In my 20’s I stumbled into astrology when an attractive young man started telling me that I should, or should not, be doing various things because I was “a Libra”.  There are not 12 types of people. Taking a class at the YMCA was enlighting! I was right, he was wrong, and we are each unique!

At the same time, I learned that astrology works.  My Sun being in Libra is only a small part of my chart and even my whole chart does not take my choices away from me.  Astrology is like weather predicting. It may indicate a probability of rain or stormy weather, but you can choose to take an umbrella or enjoy walking in the rain.

Prior to this, I was a suicidal alcoholic searching for meaning in life.  Despite succeeding in general social life and the working world, I was dying inside in the random, linear, meaningless world that society was teaching us.  I became good at finding supportive, positive, meaning in chart interpretations.  At times it even felt like charts were talking to me. In the 1980’s I taught nationally, did readings at a governor’s Christmas party, the American Trial Lawyers conference, and the local newspaper took me to the horse races where I beat the track pickers’ selections for winners.  Life was full and it had, and has, meaning!

A regular paycheck, retirement, and what would be seen as a “respectable” career in my family’s eyes pulled me away (mostly).   Retirement after 25 years in system development and mainframe maintenance with the State of Arizona is good.

The Saturn-Pluto conjunction starting in December 2019 was expected to be difficult due to the way it contacted my chart. I did not think of others nor of the world.  I did not think that a global pandemic would come from an astrological event that happens every 33–38 years and lasts slightly over two years.  And yes Neptune was in Pisces but … really?

I and many of us had been ignoring an added intensity to life that we need to understand.  The dwarf planet, Eris, squared this Pluto-Saturn conjunction from the edgy sign of Aries.  We do not “dwarf” the significance of Pluto, it makes sense that we should show similar respect for Eris and the other newly discovered asteroid/planets.

What challenges or opportunities are here, or coming?   Astrology is not the only source to see these possibilities, but it does add focus and timing to what we can see through so many other avenues.