This week’s question comes from Manda in Naples, Italy:

I’ve been told that I’m going through some very difficult transits which will continue into 2011, and I’m certainly feeling the weight of them. Apparently, one of the most difficult transits I’m experiencing is Pluto in my twelfth house squaring my natal eighth-house Sun. As I understand it, these are the two most intense houses in the zodiac. Although I’ve been researching the different aspects independently, I’m not sure how all of the energies are working together. I would be so grateful if you could give me some insight into how my current transits are impacting each other. What I can say is that all areas in my life seem to be in dissolution, and I’ve recently started seeing a counselor because I’ve been unable to cope with all of this on my own.

Pat’s response:
Manda, this could be a case of a little bit of knowledge being dangerous. Sure, a Pluto-Sun square is a difficult transit — when taken by itself. But there is never just one thing going on at a time in a chart, and your intuition is right on to suspect as much.

First of all, I see that the current series of eclipses in Leo and Aquarius have been hitting your first and seventh houses. I am going through this right now, too, and I don’t need to tell you that it has been disorienting. A lot of changes have been taking place, and they are hard to keep up with. Moreover, your chart ruler, Saturn, is in the seventh house and has been activated by the eclipses, adding to feelings of inadequacy and inability to cope.

This series of eclipses will continue until August 2009, but in the meantime a new series will begin that will also take place in your first and seventh houses, along with your twelfth and sixth. So you can expect more changes to come. I always tell my clients that eclipses are accelerators. The changes are often upsetting simply because they are so fast that we feel destabilized. Once the dust has settled, you’ll likely find that you’re in a new and much better place. It’s just bumpy getting there.

That said, you’ve got a lot of cosmic help right now, too, as Jupiter is also in your first house. I know Neith will have something different to say, as she and I don’t always agree about how “lucky” Jupiter is, but I do believe the Big Guy acts is a shield, and note that he’s also going to be in a trine to all of your Libra planets, which will go a long way toward easing some of the stress.

As for that Pluto-Sun square, I believe it, too, is ultimately going to be beneficial, in that you will get to know yourself on a much deeper level. Most of us have demons we don’t want to face, but going boldly into those places is always well-rewarded. This is a great time, incidentally, to be working with a therapist. I strongly encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. From looking at your chart, your work will be most productive if you focus on how you interact with others in your closest relationships.

Wishing you many blessings. Do stay in touch.

Neith’s response:
Manda, you have a lot of planets in fair minded, peace loving Libra as I do, so it comes as no surprise to me you are finding this Pluto transit challenging. Pluto always plays by his own rules and pretty much demands we face the darker aspects of our beings, something Libra is not always comfortable with.

Your Moon is flanked by Venus and Mars in Libra emphasizing your need to be surrounded by beauty and civility. However, all the transits Pat mentioned in her response have to making it difficult for you to find the tranquility you need to keep your emotional balance. When those of us with Libra Moon’s are being constantly thrown off balance, we can feel very cranky.

Something else that may be operating here is your natal Sun-Pluto conjunction. Often the initial response for a plutonian type is to attempt to control rather than to detach. Take from one who has been down this road . . . it doesn’t work and is ultimately exhausting. Every day it seems I must remind myself to stay detached from any and all outcomes.

I agree with Pat this is a very good time to be sitting down with a professional therapist. You can benefit greatly from having a neutral party to bounce your thoughts and feelings off. With a preponderance of air in your chart, you need to consciously choose to explore your feeling nature.

When you look back at this time, I believe you will find you benefited very much from these transits. Good luck and hang in there!

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