Mercury’s message as it separates from an overnight (for most of us) opposition with Neptune is to persevere. Just as Mercury itself persists through Virgo towards its earth trine with Pluto in Capricorn at 3:20pm EDT (19:20 UT) Thursday, perseverance is important for you now.
Of course, there’s a lot more than Mercury going on with the astrology now. Venus’ Leo conjunction with Jupiter yesterday was not exactly shallow.
Similarly, what dreams may have come with the now-separating opposition from Mercury to Neptune in Pisces were probably not of the garden variety.
Then there’s preemptive Mars possibly showing its hand already while on the way to merge with Saturn in Scorpio next Monday, only hours after the Sun and Moon meet anew (as in “a New Moon”) on Virgo’s doorstep.
Yes, the astrology is busy right now, and so probably are you. Whether it’s back to school, back to work or back against the wall, however, Mercury is making sense of it all with the message that perseverance will further both your best interests, and those of everybody else.
Like Mercury’s trine from the Moon when it first entered Virgo, Mercury’s aspect to Pluto on Thursday will be an earth trine. That should be comforting. The problem is Pluto’s undeserved reputation.
Perhaps it’s the name. Besides those who may still recall a broadly animated dog, most connect the name Pluto with a mythical character. Dark Lord of the dead. Unrelenting emperor in the only realm assured of unlimited growth. Intransigent kidnapper of Persephone. Scary guy. Scary stuff.
Yet, the Pluto of myth has been transcended as regards to astrology. Since its discovery in 1930, observations and correlations of astrologers worldwide have revealed a more sophisticated and layered interpretation of this evidently binary (with Charon) Kuiper Belt object formerly known as a planet.
An association with Scorpio and the eighth house has evolved. Though informally arrived at and without universal consensus, Pluto’s designation as co-ruler of Scorpio (along with Mars) does make some sense. Pluto does, in practice, correspond with Scorpio’s facts of life that are often hidden away as if they were scary — cellular metamorphosis, mortality, shared resources and (dare we say the word?) sex.
More recently, Pluto’s long orbital periodicity (taking nearly 250 years to go through all the signs) has implied a connection with history, evolution, geologic transformation and other processes that are obscured by passages of time longer than a single life.
Then, of course, there is Jeff Green who influenced our modern take on Pluto as much or more than any other astrologer when he fingered the former planet as astrology’s corollary to the pan-cultural postulate of a soul’s continuation from one lifetime to the next.
Who knows? As the New Horizons spacecraft gets closer to the Pluto-Charon system, the information from an up-close look may provide yet more grist for astrology’s mill.
Nevertheless, as it stands now, the terms ‘persistence’ and ‘perseverance’ work pretty well to connect all of astrology’s interpretations of Pluto. From the mythical character’s persistent refusal to release any who find their way unto his realm, to Scorpio’s fixed quality, to the slow grind of continental plates, evolution, even unto the fundamental nature of life itself, whatever keeps on keeping on as a defining characteristic relates to Pluto.
That’s how the deservedly comforting earth trine from Mercury to Pluto on Thursday can be your grounded connection with how (to quote a famous bit of motion picture dialog) “life finds a way.”
That’s how you can take your own place in the cosmic scheme of things once again. You can do your part to persevere through whatever has you challenged right now so as to manifest Mercury’s trine to Pluto through your own life.
Even more importantly, you can manifest Pluto and its connections to life itself as more fecund than fearful. Prove that the unimaginably improbable experience of living is something to be embraced more than feared. If you can embrace being such a example during these fearful times, you could very possibly serve to save a life. And what greater service could there possibly be?
Offered In Service
Len is available for astrology readings. You can contact him at lenwallick [at] gmail [dot] com.
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Len, thank-you for your kind support, & your reminding me that yes, I do need to pause & give myself some credit for progress made. I suppose the Saturn side of the square would say oh, but look how much is left on the to-do list, while Jupiter would rather stop & play in the daisies. Okay. I’ll tend to SOME of my list – AND I shall take some playtime.
Nicholas: Your experience is respected here. Your comment is valued and accepted here as an important part of the mix. We hope you will be open minded enough to exercise reciprocity by reading what astrologers Jeff Green, Juan Revilla, and (most of all) Eric have had to say about Pluto. Their interpretations are worthy of your consideration.
Pluto well deserves its reputation. I was born with a Sun-Pluto opposition with Pluto in Libra just about to change signs to Scorpio and enduring all those people’s Pluto including the ruthless Pluto in Scorpio which is almost blind to itself has been quite a survival trip. Sometimes I wonder, if any planet deserves the worst it’s Pluto.
thank you len!
Holly: All the best to you on your first day of school. Seems like all of your timing is auspicious right now. As to your question: Regulus is a so-called fixed star. It does not move like the planets (at least so far as we can tell from our perspective). The very slow apparent motion it has is accounted for the the very slow processional “wobble” of the Earth’s axis, which takes Regulus (and al the fixed stars) through all the signs in about 25 or 26 thousand years. It’s the reason that the North Star of our current era will not be the North Star (the star the northern end of the Earth’s axis points toward) about five thousand years from now (give or take a thousand years – who’s counting? Literally?). That means Regulus just spent over two thousand years in tropical Leo – long enough to have been stuck with a name associated with “regal” lions and such. Now it will be in tropical Virgo for more than two thousand more years. So what “effect” will a Virgo New Moon conjunct Regulus have? Well, since New Moons represent the beginning of a new cycle, perhaps you could suggest a new name for the star more suitable to its new sign – maybe the name will stick and you will have attained a kind of immortality. Somebody has got to do it – why not you?
Fe: To serve you is to serve The Goddess. May my further service rendered offline help you in a practical way.
be: Thank you for “connecting the `now’ with past history” as only you can do. Especially connecting us with a moment when eclipses coincided in time with with conjunctions of space as if to notify us of all the most significant solar system “players” to follow as we proceeded into a (nearly complete now) three year continuum of Uranus-Pluto squares, the return of Neptune to Pisces for the first time in a century and a half, and Chiron coming to the rescue again (even as a “proxy” as you have previously put it) – just to name a few. Yes, even though less than four years ago, you have given us valuable hindsight and brought us up to date enough to use it. What would we do without you?
lionesswimmer: Thank you for offering service to Fe! It is equally gratifying to know my service has been helpful to you.
Bette Loren: Thank you for reminding us of “principle #1”. Based on that and the sum of all your comments here, perhaps you should give yourself credit for the evident success you have had resolving your natal squares so far even as you give yourself the work of taking your good work further. From what you have described, you are an example of conscious awareness for all of us to look up to.
pam: The issue is not whether or not i “agree”. The issue is that more information from you is a service for which i am grateful. The link you provided is from an excellent astrologer who deserves respect – just as each of us doing our best with integrity and good faith deserves respect. Hence, it is for me to thank you – don’t you agree?
Chief Niwots Son: Please accept my sincere gratitude. Your economy with words always reveals a richness in wisdom which always humbles me down to my toes. Thank you for the your generous spirit – it comes at a time of need.
P. Sophia: Thank you. Well said, and an inspiration to elevate our thoughts, actions, and souls. You continue to be both an excellent example and astute observer. So grateful to have you here.
goatwool: You are most welcome. Please allow me to return your toast with a cup that runneth over because of your kind words.
thx len for a brilliant , beautiful and artful interpretation.
A synonymsiouly fruitfull toast to us all, and all possibility.
Yep, the only constant is change. Thanks for bringing this to my attention today as the Mercury/Pluto Trine beautifully represents, and is an excellent reminder of Len. Mercury and the Trine will be conjunct my natal Pluto at 12+ Virgo. As well as, today Merc is conjunct Natal Uranus 7+ Virgo. So I am open to and believe what desires become manifest, may not be in any usual way.
Of course keeping this awareness is where that sense of peace, and the gift of acceptance is received. It’s an equal exchange of energies between the universe and self. That’s the spice of life! Even leading to an expanded perspective of manifesting a new and different direction, the adventure of lives and alternate realities can be seen. Yet it is continuing to retrain the separated mind away from those old conscious patterns that told us otherwise for so long.
Especially during this time of unforeseeable change, pliability will link effectiveness to light. The difference will be struggle, trying to hold on to the known, or anticipated, to that of a moment of release and renewal. Where the energy is amplified in the universe, as witnessed through the elements and in us, is the creative experience of healing and free moving growth.
Len- that’s a thick soup of meaning and direction you have cooked up for us today- Yummy! And I am happy to see you are still perched out on that sturdy branch.
Hello Holly – I don’t know what Len will say or if he will agree but I stumbled on this http://astrologyking.com/regulus-star/
My initial thought was regulus, king in rags, fisher king, Robin Williams. Another tribute of sorts…
xxx to all
p
Thanks, Len, as always, for wisdom and enlightenment! I appreciate your reframe of Pluto. It definitely helps me persevere and persist, as well as dissolve archaic patterns!
And…”Prove that the unimaginably improbable experience of living is something to be embraced more than feared” is powerful. Auspicious greetings.
Oooh, I needed this message today! Not quite “back against the wall”, but close enough to squirm & be looking for paths around/over or a big hammer. None of the above seem to be visible right now, so am trying to apply principle #1 when feeling “stuck”: Acknowledge that you’re feeling stuck.
I’m old enough to know it could be much, much worse, but as a really tough year rolls on with little relief in sight, well – it’s hard to avoid a bit of poor-me sometimes. Mars is heading for my 5th hse moon, & will join Saturn in approaching my Venus. If there’s a positive in that, I hope it may be in the fact that natal Venus’ only aspect is a trine to my 1st hse Saturn Rx, which, with its square to my Jupiter-Chiron conj, has been really hard to work with. So the big guy will trine his natal place. I hope this will be useful!
Squares do seem to need to be tended at both “ends” – & one of my lifelong challenges has been to avoid extremes of either blind faith or helpless resignation. I have made several bad decisions in one of those spaces or the other. Thank-you for emphasizing perseverance during the current transits/aspects. That’s probably where I need to focus.
I’m not quite sure how I might work with the upcoming Mercury/Pluto trine; Pluto’s hanging out just below my 7th hse cusp, & Mercury is transiting my I.C. Having no earth placements natally, maybe this can be accessible earthy energy for me. I think I could use some!
Thanks so much, Len, for all the light you offer us to illuminate our paths. Your insights & great kindness are so very appreciated.
Bette
Fe, check your PM on FB, re: possible place to live.
Transiting Pluto always bears watching, and although it’s easier to say/think that he is connected to perseverance, it’s the Doing that is still hard as hell, right? But hard work has its rewards and there is a great sense of accomplishment in persevering, completing (surviving) Pluto transits. Even if one can’t quite see the whole picture that Pluto encompasses, one can’t help but sense the enormity of it all. Perhaps Mercury’s trine to Pluto will reveal a hidden piece of the great universal puzzle picture that this presently scary time we live in makes.
I discovered just today that at the time of the recent Aquarius Full Moon on the 10th, transiting Jupiter was quincunx Pluto from the chart for the solar eclipse in January 2011. No big deal you might logically think, but it “connects” the NOW with past history, even if only 3 1/2 years ago history. Important history it is though, because that solar eclipse at 13+ Capricorn was opposite the U.S. Sibly birth chart’s Sun at 13+ Cancer (which squares the Sibly Saturn at 14+ Libra). Eclipses endure.
But Pluto wasn’t transiting alone in that chart. He was conjunct Pallas (planning), both at 5+ Capricorn, and they were conjunct the north node (future) at 2+ Capricorn. The Sabian Symbol for Pluto and Pallas was “10 logs lie under an archway leading to dark woods; revealing a new series of activities just ahead. Reaching a threshold.”
Just as remarkable, maybe more so, was that 2011 solar eclipse chart’s Neptune (26+ Aquarius) was conjunct Chiron (27+ Aquarius) and they were conjunct the U.S. Sibly natal Moon-Pallas conjunction. All 4 of them were quincunx the 2011 solar eclipse Juno (equality) at 28+ Virgo.
The solar return Juno in turn was square (push for action) the Galactic Core. Even more remarkable, she was opposed to the same-day exact conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus (their 3rd and final conjunction) at 27+ Pisces, and this is what we surely focused on at the time. Not Pluto’s conjunction with Pallas at 5+ Capricorn conjunct the north node. No, not that. It was the complex pattern between Jupiter-Uranus-Juno-Neptune-Chiron-GC we focused on then, or should have.
Pluto probably didn’t desire a lot of attention at the time of the 2011 solar return, he was focused on the future, on evolution. He had already made his connection with the GC back in 2007 when he and Jupiter started their new cycle in a conjunction with it. Transiting Jupiter now in Leo (through his formation of a quincunx with the 2011 solar return Pluto), is now fulfilling a step (adjusting to circumstances) in his contract (cycle) with Pluto and the GC that was “signed” in 2007. Jupiter is also less than 4 weeks away from making a quincunx (more adjusting) with present day transiting Pluto.
Our present link with the complex, yet in-you-face obvious astrology of January 4, 2011 . . . astrology which specifically connects to U.S. astrology . . . is made through today’s transiting Jupiter, and Mercury. Their combined purpose, as detailed in their recent new cycle start (conjunction) chart (which also includes connections to the past, one of them being Libra Ceres conjunct the degree of the Saturn-Pluto cycle start of 1982 which we won’t explore now!) provides them with the luxury of a grand trine in water.
Mercury (as well as Jupiter) carries this benefit into his aspects all year long, including this Thursday’s trine with Pluto. The easily accessed trine between Venus, Saturn and Chiron (from the Jupiter-Mercury conjunction chart) will be a major resource relied on in this Thursday’s meeting, no matter what the subject matter is.
Because we live in complex times, the astrology must be complex too. However, it’s not hard to understand if you just persevere in your efforts, fortified with the knowledge that what you are challenged with is a contribution to the total picture that is quickly coming together. Centuries ago, before the discoveries of Earth’s unseen orbiting bodies, there were fewer astrologers with fewer tools, and astrological events were interpreted as either good or bad. We’ve come a long way since then and we too have become more complex along with everything else.
By becoming familiar with the feminine symbols in astrology, the new ones: Juno, Ceres, Vesta, Pallas and others, and by broadening our understanding of Venus and the Moon, we develop a greater feel for the connections between planets, time periods, events and people. See if you can detect Venus’ light touch on Thursday as she will be semi-sextile Mercury when he trines Pluto. Learn to recognize Juno’s signature, and those of Pallas and Ceres as our understanding of their meaning matures – just as those meanings of Saturn and Pluto and the others have matured over the years. Pluto would really like that. 🙂
be
Len:
As a person trying to find her next home in the white hot SF Bay Area rental market, your post has not only resonated, it has given me hope!
Interesting timing. I am expriencing a Mercury return right now so I expect a trine will take place. Also Pluto right now is plopped on top of my natal Uranus. Curious and curiouser. Funny that you brought up schooling as my first day of class is on the 27th. Brilliant!
Also on the new moon, I became aware of a star named Regulus who just stepped into Virgo in 2011. Both the sun and the moon will conjunct it, what effect if any will this have?