Practical Astrology for April

As usual, the e-mail goes out before it gets on the website, so I need to cut and paste.

WHEN A PLANET STATIONS

Pluto stations at 1 degree of Capricorn at the beginning of April, which means that everyone with planets at the early degrees of Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Capricorn and Pisces are undergoing an outer planet transit by Pluto. What does this mean?

It means, "Aw crap, I have two there, fuckity?" (4 and 5 Taurus- Sun/Chiron, 2 Cancer- Jupiter). Man, I don't want to come out like this guy. Or this girl. or this person.

"Usually what happens with outer planet transits (the most reliable events in astrology in terms of producing effects) is that the person starts to feel the stirrings of the issue that will be presented by the transit a bit before the transiting planet reaches the same degree as your natal planet. For example, Barack Obama has natal Venus at 1 degree of Cancer, so Pluto will be opposing his Venus. As his campaign headed in 2008, he naturally felt pressure and opposition from his chief rival, Pluto-ruled Scorpio Hillary Clinton. As Pluto moved through 0 degrees of Capricorn, the pressure, criticism and opposition increased.

This is the way it goes for most folks. You can kinda tell it's coming. You may very well have created the situation that the transit addresses, as Obama did when deciding to run for president. But you're usually kind of surprised that it actually affects you. 

By the time the transiting planet (Pluto) hits the same degree as your natal planet, you are usually actively dealing with the situation caused by the transit or trying to figure out how to deal with it. As I write this, Obama's been trying to figure out how to fend off the fallout from various attacks and campaign mis-steps.

 When you look back later at the time when the planet was at the same degree as your own planet, you can often remember the over-riding concern represented by the transit. For example, you might say "Oh yeah, that's when we were trying to figure out what to do about the house..."

When the transiting planet actually stations (seems as though it is not moving), it often seems to be at its most powerful, shining a spotlight on a particular situation. Often there is a bit of a break or turning point when the planet begins to move direct or retrograde again. (In this case, Pluto will go retrograde.) You temporarily figure out a solution to the problem or decide what approach you're going to take. Some people make rather drastic decisions right around the time a planet stations. They abruptly quit their jobs, give a lover an ultimatum, tell a boss that they are not willing to relocate or whatever. 

People who don't make decisions when the planet is actually close to stationary often do so right as the planet moves off the degree of their natal planet. So some people affected by Pluto will feel the need to take decisive action right around April 1 while others will make up their minds what to do right around April 27 as Pluto moves back to 0 degrees.

Sometimes the effect is more strongly seen in actions by other people. In other words, the person with Venus at 1 degree Cancer gets drastic news right around April 1 or April 27. Usually there is a combination of actions by the person with the transit and actions by others that create the situation to be resolved. 

As the transiting planet moves away from the degree of your own planet, there is usually a relief from the intense feelings and pressure that were felt when Pluto was at the same degree as your own planet. Pluto transits last a while though, so the situation is usually not permanently resolved but will need to be re-addressed later. For example, people affected by Pluto in Capricorn at 0 and 1 degrees will re-encounter this transit at the end of 2008.

 

Squares and oppositions are far more stressful than trines and sextiles, but they also produce better, more dramatic, and more long-lasting results. People with planets in Virgo and Taurus for example, will benefit from a trine by Pluto, but will often not be as motivated to take advantage of it. Even a trine or sextile will often show results, though. A sextile between Pluto and Venus may feel like being stuck in a sexy but ultimately unproductive relationship. When the Pluto transit finally ends, though, a person will often rapidly get out of the problematic relationship and into a better one, almost without effort.

Well, it's comforting to know the trine won't be as bad.