REBIRTH OF A NATION

Astrology is a study of cycles, from our Moon's monthly cycle all the way out to the 248-year cycle of our most distant planet, Pluto.

Anyone who has ever experienced a transit of Pluto over their natal Sun, Moon (or any sensitive point in their chart) knows the powerful energy represented by this small planet.

As the planet associated with the process of death and regeneration, Pluto brings a need to purge whatever is no longer serving our growth and evolution; to let go, surrender, transform.

A Pluto transit lets us know that there are natural, unseen forces much greater than we humans... ultimately, we are not in control.

With a 248-year cycle, no human individual is likely to live long enough to experience a Pluto Return. That is when Pluto comes back to its exact position in the zodiac at the time of birth.

In an earlier post, I wrote about some of the astrological/historical context as to why this is the perfect time for the 'grassroots political revolution' that is being led by Bernie Sanders during this year's US election.

It is so fascinating to see the striking similarities between this time in history and what was happening during earlier historical periods. In that post, we saw the echoes from the 1930s and 1960s that have been surfacing in the current US election.

There is an even bigger picture though, historically, as the US experiences its first Pluto Return.

The United States of America was 'born' July 4, 1776. Pluto was in Capricorn then as the country declared its independence from Britain.

In fact, Pluto's last journey through Capricorn began in January 1762 and lasted until January 1778.

Just one cycle later, Pluto entered Capricorn again in 2008, and will continue there until 2024.

We have seen what has been unfolding so far, from 2008 to date.... and clearly, much can and will happen between now and 2024. Perhaps there are some lessons to be learned from history.

So, what was going on the last time Pluto passed through Capricorn?

A few things seem particularly noteworthy in light of current events.

The Industrial Revolution started in Britain in about 1760.

Coinciding with the birth of the USA, in 1776, Scottish social philosopher Adam Smith, who is regarded as the founder of modern economics, published “The Wealth of Nations”. In it, he promoted an economic system based on free enterprise, the private ownership of means of production, and lack of government interference.

The Seven Years War of Britain against France was waged between 1756-1763.

After such a prolonged and expensive war, Britain needed to recoup the huge debts it had incurred. Being the great superpower of its era, with so many colonies around the globe, Britain sought to collect revenue from its subjects.

First it attempted to tax the colonies with the Stamp Act of 1763. This didn't go over well, especially in America.

One of the main sources of income for Britain was via the East India Company. During that time, the natives of India were forced to grow opium. This was traded with China for black tea, which was then sold to the wealthy in Britain. While condemning the drug trade publicly, the British Government secretly supported the valuable revenue it provided. The slave trade was another lucrative use of the trade ships of the East India Company during this period.

An interesting thread connecting this to the US is that the flag of the East India Company was nearly identical to the Grand Union Flag used during the American Revolution, which later evolved into the familiar Stars and Stripes.

One of the main communication routes between India and Britain was Iraq and in 1763 the British Company had set up a factory in Basra for commerce and enterprise. We have certainly heard much about Iraq (and the city of Basra) in recent years.

By 1773 Britain was still trying to recoup its debts, the growth of Britain’s trade and commerce had significantly expanded and a Stock Exchange was established which would officially become the London Stock Exchange in 1801. Meanwhile, the East India Company was on the verge of bankruptcy as the drug trade had become more difficult.

The “Boston Tea Party” which took place on December 16, 1773, was in protest of the British Parliament’s Tea Act of 1773, a bill designed to save the faltering East India Company by greatly lowering its tea tax and granting it a virtual monopoly on the American tea trade. The low tax allowed the East India Company to undercut even tea smuggled into America by Dutch traders, and many colonists viewed the act as another example of taxation tyranny.

The "Boston Tea Party" was the first dissent leading to increased conflict and eventually the birth of the new American nation. The current Republican 'Tea Party' movement seems to have begun in 2009.

So, to recap:

Pluto goes into Capricorn when a nation that has become the world's great superpower has been embroiled in a lengthy war that has cost a fortune.

So great is this cost that they seek to recover their losses in what is perceived as a grossly unfair and oppressive manner. The need to obtain money is so powerful that even some companies become big and powerful enough to run other countries.

The common people suffer and the burden becomes oppressive. The control and manipulation becomes so great that the masses finally rise up and say 'enough is enough'. They begin to demand equal treatment and justice for all and assert their unalienable rights to ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness’.

What historical period are we talking about?..... 1762-1778 or 2008-2024?

In the 1770s, the people of the American colonies rose up against the tyranny of the ruling class, represented by the British Monarchy (and their business interests).

Today, the people of the US (and elsewhere) are rising up against a plutocracy, an oligarchy often referred to as 'the 1%', the wealthy elite and their corporate interests.

Pluto is associated with wealth and power, hence the term 'plutocracy'.

As we are seeing during this year's US election (and globally), there is a growing movement protesting that so many people have less and less while the '1%' acquire more and more wealth.

The plutocracy seems to believe that they have all the power and can control the masses (perhaps even buy elections?).

In his farewell address in 1961, outgoing President Eisenhower issued a warning to the American people about the rising power of the 'military-industrial complex'.

It would seem that King George believed that he had all the power and that his military forces could easily control a bunch of colonial farmers back in the 1770s.

Thousands and thousands of people have been attending Bernie Sanders' rallies....there were an estimated 48,000 at his rally in Washington Square Park in New York and about 28,000 at another New York rally in Prospect Park. In case you haven't been seeing that news, even his smaller rallies draw thousands of people.

Unrelated to the actual election, following a march from Philadelphia to Washington, many thousands of concerned citizens, organized by a group called Democracy Spring, held sit-ins to protest the influence of money on the democratic process. Between April 11th and 16th, over 1,000 people were arrested in those peaceful protests on the steps of the Capitol in Washington.

Again little, if anything, about these events (and other marches and protests around the world) gets reported by the corporate-controlled, mainstream media. But it is being shared through social media.

Just as happened during the last transit of Pluto through Capricorn, a huge number of people in the United States are now loudly proclaiming 'enough is enough'.

This current growing 'grassroots movement' in the US is calling for a rebirth.

The people want a return to the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the documents.

This July's Democratic Convention will be held in Philadelphia.

Isn't it interesting that this extremely important gathering will be held in the nation's birth place, the city where the founding fathers signed those very documents that marked the nation's birth?

It is often said that history repeats itself.

The current 'ruling class' might take note that King George believed he could continue to dictate terms and maintain control back in 1773. The ruling class during the last Pluto cycle, thought it had all the power.

They found themselves defeated by a 'grassroots movement'!