Four Moons Astrology- Donna Woodwell, Austin, Texas

The center of our Milky Way Galaxy is located in the region of the sky occupied by the sign of Sagittarius, the archer. Scientists theorize the existence of a massive black hole nestled in the heart of our galactic core. The gravitational field of this “heavenly womb” binds us together in our galactic spiral dance, while radiating vast amounts of high-energy particles through the cosmos.

To astrologers, the Galactic Core symbolizes the seat of galactic intelligence. According to astrologer Philip Sedgwick, its emanations contain the “pure informational essence that provides the inspiration to conceive” new possibilities. It’s a point that ushers us along our cosmic evolutionary path.

Planets in our own solar system transiting this point act as “transformers” for this galactic intelligence, stepping it down to a more Earthly scale. The fast-moving Moon transverses this point once a month, while the slow march of the outer planets takes them through the region only once in hundreds of years.

This year, Pluto makes its first rendezvous with the Galactic Core in 248 years. As god of the Underworld, Pluto signifies the processes of death, transmutation and regeneration. It represents our “Shadow” selves - the disowned and unacknowledged parts of our individual and collective consciousness. As such, Pluto brings us opportunities for self-destruction, or deep healing.

Pluto made its last transit of the Galactic Core during the height of Europe’s “Age of Enlightenment;” many of the “advances” of this time paved the way for our modern way of life. Philosophers Voltaire and Rousseau penned their works advocating democratic rule, civil liberties and tolerance. Mozart wrote his first symphonies. The first dictionaries and encyclopedias appeared. Scientific and technological advances gathered speed: inventors devised the first lightning conductor, practical methods for determining longitude, mechanized industrial machines, and steam engines.

Today, political, economic, technological, and environmental forces have carried us to the brink of another global paradigm shift. Again, Sedgwick suggests the Pluto conjunction of the Galactic Core “could be a time of great chaos, a time of great consciousness and healing, or both. Innovations, inventions, technology are all in play as well of quality of life of spirit. ‘Why do we collectively cling to old beliefs?’ might be a question to ask.” Will we cling to our self-destructive habits, or face the Shadow within us and embark on a journey of personal and planetary healing? How we respond to those questions will set the stage for the next quarter millennium.

Pluto will be within one degree of the Galactic Core (26 degrees 55 minutes Sagittarius) throughout 2006 and 2007; consequently we will feel its effects for the next two years. Pluto approaches the Galactic Core, retrograding just short of it March 29, 2006. Exact conjunctions occur in December 29, 2006, July 18, 2007, and October 28, 2007.

Namaste,