When Time Stands Still

How to be with the 'stations' of Pluto

There are currently two stations of Pluto every year, occurring at roughly regular intervals, currently mid-April and the 3rd week of September. Pluto is currently nearing the middle of Capricorn, and in a given individual horoscope, this will resonate very strongly with any planet on or near that area of the zodiac, or indeed any of the Cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn - the Solsitial and Equinoctial signs. This means that the period around the four Cardinal points of year, and onward for about 10 days, will be especially intense.

So what is a 'station'?

The word is derived from the Latin noun meaning 'a standing still' or 'a place of abode'. Astrologically, the term is used to describe the moment in a planet's orbit when it appears to pause and change direction. Although this is an optical illusion due to the fact that our Earth is not in the centre of the Solar System, nevertheless, for anyone willing to take the time to 'stand still' and quietly experience it, the strength of the energy alignment is unmistakable.

Access to our inner 'place of abode' may be possible, although we may also have some undergrowth to cut through in order to reach it. Stations of the outer planets (Chiron, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) are especially noteworthy, and usually during the few days before and after the station, there will be major political events or media headlines that reflects the quality of the planet in station.

Lord of the Underworld

In Greek mythology, Pluto is the Lord of the Underworld, the realm of the dead. Around a station of Pluto, awareness of our own mortality may be especially poignant, or there may be actual final endings. Something may leave our lives forever, or we may become aware of what has already died and must be cleared away to make room for new growth. How often we hesitate to do this, fearing the sense of void that may open up as we mourn the loss of the old. Pluto is the planet of transformation, a word perhaps used too lightly sometimes, for all transformation is also about loss and death. Focusing on renewal, or the timelessness of Spirit does not necessarily mean our hearts are big enough to include the feelings of our flesh and blood self when it comes to loss. And yet, if we are not to become locked in brittle denial, include them we must.

We are living through times when doubts about the survival of humanity are being voiced, as we witness the still escalating disruption of our ecosystem. Whatever our feelings, opinions or beliefs about this, our survival instincts may well be on 'red alert', and we need to pay compassionate attention to the intense fears generated at this level. These are typical Pluto issues which may come into sharp focus around its station. We may be challenged to let go of something. What we need to deal with in order to allow change may well confront us, from within or from the outside world.

The Sagittarius-Capricorn Connection

Themes that relate to Sagittarius involve enthusiasm, meaning, purpose, philosophy, religion, ethics, long distance travel, foreigners and extending oneself. One does not have to look very far to see how these themes have been predominant, weaving themselves into the current picture of world turmoil. Before 1995, when Pluto entered this sign in the tropical zodiac, the notion of 'Interfaith' ministry was rare. Now it is almost mainstream, as we understand increasingly the need to cultivate tolerance in our efforts to encompass what is alien to our experience. Also, the 'consumer society', which demonstrates a Sagittarian expansionism run amok, can be seen as the logical outcome of the distorted values which have developed in many parts of the world, perhaps in a desperate attempt to compensate for the lack of meaning, which is an experience totally taboo in the 'field' of Sagittarius. Click here for an example.

With Pluto in Capricorn, the crystallizations of previously built structures, based on religious dogma, are being challenged. The dominant 'religious' view in main-stream society is 'secular fundamentalism', or 'scientism', and the banning of religious insignia worn as jewellry, or publicly displayed has reached almost comical proportions, being supplanted by a brittle 'political correctness' in a parody of 'inclusiveness. Click here for an example.

But it is not only in 'the World' that this is happening. We are all being challenged as individuals to be more consistent in our beliefs, to think things through properly and not to cover over our feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness. For this 'dark side' of Sagittarius is the prelude to a deeper and more comprehensive spiritual understanding, which arises in the sign of Capricorn.

In the sign of Capricorn, we are introduced to the inner laws to which our life is shaped. These are NOT the same as the structures and laws of society, and in this sign we learn the difference. The 'law' of the soul might require that we distance ourselves from the 'mainstream', and undergo the initiation of the Hermit, a solitary figure often depicted wearing a dark cloak, but also carrying a lantern.

Being still

Knowing this, it makes sense to be 'stationary' ourselves, to allow time and space to invite a higher level of loving self-awareness with which to participate in the process. Strong feelings, emotional truths or philosphical confusions may precipitate into consciousness; we may be purged of that within which poisons us. It is certainly a time to be honest with oneself, but discriminating in self-expression if possible, for during a Pluto station everyday events can become loaded up with unconscious material that needs time and careful processing, to be divested of destructive potential. Situations come to boiling point, self-deception breaks, something occurs, inwardly or externally, which makes us feel stripped. Careful containment of this may generate the pressure that destroys deep past patterning which imprisons us, so that in time renewal takes place. There is a deep alchemy at work if we can find the way to co-operate with it.

Around this time if we deny the depth of our inner truth, events which pierce our defences may come from outside. On the other hand, the inner processing of feelings and events at this time can lead us to a profound sense of inner purification and contact with our deeper self.

Preparing for the Stations

It makes sense to allow time for these processes, in order to derive benefit from what the cosmos has on offer. In practical terms, this means not filling up our schedules too much, and perhaps even designating some 'sacred time' when you might go into silence, or take a formal retreat. Don't deliberately engage with difficult situations, unless you are feeling able to handle a major precipitation of energy, but also don't worry if circumstance puts you right in the path of difficulties at this time. Your understanding of the energies at work will benefit you regardless.

Useful resources would include journal writing, being with supportive friends with whom one could speak in depth, time and space for prayer, worship or other meditative activities which also leave space for individual process work. If you can be in sacred space and time around the actual time of the station, so much the better.

Here is a table showing the current dates and times of Pluto's Stations *

R = Retrograde, when Pluto turns to go backwards through the zodiac.

D = Direct, when Pluto resumes forward motion.

You may find a rhythm through your year, where the unfolding of transformative new directions (when Pluto is going Direct, from September to March) predominates. This is followed by a time of integrating change, reflecting and adjusting and dealing with the inner side of what has been evoked (March - September, when Pluto goes Retrograde.)

* Positions calculated with Solar Fire v.5.

The book 'Healing into Life and Death' by Stephen Levine offers many meditations for working alone or with others, and beautifully addresses the Plutonian processes. www.levinetalk.com.