Penninsula Woman March/April 2003 Pluto Our Planetary Teacher of Transformation

Today’s article is about understanding “transformation” through the planet Pluto. In the astrological system we have 10 wonderful teachers. These are the ten planets that we can see from the Earth. They are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Each of these planets have something to teach us. We also have in astrology the 12 constellations from Aries to Pisces. Our article today is primarily focused on the planet Pluto, our planetary teacher of transformation and death.

What is Pluto?
Pluto is archetypically associated with transformation, power, intensity, passion, and change. Pluto is connected in mythology to the God Hades. Hades was the ruler of the underworld. The story goes that when you died you went to Pluto's kingdom _ the Underworld. Death is also associated with Pluto, but not in the usual way. Death marked a Change or Transformation. Transformation means, “A marked change, as in appearance or character, usually for the better.” Today we will focus on the idea of transformation.

What does Pluto teach us?
Pluto teaches us the lessons of transformation. We learn from Pluto that “change is the only constant.” All things die. Embracing change helps us to grow for the better. Change is inevitable. It isn’t always easy. If we are caught in a situation where we have never been, change may feel scary. That is where we must call on Pluto. Pluto teaches us that we must stay aligned to our passions and if life starts to get stagnant and dead we must invite and ask for Pluto’s wisdom to help us through the hard and sometimes dark side of change.

What Pluto Cycle are we in now?
Pluto is currently in the astrological sign, Sagittarius, (20 degrees.) Pluto can stay in a sign anywhere from 15 to 30 years. It is currently moving quite quickly. This is why things seem to be happening so fast and it doesn’t seem like we have a long time to contemplate the changes that are necessary. In the 1800 and 1900’s Pluto was moving through a sign every 30 years. Folks had time to contemplate their next big change. Not so now.

Pluto will be going retrograde on March 22nd, 2003. The lessons taught by Pluto during a retrograde period are about introspection and reflection regarding the things that need to change. Pluto is in the astrological sign Sagittarius. This is the sign about truth, perception, higher education, foreign countries, long distance travel, belief systems and religion.

Pluto went into Sagittarius in 1995. During that year we started to experience a Global Change in our relationships to foreign countries. Many of the initial incidents with Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden occurred during that year. A huge shift in consciousness is happening regarding religious beliefs, foreign understanding and the need to change HOW we perceive other countries. This also initiated a time when our school systems became a focal point. There have been many deaths in our schools related to the darkness and trouble that is emerging from our young children. This is all related to Pluto being in Sagittarius and the need for deeper truth regarding education. We also have the World Trade Center as a tremendous tragedy to help us understand just how much we are really tied to the problems in the Middle East.

How can I transform?
Transformation and Change require new truths. In order to develop a new truth you must become aware of the need to have a new truth. Truths sometimes start out as beliefs. You must look at the beliefs that are no longer working for you and replace them with beliefs that are true. Then you must practice the new beliefs so you can understand them. We are always creating new beliefs. It is just that some of them are not truths. There are universal truths that go beyond what you believe. When you test a truth it will always be right. That is how you know it to be true. Take for instance Gravity. We can argue all day long that gravity is a belief. All you have to do to test gravity is to drop a pencil to the ground a few times and see that it is true!! Start using your time to explore Truth. They must be truths that go beyond what you believe. We all know that truth is powerful. Our thoughts and ideas can change our experiences and lead us to a joyful life or one filled with misery and frustration. Take the time to see if your truths are either helping you to change or keeping you in the same stagnant place. This is what Pluto in Sagittarius is asking of us right now; to change the way we see truth and beliefs. We are all one in the eyes of our Creator. That is the truth. Don’t let the potential threat of War keep you from knowing the truth -we are all one.

Things do not Change.
We Change.

~Henry David Thoreau

Some people change when they see the light,
others when they feel the heat.

~Caroline Schoeder

Nothing endures but change.

~Heraclitus