Contemplations in Scorpio as Saturn Squares Pluto

by Robert Wilkinson

This post was inspired by a friend who was expressing deep and complex feelings around loss. Why is it that at times we feel former disappointments so deeply? Why is it that some things don't move us as they used to, while other yearnings become stronger? Today we'll explore these things and more.

While these are common to us all as we age, sometimes they loom larger than other times. It's not surprising that some of this would be triggered now, since the Sun and Mercury are in Scorpio, Saturn is in a close square to Pluto, and Neptune is going stationary direct.

It is said that Scorpio represents those fixed feelings that endure across time. Scorpio is representative of the "repository of the Soul," and so it would contain those feelings we've had beyond memory. Scorpio is where we feel a sense of loss, or lack of fulfillment, that enables us to get our magnetism in shape.

All our past relationships that intensified us impressed strong patterns on the Scorpio energies in our hologram. Some were good, some difficult, but all those we've felt strongly about impacted our Soul. These deep feelings stay with us so we may learn not to fear or clutch at them.

Some of these deep feelings have to do with hopes and dreams in this life, some may be from past lives, some just existential. This is a challenge for us to learn how to process them so that we're not left feeling a constant, or even nagging heaviness. To be fully human, we must learn how to move through deep feelings without jamming our own gears, and know how to antidote unfortunate feelings and replace them with more positive ones.

That is the value of solitude and times of temporary quarantine from the world and its eternally passing demands. In our times of contemplation we can ponder the source and solution to what we feel, without having to put on a show for the outer world. This enables us at the right time to re-enter the world on our terms, rather than feel burdened by unfinished business and unresolved feelings.

Any of the astrological factors mentioned in the second paragraph would stimulate some very deep and vast feelings. All together they intensify much that we usually don't pay attention to. And of course, the mix is the intensity of Scorpio coupled with Saturn waning square Pluto showing us the finality of certain phases in our lives and activities.

Then we add Neptune stationary direct indicating a major sea change for the world, showing a shift in the collective unconscious where it will again "move forward" into the final degrees of Aquarius, a span of radical transfiguration. Is it any wonder some of us are feeling very deep feelings?

For some, this is a time for movement inward, withdrawing from outer activity. For others, a movement outward after a time of withdrawal. This is something we all have to learn to navigate with ease, since in fact there are seasons to go inward, learning "the Way of the Sage," and other seasons to be more involved in outer things, learning "the Way of the Hero."

This is the dance between "Being" and "doing." Each must occur in its own way and time if we are to become whole humans. This has little to do with what we like or want, since life itself often demands we adapt whether we are comfortable with that or not. In any case, Being is a prelude to doing, and doing is a prelude to Being.

It is important from time to time to center inwardly rather than stay distracted by outer things. I've found that when I start getting antsy, it's time to reflect on why that is arising in that moment. It's usually mental restlessness coming from something that needs to be stilled.

That way when it's really time to re-engage the world, I can do it on my own terms rather than be driven by subconscious or semiconscious impulses. There is something to be said for taking charge of steering the ship of personality rather than being driven by longings that are not entirely understood.

This is why those of you wondering why the outer drives are not very strong may may want to read The Voice of the Silence, linked at the bottom of the left column on this site. It's a great manual for all who want to be centered in a timeless peace and power. And the more we read things like Light On The Path, Through the Gates of Gold, and Voice of the Silence, the more we train our mind to behave itself and learn to concentrate on what really matters.

Just a few reflections on the edge of deep feelings and a great sea change moving us forward into a new adventure.

© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Maria]

Thank you Robert for giving such valuable wisdom during such changing and potent times. Much appreciated and blessings to you .

[Matt]

Thank you for this Robert; this was very timely - an enlightening sojourn in the cantina indeed.

Aum -

[Diane Scholten]

Robert, your blog is my nighly bedtime reading treat. Tonight rather than print it and read it in the tub, I'm sitting by the fire with netbook in hand so I can reply and thank you. And once again, you are totaly spot on. Was telling my friend tonight that I feel extraordinarlily glum. I am pinning my malaise on the ongoing sadness since my gf moved to Florida in August. I miss her and I don't get why someone so seemingly perfect appeared in my life and poof! disappeared. But i have sensed this sorrow is more than just losing Aymi. Feels deeper than that. So as the Taurus full moon makes a t-square to my venus i'll just say it's bringing up all the past losses. And I feel that tonight. Thanks for your wisdom.

[WarriorLady]

Ants were in my pants, recently. My sleep patterns have improved since late-last week, but they were awful then-- even when I was tired, I just couldn't go to sleep with the swirl of ideas that created a traffic jam in my brain. And no matter what I did, I couldn't get the ideas out fast enough.

Sucked. But it's so good to be back in the game! Upping my exercise time, too, has helped a lot.

[Yeshe]

Robert, thank you again for the validation. "when I'm feeling antsy" - that happens to be my major cue telling me it's time to go inside for a while and tend the inner garden while in the past I would have projected the antsy feeling onto those around me. This square has hit me hard. My whole past history seems to be unraveling in my mindstream on an almost constant basis - it has given me much gratitude and faith in my meditation practice, otherwise I don't know how I would be making it through sometimes. Maitaining a calm center in the eye of the storm is definetley an art that requires patience, diligence and above all,compassion for one's self.

[dcu]

Thank you Robert. Your postings are lifeboats in this sea of change. I sense the tranquility up ahead. Namaste. dcu

[Sue Moon]

"To be fully human, we must learn how to move through deep feelings without jamming our own gears, and know how to antidote unfortunate feelings and replace them with more positive ones."......so helpful!!! With the recent FM in Opposition to natal Chiron, Venus, Mercury and Midheaven; squaring n Mars and Pluto; quinc natal Neptune and Moon, I have been keenly aware of immobilization and have started the thaw to movement.
This piece just gave me a nudge out the door, having been in way too long! Namaste Great Teacher

[shanita]

thank you for sharing this Robert... :-)
i so appreciate the wisdom and validation. your constant illumination.
blessings&gratitude...

[Valerie]

Thanks for a good article, which is full of synchronicities for me. Talk about solitude, I've been alone for most of the last twelve years. I contemplate, cogitate, re-assess, talk to myself, and usually end up thinking, okay, it's meant for me to be alone right now. I'm an expert at being alone. Your article helps me to appreciate this experience. And while I'm well acquainted with the Voice of the Silence, I'm headed off to read that article next... this Saturn aspect squares my Cap Mars and my Cancer planets so it's a miracle I didn't go off the deep end yet. I'm actually pretty balanced at the moment. Neptune direct could have something to do with it.

Great post!! Namaste :)

[stephanie]

have had considerable loss these past 7 years including both parents....very profound. have been doing ok....and last night and today feel as if i have been hit by a bus.....MAJOR feelings of loss ....

this helps bring some sense to it.

thanks as always.

[Robert]

Hi Maria - You're most welcome. Glad some of it helps remind our community of higher things.

Hi Matt - Be seeing you soon. Will email.

Hi Diane - We humans go through the whole range of feelings possible if we're open to learning how to hold the mystery while feeling the pressure. Sometimes there's nothing to do but feel, and then act or not act according to our highest awareness. Passages may bring sadness, but that too is part of the human condition. That's what our beautiful, loving, impermanent reality is about.

Hi WarriorLady - When there are too many ideas in my mind preventing rest, I usually just get up for a while and either write or read. When the monkey mind finally wants off the treadmill, then I can rest more easily and efficiently.

Hi Yeshe - I probably should have mentioned that sometimes when the mind is antsy, we may need to objectify whatever is agitating our mind. That's why I responded to WarriorLady as I did. That also is one way to figure out what's happening. And of course, tending our spiritual garden is also a good thing when we're trying to figure out why we're agitated. The square will hit all of us one way and another, and some of these radical changes will result in some very good turnings of the wheel. And unraveling is often a prelude to recombining to create new patterns. But it sounds like you're using all the right tools to stay centered!

Hi dcu - Well, a sense of moving forward beats being dead in the water with the storm all around.

Hi Sue Moon - That's why "they" call it a practice. Life itself is a practicum, with past and future both distractions from the Now. But we learn from all 3 states in various ways. Sometimes it's time to stay still. Then it's time to walk for awhile. The trick is to know how to do each in the right time, with style and some degree of humor. Mahalo, grasshopper....

Hi shanita - Great visiting with you yesterday. You're doing great. Aum and blessings.

Hi Valerie - 12 years is a Jupiter cycle. And sometimes we're in solitude, whether we want to be or not. It's always good to remember that quarantine is good when epidemics abound. The Libra/Cap square and opposed Cancer planets throws the void to Aries, so enjoy the emergent initiatives.

Hi stephanie - My sincere condolences on the loss of your parents. That also is an inevitability of life, and I'm sure they'd rather have left before you than vise-versa. I also have had way too many deaths recently, and so am again "walking between worlds." Perhaps this is the last time you'll feel such devastation, since now you get to witness it happening and can choose to view it from a different angle. And we must go through such things so our Higher Self can take command of our body, feelings, and mind. To become "perfect," we must become perfectly human.

[Deborah Allin]

Hey Robert...such a beautiful an spot on description of the deep grief that emerged as Mercury and Sun moved towards Scorpio. I went away with a friend to an abandoned Monastry in the Hunter Valley, Australia. The first day I cried and cried. She with Sago Moon split off. Rage came up over all of the past times so alone smashed up after accidents, drugged out after terminations, longing for a love I had to learn after years of walking over stoney ground to give myself. I screamed my lungs out in the chapel and let it go. So yes. I'm learning that its about having these feelings but not passing them on. Since we have returned my friend has kept her distance. I was honest about what happened as I had recognised I didnt see her or react to her but my Mum. Stil there are powerful Saturn Pluto synastry aspects between our charts with her conjunction in Leo on my North node and we met when her Mars had retrograded back to that exact aspect on my North Node Asc...there is something powerful here. Any insights into such a Pluto Saturn contact her Saturn Pluto In Leo squares my Neptune in Scorpio which to be represents centuries of frustrated longing to connect emotionally and be held. Blessings to you dear Robert.

[Robert]

Hi Deborah - It certainly has been a time of deep feelings coming up for everyone! For some, great clarity (if a struggle with strong feelings) while for others, an uncertainty of not knowing where the changes will lead. Glad you could let go of some old memories in your hologram you didn't need to carry. Her Leo on your NN will trigger growth one way and another! Perhaps you'll find connectedness through positive Neptunian outlets, like meditation, artistic inspiration, and a sense of how much that you feel relates you deeply to all humans across all times. We have all longed for emotional closeness that we have never felt, since we humans usually haven't cultivated that ability to feel that deeply in ways that satisfy our essential craving for more, better, different. And blessings to you as well. Kiss the Australian sky for me on this Spring day!

[Deborah Allin]

Thank you so much for your reply Robert. It brought tears to my eyes. Love and peace and thanks for sharing so beautifully your deep understandings. I tried to explain to my friend how what I was feeling had so many layers both collective and personal but she didn't get it I wonder if this is always the case with a strong Neptune and Chiron in Pises opp Pluto - these two straddle my friend's Mercury Mar opp - any light to shed on that? For me Neptune seems to indicate a strong astral body sensitivity but it gets me in hot water a lot with others who dont understand the intensity of some of my reactions. Its like a flood at times and challenging work to keep it contained. Meditation and creativity seem to be options here. Writing esp poetry seems to help with Neptune in the third. Love and blessings to you.

[Robert]

Hi Deborah - Well, you seem to be a very strong person who is learning to walk between worlds. Some of what I've responded to in earlier posts reminded me you've been on this path for quite a while. Once we become aware of certain things, then we must learn that many will in fact NOT "get it." It then becomes a question of how willing they are to "get it," or how resistant they are to getting it. Then we must choose what is right for us. In any case, when we're living in the Eternal and another doesn't "get it," we cannot take it personally.

Any time our outer invisibles contact another's personal planets, they are impacted in ways that are beyond ego controls. Some get unnerved, some get threatened, some move forward despite the uncertainty of dancing into the unknown transpersonal, and some enthusiastically embrace the Mystery.

Neptune shows our openness to collective consciousness on vast levels. It becomes a strong astral body sensitivity as we grow into that energy. All the planets impact all our bodies simultaneously. Once we discipline our lower nature to conform to our Higher Self, the ability to BE the living representative of Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto (or a combination of them, since they always work together to a single Divine purpose) in our world gets stronger. And with practice, more and more evident.

With Pluto rising, I also am seen to be intense. Do ya think? Since that's my Dharma this life, a long time ago I figured out it was my responsibility to do the best I could with that type of "beyond ego controls" energy. Also, those of us who trigger the outer invisible responses in another will be seen as a Saturn influence by those who are not conscious of the Spiritual reality. That's why we must take responsibility (Saturn!) for how we respond to what was triggered in the other. A mature and patient response always helps, as does knowing limits and boundaries when dancing with someone who hasn't learned perfectly healthy responses. BTW - I also have Neptune in the 3rd. Talk about environmental sensitivity! Trust your sense of the subtle hits you get, and be willing to cultivate your ability to read the omens that present themselves to you. And yes, writing can be a very good thing for those with Neptune in the 3rd if the imagery (good or bad) is seen in some sort of Divine context. Blessings to you as well.