A Capricorn Moon begins its conjunction and transit of the ongoing Saturn/Pluto conjunction today, about an hour before Pluto Retrograde begins at 2:48 PM. Twenty-five hours later, the Moon completes that transit as it forms an exact conjunction to Pluto and then starts to pull away. Because the Moon symbolizes feelings and because Pluto symbolizes unrelenting intensity, we can expect emotional bodies to resemble quivering cilia of reaction and action. This lunar transit to the Saturn/Pluto conjunction intensifies the intensity. What’s more, the Moon triggers these same points once a month for the next many months—off and on until December 2020, when the conjunction pulls far enough apart to diminish in intensity. Although that may seem like a long time to be revisiting the same issues, in comparison to cosmic time, it’s not even the thought of a thought about the blink of an eye.
But it’s long enough for us mere mortals doin’ time here in the temporal universe to have a deep think about what these planetary signatures symbolize and what they tend to actualize. I’ve written about these Saturn/Pluto cycles indicating periods of extreme contraction and reactionary swings in local as well as global politics. But I also think we’re in a different moment along the continuum of our collective consciousness and evolutionary process, one that has the potential to facilitate a change in our responses to these powerful archetypal forces. Contraction isn’t the only choice—we could learn and gather wisdom from our previous experiences, Saturn’s domain, and then apply that wisdom to our current situation, using Pluto and its domain of transformative power to change the way we handle times of potent collective shifts.
Capricorn signifies governments, corporations, and other types of authority; Capricorn in tandem with its Ruler, Saturn, also represents structures and systems. Pluto symbolizes change at the core—plutonium can be used to destroy or create, which I think is a big clue about how we can use this powerful Pluto cycle. Pluto’s transit through Capricorn, which began in 2008, is catalyzing a change at the core of how we inhabit our planet, specifically the structures and systems we’ve put in place to manage and make the most of our time here. Put simply, the old systems aren’t working anymore, and as we watch them collapse we can choose how to respond: point blame at any target we can find other than ourselves; sit on the pity pot; succumb to a doomsday frame of mind and grow more bitter with each passing day; or do something positive to reorganize our systems and structures so that they better serve all of us.
The Gaia Theory holds that our Earth is alive—an enormous interconnected system that includes every living being. Unfortunately, the idea of being innately connected to this interdependent structure is something that most humans in modern society have dismissed as fantasy. Indigenous people know the Earth is a living organism, and I would venture that other organisms, non-human but sentient nevertheless, know this interconnectedness to be true as well. This past weekend, the New York Times ran an article on the Gaia Theory entitled “The Earth Is Just As Alive As You Are.” It’s worth a read, if only because it talks about us—humans—as the consciousness of the planet. “We are Earth made aware of itself.”
www.nytimes.com/2019/04/20/opinion/sunday/amazon-earth-rain-forest-environment.html
This article made me think about how this moment may be different from other Saturn/Pluto cycles because at this particular point in time and space, many more of us are aware of our physical interconnectedness and how our survival is linked to the planet’s. We just celebrated Earth Day on Monday, and those celebrations and activism demonstrate so much more awareness of our interconnected ecosystem than they used to. I think that’s because there are so many more of us now—not just the tree-hugging, granola-eating, Birkenstock-wearing old hippies of yesteryear, but their children and grandchildren united with all the children of Earth facing the inheritance of an increasingly endangered planet. This is my hope for the outcome of this current Saturn/Pluto cycle: that we reach a tipping point in our collective consciousness, the critical mass necessary to push us into new, healthier systems and structures. At least that’s the story I’m telling myself as I write this on Easter Sunday, a day that celebrates the resurrection of life.
Also as I write, another massive tragedy is unfolding—reports of the bombings in Sri Lanka are breaking news, in another round of horrific violence fueled by what divides us rather than unites. May we all recognize ourselves in each other, fellow traveler to fellow traveler, regardless of race, religion, gender, nation, or species, and find a way to live as a conscious ecosystem, with the wisdom of Saturn and the power of Pluto guiding us into greater personal and planetary transformation.
Sun Bursts: If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that too.
Aries March 21-April 19
It’s all about the long view—not the quick fix, the spiritual bypass, or the glib quip. If you can stay focused on the idea that the past creates the present, just as the present creates the future, you’ll find it much easier to maintain a calm stance in the midst of what appears to be relentless turmoil.
Taurus April 20-May 20.
It’s a marriage of sorts—unconventional, unique—it’s you marrying your inner female, or insight, to your inner male, or the ability to act in the world on the basis of that insight. Don’t worry if this sounds mysterious; it’s supposed to because it is a deep spiritual secret of abiding wholeness.
Gemini May 21-June 21
Rather than blaming yourself because you can’t let go and surrender to the inevitable, honor your need to grieve what was. It’s not a sign of weakness to mourn lost love. It’s an indication of just how deeply we feel the loss—it’s human to miss love when it moves on or transforms into something else.
Cancer June 22-July 22
It won’t be easy fending off a sense of failure, especially if you thought you could make all the hard stuff magically disappear through spiritual Band Aids intended to deny the reality of your pain. Fight the need to indulge in dramatic despair, but also acknowledge what you feel.
Leo July 23-August 22
Yes, the foundations are shaking, which is completely normal during times of profound transition. Besides, you’re a Fixed Sign, which makes it harder to handle shifts, especially when your foundations are rattled. Breathe, and as you exhale, release the need for control. Life gets easier when you learn to trust.
Virgo August 23-September 22
You’re gonna have to choose: worry about what happens next or release the need for a specific outcome that assuages your anxiety about the future. Sounds like a no-brainer, but it won’t be that easy managing your fear of the unknown. The good news: you can do it if you stay focused and determined.
Libra September 23-October 22
Find your sense of humor and hold onto it with all your might because finding a way to laugh at the angst and tsuris of today’s world will help you maintain your mental health. I’m not suggesting that finding the cosmic joke is easy, but that doesn’t matter. Laughter helps the heart endure all sorts of difficulties.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
Manjushri, my favorite Bodhisattva, holds the diamond sword of lucid clarity that parts the veils of ignorance. You might feel the need to call on his presence, especially because that sword of insight often reveals the causes and conditions of suffering—a view with the power to transform your situation.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
If children were taught money management in school, very few of us would struggle with financial literacy. Navigating finances is like the alphabet—when we don’t learn early on, it’s harder to figure it out as adults. But it’s still worth a try, especially now, when you need a wholesome solution to a persistent financial worry.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
The key to your success is treading lightly and skillfully through a labyrinth of complex choices. You don’t have to make all your big decisions at once. You can take your time and evaluate each situation separately; just be sure to avoid getting trapped by the certainty of your point of view.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
It may not feel as if you’re headed in the right direction, but it’s likely you are, especially if you’re taking the time to consider the consequences of your choices. Don’t worry—this isn’t about negative results. I’m simply advising you to be aware that every choice and action puts something else in motion.
Pisces February 19-March 20
Balance is the key to handling a multitude of tasks skillfully, so rather than tip to one extreme or another, try to find the middle ground. It’s easier to establish and maintain your equilibrium, inside and out, if you err to the side of prudence. It’s not about bowing out of action; it’s about taking no unnecessary action.