March 2008

Pluto enters the first degree of Capricorn this month. In spite of its “demotion” by some scientists to non-planet status, when Pluto transits the chart of a person or an entity, its size is small but its effect is mighty. Pluto is the planet of transformation, power, control and resources. It can wipe out the past, “burning the field” but leaving it rich for the planting of new seeds. Pluto has a generational effect because it transits each sign very slowly, from 12 to 20 years. Pluto will be in Capricorn until 2025 and will return to the degree of its position in the United States chart around 2023. Capricorn is the sign of management, responsibility, control, organization and tradition. So we have the planet of transformation and change in the sign of tradition. No wonder the key word of the Presidential candidates is “change” and at the same time some of the candidates stand for traditional values. In An Astrological Mandala, Dane Rudhyar gives these explanations for 0 to 2 degrees Capricorn: “... human beings transfer their sense of spiritual value to one who is an incarnation of their common ideal; ...the capacity to claim and assume authority in a vital group situation; ...group energies squandered in armaments and death – waste is the opposite of group integration.” How timely.

The Sun in Pisces until the 20th supports service, sensitivity to the needs of others, intuition, inspiration, art, music, dance and creativity. The Sun’s entry into the sign of Aries on the 20th signals the spring equinox. In the northern hemisphere it is the time for tilling soil and planting seeds in anticipation of what will grow. This is a good time to conduct or participate in a ceremony supporting the earth as well as the personal seeds you would like to plant. The Sun in Aries supports independence, pioneering and taking action; but it’s fire can also instigate aggression, anger and impulsive action.
Mercury (communication, writing, contracts, commerce, workers) in Aquarius until the 14th relates to technology, groups, societies, computers, electronics, politics and friends. On the 10th it completes the shadow of the retrograde which spanned from January 28th to February 18th. Issues which arose between January 13th and 28th and were worked on thru February 18th can now be completed. Mercury in Pisces after the 14th can be sensitive, dreamy, less focused but also more creative, inspirational and caring.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Aquarius until the 12th values friends, groups, humanitarian goals, societies, special interests, politics, technology and invention. Venus in Pisces after the 12th values service, dedication, sensitivity to the needs of others and creative expression thru art, music and dance as well as meditation, intuition, dreams and inspiration.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) transits 28 Gemini to 10 Cancer, repeating where it was in September, October and December 2007 as well as January 2008. Mars turned retrograde on November 15th, 2007, at 12 degrees Cancer, connecting energy, vitality and possibly aggression to the sign of real estate, security, family, emotions, community and country. It expends energy on the family but can ignite political passion for the group one identifies with – country, community, religion or special interest. The retrograde related to issues which were brought up between September 16th and November 15th, the entry shadow at 24 Gemini. The combination of Gemini/Cancer relates to intellect vs. emotion/objective vs. subjective. The completion of the entire Mars retrograde period spans from January 30th to April 4th, 2008.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, education, foreign trade, religion, legal matters) transits 15 to 20 degrees Capricorn where it will repeat in June/July and October/November 2008. Birthdays most affected are January 6th-11th, October 9th-13th, July 7th-12th and April 5th-9th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 15 to 20 degrees Aries, Libra, Capricorn or Cancer. Jupiter in Capricorn brings opportunity thru business, consolidation, restructuring, organization, land, leadership, control, career and all matters of security.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) retrogrades from 4 to 2 degrees Virgo, where it was in September/October 2007 and will repeat in June/July 2008. Saturn’s transit thru Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will affect those born between 1958 and 1972. This is the generation born when Pluto was in Virgo. During the next three years they will begin to gain more responsibility and power. Virgo relates to health, everyday routine and doing what is practical, frugal and orderly in daily life. Most affected this month are those born August 25th-27th, February 21st-23rd, November 25th-27th and May 23rd-25th as well as those people or entities whose charts have planets or angles from 2 to 4 degrees Virgo, Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius. Saturn’s last transit thru Virgo was 1978 to 1980. Review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Pisces), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Gemini) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Sagittarius) to understand what Saturn in Virgo from September 2007 to July 2010 will mean for you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) transits 18 to 19 degrees Pisces where it was from May to July 2008 and repeats from October 2008 to January 2009. Most affected are birthdays: March 8th-10th, June 8th-10th, September 10th-12th and December 10th-12th as well as persons or companies whose charts have planets or angles from 18 to 19 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Between May 2007 and January 2009 they will have needed freedom, experienced chaos or made radical changes in their lives. Uranus will be in Pisces until 2011 and supports social revolution. During 1920, the start of the previous Uranus in Pisces, Congress granted women the right to vote and the “Roaring 20s” began. Uranus in Pisces supports artistic creativity with innovation and intellect with sensitivity, leading to modern ways of helping those in need and suggesting that the only way that humanity will survive is by caring for each other and doing what is best for all, addressing humanitarian and global issues such as disaster relief, global warming, health care and political decisions made for the good of the masses, not just to support special interests and wealthy individuals.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) transits 22 to 23 degrees Aquarius, where it will repeat in July and August 2008 as well as in January of 2009. Neptune relates to intangibles such as imagination, inspiration, creative writing, art and dance as well as prayer, healing, dreams and escapism. Most affected are birthdays February 11th-12th, May 12th-13th, August 14th-15th and November 14th-15th as well as charts with planets or angles at 22-23 degrees Aquarius, Leo, Taurus or Scorpio. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see an error, disappointment, betrayal or weakness until it’s too late. The past dissolves to open space for the future. On the positive side this can be a time for faith, healing, psychic insights and artistic creativity. Under Neptune in Aquarius you can develop intuition, musical talents, practice meditation and pay more attention to your own inner guidance. You may also need to watch your back and balance faith with fact to see events clearly, not with wishful thinking or being attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) transits zero to 1 degree Capricorn where it will repeat in April, May and December as well as August thru October of 2009. Birthdays most affected are December 23rd, June 21st-22nd, March 21st and September 23rd as well as charts with planets or angles from 0 to 1 degrees Capricorn, Cancer, Aries or Libra. Between March 2008 and the fall of 2009 they will experience major changes in life such as marriage, divorce, relocation, career and/or financial challenges. These are times when counseling or therapy may be required and self-awareness/motivational work necessary. Now that Pluto has almost completed its transit thru Sagittarius, it has brought focus, transformation and paradigm shifts in travel, education, religion, politics and global trade. It has also brought religion to the forefront of world politics, war, conflict and the need to control. It will enter Capricorn to stay in December 2008.

Specific indications for the twelve signs are as follows:
 

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can gain more understanding by reading the signs of your Moon, rising sign and the sign on the midheaven or career house of your chart.

Nancy Bahlman is a professional astrologer with special interests in relating persons to locations using Astro*Cartography and Local Space Charts. Classes now forming.
(248) 546-5407 chartmates@aol.com