Is it time for a revolution?

If the planets have anything to say about it, the answer seems to be a resounding “YES!”.

The Astrological signature for the current decade has been the relationship (square) between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn.

Those two planets have provided the backdrop and the theme for two other extremely significant periods in recent history, the 1930s and 1960s.

The last time these two planetary heavyweights 'squared off' was in the early 1930's. That was Uranus' last trip through Aries, during which time it squared Pluto in Cancer (the sign opposite Capricorn).

In between these two extraordinary historical periods we experienced the Uranus-Pluto conjunction in Virgo which was the backdrop for the 1960's....anybody remember the '60s?

One of the Astrological keywords for Uranus is 'the Great Awakener'. Its general principles govern change – abrupt, radical and unexpected change as opposed to gradual and foreseen modifications. Sociologically, due to the sudden quality associated with it, revolutions and all sorts of reform are linked to Uranus.

One recent outstanding example of the power of Uranus to suddenly and unexpectedly 'shake things up' and change the landscape occurred five years ago. The Fukushima earthquake/ tsunami/ nuclear meltdown coincided with the transition of Uranus from Pisces (associated with oceans) into the most fiery sign, Aries.

Clearly, earthquakes don't happen every time Uranus changes signs. However, upon entering Aries, Uranus moved into its current tense relationship with Pluto.

Pluto had already moved into Capricorn in 2008, coinciding with the economic crisis/ meltdown and subsequent 'Wall Street bailouts'.

This shouldn't surprise us if we consider that Pluto gives us the word 'plutocracy' and it is now in Capricorn, a sign which is associated with corporations/business, 'the establishment'.

The essential keywords for Pluto are: Renewal, Transformation, and Evolution. In mythology, Pluto was 'lord of the underworld' and it is associated with that which is hidden (secrecy), great wealth, the criminal underworld, abuse of power/manipulation.

Pluto represents power and, as they say, “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

Pluto also represents the powerful energy that can bring to light that which is dark, deeply hidden, so that it can be purged, transformed, renewed and we can evolve.

The powerful energies represented by both Uranus and Pluto are beyond our control.

Both Uranus and Pluto are connected with nuclear power, as Uranium and Plutonium are the key elements involved in its production. As we have learned through our nuclear arms 'race', accidents at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and the Fukushima disaster, we have failed to understand the danger in playing with this kind of fire/power.

When the energies of these two planets combine astrologically, they indicate profoundly powerful shifts and changes for humanity (or an individual whose natal planets they touch).

So, it is the current square between these two planetary heavyweights that is the backdrop for this decade (and beyond), describing the many movements we have seen around the globe such as the 'Arab Spring', 'Occupy Wall Street', and of course the unexpected, surprising developments in the current U.S. presidential election.

Nuclear power has been one theme that connects the '30s, '60s and the current period. The discoveries, research and development that led to Atomic bombs which were dropped on Japan, began in the early '30s. The 'cold war', building of bomb shelters and constant fear of nuclear war marked the '60s, not least of the events being the Cuban missile crisis.

Now, even 5 years after that massive earthquake/tsunami, the Fukushima nuclear plant is still leaking massive amounts of radioactive material into the ocean and nobody has any idea how to stop it or clean up the mess.

Power, whether related to oil and gas, nuclear, or political, corporate, financial...all of these and the desire to have more power than 'the other'/ 'the enemy', has certainly been a very pronounced theme during these three historical periods.

Between 1932 and 1934 there were four exact Uranus-Pluto squares (though the influence of that aspect could be felt in the events that led to economic 'crash' of 1929 and all the way through WWII to the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan.)

Between 2012 and 2015 we had 7 exact Uranus-Pluto squares and were certainly feeling it coming by the time the economy collapsed in 2008. I am quite sure that we will be feeling the effects for many years to come as we did in that previous period in history.

The first of the squares in the 1930s became exact the day of Adolf Hitler's 43rd birthday (with Uranus opposite his natal Uranus) as he was rising to power. The second of those squares was on September 2, 1932, just two months before the election of Franklin Delano Roosevelt to begin his unprecedented four-term presidency. Coincidentally, that election was November 8th of that year, the same date as this year's election!

There seem to have been many references during this election to Hitler on the one hand and FDR on the other, and, of course the civil rights movement of the '60s, so the echoes continue.

At the time of the 'birth' of the United States, Pluto was at 27 degrees of Capricorn (there are 30 degrees in each sign and that is how the planets' positions are measured astronomically). Pluto will return to that degree by 2022, as it takes approximately 248 years for Pluto to make one trip through the zodiac.

This election is particularly significant because the Uranus-Pluto square that has led up to it finds Pluto returning to the place it held just after that first American Revolution.

The end of one long cycle, the beginning of the next.

So, yes, I am quite convinced that the US really is due for a revolution....the time has come.