The Career Astrologer 3 2014 | Page 17

The Neptune-Pluto Conjunction: Continued from page 16 commits horrific acts (Pluto), and has a hidden self locked in a painting in the attic (Neptune-Pluto). He finally learns that his only redemption (Neptune) is to kill the ugly part of himself, the aged and the scarred self (Plu to), only to find that the dual sides of himself are not split but actually both a part of the same soul – and ultimately through death will merge as one. Industries ruled by Gemini provide one of the means through which the Neptune-Pluto is lived out, and since the conjunction in 1891 and 1892 we have watched areas attributed to this sign flourish. Developments in transportation, with the expansion of the railroads and the automobile industry, both which are associated with Gemini, have paved the way for an unprecedented way of life for humanity. Gemini is about being mobile and short distance travel is now a way of life. Advancements in roads and public transport have changed our way of life around the globe. The aeroplane indus- try has now transformed mobility and travel time to such an extent that flying around the world is often considered by many as ‘a commute’. Recently a global society, we will soon be a part of several global communities (Gemini). Our economy operates through ‘trad- ing’ in the stock markets – dependent on the speed of transactions, our payment systems are continuously developing through faster means, from cash, to cards and now digital. Our business is sealed through contracts, which can also be attributed to Gemini. Companies such as Coca Cola is a drink that is ‘bubbly’ (Gemini) and the name of the brand even represents the duality here. The devel- opment of film is shown to us through broadcasting, stories through books. Psychology and psychiatry is Neptune- Pluto but it is the study of the mind and our mental functions – basically, how we think and how our mind operates, which is fundamentally Gemini. Gemini is about communications, information, media, data collection, neighbourhoods, export-import and education. Communications such as the invention of the telephone and the setting up of the telephone companies in the 1890s spearheaded the way for communications to expand across the globe (note that Alexander Graham Bell had his Ascendant and MC ruler, Jupiter, at 8° of Gemini, the same degree as the Neptune-Pluto conjunction). In the 120 years since the conjunction our interaction with each other through electronic means and social networking is growing exponentially. These forms of communication has redefined the boundaries of communities as so many form and grow each day on the internet. We are living through an ‘information age’, all of which can be attributed to the greatest outer planetary cycle of Neptune and Pluto which were last con- junct in the sign of Gemini. The traits associated with this sign will describe the areas of how deep cultural changes take place. One of the biggest concerns we face with such an information age is that we need to learn how to filter the junk from the relevant, valid and valuable information, something that Gemini is not always equipped to do. The conjunction of Neptune and Pluto in Gemini occurred in 1891 and 1892, yet the cycle has only started to unfold. What is relevant to us right now is to also observe other major cycles, particularly Uranus and Pluto, and how they make their own journey against the backdrop of this larger cycle. Uranus and Pluto made their last conjunction in Virgo in the 1965 and 1966 so we live in very Mercurial times! Neptune and Pluto make a series of sextiles for 94 years (1941-2035) and we are still in the middle OPA Membership SPECIAL 3-YEAR membership is $25 ($150 instead of $175) off of these. Neptune and Pluto have both in recent years made an ingress into Pisces and Capricorn, and a sextile has not occurred in the first decans of these signs for over 3,000 years. Harvey describes these sextiles as ‘marking a period when real ideas and ideals can be increasingly set to work in the world’ . It is an exciting period watching the recent ingresses of outer planets into new signs and the major aspects that are about to occur. One wonders how they might be played out – how they will mark history and in what context to the larger backdrop of the cycle of Neptune and Pluto. Wendy Stacy was born in the southern- most city of New Zealand, Invercargill. Of both Maori and English descent . She began her studies with the Christchurch School of Astrological Studies in 1987 In 1998 Wendy studied with the Faculty of Astrological Studies for two years and then transferred schools and graduated from the London School of Astrology, where she has been teaching since 2003. Wendy writes a regular feature for students in the Astrological Journal. Other articles have been published in the UK, the US and have been translated for European publi- cations. She lectures globally on psycho- logical, mundane, research and financial astrology. In June 2007 she became the principal of The Mayo School of Astrology, a prestigious UK based online and correspondence/ distant learning astrology school (founded in 1973 by Jeff Mayo) which has graduates and students from around the globe. R Join OPA! ommunity Amazing C er Make Astrology Strong www.OPAastrology.com The Career Astrologer OPA’s Newsletter for Professional Astrology V23 -03 2014 FALL page 17