With Pluto’s demotion from planet to dwarf planet last week, this powerful cosmic body is getting a lot of press. While prominent astronomers who disagree with the decision are busy signing petitions, astrologers are watching Pluto conducting business as usual. From September 5th Pluto’s power is on the increase, not in decline, as this dwarf planet stops travelling backwards and shifts into forward motion. After moving backwards for the past 5 months, Pluto is now on course for its date with destiny – an exact alignment with the Galactic Centre at the end of December this year. It’ll be interesting to watch further developments with Pluto’s status both in astronomical and astrological terms as it gets closer and closer to this birth-death-rebirth point of our galaxy, especially as Pluto itself signifies birth-death-rebirth.
And speaking of birth-death-rebirth, September has strong themes of dark and light with the appearance of two eclipses. When we’re in the light we feel ‘birthed’ and alive, but when we’re in the dark we can feel ‘dead’ and lost. Yet the ‘death’ phase is a necessary part of the process towards greater self-understanding, and therefore greater ‘light’ in the rebirth phase. Essentially this whole cycle is the natural way of things – it’s the cycle of change, one which as humans we tend to resist rather than cherish. For instance our dwarf planet Pluto is one we’d rather suppress and diminish, but Pluto is the very archetype that can help us most to value this change process. This month’s eclipses also continue to encourage us to be comfortable with the birth pains associated with change.
The first eclipse happens at the full moon on the 8th. This lunar eclipse falls in the middle of Pisces, so any of you with a strong Pisces or Neptune influence in your chart could feel it strongly. Yet all of us are likely to experience a sense of confusion or chaos around this time as we are affected by the ‘dark’ energy of the eclipse. Surrendering to your higher self during any emotional chaos will help you align with the divine wisdom wishing to flow through you at this time. Allow this wisdom to point the way to your best and highest good and then enjoy the ‘rebirth’ into clear thinking and renewed passion for living.
The second eclipse happens at the new moon on the 22nd, the day before the Spring Equinox. Once again there’s a theme of birth-death-rebirth. This solar eclipse falls in the last degree of Virgo, so those of you with a strong Virgo or Mercury influence could feel it strongly. Yet Librans might also feel the pull of this one with the eclipse right at the doorway to Libra. This particular eclipse brings a strong message to us all to come out of denial about the impact of a particular pattern or habit that is adverse to our wellbeing. Finding ways to manage this pattern, or even let it go, will free our energy up for far more fulfilling life experiences. Being in the last degree of a zodiac sign, there’s an indication that we might need to say a significant goodbye to something in our lives at this time. Yet upon saying that goodbye, a bright doorway leads us into a new and joyful experience of living, symbolised by the Spring Equinox the day after the eclipse.