2008 November : Big Sky AstroBlog

Nov

26

Pluto moved into Sagittarius in January 1995 where, save for a brief period between April and November of that year, it has remained ever since. Until today – when at 5:02 pm PST it will leave that sign, and won’t return for another 233 years.

Isn’t it staggering to think that if you’re a young person in your late twenties or early thirties, Pluto has been in Sagittarius nearly half your life? Thirteen years is a bit less a third of my life, but a very significant third. The distance between age 34 and age 47 is vast, psychologically and physiologically. When Pluto entered Sagittarius I was – well, not a baby, but certainly much cuter, much more idealistic, more ambitious. I’m sure getting thirteen years older would have left its mark regardless of Pluto’s sign, but Pluto moving through my first house and making some pretty brutal aspects along the way has seen changes in me that I never expected. And mostly they’re changes I’m not proud of, to be honest. I’m not as nice as I used to be, as forgiving, as trusting, as positive, as open-minded or open-hearted. I’m not aging as gracefully or soulfully as I’d have hoped.

On the other hand, I’ve survived a generally rough period in my life, and have some positive things to show for it – a strong marriage, solid friendships, a family that’s smaller but even more tightly knit, a house that I mostly love, and something resembling a career. That which doesn’t kill us… well, you know the rest.

Anyway, I’m not sorry to close this chapter in my life, although I’m thankful for the love, beauty, and good that I’m lucky enough to enjoy. It’s been a tough chapter for me personally, and what’s more, I’m not sure civilization as a whole is going to come off all that well when these years make their way into the history books. Globalization, ecological violence, and extreme ideological warfare appear to have been Pluto in Sagittarius’ dubious legacy, and I can’t say the world seems better for it.

But if I’m still idealistic about anything, it’s this: that every transit, and every moment in history, has its purpose, and the potential to elevate us. In particular, Pluto moving through a sign purifies and distills the symbolism of that sign by burning away its most damaging vanities in a ferocious bonfire – liberating its best qualities to take flight. If I may offer up my version of a Sabian symbol for this moment of transition, it would be this: Propelled by air that’s been warmed by an open flame, a balloon lifts off. When the kids born with Pluto in this Sagittarius eventually reach maturity and come to power, my hope is we’ll see the return of that beautiful, hope-filled balloon … carrying our highest principles and aspirations, and leading us into a new era of innovation and spiritual awakening.

How are you different now than you were thirteen years ago? And how has Pluto in Sagittarius left its mark on you?

November 26, 2008 | 11 Comments

Nov

17

I recommended yesterday as a potential wedding date to many, many clients over the past year or so. The strong Moon in Cancer trine the Sun, combined with Venus approaching a conjunction with Jupiter, was too good to pass up; too bad about Mars changing signs early Sunday morning, but you can’t have everything.

Well Mars, it would seem, had the last word, at least in Southern California. Fortunately, only one of these clients was planning to wed in the L.A./Orange County areas affected by the weekend’s horrific wildfires. I haven’t heard whether yesterday was the date my client ultimately chose for her wedding, and even if she did she was planning to hold the ceremony in an area that’s not burning, but sure has a ton of ash floating around. I’m sure hoping she wasn’t left with a soot-encrusted white gown or, worse yet, with having to postpone the whole shebang. Gulp.

Well, I still say it was a great day to start a marriage – if not, at least in parts of Southern California, the best day for a wedding!

Best wishes to those in affected areas… we here in San Diego have been in a similar situation a couple of times in the past five years, and we know all too well how terrifying, disruptive, and downright heartbreaking these fires can be.

November 17, 2008 | 1 Comment

Nov

10

Full Moon in Taurus
Thursday, November 13, 2008
1:17 am EST
10:17 pm PST (Nov. 12)
Sun at 21.15 Scorpio/Moon at 21.15 Taurus

I don’t suppose we can live through a revolution and expect to remain flawlessly calm, cool, and collected. But the coming Full Moon in Taurus, like a sensible, no-drama friend, reminds us even in the midst of upheaval we can be restored to calm and reason through reassuring tasks and familiar rituals; by drinking cups of tea, walking the dog, and tending the plants. So during this quiet Full Moon intermission in the midst of the revolution, take time to calm yourself with the happy monotony of unexceptional daily routines. Sometimes when the winds of change are storming around you, the best way to stay grounded is to focus on the prayerful predictability of breathing in and out…. read the full article here

November 10, 2008 | 2 Comments

Nov

5

“It can’t happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice…. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other…. I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”