Downgrading Pluto
A number of people have asked me what I think about Pluto’s recent demotion by the IAU from being a planet to being a “dwarf planet,” and if this will have any impact on astrology.
I don’t think its reclassification into a dwarf planet will change the effects we’ve noted from Pluto since its discovery in the early 30s. As someone once said, a rose by any other name is still a rose! Even so, as an astrologer, I’m open to and curious about what possible changes could occur as a result, so I have great interest in watching what happens from here on.
Regarding the question concerning what I think about the other two planets the IAU was considering, which I assume to be UB313 (Xena) and asteroid Ceres — since they’re now classified as dwarf planets, again, it will be fascinating to observe what happens. I find it interesting that both planets have feminine connotations, each one representing different ends of the feminine spectrum with UB313 nicknamed Xena after a “warrior princess,” and Ceres, which is mythologically and astrologically associated with the nurturing mother.
Now that these celestial bodies have received recognition by the earthly astronomical “Powers That Be” in Prague at the IAU, I’m guessing we’ll see a lot more activity and hear more news about women in the military and in politics, news about certain powerful women and how they’re both warrior and mother, more focus on women’s power and position (or lack thereof) worldwide, more about the need for nurturing and feeding people worldwide, and so forth. Perhaps this heralds a time of getting back to honoring the feminine… Now, wouldn’t that be special?!
