Category: Parenting

The Pluto in Capricorn Generation

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The Pluto in Capricorn Generation, 2008-2024

A generation is defined as a group of people/souls born within a certain period of time whose shared age and experience describe a distinct worldview and purpose. Understanding the times and shared experience of any given generation helps create a context or foundation from which we can begin to build an understanding of the members of that generation. From an astrological point of view think of a generation as a group of souls incarnating during a specific time into a specific set of circumstances in the world that will present those souls with the kinds of challenges and opportunities they need to continue to change, transform and evolve their consciousness and also to make a impact of some kind to the evolving consciousness of the collective.

In astrology we look to the placement of the outer planets, by sign, to describe a generation. There are three outer planets, Pluto, Uranus and Neptune. They are also known as the transpersonal planets and move much more slowly than the personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars.) Their slower motion means that they can stay in a sign for up to 30 years whereas the personal planets stay in a sign anywhere from a few days to a few months. Of the three transpersonal planets, Pluto is the slowest. Pluto takes about 249 years to orbit the Sun. It remains in a sign anywhere from fourteen to thirty years. Pluto is the planet most closely associated with the soul’s evolution. It brings about the deepest, most profound changes like that caused by the constant dripping of water on a rock. Eventually the constant drip will wear away and change the shape of the rock forever. Pluto has the same effect on our emotional body and it is through the emotional body that we evolve our consciousness. Neptune and Uranus, their placement and relationship by aspect to one another and Pluto adds even more layers of meaning and influence but for now we will be focusing just on Pluto.

I wrote a brief description of what characterizes the Pluto in Scorpio generation in my first post about parenting with astrology. Now we turn our attention to the current Pluto in Capricorn generation to begin to understand our young ones. Pluto entered Capricorn on January 25, 2008 and will not leave the sign of Capricorn until 2024 meaning that the oldest member of the Pluto in Capricorn generation is about 13 years of age. The kids born before them are part of the Pluto in Sagittarius generation born roughly between January 1995 and 2008. In an upcoming post I will spend some time looking at this older generation of kids and along with the Pluto in Libra generation born between 1971 and 1983. That should cover most all of you that are parents/guardians and your children.

What is Pluto in Capricorn about?

We are going to look at it from two different perspectives. First we will look at the collective influence of Pluto in Capricorn as a transit experienced by all. This will help us to understand the energetic atmosphere and circumstances that this generation will be born into. Then we will look at Pluto in Capricorn from the perspective of those that have it in their natal charts. These would be our young members of the Pluto in Capricorn generation.

Let’s start with Capricorn. The sign of Capricorn is an earth sign. It is the third and last earth sign in the zodiac. Being of earth, it has to do with what we can experience with our senses; the tangible world, physical manifestation/reality and understanding the laws that govern our physical reality making it a highly pragmatic and practical sign. On a collective level, Capricorn has to do with systems, institutions, and structures; structures of government and politics, religious structures, business and economic structures to name a few. It has to do with the laws and regulations created by and that govern those structures.

On a collective level Pluto functions as a force of change and transformation.
It breaks down and removes all that is limiting, stale and outworn; whatever it is that no longer serves or is relevant in our lives, to make way for something new that is relevant and will empower us to continue on the journey. Pluto being the ruler of Scorpio is associated with the cycle of life and death. We know, from experience, that there always comes a time when something in our lives must die, when we need to let go to make way for new life, for life to continue. Just like with the seasons; one giving way to the next, life and death describes a natural cycle.

On a personal level Pluto reflects the process of soul growth and empowerment coming from past lives into the present.
Pluto shows where we have experienced a feeling of lack in our lives and what it is we have been and continue to be drawn to that we feel will fill the void, enrich and empower us. But, Pluto at the same time is about impermanence. It shows us that nothing can ever remain the same or static. The thing that filled the void and enriched us has a shelf life and eventually that too will have to go in order for us to continue the cycle of soul growth.

When you pair Pluto the planet of change and transformation with an earth sign there tends to be a lot of resistance because Earth is about building something solid and stable. It doesn’t like change. Look at what has been happening in the world since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 and especially now. We are in the throws of major worldwide upheaval. We are discovering that not all of the structures we built after the last time Pluto was in Capricorn between 1762-1777 (at the time of the American Revolution,) are still relevant, reliable, trustworthy, or sitting on solid foundations. Not all are in alignment with the higher principles of equality, fairness, security for all, tolerance, interdependence and sustainability. Those structures who’s foundations are questionable are now cracking in a major way and as they begin to deconstruct fear and chaos are on the rise throughout the collective. There is so much uncertainty about the future but one thing that is most obvious is that a change is inevitable.

So, this is the world that the generation of souls with Pluto in Capricorn in their natal charts are being born into, the world that they will inherit, the world that they will have to deal with, the world that they will be tasked with the responsibility to rebuild. That’s pretty weighty stuff. It would be a pretty depressing thought but for the fact that the Universe is so intelligent. It is sending in souls who have already been working on developing exactly what is needed to lead us out of this mess. Some will be ripe and ready for the task. Many will have what it takes for the rebuilding process. It’s a huge and overwhelming undertaking. Others will continue to learn and grow in the ways of Capricorn. So much depends on the individual placement of Pluto in Capricorn in the natal chart, other planetary configurations and the individual’s level of consciousness which is always the case no matter what generation a person is born into.

Why might we lay our hope for the phoenix to rise out of the ashes in the hands of this generation?

Let’s take a look at the most redeeming qualities of Capricorn for the answer. Capricorn is all about alignment or living rightly by the laws of nature. It is about living according to what works instead of what is desired; bringing our desires into alignment. Naturally then, Capricorn has to do with discipline, strength, maturity, reliability, credibility, responsibility, and integrity. It is all about the importance of being able to walk one’s talk. At its best Capricorn represents the wise old sage. And at its best Pluto in Capricorn seeks empowerment and success by finding ways to meaningful integrate into society, and to become a positive role model; a benevolent, compassionate and caring authority like a good parent. Capricorn has an innate understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Pluto and Capricorn for that matter, are the consummate BS sniffers and are able to quickly detect and attempt to correct that which is out of alignment. Pluto in Capricorn is powerful, determined and resilient; a real force to be reckoned with.

I have described the highest potential of this signature but that potential is only realized when the polarity point of Capricorn is successfully integrated. It is the energy of the opposite sign of Cancer that will need to be accessed and developed by these souls to achieve the mastery that they seek. Without the Cancer energy Capricorn on its own can be cold, hard, rigid, judgmental, and driven. Accessing Cancer’s energy helps to temper with kindness, compassion, humility and forgiveness. It makes room for acceptance, nurturance, tolerance of weakness.

These kids will be looking outside of themselves for reliable, trustworthy, wise mentors/authorities who can hold and guide them forward. That’s part of the Pluto in Capricorn m.o. As parents/guardians/grandparents, we need to look at ourselves, examine our own credibility. We need to make sure that we are living in integrity, that we are doing our best to align our own desires and are creating a life that works. We will be called upon to demonstrate accountability, responsibility and all the other Capricorn qualities while honoring and tending to our emotional needs when they arise. We need to do the right thing and strive to be the best role models we can be while remaining humble and open to admitting our mistakes. Tall order? Yes! Opportunity for our own soul growth? YES! That is the gift of this generation should we choose to rise to the challenge.

The Gift of Detachment in Parenting with Astrology

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In this post I want to continue sharing some thoughts about parenting with astrology. I talked about how Evolutionary Astrology can help you to see your child, really see into their souls, understand their evolutionary needs, appreciate their talents and strengths, gain the detachment necessary to develop greater patience for their shortcomings and challenges and find ways to support them to grow through their challenges.

It is the importance of detachment in parenting that I would like to discuss further in this post. I believe it takes a certain level of healthy detachment to be an effective parent.

What do I mean by healthy detachment?

First, let’s define detachment. Collins English Dictionary defines detachment as, “the feeling of not being personally involved in something or of having no emotional interest in it.” We all know that having and raising children requires personal involvement and emotional interest. Otherwise there is the possibility of neglect. A healthy detachment is simply the ability to maintain greater objectivity with our children. In other words to be detached not from our children or caring for them but from our own biases, prejudices, and most importantly, the expectations that we have of our children. When any of those are operating, we cannot see our young ones clearly for who they are, where they are going and what they need.

I’ll share an example from my own life that perhaps some of you can relate to. I have two sons and when my sons were reaching the age when I had to make a decision about where they would go to school, I got very excited about the possibility of sending them to a Waldorf school in town. I had become familiar with Waldorf education through a close friend and the more I learned about it the more I fell in love with it because the philosophy and the aesthetics fit my own likings, personality, emotional nature, etc. I had to convince the boys’ dad that it was the right choice and he finally conceded. Kindergarten for my older son proved to be a good experience and a delightful one for me. I felt at home and nurtured in the Waldorf environment.

When my son got to first grade things began to change. He started to become really disruptive in the classroom and no matter what we tried it didn’t get any better. It only continued to get worse. I kept giving the benefit of the doubt to the teacher and the system instead of my son. I don’t recall what prompted the change but I’m grateful that I was able to muster up enough detachment to see clearly what needed to happen and that I was the one that belonged in the Waldorf school, not my son. I moved him to a public school and he settled right down. Granted, we lived in a small, close knit, progressive community in Northern California where, for the most part the public schools were really wonderful. The kids got a lot of personal attention and there was a strong emphasis on the arts. Had he been placed in a setting that was more impersonal and rigorously academic I don’t think he would have faired as well.

So, let’s take a look at the astrology of this situation. When I look for how a child learns and what kind of education would best suit that child, I look at the overall gestalt of the chart but I zero in on a couple of important placements that describe the child’s emotional temperament and more specifically the way they think and learn. For the temperament I look at the sign and placement of the Moon and I look at Mercury and the 3rd house to determine more specifically what kind of education would be most suitable.

I can’t discuss the particulars of my son’s chart but suffice to say that his emotional temperament and learning style weren’t suited for the Waldorf approach to education beyond kindergarten. I can, however, discuss my own chart, and the personal draw to Waldorf education.

The Moon in my natal chart is in Sagittarius in the 3rd house and Mercury is in Leo in the 10th house. For a child with a Moon in the 3rd house, knowledge and learning is highly emphasized. Knowledge provides a sense of safety and security and the learning environment needs to reflect the connection between emotional safety and security and learning so it is important that there be a resonance or synchronization between the child’s personal rhythm, emotional well being and that of the environment (educational environment in this case) in order for them to feel safe enough to explore their curiosities and to express themselves. Pressure from a “non supportive” environment to adapt will feel quite stressful to the child with a third house Moon. This child is more sensitive than most to impressions from the environment. It is very important that they feel cared for and nurtured within the learning environment.

The Sagittarian influence indicates a need to understand the meaning behind things. An educational environment that would support this need would be one with a strong philosophical and possibly even spiritual foundation. There is also a need to be in an environment that encourages authentic expression and exploration of the environment and one that supports exploration and learning from interactions with nature. At the same time there is also a need for something more relaxed, casual and playful.

Mercury in Leo in the 10th house indicates that this child is a creative thinker and that creative self expression and learning in a creative setting and manner would be most important. Leo and Sagittarius share an emphasis on the importance of purpose and meaning. The 10th house among other things has to do with the authorities in one’s life. It would be of paramount important to have the child’s creative learning style and need for creative expression accepted and encouraged by important authority figures in the child’s life. The 10th house is also about alignment so learning needs to also have a practical application and be useful and productive. Caution would need to be taken to ensure that the child was in an environment that would encourage these things but not to the point of rigidity.

There’s always a lot more that can be said on this subject. In fact it could be the subject of an entire reading but you get the picture. My tendency as a young parent was to project my needs on to my child. I think in the end it was my sensitivity to the possibility that my child felt repressed by a system of education that didn’t resonate with his needs that allowed me to see clearly and detach from my own needs.

Having insight into our attachments to how things should be for our children, how they should behave or what they should be doing is not an easy task. Being able to step away from ourselves and examine with objectivity our personal preferences, biases, prejudices and expectations requires conscious awareness; an open-minded curiosity and desire to know who we are first. Only then are we able to see our children as the individuals they are instead of extensions of ourselves. If we don’t know ourselves, understand our motivations and personal desires, we don’t stand a chance at knowing our children.

For those of you that are “air” challenged objective thinking may not come naturally. What I mean by “air” challenged is having a low number of planets occupying air signs in your own natal chart. It is the air element that gifts us with the ability to reflect on our inner reality, be objective in any given situation, relationship or with ourselves. Air promotes open mindedness and creates opportunity to look at and suspend our own biases, expectations and projections. Air offers us perspective and perspectives other than the ones that we have and are attached to. It is through the function of air that we can gain self-understanding. This is where astrology serves as a powerful tool. With Evolutionary Astrology the knowledge needed to see our children as individual souls with unique evolutionary needs is immediately accessible. Taking advantage of astrological insights gifts us with the detachment needed to allow our children to have their needs met and have a greater chance at a happy and fulfilling life.

Parenting with Astrology

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Let’s explore how astrology can can assist you in becoming a more effective, understanding, patient, supportive and loving parent.

Take a minute to think back in time to your earliest memories. Recall the relationship you had with the key adults in your life. Did you feel seen, heard and understood? Did you feel supported and truly cared for on a deep soul level? Did you grow up feeling safe and and secure with a sense of belonging? Did you feel valued for who you were?

Experience tells me that most people tend to have a mixture of both positive memories and ones that are more challenging, perhaps even traumatic in nature. In my own life the positive childhood memories I have center mostly around my relationship with nature and not the adults in my life. But then, I grew up in the 50s and 60s during a time when the prevailing attitude was that children were to be seen and not heard. The family system was hierarchical with the adults holding positions of greater importance and the father in the top dog position as the all important bread winner. The focus was on creating an economically secure life that looked good on the surface. Of course there were exceptions. There are always going to be those that are more enlightened or ahead of their time in every generation.

Attitudes towards children and parenting have changed a lot over the years and the world is a very different place than it was when I was growing up. Assuming that you are currently a parent, you are likely a member of the Millennial generation or otherwise known in astrological terms as the Pluto in Scorpio generation.

Briefly, the characteristic hallmarks of your generation are the need for radical change on both inner and outer levels which is born out of a profound awareness of your limitations, the need to overcome those limitations manifesting in an insatiable desire to learn, grow and empower yourselves and the impetus to heal all underlying trauma incurred in this lifetime and even in past lives. You are willing to look into the shadows, to shine the light on, root out and eliminate all that is holding you back in any way. The status quo holds no interest for you because you see with deep, piercing insight that the status quo and the values held by the status quo are not a true reflection of real empowerment nor do they reflect the kind of relationship you want to have with society, the environment and especially the people in your life. You recognize old, stale ways of being and doing in the world that do harm and that are in need of overhauling and transformation. In short, the Scorpio archetype that motivates and animates your generation demands nothing less than deep transformation, empowerment and evolution. As a generation you have what it takes to bring about real change.

Naturally, as a member of the Millennial generation, parenting in the most empowered way possible is more important than in any other generation so far. You are hungry for new information that can help you achieve your goal. You don’t want to do it the way your parents did and you are willing to take risks, open yourself to new experiences and passionately pursue your relationship with your child/children in more meaningful ways. You want to understand your children’s needs and what it is that motivates them and makes them tick. Just the fact that you want to know and understand your children, increases your chance of being a more effective parent. No doubt, you will make mistakes along the way, as every generation has their blind spots.

Before we explore ways in which astrology can help you understand your children better, I want to acknowledge anyone else that might be reading this who is not a member of the millennial generation or not a biological parent but perhaps a foster parent or grandparent. All are welcome.

Let’s start with an explanation of what a birth chart is.

I have heard many astrologers describe the birth chart otherwise known as the natal chart or personal horoscope, as a snapshot or still image of the sky at the moment that a child takes their first breath. That snapshot captures the placement of the planets in the sky from the vantage point of the person’s birthplace on earth. The placement of the planets forms a unique pattern of relationship to one another and that placement and pattern describes something about the person and their life. This is based on the idea that human experience is inextricably linked to the larger universe and that one reflects the other.

What can that snapshot reveal about a person? It can reveal a person’s inner qualities, nature and temperament. It can describe a person’s physical and psychological makeup, what motivates them, what they value, how they see and react to the world around them. The birth chart is a reflection of a person’s unique character, deep feelings, concerns and desires. It can reveal innate gifts and talents and, at the same time, that which could be challenging to the person. Evolutionary Astrology takes things a step further.

Evolutionary Astrology recognizes that human consciousness is evolving and that the process of evolution can be identified in the birth chart.

It places importance on an individual’s emotional and spiritual growth as being paramount to the evolutionary process and it recognizes that emotional and spiritual growth takes a very long time; longer than just one short lifetime. Therefore, one of the main tenets of Evolutionary Astrology is reincarnation. From this perspective the emphasis shifts from the personality to the soul and the soul’s evolutionary journey through lifetimes. The birth chart is seen to reflect what the soul’s purpose and intentions have been in the past that led them to the current life circumstances and experiences, what the soul’s purpose and intentions are in this lifetime and what lessons the soul is likely to face in this lifetime that can help further their evolution.

Evolutionary Astrology offers the kind of insight and awareness that empowers and creates opportunity for you to be more objective and understanding at the same time compassionate and loving in any relationship whether it is with yourself, your significant other or your child.

The following is a short list of questions that can be answered with Evolutionary Astrology:

  •     What is your soul’s purpose/intent in this lifetime?
  •     What has been your experience in past lifetimes and how might that be effecting you in this lifetime?
  •     What life lessons is your soul focusing on in this lifetime?
  •     What are your gifts/strengths and challenges?

These are some of the most important questions that can be looked at in a reading but more specific questions regarding relationships, career, health, etc. can also be addressed.

To help you better understand your child in addition to the questions above, the following questions can be addressed:

  •     What kind of foundation does your child need?
  •     What are your child’s emotional needs in order to feel safe and secure?
  •     What can be expected with regards to your child’s development?
  •     What kind of learner is your child and what kind of educational setting would best serve their learning style?
  •     What are your child’s strengths and challenges in relationship with others?

Now take a minute to imagine what it might have been like if the adults in your life had consulted with an Evolutionary Astrologer. I believe that my early life would have looked a lot different had the adults in my life been equipped with such precious information. At the least I believe I would have felt seen and heard. Who knows how that might have made a difference but I’m pretty sure it would have been a positive one. How about you?