Pluto opposite Venus and the US Economy: “Transformation of Currency & Resources”

The USA’s economy has been struggling lately. From growing unemployment to sagging retirement funds, this is truly a testing period for the nation. In addition, financial scandals like Bernie Madoff and other risky lending practices have come to light.

Astrologically we can look at a nation’s finances and economic conditions and assess the significance of the current times. Venus is the planet that for a nation represents its resources and values. Note its location in the birth chart for the US below at 3° Cancer in the 7^th house (circled planet on right side). As a nation this indicates an overall sentimentality toward security as well as a tendency to project our values and our resources outside of our boundaries. The general trend of the USA toward imports of natural resources and exports for manufacturing/labor are consistent with this general description. Also, on a personal level we prefer to outsource our retirement (i.e. security) to banks and other investments in the form of the stock market.

As the planets move through space they eventually form connections, or aspects, to this Venus point for the US. These times indicate significant turning points with regards to the nation’s finances and economy.

Pluto (circled planet near left side of the chart in Capricorn) is currently making a significant aspect to this Venus point suggesting a very important time period for these issues in the US. Pluto makes one complete cycle approximately every 248 years and is currently in the opposition phase of its cycle with the US natal Venus. This phase started in January 2009 and continues through November 2010. The final wave of this phase occurs from June 25, 2010 through November 26, 2010.

US Natal Chart (Sibley) (Click to enlarge)

Just like with the Moon’s phases, the other planetary bodies go through their own phases relative to the Earth. Like a New Moon, the start of any coupled planetary transit cycle begins with their conjunction (same location in the sky). As the transiting planet moves away from the natal planet, eventually it comes to a 90° angle (waxing square) to it, followed by the 180° opposition (like a Full Moon), the second 90° angle (waning square), and then the cycle finishes when a new cycle between the planets is born at the next conjunction. See below for the basic outline of the process including the associated energy of each of these important climax points in the planetary cycles:

Conjunction (0°) – Birth and creation.

Waxing Square (90°) – Tension due to growth.

Oppostion (180°) – Culmination and results.

Waning Square (270°) – Tension due to decay.

Current Pluto/USA Natal Venus Cycle

Pluto conjunct Venus (September 1914 - May 1918)

This time period initiated a new cycle with regards to power/resources (Pluto) and our finances/economy (Venus). This was the general period of WWI and also a time when the US was discovering and creating the mechanisms of the oil business which would eventually grow into an enormous industry that was not envisioned at the time.

Out of this period also came US Code Title 19 Section 1332(c) which gave the US International Trade Commission the ‘power to investigate the Paris Economy Pact and similar organizations and arrangements in Europe’. The Punitive Expedition in Mexico also occurred between 1916 & 1917 where the US invaded Mexico to suppress an uprising during the Mexican Revolution. This border invasion created tension between the USA and Mexico.

Finally, the Federal Reserve Bank Act of 1913 led to the organization of the Federal Reserve Bank system in the US starting in 1914.

Pluto waxing square to Venus (September 1972 – June 1974)

This period represented ‘growing pains’ associated with what was initiated from 1914-1918. During the early 1970’s there was a large recession as well as an oil crisis. This was also the end of the Vietnam War and when the Watergate scandal surfaced. Note that these occurrences during the waxing square phase represent the warning signs or indicators of that which was initiated during the conjunction.

Oil/resource issues, economic collapse, questionable foreign occupation, and unethical investigations are what occurred during this time period. These actions are easily relatable to those conditions introduced in the above paragraph on the initiation of this cycle.

*Pluto opposite Venus (January 2009 - November 2010)*

We are now at the tail end of the culmination period for this cycle. We are reaping what we have sown in the beginning of the cycle (1914-1918) as well as reaping what we experienced and allowed to continue to grow during the waxing square period in the early 1970’s.

Yet again we find ourselves involved in an issue of questionable foreign occupation and dealing with resource issues including oil. The economy is shaky at best and there is a gushing geyser of oil in the Gulf of Mexico revealing the problems that can arise with this form of energy resource. From June 25, 2010 through November 26, 2010 expect the culmination of these activities to be revealed. The mid-term elections in November 2010 will no doubt be addressing issues such as the Federal Reserve (Tea Party), alternative energy, and foreign occupation. It’s likely that MAJOR changes will occur early in 2011 that will reflect the revelations which arise from this culmination period regarding these issues.

Pluto waning square to Venus (June 2067 – February 2072)

This time period is way too far off to realistically speculate. But perhaps in terms of natural resources, the US will finally release oil as its primary energy source. We will have to wait and see.

Discussion

Pluto/Venus cycles are ideally about transforming the way that we value things to truly reflect our image. Decisions made at the start of the period regarding these issues have a lasting effect. The opposition period of the Pluto/Venus cycle that is occurring from January 2009-November 2010 is revealing to us what we had sown back at the start of the period (September 1914-May 1918) and what we had allowed to continue during the waxing square period (September 1972-June 1974).

We are undoubtedly dealing with the results of decisions long ago to create a society so heavily dependent on oil from foreign countries. Our sense of entitlement in terms of national borders has also revealed itself. Over the next several months we may very well find that the price of oil skyrockets and that we just aren’t in a position to sustain our energy demands domestically. This could lead to our continued intrusion of other countries to claim our perceived ‘rightful’ ownership of resources.

In the early 1970’s, during the waxing square period, we had opportunities to adjust our sense of entitlement after the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War and to adjust our dependence on foreign oil during the oil crisis. In many ways we have not learned from these experiences and we are now reaping the results of failed adjustments from that important decision making period.

We can use the Pluto/Venus opposition period to accept the effects of potentially harmful decisions regarding the use of natural resources and the ethical dilemma of entitlement over other’s borders. If we humble ourselves we may realize that we could have done things differently and then decide to head in a new direction from there. But this requires us to actually admit that we were shortsighted and that we are willing to transform our values system to better reflect what we believe our true image to be as a nation. So far, the US has yet to display any form or humble regret for actions of the past. The current Gulf of Mexico oil spill may be just the event that allows for the humble release that is required now.

With a lunar eclipse occurring at 5° Capricorn in conjunction with Pluto and opposing the US natal Venus on January 25, 2010, expect this culmination period to come in with a bang in late June-early July. Then from August 13-31, 2010 Saturn will form a waxing square with the US natal Venus completing this tension phase that started in November 2009. With Saturn and Pluto in a square to each other and with each planet forming a hard aspect to the US natal Venus, the end of the summer may see some concrete adjustments made to the US financial system. These adjustments may be made as a result of a financial collapse sometime earlier in the summer. Sounds like fun!

And so it is…

Readers, if you enjoyed the content of this type of article, please check back as I will be posting articles soon related to other planetary cycles which are at major turning points over the next few years as well. Check back soon!

www.myastrochris.com

Jupiter Opposite Saturn: “Growing Inside the Flower Pot”

From May 2010 through March 2011, the outer planets Jupiter and Saturn are forming an opposition (180°) with one another for the first time since the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. This pits the planet representing form, structure, rules, resistance, and fear (Saturn) at odds with the planet representing freedom, growth, exaggeration, fortune, and confidence (Jupiter).

Just like with the Moon’s phases, the other planetary bodies go through their own phases relative to the Earth. Like a New Moon, the start of any coupled planetary cycle begins with their conjunction (same location in the sky). As the faster planet moves away from the slower planet, eventually it comes to a 90° angle (waxing square) to it, followed by the 180° opposition (like a Full Moon), the second 90° angle (waning square), and then the cycle finishes when a new cycle between the planets is born at the next conjunction. See below for the basic outline of the process including the associated energy of each of these important climax points in the planetary cycles:

Conjunction (0°) – Birth and creation.
Waxing Square (90°) – Tension due to growth.
Oppostion (180°) – Culmination and results.
Waning Square (270°) – Tension due to decay.

The Jupiter/Saturn cycle takes approximately 20 years to complete and represents a social and financial cycle as the resistant energies of Saturn seemingly oppose the freedom-seeking growth energy of Jupiter. This cycle represents things like finances, social order, and laws for example. Usually, at the start of these cycles, regulatory decisions (especially financial) tend to be hatched and these decisions and values are reflected in how money is invested and distributed during these times.

As time moves on, there is usually some tension related to those decisions that come up for review around 5 years later when Jupiter and Saturn make their first (waxing) square to each other. Then another 5 years goes by and Jupiter makes an opposition to Saturn. Just like our current period, this is the time where the culmination or results of those ideas and of the decision making that started at the conjunction bear their fruit. Then the second (waning) square represents a time of decay and last minute decisions related to the same energies birthed at the start of the cycle.

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Jupiter/Saturn Cycle (May 2000 – December 2020)

Jupiter conjunct Saturn (May 2000)

The conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn is often referred to as a ‘Grand Conjunction’ and the most recent one ushered in the present US economic situation which included the bursting of the dot.com bubble in the spring of 2000 as the NASDAQ crashed. Unsustainable real-estate speculation also started around this time with the obvious consequences easily seen in the present time.

Jupiter waxing square to Saturn (December 2005 - October 2006)

This period represented the peak of the real-estate market which had been growing rapidly since the beginning of the decade. But it was only growing rapidly due to unsustainable banking decisions which put people in situations where they were destined to foreclose. The waxing square marked the period when the growth (Jupiter) of the market was strained by the reality (Saturn) of the situation.

*Jupiter opposite Saturn (May 2010 - March 2011)*

What are we in for here? This period marks the culmination of these poor real-estate decisions. If you thought the worst of the foreclosures and the dropping prices of homes were over, think again. Watch for the foreclosure problem to break into the commercial real-estate market which will lead to a re-structuring of how business is done due to the lack of office space and traditional structures. Fortunately the internet era will offer more technological options to help businesses grow but in a new way.

Jupiter waning square to Saturn (August 2015 - June 2016)

Perhaps regulations are put into places that ensure unsustainable schemes for real-estate cannot be developed. Or this could represent a time when people change the way they live and work (i.e. more communal and telecommuting situations) in response to the inability to own a home or a business in the traditional sense.

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The themes for the most recent previous Jupiter/Saturn cycle (1980’s and 1990’s) on a world-wide scale appear to have involved a heavy emphasis on a changing of the guard in terms of social orders. During the Jupiter/Saturn opposition (culmination phase) of that cycle from September 1989 through May 1991, we saw both the fall of the Berlin Wall as well as the dissolution of the Soviet Union. This culmination phase certainly bared some fruit.

Regardless of what actually occurs during this current time period, the Jupiter/Saturn opposition of which we are currently in the midst is about the battle or tension between growth (Jupiter) and reality (Saturn). In the US, this ‘coming to terms with the reality of growth’ period is likely to reveal the true consequences of unsustainable real-estate growth schemes established a decade ago. Watch the time periods within a week or two of the following dates for indicators of these kinds of revelations.

Jupiter/Saturn EXACT oppositions for the current phase

May 23, 2010
August 16, 2010
March 28, 2011

Advice

When Jupiter and Saturn oppose one another it is time for assessing how and where we are trying to grow (Jupiter) while recognizing the realities (Saturn) of that growth. This is true personally in our own lives as well as on a larger scale. Realty is abundantly clear during these times and the level of tension due to the growth we are trying to attain is directly related to how willing we are to look reality in the face and adjust our growth accordingly. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' side in this case. There is just a beneficial approach or a harmful approach to growth at this time.

The beneficial way to approach this time period is to redirect growth relative to the newly revealed boundaries. But if we continue to expand in certain ways without regard to reality then we will experience a harsh resistance.

Remember that the ultimate intention of this time period is embracing much needed boundaries to create growth (Jupiter) that better reflect these new realities (Saturn). Laying our frustration with restrictions to rest is the first step in the process.

How might this be reflected in someone’s personal life?

From May 2010 through March 2011 expect to feel this battle between growth and resistance in your own life as well. Where this finds its way into your life depends on what part of your natal birth chart that this opposition falls.

In my own chart, Jupiter is traveling through my 7th house of relationships, partners, and clients while opposing Saturn in my 1st house of self-definition, personality, and sovereignty. I have recently done a lot of personal work on defining my own space both professionally and personally by establishing my own independent contracting business (actually more than one) while I have worked to consciously remove codependents from my personal life as well.

On a business level, I expect to encounter a growth in clientele that will require me to more firmly establish my own boundaries of operation so that I can handle the volume of work. On a personal level, I have been single for some time now as I have been developing a better sense of boundaries. I can see this time period bringing the growth of a new serious relationship that will challenge my recent self-development as I try to maintain the growth of a relationship while keeping my boundaries defined so that I am not drained in the way that I have been with past relationships.


And so it is…



Are you interested in where this opposition between Jupiter and Saturn will fall in your natal birth chart and what it may mean for you?

If so, contact me through my website (www.myastrochris.com) and we can set up a consultation.

Also, if you enjoyed the content of this type of article, please check back as I will be posting articles soon related to other planetary cycles which are at major turning points over the next few years as well. Stay tuned!

Jupiter Conjunct Neptune: “Optimism & Universal Ideals”

From May 2009 through December 2009, the outer planets Jupiter and Neptune are forming a conjunction (0°) with one another for the first time since early 1997. This is also the first conjunction of these planets in Aquarius since 1843. This pits the planet representing expansion, optimism, society, and growth (Jupiter) in cohesion with the planet representing dissolution, spirituality, wholeness, and idealism (Neptune).

Just like with the Moon’s phases, the other planetary bodies go through their own phases relative to the Earth. Like a New Moon, the start of any coupled planetary cycle begins with their conjunction (same location in the sky). As the faster planet moves away from the slower planet, eventually it comes to a 90° angle (waxing square) to it, followed by the 180° opposition (like a Full Moon), the second 90° angle (waning square), and then the cycle finishes when a new cycle between the planets is born at the next conjunction. See below for the basic outline of the process including the associated energy of each of these important climax points in the planetary cycles:

Conjunction (0°) – Birth and creation.

Waxing Square (90°) – Tension due to growth.

Oppostion (180°) – Culmination and results.

Waning Square (270°) – Tension due to decay.

The Jupiter/Neptune cycle takes approximately 13 years to complete and represents an idealistic, religious, optimistic, and inflationary cycle as the expansive energies of Jupiter combine with the universal energies of Neptune. This cycle represents things like religious movements, over-optimism, and universal ideals for example. Usually, at the start of these cycles, new universal movements are hatched. As time moves on, there is usually some tension related to those decisions that come up for review around 3+ years later when Jupiter and Neptune make their first (waxing) square to each other. Then another 3+ years pass and Jupiter makes an opposition to Neptune. This opposition is the time where the culmination or results of those ideas and of the decision making that started at the conjunction bear their fruit. Then the second (waning) square represents a time of decay and last minute decisions related to the same energies birthed at the start of the cycle.

Immediately following the last Jupiter conjunction with Neptune in the sign of Aquarius (sign of universal brotherhood and equality) in 1843, several related movements occurred. In 1844, “The Great Disappointment” occurred when the American Millerites expected the 2^nd coming of Christ and were disappointed when it did not occur. Also during 1844, the “Bab” from Iran declared that he was the ‘promised one’ and had many followers until his execution in 1950. Finally, Karl Marx published the Paris Manuscripts in 1844 which would become the precursor to his Communist Manifesto a few years later in 1848.

Below is a look at the most recent conjunction in Capricorn as well as the current Jupiter/Neptune cycle in Aquarius relative to US issues and concerns, followed by a look at where we are in the current Jupiter/Neptune cycle. I also include a few tidbits of information regarding those periods in terms of the US that I will discuss later.

Most Recent Jupiter/Neptune Cycle (1997 – 2009) in Capricorn

Jupiter conjunct Neptune (January 1997)

One notable occurrence in 1997 with regards to this cycle was the expansion (Jupiter) of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) into Ukrainian nations, with no clear agenda (Neptune). A partnership was signed in Madrid that year. This time period began a cycle of universal consciousness regarding the strongest nations (Capricorn) on the planet. Also note that the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in late 1997 which required signatures (of which it never fully received, including the US) from the heaviest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions for ratification.

Jupiter waxing square to Neptune (March 2000)

In March 2000, the NATO-Ukraine Commission met for the first time in the Ukraine since the partnership was signed into existence in Madrid in 1997. Things went smoothly for all intents and purposes thus pushing the new partnership forward. This waxing square period was a time to make adjustments to that which was initiated during the conjunction period in early 1997.

Jupiter opposite Neptune (September 2002 - June 2003)

On June 4, 2003, the Foreign Ministers of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC), met in Madrid. As part of the continuous political dialogue envisioned in the Rome Declaration, Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the contributions of the NRC to Euro-Atlantic security. The results of this time were a culmination of what was birthed in 1997 and what grew and was adjusted in March 2000.

Jupiter waning square to Neptune (January 2006 - September 2006)

In July 2006, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) assumed command of the Southern region of Afghanistan from US-led Coalition forces, further extending ISAF’s mission. NATO-ISAF had previously expanded from Kabul into 13 provinces of northern and western Afghanistan, regions in which it also commanded the military components of nine Provincial Reconstruction Teams. And NATO’s power expands…

Current Jupiter/Neptune Cycle (2009 – 2022) in Aquarius

Jupiter conjunct Neptune (May 2009 – December 2009)

By looking at when the exact conjunctions have occurred during this period (see below), it is quite convincing that the global issues on the agenda that are being seeded right now are that of global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen occurring right now (December 2009) is sure to set the stage for this in the coming years.

Jupiter waxing square to Neptune (June 2012)

Expect an important meeting of some kind to take place around this time where the decisions from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2009 will be up for some kind of review. Steps to move forward with large-scale global emissions reductions will likely be evident by this point. Also, since this is 6-months before the ‘end of the Mayan Calendar’ and people are bound to be antsy, expect high tension surrounding whatever is discussed on this issue around this time. Oh, AND it’s an election year in the US. Beware of extreme groups at this time. One extreme group will see the necessity of global emissions reductions to ‘save the world’ and the other extreme group will see the dissolution of global power and control (i.e. the United Nations) as what’s needed to ‘save the world’. This will pit zealot versus zealot! It promises to be quite the shit-show…and only 30 months away! I can’t wait.

Jupiter opposite Neptune (September 2015)

After the dust settles from the world NOT ending yet again in 2012, this time period will be the culmination of the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference talks in combination with any adjustments made in June 2012. Your guess is as good as mine as far as what happens here.

Jupiter waning square to Neptune (January 2019 - September 2019)

??

It appears that the themes for the most recent Capricorn cycle (1997-2009) related mostly to a focus on expansion of the United Nations. The decisions to sign a partnership with Ukraine lead to expansion of the UN’s powers in 2000 with Ukraine and 2003 with Russia. In 2000 there was an opportunity to make adjustments (waxing square) with regards to this expansion. Since the expansion went beyond Ukraine and involved Russia as well in 2003, the 2000 talks acted as a spring board for further development of the agenda.

Regardless of what actually occurs during this current conjunction time period (May 2009-December 2009), the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction of which we are currently in the midst is about the birth and initiation between optimism (Jupiter) and idealism (Neptune). But it seems pretty obvious that this cycle will deal mostly with global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reductions as seen with the exact conjunctions during this period listed below.

Jupiter/Neptune EXACT Conjunctions

May 27, 2009

The World Business Summit on Climate Change occurred from May 24-26, 2009 in Copenhagen. At this event, CEOs discussed how their firms can help solve the climate crisis through innovative business models, new partnerships, and the development of low-carbon technologies. They sent a strong message to the negotiating governments on how to remove barriers and create incentives for implementation of new solutions in a post-Kyoto framework. The result of this summit was the “Copenhagen Call”, a powerful and concise statement that sets out the elements business believes are required to forge an effective new global climate treaty.

July 10, 2009

The 35th G8 summit took place in the city of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, on July 8–10, 2009. The G8 leaders discussed a range of issues relating to climate in the context of a framework established at the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Bali, Indonesia.

December 21, 2009

The United Nations Climate Change Conference is under way in Copenhagen from December 7-18, 2009. Significant and far-reaching decisions are being made and the stage is being set for the next 13 years of this cycle. It’s clear that global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reductions will be large global issue during this period.

Advice for American Leaders and the People

When Jupiter and Neptune are in a conjunction it is time to embrace a new round of optimism (Jupiter) and universal ideals (Neptune). Seeds are being planted for the next round of 13 years and it’s up to us to direct the sprouts of these seeds over the coming years.

The beneficial way to approach this time period is to allow the added optimism and expansive energies to enrich our lives and open up doors. However, it is important to not overshoot the mark or to take unrealistic steps toward unattainable ends.

On a global level, note that new scientific advancements will be on their ways soon too that promise to improve the lives of many. But also beware of zealots especially in the midst of the Mayan Calendar frenzy. Unlike the last time this conjunction occurred in Aquarius in 1843, Chiron (asteroid that represents wounds and healing) is a part of the conjunction this time around. On a collective scale, this time period is also initiating healings on many levels. Also, don’t be surprised if some of those scientific discoveries during this period are related to medical advances and cures! Finally, watch for alternative approaches to healing to become more legitimate forms of health and wellness for the populace.

2010 will begin the process of unleashing all of the positive and negative potentials of this conjunction. The best advice is to trust yourself and to not let a political and/or religious zealot lead you astray (especially with Jupiter in Pisces for most of 2010). There are bound to be plenty of ‘second comings’ and other ill-intentioned movements pronounced with this energy (the 2012 saga just adds fuel to the fire). Just keep your wits and expand your possibilities!

And so it is…

Readers, if you enjoyed the content of this type of article, please check back as I will be posting articles related to other planetary cycles which are at major turning points over the next few years as well. Stay tuned! - www.myastrochris.com!!!