All Times Pacific: Astrology Report June 26-July 4
Back in 2008 many astrologers, including myself, mentioned the autocratic potential of Pluto in Capricorn. The culmination of long term planning by people who favor theocracy, from evangelicals to Catholics, has resulted in the judicial branch of our government forcing a minority religious agenda on the majority. As Nietzsche wrote, “Madness is rare in individuals — but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule.” Here in the last year of Pluto in Capricorn the full extent of the destructive combination of Saturn and Pluto becomes clear. In 2020 when Saturn and Pluto were exactly conjunct society as we knew it ended. What resumes resembles the old world but is not the same.
As we’ve said before the US is in the second exact Pluto return of three this year. On the first. the war in Ukraine began. and America is embroiled in facing its shadow there. and in the worldwide consequences of the conflict. The shadow of America’s long history of political manipulation, mirrored back at us by the cold war casual ruthlessness that is Putin. Here on the second we confront the shadow of America’s misogyny. To this day women are not paid equally on average. Violence and abuse directed at women remains a national tragedy. Women weren’t allowed to vote until 1920. In 1971 Ruth Bader Ginsburg argued a case against banks that would not issue accounts or credit cards to women without a husband or father’s permisssion. That year she extended the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th amendment to women, blocking all laws that discriminated by gender.
The overturn of Roe v Wade was made possible by Supreme Court Justices who lied both under oath and in private, assuring senators that the law was established precedent. Of course, the ends justify the means, thanks to the confessional and forgiveness of sins. This kind of hypocrisy ultimately does not fare well under Pluto in Capricorn. Use of force in unethical ways tends to rebound in the slow grind of the law, of evidence, and of institutions, but also of generations. A recent study indicates that church attendance has dropped 50%, as the absence of young people in congregations, and their rejection of affiliations, grows.
One of the lessons politics teaches us, that holds true in most areas of life, is that extremes invoke their opposite. We are talking about statistical extremes, not judgements about individuals. If a sufficient number of people are thwarted there are always consequences. Since Pluto enters Aquarius for the first time in March 2023, and Aquarius is preoccupied with freedom and equality, with science and with diversity, it seems likely that in the next election or the presidential election of 2024, young people will become a political force. We will be entering a world of rapid change. But the shadow of Saturn will no longer pack the punch of Pluto, and the stranglehold of the past on the present will be loosened if not broken. When Neptune enters Aries in 2026 the widespread sense of endings will be replaced by the enthusiasm of a new cycle of about 165 years.
The Neptune cycle we are now ending began in 1861. The Civil War started and ended during it. Slavery was outlawed in America. Two inventions changed the world. Pasteurization prevented many deaths, and dynamite caused many more. Color photography and the earliest beginnings of film arrived. A new world dawned with the works of Monet, Nietzsche, Marx and Darwin. Literature changed as Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Victor Hugo shocked the world with realism. Our world was born there. But a new world is about to be born. The two major steps are Pluto in Aquarius beginning next year and Neptune in Aries three years later. Now let us consider the aspects of the week.
Today only lunar aspects are exact.
Mon June 27 Mercury sextile Chiron is exact, and so is Mars sextile Saturn. The first is an opportunity to heal. New information, new connections, research, or in depth conversations can help avert crisis or turn it into a less severe challenge. Mars sextile Saturn is a good time to put energy into simplifying, cleaning, avoiding harm by being disciplined and patient, and recognizing where neglect is creating potential problems. This is also a good aspect for establishing good habits, especially exercise, but do so gently.
Tue June 28 Neptune is stationary retrograde at 12:55 AM, then in the late afternoon sun square Jupiter is exact, followed by the new moon in Cancer just before 8 PM, and then Venus sextile Jupiter later in the evening. We discussed the big picture of Neptune above, but for us as individuals this can be a time of exhaustion, of confusion, of delusion and of deception. But also dreams, psychic moments, spiritual realizations, can bring a greater understanding and appreciation of life. Sun square Jupiter is prone to excess and over-doing. If an opportunity is too good to be true research it carefully. Venus sextile Jupiter is a sociable, lucky, fun aspect but easily missed in the malaise of Neptune stationary. Make some time this week for beauty, pleasure, music, art, romance. As Monet said, “I would like to paint the way a bird sings.”
Wed June 29 and Thur Jun 30 only lunar aspects are exact.
Friday July 1 in the evening Mars square Pluto is exact. This can be a restless, angry, vengeful aspect. Long term hatred can erupt into violence, but even slights, or misunderstandings, can turn ugly. Avoid conflict. Drive defensively and do not engage in unnecessary confrontations. Avoid violent protests as the reaction of authorities may be unnecessarily aggravated. Pluto can be tranquil and deeply healing. A Mars square means that it requires energy and effort to get the best from this aspect. Libido can be strong and easily turns to anger. Attractions to cathartic experiences are not uncommon. Ambition may tempt people to push boundaries. Mars square Pluto is with us until July 9. A good time to keep in mind this quote by Victor Hugo, “The wicked envy and hate; it is their way of admiring.”
Sat June 2 Mercury trine Saturn is exact very early in the morning, with Mercury square Neptune in the afternoon, a confusing combination. The first is organized, useful for working on structure, and great for editing, refreshing, and studying a subject deeply. The second is not unlike Mercury retrograde. Confusion, delays, mistakes, ask questions and encourage them to see if everyone is conveying what they mean.
Sun July 3 Mercury inconjunct Pluto is exact, bringing the focus back to health again. There’s likely some sort of news about the pandemic, or Monkey Pox, or some other threat to public well being, and we will see the tragic consequences of the court’s decision unfold in news stories. In our own lives we need to know when to disconnect from bad news so we can focus on the simple pleasures of daily life, and give our bodies some relief from constant stress. Minimize sarcasm, and criticism. As Dostoevsky wrote, “Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded.”
Mon July 4 Mars enters Taurus, then Mercury enters Cancer making the sextile of Mercury and Mars exact. Mars in Taurus is less aggressive than Mars in Aries but more stubborn. Put more energy into sensuality, into gardens and the animals in your care. Threats to your comfort or to yours sense of security will trigger anger more easily. Mercury in Cancer is drawn to water, like short trips to the beach or time by a pool. The imagination is strong, so if you are creative get some work done. The above two placements are good for cooking and learning cooking skills. Mercury sextile Mars can bring an extra edge to communications. Rather than acting rashly, do work that requires trimming and organizing, such as gardens, films, or writing.
If you are in shock, and millions are, and most of us have been, take some time to acknowledge it and heal it. Breathe. Do something grounding. Read something enlightening. Watch something funny. As Darwin wrote in the Origin of Species, “Great is the power of steady misrepresentation; but the history of science shows that fortunately, this power does not long endure.”
