Transition of the Middle World Planets
The Middle World planets (in the Shamanic Astrology Paradigm™), Saturn and Jupiter are now transitioning from early morning viewing to late evening and mid-evening hours. This is also the last time Jupiter and Saturn go through their retrograde motions before joining each other in the same sign with Pluto in December and most of 2020. It is the “home stretch” of the build up to this most prominent year astrologically.
For most of us, we haven’t been able to check in visually with these planets either due to the early morning hours they are visible or during the cold and wintry weather that dominates the northern hemisphere in early months of the year and perhaps additional cloudiness. Between now and November, it will be generally easier to connect with these planets visually in the night sky. In the southern hemisphere, this scenario is opposite.
The Middle World represents the reality, gravity, the physical nature of all that is around us or put another way, the third dimension. It is the world most of us are comfortable operating out of and what we are conditioned from an early age to participate and invest in while generally ignoring the other two worlds, the Celestial and Underworld. To connect with the planets visually is also part of the Middle World process as it is a physical connection using our physical eyes to reflect upon them.
To know when the planets and prominent celestial objects rise, go to the US Naval Observatory’s website: https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/mrst.php
The importance of this visual connection with the planets brings with it a greater awareness of the closeness these planets are getting with each other and to Pluto (not visible without a telescope) from our perspective of observing from Earth (known as “geocentric”). These planets are also in a part of the sky that is visually wonderous as they are near the Galactic Center of the Milky Way and outside the city lights can be downright spectacular.
More than its visual appeal, is the importance of what it means in our lives. Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto are all in ‘retrograde’ motion, meaning the Earth is catching up with these planets in its orbit and in June and July the Sun will be in opposition to Saturn, Pluto (in July) and Jupiter (in June), which means the planet is one side of the sky while the Sun is on the other (East to West). In astrological parlance, there is a greater emphasis of this region of the sky and the astrological signs they are in.
Jupiter is in the sign of Sagittarius through December 2nd and Saturn in the sign of Capricorn all through this year and most of 2020. Pluto is also in the sign of Capricorn. The area of the sky with these planets include the Scorpion (aka Scorpius in astronomy) and the Archer (aka Sagittarius in astronomy) constellations. And of course, in between these constellations and current location of the planets is the center of our galaxy.
This is an unusual alignment of planets building up, especially in the modern age. The 3 planets haven’t gotten together in these signs since the late 13th Century during the end of what we know as the Crusades.
Connecting with the Planets and Sky
Over the years, I’ve placed an emphasis of connecting with the planets visually (or in the case of planets we can’t see, to connect with the area of the sky they are currently located). The planets are guides, teachers and initiators in our lives. From a shamanic perspective, they are roughly equivalent to spirit guides. Over the countless millennia that humanity has experienced life on Earth and its relationship to the sky, many myths and archetypes have grown within and beyond us. The planets, the seasons, Sun and Moon and stars have played critical roles in our development of culture and civilization. We are not separate from it, though at times we may pretend that it doesn’t have any influence . . .
Allowing ourselves to not get in our own way, we can even connect outside or even inside our homes when we can’t see the stars or planets. The important point is to connect with them and invite the planets, stars, Sun and Moon to be a part of lives consciously rather than buried or ignored. When we are able to do that, we can live more fully in our lives and perhaps grow more aligned with our path.
Connecting with the planets can be as simple as meditating while seeing them with our eyes. One of the great benefits as regardless of what part of the starry sky you are looking at, it has a tendency to have a grounding effect upon our souls. The act of gazing upon the night sky can grant us perspective if we are out there for more than a minute or two. Like being in nature or hiking, if we can be there for more than 20 or 30 minutes, we can begin to access parts of ourselves that are only minimally present the rest of the time.
Another way to connect with the planets is through ceremonial means, shamanic or otherwise. One can find a quiet place either at home or out beyond in nature with themselves or others. It is always a beneficial thing to smudge yourself through burning of sage or cedar as a way to clear out and focus upon a meditation or personal ceremony.
At home or even on the earth or outdoor table, you can place any items you feel are meaningful to you for perhaps setting an intent with words or thoughts or both. This could be anything that calls to you and perhaps you can use a drum or rattle to set the tone of the ceremony time. Sound can aid in focusing your intent to connect with a planet, star or the Moon. If you find yourself in a particular cycle (i.e. planetary initiation), it is recommended to use any symbols of that planet or even a small picture of the planetary glyph or other symbol that represents the planet for additional focus. Of course, none of that is necessarily needed but could be an aid in placing attention to a specific focus for your meditation or song or other means to ceremonialize the time.
In the case of Saturn, it is recommended that symbols representing solidity, crossroads, shedding of skin, resources, structure and growth through limits and boundaries be used. In the case of Jupiter, items or symbols for expansion, synchronicity, vision, and your personal journey here in the Middle World be used. Pluto would have symbols of transformation, surrender, what you fear and death/rebirth (i.e. Phoenix, Butterfly, etc).
One could even create a small altar for themselves, temporarily or even on your hearth. Many symbols/objects can represent something important or sacred in your life.
There are, of course, other ways to do this. Some of them require basic knowledge of what astrological transits/cycles you may be experiencing and others require a basic understanding of your astrology (or natal) chart. But the most important message is to honor your journey through our (collective humanity) relationship with the sky as many of are now doing with the Earth.
More on Saturn, Jupiter and Pluto
These two prominent lights in the deep evening sky share a powerful history those goes back countless millennia in their regular pattern of coming together into conjunction every 20 years. The last time that happened was in 2000-2001, before the attack on the WTC. But during the year 2001, Pluto also came into alignment with Saturn, but in opposition (meaning one planet on one side of the sky and a 2nd on the other side or East-West) rather than a conjunction that was strongly present during the 9/11 attacks and in the months following the great tragedy.
It has taken about 20 years for Saturn to “catch up” with Pluto and for Jupiter and Saturn to come together in 2020. 2019 is a lead up to the great conjunction in 2020 and if history is any guide, it is an enormous crossroads for the US and the world. People all over have choices, as cultures, nations and families will feel the additional layers of pressure and motivation to be true to themselves and not what others or society says we should be. Authenticity is demanded by each of our own individual souls and it will be time to face our shadows and our truths (it is already happening).
These planets are here as part of the solar systems, just as we are part of the Earth. We are intimately connected to the seasons of Earth, its rhythms and patterns, which extends to the sky and the patterns co-created by that continuous special dance of Great Mystery involving itself in matter. It is a process of both evolution and involution with us as human beings playing out that dance in chaotic, orderly, complex and simple and infinite ways.
Know Thyself
As Above, So Below
As Within, So Without