Some times called the generational planets, consists today of Uranus discovered in 1781, Neptune 1846 and Pluto 1930. What I find interesting about these planets is that without proper perspective on what events occurred around the discovery of these planets, Astrologers started assigning meaning and ruler-ship to them. After participating in an interesting discussion I decided to do a bit of research and see what patterns seemed discernable to me regarding the nature of these planets. So let us begin at the beginning, what was happening at the time these planets made themselves known to humankind?
Interesting Events around the discovery of Uranus; Other events of note in 1781 - The British surrendered to the upstart colonists in America at Yorktown, The Articles of Confederation were written, John Hansen was the first president of the continental congress set up by the Articles of Confederation, the City of Los Angeles was founded by 44 Spanish colonists. Immanuel Kant published his book on reason and Charles Messier published his Catalog of Messier Objects (book of objects you can see with the naked eye in the sky)
People often attribute electricity, the computer, innovation and science to Uranus. If we look at this list of things, very little of it actually coincides with the events surrounding the discovery of Uranus. I find that I don't particularly agree with these assessments. For instance; Electricity... Until Maxwell’s equations came along (developed during the years 1862-1874) electricity was for the most part a novelty. With the better understanding, the accurate mathematical description of electricity came a better ability to use it. Things like the Telegraph and electric (as opposed to gas) light, etc. This also spawned such great investigations as the Michelson Morley experiment of 1887... Frankly the sky from 1862 - 1890 must have been rather interesting because it was a time of incredible change all over the place! I think one may certainly contribute changeability to Uranus, but I think maybe also the idea of self rule and of logic.
The first computer programmer Ada Byron, Lady Lovelace was born on 10 December 1815 and started work on the first programmable machine in early 1834, though she heard of the theory behind it in late 1834. Her paper on the subject was published in 1846, incidentally the year Neptune was discovered, so one might credibly argue the computer is a child of Neptune. And possibly of the entire quantum mechanics generation, as one might argue that the ensuing electrical surge came after the discovery of Neptune and prior to the discovery of Pluto.
Other events around 1846 include:
(well telegraph invented in 1844, so lets throw it in with
this group)In 1845 Annapolis Naval Academy opens with 50
midshipmen and 10 professor’s, Horatio Nelson born, in 1846
Ether used as anesthetic for the first time, Mexican American
War begins (Ulysses S. Grant made his name in this War),
Elias Howe patents the sewing machine, Oregon Treaty signed
with Britain setting the US boundary at the 49th parallel, US
annexes New Mexico and California, Yucatan declare
independence from Mexico, Potato Crop fails in Ireland 1847 -
Sam Colt sells first revolver to US Government, Werner Von
Siemens founds Siemens AG& H, Alexander Graham Bell born,
Johnny Appleseed dies
Okay the last two I had to put in because it seems to me that it represents the end of the agrarian age and the beginning of the industrial age in a nutshell! Wow who would think it. I’d say in hindsight that Neptune is absolutely the mother of invention.
Between 1846 and 1930, the principles of Electricity are defined by Maxwell’s equations from 1862-1874, the understanding of the Principles of Light are expanded by Tesla, Angstrom, Edison, Michelson and Morley. (and numerous others) I think one can see more innovation from Neptune making outrageous ideas into reality, than from Uranus.
People think of Pluto as the ultimate destroyer, yet the Great War, the war to end all wars occurred between 1914 and 1918, a good 12 years before Pluto was discovered, and the second World War, occurred from 1939 through 1945. I wonder if you can attribute them at all to Pluto? Though with Pluto’s long transits I suppose it’s a possibility. Though it occurs to me that the wars themselves almost define two era’s in that WWI was pretty much a bloodbath with no real definitions. WWII was far more a defined battle where ethical parameters were torn and remade in new patterns. While I think Pluto as a transiting Planet had a great deal to do with the wars, I’m not certain that these wars are necessarily defined by Pluto. Though perhaps there elements within the wars that are represented by Pluto. I’ll take a further look at this line of thought after the discussion of outer planet ruler-ships.
So what was happening around 1930? Well in the US it was the crash of the stock market and economy, the Dust bowl of the Midwest which was absolutely starving for rain, The Indy 500 first occurred, Gandhi marched to the sea to protest British occupation of India. The Motion Picture Production Code instituted (ahhhh parental guidance) The Brazil revolution occurred, Betty Boop aired, the Shadow first aired on radio, work began on Hoover dam, the Neutron discovered by Walter Bothe, Uruguay wins the World Cup in football. The BBC begins regular television Transmission and in Boston the first Television Commercial is broadcast. In 1931 Edison submitted his last patent request, New Delhi became the capitol of India, The last emperor of China made a puppet ruler, by Japan. The Star Spangled Banner is officially adopted as the National Anthem of the US. The Scottsboro boys are arrested, Deuterium discovered. The Empire state building is completed in New York, The American Mafia Wars occurred, In 1932 Hitler and Roosevelt begin their respective roles as leaders.
With these events I can see why one would think that Pluto rules nuclear physics, destruction and rebuilding, responsibility in actions. I’m wondering if it might not be the ruler of television as well? I think that Nikolai Tesla and Tom Edison receiving their last patents at this time is somewhat like the death of Johnny Appleseed in that it seems to give a parameter to the definition of Neptune.
So if I were to look at the historical events surrounding the discovery of each of the three outer planets, I first look at what was happening at the time these planets were first sighted by human kind? Because invariably something makes itself known when it is important for you to note its presence.
On March 13, 1781 Uranus was at 24 Gemini 27, an air sign, ruled by Mercury. Gemini is about Duality, Curiosity, Opposites being forced together to learn how to work together, to learn about how they need each other. The Sign of Gemini is related to inconsistency. One thing about Uranus that I think is difficult to pin down is that it is considered a planet of unstable changes. Is it?
Change certainly was occurring in a great deal of political thought at the time of Uranus discovery, but I think that Uranus part in that may have been that Uranus, as one of the first generational planets, seems to represent human interests as a whole. What part of Uranus attributes are its Own and What part Belong to Gemini?
Lets look at what occurred when Uranus Slipped into Cancer. In 1783 the British and American Colonists Signed the Treaty of Paris, thereby ending the war began in 1776 and separating for the first time a colony from its feudal parent, the colony being a self governing, elected body and not a monarchy or other feudal system which had been the norm in western civilization for over 1500 years. Also the Treaty of Versailles ending the French & Spanish hostilities with England. 1787 the US Constitution is Ratified. 1789 - 1799 French Revolution dominates the decade. 1800 AlessandroVolta creates a chemical battery, William Herschel discovers infrared radiation. 1799-1815 Napoleonic Wars. Amedeo Avagadro, Italian Scientist, publishes his paper on the properties of gases. E Remington and sons founded (steel foundry)
The first hot air balloon flight occurred in France, in fact aside from William Herschel discovering Moons about Uranus, infrared radiation and Messier publishing his wonderful catalog of objects in the night sky, Hot air balloons seem to be the big to do! Perhaps Helium or Hydrogen might then be associated with Uranus? Certainly I think balloons and gases in general might be associated with the planet. In 1817 the first Pharmacy College is founded in Philadelphia, PA.
What are Cancer Attributes? Cancerians are often seen to have a hard shell with a soft heart. A predominance of rulers who seem to think they know best, at the expense of others also seems to be a Cancerian transit trait. (I’m going to do a second article on wars directly after this one, some of the transits are rather interesting, so be patient with me please.)
An overview of what was going on from 1781 to 1846 would seem to show a predominance of change in world government style, giant strides in the study of chemistry and gases , Steel production increases, and an increase of products made of steel, and trains became a common mode of transportation in England and North America.
Neptune was discovered by Johann Galle on September 23, 1846. Neptune was at 25 Aquarius 53’. And was Conjunct Saturn at the time. So aside from looking at what is so very much Aquarian traits, we must also separate Saturn traits from Neptune.
Aquarius is Objectivity, it is Service, it is opposite the great Cat, Leo and in many ways reflects that. I often think that Aquarians can make great leaders because they tend to care for people. Saturn is Restriction, responsibility the great malefic. So what is Neptune?
Neptune has been attributed to chemical abuse, idealism and creativity. I’ve tried to tie down the attribute to chemical dependency and I’m having a hard time of it. Opiate abuse was very common before the discovery of Neptune. Poe being a Prime example. The only addictive substance I can think of, created during the time period of 1846 to 1930 is heroine. Heroine was invented at the turn of the last century by a doctor who was trying to wean American Civil War Veterans from their addiction to Morphine, widely used by amputees. Perhaps it is also presumed because Ether was first used as an anesthetic in surgery at the time that Neptune was discovered. But Ether being a gas, I think is still truly ruled by Uranus. I am open to debate on the subject.
From my observations I believe that electricity, computers, radio, telephone and idealism in action (be it positive or negative) are absolutely traits of Neptune. Creativity in some sense may also be a trait, but I think that creativity can be spawned by almost any planet in the right sphere.
Pluto was at 17 degrees of Cancer when discovered on February 18, 1930 and retrograde. It is also all by itself in that part of the sky at the time of discovery. So if we take the Cancerian traits away from the events of the time, we are left with, economic turmoil, great strides in particle physics, a redefining of ethics and philosophy. Television? Now television I wonder about, I believe Film itself is a Cancerian subject, hence the reference to the silver screen, but Television I think might possibly be completely Plutonian. Too much was going on right at the 1930 mark with Television to Not equate one with the other.
I’ve always felt Pluto was woefully misplaced as ruler of Scorpio. Mars is the obvious ruler there. If I were to consider assigning Pluto as the ruler of a sign it would probably be Pisces, the end and beginning of the matter. However, I believe that the traditional astrologers are correct in saying that it is wrong to assign the outer planets ruler-ship over signs. The assignation was done too hurriedly, without due thought to the properties of the planets involved. In retrospect I have found using the inner planets as sign rulers, and the outer planets as significant bodies in a chart, gives me much better data from astrological charts.
Credit for the discussion on outer planets partially must go to SkyScript as a discussion on Traditional Astrology verses Modern Astrology spurred my intellectual process, thank you Boris for asking the question! And thank you Tom for being your charming self.