t Pluto to r Mars

[Jim Eshelman]

Pluto's long-term entry into Capricorn this week reminded me that, oh, it has now finished with its long-running conjunction with my Mars. That is, Pluto last left partile conjunction with my Mars November 27 and won't be returning. I'll probably never have that transit again in my life except, possibly (but not likely), the semi-square in in 2050-2052.

So, while the transit may dip close enough to a lunar return angle to have a brief voice, the phase of my life where the aspect transiting Pluto conjunct natal Mars is trying to teach me something and mold me into something is over. It seems I should take inventory of what has occurred and, as an astrologer, see if my general view of the transit needs to be modified.

The period from first entering partile orb until last leaving it is May 24, 2019 through November 27, 2021. During those two and a half years, the exact conjunction occurred three times, in February 2020 (just as the coronavirus pandemic hit and the world - including my work world - went into emergency mode), July 2020 (more of the same and a time Marion and I were reinventing our wine events), and December 2020 (more of the same, as best I can recall).

BTW, my transit of Pluto to Mars was possibly modified by the concurrent Eris square to Pluto (and thus to my Mars) throughout the entire Pluto-Mars period and continuing for another year.

I came into this transit with my summary view of Pluto-Mars transits being:

Disobedient, aggressive, and possibly angry aspects of personality are unleashed. Emphasis is rightly placed on "me first." Sexually intense. Must express fierce psychological and physical energies. Old resentments are purged, but are first roused. Significant achievement possible.

My longer treatment read:

Energy rages in you, though unless you find sufficient outlets it can become bottled up, resulting in health problems, physical armoring, and ill temper. Positive outlets are easy to find, though. Your ambitions and capacity to work toward them are intensified. Potential for achievement is considerable. This disobedient, cantankerous aspect is not easy on personal relationships, since it rightly places an emphasis on "me first." Old anger and resentment is roused in you to be completed and thus purged. Potentially intimidating and difficult, considering yourself above the control or censor of others, be conscious of their sensitivities while giving open rein to your newly formidable power of accomplishment.

Also, for comparison, here is my usual treatment of natal Mars-Pluto aspects, for which I give a principle of: Forced or blocked power, belligerent individuality

Normally well-mannered, congenial, even docile behavior sits atop a stockpile of explosive force. It may be (1) suppressed, blocked personal power, (2) owned, disciplined, available personal power, or (3) pathologized, brutal, destructive power. (Health in this is reflected in how freely appropriate anger is expressed.) Must express this enormous force somehow (especially physical force), e.g., (1) directly, (2) attracting violence, or (3) eruptive health crises. Sexual energies explosive or poured into driven work. Vulnerable to burnout. Sensitive to pressure or coercion; pot-stirrers, resistant to outside control, defiant of arbitrary restrictions; willing to live “outside the norm” on social patterning. In a productive, on-track life: a mark of genius and distinctive creativity, acutely alive with a quiet energy; the others are trouble, can’t seem to avoid breaking or upsetting something.

Time to do some review and reflection...

[Jim Eshelman]

First, a look at the period 5/2019 to 11/21: It's very hard to separate this from the pandemic period. Obviously, my personal chart won't show a worldwide event, and my personal sojourn through this era hasn't been more extreme than most people's; in fact, I was positioned to get through it quite well. There is nothing about the pandemic's impact on me or my reaction to it that warrants a Pluto-Mars transit IMHO. Also, while 2/3 of this time was in the final take-down of Donald Trump (which might, indeed, be descriptive of me), the last third did not. I did have a couple of areas of added conflict, though it wasn't a primary characteristic of the time and perhaps no more pronounced than other periods (especially, say, the decade I practiced law and was in ongoing stressful combat decades ago).

My two earlier adult passes also were not contentious, though they had different kinds of growing pains. Pluto squared my Mars in 1980-82, my period at Astro-Computer - really the first time in my life I clocked in routinely at what I considered a real job. It was a time in my life that all sorts of martial energies were being released and awakened to new dimensions, and a time of much increased responsibility and power, and mostly constructive growing pains. Pluto then semi-squared my Mars in 1998-2000, a period with background conflicts during which I'd left one career behind and was (not yet successfully) positioning myself for a new direction. It was a rather "dismantled" period, too complex to summarize easily but probably overall more struggle breaking out of how I had always identified myself. I probably was less pleasant during those two years than many other years.

Coming to the just-completed conjunction, the first thing deserving comment is that it wasn't a bad health period. I fully expected it to be, but it wasn't. In fact, considering the possibilities, it probably has to be considered an unusually good health period. I had recently come out of a period of active heart disease plus high blood pressure, both of which had been brought under control and have stayed that way for the intervening years. I lived through a pandemic with no adverse health impact at all. My chronic light asthma (despite the Pluto-Mars conjunction in Sagittarius) has been unchanged despite a worldwide broncho-pulmonary disease circulating. I was long overdue for a colon check and, when I got it, everything was fine (even though Mars-Pluto combinations are famous for colon issues). Diet was surely a preserving factor - we've been eating keto this entire time. Given age and condition, strength is far more descriptive than disease (and is consistent with the increased martial energies of the earlier aspects).

If I learned anything that reshaped me in this regard, it was a slow, gradual adjustment in how I handle available energies. This is so subtle that I hesitate to attribute it to the aspect (and was both required by and provided by the simple process of aging). It's far, far too extreme to say, "must express fierce psychological and physical energies." I don't know that "significant achievement" marked the time.

Similarly, though there were certain new conflicts that arose, it is offtrack to say that old anger and resentment needed to be roused so that it could be purged. That was probably evident in earlier cycles and less necessary based on age and earlier life experiences.

But I do recognize the basic psychological descriptors listed, don't of which contributed to the conflicts and all of which aren't that far removed from me throughout life - but came to a head. I'l certainly own 'disobedient,' though I've gotten more graceful with it. Conflicts somewhat centerd on my "me first" emphasis, or, rather, a sense that there are places I won't compromise what's important. (I'd say this was the prerogative of being older, but I think people only label it that when you're older <g>). Yes, I do hold that in certain sovereign areas, I am most definitely 'above the control or censure of others.'

From the natal Mars-Pluto notes, I don't get much - other than to say that my life conditions have fit the description of "a productive, on-track life" far better than the other descriptions.

[Jim Eshelman]

The above notes will let me slightly tweak my standard interpretations. I see some simple effects but admit to remaining puzzled - For an aspect of that much power, I really expected a far more powerful impact, either bludgeoning me or having me do the bludgeoning. I'll keep thinking of this a while and let you know if I come up with any clearer insights. In some ways, this seems to have been a dumb note - barely I never noticed while it was happening other than, perhaps, for timing a little aggravation.

[Jim Eshelman]

For about the first two years of this transit, the expected Pluto-Mars expression is evident in my very loud, very passionate, very driven stand against Donald Trump. However, I'm not clear what the last 10-12 months then represented after that campaign was resolved.

[Jim Eshelman]

Just to rule out a few considerations other forms of astrology might raise...

The Pluto transit to my Mars occurred in my 4th house. During the transit, there were no disruptions, fires, or breakages in my home, nor interruptions with formative family. (Both parents are dead, relationships with siblings hasn't significantly altered in years, no strong connection to anyone back at the birthplace.)

Pluto first crossed my IC to enter my 4H in March 2006, and finally move in for a long run in October 2007. It will leave for the last time on Christmas of this year, entering 5H (i.e., ecliptically conjoining the Campanus 5th cusp). It is true that during this 15-year period I moved from the place that had been my home for 45 years (most of my adult life), although it occurred roughly in the middle - at the end of 2014, over 7 years after Pluto entered the house. On the one hand, this is accurate; on the other hand, it's a pretty big basket for the ball to hit. (Pluto was 19° Sagittarius when we moved.)

There were not significant events in houses ruled by Pluto or Mars during this transit (no surprise to me <g>). These (in both zodiacs and in nearly all house systems) would by my 3rd and 8th.

In my nativity, Mars has only one 90°-series midpoint, which some think would affect the way transits to my Mars manifest: Ma = Mo/Ve. There were no shifts or impacts in my marriage (my only romantic or sexual involvement during these years) that would seem expressive of Pl = Ma = Mo/Ve, though I suppose some friendships experienced shifts strong enough to reflect it. (Going to the 45° series could add Mo/Pl and Su/Ju: Other than some money strains, none of this is very squarely descriptive.)

[SteveS]

I went through the same transit with Pluto 180 my Natal Mars. With this angular in a SLR timed a major lower back injury involving 2 lower disk experiencing intense pain for several months. My mobility was seriously affected and marked the final end of my physical activity doing normal yard work. This transit marked a time period in my life where I had to make major physical adaptations/tranformations in my life. At one time I thought I would have to have a major operation on my back, but once I got my pain issues resolved with an alternative medicine, I elminated the need for an operation. A couple of other times during this transit, I think angular in SLRs, I experienced intense anger with a couple of issues. But the older one gets-- the more aggravation one experieces.

[Jim Eshelman]

Steve, this highlights one of the great problems of remaining before us to resolve in astrology: Why does a transit sometime seem so dramatic and other times does not? And, in either case, why does it manifest in one particular way rather than another?

Your and my experiences were so vastly difference. One can explain this to a certain extent - but, I think, not enough. It can be explained partly by random exposure to circumstances mixed with personal choices. For example, you have a house and did lawn work, I do almost no similar activities, so your choices create a different set of conditions - and yet, I might just as easily have hurt my back by lifting a heavy printer the wrong way, so the conditions aren't all that different.

Your natal Mars is well-aspected (better than mine, overall), but you got the worse outcome. Your Mars is in Gemini and mine in Sagittarius, but I don't see that sign difference characterizing the differences in our experiences.

You have Ma = Su/As. I suppose the Cosmobiologist would say that this shows effects on the physical body. That's the best I have on this, and it still doesn't go far enough, isn't clear enough, and doesn't have a corresponding counter-effect in my chart.

Before the aspect was exact, I had transiting Pluto (near but not on) my 2019 SSR MC - probably not close enough to Mars. In the 2020 SSR, though it wasn't angular, I had Moon tightly tied into Saturn, two Marses, and a Pluto, with transiting Mars-Pluto 15' wide, but no health or similar effect. You didn't have it angular or connected to Moon in any of the last three SSRs.

You had your worst effects when it was exactly angular in a lunar return. I had it near SLR angles numerous times (I'd have to check to see if there was an exact dead-on when it was partile; I don't remember), but, again, didn't have any really obvious outward events.

These remain interesting puzzles: (1) Why some transits are much stronger and more obvious than others. (2) Given that a transit will operate, why does it manifest in one particular way instead of another?

[Jim Eshelman]

I had transiting Pluto partile or very close to conjunction with my Mars and closely angular in the following SLRs:

2020: 3/23
2021: 10/17

Not many! Adding the demi-SLRs adds no more.

There were other cases where Pluto on my Mars was foreground, but not where it was SUPER foreground. I wasn't without opportunity to suffer damage due to a close angularity, but I didn't have a LOT of chances. (The first of these was a week or so after we left the office and I began working from home for over a year with almost no exposure or even going outside. The other was recently, just after I returned from the birthday vacation, and was back in the office working.)

[SteveS]

Jim, I understand where you are coming from. But I think I understand the differences with our same Pluto to our Mars transit with the difference of the math/geometry in our Natals. I have a Direct Midpoint of Mars/Uranus = Vertex (Eclipto--part of how my Natal Mars is mathemactically constructed in my Natal), and I understand your doubts about eclipto midpoints and Vertex related symbolism. But you yourself taught me the Vertex is a sensitive chart point. Mars/Uranus is the par-excellent cosmobiologist combo for accidents.

Here are the accidents that have happened in my life. A severe angle injury that ended my football season Junior year in High School: a sever muscle strain playing Little League Baseball (required Hernia operation); Walked through a glass door-- Senior in College almost bled to death- (required operation); severe back injury playing Basketball Senior in High Schhol (required 10 days of traction flat on my back); and 2020 steped in goffer hole and severly damaged two lower disks (Pluto-Mars). Out of all of these accidents the Mars-Pluto was the most brutal. My Mars/Uranus = Vertex explains very well to me these accidents in my life. I had a high grade psychic tell me when I died I would not know what hit me--she told me this before I even knew anything about astrology. So, if one day you never see me post again on your forum--you will figure out something "hit" me in an accident.

Jim, you know how much I respect your work---Virgo to Virgo. I have always beleived your excellence in your work comes from your Mercury/Uranus = Vertex midpoint. The reason I beleive this is because all the research the Cosmobiologist conducted said Mercury-Uranus combo was the Signiture for par-excellent astrologers, and I truly beleive there is no better research astrologer than you , at least to one I have open communications . I may not buy into all of your astrology work, but I damn sure buy into the astrology you have taught me on this forum applying to my style of astrological practice. Hey, we made it through our same Pluto to Mars as team players ; speaks for itself.

[SteveS]

I should also add Jim to your Natal Vertex the direct midpoint of Mercury/Jupiter =Vertex. Looking at your vertex with direct midpoints resonates loud to me looking from the outside, particularily when I look at the words from COSI with Mercur/Jupiter, adding Mercury/Uranus = Vertex. From what I have learned from you, these two direct midpoints speaks volumes to me.

[Jim Eshelman]

I have a Direct Midpoint of Mars/Uranus = Vertex... I understand your doubts about eclipto midpoints and Vertex related symbolism.

My bigger doubt here is that this isn't on your Mars axis. It'ss about your Mars, but it isn't triggered when your Mars is triggered. By this I mean that, if I were looking for all your Mars related character traits, I'd look for midpoint pictures that involved your Mars in any fashion; but to incorporate mixpoints to interpret a transit, progression, or directions to your Mars, we need midpoints actually being triggered at the same time.

This is consistent with Ebertin's teachings in Cosmobiology: all of the hundreds of examples I saw from him in his many books dealing with directions and transits always were done this way. Some of the examples were more complicated that I'd personally like to go (including transiting midpoints etc.), but they always focused on the axis of the aspect (e.g., a very full, detailed example would be natal Mars and its midpoints, Pluto to Mars, Pluto to Mars' natal midpoints, transiting midpoints to Pluto and to natal Mars - but all on the same axis).

That's why I was willing to concede that your Ma = Su/As might be acceptable as a descriptor, Cosmobiology (and, even more Uranian) relates Sun to the physical body. Now that I'm home, I can confirm Ebertin doesn't mention this specifically for Ma = Su/As, but the principle is there nonetheless.

Jim, you know how much I respect your work---Virgo to Virgo. I have always beleived your excellence in your work comes from your Mercury/Uranus = Vertex midpoint. The reason I beleive this is because all the research the Cosmobiologist conducted said Mercury-Uranus combo was the Signiture for par-excellent astrologers

(Thanking you for the compliment.) If one is to use midpoints for this, a less controversial path is in two of my most important midpoint contacts: Mercury is at Uranus/Pluto 22' and Jupiter-Pluto 30'.

[SteveS]

I think I understand your doubts.Since the Vertex is a sensitive point-- its direct midpoint of Mars/Uranus = Vertex is the only way I see how to tie my Natal Mars into all of my life accidents with serious injuries. I could count my Mars in the 8th H explaning the malefic accidents but Houses are way down my list for interpreations. It just seems to me my Natal Chart and its Mars should offer a simple explanation for my life accidents and the only simple explanation to me is the Mars/Uranus =Vertex. No big deal Jim.

[Jim Eshelman]

It just seems to me my Natal Chart and its Mars should offer a simple explanation for my life accidents and the only simple explanation to me is the Mars/Uranus =Vertex.

Right. I get it. Mars trine Jupiter doesn't really do it

You do have Moon in Scorpio, exactly conjunct Antares, in 32' sesqui-square to Mars. That's your strongest Mars aspect (in the sense that the hard aspect is more energetic than the 8' Mars-Jupiter trine). I don't have accident statistics to back this, but Moon in a Mars constellation, exactly conjunct a malefic Mars star, half a degree from hard aspect to Mars sounds to me like a simple explanation for unwanted Mars experiences - simpler, in fact, than anything involving midpoints.

Though I don't think it's as big a deal, there is also your 44' Sun-Uranus square (perhaps an add-on), which many astrologers consider accident-prone.

[SteveS]

Jim wrote:

You do have Moon in Scorpio, exactly conjunct Antares, in 32' sesqui-square to Mars.

Matthew once told me when our lights are afflicted there is greater probability of bodily harm in the life. You and both know about Matthew's car accident. I think both his lights were afflicted.

[Jim Eshelman]

That had been what the data suggested to thst point but, you're right, that's not what intervening work has shown.

On transits to progressions, I wanted these day by day for probably 30 and constantly marked them as having no show for the day (except luminaries).

In any case, the semi-square to progressed Mars leaving orb is only in a few days - before Christmas.