Redefining the Solar System by Jenni Harte
Following the New Moon of 23 August 2006 at 0 Virgo 31, the International Astronomical Union (IAU )gave us something huge to chew on…and you all know by now…Pluto’s been demoted! Talk about change, this completely redefines our solar system, a big deal even if you aren’t an astrologer! Elementary school teachers all over the planet are reaching for the scissors to remove the small but mighty transformer from illustrations of our solar system.
The demotion of Pluto
Scorpio and Mars were happily married for thousands of years and rubbed along very nicely. But then Scorpio's head was turned in 1930, when a dark suave mysterious stranger from America came along and started wooing her.
"Watch out", we all said. "He may look handsome, but he has a dark side. I wouldn't trust that one - he'll woo you, steal you from Mars and then dump you."
Much gnashing of teeth and worried looks took place as Scorpio rushed headlong into the arms of this dark stranger, heedless of the warnings.
"He's highly eccentric", we all said. "Not good news for a fixed sign like you".
"Ah, but I'm intruiged by his unusual inclination", said Scorpio, too much in love to think clearly, "and let's face it, I've always been drawn to the dark side a little."
But slowly the truth began to leak out. Far from being the dark loner that everyone thought, it turned out that Pluto had been hanging out with his hard-core drinking buddies behind Scorpio's back. He wasn't a loner at all - he spent his time mixing with a most unsavoury bunch of centaurs, who'd kept themselves well hidden from the authorities. OK, the first guy, Chiron, seemed a nice enough sort of dude and we turned a blind eye. However, eventually they caught up with the others - and a whole series of "Wanted" posters appeared for these dodgy characters, known to the authorities simply as "KBOs". Chaotic dealer and drunkard Pholus was the first to be apprehended in 1992; then self-harmer Hylonome and violent rapist Nessus were hauled in. Pluto was desperately trying to distance himself from these characters, claiming that he was "different", and besides was now happily married to a nice respectable zodiac sign (despite the fact that there had been unpleasant rumours about the true nature of his relationship with his twin Charon).
It didn't sound convincing, though. They checked out his story, and it just didn't wash. Eccentric orbit, small rocky body, inclined to the ecliptic - our smooth operator had all the hallmarks of a KBO, and he was finally brought to book.
Sorry, Scorpio - I know you're heartbroken but don't say we didn't warn you. Put it down to experience and life's rich tapestery. Yeah, Mars was furious at the time, but you got to love a guy like Mars with a short fuse but a short memory to go with it. All is forgiven, and he's glad to have you back!
Chris Mitchell runs the Arcturus Rising astrology group
That Virgo New Moon, the day before the IAU vote, made it’s point exquisitely, after analysis for years and a week of professional discernment (and wrangling), members of the IAU have discriminated between the superfluous and the essential and concluded that Pluto, Ceres, Xena, and no doubt more to come, will finally join the ranks of a new category (long debated), Dwarf Planets. This debate isn’t new but the New Moon and the IAU 26th General Assembly brought it to a close on 24 August 2006.
Comparing the Pluto discovery chart with the finish of the IAU vote is revealing. IAU vote Sun is conjunct natal Neptune (2nd house) which opposes natal Venus in Pisces. But the 23 August New Moon opposed the natal Sun, just, in the last degree of Aquarius…the critical degree. IAU vote Chiron sits on the descendent exactly square the nodes, in the 4th and 10th houses. A change of status, indeed. IAU Jupiter is exactly conjunct it’s MC and both are conjunct natal Moon! And, this is fantastic as always, Pluto’s Saturn (6th house) is exactly conjunct the IAU vote Ascendant...Saturn (scientists) said, ‘NON!’ Oh yeah, Pluto’s Jupiter/Chiron midpoint is 24 Taurus, ring any bells?
Okay, planets come under the auspices of Uranus and the 11th house, or maybe that’s Saturn, huh? Alrighty then, Saturn, since the solar system’s been re-designed, it’s probably wise to rely on the classic planet rulerships, so for the moment, I’ll comply. And where’s Saturn, why it’s in opposition to Neptune. The battle between known boundaries (Saturn) of the solar system and the great dissolver of boundaries (Neptune). Interesting, no?
Will I stop using Pluto in my astrological musings, I will not! How about you? Whether or not the IAU deems Pluto big enough to be to be a ‘real’ planet, it seems that tiny Pluto’s sojourn at the Galactic Centre has stirred up the entire solar system, forced a redefinition of What is a Planet?, and lost it’s status in the bargain. Transformation is painful but as ever, everything to do with Pluto is, ultimately, non-negotiable.
Pluto Discovered: 18 Feb 1930, Flagstaff, Arizona, 35 N 12, 111 W 39, 16:00 MST (+7). Asc: 3 Leo 34. IAU Votes: 24 Aug 2006, Prague, Chec, 50 N 05, 14 E 26, 17:30 CEDT (-2). Asc: 8 Capricorn 11.
All country charts: Book of World Horoscopes (BWH) unless otherwise noted.