This month’s article relates to the outer planets in our Solar system, and the significant role they have played in modern Astrology. The planets referred to are Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, and while Pluto is relegated to the status of a dwarf planet nowadays, there is no denying that its presence in a chart – be it an individual or country – has a telling effect on the long term situation in question. Therefore, the opinion of those relatively few astronomers who relegated Pluto really hasn’t changed its use in a natal chart (or horoscope) at all.
In modern Astrology, the 10 main planets used (We include the Sun and Moon, even though they are really luminaries which light up our skies) are clustered together on the basis of its closeness and distance from the Sun:
Personal Planets – We have the Sun and Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars in this group, because these planets are about our personal growth and early development, along with our earliest interactions with those others in our immediate realm. The Moon is the fastest mover in the natal chart, taking 29.5 days in its synodic cycle, thus allowing it to move into a new sign each month of its cycle – for example, a new Moon. The Sun is the next fastest, moving within all the 12 zodiac signs. It takes 12 months before it reaches its starting point in a natal chart, which is what’s called a solar return, or our birthday. Mercury takes roughly the same amount of time, but in this planet’s case, we allow for its retrograde motion for three weeks at a time, four times a year. Venus becomes slightly slower, taking about 13 or so months before returning to its original point. Mars takes approximately two years before its return.
Interpersonal Planets – Jupiter and Saturn fall in this group, as they deal with the long term future goals, and worldview. In Jupiter there is the focus on philosophy and networking within the wider community, along with looking at the bigger picture in the generalised scheme of things. Jupiter is one of the planets which takes a longer period of time to complete its return in a chart – approximately 12 years. Saturn’s focus is on public recognition, form, structure and authority, along with the laying of strong foundations for a solid future. Saturn’s return takes approximately 29 years and is the last of the aforementioned planets that can be seen with the naked eye in the sky.
Transpersonal Planets – The three more recently discovered planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are regarded as transpersonal because of the time each one takes to move in each sign. Another term used by their movements is generational and this is appropriate, since they take such a long period of time to move between generations of people. Uranus is about change, inventions and genius, eccentricity, uprisings and a general disregard of the status quo. As Uranus takes around seven years to move within each sign, its eventually return takes 84 years. The next planet to move even slower is Neptune, which is introspective and spiritual, can delve into the world of fantasy, delusion and deception. Depending on its orbital rotation, Neptune can take anywhere between 13-17 years in a sign, completing its eventual return in just over 165 years. The final planet, and currently the furthest away, is Pluto, which is about transformation, mainly through to tearing down and rebuilding. Pluto has a rather eccentric orbit, taking anything from 12 years as it did in the sign of Scorpio to 25 years in Cancer. During the period of 1983-1995, when Pluto was in Scorpio, it was actually orbiting in front of Neptune – the last time it has done so. Its complete return takes around 248 years.
When these planets were discovered
The three outer planets were discovered at crucial times in our modern history and the time of those discoveries have set the tone for their meanings – at least archetypically. First sighted by the mathematician and astronomer Galileo in the 1600s, Uranus was overlooked perhaps as something else and wasn’t to be formally discovered until 1781 by German-born British astronomer Sir William Herschel. At the time of Uranus’ discovery, the idea of equality and human rights, freedom and democracy were being realised. The discovery also coincided with the Romantic movement in art and literature, with freedom of expression being recognised. During the period of 1781-89, there were political insurgencies and uprisings. Two of the more notable examples were when the Americas were given independence from the British crown in 1783, along with the French revolution in 1789. So it is from these two momentous uprisings that we can understand how it ties in with freedom and equality, questioning the governing authority and seeking to break away from it. A lot of modern Astrologers gives Uranus’ rulership to the sign of Aquarius, co-ruling with the traditional planet of Saturn, presiding over the 11th house, and it is with this sign that it can be seen to have the need for freedom of expression and a deep interest in humanitarian values and causes.
Neptune’s discovery came about in 1845, after astronomers Urbain Le Verrier and John Couch Adams (in Paris and Cambridge respectively) began to separately calculate in order to determine its nature and position. It was first observed through a telescope on 23rd September 1846, by astronomer Johann Galle in Berlin. At the time of Neptune’s discovery, it has been linked with the rise of nationalism in European nations like Germany, Italy, Hungary, Ireland and Serbia. These nations wished for independence based on the ideals of socialism. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published their work The Communist Manifesto in 1848. It also coincides with the time of illicit drug use – especially that of opium in the far east for the purpose of recreation – the discovery of anaesthetics and the use of hypnotism to probe the mind. It ties in with the more severe disorders of neuroses and paranoia, especially with the prolonged use of drugs. We must also consider that during this particular generational movement, the founder of the Theosophical Society, Madame Helene Blavatsky, came into her own as a psychic of repute – whether famously or infamously. She is credited with the New Age movement that is in place around the world today. In modern rulership, Neptune is assigned to the 12th house, and is a co-ruler with Jupiter over the sign of Pisces.
The final outer planet discovered was Pluto, and its discovery was shrouded in controversy. Percival Lowell, the founder of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, began an extensive search into a possible ninth planet, which he named Planet X. In the years to follow, there was a legal battle in the continued search for Planet X, instigated by Lowell’s widow Constance, who wished to have Lowell’s portion of the observatory for herself. Research eventually resumed in 1929 and the movements of the planet was summarised by Clyde Tombaugh in the beginning of 1930. Pluto was confirmed as a planet on 13th March 1930. At the time of this discovery, Wall Street experienced its worst ever stock market crash on 29th October, 1929. This crash brought about the Great Depression, which affected millions of people worldwide. Due to the onset of extreme poverty and displacement, the seeds were sewn for National Socialism – or Nazism – in Germany and the meteoric rise of Adolf Hitler. Fascism in Italy was slower in its stride as a force to be recognised, but eventually they joined forces with Germany and Japan to form the Axis alliance. At the eventual opposite end of this alliance was Stalinism in the Soviet Union. Power, greed and corruption, along with dictatorships were sure to ensue, along with organised crime and enforced prohibition of the sales of alcohol. This was to be the precursor for World War II, and the final nail in the coffin when Nazi Germany stormed Poland on 1st September 1939, forcing both Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany and their allies. So began this period in history which saw annihilation and destruction, fuelled by propaganda and nationalist pride. Mass murder was common, as were courage and tenacity under the most trying circumstances. It was this courage that allowed the survivors to rebuild and begin anew after the war’s end on 15th August 1945, when the Japanese announced their surrender after the atomic bomb was dropped onto Nagasaki in Japan. It is a fitting example of death and rebirth. In modern rulership, it is assigned to the 8th house of death, another person’s property and assets. It is co-ruler over Scorpio with the traditional ruler of Mars.
From this perspective, it is interesting in how archetypes are used to describe Astrology. When the outer planets are used to delineate a chart, they are looked at over a longer period of time, because each of these planets move very slowly. In particular with Neptune and Pluto, their movement is less than 1 degree a year – half of that time at least is spent in retrograde. A retrograde movement is usually spent in thought and introspection, tapping into the more unconscious realms of the mind, body and spirit of either on an individual or world view. Many generations of people are born with all three of these planets in retrograde, but it would be a misnomer to suggest that it has any significance to the individual whose chart is being delineated. Rather, it is more about what’s happening in terms of social movements for the masses.
However, when personal planets form an aspect in a natal chart with these transpersonal planets, then the astrologer would pay close attention in regards to how that plays out for an individual. When the outer planets form aspects in transit, the astrologer would also take into account the longer term situation and its possible outcome.
