April 4 Pluto Station

April 4: Pluto stations retrograde.
The annual station-retrograde of Pluto is often intense by itself. This year, Venus squares Pluto as it changes direction, while Mars moves into opposition with Saturn. The profound restructuring of global financial institutions, which will be discussed at the G-20 summit in London on April 2, and conflicts about the best course of action, may certainly intensify. Both China and Russia are expected to take a more active role in shaping the design of the new world financial system. And the US billionaire George Soros says he believes that the G-20 summit will be a make-it-or-break-it event. But the real story of the G-20, is that power(Pluto) is clearly shifting away from American dominance.

I think the the following quote from former Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper, sums up our current financial situation quite well. "We're now reaping what we have sown in the form of unbridled globalization and unfettered free trade ... it's time for all of us in this country, as we attempt to pull ourselves out of this global economic meltdown, to really take a look at what issues of social and economic justice mean within the context of globalization."

Simon Johnson of The Atlantic Monthly writes in his article 'The Quiet Coup', "the crash has laid bare many unpleasant truths about the United States. One of the most alarming, is that the finance industry has effectively captured our government— a state of affairs that more typically describes emerging markets, and is at the center of many emerging-market crises. If the IMF’s staff could speak freely about the U.S., it would tell us what it tells all countries in this situation: recovery will fail unless we break the financial oligarchy that is blocking essential reform. And if we are to prevent a true depression, we’re running out of time."

Also on April 2, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to make a big announcement...one that could give the agency sweeping control over "transportation, manufacturing costs and how utilities generate power," according to the New York Times. This ruling "could accelerate the progress of energy and climate change legislation in Congress."

On a personal level- there is a more intense focus around reviewing and revisiting issues pertaining to values and relationships. Whatever has been buried below the surface, is poised to emerge in dramatic fashion, as Pluto has a knack for bringing denied or repressed material to light. Of course- the house where Pluto is transiting in one's chart, and any planets or angles between 1 to 4 degrees of the cardinal signs(Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn), are under extreme pressure for change and transformation now. The law of impermanence is at work, so resistance is futile. Best to let-go as gracefully as possible.

Pluto Retrograde 2009
Lynn Koiner

Mary Plumb of The Mountain Astrologer wrote this article last April, about the 2008 Pluto station-retrograde.
The Day Pluto Stood Still