Pluto in Sagittarius

[Jim Eshelman]

Here are the dates Pluto was in Sagittarius one orbit ago. (Times are in UT.)

Entered Sagittarius: Jan 2 1758, 6:17 AM
Entered Scorpio: Jun 26 1758, 7:14 AM
Entered Sagittarius: Nov 2 1758, 11:48 PM
Entered Capricorn: Jan 28 1773, 5:37 PM
Entered Sagittarius: Jul 27 1773, 8:26 PM
Entered Capricorn: Dec 5 1773 NS, 1:38 AM

In brief:

Jan 2 - Jun 26 1758
Nov 2 1758 - Jan 28 1773
Jul 27 - Dec 5 1773

Any history buffs want to give an analysis of those years and a projection of what lies ahead of us between now and 2021?

[Jim Eshelman]

In music, the past pass of Pluto in Sagittarius was a time of elegance and the flourishing of genius.

There have been other similar stretches of years - but not many. In the 15 years of the last passage, the second generation of Bach's were still evident, Haydn was at the top of his mark, Handel was coming on strong with the first American and German performances of "The Messiah" (arguably the best known grand piece of classical music in the Western world), and Mozart was arising from infancy and establishing himself with touring and composition.

Beethoven at least was born! <g>

[Jim Eshelman]

I am loathe to speculate too widely on what the scientific and learning trends of 1758-1773 can tell us about Pluto in Sagittarius for the 21st Century, but a few prudent observations might be permissible.

One trend - but this mostly in Austria - seems to have been very substantial investment in education. Was this more than in other similar 15-year periods? I can't really tell. I do find, though, the founding of the Bavarian Academy of Science (1759), the first British school for the deaf and dumb opened by Braidwood in Edinburgh (1760), establishment of village schools in Prussia by Frederick the Great (1763), and Maria Theresa and Joseph II introduced educational reforms in Austria (1767) and then specifically reformed elementary school education (1770).

There appear to have been very substantial advances in energy production, which is certainly a big issue today; but I think the real issue while Pluto was in Sagittarius was far-reaching travel and exploration, imperialism and exploitation, and the support of commerce through greater energy production. One name dominates this area during this time: James Cook, who sailed on his first circumnavigation of the globe from 1768-71, and a second trip from 1772-75. I suspect he was supported by the first issue of the Nautical Almanac by Astronomer Royal Nevill Maskelyne in 1767. Science supporting more industrial power and laying the foundation for broader and faster travel centered around steam: Watt laid the groundwork by inventing the condenser in 1764, then Cugnot constructed the first steam road carriage in 1769. Science was also learning a lot about this new fangled thing called electricity: Joseph Priestly's "The History & Present State of Electricity" was published in 1767, the first lightning conductors were placed on high buildings in 1769, and Galvani (who gave his name to the galvanometer) discovered the electrical nature of nerve impulses in 1771.

This may give some clues to the progress that can be expected from Pluto's transit of Sagittarius this time around. I also anticipate (but this doesn't take any astrological insight, and it's a safe bet) very substantial advances in genetic science, discoveries leaping over each other so rapidly that the field refines itself every few years over the next decade and a half. Sagittarius represents the process of evolution, the maturation from beast to humanity, and genetic science arises naturally from this symbol.

[Jim Eshelman]

In examining the flow of political history during the last pass of Pluto through Sagittarius, I admit I was pretty surprised!

I expected to find a time when imperialism, unbalanced elitism, and chauvinistic government took a smack-down. The truth is quite the opposite! At present, Pluto seems to have worked as a dramatic intensification of Sagittarian themes. While it did lay the foundation for rebellion later, it was a time when governmental imperialism, class elitism, and abusive taxation.

In the United States, it reached from the French & Indian War (which was part of the larger Seven Years' War that probably should have been called World War I) to just before the Boston Tea Party. Here are some particular examples of what was happening:

BRITAIN: The French & Indian War gave Britain Canada, thus greatly expanding its land holdings in North America. Throughout the time, British control of India was expanding and their grip strengthening (including the First Mysore War 1767-69). George III came to the throne in 1760 (and we know where that led!). England captured Martinique, Grenada, Havana, and Manila in 1762. It continued to expand and attempt to tighten its economic and other controls over the American colonies.

AMERICAN COLONIES: Immediately after the French & Indian War, the British Sugar Act of 1764 taxed the American colonies for sugar. In 1765 Britain passed the Stamp Act for the specific purpose of taxing the American colonies (nine colonies drew up a declaration of rights and liberties that summer in opposition to the act, and it was repealed the following year). In 1767 England taxed the colonies on imports of tea, glass, paper, and dyestuffs (Boston portested). The New York colonial assembly refused to support the quartering of British troops and was suspended. In 1769 a privy council in London decided to retain the tea duty in the colonies; and the Virignia assembly protested against colonial treason trials held in Westminster, and was dissolved for this. 1770 brought the Boston Massacre, a fight between Boston civilians and British troops; and Britain repealed several duties but kept the one on tea. Two years later, in 1772, the Boston Assembly threatened secession and demanded rights for the colonies. Samuel Adams formed his Committees of Correspondence in Massachusettes to take action against England. And in 1773, the Virginia House of burgesses appointed a Provincial Committee of Correspondence and the Boston Tea Party was held on December 16, just 11 days after Pluto left left Sagittarius for Capricorn. (Enough is enough!) [NOTE: The Caplunar for the Boston Tea Party occurred about a day before the event and, of course, had an exactly Moon-Pluto conjunction at 0° Capricorn - part of a Grand Trine with Saturn and Uranus. For Boston, the Caplunar had Uranus on the Eastpoint.]

FRANCE, RUSSIA, & AUSTRIA: Various forms of territorial expansionism.

VATICAN vs. JESUITS: Beginning with the Jesuit suppresion in France in 1764, their gradual banning across Europe and eventual dissolution by Pope Clement XIV in 1773 was one of the ongoing suppressions of the time. (They were later restored provisionally in 1782 under Pope Pius VI, and universally in 1814 under Pius VII.)

[Jim Eshelman]

I think it would be useful if you would give a little general information on two core parts of mundane planet in constellation interpretations:
1) What does Pluto represent in mundane astrology?
2) What does Sagittarius (or any other constellation) represent? Are you taking a constellational meaning from the Aries = First House basis, as most Tropical astrologers do? Or are you working from a different model?

Personally, I recall using the outer planet transits through the constellations (Sidereal/SZ) compared to through the Signs (Tropical/TZ) back in the early '70's when I made my zodiacal "switch". I was trying to determine if the different timing, SZ being of course much later than TZ, was more appropriate to changes in mass consciousness. As far as I was concerned, my results with this comparison was just another nail in the coffin for the TZ.

Sidereally yours,
Matthew

[Jim Eshelman]

I think it would be useful if you would give a little general information on two core parts of mundane planet in constellation interpretations:
1) What does Pluto represent in mundane astrology?
2) What does Sagittarius (or any other constellation) represent? Are you taking a constellational meaning from the Aries = First House basis, as most Tropical astrologers do? Or are you working from a different model?

Fair 'nuff.

Pluto in mundane astrology means pretty much what it means in natal astrology - just on a larger scope. As "the exception to every rule, that which is singled out from the norm," it represents that which beats the odds and blows away arbitrary expectation. It is eccentric, extreme, separating, disruptive, etc.

I see two primary characteristics of Pluto in mundane astrology contexts. One is simply its tendency to intensify - in combination with other planets, it draws out the extreme, intense, hyper-accentuated (I would also use the word "purified," hoping it doesn't confuse too much) side of what it aspects.

The other side is that it is revolutionary! It is radical, uproots, opens and closes doors on stages or eras.

As some of my remarks above probably already make clear, I was hoping for clues that the latter theme would be most visible in looking at Pluto in Sagittarius - that we would see uprisings against elitism, overthrow of imperialism, etc. I think that isn't likely to be the case though, going by history. It seems the "hyper-intensification" element has been more at play in the past.

As for what are Sagittarius themes - I suggest looking at the constellations section of this forum, but especially the Sun-in-Sagittarius section at http://solunars.net/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=7#p23 to extract the main themes of the constellation Sagittarius. (No, it isn't a house-based model, you stinker. <g>)

Personally, I recall using the outer planet transits through the constellations (Sidereal/SZ) compared to through the Signs (Tropical/TZ) back in the early '70's when I made my zodiacal "switch". I was trying to determine if the different timing, SZ being of course much later than TZ, was more appropriate to changes in mass consciousness. As far as I was concerned, my results with this comparison was just another nail in the coffin for the TZ.

My experience also.

I don't think one needs more than the current passage of Neptune through Capricorn. Surely no key idea fits this better than "security foundation challenged," i.e., "insecurity." And from nearly the beginning of that passage, security has been the primary theme of our lives - whether it is the constant fear-mongering from a White House that has ruled through terror for six years, or the computer industry where "security issues" (viruses etc.) have ballooned and become a main feature of computer use, or whatever - "security" as a theme (meaning, insecurity as a reality) has become most people's day-to-day baseline.

It was certainly much easier for The Powers That Be to force aggressive militarism while Pluto stayed in Scorpio. It first left Scorpio for Sagittarius in the last days of December 2005, and I circulated a prediction that the whole framework of how the world looked would be changed by New Years. In fact, January 2006 marked the first huge cracks in the W. machine. It has been fascinating to watch how public opinion has adjusted as Pluto first settled into Sagittarius, then returned to Scorpio from July until late October (just before the mid-term elections, then came back to stay. (I correctly predicted the general trend of the 2006 elections solely on the fact that Pluto would go back into Sagittarius just before they occurred.)

I've been hoping for a multi-faceted ideological revolution as Uranus enters Pisces fully in 2010 and begins to square that Sagittarian Pluto. I don't know if I'll get my wish on that, but a boy hasta have a dream, eh?

[Jim Eshelman]

By the way, if anyone wants to take this back further, here are the dates Pluto was in Sagittarius two orbits ago. Dates are Old Style (Julian) calendar.

Jan 5 - May 23 1510
Nov 6 1510 - Jan 29 1525
Jun 26 - Dec 6 1525

Music did not then have a comparable period to that of the 18th Century. But there were some striking - literally revolutionary! - developments in the areas of religion and philosophy. It was the time of Luther, Erasmus, Spinoza, and More, for example. The de Medici's owned the papacy, and Machiavelli was a rising star. Martin Luther's posting of 95 proclamations in 1517 started the Protestant Reformation in Germany (and he was excommunicated as a heretic in 1520). Ignatius Loyola began to formulate his Exercitiae in 1521. The Bible began to appear in more languages, making it more accessible to the people, including the polyglot Bible published at Alcala in 1522.

In politics, 1510 was a year after King Henry VIII ascended the throne, and he dominates this entire period. Europe was in its usual state of flux and intrigue, but Henry's rule is the outstanding mark of the time. 1518 was a critical year when Cardinal Wolsey negotiated the Peace of London (between England, France, the Vatican, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire).

Science in the 16th Century wasn't what it was even in the 18th, to be sure - but some fascinating themes emerge that may be relevant today. At the beginning of this period there were early efforts to license physicians to increase accountability. Da Vinci invented the prototype of the water turbine in 1510. Copernicus articulated the heliocentric model in 1512. Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in 1514 and persisted in seeking the Fountain of Youth. Exploration was erupting all over, both of the New World in general and with excusions such as Magellan's (cf. Magellan's initial circumnavigation of the globe with Cook's journeys two and a half centuries later). Durer designed a military flying machine in 1522.

[SteveS]

Thank the Solar System and its mechanics for Jupiter doing its dance with Saturn-Pluto, or it would really be bad financially, imo.

[SteveS]

[Jim Eshelman]

Sometimes things are so simple that one simply doesn't think to say them.

Since 2005, when Pluto first entered Sagittarius, we experienced many instances of efforts to undercut or dismantle-transform religion planetwide, with a consequent retaliatory resurgence of traditional religious forces in response. (This is the basic "try to reshape or dismantle, then get strong retaliation" polarization works.) - There were other areas than religion (imperialism, economic disparity, abusive taxation, academia, cultural chauvinism, racial purity), but at the moment I'm talking about religion - an obvious Sagittarian theme.

One of the most important characteristics of the time, therefore, has been intensified religious fundamentalism inseparably interwoven with pursuit of political dominance. We've seen this from the religious Right in the U.S. The world has especially seen it from Islamist fundamentalists in the Middle East. The number of incidents of Islamist terrorism we tracked and analyzed since 2005 has been huge. It's been a basic hallmark of the time. One can say (with several meanings to be understood) that Pluto in Sagittarius is the passage of jihad.

Then... it went away. To some degree, it only went away from mass mind because (1) it was reduced, (2) the news media wasn't as focused on it, and (3) an American president absorbed all the fundamental threat juice that was poisoning mass mind. As Pluto moved into Capricorn, other things caught our attention.

Then... it came back. It's a major feature on the news (and, thus, of the focus of mass mind) for the last few weeks. And when did it come back? On August 9, Pluto retrograded for the last time into Sidereal Sagittarius, reactivating the decade and a half focus on imperialistic, fundamentalist religious extremism as a movement It would have been easy to predict "Renewed Islamist aggression beginning about August 9 and continuing until December 1 in the spirit of jihad." I just didn't think to say that.

By August 15, less than a week later, the Taliban had taken Kabul.