For the past few weeks a tiny planet that packs a powerful punch, Pluto, has conjunct the moon's shadowy North Node, which is also known as the ‘Dragon’s Head’ or in India, ‘Rahu’. This is a rare occasion, about once every 17+ years, due to Pluto’s 248 year orbit, and the nodal axis returning about 18ish years. On Saturday the 27th November, the conjunction is exact. What makes all the difference between this and other conjunctions is that these two heavenly markers are conjunct the Galactic Centre; and all three remain in close contact until mid-February. Rahu opens wide the karmic gates that lead to the Galactic center, and with Pluto, who is the planet of transformation, it also also opens us up to absorb incredibly powerful cosmic energies, which may at first not be so obvious.
Be assured: a subtle but powerful tide is turning. As Pluto exactly conjuncts the north node at 4 Capricorn it suggests profound insights, psychological or spiritual, and/or secret planning to fulfil ambitions and, dare I say, destiny. Pluto rules all things hidden; now in Capricorn, the sign of business and ambition, discipline and responsibility, it thus sways in a mysterious way all things that provide structure and have authority - from the buildings that contain, to the government that rules, all the way to the edge of our universe; the previously concealed is being transformed so that outworn Capricorn structure and law is renewed. As the planet of the communication, Mercury, conjuncts Pluto and North Node three times during its retrograde phase, this concept of renewal will be very much in focus. The challenge is to generate totally new and inclusive ideas that revive collective resources. Assertive Mars is about to conjunct the Galactic Centre to kick-start the proceedings.
The actual planet Pluto has also been in the Astro-news this week; indeed, my facebook page has been busy with friends reacting to a recent post regarding Pluto’s demotion; This demotion appears to have actually been premature, as Eris (pronounced ee-ris) is not as big as initially thought. Pluto was demoted from being a planet to being a dwarf planet in August 2006, because newly discovered Eris was thought to be the same size, if not bigger. Eris is the Goddess of discord and strife; and her Moon is named after her less desirable offspring, Dysnomia, who represents lawlessness. Eris had another daughter called Eunomia, meaning good-order according to good-laws. Don’t ask me why we didn’t call the last known Moon in the solar system something lovely and peaceful, but maybe people just love to be chaotic and scared. Or do we? Isn’t being kept bound in chaos just another form of exercising the power of fear over the people?
Interestingly, the asteriod Ceres, symbolic of the Earth Mother, was promoted in 2006. Although now separating from Pluto, Ceres is also in Capricorn, and still within orb of this powerful conjunction: the cosmic call is for all things Plutonian to also nurture and care about where we heading. This means those in positions of power ought to care like a mother would her child.
But that's not always the case, as the modern ruler of Scorpio, Pluto shares rulership over all things taboo: secrets, sex, the occult and cabals. The word ‘Plutocrat’ reveals how Pluto can be loaded with power-games (atomic energy created the same time of Pluto’s discovery). In many ways Pluto’s demotion made it more powerful, as he is already the Lord of the Underworld; the demotion forced Pluto to hide from plain view, wrapping himself in his invisible cloak to infiltrate the minds and manners of those who crave power through dark and dirty work.
Nonethless, Pluto is also the planet of extremes: capable of emerging from low periods with renewed strength. In the personal horoscope it shows where hidden resources lie as well as the power to fuel giant acts of destruction as well as creation. Wherever Pluto lies in the horoscope something always dies in order to be reborn, so that out of the ashes rises the Plutonic phoenix, more powerful, more dynamic and more insightful.
Personally, I’m dealing with Pluto opposing my Venus and squaring home-orientated Moon; it’s true a transformation in my home life is imminent. But also something bigger came to light, which involved insights into a series of difficult events from the past, that have now, in a strangely magical way, enlightened my psyche somewhat. I won’t go into details (for the moment they are too personal! (Scorpio Rising)); but for me it is a lesson that from painful situations it is possible to discover previously buried treasure, which gives me strength. This is an important Buddhist teaching: transforming suffering into joy.
Because Pluto is now with the destiny fulfilling North Node, it is now appropriate to even consider the raising of a usually hidden phenomena - a powerful human energy that can be raised through meditation to activate the light body, the light of Spirit: that of Kundalini. The thrice-coiled serpent living at the base of the spine may well be stirring. Rahu (aka Dragon’s Head) at our crown opens to evolvolution - imagine if we were collectively initiated into the 7th ray of ceremonial order! The ability to generate love-light and bodhicitta would be exponential.
Cosmic events like this conjunction are also reflected in our own lives (my own world is certainly touched); so I’d also like to share some recent findings from the world of science that have brought to light (literally) previously unknown phenomena, which are also symolic of this revealing conjunction, which give the connection to the Galactic Centre an even more remarkable significance.
The first mysterious revelation from the cosmos is the discovery of Gamma Rays being emitted from the centre of our Galaxy – Pluto conjunct the North Node conjunct the Galagtic Centre, reveals hidden treasure planet of the hidden energy coming directly out of the Galactic Centre. Nasa's page explains what we don't know about it. Which makes this discovery all the more alluring, as we really don't have to know everything - some things enchant more as a mystery. Instead, we can appreciate Pluto's ability to see in the dark and feel its way to provoke intuition - which leads me to think that by some magical association, this discovery may mean we humans are also ready (and able) to generate our light bodies, via the sushumna? Let’s not forget Gamma rays are the highest vibration of light, an energy that can heal (as in Cancer treatment) as well as kill. I don’t know if this delicious hazy purple colour is the ‘real’ colour of the rays, but just seeing it seems to stimulate my crown chakra.
Secondly, also from scientific point of view, a concept in accord with Buddhist cosmology, in that time is beginningless, and there was no big-bang per se, just no beginning and no end - like a circle. Here is a link to the the beeb with an article by Penrose which was hot on the heels of this. From CERN’s ALICE project and from the big-bang making machine, the Large Hadron Collider: crashing subatomic particles at high speed we now have quark-gluon-plasma with jet-quenching z particles: Beam me up Scotty, the future is now! :)
It seems many primordial secrets are coming in from the edge of the universe, which is Pluto's sphere. In light of these momenteous discoveries there will be changes, not just the way we view the outside world but all we learn during this period will help us to understand our own development, particularly that of our subtle body and it's psycho-anatomical-spiritual interaction.
As an aside, something else emerged from the Lord of the Underworld's realms: another crystal skull called 'compassion'. Fascinating timing.
And one last link is to the brilliant Nick Anthony Fiorenza's site so you can get a good idea what Pluto looks like in relation to Eris.
Thanks as always to all artists:
