The longest cycle is that of Pluto, which is about 248 years. Pluto’s influence is on the collective level and it exposes the themes relative to issues of power, control, and influence. On November 26, it changed signs into Capricorn, which governs capitalism, corporations, large structures, and governments. The event of this day is the attack on Mumbai, India. This attack illustrates the focus on prestigious people, Corporate Executives, Diplomats, and Israelis. Sophisticated and highly skilled mercenaries carried out their mission using a new mode of attack on strategic targets: targets that reflect the corporate economic hierarchy that has no national boundaries. This is the beginning of a 15-year theme where dramatic changes and deep transformations will take place.

Another important cyclic influence, as discussed in my last article, is the opposition between Saturn, the planet of order and status quo, with Uranus, the planet of revolution, invention, and surprising changes. The two planets will meet five times between November 4, 2008 and July 26, 2010. The link is directly to issues of the mid-1960’s, such as equal rights for minorities, ecological concerns over nuclear energy, and a war that had no value. All of these issues are revived, and situations are changing rapidly. The glass ceiling of race and gender is disintegrated.

The times call for a review of values and a renewal of vision for the future. While the fear-factor tends to hold people back from taking action in their lives on many levels, we have a wonderful opportunity to re-invent our selves and our society, even in the midst of this economic crisis. The talk of “green” jobs and “green” living is in perfect alignment with the strong earth element of the planetary positions. It is a time to make adjustments willingly, that bring us into greater alignment with collective values that support life.

Every being on the planet breathes. There are no boundaries in air or water. It has been an illusion that there are boundaries of nations on the earth. Shifting our awareness to the earth as a living entity will change the course of action in our approach to living “green”, which means sustainability. Many industries will become obsolete in the next 15 years. Looking to the future means imaging the many ways to live a more natural life, connecting to the earth and to each other.

The month of December is marked with dramatic astrological contacts that essentially set the themes for 2009. The Winter Solstice is a strong chart, followed by a very potent New Moon, on December 27, with six planets lined up in Capricorn, sending a message that many organizations, nations, and or corporations will need to collaborate to deal with issues that affect all.

The transition of the Presidency is coming to be an international unification to fortify economy and security. The decisions made this month are setting a direction for many years. Obama’s announcements of his cabinet and administrative staff are included. It is important to be alert to the shifts now that will affect us all globally.

International terrorism is seeded from the imbalance of wealth and power. Pirates, suicide bombers, and corporate crooks are the bi-product of a power sector of society that forgot humanity in the movement to unprecedented levels of ownership with equal disrespect for life. To change the growing trend, I believe it takes courage to face moving to a new general attitude of universality in humanity regardless of origin. No life, no country is more important than another is in the deeper truth. My wish is that starting at community level, we work together to improve the quality of life for ourselves, and our neighbors to be more self-sufficient and ecologically secure. Then, we work out from that point and change the world for the better. This period is likely to bring forward innovations and inventions from the younger pool of talent. As elders, we should listen hopefully to the imagining of our young people. They will make it so.

Astrologically, 2008 is a step toward evolutionary social changes. The long step to connecting with our past is to see the similarity to certain patterns that occurred between 1762 to 1776. The events that pushed the colonists to stand up and take their power to be self-governing were largely economic. Colonists were well established and their growing population felt that they deserved self-governance and representation for their financial interests. This was the beginning of the American Revolution. The financial foundation of America was established during this period. People were innovative and became more socially unified because of their circumstances.

Two other periods of social change have cyclic contacts with current trends as well. One dramatic period of social change relative to current time was 1965-66, and the other less marked period is 1988. The mid-1960’s was the larger revolution of civil rights, the wasteful war in Viet Nam, and the seeds of the technological revolution. In the fall of 1987, we had the stock market crash of the internet stocks, “Black Monday.” By the summer of 1988, we had a 14-year low of unemployment. The themes that link all of these periods are human rights, economic struggle, and a demand for political changes. These periods each have dramatic astrological signatures that correlate to collective change based on universal principles. Later this year, begins another of these important geocosmic signatures that will stimulate evolutionary and revolutionary changes.

What we must do is be alert to the trends at the community level. Through July, the natural influence is to give time and loving energy to family and friends. It is natural to have more social gatherings and family playtime. During such events, we have the perfect opportunity to discuss and share our circumstances and build support. We can pool our experiences and brainstorm ways to work together for more security.

The energy is good for taking action, where we have had a very sluggish year for productivity. It is a good time to be strategic in our plans for the next few months. Early July has the perfect pairing of energies for having a vision of long-term goals and the motivation for discipline to restructure habits. Service projects are a great use of the energies this month. Cleaning, restoring, reorganizing will give a good feeling of accomplishment and clear the path for new activities. This energy lasts most of the month. The full moon on July 17 will emphasize the benefit of group energy and community focus.

By the last week of July, there is very high energy for peaceful actions. There could be an opportunity for resolutions in international relationships. In the year of so following the turning points I mention above, some very positive events led to peace agreements, new industry, and some improvement in the overall economic climate. Personal relationships are favored as well in this phase.