| Pluto: Planet or Not? A piece written for The Tree Magazine |
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The planet Pluto made headlines recently when it was demoted from full
planet status. This name change doesn't alter the fact that Pluto is
still out there, but what happens in astrology when a new planet is
discovered (like Pluto in 1930 or Neptune in 1846)? Did Pluto's
discovery mean that all horoscopes prior to 1930 were suddenly void?
What about the discovery of new "dwarf planets" and asteroids like
Ceres? Do they have the same impact on astrology as new planets?
The planet Pluto made headlines recently when it was demoted from full planet status. This name change doesn't alter the fact that Pluto is still out there, but what happens in astrology when a new planet is discovered (like Pluto in 1930 or Neptune in 1846)? Did Pluto's discovery mean that all horoscopes prior to 1930 were suddenly void? What about the discovery of new "dwarf planets" and asteroids like Ceres? Do they have the same impact on astrology as new planets? Pluto has been the subject of hot debate recently as the International Astronomical Union (IAU) reclassified their definition of a planet. Historically astrology and astronomy were intimately linked, with practitioners of one being experts in the other. Through the renaissance period cracks in the relationship between astronomy and astrology started to show. Since that time debate has raged about the validity of astrology with astronomers claiming the science trump card. The basic premise of astrology is to observe the sky and attribute meaning to what's seen in the heavens in accords with what happens at the same time here on Earth. I.E The Moon moves the tides, up and down. We observe this. Meaning is then attributed to the Moon that covers fluctuations, moodiness, ebbs and flows. The Moon has no light of her own; we observe her reflecting the light of the Sun. The Moon is then linked to receptiveness. It's really quite simple! Ancient cultures observed the night sky and noted that most stars were fixed, yet a few seemed to move against the backdrop of other stars. The term planet referred to these "wandering stars". The Heinemann Australian Dictionary defines a planet as "any body that does not produce light and revolves around a star." That covers almost everything in the sky except the sun. These definitions are now too broad to clearly classify the rapidly increasing number and types of different rock bodies that exist. Recent resolutions on the definition of a planet were the first clear specifications set out by the IAU. There are now 3 types of orbiting bodies, classified according to their size, shape and affect on their immediate area. Much debate has raged (astronomically) about Pluto's status since he was discovered in 1930. His super small shape and irregular orbit cast him as an anomaly when compared with other planets. Over the past few years a number of bodies have been discovered beyond Neptune, collectively known as Trans-Neptunian's. Like in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter there are thousands of Trans-Neptunian's, with more being discovered all the time. Trans-Neptunian's orbit in what's known as the Kuiper Belt (coincidentally where Pluto orbits). Continuing advancements in technology mean we can now see previously "invisible" smaller bodies further out into the solar system, like those in the Kuiper Belt. The IAU could be seen to simply be moving with the times in reaching their recent resolution on the definition of a planet. (NB Only a small percentage of the registered members in the union voted - less than 500 out of over 2700.) As more and more bodies are discovered, more precise methods of classification will be needed, at least for the astronomical community. How does all this affect astrology? In short it doesn't. Astrologers leapfrog on the back of astronomers to grab the latest cosmic discoveries. Once the cycle of the new body is clarified (astrologers need this for predictive purposes) astrologers hot foot it back to their workshops to integrate the new body. There is no one person or body in astrological circles that decides what a new body is called or means. In fact naming rights go to the discovering astronomer. Once a planet has been christened (usually with some Greek, Roman or Egyptian deity) the myths relating to that character are mulled over by astrologers around the world. Astrologers have free reign to add meaning to new bodies. It's quite a magical process observing astrologers in different places coming up with similar themes and concerns for each new planet (dwarf or otherwise). It matters little to astrologers how astronomers define new bodies; if it's out there, it has an influence, regardless of its formal status (according to the basic premise of astrology). Ceres, along with many other bodies of rock orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, is known astrologically as an asteroid. Ceres, (one of the biggest asteroids) was discovered early in the 19th century. Ceres is used in conjunction with a number of other prominent asteroids (including Chiron) by specialist asteroid astrologers. Asteroids are primarily feminine and one theory states that the emerging use of asteroids in astrological practice is a nod to the re-emergence of the feminine powers in society. In the 70 odd years since Pluto's discovery easy consensus has formed (amongst astrologers) around the myths and qualities Pluto carries. Looking back in time, the themes attributed to Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were symbolic of the events and changes occurring in the world at the time of their discovery. Uranus was discovered in 1781 during periods of great civil unrest in many countries around the world. In astrology today Uranus is about unexpected, but needed, change. His keyword is disruption. Neptune's discovery in 1846 came through the middle of the Victorian era, where romanticism ran rampant. Fashions were becoming a focus and creative and spiritual movements gathered momentum. Neptune is linked to fantasy, creativity and the pursuit of the divine. Pluto's discovery in 1930 came as the world discovered nuclear power and the concept of world wide destruction entered the consciousness. Pluto represents the process of complete transformation, like death and rebirth. As new planets are discovered they are added into the astrological body of knowledge. A new discovery doesn't mean previous horoscopes are null and void. A comprehensive understanding of the original 7 planets allows a professional astrologer to create very detailed horoscopes; the addition of new bodies only serves to clarify what already exists in astrological symbolism. It's hard to say what influence new dwarf planets will have on the future of astrology. There are as many different theories on this as there are astrologers. Like any profession astrology has a conservative mainstream plus extreme branches on the left and right. There will always be a pocket of astrologers committed to the original 7 planets, a mainstream group that incorporates key new bodies (like major dwarf planets and asteroids) and an alternative branch who will use every little piece of cosmological rock they can get their hands on. In the wider astrological community new bodies and planets (of all sizes) will be embraced. Astrologers generally stay informed about new developments even if they choose not to use them personally. As a lay person heading off for a reading, or a budding astrologer beginning studies, you can rest assured that in whichever form astrology presents it self to you, your teacher or astrologer has up to date information about the planets (dwarf or otherwise) they use. New bodies will continue to be discovered at increasing rates as technology continues to advance. The process of integrating new energies into astrology takes time and emerges from group discussion, taking into account all that's happening in the world at the time of their discovery. The rocks that rock easily stand the test of time and their astrological myths will remain in place for centuries. References
The Planets by Dava Sobel Copyright Kelly Surtees 2006 |