Critical Turn – Jupiter trine Pluto

By Len Wallick

Jupiter exacts an earthen trine to retrograde Pluto shortly after 10 am EDT on Thursday morning. Thanks to the slow apparent motion of the two planets, we have been within a degree of this aspect since Friday and will continue to be so until the middle of July. It will repeat twice again over the next eight months and remain more or less functional over all of that time. This is a gradual but decisive turn in the road. Where it leads us will largely depend on what we want and what we are willing to do to get it. 

More than any other relationship with any other planet, this continuous trine will distinguish Jupiter’s remaining time in Taurus. It may amount to even more for Pluto in the long run. It is a big deal. Whether or not it is a good deal remains to be seen. As usual, we will have some choice in the matter. What is not usual to recent experience is the nature of the energy. We can begin the process of following that by taking a quick inventory of the two objects, the signs they occupy and their angular relationship.

Pluto was discovered by astronomy in 1930. It took astrology about 40 years to make common use of it. Since that time, it has been acknowledged to be a powerful representation of dualism, evolution and transformation. Science, in its continuing process of observation, measurement and classification, has unintentionally but meaningfully obliged the insights of astrologers. The discovery of Charon revealed Pluto to be a binary planet. Hubble telescope observations have demonstrated an evolving physical appearance. Finally, the International Astronomical Union transformed Pluto’s identity, not once but twice, just before an ingress into Capricorn where the one and only dwarf-binary-plutoid is today.

In other words, Pluto in Capricorn is more new than known. Even though the intuitions of astrology have largely been borne out by science, we are still in the process of discovering this object. In spite of the historical hindsight we possess, our comparatively recent awareness and dual role of observers and participants adds a crucial element that is yet to be accounted for.

In contrast, Jupiter has been known to humanity for as long as people have been able to look up at the sky and discern one thing from another. It is part of our consciousness. It is probably even a part of our physical being in some way. In spite of all that, Jupiter is clearly subordinate to the Sun and Moon.

It was while the Sun and Moon were dominating the astrology that Jupiter entered Taurus on June 4, one month ago to the day. The largest planet in our solar system does not change signs often. When it does happen it is nearly always front page news. This time however, the ingress was not given its usual due notice by most. Not that there should be any blame. The Jovian ingress was among a host of sign and/or direction changes during an extraordinary sequence of three eclipses. Those luminary crossings were profound individually and as a collective. They will be with us for a long time.

Jupiter also has a long time to go in Taurus, nearly a year. Among the classical planets, it is almost always considered to represent positive stuff. Indeed, the only negative usually associated is promising more than it can deliver. Hence the expansive, magnifying, amplifying character that is usually invoked. In a fixed earth sign, ruled by Venus, the experience and precedent of astrology promises abundance and comfort. It should be noted, however, that we live in times of paradigms changing. That’s where the trine aspect comes in.

In astrology, there are twelve signs and four elements. That means that there are three signs identified with fire, another three for earth and so on to include air and water. They are evenly distributed. The lines connecting the three signs representing any one element therefore form an equilateral triangle. That’s where the word trine comes from. It is a tri-angular relationship between two or more objects in different signs that share the same elemental identity. Just as in practical experience, energy flows more easily through one continuous element than it does from one to another.

The words, “easy” and “flow” would be appropriate for describing a trine. It seems like a good thing and it often is. The downside is in what is not happening. After all, when things flow easily, there is not very much incentive to become stronger, no need to adapt. Growth is the fringe benefit of responding to tension. Trines don’t offer that. This may very well be one of those times when we can be grateful.

The astrology has recently featured more than enough tension to grow a giant beanstalk. Conjunctions that block the light and oppositions that raise the polarity are part and parcel to eclipses. The orientation of the most recent eclipse further managed to revive the cardinal T-squares of 2009/10 while also invoking the fundamental astrology of the 2012 era. The result was very much like compressing the better part of a decade’s struggle into one month. Growth is one thing, punishment is another. A nice, grounded, long lasting trine seems like a way to turn that around if we can actively assume some responsibility for where that leads. 

Jupiter would appear to be on board. It shares the same abundant attractions and shortcomings with the trine aspect. In Pluto-Charon is the uncertainty but also the potential to change the paradigm away from going with the flow and moving towards directing it through the revolutionary and transformative act of choosing consciously.

Pluto is just about a year away from resuming a series of titanic cardinal squares with Uranus. These tense encounters have been anticipated to correspond with the sort of cathartic upheavals that have previously defined the end of one historical epoch and the beginning of another. Those predictions, however, assume a planetary character based on past experience. 

After engaging an earthen flow of generous Jovian juice over three seasons, the Plutonian personality may yet be brought to transform again. If it does, our experience of the years to come may take an unanticipated and more fortunate turn. At the very least, there is a symbolic opportunity for the process of elimination and transformation to take place in a harmonious manner. It depends on us.

The recent astrology has raised our passions, tested our stamina and put us through one trial after another. We have become stronger for the experience. Now we must attend to the price we have paid. Any strength we have gained will not avail us if we have lost the ability to yield. All the resolve in the world will bring nothing nothing unless it is it is tempered by compassion. Any capacity to endure is destined fall short unless we are also capable of exchanging nourishment.

Something is going to happen, we all know that. The world cannot be sustained as it is now. We are entering the turn towards what will be. Will it take us, or will we take it? The answer is ours to provide.

Offered In Service       

4 thoughts on “Critical Turn – Jupiter trine Pluto”

  1. Well, this is totally off subject (I think) but today I got my kickback from having the lunar eclipse a couple of weeks ago exactly opposite my Venus (and square my Neptune). As it happens, my best friend didn’t show up for a lunch date today and I totally freaked out thinking she or someone in her family must have been in a car accident. It’s a long story and I’m not gonna tell it, but all turned out just fine (we’ll do lunch tomorrow).

    Suffice it to say that transiting Juno (partner) is square the nodes as well as my natal Venus. Transiting Juno also conjuncts my progressed Neptune, Venus and Sun conjunction, as well as natal Neptune. It didn’t help matters that transiting Venus was also trine transiting Neptune today. But here’s the rub. Venus entered Cancer this morning and is presently conjunct transiting Hades, a very primative vibe, and what with Neptune spazzing out with images of car wrecks and bodies all over the highway, I just lost it. Trines make it too easy. Believe it or not her ex-husband got in touch with her, where my messages hadn’t gotten through to her at all.

    Like I said I won’t go into all the astrology and confusion, but dang it, Friday’s solar eclipse was 2 degrees from her Venus (chart ruler) and the eclipse Mars was exactly conjunct her Mercury, and the eclipse Mercury was conjunct her Uranus in her 3rd house. What would YOU think. . . . that is if your Neptune was working overtime?

    So yes, I agree Len, “recent astrology has raised our passions, tested our stamina and put us through one trial after another.” Frankly, my nerves are shot and a nice grounded, long lasting trine could be just what I need.
    be

  2. Thanks, Len! July has been a “bad” month for me for years, don’t know why. This year I’m making little milagros out of scrap copper to nail on my front door. Since I’m extra emotional in July, I’m putting myself into making something while I get used to my new job that started Friday. I’m moving forward, but trying to do it a bit slower than it’s been going!

  3. ain’t Life GRAND???

    (couldn’t resist)

    mm. I’m detecting several subterranean levels of meaning here in this writeup.
    nice. I love when I am challenged to consider very valid viewpoints. your presentation,
    as usual, is genius.

    thank you Len,

    peace.

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