Recession in Dwarf Planet Discovery ~ 07 October 2008

Last night an asteroid three meters in diameter soared into our atmosphere and disintegrated over Africa. For sleepless souls fretting over economic uncertainty, night surfing near Durbin or just plain ole star gazing, it was a sight to behold. The noteworthy part of last night’s evert: this is the first time that an asteroid entered our atmosphere that had been predicted in advance by astronomers. No doubt this stimulated the recent appeal by astronomers who watch NEO’s (Near Earth Objects) and PHO’s (Potentially Hazardous Objects), requesting more funding for their work and stressing its urgency. How ironic that this request comes at a time when money is less liquid than it’s been in a long time. How ironic is it that the forecasting asteroid events falls into the sky-is-falling-Chicken-Little syndrome, like those who correctly forecast the current economic scenario?

Meanwhile, astronomer Mike Brown, co-discoverer of several dwarf planets, including Eris, Haumea and Makemake, recently announced that he is retiring from planet searches in the Kuiper Belt. Their project completed its scheduled scan of the skies and now he’s turning his attention away from these discoveries. Given anticipated 70% efficiency in their search, he contends a large dwarf planet or two may still appear, however, most of the Kuiper Belt’s expected finds of objects of notable size is complete. Brown also reported that the International Astronomical Union accepted that there are now five dwarf planets. From largest to smallest these are: Eris, Pluto (binary planet system), Makemake, Haumea and Ceres. There are others continuing to search the vast outer reaches of the solar system and into the Öort Cloud, but there will likely be a recession in the discovery of planets in the solar system.

That’s one recession astrologers can welcome. Now we have time to research, process and assimilate the new planetary objects in our solar system. As we deal with other solar system matters, let us not take our eye off the planetary orbs begging for integration. Consider that within the week, the Sun opposes Eris. While this bodes increasing international tensions, individuals need to remain alert to sensitivity regarding matters of exclusion and inclusion. The snub threshold rises and individuals feeling shunned can conjure dastardly plans of revenge. I have contended since her discovery that Eris addresses matters of addiction to status and success. The entire fallout of the financial fallout certainly skews that issue for most folks - the more resourceful folks seem to have more to process.

Meanwhile, back in the traditional solar system, plenty of places exist for us to lose our sensibilities. Uranus, generally not viewable, can now be seen with the naked eye. Symbolically, this demands a clearer conscious view of changes ignored now forced upon stodgy resistant systems. Seems like.

Of course, there’s the first of several highly touted upcoming oppositions between Saturn and Uranus. The exact date of the first pattern falls upon the day of the U. S. Presidential election. Saturn, of course, represents the tried and true, tradition, long-standing institutions, protocols, rules and regulations, operational policies, structure etc. etc. etc. Uranus represents mavericks, change, shifting gears, disrupting failed systems and innovating progressive improvements. The U. S. election easily personifies this pattern with something different as a result - either a woman or a black man will be elected to the top political pinning of the U. S.

But there’s so much more. The November 4^th pattern is one of many. Yes, the new must merge with the old, tradition must blend with progress and outdated systems must be replaced - like the grossly outdated air traffic control system, and obviously the flawed investment system created to breed economic elitism that results in a Plutocracy. The bailout hasn’t done much to ease confidence. That’s because scaffolding must be set up around the existing system and its inner non-working parts rebuilt - a white wash does nothing. Will they figure it out? Maybe, but according to now, we might have to ride the sequence of Saturn-Uranus patterns before a new system resets where we are and integration completes. Does that mean the global economy must catastrophically tank? Not necessarily. But it will take innovation, not patches.

This first pattern involves Uranus retrograding. The retrograding planet in such patterns typically bears the greater responsibility for adjusting to the pattern. The implication? They went too fast with the patch. It was not well thought and applied largely because of a pending election and the politicians sought Saturnian incumbent status. We’ll see how that works out.

On February 5^th, the second Saturn-Uranus opposition occurs, this one with Saturn retrograde. It would seem those existing structures whose operational limits have been exceeded must undergo a major overhaul. In the U. S. a new administration rolls up its sleeves and gets to work on the mess. The emphasis for shift falls upon established protocols.

On September 15, 2009, the third opposition occurs with Uranus retrograde. It’s time to assess, correct and adjust plans in progress. Sticking with changes that don’t fly, doesn’t fly. It’s not changing horses midstream - it’s getting the horse to cross the stream with the least possible difficulty. Likely a change in position is required. Going downstream may not be a bad thing, especially if the current is calmer.

In 2010, the last two Saturn-Uranus oppositions occur. The first appears on April 26, with Saturn retrograde, again demanding stuff that doesn’t work gets fixed. Expect an encore performance on retrofits. Finally, on July 26^th, Saturn in Libra opposes Uranus retrograding in early Aries. The theme has changed, signaling that if the Virgo-Pisces era installations of progress worked, the issue evolves into what’s next: politically that looks like social services, humanistic programs; personally it looks like mending relationships, especially those impacted by financial stress.

Yes, it’s a long haul through which we play out the hands dealt and played this October and November. There are three critical eras invisible to geocentric astrology that also need consideration.

In late February, 2009 Uranus reaches aphelion. This is his most-distant retreat from the Sun in his orbit. Aphelion represents chilling, slowing, contemplating and getting the next deeper levels of at the edge of the solar system insights. There must be limits to change. The time must be right, the cause noble and the consciousness ready to accept the shifts. Here, these insights undergo deliberate consideration and integration with tangible plans.

Saturn crosses the degree of perihelion of Uranus in early July 2009. This time element actually affords the smoothest bridge between past and future, demanding well-conceived strategies and seamless execution of plans. This is a huge time of progress and improvement, perhaps the best in the next two years - noting that this isolated pattern does not include many other patterns that trigger shifts and offers downloads of insight.

Finally, from the Sun’s point of view, Saturn and Uranus oppose on September 2, 2009. While events and news worthy stories shall not likely appear at this point, this is when the mainstream consciousness wraps around what has happened and accepts new ideas and platforms must be involved and integrated. Now, we move on with some level of a consensus in the collective consciousness.

It appears to those observing the new “planets” that these objects offer psychological coping skills, mind sets and actions that can make improvements in one’s personal state of being, independent from the wild, collective goings on. This may require resetting the angle of the thinking cap and is worth the effort.

Within the collective chaos, these bodies offer a restoration of personal equilibrium. Since we’re unlikely to be in a discovery onslaught, what a time to catch up. Here’s to a breath of integration.