PLANETS IN ASTROLOGY

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                                                                 P L U T O





To some modern Western astrologers, Pluto () is the ruling planet of Scorpio. In Roman mythology Pluto was the god of the underworld and of wealth. Pluto and its moon Charon form a unique pairing in the solar system because Charon is so massive relative to Pluto. This means that they revolve in a 'dumbbell' formation around a common point in space lying between them, permanently locked in a 'power struggle' for dominance.[9] This is symbolic of the role Pluto has come to represent astrologically. Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the sun, spending on average approximately 21 years (20.6) in each sign of the zodiac. However, Pluto's orbit is so eccentric that this can vary dramatically, from 25 years in Cancer (1913 - 1938) to a mere 12 years in Scorpio (1983 - 1995), when its orbit was actually closer to the sun than Neptune's. In 2006 Pluto was reclassified by astronomers as a " dwarf planet " and therefore is no longer considered a planet in astronomy.

Astrologically Pluto is called "the great renewer", and is considered to represent the part of a person that destroys in order to renew, through bringing buried, but intense, needs and drives to the surface and expressing them, even at the expense of the existing order. A commonly used keyword for Pluto is "transformation". It is associated with power and personal mastery and the need to co-operate and share with another, if each is not to be destroyed. Pluto governs big business and wealth, mining, surgery and detective work, and any enterprise which involves digging under the surface to bring the truth to light. Pluto is also associated with the day Tuesday along with Mars.

Pluto is also associated with extreme power and corruption; the discovery of Pluto in 1930 coincided with the rise of fascism and Stalinism in Europe, leading to the Second World War.

It also coincided with the Great Depression and the major proliferation of organized crime in the United States. Its entry into Cancer in 1913, the sign in which it was later discovered, coincided with the First World War.

It is also associated with nuclear armament, which had its genesis in the research of the 1930's and 40's. Later on, it gave rise to the polarised nuclear stand off of the Cold War, with the mass consumer societies of the United States and other democracies facing the totalitarian state socialism of the USSR.

The discovery of Pluto also occurred just after the birth of modern psycho-analysis, when Freud and Jung began to explore the depths of the unconscious. In art, movements like Cubism and Surrealism began to deconstruct the 'normal' view of the world and reassemble it in new and sometimes disturbing ways.

In medicine Pluto seems to be associated with regenerative forces in the body involving cell formation and the reproductive system.

Pluto is considered by modern astrologers to be co-ruler of the 8th house with Mars.

Many traditional astrologers do not use Pluto as a ruling planet, but do use the planet for interpretation and predictive work, obliquely making reference to projections of influences from higher to lower dimensional spaces.

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OTHER SOLAR SYSTEM BODIES





See also: Asteroids in astrology, Trans-Neptunian objects



Some asteroids can be seen with the naked eye, such as Ceres (), Pallas () and Vesta (), but were not recognized as planetary, and perhaps not even noticed, until the early 1800s. In the early 1800s, 4 asteroids were scientifically recognized as planets, Ceres, Pallas, Juno () and Vesta. They qualify as minor planets by some definitions. Although asteroids have been known to both astronomers and astrologers for more than 200 years, they are often ignored by astrologers. The tradition of some astrologers casting minor planets originates with these four asteroids.

Since the 1970's,and the discovery of Chiron (), some astrologers have been casting the new "planet", although astronomers consider it a comet.

In the 21st century several new planet-sized bodies, including Sedna, Quaoar, and Eris, have been discovered but not yet incorporated into mainstream astrological predictions, although some more avant-garde groups attempt to incorporate them see Karmastrology.com.

Comets and novae have been observed and discussed for several thousand years. Comets in particular were portents of great interest to ancient people and given various astrological interpretations. Comets are not planets but they are planetary bodies. Both phenomena are rarely visible to the naked-eye, and are ignored by most modern astrologers.

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HYPOTHETICAL PLANETS





Various hypothetical planets in unmapped parts of the solar system have been proposed over the centuries by astronomers. For example, the idea of a planet called Vulcan (named after the Roman god of fire) that orbited closer to the sun than Mercury was popular for years with many astronomers. As much of the outer reaches of the solar system remain unmapped, astronomers continue to speculate about the existence of yet undiscovered planets.

Some astrologers have also hypotheticized about the existence of unseen or undiscovered planets. In 1918, the respected astrologer Sepharial proposed the existence of Earth's "Dark Moon" Lilith, and since then some astrologers have been using it in their charts. The twentieth century German school of astrology known as Uranian astrology also claimed that many undiscovered planets existed beyond the orbit of Neptune, giving them names such as Cupido, Hades, Zeus, Kronos, Apollon, Admetos, Vulcanus and Poseidon, and charting their supposed orbits. These orbits have not coincided however, with more recent discoveries by astronomers of objects beyond Neptune.

Other astrologers have focused on the theory that in time, all twelve signs of the zodiac will each have their own ruler, so that another two planets have yet to be discovered, namely the 'true' rulers of Taurus and Virgo. The names of the planets mentioned in this regard by some are again, Vulcan (ruler of Virgo) and also Apollo , the Roman god of the sun (ruler of Taurus). [10] Another version of this theory states that the modern planets discovered so far correspond to the elements known to the ancients: i.e Air (Uranus, god of the heavens), Water (Neptune, god of the sea) and Fire (Pluto, god of the underworld), which leaves the elements earth and Ether (the fifth element of the fiery upper air). In other words, it is claimed that the two planets to be discovered will be named after an Earth god or goddess (probable 'true' ruler of Taurus) and after Aether, the Roman and Greek god of the pure, upper air and stars (probable 'true' ruler of Virgo).


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planets_in_astrology

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THEMA MUNDI

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                                                        Pluto Revisited




I wanted to find out your thoughts about the recent news that Pluto isn't a planet. How does that affect astrology?  -- E-mail from Kirstin, August 28, 2006



The change in status itself doesn't alter Pluto's overall importance in our charts or in our lives. We see many non-planets that have a profound influence astrologically. Chiron, which I find very important in both natal and transiting charts, is called a "cometary body." I also use asteroids such as Juno, Ceres, Vesta and Pallas Athena in my interpretation of charts, and find that they add interesting and sometimes vital information. 


However, Pluto's label change does indicate that something is shifting. Our societal awareness always mirrors planetary energies, and vice versa. Discoveries of "new" planetary bodies always correspond with related developments on earth.


For instance, the planet Uranus was discovered in 1781. Uranus rules the air sign Aquarius, and represents innovative thinking, the desire for freedom, and the ability to rise above previous limitations. Within two years of the discovery of this planet, the first hot air and hydrogen balloons were invented, allowing humans to "fly" for the first time.


So if we are looking for reflections in our experience of Pluto's change in description, it may be that what we will find is a change in our perception of Plutonian issues.

Perhaps we're learning that it's time to reduce tyranny and dogmatism, and to dethrone the belief that the end justifies the means. We may be starting to see power struggles for what they really are. Individually, we may be redefining our personal destinies. We may even be starting to develop a different perspective on death -- seeing it as less of a traumatic event, and more as just another step in the ongoing process of a soul's evolution.


What is especially interesting to me is that this change of definition occurs just as Pluto stations direct (on September 4, 2006), and starts moving towards his rendezvous with the Galactic Center in late December 2006. This event occurs only once every 248 years, and marks a time of important endings and beginnings.

And, since Pluto was only discovered in 1930, we have never before been conscious of Plutonian issues when Pluto and the Galactic Center conjoined. It will be interesting to see the kinds of personal and political changes that are initiated over the coming 15 months.


http://www.northpointastrology.com/1537.html