by Robert Wilkinson
This is one of the more potent oppositions, since it allows “the Guide of Souls” to externalize Pluto’s deep purifying fire. Which also means things can get very intense. And this is the first non-Lunar opposition since the 2023 Winter Solstice opposition from Venus to Uranus.
This opposition is exact 12:27 am PDT July 3 so it's already partile (exact). Be careful from now through Thursday, as that is the time span when this is most active. When Mercury opposes Pluto, we have to see clearly, don’t necessarily believe all we’re being told, and keep our eye on the positive potential despite limiting conditions. It’s a challenge to understand the seeds of situations, and to be alert to corrosive or dishonest statements, whether by others or in the media.
On the positive side, when the "Guide of Souls" looks straight into Pluto, it sees all which is wrong AND how to eliminate to regenerate. This oppositional awareness of core issues and core needs of elimination and purification can be expressed via Mercury's impersonal way of coordinating what it sees with the need to come up with ideas and perceptions which are life giving rather than lead to corrosive attitudes and decaying approaches. This opposition can give us insights into what's wrong with people and situations and gives us insights about any dishonesty in the air.
As Mercury has associations with weather, the opposition of Mercury to Pluto can bring about extreme conditions. For example, two years ago within hours of the exact opposition, our area was hit by a microburst of phenomenally fast winds and rain, like a mini-hurricane. While we needed the rain, as indicated by the Cancer trines to Neptune, what we also got were winds so destructive they uprooted dozens of fully grown trees all around the area where we live, including the 30 foot Palo Verde in our neighbor’s yard which gave both houses a lot of late afternoon shade.
There were at least 50 more trees also ripped up that night. I suppose that’s the folly of planting trees with shallow root systems. While they are beautiful, they also can’t stand when the high winds blow through.
I felt like I lost an old friend, as well as a few more trees I was accustomed to seeing on my morning hikes. That opposition and destruction reminded me of the unpredictability of potentially disastrous situations suddenly happening, and how we have to learn to anticipate when such things might happen but without fearing what might happen. And though my neighbor did thin the branches to decrease wind resistance, it clearly wasn’t enough to stop the winds from uprooting and toppling a 30 foot tree.
It also reminded me of a great truth; much of life isn’t about how high we grow, but about how deep our “spiritual taproot” is. While we often aspire to great thoughts and deeds, larger than life “spiritual breakthroughs” which take us to the heights of consciousness, it’s more important to sink deep spiritual roots as a foundation for our life and growth. That way we’re not toppled by the insanely fast winds of devastating change when they come to us.
This opposition will be repeated when Venus opposes Pluto between July 11 and July 13, and again when the Sun opposes Pluto on July 22, so consider whatever extreme event (for better or worse) which happens on this Mercury opposition to be a herald for something polarizing in a Venusian area followed by something “coming to Light” at the Sun opposed Pluto.
The Mercury and Venus oppositions operate from 2 Leo to 2 Aquarius, showing our ability to learn even when “school’s out” and gain through life’s “inconveniences.” The Sun opposed Pluto will happen from 1 Leo to 1 Aquarius, again bringing the larger Aquarian 20 year pulse to the surface in a Solar way. And Mars will oppose Pluto from 30 Cancer to 30 Capricorn at election time, accenting past polarizations rather than point to the future.
The good news is that at this Mercury opposed Pluto, we also have a very powerful, productive, and stabilizing Venus trine Saturn and Mars sextile Saturn, making for great resonance for any planets we have near 18-22 Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces. So while the opposition provides awareness and the need to focus on what’s true and what’s possible despite the limiting conditions, we also have maximum harmony and productivity between the rulers of our Aries, Taurus, Libra, and Scorpio houses and planets and the ruler of our Capricorn and Aquarius sectors.
It’s a time to allow the spontaneity we’ve cultivated in the past to come forth, and create as much festivity as we can. Though some things seem weird, unclear, and ominous, it’s actually better than we might think. And July 10-14 is the next oppositional period, so this one can help us see the seeds of what’s developing then and in about 3 weeks.
Just a few thoughts about the edge of Life where 2 years ago death visited an old friend in the plant world ‘round midnight.
© Copyright 2024 Robert Wilkinson
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