The Turning Wheel - Astrology for rEvolutionaries - Spring 2008
by Rhea Wolf

We are falling back to the Earth. Waking up from the limited mentality of “endless growth economics,” we are seeing crisis after crisis in the financial world. There are planetary influences afoot that want to offer us solutions to this potential recession, but we have to stop believing we can live beyond our means. Saturn in Virgo will be visited by a trine with Jupiter in Capricorn three times through 2008. Coupled with Pluto moving into Capricorn, this means getting serious about discovering what is actual and what’s just naïve optimism. What do we really need? What are we holding onto that keeps us from growing up—as a species? Are we still dreaming of limitless riches? Is personal financial security really going to keep us safe? Opportunity is indeed knocking, but it is canvassing for new visions of prosperity and true wealth. Even if we escape the current slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, there will always be trouble looming ahead in a system that depends upon imaginary money and backroom deals for success.

Through the next year, carefully consider past experiences while envisioning your financial future. You may even start putting those long-term plans into action when Saturn goes direct on May 3. Get out of debt, get creative, and make those changes that spell real financial freedom. On a societal level, the hidden costs of the consumer lifestyle – ecological devastation, poverty, loss of local economies – will begin to hit home in a big way.

In addition to the economy, religion and faith will have a strong impact on the public this election season. We could take this as a scary indicator of even more intolerant fundamentalism hijacking democracy, but I also see compassion in the Spring Equinox chart. The challenge is to keep our hearts open and listen beyond the sound-bites our sneaky, snide Media offers to us. Saturn in Virgo says we hold the key to our own suffering. Turning off the TV/radio and having real dialogue with actual human beings might bring more pertinent information to the table. Don’t stop engaging. Just plug into a new source: join a study group for an issue that’s important to you, begin volunteering, or talk to people who have very different opinions than yourself. Don’t shy away from conflict this spring. Our hearts are made stronger when we push ourselves to acknowledge another’s pain and joy.

As you know, we have to look very hard to see what’s actually going on these days. While the country moves toward depression, both emotionally and economically, even more shady deals involving the country’s leadership and our military commitments will rise to the surface. Times will be tough, but truly transformative new structures will rise out of these ashes. We must look at larger cycles of time in the decisions we make now. Pluto, the god of death and (re)birth, has begun its own transition into Capricorn, and is an important player in this equinox chart. In that spirit, I send off the following correspondence to the king of (our own personal) hell.

Dear Pluto:
I hope you are having fun in your new home. The old place in Sagittarius was getting too abstract, since you blew out the walls of our understanding and belief. Your move helps us put the practice of Love and Transformation into our daily lives. Now that you’re living in earthy Capricorn, maybe we’ll begin by eliminating our unconscious allegiance to top-down authoritarian power structures. I know it will be hard, because we’re pretty terrified of the unknown that awaits us beyond our current civilization. Sometimes we’re even afraid of fully utilizing our unique gifts. I also know that those currently holding the world prisoner in oppressive structures aren’t going to be too fond of letting their power go, but I’m sure you’ll help each of us see the light. Well, actually you’ll probably show us quite a bit of darkness. (Whew, that state repression sure does suck.) Maybe if we work hard enough, like our friend Saturn, to forge new cooperative communities that pay attention to the limits of the bioregion we inhabit, we won’t be held captive to the tumultuous global subconscious seeking to pull us into oblivion. It’s a big maybe, isn’t it? Well, I’ve got work to do. See you soon.

I’ll let you know what s/he writes back.

Rhea Wolf is an astrologer and writer. She offers creative writing workshops with Portland Women Writers (www.pdxwomenwriters.com). Rhea is available by phone and in person for astrology and intuitive readings. To schedule a reading or to sign up for her free Full Moon reports, email her at turningwheelastrology@yahoo.com.