posted September 02, 2006 02:00 PM              

Pluto's long 76-year reign as a full-fledged member of the solar system has ended, with the latest scientific dictum declaring it to be a mere dwarf planet. But for those who use astrology as a tool to look into their inner psychological universe, the newly designated Pluto remains a potent and powerful symbol.

The job of astronomy is to explore the physical universe, whereas astrology uses that information to draw meaningful conclusions about the nature of life on this planet, our role in it and where we are going.

Since ancient times, astrologers have found a consistent correlation between the movements of heavenly bodies — planets, asteroids, comets and, yes, even dwarf planets — and human experience.

In fact — and this may seem strange to the unaccustomed mind — the planets exhibit archetypal qualities that closely resemble their mythological counterparts.

The planet Mercury, for example, bears the characteristics of the Roman god of that name, previously known as Hermes in ancient Greece. Hermes was a messenger between Zeus (Jupiter) on Mount Olympus and the underworld ruled by Hades (Pluto). He was also the protector of travellers, the bringer of luck, and the patron deity of merchants.

In astrology, the planet Mercury is understood to rule communications. One of its roles is to connect the conscious mind (Mount Olympus) with the unconscious (Hades). It rules roads, transportation — that is, connections between Point A and Point B. Favourable alignments from the planet Mercury bring lucky inspiration. It is considered to rule merchants.The astrological qualities of Pluto, on the other hand, bear a striking resemblance to the Lord of the Underworld. Hades (Pluto) was god of the dead and ruler of a subterranean kingdom in which the souls of dead human beings were thought to be confined.

Pluto, the planet — er, sorry, dwarf planet — is associated with the major transformations of life, such as death and rebirth. Transits from Pluto bring intense, life-changing events — in effect, a metaphorical death of parts of our character.

These are not arbitrary conclusions that are arrived at on a whim. Astrologers have observed what they regard as empirical evidence over the millennia to substantiate these conclusions.

It's as if meaning is woven into the very fabric of the universe. There is a most profound sense of purpose that transcends our superficial and transitory human existence.

To better comprehend this principle, we need to understand the concept of synchronicity, a term coined by Carl Jung.

Those of a scientific and engineering ilk tend to find this difficult to understand while artistically inclined folk embrace it with gusto. Astrology, which is a meld of these two polarities, is part Science and part Art.

Synchronicity is a philosophical principle that is separate from the "billiard ball universe" of cause-and-effect, where a cue strikes a ball that crashes into other balls and sets off a causal chain of events that is clearly visible.

Synchronicity is acausal. This is when you think of someone, the phone rings and you find that person is on the line. Or you think of chocolate ice cream and someone walks in the door with two tubs of it. The two events seem too coincidental to be unrelated, especially if this kind of thing happens to you frequently.

They may appear disconnected, but advocates of synchronicity believe these to be instances of meaningful coincidences.

Understanding and appreciating synchronicity is essential in comprehending astrology.

The angles formed between planets, the houses and zodiac signs they occupy, all mirror our human experience and run parallel to it — causally unconnected yet inextricably linked in meaning.

The evidence seems to indicate there is an ordering principle coming from a cosmic intelligence that is both an engineer and an artist.

All students of astrology have experienced the epiphany of this discovery in their research. Human existence is rich with meaning and purpose. You were born for a darn good reason. And astrology can find it.

Pluto was discovered in 1930. By looking at the synchronistic phenomena of the decades surrounding its discovery, we can begin to see how it affects us as it transits (travels) through our birth chart: that is, the position of all the stars at the precise moment of birth.

These synchronistic phenomena have come to be associated with Pluto. Its astrological effect has always been there, but we weren't conscious of it.

The discovery of Pluto symbolizes the growth in awareness of human consciousness. In the decades surrounding it's discovery, we have seen the splitting of the atom, the unleashing of nuclear power, the rise of Fascism, the Holocaust, mass destruction and death through military force on a global scale. There has been an increase in sexual awareness and its expression in art and culture. The criminal underworld of guns and gangsters has erupted into public awareness.

And we now live with the knowledge that our planet is faced with an ecological crisis and potential nuclear annihilation. It's a volcanic power that comes from deep down in the Earth and erupts with unbridled ferocity.

When that tiny bit of rock called Pluto transits sensitive areas of our birth chart, we invariably go through a dramatic process of transformation: a death and rebirth; an ordeal by fire; the rise of the phoenix; and an uncontrollable upsurge of our instinctive and libidinal drives.