Monday, May 20, marks the next exact Uranus/Pluto square—the third in a series of seven squares occurring between June 2012 and April 2015. From an astrological perspective, Uranus/Pluto contacts always signal periods of great change; they symbolize cycles of political and social upheaval and upset, revolutionary cycles that seem to activate both an individual as well as a collective desire for transformation. We’ve been in the matrix of this current cycle since spring 2012.
Again, from an astrological point of view, squares symbolize action, and because there is barely a break in contact between Uranus and Pluto during this three-year cycle, many of us are already weary and exhausted from living through seemingly endless days and nights of upheaval—psychic, political, personal, and physical. But although the turmoil grows increasingly disruptive, it is also clarifying; each new turn offers opportunities to identify or to adjust priorities, especially for those evolutionaries who continue to ask where their efforts are best spent. For those with vision, the pace may seem glacial. For those who are wrestling down old paradigms, the pace may actually feel accelerated. Such is the struggle in samsara when you put your soul power to the karmic wheel and try to weave a new pattern from ancient karmic red threads. The question is not whether to change. The question is how to facilitate so many much-needed shifts out of outdated, moldy, sticky, unconscious habituations and perspectives that continue to keep us mired in ignorance and violence.
The current cycle of squares has its origins in the Uranus/Pluto conjunctions that occurred between 1965 and 1967. Those years are easily seen as an emblem of personal and planetary transformation. Both Uranus and Pluto were in the Sign of Virgo, the Sign where we recognize the interconnectedness of life—the unity of being in its differentiated particulars. And from that phase, the ecology movement gained momentum, and although there continues to be resistance to the idea that we are all participants in a vast linked system known as planet Earth, for the most part, ecological awareness is now a part of how we live.
The generation born during the last conjunction—and for that calculation, I would expand the parameters from 1964-1968—this current cycle of squares has a familiar resonance, and many may feel it as a call to action. That generation grew up in the midst of enormous social turmoil, and even though many rebelled against their parents’ rebellion, revolution is still a part of that astrological DNA. The problems we face today are the same problems we faced then, and while some will argue that these are the conditions of humanity, it can just as easily be argued that humanity has a responsibility to face these problems and to push past revolution to evolution.
We don’t need the stars to tell us that we live in “interesting” times. What astrology can offer is a way of contextualizing the tumult as part of some greater narrative, and pondering the synchronicity between celestial and terrestrial cycles has the potential to open a richer and deeper conversation about creative solutions. For most of us, change is a painful process—old systems tend to die hard, and many won’t give up without a fight. And even the best intentions to release destructive patterns often meet with ferocious resistance. As the Uranus/Pluto squares continue to unfold, notice where you are resistant to change, and then be determined to put your best evolutionary foot forward.
If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that, too.
Aries March 21-April 19
You can continue to require external authorities to validate your choices, or you can continue to develop the discipline and skill to listen to the wisdom of your heart.
Taurus April 20-May 20
Call it a crisis of faith or a test of spiritual nerves–whatever you name this process doesn’t matter. You’re being asked to discard belief systems that are no longer congruent with actual experience.
Gemini May 21-June 21
No amount of factual information is likely to satisfy your need to make sense of things. The solution lies in the courage to face your feelings and discover the underlying emotional context.
Cancer June 22-July 22
Yes, it is all about relationship issues, but the most important partnership of all is your relationship to yourself. Be determined to create greater self-awareness and you’ll untangle the knots.
Leo July 23-August 22
Roar, loudly, and then roar, again. But don’t worry–you’re not expressing frustration or angst. You’re simply roaring with pride and exuberance.
Virgo August 23-September 22
If you take the situation turn it inside out, you’ll find that the remedy you’re seeking might already be an inherent part of the system you’re seeking to shift.
Libra September 23-October 22
The relationship wheel continues to turn, but that doesn’t mean you need to go into a tailspin. Find a neutral position and do what it takes to hold fast to that balance.
Scorpio October 23-November 21
Communication is the heart of the matter, especially sharing what you need from those that matter. Remember: Vulnerability is the core of emotional strength.
Sagittarius November 22-December 21
It’s fundamentally a crisis of value, and while you think it is about money, it’s much deeper than the material world. It’s all about recognizing yourself as your deepest resource.
Capricorn December 22-January 19
Question what motivates your need for power, and then stand in your authority with the certainty and clarity of your conscious intentions.
Aquarius January 20-February 18
The crux of this process is allowing your imagination to inform your choices. Do whatever it takes to express your creativity and you’ll flourish.
Pisces February 19-March 20
The challenge is figuring out how to share your unique perspective with your community—family and friends—without imposing conditions on how you will be received.
Ralfee Finn specializes in Transformational Astrology. For readings, call 1-888-937-9264, write P.O. Box 343, New York, NY 10025, visit AquariumAge.com, or e-mail ralfee@aquariumage.com.
Copyright © 2013 by Ralfee Finn