Pluto in Capricorn

Signs of the Times

Let me begin this article with some predictions on the longest-lasting astrological development of 2008-09, namely Pluto’s move into the sign of Capricorn.

After spending 140 days in this sign from 26 January 2008 to 14 June 2008, Pluto then returned to Sagittarius until 27 November 2008. From its first brief visit early in the year, stockmarkets around the world began to echo and crumble with subterranean warnings of the deep probing so characteristic of Pluto. The question left unspoken, that is yet seeking to be answered is “On what foundation and on what basis have we attributed the values to our companies, countries and institutions that we have in recent times? And are these foundations structurally secure?”

Obviously enough people who are highly paid to manage vast amounts of money on behalf of investors have decided that the answer was uncertain and perhaps unfavourable. In the face of uncertainty, fund managers withdraw where they can and seek greater certainty and security. Capricorn is concerned with the conservative management of organisations and institutions. Pluto’s journey through this sign until itsfinal exit on 20 November 2024 will see an intense focus on the systems, laws and regulations that govern and regulate the lives of all people on this planet.

We have already seen the governing laws, institutions and corporate structures being questioned in various ways around the world. We have seen some major banks in the USA and the UK saved from collapse by being taken over by other banks, in order to prevent even broader problems throughout the economy. The Madoff fund collapse has lead to widespread enquiries by the SEC into the behaviour of investment funds and the advisers recommending these funds to their investors, as well as the reliability of their auditors. In Australia, the Australian Stock Exchange is already warning companies to ensure their next half-yearly reports are fair and accurate and take account of the real value of assets in the current economic environment.

Some of the current headlines in the Wall Street Journal are instructive. ‘China toughens building laws.’ ‘Professor predicts end of U.S.’ Again, issues affecting the structural elements of the world and our governing bodies. We have already seen a government in Thailand thrown out and banned from politics for five years. Of course, political coups are not new, nor exclusive to a Pluto in Capricorn era, but this happened a matter of days after 27 November, and is highly symbolic of this astrological signature. In a similar vein, the Kobe earthquake in Japan around the time of Pluto’s move into Sagittarius was highly symbolic of the previous period’s focus on religion and belief systems. The island off Kobe’s shoreline, Awaji, which was at the epicentre of the earthquake, according to Shinto mythology was the first of the Japanese islands to be created. This earthquake could therefore be interpreted as symbolic of the shaking up of belief systems in the world from a very deep place.

During this 16-year period of Pluto in Capricorn we will see the values of durability and long-term thinking and planning come to the fore. Already books such as How To Give Up Shopping (Or At Least Cut Down) and films such as Confessions Of A Shopaholic are coming out. The TV showSpendaholics highlighted the excesses of the Sagittarian mindset of a passing era, indeed it seemed a little ahead of its time in suggesting there was room for a more rational approach to consumption.

During this period we will question and probe into the activities of corporations more. The misuse of power by corporations and governments will come to bear heavier consequences, and perhaps, for a change, individuals who mismanage public institutions will be held much more accountable than ever before. This will not transform the world, but we will have explored when and how our corporations and institutions can be trusted. We may have toughened some laws in attempts to legislate for more conscientious public behaviour. In the end, it is when individuals realise they can get further by being in step with the untrusting times that we will get more of the governance that our trust deserves.

But the current time is characterised by more than just this one astrological signature. Be sure to read some of the other articles on this blog to check what else is in the current mix!

© Rainer Rollfink, 2009