Aquarium Age, Blogs

The Aquarium Age: Sept. 18-24

By Ralfee Finn

For the last couple of weeks lots of people have been asking if Mercury is retrograde—there have been far too many technology disturbances, missed appointments, and frazzled nerves to blame it on anything else. But Mercury is neither the culprit nor the cause of our current frustration—the final Mercury Retrograde phase of 2013 begins on October 21 and ends on November 10, which means there is still plenty of time to back up every little bit of information. It also isn’t possible to attribute the disruption to Uranus, although the planet of sudden plot twists has been extremely busy instigating, provoking, and stimulating upheaval and upset, as well as unusual new perspectives—Uranus went retrograde on July 17, too far back in recent history to be feeling its effect in September. Then it hit me…the source of strife is Pluto.

Scheduled to go direct on Friday, September 20, Pluto, from an astrological perspective, has been grinding to a halt for the last several weeks in preparation for its course correction. And because Pluto signifies the process of death and birth—not birth and death—many of the daily touchstones we take for granted have been unreliable. Computers (mine died and was reborn on Labor Day), plans and projects, relationships of every variety, personal as well as professional, from marriage to friendship to everything in between have been experiencing seismic shifts. The safety and sanctity of home has also been challenged, and not just for our fellow travelers in flood-ravaged regions, but also for those who lost previously secure leases and are now having to move for a number of unreasonable reasons. And then, of course, persistent financial uncertainty and insecurity continue to be at the epicenter of so much difficulty for so many.

Pluto is in Capricorn, the Sign of stability, structure, and foundational systems. It’s been in Capricorn since January 2008. Currently, Pluto is engaged in a series of seven exact squares with Uranus, a series that began in June of 2012, although we felt it as early as 2011, with the Arab Spring, and the hope it stirred for positive change. Uranus/Pluto contacts are always present during times that are best characterized as revolutionary. The term “Arab Spring” nodded to the revolutions of 1848, sometimes called the Spring of Nations, which also occurred during a Uranus/Pluto cycle from 1945-1856, the exact conjunctions occurred during 1850-51; the Prague Spring of 1968, took place during the Uranus/Pluto conjunction of 1960-1972, after the exact conjunctions of 1965-66. (For those of you confused by the broad time span, I’m using the wide orbs of influence delineated by Rick Tarnas in Cosmos and Psyche.)

While we don’t need the stars to tell us that we are in an intense period of individual and personal revolution, it’s interesting to note the threads that run through this particular cycle, if only because that awareness can help to contextualize not just the collective upheaval that threatens the stability of daily life almost everywhere, but also the disruption of so many personal shifts.

When Pluto goes direct on Friday, its “forward” motion moves it into the fourth exact square with Uranus on November 1, 2013; this is the midpoint of the current cycle of squares. That midpoint is only six weeks away—a mere nothing in cosmic time, yet a very long time when lives are in turmoil. Use these weeks wisely by observing where you are experiencing the death and rebirth that only Pluto can facilitate—and, most importantly, where you are resisting that process. What are you clinging to with the greatest tenacity? Chances are that is the very thing you need to release so that something new can be reborn.

If you know your Ascendant and/or your Moon Sign, read that, too.

Aries March 21-April 19
Pluto’s transit through your Solar House of Career has challenged your structures, especially the systems you relied on for recognition and reputation. If you look closely at this process, you might discover that those challenges have resulted in beneficial and positive transformation.

Taurus April 20-May 20
Pluto is transiting your Solar House of Spiritual Beliefs, a journey that’s likely to have caused more than one crisis of faith. But this journey is not just about religious faith; it’s focused on examining your views of the world and how those attitudes transform into action.

Gemini May 21-June 21
Pluto’s transit through your Solar House of Transformation has truly been a rough-ride. Pluto is completely at home in this domain because it is its natural home, the sector of the chart that holds all the things we have no control over: sex, death, finances, and politics, to name a few. Go gentle with yourself through this next phase. Be willing to witness and observe where you are the most resistant to change and then contemplate the cost of surrender.

Cancer June 22-July 22
Since 2008, Pluto has been journeying through your Solar House of Relationship, asking you to take an unrelenting look your patterns of partnership, both personal and professional. Make the most of this intensive by allowing Pluto to reveal how you can improve your relationship with yourself, as well as with others.

Leo July 23-August 22
Pluto is in your Solar House of Health and Service, a position that stimulates a thorough examination of work choices as well as habits related to health. Contemplate how you can move into to a higher level of conscious in both areas and Pluto will support your efforts.

Virgo August 23-September 22
Pluto’s journey through your Solar House of Self-Expression has created irresistible urges to leap into action without a concern for the consequences. There’s nothing wrong with taking chances, but always remember that you are learning, which means the outcome may not always be what you desire or envision.

Libra September 23-October 22
Since 2008, Pluto has been disturbing the bottom of your psychic pond, stirring issues of need, specifically what you need to feel safe and secure from the inside out. Even if this process intensifies, continue—you’re learning that vulnerability is the greatest strength.

Scorpio October 23-November 21
Pluto, your Ruling Planet, is transiting your Solar House of Communication, making the value as well as the power of language undeniable. Pay attention to what Pluto is trying to teach you about speaking your truth, as you simultaneously stay open to the truth of others.

Sagittarius November 22-December 21
Pluto is in your Solar House of True Value, revolutionizing your attitude toward money by stimulating one financial “situation” after another, but also delving into themes of self-esteem and self-worth. Its presence is an invitation to surrender false ways of gauging your value by replacing them with a deeper more authentic assessment.

Capricorn December 22-January 19
Pluto’s transit through your Sign, through your Solar House of individuation, has concentrated on the issue of how you want to be perceived by the world. So it’s not surprising that you’ve been experiencing once identity crisis after another. Allow yourself to explore a variety of personas, and you’ll eventually find what suits you best.

Aquarius January 20-February 18
Pluto is transiting your Solar House of Psyche, a mysterious sector that contains everything from places of confinement to ecstatic mystical experiences. Hmmm…no wonder you’ve felt “all over the place.” The gift of this internal tour is learning to use the power of the unconscious, wisely.

Pisces February 19-March 20
Pluto is in your Solar House of Community urging you to consider if you want to share your gifts with others, and if so, how. Embrace this journey; it is not a frivolous exploration, given that it involves an honest assessment of what you want to share with others and why.

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

This article was originally published on September 18, 2013.