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Sabian Symbols
The Sabian symbols are the work of astrologer Marc Edmund Jones and clairvoyant Elsie Wheeler. There is a different symbol for each of the 360 degrees of the zodiac. Here is an explanation of their creation, as given in Dane Rudhyar's book, An Astrological Mandala:
"In the morning of a certain day [in 1925], Marc Jones took Miss Wheeler in his car to the San Diego park and stopped in a quiet place. He had with him a pack of 360 small index cards; each card was blank except for a very small, hardly visible marking at the extreme top right corner indicating a zodiacal sign and degree: for example, Aries 1, Aries 2, Aries 3, et cetera. Marc Jones then began to shuffle the cards thoroughly, and kept shuffling them throughout the operation. He then took one card at random, and without looking at the small marking, so that neither he nor Miss Wheeler could know which zodiacal degree was noted on it, asked her what she saw. Apparently a scene flashed to her inner vision; she described it quickly and Marc Jones made a brief pen notation of what she said."
The resulting series of symbolic images reveals a sequence of developmental stages that start with the first degree of Aries and end with the last degree of Pisces. We can use these symbols to gain greater insight whenever a degree of the zodiac is specified. For example, we can call upon the symbols when interpreting: the natal chart, to deepen the interpretation of planets and house cusps; lunations and eclipses, to understand more fully the lesson and intention; or a planet's station, to see what stages of development are being emphasized.
Pluto Revisited
I wanted to find out your thoughts about the recent news that Pluto isn't a planet. How does that affect astrology?
The change in status itself doesn't alter Pluto's overall importance in our charts or in our lives. We see many non-planets that have a profound influence astrologically. Chiron, which I find very important in both natal and transiting charts, is called a "cometary body." I also use asteroids such as Juno, Ceres, Vesta and Pallas Athena in my interpretation of charts, and find that they add interesting and sometimes vital information.
However, Pluto's label change does indicate that something is shifting. Our societal awareness always mirrors planetary energies, and vice versa. Discoveries of "new" planetary bodies always correspond with related developments on earth.
For instance, the planet Uranus was discovered in 1781. Uranus rules the air sign Aquarius, and represents innovative thinking, the desire for freedom, and the ability to rise above previous limitations. Within two years of the discovery of this planet, the first hot air and hydrogen balloons were invented, allowing humans to "fly" for the first time.
So if we are looking for reflections in our experience of Pluto's change in description, it may be that what we will find is a change in our perception of Plutonian issues.
Perhaps we're learning that it's time to reduce tyranny and dogmatism, and to dethrone the belief that the end justifies the means. We may be starting to see power struggles for what they really are. Individually, we may be redefining our personal destinies. We may even be starting to develop a different perspective on death -- seeing it as less of a traumatic event, and more as just another step in the ongoing process of a soul's evolution.
What is especially interesting to me is that this change of definition occurs just as Pluto stations direct (on September 4, 2006), and starts moving towards his rendezvous with the Galactic Center in late December 2006. This event occurs only once every 248 years, and marks a time of important endings and beginnings.
And, since Pluto was only discovered in 1930, we have never before been conscious of Plutonian issues when Pluto and the Galactic Center conjoined. It will be interesting to see the kinds of personal and political changes that are initiated over the coming 15 months.
