Over the past few years many of us may have been feeling a deep sense of or need to change, to dig down to the bedrock of past issues that have haunted us in order to understand our self and our dark side, make peace, let go and move on. In many cases it has not been an easy thing to do because over the past few years we have all been under the influence of the outgoing square between astrological heavy weights, Uranus and Pluto.
Uranus in astrology is viewed as a disruptive and awakening energy. Uranus forces us out of ruts, it challenges us to explore our individuality and uniqueness and our need to move out of our comfort zones which may be keeping us too hemmed in. When it transits a particular house (sphere of influence) or natal planet (inward psychological energy or structure) we can feel a great restlessness as well a pressure to bring to light what may have been unconscious, so that we can feel a greater sense of freedom. The cost of making the changes that Uranus demands means that sometimes we challenge or threaten others. In mythology Uranus was pursued by the Furies when he brought about change. If we don’t make the necessary change we may be subject to the Furies energy within our own psyche. So while Uranus brings freedom there is often a cost. Sometimes we can make change for the sake of it and we will not be aware of the consequences until much further down the line.
Contrasted to Uranian energy is the energy of Pluto. Pluto also forces us to change but often this change can come about because of some kind of loss or illness that is forced upon us from outside which strips us completely. We can never be fully prepared for this Plutonian energy. In many cases it can take us down into some very heavy psychological depths. The transformation that is one of the outcomes of Pluto transits comes only through being literally burned to ashes, on a metaphorical level. Pluto can demand that we are buried for a time, there is a fallow period during which it can be hard to take action and we are being forced to undergo a process not of our ego’s choosing.
In mythology Pluto is the one who steals the maiden Persphone from her one day when she and her mother Demeter are out in the fields happily walking along. Persephone bends down to pick up a narcissus flower and Pluto appears and takes Persephone away. While in the Underworld Persephone eats a pomegranate fruit which binds her to stay in the Underworld for part of the year. During this time the land lies fallow and winter occurs, Demeter is in mourning and prays for her return, crying and wailing.
In mythological terms this myth speaks of the kind of Plutonian experience that can happen for us when we innocently and naively get involved in for example a relationship with a narcissist, be it a partner, parent, friend or boss. Such a relationship forces a separation upon us from our happiness and takes us on an underworld journey to discover what made us vulnerable to such an experience in the first place.
When Uranus and Pluto square off as they have over the past few years we see many of these themes playing out personally and collectively. In a few days time we have New Moon in Capricorn at 19 degrees. At this lunation the Moon will be conjunct Pluto in Capricorn at 15 degrees at the same time as it squares Uranus in Aries at 16 degrees. Over the past four years while Uranus has been passing through the sign of Aries many of us have been forced into a deep self examination of how well we are expressing our individuality in this world. What are the blockages that have prevented our inner child from being integrated in healthy ways. Pluto in Capricorn has been forcing us to get practical about who we are and what we need, how we have been limited by old conditions and structures which have outlived their usefulness. By now we may have a much clearer idea of how we need to change and what needs to be let go.
The New Moon in Capricorn in a few days time is telling us we need to attend to the details and practicalities. That we need to be present in the here and now. Uranus may be making us feel restless and urgent but before we can make the changes we need to make we need to have practical supports in place. Now is not the time to throw things over due to feeling restless, but we need to work for change in order to grow, we just need to be mindful of how we go about it, since Pluto can stirs things up from the depths.
We may be feeling held back on some level. Mercury planet of communications has been moving backwards since Tuesday the 5th of January. Its a good time to slow down and review what needs to be reviewed, to sort through what needs to be sorted through. Stops put in our way may be there for a reason. We need to listen inwardly and show patience and respect when faced with a block.
Venus conjunct Saturn in Sagittarius at the moment (exact on the 11th of January) may mean that we are feeling vulnerable or our self worth is being challenged or undermined in some way. It may be forcing a review of our values and self worth. What are the inner voices that are blocking our sense of meaning and holding us back? On a positive level such an aspect shows that we need to get serious about our sense of self worth and value, to set good boundaries of self care especially around the meaning we make (Sagittarius rules a sense of meaning and philosophical systems) and the things we tell ourselves and take on board for others. This is a new cycle of Venus and Saturn so it may be a good time to make new alliances and friendships, ones that support our sense of changing meaning.
The New Moon triggering the Uranus square to Pluto soon to pass out of aspect for the final time shows that the work we have been doing over the past two or three years is now reaching a conclusion as well as some kind of challenge to manifest a new beginning. Capricorn as one of the cardinal energies rules initiative and new beginnings. As we make these changes we take with us all we have learned, all the pain and hard won meanings, all the dark times of hopelessness where we had to face our all too human limits. Such knowledge should keep us grounded in reality but not bound by fear, it should give us a greater empathy and respect both for ourselves and for each other.
Emerging From The Dark Night 