Dirty Laundry
Pluto's influence within the Grimes' USA Chart has been of great interest to me lately. He is in such a precarious position, exerting a force that digs up long held thoughts, emotions, desires, grudges, and resentments. At the outset, it's effects seem to be a heavy, suffocating, repressive energy, and one that is not pleasant to discuss.
In the end though, its force can be liberating because it frees situations of long-held, dark, dirty secrets that have been festering. By unveiling all this, one is free to move ahead with a more honest view. Still, the airing of dirty laundry is never pleasant, but oftentimes unavoidable.
Similarity to Ketu:
If you think about it, this completely relates back to what I've said about Ketu: it strips away that which is unnecessary, that which obstructs the REAL you from shining forth. To one that is attached to the world, self-image building, and possessions, the influence of Ketu is painful. For one on the spiritual path, open to discarding that which is confining, it is a liberating influence.
Further Entrenchment or Liberation:
You can therefore conclude that the influence of Pluto will likewise produce one of two results.
Some will become more tightly attached to the people and things that Pluto is exposing and trying to tear away. In this scenario, it brings to mind the image of a mother, in the home of a friend, saying to her tiny son, "Ok, put down the teddy bear that you've been playing with. We have to leave now and go home." To which, the child even more tightly presses the teddy bear to his chest in defiance, "No! It's mine!"
On the opposite end, Pluto is liberating and makes the person respond with, "I'm so glad I'm finally free of that. I didn't realize how suffocating and stagnating this thing was in my life."
Is it any wonder then that Ketu is exalted in Scorpio while Pluto is considered, by many, to be an owner of the same sign? They both root up deeply held issues with the purpose of both exposing and discarding.
Pluto's Current Transits:
Because transit Pluto has been hovering over natal Saturn and Mars for so long now, the significations relative to these planets has created quite the scene. Using a 5° orb, Pluto influences Mars from Feb 1st 2001 thru Oct 27th 2006*. With respect to natal Saturn, transit Pluto is within a 5° orb between Feb 17th 2002 thru Nov 13th 2007*. We can therefore assess that the events that began in the beginning of 2001 will not pass beyond the horizon for quite some time.
Pluto's Effects on Mars:
Mars represents athletes, the military, police, and security organizations. What have we seen in this regard? Scandals involving athletes and the military: from the less serious charges of steroid use, to the more serious charge of rape against Kobe Bryant, to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by the U.S. military to the uncovering of over 250 mass graves of people murdered by those loyal to Saddam Hussein. Oh, and we can't forget the "oil-for-food" program, monitored by the United Nations' Security Council, and the recent revelation that those administering the program have been committing fraud. The list goes on and on. All the hidden secrets of Mars are being exposed now.
Pluto's Effects on Saturn:
Saturn represents other people's money, by virtue of being the 8th house lord. We can point to this as partially contributory to the recent spat of scandals involving fraudulent activities within corporations.
Another important signification of Saturn is that of death-like situations. As such, we see the Pluto transit bringing a lot of focus on hidden weapons of mass destruction. This obviously refers to the United States' search for weapons of mass destruction, but is manifest in the recent announcement of Jordan that they thwarted a chemical bomb attack that would have killed 20,000 people.**
On a Personal Level:
Many astrologers tell me, "I'm not interested in mundane astrology. I prefer to do natal charts of people because it allows me to help individuals." What they are missing is this. We are ALL affected by the national karma, which is not necessarily manifest in one's own chart.
So, as an astrologer who counsels others, how would you use what we have discussed at a mundane level, and apply it to individuals? Here's one way. It would be worth pointing out the following.
Given the dynamics of Pluto's transits right now, there is a tendency for people's secrets to be divulged; there is a tendency for deep-seated attachments to be stripped away from us. You must examine that which you are holding onto most strongly, and objectively evaluate whether it is something you must absolutely have in your life, or whether it is best to let it go. Whatever you decide, you must make sure that it is not an emotion based decision, as things associated with a Scorpio transit often are. Clinging to what you are emotionally tied to right now, due to years of association, will entrench you further in a negative downward spiral. But, by objectively letting go of that, which deep down inside you know is binding and limiting, you will ultimately be more free to move on to higher and greater things.
Referring you back to my Zen Thought for this issue, you can let things go, knowing there is no where for them to move away from you. They will always be with you.
- Ron Grimes
* Off and on, not accounting for the periods that Pluto moves outside the 5° orb.
** Again, I point back to my warning in Forecast 2004 that the energies this year were ripe for an event remiscent of Hiroshima. I had subsequently, in a post on Astrophecy back in January 2004, indicated that I felt this may simply manifest as a dirty bomb because it was my feeling the energies were less severe than back in 1945.
In the end though, its force can be liberating because it frees situations of long-held, dark, dirty secrets that have been festering. By unveiling all this, one is free to move ahead with a more honest view. Still, the airing of dirty laundry is never pleasant, but oftentimes unavoidable.
Similarity to Ketu:
If you think about it, this completely relates back to what I've said about Ketu: it strips away that which is unnecessary, that which obstructs the REAL you from shining forth. To one that is attached to the world, self-image building, and possessions, the influence of Ketu is painful. For one on the spiritual path, open to discarding that which is confining, it is a liberating influence.
Further Entrenchment or Liberation:
You can therefore conclude that the influence of Pluto will likewise produce one of two results.
Some will become more tightly attached to the people and things that Pluto is exposing and trying to tear away. In this scenario, it brings to mind the image of a mother, in the home of a friend, saying to her tiny son, "Ok, put down the teddy bear that you've been playing with. We have to leave now and go home." To which, the child even more tightly presses the teddy bear to his chest in defiance, "No! It's mine!"
On the opposite end, Pluto is liberating and makes the person respond with, "I'm so glad I'm finally free of that. I didn't realize how suffocating and stagnating this thing was in my life."
Is it any wonder then that Ketu is exalted in Scorpio while Pluto is considered, by many, to be an owner of the same sign? They both root up deeply held issues with the purpose of both exposing and discarding.
Pluto's Current Transits:
Because transit Pluto has been hovering over natal Saturn and Mars for so long now, the significations relative to these planets has created quite the scene. Using a 5° orb, Pluto influences Mars from Feb 1st 2001 thru Oct 27th 2006*. With respect to natal Saturn, transit Pluto is within a 5° orb between Feb 17th 2002 thru Nov 13th 2007*. We can therefore assess that the events that began in the beginning of 2001 will not pass beyond the horizon for quite some time.
Pluto's Effects on Mars:
Mars represents athletes, the military, police, and security organizations. What have we seen in this regard? Scandals involving athletes and the military: from the less serious charges of steroid use, to the more serious charge of rape against Kobe Bryant, to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by the U.S. military to the uncovering of over 250 mass graves of people murdered by those loyal to Saddam Hussein. Oh, and we can't forget the "oil-for-food" program, monitored by the United Nations' Security Council, and the recent revelation that those administering the program have been committing fraud. The list goes on and on. All the hidden secrets of Mars are being exposed now.
Pluto's Effects on Saturn:
Saturn represents other people's money, by virtue of being the 8th house lord. We can point to this as partially contributory to the recent spat of scandals involving fraudulent activities within corporations.
Another important signification of Saturn is that of death-like situations. As such, we see the Pluto transit bringing a lot of focus on hidden weapons of mass destruction. This obviously refers to the United States' search for weapons of mass destruction, but is manifest in the recent announcement of Jordan that they thwarted a chemical bomb attack that would have killed 20,000 people.**
On a Personal Level:
Many astrologers tell me, "I'm not interested in mundane astrology. I prefer to do natal charts of people because it allows me to help individuals." What they are missing is this. We are ALL affected by the national karma, which is not necessarily manifest in one's own chart.
So, as an astrologer who counsels others, how would you use what we have discussed at a mundane level, and apply it to individuals? Here's one way. It would be worth pointing out the following.
Given the dynamics of Pluto's transits right now, there is a tendency for people's secrets to be divulged; there is a tendency for deep-seated attachments to be stripped away from us. You must examine that which you are holding onto most strongly, and objectively evaluate whether it is something you must absolutely have in your life, or whether it is best to let it go. Whatever you decide, you must make sure that it is not an emotion based decision, as things associated with a Scorpio transit often are. Clinging to what you are emotionally tied to right now, due to years of association, will entrench you further in a negative downward spiral. But, by objectively letting go of that, which deep down inside you know is binding and limiting, you will ultimately be more free to move on to higher and greater things.
Referring you back to my Zen Thought for this issue, you can let things go, knowing there is no where for them to move away from you. They will always be with you.
- Ron Grimes
* Off and on, not accounting for the periods that Pluto moves outside the 5° orb.
** Again, I point back to my warning in Forecast 2004 that the energies this year were ripe for an event remiscent of Hiroshima. I had subsequently, in a post on Astrophecy back in January 2004, indicated that I felt this may simply manifest as a dirty bomb because it was my feeling the energies were less severe than back in 1945.