The national chart of the United States

2008 - 2024

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In the horoscope of the United States, Pluto, as it moves through Capricorn, is opposing the Sun in the natal chart, reflecting major and irrevocable changes on many levels. This aspect has occurred only once before in American history, during the period of the Revolutionary War. Although it is not intrinsically an aspect of war, it challenges the deepest definitions of what constitutes nationhood, and raises many issues of autonomy and the way in which the government is structured and how much authority it may or may not exercise.The deeper issues underlying the Revolutionary War concerned not only human rights, but also the autonomy of the individual states comprising the nation, and these issues may once again rise to the surface as new ways of defining the national identity are proposed.

The national Sun in the 7th house also places great emphasis on the nature of the bonds America forms with other nations, and here too Pluto's transformative energy may require many changes and a re-evaluation of the ways and reasons why particular nations are sought as partners and others are excluded. This could potentially be a time of great renewal and a re-establishment of those high ideals on which the structure of the nation is based.

Pluto, as it completes its transit through Capricorn, will also return to its own natal place: in other words, the United States is experiencing its Pluto return. This suggests the completion of a great cycle, and a cementing of the fundamental values on which the Constitution is built. There may also be a serious reappraisal of issues concerned with the environment, as Capricorn is an earthy sign, and the use or abuse of natural resources may become a cause for not only profound concern but also profound change and a more enlightened attitude. The enormous resources available to the United States are reflected by Pluto in the 2nd house of the national chart, and it is possible that these will be approached with greater respect and care than ever before.

Whether or not you favour these changes personally, it would seem that a time has arrived when there is a great new opportunity to affirm the values and ideals of the original founding of the nation, applicable not only to government and to foreign relations, but also to the land itself and the resources inherent in it.

Liz Greene, 2005

(Data used: 4 July 1776, 5:10 pm LMT, Philadelphia, PA; this is the so-called "Sibly chart", which was originally published in 1787. It is based, in part, on eyewitness accounts of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There is another chart commonly used for the USA, which gives Gemini on the Ascendant, but there is no historical evidence to support this horoscope.)