Cancer Ingress 2008

Pluto has slipped back into the last degree of Sagittarius, for a final farewell for a few months, before entering Capricorn to stay for the next 16 years. At the Ingress moment, the Sun is opposing Pluto within only 11 minutes of orb. This is the closest that Pluto comes to aspecting the Sun at any ingress in the current decade, only seconded by the Libra Ingress of 2009, when the orb will be about 40 minutes.

Neptune sits at 24º05’ Aquarius, retrograde, closely opposed by Mars at 23º42’ Leo. This very tight opposition also aligns with the nodal axis at 19º26’ and with Chiron at 20º47’ Aquarius. Mars and Neptune are both on the Moon/Uranus midpoint. Uranus is about to turn retrograde (in about a week), at 22º39’ Pisces.

Saturn is starting to gather pace in its direct motion through the first decan of Virgo, at 3º41’ and is closely sextile Venus, at 3º15’ Cancer. Jupiter is retrograding through Capricorn, at 19º44’. Mercury has started moving direct from its station 2 days previously, and is unaspected at 13º03’ Gemini.

The Moon is just past full, at 25º09’ Capricorn, loosely conjunct Jupiter.

The two main themes of this ingress are the Sun-Pluto opposition and the Mars-Neptune opposition lying on the nodal axis. Oppositions are representative of the energy of tension, conflict, division, polarisation and projection, and both of these oppositions involve the pitting of a personal, active energy against the forces of the collective. This is most likely to manifest as decisions and actions taken in the face of powerful group dynamics, where people can be easily swept up into energetic defence of extreme ideological positions or fanatical identifications.

The nodal axis is pointing towards Aquarius, with its arrow pointing straight at Chiron. There is a sense that the way forward is not easy, but somehow it will have to involve an admission of problems and a willingness to examine collective denial and illusions before progress can be made. There is a feeling of fakery or over-glamourisation affecting events, especially political gatherings and meetings, which may provoke strong feelings of anger or impotent rage in certain quarters. Perhaps a pervasive feeling of a ‘make-or-break’ situation may develop, complicated by violent venting of idealistic fervour.

The Sun in opposition to Pluto, so close in orb, brings a paranoid and conspiracist tinge to events. People may be making important decisions based on assumptions that they are being coerced or forced by the powers that be into doing something contrary to their interests. This is an aspect of obdurate opposition to authority, of refusal to tow the party line, and of deliberate antagonism to the will of those who are perceived as being in control. There may be a criminal or underhanded aspect to events or things may seem as if they are being manipulated from behind the scenes by some unknown force or powerful interest. Accusations of secret dealings float around and a dark mood of distrust prevails.

Mars-Neptune can indicate deceptiveness and sabotage, and the opposition especially may bring such activities into the public eye. Actions pursued to further a political or religious ideology – up to and including violence – can be suggested by this configuration. With both Mars and Neptune sitting on the Moon/Uranus midpoint, it seems as though there is a popular mood for change, perhaps change at any cost, and this may be achieved through less than edifying means.

With both of these oppositions, it may be that the period around this ingress, and especially the months of July, August and early September, may be periods of exceptional division in popular opinion, fuelled by feelings of being able to engage with collective forces of political ideology and collective will, and turn them around somehow. There is a possibility of violent clashes with establishment forces and a prevailing feeling of victimisation and paranoia.

The approaching Venus-Saturn sextile may mitigate to some degree, perhaps providing a possibility for constructive dialogue, a space for diplomatic engagement and maybe some opportunity for a lasting agreement; even the forging of a new alliance.

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