Post by John Grove
As we move into 2018-2019 we can see now the increase in anti-scientific bias on the part of the Trump administration evidenced in their recent censoring in the Center for Disease Control (CDC)of certain words like science- based, fetus, transgender, and diversity. One can see where this is going. Science- based evolution is a theory and not a fact and creationism will be given equal footing by this administration (Betsy DeVos Federal Dept of Education) . Fetus will be removed in favor of a less depersonalizing term that will support the agenda for anti-birth control and abortion (Family Planning) and pander to the religious right and the religious fundamentalists. Transgender and diversity will no longer be accepted as an identity or used in studies to define the specific epidemiology of minorities- muslims, black, hispanic, gay, lesbian, transgender, etc.
Climate change deniers in the Trump administration will continue to refute the global warming hypothesis. And fossil fuels will be on the rise for consumers in the USA as we see envirnmental protections disappear.
These trends are troubling and in my estimation will only get worse as the applying conjunction of Saturn and Pluto occurs in December 2019. I am not usually a mundane astrologer interpreting events in the here and now as evidence of planetary trends on a human-social scale. But Richard Tarnas has studied these trends in terms of archetypal astrology to show evidence historically of how aspects of trans-Martian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus and Pluto) are expressed in collective life and society. In his treatise, Cosmos and Psyche, Tarnas has identified the 2019 conjunction of Saturn and Pluto as a significant time for social-political and religious trends that are just starting to manifest in the Trump administration and will reach full flowering by December 2019.
What does this mean on a social and collective level? Although I certainly do not have the authority to dismiss the huge orbs of 15 degrees of Tarnas’ conjunctions between Saturn and Pluto which occurs soon; I certainly see in December 2019 the applying conjunction within 2 degrees between Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn as concretely manifesting Trump’s vision. This may result in a number of troubling trends that blend the archetype of repression, reactionary and repressive empowerment (Tarnas, p. 219-Cosmos and Psyche).
Tarnas points out that historically the beginning of World War I (1914), the beginning of the cold war and the State of Israel (1947) and the Marine corps barracks terrorism attack in 1982 all occurred with the conjunction of Saturn and Pluto.
Now, as I perceive the nuclear capabilities of north Korea and our Trump’s administration’s threats to go to war without aggressive diplomatic efforts (the State Department has shrunk in effectiveness during Trump), I see the situation in Asia getting more hostile. Likewise with the latest proclamation that the American Embassy will be moved to Jerusalem as the Capitol of Israel, I worry about the Palestinian state which he did not give equal support. This pronouncement has religious overtones to the Eschatology of Religious fundamentalism which sees the ‘last days’ as precursor to the final judgement by Christ- a time when Israel will return to Jerusalem. The final battle of the last days will occur in Jerusalem according to Biblical prophesy. (Source Christian Spirit Publications). Trump administration censorship of CDC scientific language has worrisome fundamentalist overtones. The reversal of the Department of Environmental Protection statues and refusal to participate in the Paris Accord will continue to fuel reactionary policies by the Trump administration. The illogic of these taken together, sounds like this: If we are in the last days, we should just let the world play out using God’s plan instead of Man’s plan. There is also a general refutation of the United Nations by the Trump administration as evidence of ‘global government’ and not working in the interests of bilateral negociations.
So as an astrological psychology practitioner, I am aware that at this time, more than any other, is an age of anxiety in which people are giving up through distractions by mass media and entertainment; drugs and alcohol overuse; being consumer oriented first and foremost and going into debt to achieve greedy goals (like our Legislature); the large numbers of people with mental illness (which in my practice as a psychotherapist I see a full caseload); and the specific lack of social responsibility and laxness in social discourse and governmental legislation (TAX bill).
So I want to sound the alarm to say the situation may only get worse and we as citizens can do something about it- VOTE and become politically active and spiritually grounded. Have confidence in yourself and what you fear and motivate yourself to act on these positive values for the betterment of humanity.
First appeared on John Grove’s blog.
Image of Saturn from NASA website, by Hubble telescope 2004.
Thanks for sharing these deep and disturbing thoughts about the current situation. We cannot ignore today’s global politics much as we would like to. A few years ago, Tarnas speaking at an Astrological Association Conference encouraged us all to become active participants in the World Soul, contributors of positive mindful energy, philosophers of harmony, peace and goodwill. Getting down to specifics, Saturn enters Capricorn tomorrow morning (20 Dec 17) and doesn’t catch up with Pluto until Dec 2019 but, in Sept 2016, I noted a prediction by American astrologer Michael Lutin that organized society might collapse on 23 Oct 2018 when Pluto crossed its own South Node–not my kind of astrology, but these are worrying times.
These are disturbing times we live in. I’ve already taken a look at the “Day we leave the EU” chart (29/03/2019) and I don’t like what I see – the Sun sits unaspected and cut off from the central core of the chart, alone and outside the main aspect pattern, like an outsider in the playground watching but not participating. For Sun, read UK in this instance.
Sue adds a glimmer of hope to the picture John paints of our potential future by quoting Tarnas’ positive encouragement; there is a World Soul out there somewhere, and it’s down to us to connect with it in the spirit of doing no harm and invoking good will. I don’t find Michael Lutin’s prediction helpful at all – it’s like “don’t walk under a ladder” and has the effect of freezing freedom of thought and action with the big hand of fear. Could that be Saturn at it’s lowest, basest, level speaking?
I’d rather consider how Saturn joining with Pluto might help rather than poop fear all over the place. Yes, Saturn could put the fear of terminal distaster into the mix, but it could also, at a different level, give shape and form to the transformational changes which Pluto is going about with instigating right now, and will continue to do so until the deed is done.
I’m heartened that Attenborough’s BBC Blue Planet 2 programme has woken up in people a far deeper awareness of what we’re doing our seas, and to the appalling plastic pollution we are allowing to take place. So to simply refuse a plastic straw in a drink, or excess plastic wrapping and packaging at supermarket checkouts is doing something small and positive – and maybe that’s all we can do on an individual basis. And talk to others about not using straws of whatever, and say why. Become an advocate for positive change.
Saturn is also the physical manifestation of life on earth. Could Saturn in Capricorn ( where it’s naturally “at home”) be a positive force in focussing Plutonic changes and transformations in attitudes towards the ways we live? Saturn at it’s highest level is a guiding mentor, a wise person. Can we listen for this voice of Saturn and ignore the doom merchants? After all, it’s down to us as individuals to take responsibility (good Saturn word) and cooperate with the deep changes and challenging times we live in.
I wholeheartedly agree with the suggestion John makes in his final sentence. We can all make a difference.