The Jupiter - Pluto Cycle: Forceful Pursuit of Power and Control

This 12-year cycle is currently operating in the real-time cosmos, which means its affect is global. You certainly don't need to look any farther than the evening news to find its evidence. Here are the major aspects which have already occurred with their dates of exactitude:

• Conjunction: 11 December 2007 (28:24 Sagittarius)

• Waxing Trine: 7 July 2011; 28 October 2011; 13 March 2012

• Opposition: 7 August 2013; 31 January 2014; 20 April 2014

• Waning Trine: 11 October 2015; 16 March 2016; 26 June 2016

• Waning Square: 24 November 2016

The fact each aspect frequently occurs three times is due to retrograde motion on the part of both planets, which creates a complex dos-a-dos between them. The next waning square occurs 30 March 2017 with another hit a few months later on 4 August 2017. The next cycle begins in 2020 with three separate conjunctions occurring 5 April 2020, 30 June 2020 and 12 November 2020.

Without going into a lot of detail that would make most of your eyes glaze over, let me just say that the square on 24 November 2016 did not hit the USA's Sibley chart in a favorable way. It stirred things up considerably, which isn't a surprise given the uproar following the USA election. While these dates are when the energy peaks, it doesn't mean that is the only day it's in effect. The square is in orb, or within few enough degrees to still exert its nasty effects, for a long time. The solar eclipse on 26 February will emphasize it again, just over a month before its next hit. Mars, Uranus and Eris are in close conjunction for the eclipse, stirring things up even more with regard to protests and demonstrations which are very likely to turn violent. Uranus and Eris are in exact conjunction 17 March 2017.

The Aries Ingress on 20 March will contain the Jupiter - Pluto square as well. Both eclipses and Cardinal Sign ingresses, which mark the seasons, have long-lasting effects. Ingress charts influence the entire season, particularly with regard to mundane effects such as weather as well as the general social climate. The Aries Ingress chart has Eris and Uranus conjunct and quincunx Sibley Neptune, which is bound to bring plenty of inaccurate information which will stir up the populace even more. Don't believe everything you hear at that time or be too reactionary. Those who have much to gain from social unrest will exploit this energy and you would do well to question their motives.

It looks as if March will be a month filled with discord, all leading up to the Jupiter-Pluto square on 30 March. Looking at how this influences the Sibley chart implies those matters most likely to be affected will be the abortion issue, the Mexican border, and foreign policy as well as continued protests and unrest that is likely to be violent.

The next square on 4 August has ominous implications for an increase in terrorist activity. It also looks as if USA authority will be challenged by another country. Immigration looks like it will still be a hot topic and there will be a lot of emotion behind it. The lunar eclipse of 7 August brings additional punch while the Jupiter-Pluto square is still partile (each planet in the same degree of its respective sign but not exact). Major changes originating from the executive level. Economic problems are possible, perhaps due to foreign action such as currency wars. Strong leadership will be needed to get through this period.

Remember that no single aspect brings about significant change without being reinforced by numerous others. Using the example of a large choir, just because one or two people are off-key doesn't mean the entire song is ruined. However, if enough people, say the entire alto section, is off, then it's another story. With astrology it's typical that major events come when there are a half-dozen or more very close aspects. Trends are mostly defined by the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Eris) since they move slowly, but it's the inner, faster moving ones (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars) that set things off. Imprints from eclipses and ingresses linger, creating degree "hotspots" which are triggered later. 2017 is going to be loaded with power grabs, discord, and numerous changes.

Two of the Sibley planets that get hit the most by these transits and cosmic events are Pluto and the Moon. This emphasizes plutonian issues and transformational change as well as the national mood. It looks as if this year is going to be one that we'll all remember for a long time.