Uranus Square Pluto - Past as Prologue

by Robert Wilkinson

These next few years are neither the first nor last time that Uranus afflicts Pluto. Let's take a look at what this square could mean and how it could manifest.

I last gave this to you a couple of years ago. This article deals specifically with how past Uranus square Pluto periods relate to the revolutionary conditions set into motion when they conjunct. The waxing or lower square represents a point in any cycle of “first emergence” of whatever was “born” at the conjunction. It is a point of challenge, of externalization, of “turning the corner” or “putting the brakes on” something that’s showing up.

These powerful planets, when in conjunction, square or opposition, create a need to tread very carefully, given the energies challenging each other through these dynamic and relatively frictional aspects. When the Transpersonal Individualizer grinds up against the Transpersonal Transformer, we have two extraordinarily powerful spiritual forces working at cross currents to each other.

As I’ve written in past articles, we’re all learning to manage the “out of control” energies of Uranus square Pluto…. Welcome to the 21st century of upheaval, transformation, and titanic collisions between a new world being born and an old age that’s digging in even as it’s dying.

That square represents the ongoing revolution of our times, with innovations and pioneering energies in conflict with restrictive and controlling power structures. We’ll be dealing with this for a few years, and it promises to make this year and next very “electric and eclectic,” moving the world through a revolution unlike any seen since the 1960s!!

… We can use this square in two big ways, both now and into the future. We can exercise good Pluto function to put the brakes on negative Uranian manifestations, and good Uranus function to put the brakes on negative Pluto manifestations. Look to the harmonizing aspects to each to show which is building and which one is the release point for those energies.

Very little has been written about transit to transit aspects between the outermost planets. But we may be able to glean some information through examining how Uranus afflicting Pluto works in terms of how these work natally, as well as transits to natal.

From Grant Lewi's "Astrology for the Millions," (regarding transiting Uranus contacting natal Pluto) we read "This is a transit of two slow moving Planets, (indicating) a change in your sympathy with world events. You become a greater player in life, suddenly and acutely aware of the implications of your desires...."

He goes on to speak of change and restructuring, and from "Heaven Knows What" we find this is an aspect of trying to be actively different, and of strong will that is outer-directed. This marks "important changes within the established order," where flexibility is a virtue.

Dr. Marc Edmund Jones states that Uranus and Pluto, when in hard aspect in the chart, indicates the major problem is one of ordering the world in terms of motive, and not wasting energies tilting at windmills. We are told to beware of malcontentedness and mistrusting the course of events. This aspect can help us become clear about the core issues in any confused situation so that we can achieve a new social order.

Ultimately, we're examining the nature of the Uranus-Pluto cycle. As with all planetary cycles, they begin at the conjunction, and the waxing (aka “lower”) square indicates a major turning point and emergence of the energies of the faster planet making the waxing square to the slower planet. The opposition marks a point where something surfaces in the larger cycle that will come to a culmination at the waning (aka “upper”) square. At the next conjunct the process begins anew.

This square from Uranus in Aries to Pluto in Capricorn is a waxing square, and the first major turning point since Uranus conjuncted Pluto in mid-Virgo back in 1965-66. There is something of the "seeds of revolution," and the fusing of revolution and transformation back then, that is making its appearance 2010-2015.

What follows is a brief glimpse into the past so that we may spot seeds and trends helping us understand the bigger picture of what's going on and how to manage the upheavals over the next few years. I'll note both Uranus-Pluto conjunctions, as well as when the waxing square happened.

I'll also note special events during the periods, though of course the list could never be as complete as we'd like. Perhaps students of history will get insights about previous times of "transformative revolution" and what happened when the first square occurred after the previous conjunction:

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1086, exact 1089-1091 at late Pisces and early Aries, ended 1093.
(Muslims ruled Spain, University of Bologna founded, earthquakes in Georgia, Britain, Palmyra, tornadoes destroy London Bridge, the first water-driven mechanical clock was created in Bejing along with mechanical belt drives, and Shen Kuo publishes the earliest known writing about the magnetic compass, movable type printing, drydock technology, and many other fields including geology, astronomy, botany, zoology, mineralogy, anatomy, pharmacology, geography, optics, economics, military strategy, philosophy, geomorphology and gradual climate change.)

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1117, exact 1118 from late Cancer/early Leo to Pluto in late Aries/early Taurus.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1199, exact 1200-1202 at late Cancer/early Leo.
(First trial of a Peer [King John of England], Cambridge University and University of Paris founded, earthquake in Syria, Fibonacci introduces Arabic numerals in Europe, cymbals first used as instruments, alcohol first used in medicine, development of Cabalistic philosophy in Europe.)

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1235, exact 1236-1240 from 7-20 Capricorn to Pluto in Libra.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1341, exact 1343-1345 at 10-12 Aries.
(Queen's College founded at Oxford, Petrarch appointed Poet Laureate of Rome, the great flood of Kerala, famine in China, beginning of the Vatican issuing indulgences, beginning of the Hundred Years' War, earthquake and tsunami at Amalfi, Bankruptcy of great Florentine banking houses.)

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1369, exact 1370-1372 6-9 Leo to Pluto in Taurus.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1453, exact 1455-1456 at 12-14 Leo.
(End of the Eastern Roman Empire, end of the Hundred Years' War, beginning of the War of the Roses, Gutenberg prints the Mazarin Bible, Pope Nicholas V publishes Romanus Pontifex sanctioning conquest of non-Christian lands, and the reduction of native non-Christian populations to "perpetual slavery.")

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1493, exact 1495-1500 from 10-23 Aquarius to Pluto in Scorpio.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1594, exact 1596-1598 at 20-21 Aries.
(Dutch begin colonizing East Indies, Pacification of Ireland, Giordano Bruno seized by the Vatican for supporting Copernicus, Galileo's Golden Rule and his invention of the thermometer, Kepler published his book on planetary orbits, Tycho Brahe published his discoveries and instrument descriptions, Walter Raleigh explored 300 miles up the Orinoco River, Portuguese trade monopoly broken in India, first water closets in England, first field hospitals, England begins transporting criminals to colonies, manual of veterinary science published in Italy, Korea invents iron clad warships.)

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1622, exact 1623-1625 from 15-18 Leo to Taurus.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1708, exact 1710-1711 at late Leo/early Virgo.
(Bach appointed chamber musician and organist to the court at Weimar, Massive immigration from Palatinate to N. America, Europe's coldest period in 500 years lasted 3 months, invention of the pianoforte and three color printing, first copyright act, first Mardi Gras in US, mass rebellion in North Carolina, invention of the tuning fork.)

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1755, exact 1755-1758 from 15-24 Pisces to Pluto in Sagittarius.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1848, exact 1850-1852 at 29-30 Aries.
(End of US-Mexico War; US gets TX, NM, AZ, CA, UT, NV, CO, and WY, revolutions across Europe, "Communist Manifesto" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published, John S. Mill published "Principles of Political Economy," first safety matches, first appendectomy, first public health act in UK, NZ first settled, US "Compromise of 1850," establishment of 2nd German Confederation and 2nd French Empire, Herbert Spenser creates sociology and first uses the word "evolution," Mormons found Salt Lake City, beginning of US womens' dress reform, gold found in Australia, NYT appears, Singer created continuous stitch sewing machine, invention of opthalmoscope, cast iron frame building, and high tension induction coil.)

Uranus waxing square Pluto - began 1875, exact 1876-1878 from 23-26 Leo to Pluto in Taurus.

Uranus conjunct Pluto - began 1963, exact 1965-1967 at 16-19 Virgo.
(the Beatles [including pioneering movie and music innovations], Bob Dylan, Kennedy assassination/official coverup, escalation of Vietnam, Khrushchev and King Saud replaced, US civil rights movement and widespread urban riots, 6-Day War in Middle East, US poll tax abolished, MLK Nobel Peace Prize, hot line between US and USSR established, nuclear test ban treaties signed, Pope John XXIII died, Warhol, Rauschenberg, Johns create Pop Art, first use of an artificial heart by De Bakey, first heart transplant by Barnard, first music festival [Monterrey Pop], major earthquakes in Alaska and Chile, flooding in E. Brazil, Canadian power failure affects 30 million people, synthetic DNA created.)

We are now at the waxing square in the cycle that began in the mid 1960s. Emergent revolution indeed!

© Copyright 2011, 2013 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[La Mer]

Robert, I know that in 1854 following the conjunction @ 29-30 degrees of Aries (with transiting Uranus already leading Pluto in the sign of Taurus) millions of acres of land that was protected and honored and lived in by Puget Sound Native Tribes was stolen in a treaty. Next conjunction in Virgo during the late sixties (Viet Nam) brings us now to a coming together of inner truth-world truth about America I trust by 2015. Thank you for your fearless, artistic, music-loving blogging.

[Jonna]

1493 Christopher Columbus returns to Spain and Leaves on 2nd voyage. , Maximilian I succeeds father and becomes Holy Roman Emperor. 1494 Portugal and Spain divide the world between themselves.1495 first english speaking medical college founded in England, 1st lnown batch or scotch whiskey recorded,1496 Leonardo Da Vinci unsuccessfuly tests flying machine,1497 Bonfire of the Vanities, Cornish rebellion in Britain and most importantly Catholic Monarchs issue ordinace of Medina Del Campo the Basis of modern currencies including the US Dollar 1499 Edward of York last of the HOuse of York executed, Swiss gain independence from Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian. So modern currency set up, Switzerland independant,
New world discovered and exploited by Columbus, Vasco De Gama, time of Leonardo Da Vinci . Repercussions felt to this day an earth shattering decade.

[Priyanka Majumdar]

as the horoscope says and what my life experience confirms so far, my major-est growth spurts are through relationships. last year i was in a very brief but life-changing relationship (we met on facebook first) that opened up my awareness at different levels. its first phase ended around nov, and in dec (my birth month) i suddenly found myself super-interested in astrology, hence horoscopes, sun signs, tarot and such like. this got me to the realisation that i might be born in one sun sign but that's not a monolith, there are layers of other signs influencing my sun sign.

letting go began and this relationship finally got over in march this year. overlapping, in dec, suddenly someone began interacting with me on facebook. he's born in the late 1960s, i'm early 1980's born. he says he loves me. right now, i have just decided to surrender to what's happening. all i can see is things are moving fast while seeming non-moving, and there are huge disruptions leading to new stuff at different levels.

i came to this site on a particular occasion when most astrology related sites were giving warning bells about a certain cosmic happening (i forgot which). yours gave a balanced pic. the long-term and rounded view of things - including art and this and that here, is very deep and open. so, thank you for all this.

[Priyanka Majumdar]

the funny part is, through the previous partner, got aware of different levels of awareness. and also the power of flow and how amazing it is. and now, with this person, born late 1960s, he's very scientific and rational and absolutely pooh pooh's anything on the astrology front, as irrational. h'e born on the aries-taurus cusp. i am sun sign sag, jupiter scorpio, and the previous partner, who was my soul partner, is a capri-aqua cusp.

the common factor between all three of us - is intuition :). the previous partner showed how communication could be all the more powerful, for not being through words or material media. he smokes up a lot, and i just began smoking up a bit, out of curiosity. he's always been telling me to be a bit aware of surveillance and stuff, when communicating online.

the new person, whom i have not met so far (he stays in the US and i am in india)is also very intuitive and communicates without words, but does not believe such communication is possible. :D (incidentally, he sent me a book called 'gospel of anarchy'.) also, he's very very curious about trance and flow. so though he's not open to notions like astrology, sacred healing etc.(infact he does not believe in soul), i can communicate with him intuitively a lot, though of course there are blocks cos some deep beliefs don't sync. he's quite political, and i am pretty apolitical :) so these are all interesting places to dance with. if i tell him i'm with flow, he translates it as being too passive. (just wanted to share some of my story.)

also, i love how so many different happenings in the same period in different parts of the world, come together in this article.

[Valerie]

i commented on your last Uranus post and it didn't come over for some reason. i like when you write about the history of transits in astrology. it's wonderful to compare notes. King John was my ancestor... now i await the changes you are hinting at. i'm a Cancer with Uranus in Cancer and things are pretty quiet. must be the eye of the storm. thanks for a fascinating article! namaste! :)

[manitoo]

"When the Transpersonal Individualizer grinds up against the Transpersonal Transformer, we have two extraordinarily powerful spiritual forces working at cross currents to each other."

From where I stand, these two forces work TOGETHER to bring about certain results. They are not working "at cross currents." The seed will forever just stay a seed, unless it germinates to become a tree. The forces (moisture, the sun, humidity, etc.) that allow this to happen are working in concert (not at cross currents) with nature and that which it is organically destined to do, or has the (if you prefer) potential to do. Of course, the friction, heat, etc. may appear to be inharmonious or unwelcome from a homeostasis point of view, but from a larger perspective, they are exactly what the doctor ordered.

[Robert]

Hi manitoo - While I agree with you in principle that none of the "outer Invisibles" work apart from each other, that's a tough sell to someone dealing with devastation.

I have also found that there are cross currents in Nature. Literally. It's what creates extreme weather phenomena. Cross currents create tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and firestorms. That's also a part of our deal. Uranus square Pluto is more apt to wipe out a region than sprout seeds.

While I'm all for a revolutionary, individualizing new Age to "square" ie, "challenge," "put the brakes on," or "turn a corner into a rough new environment" for those coercive, corrosive Pluto in Capricorn toxic systemic structures going through widespread "breakdown and breakthrough," it's still a tough sell to those who have lost everything, and are starving and/or dying in the streets, or seeing their children starve or die, or those in the Pacific facing the possibility that Fuku will wipe out their lives in the future. We did not need Fuku to know it was a disaster waiting to happen. And it sure doesn't seem that those in power care that it's getting worse. This criminal neglect is at cross currents to life on Earth. And TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.

If the Earth shifts its axis, while it may conform to its larger evolutionary pattern, a lot of life will be wiped out. And that's not something to feel good about, even if we must accept and find peace in the fact that we have no ability to change that whatsoever.

Since I do not believe we "have to go through hell to get to heaven," nor do I believe that human suffering is necessarily a good thing, it would seem that widespread devastation is at cross purposes to the ultimate aim of humanity to lessen suffering however appropriate. We certainly can practice compassion without needing a disaster to bring it forth. And I would never minimize another's suffering by pointing out that somehow a catastrophic event somehow was perfect for what they need.

That's why I don't take a lofty view of configurations that accompany disaster after disaster.

[Kat]

Uranus Square Pluto is manifesting in the unprecedented nuclear accident at Fukushima Japan.