed into astrology and some of the best writers on astrology (including the 20 books a new friend deposited on my doorstep — the grand-daughter of an astrologer, no less)… And, for the record, I may sound slightly frenetic (blame it on the 24-hour daylight) but *out there* I am quite an example of a human. And actually oddly happy to be human, here and now.
Thanks for this stunning piece! It’s poetry and politics combined. Helps me to work consciously with that life force, the fire. Lets really hope for the best for Obama and the health care law. Loved your comment, Aprilius.
Uranus will be shortly aspecting my natal Uranus, which is in Cancer in the 5th house. A lot of us boomers have been going through the Saturn return and now this Uranus square, which to me is starting to feel like ‘something is happening but I don’t know what it is’, and also the happy realization that I am letting my freak flag run high. I spent the day digging in the yard and painting.