An Uneasy Opportunity
Saturn and Pluto Get to Work
"On an inner level, the god Pan is an image of bondage to the crudest, most instinctual aspect of human nature. Because the god was worshipped in caves and grottos, attended by fear, his image suggests something we are both afraid of and fascinated by -- the raw, goatish, uncivilized sexual impulses which we experience as evil because of their compulsive nature. The problem of shame about the body, the feeling of being dirty and wicked, ugly and inferior, is the problem which Pan personifies. Yet in myth he was not evil, merely untamed and natural. It's the paralysis of humans who are held enthralled in terror and fascination which creates the problem. The human must learn to confront with humility the basest aspects of himself or he will remain forever in bondage to his own fear. In order to hide this shameful secret, he pretends that he is superior and projects his own bestiality on others, leading to prejudice, bigotry, and even persecution of individuals who seem evil to him."Liz Greene
Pan is associated with Capricorn and while Pluto is in transit, the problems of societal guilt and shame are due to be addressed. The first major encounter was the controversy over Rick Warren and I think it's important enough to be studied in depth. This man represents one of the most sordid pits in human nature, and while inclusion, understanding, and forgiveness personally are good, and all people have redeeming characteristics, it doesn't remove the fundamental problem which is far beyond the man himself. It can't be quickly wrapped in cover and forgotten, epsecially when Pluto and Saturn are just beginning their work.
There are uncountable trillions of people in history, murdered as a result of some authority proclaiming that certain groups were subhuman or aberrant and did not deserve to live. Unfathomable numbers have been persecuted and kept from society's rights. In a country where one group was legally considered three-fifths a human, I think the nation should tread carefully around this subject. The accumulated guilt about the accusations and subsequent actions eventually surface. Denial of the current behaviors makes it worse.
It's not the man that concerns me. It's the adulation and adoption of his philosophy that get closer to the naked facts along with the failure to recognize that we all harbor similar feelings to an extent. It's the justifications and rationalizations and the rush to clothe the revelations in false finery and ceremony. I can only hope that the truth will be faced in increments in this sensually terrorized culture.
My question is, "Where is the source and what can be done?" I don't want to be a part of a group that does this to other people blindly, following the orders of unhealthy leaders seeking control and money. I know the dangers of obedience to power and how few resist. You can see it now as gradually the group joins together and swallows it meekly. There are parties to organize. Important Bibles to fondle. Back down beneath the surface it gathers strength for the next eruption.
So Pluto in Capricorn with its search for ethics, morality, and proper judgement opposite Venus -- sexuality, taboos, and lust in general -- are combining to teach. What can people of conscience do? So many techniques have been tried and here we are again. How can we live side by side with such a man and his followers while diminishing the influence of these destructive attitudes, continuing on our own paths? Maybe the new togetherness will work, maybe not. It's deeper than talk. Maybe repeated exposures will do the trick with the benefit of time and cosmic help. The most important thing is that society takes responsibility for its morality and ethics, and doesn't condone these abuses, but speaks up truthfully while offering ways to rehabilitate those trapped in their own pained psyches. With Pluto exposing these habits, the opportunity to come up with something effective is here as well. It's the start, but that's the perfect time to embrace awareness and not shy away from taking steps with appropriate firmness.
posted by jm at 12:06 AM
24 Comments:
I feel your discomfort, JM. Many of us share it. The light of day has a disinfecting power. Rick Warren has so little to do with love of God, so much to do with pride and gratification that it may be the best thing to do is put him and his message on public display. He will either speak the truth or put on view something that will speak for itself. We will all talk about his message for weeks to come and something in our national psyche will reflect on it and on who we are. If he is what he appears to be, this may be therapeutic. But that's the best case, of course, that seeing a bombastic character holding forth his weird ideology at an historic event will jar the country into a questioning, reflecting mode of consciousness. It could happen...
That's a pretty good point there. The best disinfectant is sunlight, as the saying goes.
We will all talk about his message for weeks to come and something in our national psyche will reflect on it and on who we are.
Ideal.
The good thing is the close of the ceremony being performed by a pro-rights minister, but in a way, I wish we could think about ending this worship altogether and more on separation of church and state at least formally. I know that isn't about to happen but enough is enough. For me this development trumps the birthday of jesus this year. Could be part of the Pluto in Sag legacy.
There's a lot to cover -- sin, crime, misdemeanor, unkindness -- all the wrong-doings that come under Capricorn and how we label them and deal with them. Words matter they said. And who decides? If we want to re-invent our democracy we'd best get going. I'm feeling more and more motivated by the day.
Because I have Pluto square my Mars-Uranus I'm a portent of the upcoming Uranus-Pluto square. Others are having Mars-Pluto transits and it's interesting to see how we all react. Often people talk about the terrible things befalling them in their personal lives and I had that the last time, but this time I'm being drawn in an outward direction and something about society's ills is speaking to me. There's a lot to do. It will be beyond talk when the square progresses. I admit to being a little impatient with society.:-) That won't change.
It's just a ceremonial ritual and not really that important anyway. This has taken the illusion out of it which is a plus.
My main thing is how deep this goes beyond the personalities and if we can truly open up the dialog it will be worth it. I don't want it to be shunned as usual. The cover-up.
There's a lot of civil unrest ahead and I've been turning it around in my mind as preparation coming up with ideas on how we can handle it best. But it will do what it does.
I'm ready for the disinfectant light. When Pluto opposes the USA Cancer Sun it will be an especially good time for that.
will jar the country into a questioning, reflecting mode of consciousness.
With our effort this can happen.
Good comment, hajibaba. Thank you.
Actually, JM, before you posted your essay I was just feeling queazy about the selection of Rick Warren. Your words made me think on it more deeply. Now it brings to mind what happened when Reverend Wright came into the spotlight. The sad distortion of his angry rhetoric had been heard and absorbed or tolerated or forgiven by the congregation that loved him, but when the same words were played for the country a lively debate arose - an opportunity to glimpse into the African American experience and to consider whether the old injuries it contains are going to forever be the whole story. It was downright cathartic.
Exactly, hajibaba!!!!
It was the same Pluto opposite Venus transit at the time.
I wish there were more like you who could stay focused and string these things up together. Then we could make the changes that people are hoping will be given to them by others. The effort required is hard to calculate but your words make me optimistic. The maturity to take things into one's own hands and try genuinely to make improvements is the way to make them solid and lasting.
I was amazed when the Wright conversation took the turns it did, and I agree about the catharsis. Just hearing "Goddamn America" for 8 days straight was a phenomenon in itself, and the message might have penetrated a little.
This one is tougher, since it gets closer to home. With Wright they could be detached and nod their heads in agreement about the bad treatment of minorities, but something about Warren wiggles a lot of personal connections. We could be getting closer. And again you are so right. The fact that it's happening at the inauguration might give it more importance while diminishing the false expectations going forward.
will jar the country into a questioning, reflecting mode of consciousness.
When I think of Capricorn I think of the great philosophers and deep thinkers of the human family. Composers also are in this category as one movement ties into another creating orchestration. The serious and methodical pondering of life in the material realm, always applying logic in an attempt to understand. Experiencing an investment in the perfection of society.
The United States has Mercury opposite Pluto in Capricorn and if ever there was talent for questioning and reflection, this is it.
So where is it? What's with all this flighty superficial worship of entertainment in every realm. Perhaps an evasion of some profound ability that the society is reluctant to soberly embrace.
At the time of the Pluto return, Mercury will be opposed, and there is a dictinct possibilty that the profound questioning will have its day. Maybe even go forward replacing the Three Stooges as national symbol. And the Golden Arches of hamburgers.
I read this post this morning and all day it lingered. Good comments to return to this evening. Thoughtful, insightful.
It will remain to us who see that we are each fused with other to be part of that "disinfecting light"
So where is it? What's with all this flighty superficial worship of entertainment in every realm. Perhaps an evasion of some profound ability that the society is reluctant to soberly embrace.
The big question. Or is it the consequences of seriousness and responsibility that the society is reluctant to embrace? I know too darn few people willing to take on the serious tasks that need doing let alone look at them.
One thing i'm hoping for from Pluto in Capricorn is the realization that encouraging polarities that allow some to separate, diminish and control others is a path of mutual destruction.
In old Scandinavian myth Capricorn is Njörd one of the Vanir who embodies polarities fused within self.
Or is it the consequences of seriousness and responsibility that the society is reluctant to embrace? I know too darn few people willing to take on the serious tasks that need doing let alone look at them.
My soul sister, returned from Pluto's realm deepened and wizened if that was possible.
The comments today lead me to believe that it's a question of timing and if we set an example of taking on the tasks seriously, others will, too, as circumstance determines. And it's time.
Or is it the consequences of seriousness and responsibility that the society is reluctant to embrace?
Good thought. They might be afraid of giving up the hyper-play activities but the consequences are actually rewards where Saturn in concerned. You know how little Caps watch the kids frolic feeling left out but later they shine and the group looks up to them. Ruining the fun is sometimes a good idea.
I'm oddly enthusiastic about the tasks ahead.
The comments have been exceptional lately and I think it will continue. One thing I've always wanted was more focus and follow-through in Blogland with a slower pace at times and more thoughtful responses. We really do have time. Most feel they are being neglected and passed over by the loudest or whatever, but it's up to us to listen to one another intently.
One thing I'm hoping for from Pluto in Capricorn is the realization that encouraging polarities that allow some to separate, diminish and control others is a path of mutual destruction.
I think we'll get that. It might not be before further conflict though. Uranus in aries, Saturn in Libra, and Pluto in Cap speak of this.
The cold Scandinavian stories I think will have a lot of significance. Speaking of polarities, I read that Sweden is now shifting away from socialism, and in the end we'll realize that systems and solutions are always in flux. Rigidity is meant to be broken in the Cap years.
Supporting structures. Bone. Flexibilty. The ideal lessons of Capricorn teach us the right structure to support the body. Too flaccid and the thing collapses. Too rigid and it breaks. Our country has too much body for the structure and its bones are being squeezed.
My soul sister How sweet that rests in my heart, can you hear the echo?
Pluto, ja, it has been one heck of a year. I just returned from another surgery on my brother. Talk about a Saturn return for him! This was the 4th attempt. Over and over people have tried to right something gone wrong 60 years ago. I must tell you that i encountered saints. Doctors who are filled with compassion. I spent a lot of time in a Catholic hospital that was founded by sisters of mercy. Compassion is in bold at the top of their list. I have been pretty humbled, people cooperating in the best interest of others top down-bottom up. And one had to look to find religion.
This has shown me a side of faith that one rarely sees. And having been exposed to this sincere service i did find Obama's choice of Warren especially insulting.
I cannot yet report what Pluto over my Sun means as it will take some distance to process and it seems that I'm not at the end of that path. But this much seems true for me, Pluto asks that what is done is for the benefit of all not for only the self.
Yes. Pluto is mass consciousness and responsible for grand scale political and social movement and change. The return makes it especially significant.
It's very very interesting that Pluto was discovered when Uranus was last in Aries, bringing the atomic age and knowledge of destruction. So some cycle is being re-visited it seems. Saturn in Capricorn was opposite Pluto. Hmmm. Saturn-Uranus-Pluto T-square. Double hmmmm. Depression, reconstruction, then Plutonian madness, and now more depression and reconstruction. Only this time we have the added knowledge of the near century of Pluto. Looks like quiz time.
I love how you stimulate my thinking.
I noticed where Pluto is headed for your Chiron and collective healing and knowledge, then the long transit of your 11th house, making your newly Uranized Aquarian ascendant and Pisces 1st applicable. Definitely a benefit beyond the self.
After the Plutonian leveling and rebuilding of your ego and your 10th house goals, this looks like a new chapter in collective healing. Pluto power with you.
The exact square, Chiron to Jupiter, looks mighty interesting with Pluto in the vicinity.
I just got another echo.
Sweden< Iceland and other Scandinavian countries have been under severe pressure from the EU to conform to certain -especially- economic standards. Since they removed themselves from the oil economy the pressure has increased. Sweden has never been what i would call socialist. They are a social democracy. Very participatory. The roots go far back to their rather libertarian roots. One can look at the tax rate and see socialism or one can look at multiple mini ice ages which repeatedly wiped out most of the northern civilizations and see a determination to pool resources for the good of the whole. What works in Scandinavia would not other places IMO.
Oh, I have not been wanting t0 look too far ahead. I know that Pluto is on my juno and heading for Chiron and the square to Jupiter lot of stuff is going to hit and all i know is i'm tired.
Thank goodness for a bit of Mars conjunct the Sun to add a bit of juice to the battery.
I have been thinking about you and some comments from the past esp in the cafe about your creative work. It seem like mine has hit the pinnacle and now? over? I've been looking for new tracks in the snow, traces and trekways to follow but none appear. You just had Pluto over your moon jupiter if i recall. Any thoughts about the creative future when uranus hits Aries?
Yes. The ice ages. I think geography trumps human intervention so the economic structures follow those dictates. They probably get into most trouble when they try to defy it.
I'm wary of the EU and the increasingly tight-fisted attempt to almost make a communistic system, really, in its punishment of variation. Some countries don't do well on their own, though.
There's a lot of talk about increasing globilization, but some think the opposite might result, as diversity feels threatened.
I wonder if global warming and forgetfulness have contributed to the move from pooled resources.
The biggest mistake most are making is believing that certain factions control the world economy. It's always been a huge system not understood by mankind. Survival always dictates, so the idea of the World Bank, for example, as controller and decider, is childish. Financiers are pawns in the bigger game. The biggest losers, probably, because of what they miss in their search for riches and power.
I never understand why humans don't grasp the magnitude of life and its systems.
deerheart i always love our conversations blogger is defying me and so i have to make this my last post until i have a faster connection.
May the stars sparkle above you this night.
Ooooh. Lots of thoughts. Many many many. I'll juice up the cafe where we can investigate these things in depth at our leisure.
It seem like mine has hit the pinnacle and now? over? I've been looking for new tracks in the snow, traces and trekways to follow but none appear.
I've had similar thoughts, but pinnacles are impossible to gauge since we can't see on the other side. I do know that the guideposts appear when ready. I don't worry.
In fact, I just recently made a leap for work and it didn't work, and today I got a very strong sensation ... I have time.
You know I've thought of quitting the whole thing, since music doesn't lure me like it once did, and I don't think it will again, but my voice still waits to be heard. I'm backing off from control at this point, and letting my natural impulses guide me since I'm trusting them more.
I don't pay attention to my Moon-joop anymore. Kind of boring by now. But Uranus over my ascendant I am looking forward to most eagerly. I'm going to write an article on this. It will spark the whole thing and give me entrance into the world of originality in my outward expression that was destined to come. I don't much care how about the details.
Mostly I feel freed from relationship attachments which should increase even more. I'm returning to myself. Yes.
Oh oh oh. The stars. Thank you my sweet SB and such a pleasure to see your voice.
More later....
Supporting structures. Bone. Flexibilty. The ideal lessons of Capricorn teach us the right structure to support the body.
JM, do you think these manifest in the body like they do in the signs? I have exceptionally strong bones and teeth. Never a cavity nor a fracture of any kind and the Dentist always exclaims in awe at the condition of my teeth.
Abso-abso-absolutely. All bodies are the same. Micro-macrocosm.
My south node Capricorn bud has the same thing you do. It can work both ways. If afflicted, weakness can result. But the afflictions can be in the chart and not reacted to that way.
The 6th house is the one of health and Leo risings generally have Cap there. Many are afflicted and have major teeth problems.
It's amazing how far off the balance of body weight to bone the American people are. There is so much stress put on the skeletal structure with just one pound of flesh.
There's all kinds of talk of some sort of gloomy passage into the depths of hell with Capricorn and massive upheavals into infinity, but the basic lessons of skeletal health are the real root. Repair of roads won't do anything unless the understanding is developed. Load dynamics. Capricorns teach us that. Capricorn rising is especially attuned, since the ascendant governs the physical body. I'm so glad you picked up on that comment mpk. I thought it one of my best. Very concise. To the bone.
I'm an idealist, but just imagine what would happen if the country cut the fat (not just people fat) and reduced the stress on the system? It's all physics.
mpk, yes I can attest to that. I have never had a dental cavity and my bones are very dense. And I have Saturn in the 1st house. It has to be that. OTOH, I'm susceptible to bony growths in places it probably should not occur.
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