MAY 2005

There is an old saying that death comes in threes. As Pluto turned retrograde three deaths occurred which were very public and showed the many faces of the Plutonian experience. Pluto is the planet which rules control, manipulation, power, transformation and death. Pluto’s sign, Scorpio, rules criminals at its lowest and the risen Phoenix at the highest level. The deaths which occurred were the attorney, Johnnie Cochran, Terry Schaivo and Pope John Paul II. Although you might wonder how they are connected, together they represent facets of the ways Pluto can be used. Johnny Cochran’s words were strong enough to convince the jury to acquit OJ. Terry Schaivo was a private individual whose life of 15 years in a coma and the decision to end it became an archetype of family and political power struggles. Pope John Paul II was the symbol of spirituality for not only Roman Catholics but for the world. He was a Taurus, the sign of loyalty and perseverance, who was elected on his second Saturn return and presided for almost an entire Saturn cycle as Pope. He was also the most widely traveled Pope in history. In ancient days eclipses were seen as omens of rise and fall of those in power. The Solar Eclipse of 4/8 was in the sign of Aries, initiation and the Lunar Eclipse of 4/24 was in Scorpio, the sign of transformation, commitment and death. The Sun in Taurus until the 20th supports loyalty, perseverance, beautification, improvement and attention to the earth with planting and gardening. The Sun in Gemini after the 20th supports communication, exchange of ideas, debating, voting, teaching, training, commerce, the everyday work force and working with your hands.

Mercury (communications, writing, contracts, commerce) in Aries until the 12th supports initiation, pioneering, new thought and spontaneity. It can also be abrupt or impulsive. During the retrograde of Mercury in March, Pope John Paul II was in the last stages of his life. During the retrograde is a time of transition when the Roman Catholic church will be honoring and acknowledging the legacy of John Paul II and working to elect the new Pope. In Taurus after the 12th, Mercury supports loyalty, perseverance, beautification and improvement. It focuses thoughts on new growth, gardening, yard and home maintenance and the earth in general.

Venus (values, money, social connections) in Taurus until the 10th values beautification, improvement, rehabilitation, security, comfort and pleasure. It joins the Sun in Taurus to support the earth, gardening, planting and flowers as well as making things and situations better. Venus in Gemini after the 10th values all methods of communication – writing, speaking, teaching and training – as well as commerce, working with your hands and the everyday work force. It joins the Sun in Gemini after the 20th in supporting these.

Mars (initiation, energy, aggression) in Aquarius until the 2nd supports humanitarian and global efforts such as Tsunami disaster relief. Mars in Pisces after the 2nd supports sympathy, service and sensitivity to the needs of others. The Pisces fishes are the symbol of the Papacy, so there will be attention to the action of electing and installing the new Pope in Rome.

Jupiter (expansion, opportunity, optimism, travel, foreign trade, education, religion) retrogrades from 10 to 8 degrees Libra, where it was in November 2004 and will be in June and July 2005. Jupiter will retrograde until June 5th when it turns to direct motion at 8 degrees. Birthdays affected most are October 1st-3rd, March 29th-31st, December 31st-January 2nd and June 30th-July 2nd as well as persons whose charts have planets or angles from 8 to 10 degrees Libra, Aries, Cancer and Capricorn. Jupiter in Libra brings opportunity thru mediation, cooperation, fairness and arbitration to achieve win-win outcomes. Ruled by Venus, Libra brings a renewed interest in romance, relationship, culture, decorating, art and music. Attention to these helps nurture each other, sharing each person’s abilities and unique talents for self-expression.

Saturn (structure, foundation, responsibility) transits 21 to 24 degrees Cancer where it was in August/September 2004 and January and February of 2005. Saturn entered Cancer in June 2003, bringing restructuring, career shifts and changes in responsibility to Cancerians. Saturn in Cancer has raised issues of security, new families, residence, consolidation of family resources as well as challenges in food service, building, real estate, care-taking and mortgage businesses. In the larger sense of family, Saturn in Cancer supports pride in one’s country and creation of political, religious, philosophical and spiritual families. This month’s transit affects those born July 13th-16th, April 11th-14th, October 14th-17th and January 11th-14th as well as those whose charts have planets or angles at 21 to 24 degrees Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra. Saturn leaves Cancer at the end of July, so it is helpful to review what was happening in your life about 30 years ago, during the half-cycle of 14-15 years (in Capricorn), the quarter cycle of 7 years (in Aries) and 21 years, the third quarter cycle (in Libra) to understand what the last two years was meant to teach you.

Uranus (freedom, rebellion, surprise, invention technology) transits 9 to 10 degrees Pisces where it will repeat in July 2005 and February 2006. During 1920, the previous cycle of Uranus in Pisces, the US Congress granted women the right to vote. People whose birthdays are February 28th-March 1st, September 2nd-3rd, May 31st-June 1st and December 1st-2nd will experience chaos, need freedom or make radical changes at these times as well as persons whose charts have planets or angles at 9 or 10 degrees Pisces, Virgo, Gemini or Sagittarius. Uranus will be in Pisces for 7 years. It supports social revolution and combines artistic creativity with innovation and intellect with feminine 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 members of society, addressing humanitarian and global issues, such as Tsunami relief, not just what individuals or special interests promote.

Neptune (sensitivity, inspiration, escapism, dreams, trust) transits 17 degrees Aquarius where it turns retrograde on the 19th. It repeats this degree in June 2005 as well as February and Fall of 2006. Neptune relates to intangibles such as imagination, art and inspiration as well as escapism and the process of healing. During the retrograde (May thru October 2005) will be a good time to release addictive habits, attitudes or behaviors. Birthdays most affected are February 6th, August 10th, November 9th and May 8th as well as charts with planets or angles at 17 degrees Aquarius, Scorpio, Taurus or Leo. Neptune transits bring a lack of focus or direction, a sense of drifting or the inability to see a betrayal, disappointment, error or weakness until it’s too late. On the positive side this can be a time for healing, faith, psychic insights and creativity. Under Uranus in Pisces you can develop artistic or musical talents, practice meditation and follow intuition and inner guidance. But you may also need to watch your back and balance faith with practicality and fact to see events clearly, not with wishful thinking or remaining attached to the dream or vision of what you think might have been.

Pluto (power, control, resources, transformation) retrogrades from 24 to 23 degrees Sagittarius, repeating where it was in January/February and will be in November/December and the fall of 2006. Birthdays most affected are December 15th-16th, June 14th-15th, March 14th-15th and September 16th-17th as well as charts with planets or angles at 23-24 degrees Virgo, Sagittarius, Gemini and Pisces. From January 2005 and Fall of 2006 they will experience major changes in life such as career, relocation, marriage, divorce or financial problems. During these times personal counseling or therapy may be required and self-awareness and motivational work is valuable. Pluto has passed the 20th degree and is two-thirds thru the sign of Sagittarius, bringing transformation and paradigm shifts in education, travel, religion, politics and global trade.

Specific indications for the 12 signs are as follows:

Here are the Specific indications for the 12 signs

Note: In addition to reading about your sun sign, you can get additional information by reading about your moon sign, rising sign and the sign on the Midheaven 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