“Astrology for the Astrologically Challenged” by Deborah Smith Parker

Sagittarius is the sign in which we search for wisdom, for meaning, to find what or who our creator is. So why then did the recent Pluto in Sagittarius period (1996-2008) result in such a devastating American economic meltdown with enormous global impact that we still haven’t recovered from? At first it seems so incongruous because Sagittarius is the friendliest, most generous, entertaining and fun sign in the zodiac producing good natured and committed educators, explorers and philosophers.

It happened because we all got snowed by the enthusiasm and optimism of Sagittarius as the benign sheep’s clothing for the wolf, Pluto, Lord of the Underworld. Pause for an astrological reminder here: Pluto is not malignant. His lessons feel like it though because they nearly always involve pain and loss as we become trapped in his slow roll that can seem interminable. We often emerge with fewer material resources than we started with but if we are smart we also come out with a more insightful and healthier perspective. The sign Pluto is in shows us the nature of the current and specific power inequities for the masses for which he creates calamitous conditions we have to correct.

In Part I: “Don’t Fence Me In,” I set the Sagittarian stage for the play that Pluto, as always, brilliantly orchestrates from behind the scenes that eventually captures most of us as unwitting and unwilling players in the unfolding drama. Pluto’s particular mark on our history I will address in greater detail in Part II: “Convince and Convert.” (For those who have just tuned into this blog, my series on Pluto through the astrological chart of the USA began with the post of Pluto in Capricorn, February 4.)

Astrology students learn that Sagittarius, the Archer, is the sign about long journeys. While it certainly represents travels across geography, it is far more about journeys into consciousness. There are few maps for this because there isn’t a whole lot of finite stuff going on there, but the search is so fascinating! When the Archer sends his arrows flying through the heavens he pays no attention to boundaries. Sagittarius is most comfortable dealing in concepts, the broader the better. Details? Not so much, in fact no, not really. We can become so caught up that we don’t notice the absence of specificity until long after it would have been good to ask some hard questions.

It’s hard not to believe Sagittarius. In fact we want to believe. For starters there isn’t a deceptive bone in its archetypal body. Those under Sagittarian influence speak as the anointed ones, like Moses just descending from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments, or Zeus inviting us to join the consortium of gods at Mt. Olympus. As I describe it in my book, Humanus Astrologicus:

Propelled on pointed centaur hooves
They seldom follow traveled grooves.
Instead they track the arrow’s flight
Through wild and unexplored dark night
Where they enjoy a mythic revel
At the god and goddess level,
Arguing with deities
And wrestling angels with such ease.
One of Sagittarius’ chief themes is what goes up just keeps climbing. Sagittarius lives at high altitudes in the world of ideas and all their possibilities, only touching down long enough to recruit us to join him on his fantastic journey. We get caught up by that incredible contagious optimism and enthusiasm that generates support. After all, Sagittarius rules those areas that we largely either take on faith, can’t really confirm empirically and, therefore, accept with far less concrete evidence than in other areas of life.

Government regulations of financial institutions and their dealings were thought to be necessary to institute when Pluto was in caretaking protective Cancer to counter the Great Depression and hopefully prevent another one. But in 1996 those days are long gone, aren’t they? We’re in a period of great prosperity. The stock market has never been higher, housing is booming, After all, in a free market economy success and prosperity result from freedom to expand, expansion also being a key Sagittarian concept. If we loosen regulations everyone can make more money, right? Who doesn’t want the opportunity to bring in more income so everyone can benefit?

Poof! Regulations disappeared and with it their protections.

What we weren’t paying attention to was, well, just about everything. How did we get sucked in in spite of all those lessons of the past? Ahhhh. Glad you asked. Tune in soon for Pluto’s role in Pluto in Sagittarius Part II: “Convince and Convert.”

(Deborah Smith Parker is the author of Humanus Astrologicus available on this site. To follow her on Twitter and Facebook click to the right of this post)

About author:

Deborah Smith Parker is re-writing the often impenetrable language of astrology into a much friendlier form. She has spent her 30 plus years as an astrological consultant, writer, teacher and lecturer freeing the rich astrological images and their descriptions increasingly buried under modern clinical and technological descriptions. Her additional work in public policy has provided many outlets for demonstrating her ability to break down highly complex systems into information that’s easily understood.

All entries by Deborah Smith Parker

3 Responses to “PLUTO IN SAGITTARIUS IN THE USA ASTROLOGICAL CHART 1996-2008, PART I: “DON’T FENCE ME IN””

1. Jill Estensen says:

   June 6, 2011 at 8:54 AM

   Brilliant clarification…..what a joy it is to read your blogs!

   Reply
2. Mavis Mathews says:

   June 6, 2011 at 3:16 PM

   You are so smart. And, to top it off, you’re fun to read.

   Reply
3. Inez says:

   September 3, 2016 at 11:41 AM

   Oooo, and this has a reply from Mavis! I agree with her wholeheartedly! Thank you. This is needed.

   Reply