My favourite subject line of all the incoming e-mails on Thursday was 'What will Jeff Green say?' ~ and I am sure we will hear plenty about that at some point. Meanwhile.... most of you have heard by now that a panel of scientists in Prague decided yesterday that Pluto is no longer classified as a 'planet' but has been demoted to the status of 'dwarf planet' alongside Ceres (first and largest asteroid discovered) and another member of the Kuiper Belt (like Pluto) whose only official name is '2003 UB313,' but whose nickname is Xena. Now what? In the world of astrology nothing has changed. Any of you who have ever experienced a Pluto transit will know that Pluto is still the deepest, most intense 'path to soul' that we know of, no matter what 'they' choose to call it. "A rose is a rose is a rose." Perhaps this is nothing more than another magic act, another disguise, another example of the dark, secret mystery surrounding the sign of Scorpio and the 8th house of the birth chart. Pluto's evolutionary nature may indeed be calling the shots, as it dives into relative obscurity, at least from the public consensus. Even though the mythological Pluto/Hades was 'male,' the Underworld (and all of Scorpio's domain) is essentially Feminine. This stepping down of Pluto from the throne of planethood seems to be a reflection of the current Fundamentalists' position, the Radical Right, in which women and all of the Feminine values are (again) being reduced to second rate, at best. And what of the psychology of it all? Dare the scientists proclaim that the subconscious world is not important? Trying to deny the 'shadow' is typically patriarchal, and usually quite costly. Might this also be reflective of the attempts to justify the killing in the middle east, shuffling ol' Pluto (with all its ties to karma!) off to the back burner? Declaring Pluto less significant seems to parallel the lack of respect for human life and the destruction of innocent lives that continues where war and tyranny reign. Hearsay has it that the scientists didn't want to have to include all of those other Kuiper objects into the category of 'planets' - which they would 'have to do' if Pluto maintained its status, - but who knows?! Maybe our future 'Solar System' will be that complex that we will need them all? Perhaps Pluto will eventually be seen as the forerunner to a whole new 'species' of solar satellites. Oh, and what about Pluto's discovery chart, Feb. 18, 1930? The Moon was in Scorpio (what else?) and now by progression, it is 17ºLeo! Yep, Saturn is exactly on top of it right now, as it gets downgraded! Pluto will bow, for now, to this new designation, as it goes incognito into the Galactic Centre as 2007 begins. But this is starting to sound like a plot! By the time Saturn gets there in 2017-18, Pluto will be opposing its own position in the discovery chart, 17ºCancer, and there is bound to be another confrontation and reconciliation, resulting in a whole new perspective on these profound celestial movements. Jupiter will have wheeled around for another trip through Scorpio by 2018, as well. Perhaps this current round, with Jupiter and Pluto in mutual reception (in each other's signs), has left us 'blinded by the light' in some way. Instead of finally 'seeing the light' have we been distracted by the glare of its contrasts in our lives? Pluto is squaring the Moon's Nodes just now, revealing a blindness or at least confusion around what cannot yet be seen. It is not surprising to me that in this time of Pluto in Sagittarius when everyone wants the 'quick fix' and 'instant enlightenment' without all the years of gruelling work and study attached, that we would relegate this core piece of ourselves to the outer reaches of consciousness. We know Pluto as our astrological link to Soul. Maybe we are all being called upon to reexamine our own lives at this point and ask ourselves where we are going, and why? Is our conscious self working with our Soul Voice, or are we getting caught up in the high speed of today's living and denying our most profound truths? Rick Levine at StarIQ (www.stariq.com) made a poignant observation: "We have banished Pluto to where he naturally belongs: the netherworlds of unplanets. We had our chance to integrate him, but we chickened out. And of course, by suppressing his natural planetary expression, we have inadvertently given him additional power. That which we resist will persist even stronger." Read what others have to say! Rose Marcus's insights: www.rosemarcus.com www.aquarianzone.net/eyeorose.html Cheryl Sanderson's fascinating twist: Pluto killed by Mars There is sure to be a backlash. "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!" So, don't stop meditating, transforming or evolving. Focus is the key. Be ready in any given moment to face yourself in the mirror and ask the question "Who am I?" ~ and listen for the answer. Continual self-discovery is a lifetime process that remains unaffected by a group of left-brainers recategorizing a planet. Never fear. It matters not. Blessings in these last days of summer. May the sunshine continue to light your way. Cheers! ~ Sandy ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ Further thoughts ... What of Ceres & Xena? September 8, 2006 As we begin to adjust to the latest news about Pluto no longer being considered a planet, I am sure that many of you, like me, are also pondering the significance of the elevation of status for both Ceres and 'Xena' to the category of Dwarf Planet, alongside Pluto! Ceres was the first and largest asteroid, orbiting between Mars and Jupiter (making her quite personal in symbology), while the recent discovery, 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena by the researchers, is a far distant traveler from the Kuiper Belt, a larger neighbour of Pluto's (giving her transpersonal status)! Her nickname has already caught on in the collective psyche, as a popular warrior princess. Contacts to Ceres and/or Pluto in our birth charts often signify a loss of innocence and a call to action, reenacting the abduction of Persephone into the Underworld. You may recall that she was Ceres' daughter, who was taken to her destiny as Queen of the Underworld by none other than Pluto! There is definitely a balance of strength between Ceres: Goddess of Fertility & Birthing, and Pluto: Lord of the Underworld & Death. It seems fitting, as well, that Ceres and Pluto were siblings, both children of Kronos and Rhea, and sharing Zeus as a brother! It was Zeus, in fact, who talked Ceres off of her 'Laughterless Rock' where she mourned the loss of her virgin daughter, to the extent that all life on earth was languishing. As Goddess of Agriculture & Fertility she had a duty to keep all living things alive and flourishing, not daring to indulge in her personal sadness and loss! And then there is Xena, Warrior Princess, who strongly parallels the mythic character of Athena, Zeus's daughter, born fully armed and ready for battle! Perhaps, this 'demotion' of Pluto is actually the beginning of a new designation of solar satellites that will come to be particularly significant in the near future. It also occurs to me that this may signify a rise from the depths of the Feminine Power that even 'masculine' Pluto holds so dear. Ceres, as Great Mother, and Xena, as Female Warrior, are obviously prime representatives of the strength of the Feminine. ... and more ... Xena is out ~ Eris is in! October 14, 2006 I guess you have all heard the news by now ~ so much for Xena! That was her nickname, but she has been officially named Eris ~ Goddess of Discord and Strife! Isn't that just lovely?! If you read her mythology you will find that it was she who essentially sparked the Trojan War! Great. The fellow who did the naming, Dr. Brown, said, "She causes strife by causing arguments among men, by making them think their opinions are right and everyone else is wrong." Geeee, does that sound like the Radical Right to you?! How's that for Pluto in Sagittarius dogmatism! ~~ arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgghhhh ~~ and while we are here, note that the Troy of old was located where northern Turkey is now. Dr. Brown (and his team) seemed to think the name ideal, since the 'demotion' of Pluto caused such a uproar. Do they realize that there is a synchronicity throughout the collective consciousness that parallels such discoveries and namings, and that the effects will be felt far and wide?! ~sigheee~ So, we ALL have Eris in Aries, at least all of us under the age of 80! Eris (pron. 'ee-ris') is Mars/Ares' twin sister, and she certainly packs a punch! She will be moving back and forth between 20-22°Aries for the next decade! (She made her first contact with Aries on June 4, 1922, and then waffled back and forth between Pisces and Aries until she finally entered Aries 'to stay' on Feb. 14, 1926.) For exact positions you may want to download any of several ephemerides offered on this web-site: http://www.karmastrology.com/NewPlanets/Eris-eph.shtml Probably the most useful one for most of us is the one that lists Eris' positions every ten days for this century and last, 1900-2103. Prior to the 20th Century, our three closest planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars) all served dual rulerships of their respective signs. In 1930, Pluto took over from Mars as primary ruler of Scorpio. With our newly defined solar system that names Pluto, Ceres and Eris as Dwarf Planets of equal status, is it too far a stretch to imagine Ceres as ruler of Virgo and Eris as ruler of Libra?? hmmmmmmmmmmmm, have a little think about that. Pluto's discovery and obvious rulership of all things hidden and internal sparked a period of 'discovery' of many previously secreted matters. Psychology took off with a vengeance, as Jung and Freud had collaborated and then separated, almost like cells of a new Being multiplying their strengths and evolving beyond previous limitations into entirely unprecedented expressions of consciousness. Symbolism and its significance acquired a new position of status amongst the educated and informed, which continues to bubble up from the unconscious mind of us all to be recognized as synchronicity. Pluto is heading into the Centre of Galaxy (26° Sagittarius) over this coming year !!! Is that the ultimate Black Hole, or is it the White Light? and dare we wonder what that might mean?? I am sure that Pluto, as 'the evolutionary intent of our souls' (a la Jeff Green) is orchestrating all of this with total consciousness and profound trajectory. Focus is the key. Ancient teachings tell us that Virgo, Libra and Scorpio used to be all one sign, when there were only ten signs in our zodiac. Many years ago some had supposed that Pluto might rule Aries, following in order the discoveries and assigned rulerships of first, Uranus as Aquarius (leaving Saturn alone in Capricorn) and then Neptune ruling Pisces, allowing Jupiter to 'give its all' to Sagittarius. With Pluto's position in our solar system being so far from the Sun, it seems obvious at least in hindsight, that its rulership would be of something deep and dark, like Scorpio, and not Aries, which is up close and personal! And so, it came to rule Scorpio, and now seems to have uncovered even more hidden truths for us to ponder. It seems to make simple sense that the inner planets, Mars, Venus and Mercury would rule the first signs of the zodiac, Aries, Taurus and Gemini. This leaves the other signs 'ruled' by these planets up for question: Scorpio (Mars), Libra (Venus) and Virgo (Mercury). When Pluto came on the scene, he slipped easily into position in the natural 8th house of the astrological wheel, giving Mars full rein in Aries. Pluto rules the Underworld = Scorpio & 8th house. Obvious, right? Maybe it is equally obvious that this recent juggling of our solar system strata that resulted in a new level of planethood, Dwarf Planets, where Pluto, Ceres and Eris now reside, is providing us with deeper understanding of the other two signs of the original threesome! Maybe they are 'Dwarf Planets' because they rule these signs which were once one bigger sign? Ceres (Demeter) is Goddess of Agriculture. Is that not Virgo? Ceres is fertility and abundance, as Virgo is the harvest. Yes, the plants are usually withering by autumn, but the fruit is full and ripe. Ceres is already tied in with Pluto's story, as it was her daughter, Persephone, who was the ultimate Virgin, innocently picking Narcissus flowers (self-adoration) when she was so rudely interrupted and abducted by Pluto, to become Goddess of the Underworld! Virginal Persephone is obviously expressing the essence of Pisces, with Virgoan Ceres as her concerned Mother. Eris was the goddess who was shunned from invitation to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis and true to her well known 'trouble-maker' style, she threw the 'Apple of Discord' into the throng of guests, which ultimately spawned the Trojan War. The apple was inscribed "Kallisti" - implying that it was for "the most beautiful." The goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite each assumed the apple was for her and her alone, which led to a squabble and eventually the Trojan War. Michael Wolfstar concluded: "From this ancient tale, we can associate Eris with vengefulness, strife, mounting chaos and the feeling of being snubbed." Check out Michael's whole article, including revealing discussions about the Pope and Madonna, re Eris! http://www.stariq.com/Main/Articles/P0007387.HTM This entire tale is a Libran story all the way if you ask me, what with weddings and offerings to utmost Beauty! It has often been said that Libra "will make war to get peace," and this is a prime example. Dishonour is anathema to Libra, and to be socially snubbed from a wedding (Libra) was the ultimate insult. Then to challenge the other goddesses' Beauty (Libra) by appearing to offer a gift ('iron fist in the velvet glove' = Libra) is all so fitting. Before we 'cast the first stone' in Libra's direction, however, we need to consider what the plus side of this symbolism might involve. Wendy Howard, www.smeddum.net/content/blog.htm made this astute observation: "Eris might have been instrumental in precipitating the Trojan War, but did she really cause it? What caused the immediate problem was the reaction of the participants to Eris's apple, reactions for which they were responsible, not Eris. Were it not for the goddesses falling prey to greed, vanity and jealousy – arguably far greater vices than a bit of spoon-stirring, no trouble would have ensued. But ultimately the responsibility could be seen to lie with Zeus and Poseidon who forced the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, because they did not respect the right to self-determination, being interested only in the prophecy that Thetis' son (Achilles) would become mightier than his father. In this context, Eris begins to look far more like a scapegoat than a prima facie principal cause." It certainly seems that Eris takes it upon herself to 'keep everybody honest' - almost like a referee or umpire, who often takes a snubbing from the players. Perhaps she identifies with the role of devil's advocate, who just can't resist throwing a mirror up in front of the key players' faces. Even though most of us have Eris in Aries, we might want to pay special attention to what house she is in. For the still curious ones of you, there is an abundance of connections and further information available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eris_(mythology) ©2006, Sandy Hughes ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  Back to Portal
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