A Follow-up Conversation with Susan Miller

A Casual Chat About Current Trends

I had the chance to do a follow up interview with Susan Miller of Astrology Zone. In our first talk, she laid out the possibility for “harsh realities” made known on September 17th, and talked about how people can prepare for tough economic times ahead. Here, we took a look back at that big date, and chatted about the intensity of the times, as well as a few astrological happenings coming our way.

First off, Susan says that those with planets at 22/24 degree mutable, (Pisces, Virgo, Gemini, Sagittarius), have been under siege. Many Virgos and Pisces especially, really did experience the September aspects as life-changing. And it continues to play out with new jobs, and relationships at the crossroads.

Susan says sometimes the big events don’t happen on the day of the big aspects. The New Moon was in Virgo on the 18th, and its ruler was in retrograde. Says Susan, “If the ruler of the new moon is retrograde, there could be a delayed reaction. I had felt that the aspects for the 17th were really rough and wrote on Astrology Zone that we could have “wild weather.” Around that time, we did see flooding in Georgia, the mudslide in Sicily and then the major quakes that followed.

The bottom line, says Susan, is that she’s realized these intense aspects may not be triggered until later. Or their impact may happen over a longer period of time.

Susan’s prediction was correct, in my opinion, and it has to do with the coming death/devaluation (Pluto) of the dollar (Capricorn). Because Mercury was square to Pluto on the 17th, it is a coming reality that has been hidden from the public. That week, economists sounded alarms that the dollar was no longer "respected" in Asia, and there were global calls to replace it as the world currency.

Astrologers have been talking for awhile about the earth sign “reality show,” and how it’s time for bubbles to burst, and to come down to Earth. Says Susan, “Saturn makes you grow up quickly.” Saturn’s square to Pluto is going to get us purging the dead weight, and learning to do more with less. As a nation in its Pluto return, America is digging into its collective crawl spaces. Says Susan, “We are cleaning the closets, and we don’t know all the mothballs and skeletons that are in there. But you can’t get well until you know what’s wrong.”

Susan says watch out for compromising situations when resources are extended your way, especially into 2010. “Saturn, as one side of the cardinal cross, may be saying, ‘I’m going to give you the money, but there are going to be so many strings attached.” Susan says when government (Pluto) finds itself tapped out, it may say, “Hey, I’m your silent partner, don’t forget about me.” This could lead to higher taxes, fees and penalties as institutions struggle for their very survival.

Susan told me she’s been watching a show on Greek mythology called Clash of the Gods on the History Channel. The Greek heroes are human scaled, but do herculean things, like steering ships through hurricanes. “What I came away with is that in the old days, the Greek days, all the mythological characters had to suffer, to show their worth, their strength. They have to fly or jump buildings. “ The stories are inspiring because the “gods” go through real struggles, and get to the other side.

Susan and I talked about how this is at striking odds with our culture, which has such a low tolerance for pain. Just look at how many people are medicated for depression these days. “Often, you think you need something, and you really don’t.” Says Susan, “We don’t seem to integrate that part that pain is a part of life, but it’s there to make us stronger.”

”As a nation, we in America are divided in half, like the planets are. And that will keep up while the planets are raging against each other. We are mirroring what’s going on with the planets.” The opposition is asking us to find common ground, and Susan says that means not just impulsively reacting. She says, “We need to listen to each side more closely, not so quick to respond. “

”Everybody needs a Plan B, and everybody needs a source of income.” This fits with her warning that the government will NOT be able to provide a safety net in the near future. She says going back to school is not a bad idea, but cites that colleges are also struggling to stay viable. Students are going to community colleges, which is a more affordable option, rather than dropping out. Says Susan, “Some community colleges are overwhelmed, with something like 50 people in a class, but the important thing is they are in school.”

It’s a time to be realistic, and not waste time on “wishful thinking,” says Susan. She sees opportunities opening in technology, engineering, the “green” industry, and waste disposal. “Look for ways to be part of the innovations that can heal or de-tox the planet,” she says. I would add that it is wise to be close to the Sources of water and food. I met a young guy that lost his job in New York City at a non-profit, and came to work on a hen farm here in Georgia. It may not be what he does for the longterm, but he can be assured that he'll have plenty of eggs to eat!

The coming climate of cardinality and the cardinal cross of 2010 will force us all to take action. Susan says we should prepare to take control of the direction of our lives. “It’ll make the crises more apparent and events happen quicker, but the fix is also quicker. When you get those squares (between major planets in cardinal signs), you have to make a decision. You have to make a choice. You have to do something or the decision will be made for you.

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