Astrocast: Mercury, Venus, Mars - Encounters with Pluto in Capricorn

A major new 13-year planetary cycle began with the April 12 conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces. Significantly, each Jupiter/Neptune cycle begins in successive signs. The current cycle commencing in Pisces therefore represents an intensified dual ending, of their last 13-year cycle as well as their approximately 166-year cycle through the Zodiac. As the last sign of the Zodiac, Pisces represents a pinnacle moment in the spiraling evolutionary process of individual development as represented by the progression of the signs beginning with Aries. In completing this leg of the journey, we are tasked with taking only the essence of what was learned throughout the cycle into the next level of growth around the spiral.

Jupiter is the traditional ruler of Pisces before Neptune was discovered and assigned its rulership, so both planets have a natural archetypal affinity with this mutable water sign. Jupiter represents the principles of expansion and growth through the experience of exploration, whether in the physical reality, philosophical or esoteric realms. Neptune rules consciousness and our relationship with the cosmos. It is associated with the process of dissolving the small ego which keeps us in an illusory state of separateness and psychic isolation. Jupiter/Neptune in Pisces could lead to feeling heightened sensitivity and connection with all existence, opening us to greater love and compassion. Our imagination may also soar into places never dreamed before that inspire us to change the very path we walk to be more in line with our new vision of a connected life.

Yet, to live in greater Love and Unity, Jupiter/Neptune in Pisces also requires us to conquer the dragons of our small ego. This is a battle each of us must wage against the forces of resistance within that are afraid to let go of the false, often unconscious, operating beliefs that we alone create everything in this reality through our own physical human mind to satisfy our personal desires.

On the world stage we are seeing a mirror of this battle in the Ukraine War. Archetypally, the selfish motives of ego and fear are on display as Russia’s leader orders his military to commit horrifying acts of brutality. A global audience is witnessing in real time the people of Ukraine displaying true strength and courage as they face this terrifying battle, inspiring many countries to unify behind them with massive material, economic and political support not seen since WW II. In answer to this, Putin is doubling down in total denial of his crimes against humanity, which are evidence of great spiritual weakness, not strength.

We can learn from events that unfolded during the last Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in Pisces in 1856. As many in the U.S. sought to end the inhumane practice of slavery, an opposite force of fierce resistance attempted to quash that compassionate movement, thus instigating the Civil War. After much death and destruction, the nation’s right action towards inclusiveness ultimately prevailed.

The pace of humanity’s spiritual evolution is greatly hindered by too many people still unwilling to soften their egos and understand the value of multi-culturalism and respect for diversity. There will be many more battles before we conquer our collective resistance to moving towards Unity.  Hopefully meaningful right action will prevail in the one we are facing now. Yet our greatest task as individuals starts within, by working to integrate our fragmented psyche. This process often seems overwhelming, if not impossible. The antidote to our fear is to develop courage, the gift of Pisces, and show up to all that is with total presence, no matter how challenging.

The Jupiter/Neptune cycle commenced in synchronicity with the Libra Full Moon on April 16 forming an activating T-square with the Sun in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn. Pluto is an agent of transformation that brings the unconscious to consciousness through amplification. In Transpersonal Astrology, it relates to the process of “building a Soul,” which essentially means to become conscious of and purge all that sabotages our true nature so we can live a Soul directed rather than ego directed life. This is what it means to have true spiritual power and strength. One person can’t solve collective suffering caused by ego separation but imagine if each of us made the effort to build our Soul, one ego-busting battle at a time, and together reintegrate with the enchanted Anima Mundi, or world Soul. This is the essence of spiritual evolution and the cosmic urging of Jupiter/Neptune at this pivotal moment Pisces.