Saturn in Scorpio...Pluto in Capricorn

These two planets, Saturn and Pluto, traditionally represent death. It's interesting, though, that in the mystery traditions of the West, Saturn's true role is to kill off that which no longer serves the higher self, so that the personality can enter into more harmonious relationship with its true source of authority - the Spirit.

Pluto, strangely enough, seems to do the same thing. Pluto, however, works through fire and water - the purging fire of destruction working deep in the layers of emotional blockage and stagnation. Saturn's elements are earth and air, with the old being crystallised and broken away as a dead form, so that the clear air of reason can be reached and a more perfect organisation of the persona can be created, based on the powers of a clear mind.

At the moment in real time, Saturn and Pluto are in "mutual reception" - meaning they are currently placed in the zodiac sign that the other planet traditionally "rules". Saturn is currently travelling through Pluto's home sign of Scorpio, and conversely Pluto is currently five years into a 14 year journey through Saturn's native sign of Capricorn.

So there is real emphasis here on the powers of death and destruction, but in order to generate a powerful renewal in human affairs - in society, in governments, and in individuals.

There was a grouping of planets in Pisces recently, we had Chiron the wounded healer, Mars, Mercury, and the Moon all in Pisces. For me personally, this had the effect of stirring all kinds of wounded emotions from deep within, and for about three days there I was feeling just raw and sensitive than I had for some time. I just didn't know how to achieve peace within, and my sleep has suffered lately as well.

Then today I had some personal realisations that I won't go into here - suffice to say that the matter-of-fact nature of Saturn confronted me with some stark home truths. But once I allowed the message I was being sent to get through, Saturn in fact helped me deal with those emotions. The wonderful Dana Gerhardt published an article on Astrodienst that helped immeasurably; in it she describes that part of the Saturn/Capricorn message is to "not waste your time" with phantoms - that is, to realise that expending emotional resources on that which has no substance and which is ultimately illusory is a waste of one's time and energy and should be avoided. This is not to ignore one's emotions, of course - this was simply a timely message for me which helped me cut the crap when dealing with my own Piscean phantoms that were plaguing me of late. I felt better as soon as I applied this wisdom.

And so Pluto together with Saturn is working hard to transform us deep within. These two planets are trying to ensure that we "get" the messages of the time - this crucial time when humanity stands in dire need of transformation and resurrection (another Capricorn theme - the Sun is "resurrected" in the sign of Capricorn each year as it begins its journey back to the Northern Hemisphere). For me certainly these effects are quite striking and are helping me to get rid of the dross of the old self.

Growth and change - more themes we can relate to this mutual reception! If only these energies can break through our old patters and lead us into new light!

May it be so for us all!

Anthony

P.S.: Also, how interesting to note that during the Pisces planetary grouping, Pope Benedict announced he was stepping down due to his failing health. Christianity is of course closely related to the fish-symbolism of the sign of Pisces.

2013

Can you believe it? We're here.

And although it may not seem on the surface much has changed, my intuition tells me that we have entered into a new time.

I feel that 2013 is the year of the feminine - of women, but also the Divine Feminine in us all, men included. For myself, this means not always just bludgeoning my problems over the head in the hopes they'll get solved. It means activating the more "passive" or receptive side of myself, allowing myself to feel and not getting swept up in those feelings.

It means cultivating more gratitude in the moment, instead of always feeling like I have to approach matters with aggression and antagonism.

It involves quite a shift for me, as I have the kind of astrology chart (read: natural disposition!) that is prone to over-self assertion. But I do feel the undercurrents of change within and I am trying to take steps in the right direction.

If I can make one of my glib generalisations, I really also believe that 2013 is the year of women. 13 is of course the number of the Moon Goddess, and thus women are especially favoured this year. I believe that women are gradually achieving a kind of equality sensibility within themselves on a wider scale then ever before in history - so despite the two steps forward, one step back of the feminist movement, I think the time is now upon us (in fact, some would say overdue) for women to finally take their place on equal footing with men.

But again, this has more to do with us valuing the divine feminine within us as something worthwhile - for it is a modality that offers nurturance to the soul, that in the spirit of the Tao and of wu-wei, offers empowerment through passive action. We don't have to keep clobbering things and dragging them back to our caves - we can operate in a smoother more harmonious manner.

As the divine feminine (and by extension, women) comes more into its rightful place, it is also my hope that more Earth-friendly technologies can come into play. Passive energy generation tech, such as sun, water and wind power, should be the way in which we create all the energy we need, harmonious with nature and harmful of none. Research and implementation of pollution-free fuels can continue to take place.

The only shadow side to this is the robotisation of humanity. It is with disgust and frankly horror that I read about the push to create robot prostitutes - a terrible parody of the rising feminine, a satirical and cynical attempt to continue to oppress and denigrate the beauty of women. I vehemently oppose this sort of absolute rubbish, this is the lowest use of technology that I can think of and it's a deadly insult to the dignity of men and women. I really offer a prayer that we can skate over such potential pitfalls that lie on the path to our greater enlightenment, and that we can step into the world we deserve, one of light and ever-increasing harmony.

OK well that's it from me for my first post for 2013. May everyone find joy, creativity and the further outfolding of your beautiful soul in this new year!

Love and light
Anthony