If we’ve been wondering why this generation seems to be stepping up to
the challenges of our Capricornian world so readily, we see it here: they were
born into one of the most powerful Capricorn moments we’ve seen in our
lifetimes, the Uranus-Neptune conjunction (exact in 2/1993).
It’s interesting to me that the
children of one Pluto generation almost always come of age under the next Pluto generation. For instance, my
Pluto-in-Libra sons—often referred to as being from “Gen X”—came of age with
Pluto in Scorpio, and their
Pluto-in-Sagittarius children (roughly 1995-2008) will be coming of age during
Pluto’s current Capricorn transit. So, it shouldn’t surprise us that the teens protesting on streets across the nation for common sense gun regulations this past Saturday (March 24th)
are being hailed as a “Generation under fire” (Sagittarius), but collectively,
they are taking on Capricornian
responsibilities and demanding the same of the adults in their lives.
This Sagittarian cohort was seeded in
1995, when Pluto entered their fiery, Jupiter-disposed sign, and my overall impression
of them is that they are living out the promise of both Sagittarius and Capricorn. Every speech made in
today’s D.C. rally rang with more fiery passion than the last, but the emotion
was informed with a mastery of the facts, as well. The generation we see on
display in this #NeverAgain movement is deploying their energy and efforts with
maturity, with impressive unity and with
full regard for the complex ways in which gun violence manifests in this
nation.
Disclaimer
Before this exploration starts to
become confusing, let’s pause to consider the necessary generational/individual
disclaimer: it’s important to remember that a generational chart (we’ll get to
that ahead) applies only to the entire Sagittarian cohort, as a collective entity. Generations have
their characters, just as individuals do, and that’s what we’ll be considering when we look at this cohort’s
Pluto ingress chart.
Some individuals may capture the collective spirit of their generation
more fully than others, but they all bear some
imprint of Pluto’s time in Sagittarius. No doubt, Sagittarius expresses its
nature and qualities in a myriad of ways, so many individuals will dispute the
direction their generational peers are going with #NeverAgain.
In fact, differences have surfaced
within the Marjory Stoneman-Douglas community, especially over the issue of
armed security. It would be unnatural for there not to be differences of opinion. Even so, there’s broad agreement
that students should feel safe in
school, and that our current laws and gun culture fall far short of achieving
that goal.
Long story short, any points I make
here about the Sag generation are
meant to reflect both its broadly shared qualities and the collective trends it embodies,
not the endless variations expressed by individuals.
To understand an individual’s actions, we would turn to his or her natal
chart, along with transits, etc.
At the March for Our Lives, March 24, 2018 |
At
the March
Back at the March, some speeches we
witnessed tell us that these #NeverAgain kids are aware that their movement is
not just about school shootings by
mentally deluded or emotionally isolated suburban kids; it’s also about systemic
social issues, such as gang violence driven by economic injustice and lack of
opportunity.
It’s also about “growing up
Black”…and Latino…and so on, in a time when the “school-to-prison pipeline” for
people of color is a dangerous reality, and when a "war-zone" environment and troubling police violence is a
daily fact of life in many communities. All these communities of color were represented and celebrated in the protest speeches.
In tune with their Pluto sign, Generation
Sagittarius (henceforth, “Gen Sag”) is clearly aware of the broader public health context that surrounds gun
violence in schools, and they’re not interested in short-sighted, band-aid
solutions.
Simple, strong statements dominated the day. |
The protestors’ speeches also rang
with clear Sagittarian logic, easily revealing the NRA’s “Guns don’t kill
people…people kill people” mantra for the distortion it is. We heard again and
again, that the common menacing factor in all
forms of gun violence is easy access to the
guns. No one called for the end of reasonable
gun rights (onerous restrictions would be strange for Sagittarians); all they
want is common sense regulations (Capricorn) that keep guns from getting into the wrong
hands.
Closing the so-called “gun show loophole,” where guns change hands like cupcakes at a bake sale. Banning weapons intended for war, like the AR-15
rifle, and so on.
They want gun laws to reflect that their
lives are valued more than an NRA
campaign contribution—they even wore “price tags” to illustrate. They want
their right to life to be part of the
gun rights calculus. They want to feel
safe in their schools and in their neighborhoods, and who can argue with
that?
A powerful, coming-of-age reality |
Stepping
up in a Capricornian world
The fact is, Gen Sag is now maturing
into the “dog-eat-dog” Capricornian world they are destined to lead, and
they’re learning how to effectively deploy their Sagittarian fire and spirit in
that world. While Sagittarius on its own might lose interest in a problem once
it’s been mentally/philosophically teased apart and “solved,” Capricorn has no
patience with the hypocrisy of those who would send “thoughts and prayers,” and
then do nothing—Capricorn wants action.
Capricorn also persists over the long term: these kids aren’t going anywhere, and
they seem to know it’s going to be a long battle. Capricorn’s persistence also means, of course, that the corporate
gun industry isn’t likely to give up its lucrative weapons honey pot without a
no-holds-barred fight. We’re already seeing plenty of attempts to discredit and
infantilize the #NeverAgain kids and their mission: Rick Santorum
is reported as saying that they should “learn CPR” instead of getting involved
in the gun debate. That almost comes across as a threat, doesn’t
it?
Expressed with integrity, Saturn-ruled
Capricorn also rejects deception and
“spin,” preferring concrete facts.
It’s no accident that David Hogg, a dynamic speaker and one of the young
Parkland leaders and organizers of today’s D.C. event, was sporting a button on
his lapel today that read “We Call BS.” This motto was echoed in many signs
held by protestors, as well.
A constant theme in the protest. |
Capricorn also prefers clear and concrete goals and priorities,
so this new movement has issued a carefully conceived list of them. The Eagle Eye, the Marjory Stoneman-Douglas
student newspaper published this list, and the Guardian US invited the students to relay that message to their much
more expansive readership by “guest editing” a similar piece, entitled “Our
manifesto to fix America’s gun laws.” It’s well-worth the read. Even the
lead-in to their list reflects the hard-won, Capricornian wisdom these
insightful young Sagittarians have gained:
“We have a unique platform not only as student journalists,
but also as survivors of a mass shooting. We are firsthand witnesses to the
kind of devastation that gross incompetence and political inaction can produce.
We cannot stand idly by as the country continues to be infected by a plague of
gun violence that seeps into community after community, and does irreparable
damage to the hearts and minds of the American people.”
Did they receive some help from the
adults in their lives to do all this? Probably, but a savvy generation
preparing to lead in a Capricorn world would know that taking a page from their
elders is also important. A Jupiter-ruled Sagittarius generation wants to grow
and thrive, so it’s natural that they would look to those with experience and
insight for ideas and a launching pad: how they act upon those ideas is another
story. They are far from being mere puppets for adults with anti-2nd
Amendment ambitions.
With Pluto in
Sagittarius, “speaking truth to power”
comes natural—as natural as assuming their own political power. “Vote them
out!” was a constant theme in the chants and the speeches.
Importantly, with Jupiter as their
generational ruler and Saturn directing their adult lives, these young people
have a distinct sense of where the personal
and the collective overlap. Saturn’s
weighty rulership of time itself was dramatically
demonstrated when student Emma Gonzalez stood silent on the stage for an
achingly long pause. When she began speaking again, she
noted:
"Since the time that I came out here," she said,
"it has been 6 minutes and 20 seconds. The shooter has ceased shooting and
will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape and walk
free for an hour before arrest."
In reminding people of the granular,
Saturnian reality of 6 minutes and 20
seconds being all it took to kill 14 young people and 3 teachers, Gonzalez
made sure viewers felt every one of
them. Instead of hiding and nursing her own terrible wounds, she—visibly
carrying the weight of her school’s tragedy—stood there for what seemed like
endless minutes, and offered herself as a silent “screen” for everyone’s emotions.
A powerfully moving moment in Emma Gonzalez's speech. |
Needless to say, Gonzalez
communicated with the Cosmic Archer’s precision and fire. The world got the message.
As did the NRA, which issued an
incredibly mean-spirited response:
“On Thursday evening, NRA TV
posted a clip on its YouTube channel entitled ‘A march for their lies’
where the host addressed the Parkland students and said that if their friends
hadn't died, ‘no one would know your names.’”
That
kind of says it all, doesn’t it?
Clearly, the #NeverAgain movement
will have a long-term fight on its hands. My guess is that their generation
will be identified with this mission of changing America’s gun culture over
time, one election at a time. Just as protesting the Viet Nam war became a hallmark of the Boomer
(Pluto in Leo) generation, and as fighting WWII marked the “Greatest” (Pluto in
Cancer) generation.
Which raises a uniquely Sagittarian
quality to this struggle: Jupiter rules the natural 9th house of
higher education, philosophy and ideology—all elements in the formation of culture, and hence, determining factors
in this new movement. It’s no surprise that this drama is unfolding around the
issue of school shootings, either:
the 3rd-9th axis of an astrological chart reflects issues
surrounding schools and education.
The 3rd reflects local schools and the education received
in the neighborhood environment and its extensions—i.e., the “village” (as in
“it takes a village to raise a child”).
The 9th reflects distant
(usually “higher”) education, but any education that positions young people
to step into their leadership roles in the world can be considered “higher.”
Today’s education happens not just
in school buildings, of course, but via the internet, social media and other
means of networking: in other words, the Gemini-Sagittarius axis supports the
expansion of horizons beyond any brick-and-mortar restrictions. If the
#NeverAgain teens seem older than their years, this is a big reason why. The odds of these media savvy kids being
used as ventriloquists’ dummies for ambitious adults are very slim.
So, let’s consider the astrology of
their generation against a chart for yesterday’s big event. The last post here
also looked at the #NeverAgain movement, but the analysis was limited to the
March 15th walkouts. Here, we’ll lend broader perspective to the discussion
by adding the generational chart. To put things into historical perspective, the last time Pluto transited Sagittarius
was from 12/1748-1/1762—a generation that would later be recognized as a
seedbed of democracy here and abroad.
Biwheel
#1: (inner wheel) Pluto
ingress-Sagittarius, January 17, 1995, 1:28 a.m. ST, Washington, DC;
(outer wheel) March for Our Lives, March 24, 2018, 7:05 a.m. (sunrise) DST,
Washington, DC. Tropical Equal Houses,
True Node.
Interchart
T-Square: March Moon (Cancer) opposes
March MC-Mars-Saturn (Capricorn); this axis squares March ASC-Sun (Aries). Gen
Sag protestors may have put themselves at some risk yesterday on the streets of
D.C., with this tense cardinal configuration, but the movement they founded in
the process seems cosmically “blessed.” All
planetary players involved in this t-square are dignified in one way or another: the Moon rules Cancer; Saturn
rules Capricorn; Mars is exalted in Capricorn and the Sun is exalted in Aries.
Strong emotion (Moon) welled up from the collective
“soul” of this protest (Moon conjoins IC) to inform the March
organizers’ aggressive plan of action and goals (Mars-Saturn), and the Sun
dawned (sunrise chart) on a day filled with action, hope, and a fresh look at a
tired, old gun violence issue (ASC-Sun in Aries). An astrologer may
not have been asked to help plan the event timing, but the nice March
Sun trine to their Gen Pluto (Sagittarius) is another indication
that the Cosmos will powerfully facilitate the organizers’ goals, and that they
are in the “right place at the right time.”
Indeed, that feeling of “rightness”
was palpable—even though organizers did have to overcome many obstacles to be
there. And, unless there was behind-the-scenes drama we didn’t hear about,
everything seemed to unfold according to plan. This was encouraging, considering
Mercury’s
retrograde condition (also in Aries)—more to come on that.
It’s interesting that this March-day
t-square spanned the generational chart’s 2/3-8 axis and squared the Sun-ASC
falling over the generational 5th house. This suggests that the
protest was both a statement of values (2nd),
that it was a grassroots phenomenon
(3rd), and that it had a social
thrust and intent (5th). The resolution point for a t-square is
always the point opposite the focal point (Sun-ASC), so this brings the
generational 11th house to bear, the house where public influence finds
expression.
March Mercury Rx conjoins March Venus
(Aries); March Venus conjoins March Uranus and this duo squares Gen Sag
Neptune-Uranus-Sun (Capricorn) and March Pluto (Capricorn). If we’ve been wondering why this
generation seems to be stepping up to the challenges of our Capricornian world
so readily, we see it here: they were born
into one of the most powerful Capricorn moments we’ve seen in our
lifetimes, the Uranus-Neptune conjunction
(exact in 2/1993).
In fact, this Aries
Uranus has been hovering square their generational Uranus-Neptune conjunction
since at least 2016 (allowing a 5°
orb), cultivating their revolutionary
coming of age. Perhaps Trump’s election was a catalyst? That would be
speculative right now, but their powerful Capricorn conjunction does fall opposite his natal Saturn-Venus
(chart not shown), so there may be some basis for the idea. A story for another
day.
The oldest Gen Sag individuals are
now 23, but the entire generation numbers in the tens of millions in the U.S. (approx.
2 billion worldwide). Whatever
revolution they decide to mount en masse will resonate by sheer force of
numbers. During Saturday’s March—just the beginning of the movement, we’re
assured—their aggressive message (Mercury) for change and action
enjoyed Venus’s blessing, as well, in militant Aries.
Mercury’s
retrograde suggests a need to reflect deeply and to deploy their messages very
carefully in this volatile world. Even so, disposed by a hard-edged Capricorn Mars,
the Aries planets in this event chart are prepared for battle. Astrologer Gary Caton notes in the Mountain Astrologer that when Mercury retrogrades in fire signs, notable things tend to happen:
"For the next year, after occurring in the earth signs,
Mercury retrogrades are happening in the fire signs. The last time Mercury’s
retrograde moved from earth signs to fire signs occurred in late 2010 when
Mohamed Bouazizi lit the spark for the Tunisian Revolution, a conflagration
that quickly spread into a regional uprising throughout Northern Africa and the
Middle East in what became known as the Arab Spring."
March Jupiter (Rx, Scorpio) inconjoins March
Venus (Aries) and sextiles March Pluto (Capricorn)-Gen Sag Uranus-Neptune-Sun
(Capricorn). As the ruler of their generational Pluto, Jupiter
and Venus, March Jupiter’s role is important here. Its placement
over the generational 1st house (Scorpio rises for Gen Sag) suggests
a boost to their image in the world and a “coming out party” of sorts.
The aspects March Jupiter forms here
suggest that the young women (Venus) involved in the movement will
experience some frustrations. It’s also possible that funding will become an
issue, now that the March is over. A number of things could cause this,
including general economic decline—a trend Trump seems to be courting with his
tariffs regime.
Given the importance of young women
to the movement, any frustration or upset there could create some drama, but
the nice sextiles we see here should open doors and empower the movement
overall. As Pluto continues to
transit over their generational Capricorn stellium, they will be challenged to
deploy their newfound power with integrity and right intention. They will be
coming of age to vote and to run for office in a new wave for each year that
passes, and they have a keen sense of the power that will give their cause.
Even as they gain power, however, the
NRA and other corporate powers-that-be will go to battle over any regulations
(Capricorn) that come up for consideration, and they won’t care who is behind
the bills. This issue will likely gain a lot of attention as Saturn
(now in early Capricorn) continues its path over the Sag generation’s Capricorn
points.
As this unfolds, in fact, Pluto
will be simultaneously transiting into its return position in the Sibly chart (27°+Capricorn). This suggests strongly that the #NeverAgain
movement will play a role in resolving the dark passage we’re experiencing as a
nation. By the time we emerge from this national Pluto return, Gen Sag should be
represented in Congress and in all state legislatures…every year, a new wave. We
will undoubtedly have more to say on this before Pluto’s return date in
2022. For now, let’s keep in mind that it’s “darkest before the dawn,” or so
the saying goes.
March Neptune (Pisces) conjoins Gen Sag
Saturn (Pisces) and squares Gen Sag Jupiter-Venus (Sagittarius). This
generation’s Neptune-infused Saturn rules their staunch
Capricorn stellium, so they have an intuitive grasp of the games people play
with information and ideas. This placement reflects their natural compassionate outlook as a generation: as we'll see below, they are deeply ethical, and this is partly because they are capable of feeling the pains and concerns of others. All of this makes them uniquely suited to be the visionaries for
our time. They can think fluidly in both concrete, verbal (this Saturn
also disposes their generational Aquarius Mercury) and inspirational, imagistic terms.
We’re seeing a lot of dirty tricks spilling out
of Neptune’s
magic carpet bag these days, and while this generation is not immune to being deceived or deluded by
conspiracy theories, Russian Twitter bots, etc., they are (as a collective)
also equipped by their potent generational Jupiter (Sagittarius) to see through
any distortions and twisted logic. This ability is supported by Venus’s
nice conjunction to Jupiter in Sagittarius, which explains the observation above, that this cohort enjoys
sharp intellectual abilities and a full grasp of ethical principles. They are
fair-minded, willing to do their research, and prepared to fight for the
principles underlying their mission, which is a beneficial mix for an activist
generation.
March Chiron (Pisces) opposes Gen Sag Chiron
(Virgo) and sextiles Gen Sag Uranus-Sun (Capricorn). If we were looking
at the March event chart on its own, it would be easier to see that Chiron
(Pisces) is within a couple degrees of the event’s Aries ASC,
so it’s not surprising that this event broadcasted the wounds of a generation
for the entire world to see. Indeed, 900 protest events reportedly unfolded worldwide that day to support the
#NeverAgain movement, and only a few happened to oppose it.
That said, a generational Chiron-Chiron
opposition suggests an important milestone, a transition point that can be both
healing and wounding. It is a
critical developmental passage, during which any woundedness is revealed for
the motivating force it can be. Chiron expert Martin Lass says “We could liken
it to the birth pangs of Spirit.”[1]
Indeed, fire-signed generations seem
to attract such “trials by Fire”—existential crises, even—before taking on
their power and place in the world: we Boomers (born with Pluto in Leo, came of
age with Pluto in Virgo) weathered our storm with Viet Nam, and the Civil War generation
(born into Pluto in Aries, came of age with Pluto in Taurus) certainly had its trial. To the Sagittarius generation
that fought our American Revolution, Thomas Paine wrote,
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”
Final thoughts
Today’s Gen Sag warriors are also looking for freedom, but their
conception of that lofty birth right is freedom from the NRA’s weighty influence, and the freedom to live their lives without fear of gun
violence. We know this revolution
won’t succeed any more easily than any
of our revolutions and mass movements have.
There are strong and worrisome radical right-ward trends that tell another side of this generation’s story,
so as united as the Gen Sag kids seemed this past Saturday in Washington, D.C.
and across the nation, the changes they’re seeking won’t be obtained “too
cheap.”
Complicating all that, we have a president in the White
House who will hesitate at nothing to avoid taking responsibility for his own shortcomings, so we can’t be surprised if hostilities just happen to break out as a distraction: Trump seems bent on fanning the flames of war with his new
hawkish appointees. Could the draft be re-instituted to channel all that youthful
passion for change into military service and derail the protests? All of these
tactics are written in the well-worn pages of the Machiavelli playbook—vigilance
is needed.
So, it’s fairly predictable that the
cynical and the powerful will not make
smooth the path ahead for Gen Sag, and their path is not likely to fly straight, like a
Sagittarian arrow. Even so, we can hope that progress will be made, and that
these idealistic young people won’t have to do all the heavy lifting!
We're in this together!
Raye
Robertson is a practicing astrologer, writer and former educator. A graduate of
the Faculty of Astrological Studies (U.K.), Raye focuses on mundane,
collective-oriented astrology, with a particular interest in current affairs,
culture and media, the astrology of generations, and public concerns such as
education and health. Several of her articles on these topics have been
featured in The Mountain Astrologer and other publications over the years.
Individual chart readings are available—for more information, contact Raye at: robertsonraye@gmail.com.
© Raye Robertson 2018. All
rights reserved.
[1]
Martin Lass, Musings of a Rogue Comet:
Chiron, Planet of Healing, Galactic Publications, Nyack, NY, 2001, p. 304.