Yet another shift occurs this week when the Sun enters Scorpio. From the cool, rational territory of Libra, we descend into the depths of emotional undercurrents and primal instincts.

This also is the time of year when the veil between the worlds lifts, allowing to us to sense other dimensions of reality. Messages can come through intuition, dreams, or synchronicity.

At the same time, we’re in an intense period of revisiting the Uranus-Pluto square via transits by faster-moving inner planets. The aspect was exact from 2012 to March 2015. However, Uranus and Pluto are moving back toward a very close square by one degree in early 2016, which will remain within 3 degrees until Pluto turns retrograde in mid-April. Even after that, we will have a few years of shaking out, particularly when faster-moving planets make contact with Pluto and Uranus in quick succession. That’s what has been happening over the past few weeks and will happen again this week when Mercury squares Pluto on Thursday and opposes Uranus on Sunday. Venus and Mars will repeat that pattern in the next two months.

Globally, there are several tense situations ready to blow at any moment, especially considering the increasing level of insanity among humans. Volatile planetary configurations can indicate the timing of a trigger. Among the dangerous political situations that developed during the Uranus-Pluto square were proxy wars between the United States and Russia in Syria and Ukraine. The struggle continues, and some political writers suggest that it could be the basis for another world war – which according to some already has started. I wrote some time back that we might not even recognize the next one, because it wouldn’t resemble the first two.

The Uranus-Pluto square also brought populist uprisings in many countries around the world, some of which were quickly co-opted by the United States and other external forces to capitalize on the unrest (some say they deliberately are causing it). In the Middle East, the chaos is nearly complete. I’ve written before that geopolitical boundaries would shift dramatically under the Uranus-Pluto square. It hasn’t happened yet, but the handwriting is on the wall.

As the Uranus-Pluto square was activated over the past few weeks, a new wave of violence erupted among Palestinians in Israel, raising fears of third intifada. “Intifada” roughly translates as “rebellion” or “uprising,” but from what I understand, it’s more like a “shaking off,” in the sense of shaking off oppression. This is an extremely volatile situation, all the more so given the war in neighboring Syria. Over the next couple of months, as Uranus and Pluto move toward a tighter square and as Venus and Mars cross the trigger points, there is an increasing danger that the crisis will escalate. The previous intifadas, which began in 1987 and 2000, resulted in a tragic loss of life and greater repression of the Palestinian people.

The Uranus-Pluto square is primarily manifesting on a global, collective level. Where it falls in your chart indicates how your personal life is being impacted by larger trends. For example, if Uranus is in your second or eighth houses, your finances might be going through ups and downs linked to the economy, with little or no stability in sight.

Fortunately, we’ve also had a harmonious trine from Jupiter in Virgo to Pluto in Capricorn, providing a possible outlet and even some golden opportunities for channeling conflicting energies in a productive way. Venus and Mars will square Pluto after they enter Libra in November, but currently they are both in Virgo, conjunct Jupiter and amplifying the trine to Pluto. Venus, Jupiter, and Pluto all function as financial indicators, but this arrangement is positive for any kind of physical, material gain. On Sunday, just before Mercury opposes Uranus, Venus conjoins Jupiter for the third and last time in 2015.

Gretchen Friedrich some time ago sent me a story she wrote about a large diamond found by a Colorado couple traveling through Arkansas in June. The day they found the gem, Jupiter was in a trine with Uranus by exact degree, with Venus approaching the first of three conjunctions. Uranus is the planet of surprises and sudden change, and it’s in Aries, the sign associated with diamonds. At the time, Venus and Jupiter were in Leo, which loves bling. Gretchen’s story profiles the master diamond cutter commissioned to design and cut the rough stone. He says it is one of the most perfect diamonds he has ever seen. The real work began after Jupiter entered detail-oriented Virgo, and as Venus approaches her third and final pass, it is nearly complete. The diamond even has its own Facebook page, with photos and a video. I don’t get too excited about gemstones, but the way this diamond refracts light is stunning.

Speaking of Jupiter in Virgo, last month, I did a video editing project for a local glass artist whose work is being featured at a gallery in Seattle. The theme of the show is bottles, but they aren’t like any bottles you’ve ever seen or imagined. These things are gigantic – think Jupiter. Of all the bottles, he chose the medicine bottle as the title. Virgo is the sign of health. So here we have Jupiter in Virgo expressed as a giant medicine bottle! As I was editing, I was constantly amazed that what he was doing was possible at all. It seems like defying the laws of nature. And they certainly have an otherworldly quality. Check out the video to see how he did it.

For me, the planetary shifting, eclipses, and intense personal transits have made the past few weeks a crazy, upsetting time, mentally and physically (three days ago I pulled a muscle in my back, very painful). However, I’ve also gained some clarity about priorities. As difficult a decision as it is, I’m afraid I’m going to have to suspend the RealAstrologers blog, possibly for good. I have known for a long time that it simply isn’t working for me. I can’t justify spending so much time essentially working for free, while my paid work piles up and clients wait weeks and months for their reports.

And, to be honest, it isn’t emotionally sustaining. When I first began doing political astrology in 2006, it was energizing, whereas now it’s draining. That’s often a sign that it’s time to let go. I am kicking around the idea of going back to political writing, but with more emphasis on news and opinion and less on astrology.

But first things first. I need to catch up on reports and consultation follow-ups. At this point, I’m inclined not to offer reports anymore, either. I will complete the reports I’ve promised, no matter how long it takes, but after that, I will offer telephone consultations only.

I would like to stay connected with you all and will continue to be a presence on Facebook. I haven’t spent much time there lately, only because I’ve been in a space of quiet soul-searching. I am always finding interesting articles that I would like to share. So if you want to maintain contact, please “like” the RealAstrologers Facebook page. This is definitely not “good-bye.”

Wishing you all much love and courage,
Pat

© Pat Paquette, RealAstrologers.com, 2015.