One thing we might be wondering right now is why the time is suddenly ripe for the US to embrace the Black Lives Matter movement. Marches to protest the murder of George Floyd by the police (represented by Capricorn – the structural foundations of society) have spread like wildfire around the world. Even Mitt Romney is marching in protest.
The killing of black people in America isn’t new. When black people were brought to this country in slave ships, many died along the way. Others were killed trying to escape, or if they didn’t behave. After the civil war, black people were killed as they tried to make a new life post-slavery. Black people were killed during Jim Crow. Black people were killed during the civil rights movement. Black people are consistently killed by police at higher rates than white people. We can argue the reasons, but the statistics are clear.
The Black Lives Matter movement began officially in 2014 after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. At the time, the world was in the throes of a challenging square alignment between Uranus, planet of revolution, in the sign of Aries the warrior, to Pluto, planet of destruction and transformation, in the sign of Capricorn the structural foundation. This major planetary cycle lasted between 2010 and 2017, overseeing shifts of power and control across the globe. And yet, the BLM movement was marginalized and not taken seriously until the killing of George Floyd. So why now?
The (Sibley) chart for the United States featured Pluto, the planet of death and creative destruction, in the second house of possessions and money. The early slave owners for the most part considered their slaves possessions rather than human beings (we could say the same thing about women, but that’s a matter for another post). The idea of slavery is intricately woven in with money and possessions – not only were slaves possessions but they were also the cheap labor that enabled great wealth to be built. Of course the US wasn’t the only country to benefit from slavery: most of Europe allowed slavery in colonial areas, and the slave dealers in west Africa were also enriched by the slave trade and parts of Africa still practice slavery. But the wealth amassed by the United States has been far greater than any of these other nations, and slavery is one factor for this great wealth.
Pluto takes approximately 247-248 years to travel around the Sun, and to travel around the zodiac so people don’t experience a return of Pluto to their natal Pluto. But countries do, and I wrote about this in an analysis of the Roman empire. The commonly accepted chart for the United States has Pluto at 27 degrees Capricorn, and transiting Pluto is currently at about 24 degrees Capricorn so the exact alignment of transiting Pluto won’t occur until February 2022. But the “orb of influence” has already begun and you can catch up with all of my articles about the US Pluto return here.
As you may know Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto have been traveling pretty closely together in the skies for some time now. The much anticipated and feared conjunction of Saturn to Pluto in January 2020 didn’t create the big economic bang that astrologers were looking for, but that was the time when the Coronavirus was beginning to explode out of China across the globe, wreaking destruction and economic distress. Because transiting Pluto (and Saturn) are so close to Pluto in the US chart, all of these planets are putting pressure on the US Pluto and exposing the fractures in the values of the nation, the economic system, and the relationship to black people – all factors tied in with the symbolism of the second house. So in February, transiting Saturn (tests and challenges) hits natal Pluto and we see the beginnings of Covid-19 in the US and the crash of the stock market. In March, transiting Jupiter collides with transiting Pluto and we see an explosion of ideological conflict over masks and conspiracy theories.
Then in mid-May, transiting Jupiter retrogrades back and hits the US Pluto, and George Floyd is murdered, instigating an eruption which begins to expand (Jupiter) outside the Black communities into mainstream consciousness to the point where now municipal governments are considering measures to defund the police (Pluto in Capricorn).
Currently as I write this on June 10th we have four planets retrograde. Between now and mid-October there will be between four and seven planets retrograde – a huge number, statistically. When there is a great deal of retrograde energy, we find ourselves going back over old territory, hopefully so that it can be fixed. Pluto’s role is to dig up the traumas and darkness which lies hidden in the shadows, but Pluto also presides over the wealth that can be found underground – the gems and valuable minerals that we find when we brave the darkness of those shadows. So this is a time of great challenge, but also with the potential to offer great release and transformation.
It won’t be an easy summer, though. Mars (aggression) will move into fiery Aries, its own sign, and in late July and August Mars will begin to face off in a challenging square to Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto that will continue for a long time since Mars will turn retrograde while in the midst of that challenging aspect. On top of this, the US Progressed Moon is currently triggered by all of the Capricorn planets, and will be in the line of fire of Mars just as it conjoins the US Natal Pluto. Then the final hit of transiting Saturn to the US Pluto will take place right in time for the US election in early November, and then in December Mars completes its conflict cycle to US Pluto.
When we’re dealing with this kind of volatility, it’s important to stay focused on the goal. Yes there will be strife and probably violence. Yes there will be conflict and political disruption. And this is even before transiting Pluto hits the US Pluto over the next few years. But before something can be repaired it sometimes must be broken apart. The political system in the United States has been patched together over 250 years, and it no longer functions. Donald Trump is not the cause – he’s the instrument. We have to remember that until recently, nearly 50% of the country approved of him (and apparently some of my readers, as well). All of these planetary alignments are simply exposing the fissures that are already there, and once they have broken down we will be able to rebuild a political system that hopefully will work for all Americans.
Thank you for your insights. I have 2 questions; do you know the astrology of George Floyd? How does he intersect with the U.S. chart?
Also, these upheavals reminds me that around 2024, Pluto will go into Aquarius and the last time it did that wasn’t it the time of the American and French Revolutions? Some of the Pluto in Leo generation will still be alive and active, I hope. Thanks For your thoughts
Patricia, I did look at the chart of George Floyd with the US chart and couldn’t find an intersection that was astrologically meaningful. And yes, Pluto was last in Aquarius in 1777-1778, stimulating the revolutionary fervor around the world. And yes, I do believe there will be a similar revolutionary fervor around the world and we are already seeing that in current world events.
Wow! That means he wasn’t karmic right.? Can you tell us Floyd’s Sun Moon or any significant planets? Personally as an African American Woman myself who lives in a violent neighborhood I have to be triple careful Day or night; in fact I use my EARS more often to be first aware of danger than my eyes. I do like being at home though I am an early Pisces Capricorn ASC and Cancer moon born in 1956; these upheavals are distressing but I am hoping and have hoped for a long time for Pluto to go into Aquarius and get the moving and shaking going. I have gone from being very Conservative in my youth to progressive and I love it!
Thank you for responding.
Hi Patricia, I don’t think you can say he wasn’t karmic – I think it’s pretty clear that his death has affected global consciousness more than any others. And certainly there are karmic indications in his own natal chart and progressions, such as the fact that his progressed Moon opposed his natal Pluto and squared his progressed Pluto.
It’s important to remember that there is a dark side of revolution as well – remember what happened in the French revolution when the rebels turned against each other in the Reign of Terror. I was a part of the revolution in the 1960s, at least that’s how we thought about it, and it was not all peace and light as I’m sure you know! It would be a lot easier if the world consciousness would surrender easily and move into the Aquarian age of social justice, but humans being what they are I’m not sure how likely that is.
Yes. I understand. Well I was a child 4 to 13 years old for the 1960s and the deaths of JFK and RFK had a large impact on my life. Later on I could say that I had high hopes that Pluto in Sag would bring about religious understanding and harmony yet it did the opposite, sadly. I guess we will have to wait and see. One thing I can say is that I have never seen the like as such people who are devoted to Trump; it’s cult like and I fear that they’re not going anywhere; they will just find another “charismatic ” person to advance their causes. Please keep safe and thank you for responding.
Thank you for your astrologically based insights, Lynn. It seems that astrology can say some helpful and meaningful things about the water the fish swim in; and in times of crises in particular, confusions that can be so disorienting to fish- understanding. Thank you for your significant insights about the larger picture, insights that can illuminating and protective in times of threatening darkness.
Thanks for your comments, Larry – that’s beautifully stated.
Steven Forrest has said the sea-goat Capricorn’s end point is integrity and solitude. Integrity meaning the inner self and outer self match. I get the solitude associated with this corona virus! Integrity as a result of Capricorn in society’s structural materialization of its values. Could you talk about the spiritual dimensions of Capricorn–the dolphin tail-goat head rising from the depths of the ocean to scale the heights? it seems to be getting a bad rap in the 2020 pile up of planets.
Steven himself is a Capricorn and well-versed in its ways. :) Capricorn’s tail is that of a fish, rather than a dolphin. You had asked this question elsewhere, Joy, and I covered it in my facebook post here. https://www.facebook.com/Astrodynamics/photos/a.10150099040469525/10158420426029525/
The obscene amount of anger and rage going on is also the Eris SQ Pluto (again with Rx Pluto) the 2 are extremely slow (yesterday 0 02′) Since Eris and Pluto are so slow,… its been waaayyy to long for them to come together- and when you see the whole earth falling apart— for different reasons,… this is a part of it as well. Eris has been noticeable since 2005 so is really worth adding because her FIRST enthusiastic event was trashing Pluto to nothing. :-)
Hi Lynn;
I truly enjoyed your astrological insights! I am too astrologer (albeit an amatuer, lol compared to yourself) and I remember reading that the last time Pluto was in Capricorn it was the time of the American Revolution (The British ‘Red~Coats’ were treating the colonists harshly, much like certain police officers of today. And much like George Floyd, Crispus Attucks a black man was the first casualty during the Boston Massacre, which went on to cause an uprising against the British elites/monarchy) & can you also elaborate on my favorite Neptune in Pisces(I’m a sun sign Piscean) the last time Neptune was in it’s very own zodiac sign of Pisces, it was the era of the American Civil War (an event that began due to the chattel slavery of African~Americans) Once again the brutal treatment of African-Americans are on full display.
Thank you!
Darrell
Hi Darrell, thanks for your comments and yes, Pluto entered Capricorn in 1762 and began disassembling the governmental structures of colonialism. Regarding Neptune in Pisces, Neptune actually entered Pisces in 1845. You might find this article about Neptune in Pisces interesting.