Uranus In Pisces
Time To Wake Up and Start Dreaming

By Glenn Perry, Ph.D.
 

When American astrologer Michael Lutin did his musical "Alien Follies" at UAC' 92, I was struck by one particular lyric: It's time to wake up and start dreaming!  Picture Michael in a tutu with a chorus of angels behind him. Although this paradoxical lyric was meant to herald the Uranus-Neptune conjunction of that era, it works just as well for Uranus in Pisces. The function of awakening (Uranus) is illuminating the domain of dreams (Pisces).

I must admit it can be fun to make occasional forays into the field of mundane astrology. The rules of interpretation remain essentially the same. Mundane astrology is simply the psychology of the masses writ large against the backdrop of the heavens. Thus we can anticipate shifts in collective consciousness when one of the outer planets changes signs. On approximately January 1st of 2004, Uranus ingressed into Pisces where it will remain for the next seven years.

To appreciate the significance of this, we need to understand that Uranus represents a set of psychological functions that relate to the collective mind, especially with regard to our need for progress and reform. It's sign position is what humanity suddenly sees and realizes, what it wakes up to, and what it instantly perceives as having value for itself. Uranus then strives to utilize this domain for the sake of the collective good. Pisces becomes the revolution of the day, so to speak. It is that domain in which and through which humanity strives to advance itself. In effect, Pisces serves as a vehicle for progress and a means to evolution.

To delineate this further, let's first break Uranus down into four main functions, or verb categories:

1. Wholistic perception or objective overview (to see in a wide and inclusive way). Thus to objectify.

2. Awakening, revelation, enlightenment. Radical insight into the nature of a phenomenon; thus, to awaken, reveal, enlighten, and illumine.

3. Change, progress, reform, and revolution. Uranian insight produces radical, irrevocable change that leads to advancement and evolution. These are evolutionary innovations that liberate and emancipate the system from old, obsolete, narrow, and limited ways of the past. Of particular importance are new scientific discoveries and subsequent technological innovations. Operative verbs include to change, progress, reform, evolve, discover, invent, liberate, and emancipate.

4. Altruism or humanitarianism. Uranus creates change for the sake of humanity's betterment. Scientific discovery and technological innovations are utilized for the improvement of human welfare.

One way of interpreting a planet in a sign is to utilize the sign position as a complement to the planetary verb. As a complement, the sign receives the action of the verb, thus completing the planet's intention. Perceived in this way, Pisces answers the question what? If Uranus awakens, then what does it awaken? Answer: It awakens all things Piscean. Just as Uranus can be subdivided into various verb-forms, so likewise we can deconstruct Pisces into various sub-domains. A domain is a sphere or field of human activity, such as spirituality or charity. As a complement, Pisces functions as a direct object (domain) to any Uranian action and answers the question what? Thus we can say that Uranus awakens charity, or it discovers the unconscious, since both charity and the unconscious reside in the Piscean domain.

Pisces symbolizes the following sub-domains of human activity:

1. Spirituality and mysticism as expressed in such practices as meditation, prayer, tai chi, and yoga.

2. The imaginal realm and all processes connected to the imagination, including the collective unconscious, dreams, fantasy, ideals, illusions, delusions, and escapism.

3. Film, painting, photography, and anything involving symbol and image, including symbolic languages like astrology.

4. Poetry and music, which elevate the human spirit and potentially produce transcendent states.

5. Intuition and psi abilities like telepathy (thought transfer), clairvoyance (remote viewing), precognition (foreknowledge), and telekinesis (mind over matter).

6. The paranormal, which includes psi abilities in addition to out-of-body experiences (OBE's), near-death-experiences (NDE's), past-life memories (reincarnation), communication with discarnate entities (channeling, séances), and communication with non-human intelligences such as plants and animals. 

7. Experiences of empathy with all living things. The impulse to relieve suffering. Collective ideals such as world peace and the ending of poverty and strife. This includes the practice of compassion, charity, forgiveness, and provision of help to victims, the poor, the sick, the aged, the mentally ill, and the needy. Such practices involve institutions such as prisons, hospitals, hospice centers, retreats, and centers for rehabilitation.

8. Drugs, alcohol, pharmacology, and sacred substances.

9. Gases and liquids, including the ocean, the atmosphere, and outer space.

In effect, Uranus will be acting upon these Piscean sub-domains. To interpret Uranus in Pisces, one merely needs to cut and paste, i.e., link Piscean complements to Uranian verbs. In doing this exercise, I came up with 27 predictions, which I cite below. Of course, there are many additional possibilities, but these should serve to orient our thinking in the right direction. Where possible, I've also cited relevant examples of what occurred the last time Uranus was in Pisces – from April 1919 to April 1927.

So, with Uranus in Pisces over the next seven years…

1. We’ll develop a new perspective on spirituality that objectifies the spiritual impulse and enables us to “wake up” and see past the superficial differences that separate one faith from another. Progress will be made in realizing the universality of faiths and the common ideals and values they share. Shocking revelations may shed new light on the teachings of Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, Vishnu, and other avatars.

2. New scientific studies and discoveries will be made with regard to the healing power of faith, prayer, and meditation. These will be applied to the relief of suffering and the promotion of recovery from an increasing variety of illnesses, including cancer. A revolution will occur in the endorsement of spiritual practices as a component of medical treatment. These discoveries will be wedded to the increasing recognition of a universal consciousness and intelligence that is immanent in all physical, biological, and mental processes.

3. New technologies will be developed for altering and utilizing higher states of consciousness in the promotion of wellness. These may include such things as biofeedback machines, and sound and color therapy.

4. Radical new insights will occur into the significance of dreams. New studies will illumine the inner landscape of the unconscious to an unprecedented degree. Techniques will be taught and popularized that enable us to remain conscious/awake while dreaming (so called lucid dreaming), or while remembering and recovering lost memories -- perhaps even memories of past lives. Therapies utilizing hypnosis for the recovery and illumination of past lives will become more accepted in the mental health field.

5. The doctrine of constructivism will gain popularity, i.e., the realization that statements about reality are products of a particular point of view. We will become increasingly aware of the subjective nature of our most cherished beliefs and of our collective tendency to construct “stories” about reality that in the end prove to be merely opinions on a level of illusion.

6. Progress will occur in our appreciation of the efficacy of visualization practices in physical and mental health. Mind-body therapies and belief in the power of mind over matter will gain significant new ground in our attempts to relieve suffering.

7. The current “psychic liberation movement” will continue to grow and gain adherents. This movement encourages people to place higher value on their own inner being, the quiet voice within, and to take steps that support the inner development of all people. This includes becoming familiar with basic literature in fields such as the study of near death experiences, out-of-body experiences, parapsychology, transpersonal psychology, remote viewing, precognition, telepathy, reincarnation, psychical research, meditation, channeling, animal communication, and metaphysics.

8. New discoveries in psychical research will be utilized for the improvement of human welfare. Radical new insights will catalyze a revolution in our awareness of paranormal phenomena, spurred in part by new technologies and research that awakens humanity to the reality and importance of the spirit realm.

9. A widespread spiritual movement may develop that is based in part on channeled material, such as the Abraham teachings. Likewise, there may be increased interest in and possible contact with non-human beings from an extraterrestial origin (aliens) or non-physical dimension (angels, discarnate entities). Look for Art Bell's radio program Coast to Coast to gain increasing popularity and influence.

10. There could be a revolution in the music industry, particularly in the way music is made, packaged, and distributed. Radical new forms of music will appear, perhaps aided by technological advances in computer hardware and software that enables a music studio to be set up in every home. Music may increasingly be utilized as a means for producing altered states of consciousness and spiritual growth.

On December 20, 1920, the U.S. singer Mamie Smith was the first black singer to make a record. “Crazy Blues,” written by Perry Bradford, sold over one million copies in six months.

11. Technological advances in digital film will usher in a new revolution in how images are created and transmitted. Videophones will become as common as computers and televisions, and advances in holographic photography may make their first appearance in filmmaking so that, for example, we’ll start to see films in three dimensions rather than the current two-dimensional format that requires projection onto a screen.

In 1921, the first transatlantic photo transmission was made between Annapolis, Maryland, and La Malmaison, France. More significantly, it was during this period that innovations in film technology allowed for the development of "talkies," films that utilized synchronized speech and music. These made their first public appearance in 1927-1928.

12. Advances in our understanding of the significance of image and symbol, as contained in myths, allegories, and parables, will be more widely and consciously utilized as a tool for awakening humanity to some basic concept or truth. Animated films could break new ground.

In 1919, the Australian cartoonist Otto Messmer and the U.S. animator Pat Sullivan create the first animated cartoon character, Felix the Cat.

13. Humanity will wake up to a greater degree than ever before to the plight of the needy, the poor, the victimized, and the aged. Progress will be made in the relief of suffering on a global scale. At the same time, "political correctness" may veer in the direction of excessive compassion, enabling behaviors, and co-dependency that creates a culture of victimhood. Problems may occur from a weakening of boundaries and a collapse of traditional (i.e., conservative) values.  

This sentiment was implicit in the birth and spread of communism, which initially was a political revolution for the sake of a spiritual ideal. Communism required the collapse of social and economic hierarchies to assure an equal distribution of goods among the masses. However misguided this ideal was in practice, communism was a utopian dream that envisaged peace and prosperity for all. It serves as a reminder of the old saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

On March 2, 1919, just as Uranus was entering Pisces, the Communist Third International Comintern was founded to encourage world revolution. This triggered a "Red Scare" that mobilized police throughout the United States to brace for a radical insurrection that never materialized. Even so, American President Woodrow Wilson was sufficiently alarmed to decry communism as "the poison of disorder, the poison of revolt, the poison of chaos that is forcing its way into the veins of this free people." It is interesting to note how President Wilson uses one Piscean phenomenon, drug addiction, as a metaphor for another -- communism.

14. New research will disclose the psychological and spiritual benefits of forgiveness and of charitable practices that involves selflessness and sacrifice. This may inaugurate a movement wherein richer nations and peoples increase the help that is offered to poorer ones.

15. Just as the League of Nations was born during the last Uranus in Pisces period, so the current United Nations may undergo radical shift and reorganization that will empower it to become a more relevant force in promoting peace and cooperation among nations.

In May of 1919, the Paris Peace Conference at the end of WWI was revolutionary in that it was humanity's first attempt to implement peace on a global scale. Ratification of the Treaty of Versailles brought the League of Nations into existence, with 29 initial members. The League was created to adjudicate disputes between countries and generally to keep international peace. Drafted by President Woodrow Wilson of the United States, the League signified an international peace movement scarcely imaginable in prior centuries.

16. Technological innovations involving the maintenance and distribution of global resources will advance the cause of peace, compassion, and charity on a worldwide scale. This will be tied to the peace movement, which will gain new ground as a relevant and persuasive voice in the political arena.

17. There is likely to be a revolution in health care that not only involves radical new drugs, but also entails a major overhaul in the way hospitals deliver services. This may mean some sort of universal health plan that assures everyone is covered in the event they are hospitalized.

In 1919, U.S. physician Louise developed typarsamide, a synthetic drug used in the treatment of sleeping sickness.

18. Technological advances will enable radical new medical treatments that underscore the link between psyche and soma, or mind-body medicine.

19. There is likely to be an upsurge in the euthanasia movement, giving patients and the elderly the right to die. A broad social movement may occur for more humane treatment of the ill and aged.

20. Prison reform will enable more humane confinement and effective rehabilitation of inmates, while unprecedented technological advances in genetics will lead to more efficient apprehension and incarceration of criminals.

21. Significant progress will be made in the war on drug addiction and alcoholism, especially with regard to how illegal drug trade is financed and exploited by terrorist organizations. We will increasingly awaken to the link between drugs, crime, and terrorist activities.

In January 1919, the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages became law. This actually lead led to a thriving bootleg and homebrew industry, which constituted a revolution in the way alcohol was produced, distributed, and consumed in the United States. There is currently some concern (and also enthusiasm) over a new movement to prohibit social drinking and recreational drug use.

22. In contrast to the above, look also for a new marijuana legalization movement, especially with regard to the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

23. There may also be advances in the utilization of sacred substances, such as mescaline peyote, psilocybin mushrooms, and synthetic psychotropic drugs as a means for working with the unconscious and promoting psycho-spiritual development.

24. Radical advances will be made not only in the exploration of inner space, but also of outer space, possibly leading to the first human on Mars. This may include increased interest in the possibility of contact with beings from other solar systems, i.e., alien astronauts.

25. Exploration of the world’s oceans almost certainly will turn up new discoveries, perhaps leading to the development of an important new food supply or source of energy. Likewise, the oil and gas industry is likely to undergo radical changes for the sake of human welfare. In physics, significant progress may be made in the development of cold fusion, i.e., the joining of atoms to produce clean nuclear power.

In 1919 The U.S. navy developed the Hayes sonic depth finder. It consisted of a device for generating sound waves and receiving their echo from the ocean floor. A timing device indicated the depth of the water.

From 1919 to 1927, advances in pipeline technology made the transmission of natural gas over long distances practical for the first time.

In 1924 the Brooklyn Edison Corporation opened the world's largest electricity generating plant with steam-powered turbines in New York. Uranus in Pisces is clearly evident in the use of water (Pisces) to produce electricity (Uranus).

Significantly, the development of nuclear energy was inaugurated in 1919 when physicist Ernest Rutherford split the atom for the first time. Uranus rules scientific discovery, whereas Pisces rules disintegration. The sudden splitting, or disintegration, of the atom exemplifies Uranus in Pisces at a purely physical level. Perhaps progress in the development of cold fusion, the joining of atoms to produce clean nuclear energy, will occur during the current sojourn of Uranus in Pisces.

26. Technological advances will revolutionize fields that involve liquidity and flow states, such as the computer industry (flow of electrons) and automotive field (flow of water and oil).

In 1922, Jersey Standard Oil creates antifreeze in the United States, which stops freezing and maintains liquidity and flow.

27. And finally, this period will also lead to a true renaissance in astrology, not merely in terms of its continued recovery and development as a symbolic language, but in terms of its cultural acceptance and utilization for the betterment of humanity.

In summary, I believe that today we're living the dream that humanity dreamt some 84 years ago when Uranus was last in Pisces. With Uranus in Pisces again, it's time for a new dream, one that is not entirely different from the last, but that builds on the accomplishments of the former and ushers in a new sense of possibility for realizing Piscean visions and ideals. Certainly there will be an awakening of compassion and new insights into the power of the human spirit. Uranus in Pisces is like a giant spotlight that illumines the depth and breadth of the human psyche. It illumines not only our individual spiritual natures, but also that larger consciousness from which we are extended and to which we aspire to return. The cosmic door is open and the lights are on. Over the next seven years, we will recognize that every human being is but a wave emerging from the ocean of Universal Spirit. It's time (again) to awaken from the dream of separateness and realize anew that we are infinite beings wedded to eternity.

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