We are receiving some great photographs of Pluto from the New Horizons spacecraft. Pluto was discovered in 1930 and since that time this underworld god has come to represent the shadow in Jungian Psychology, an aspect of the personality which the conscious ego does not identify with. Because one tends to reject or remain ignorant of the least desirable aspects of one's personality, the shadow is largely negative, instinctive and irrational and is prone to psychological projection, where we assign our shadow material onto other people.
Now that the photos and scientific instruments have exposed some of Pluto’s secrets, maybe our dark side won’t be totally unconscious. I am hoping we can start to see how we project our shadow both personally and collectively. I am now reading an insightful book entitled Madness at the Gates of the City: The Myth of American Innocence by Barry Spector. It describes how we Americans have projected our shadow onto the other, how we need to constantly have an enemy and how this has played out in history. He has gone above party politics and describes in depth the psychological profile of America, and our projection process using Greek mythology, indigenous wisdom and archetypal psychology.
It’s also revealing to see what event happened when we received the first photos of Pluto as this indicates how this new exposed Pluto could manifest in the world. At the same time as this unveiling, Harper Lee published her second book Go Set The Watchman. Her first book To Kill a Mockingbird has been an American classic since it was first published in 1960. It is required reading for school children and it depicts the hero Atticusa as a very fair southern gentlemen, a real ‘ mensch,’ whereas Go Set the Watchman, reveals the dark side of Atticus.
The transits for this space shot are interesting. Pluto is opposite the Pluto in the discovery chart of 1930 and also Uranus has returned to Aries, the sign it was in when Pluto was discovered. Uranus has an 84/85 year cycle so it is a Uranus return from 1930. Uranus rules discoveries and revelations and a Pluto opposition can bring deep psychological awareness.
The most obvious image from New Horizons is Pluto with the shape of a heart on its surface. The last planet we would expect to show us a heart. What does that mean? A softer Pluto is revealing itself?
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I have been fascinated by the movies that have come out lately portraying the Frankenstein myth, namely Her and Ex Machina. Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1816 when she was only 18 years old and her story has survived up to the present time. Frankenstein has been interpreted in part by some as a warning about the downside of the industrial age. Dr. Robert Romanyshyn, an Emeritus Professor at Pacifica Graduate Institute and author of seven books will present a 10 session webinar starting Aug 12 titled The Frankenstein Prophecies: Jungian Archetypal Reflections on Ecological Crises and the God Wars. This webinar explores multiple ways Shelley’s story is a re-telling of the mythic tale of Prometheus and the Christian story of creation within the context of science and technology. To read more and register go here
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Back in February, I wrote an article about Bill Cosby stating that more rape allegations would occur this in June, July and August because Uranus, the shocking awakener was transiting his ascendant. And so it is happening (I just love being right)! Here is the article in case you missed it. Cosby and the Goat God Pan
Dates to Watch:
Aug 1 – Venus retrogrades back into Leo. Virgos out there only had 13 days of Venus in Virgo. But Aphrodite (Venus) got scared of the nitpicking, fussy Virgo sign and decided to hightail back into Leo until Oct 8. By that time she will buck up and realize that Virgos deserve love and good times also. And don’t forget Aphrodite married Hephaestus the ruler of Virgo. (She cheated on him but that’s another story). Venus is about relationships and in Leo it highlights relationships to creativity people, children and young people.
Aug 2 – Mercury Trine Uranus. The Mercury/Uranus trine is an excellent transit for communications with friends and with groups of people. If 19-21 of the fiery signs figure prominently in your chart, you may expect positive news from friends or at least some very interesting conversations with them.
Saturn turns direct at 28 Scorpio. If you have wanted to start your own business or to start a business project, do it while Saturn is direct. But not tomorrow when Jupiter squares Saturn. Look at your natal chart to see if Scorpio is in a positive house, if not wait until Saturn goes into Sagittarius on 17 September.
Aug 3 – Jupiter Square Saturn at 28 Leo/Scorpio. These two ancient gods really don’t like each other; they had a battle that lasted centuries. Jupiter is all about belief, optimism and expansion, while Saturn rules restrictions, limits and reality. When they are in a harmonious aspect, this can be a very good business aspect since optimism is working with practicality. Jupiter is Vision and Saturn is Realism. But in a square they are circling each other with the gloves off. If you have personal planets (Sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, or Mars) or the ascendant at this degree look for economic and educational challenges.
Aug 4 – Venus Conjunct Jupiter at 21 Leo. This is a beautiful aspect and you can see it in the night sky. The ancients and some modern curmudgeons state that if you can’t see a planet, it has no influence on us. That leaves out Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Well everyone will be happy with this aspect. We can certainly see them both glowing in the sky.
Find 20 to 23 degrees of Leo in your natal chart. This is the house that will bring you love and happiness. Take advantage of this aspect and have a party or gather with friends. Saturn is squaring this aspect so there may be a gloomy Capricorn at the party, ignore him.
Because Venus turned retrograde last month on the 25th, we get three of these conjunctions. The first one was on Jul 1 and we will have the third and last on October 25. That will be at 15 Virgo and will be a powerful one because of Mars joining both of them in Virgo and Pluto trining the conjunction. This is a dynamic positive aspect for love (Venus), good fortune (Jupiter), wealth (Pluto) and the chutzpah (Mars) to make it happen.
Aug 5 – Venus Square Saturn at 28 Leo/Scorpio. I’m trying to say something positive about this aspect, but can’t. Wait for a day or two before making any decision regarding your finances or relationships. You may feel stymied if you have personal planets or the ascendant to 28 Leo, Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio.
Aug 6 – Mercury Conjunct Venus at 28 Leo. This will help you in the arts and will help make your speech and your writing more amenable to others. You may receive an important email from a friend or old lover. Especially so if you have personal planets or the ascendant at 28 Leo or Aquarius.
Mercury square Saturn at 28 Leo/Scorpio. You are very sarcastic today and you could alienate people. Hold your tongue.
Aug 7 – Mercury conjunct Jupiter at 29 Leo. Both these planets are going to enter Virgo soon. But while in Leo, they want to have one last fling by spending money and bragging about how successful and happy they are. It won’t last, button your lip.
Mercury enters Virgo. Mercury is right at home in Virgo. He likes to spend his time in service to others and improving the work environment. He is a total workaholic and may forget to go home.
Aug 8 – Mars enters Leo until Sep 24. Mars loves the fire signs since he rules another fire sign, Aries. Here he pushes forward and wants to do his own thing and really doesn’t want anyone to get in his way. He can become a bit obnoxious, but he gets a lot down. The Leo house in your natal chart will see a lot of activity during this period.
August 11: Jupiter enters Virgo until September 2016. Virgos have a potential to get rich during this period. I know Virgos like to volunteer their time and they never charge enough for what they are worth, but Jupiter will increase their income. The house of Virgo in your natal chart will show the area of benefits and good luck.
August 12 – Mercury opposes Neptune at 8 Virgo Pisces. You can really be confused on this one, no its not age, it’s Neptune. Be discriminating. You could fall for a big scam but It only lasts one day.
Aug 13 – Sun Trine Uranus at 20 Leo Aries. This is a very happy and fortunate aspect. Especially if you have personal planets or the ascendant at 20 degrees of Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius. This will give you the energy to express your creativity.
August 14 – New Moon at 22 Leo. Find the Leo house in your natal chart. This is where your creativity will shine. A good time to start new projects that express your individuality.
Aug 15 – Sun conjunct Venus at 22 Leo. A happy aspect, you will want to contact friends and family and party today, especially if you have 22 Leo prominent in your chart.
Mercury Trine Pluto at 12 Virgo. A good day for research and for some deep soul searching and also important communications.
August 19 - Venus trine Uranus at 20.16 Leo/Aries. This is a happy transit, but this time you want to gather with others to save the world -- climate change anyone?
Aug 21 – Sun square Saturn at 28 Leo/Scorpio. Our light is a little dampened with this aspect. So after all the partying, its time to pay the bills.
Aug 23 - The Sun enters Virgo until Sep 23. Happy Birthday Virgo.
Aug 29 – Full Moon at 6 Pisces/Virgo. The Sun is conjunct Jupiter in Virgo, the Moon is conjunct Neptune retrograde in Pisces and both conjunctions are square Saturn in Scorpio. A complicated Full Moon. It can bring the urge to perform a service, that can be more burdensome that you thought and also not realistic. Look for two houses in your natal chart for this one, Virgo and Pisces.
OUTER PLANET TRANSITS:
JUPITER will move into Virgo this month until September 2016. This month Jupiter will move from 27 degrees of Leo to 4 Virgo. Jupiter is about growth and expansion especially in travel and education and also in the area of your life ruled by the house in your natal chart that holds 27 degrees of Leo to 4 Virgo.
SATURN is in Sagittarius until Dec 2018. This month he has moved back into Scorpio where he will stay until Sep 19, 2015. He will stay at 28 degrees of Scorpio this month. If you have the ascendant or any personal planets at 28 degrees of Scorpio or Taurus in your natal chart, you may be in store for some hard lessons around the issues ruled by the planet and the house the planet is in or rules. While Saturn is in Scorpio, Saturn is asking about your sexual relationships and the ways you can transform yourself
URANUS is in Aries until 2018. This month Uranus is moving retrograde and will stay at 20 degrees of Aries. We feel a need for freedom and we want to make some radical changes in our life. I believe in “cooperating with the inevitable”. If you have Uranus in a challenging aspect to your ascendant or personal planets, go on a long vacation, move, or make some major changes in your life.
NEPTUNE (creativity, sensitivity, escapism, dreams) is in Pisces until 2026. He is moving retrograde this month and will move from 9 to 8 degrees of Pisces. A lack of focus, a sense of drifting or an inability to see a betrayal or disappointment until it's too late can be experienced by those of you with the Sun or Personal Planets at 9 or 9 degrees of Pisces or Virgo. For the enlightened out there, Neptune can also bring artistic, musical, creative expression, increased dreams and spiritual insights. Watch for some really inspired films to come out during the time Neptune is in Pisces.
PLUTO is in Capricorn until 2023. This month Pluto is moving retrograde until September 25 and this month will stay at 13 degrees of Capricorn. Everyone is feeling the urge to purge and to find his or her truth. Profound changes will be felt especially by those with Sun, ascendant or personal planets at 13 degrees of Capricorn or Cancer.
Have a good month,
Janet Kane