As an astrologer, it’s my nature to notice patterns. Fortunately, my day job as a hairstylist allows me to encounter several people each day on a very personal level; thus, I am able to observe astrology through the experiences of others.

Yesterday, three of my five salon guests brought up the subject of dogs.

“How curious…” I knew that I would go home and try to figure out what this was stemming from. I had a sense that Mercury would somehow be involved because Mercury rules pets.

My first thought was to turn to my ephemeris to see what aspects were of influence that day. Sure enough, Mercury was forming a sextile with Saturn, with the Moon in between, semi-sextiling each of them!

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Mercury and Saturn, working together to form a structure:

1. My first client mentioned that she had just moved into her new house and that she was also looking for a new job (Mercury). Ideally, she said she would like to do administrative work at a doggy-daycare. She said that she wanted to get away from the manufacturing industry and do somethingdifferent. Clearly, the Mercury retrograde inspired her to make some changes.

2. My next client arrived. The last time I had seen her, she was working at an animal shelter (Mercury) and was searching for something else that would accommodate her school schedule (Mercury again). She arrived wearing scrubs. “Did you get a new job?” I asked. “Yes, I officially got the job today!” she explained that it was her first day hands-on at a doggy-daycare. This is when I began to sense the presence of a pattern…

3. My last client arrived later in the evening for a color touch-up. We’ll call her Laura. We began our usual catch up. “Catherine, it’s been a dog adventure at our house.” Oh..?

Laura* went on to explain that their family dog of the last 14 years passed away in September; the following week, the family went to the animal shelter and adopted a new dog. This, of course, made her two young kids very happy. It was immediately apparent that this new dog too, was ill. After a visit to the vet, it was discovered that this new dog had a terminal illness. Laura’s policy with her children is that “any truth is always better than a lie,” so she and her husband explained to their children what was happening with their pet. Three weeks later, the new dog passed away.

Jeez! So now I’m thinking Pluto, who just stationed direct at 13⁰ Capricorn, on September 25, right around the time that all of this was going on for them. Pluto rules death and transformation.

Laura and I have discussed astrology before. In her family, her husband and her daughter are Cancers, and in the sign opposite, Capricorn, is her 4 year old son, Liam*. “What is Liam’s birthday?” I asked.

It immediately became clear that Liam was experiencing a Pluto transit to his natal Sun. I cut Liam’s hair too, and the thought of this precious little one being exposed to these big lessons of life and death, impermanence and transformation, made my heart swell. I explained all of this to her, that this is a “readiness” in Liam’s chart to understand these lessons. “Yes! Liam went to school the next day telling all of his classmates that one day they are all going to die,” she smirked,  shaking her head, “but, I mean, he’s right. He also comes home and pays special attention to our family cat, saying 'you're still alive!'.” We discussed how by experiencing the impermanence of life, Liam is noticeably more appreciative of all the loved ones in his life. “The cat doesn’t seem to mind!”

I also told Laura that often when a young child experiences this transformative transit, that sometimes it’s the father who is undergoing metamorphosis, and her son would therefore be informed by witnessing this change. She was able to confirm that her husband is making strides to improve his health, among other personal advancements. (In this case, the father himself, as a later degree Cancer, is experiencing a Uranus square Sun transit. He feels an urge to break his routine, improve himself and try new things: he feels awakened. He does not feel the simple existential depth that his son feels. They are experiencing the same events differently, based on their perception, and, as reflected by the various planets interacting with their respective charts.)

Wow.

 Even after consulting my ephemeris and confirming the alchemy of Mercury/Saturn, I was still curious.

Sirius, the Dog Star.

I wasn’t sure of the exact degree off the top of my head, so I looked it up.

Sirius is found at 14⁰Cancer 17”…. My mind is officially blown….

Right now, Pluto, (planet of death, transformation, discovery of personal power and evolution) is opposing Sirius, the “dog star.”

Sometimes astrology is that literal.

With Stars, we use a 1⁰ orb. Pluto is opposing Sirius:

March-May 2014

January- December 2015

September-October 2016

Pluto is in Capricorn, answering to Saturn in Sagittarius, sextile Mercury, which was illuminated by the Moon on Tuesday October 13th, 2015.

In astrology, we are never done learning... And we don’t even necessarily need books to do so!

This doesn’t mean that every Capricorn is going to lose a pet this year, but if you are born in early January, you will be receiving lessons of Pluto in some form nonetheless. I can’t necessarily predict how without seeing your chart; even then, astrology predictions are only 20/20 in hindsight. All I can say is metamorphosis. You are entering a cocoon and soon you will become a butterfly. We all experience Pluto at some point. It’s to show us that we were wrong: that we carry unlimited potential to rebirth ourselves again and again; that tragedy makes us stronger, wiser; and that something bigger than ourselves is at work. However humbling that may be, we also feel a sense of power. You cannot reach the reservoir of riches if you don’t dig deep.

“The dogs medicine is loyalty, reliability, nobleness, trustworthiness, unconditional love, friendship, fierce energy of protection and service. People who have Dog as power animal are usually helping others or serving humanity in some way and have a deep understanding and compassion of human shortcomings. Dog serves selflessly, never asking for their service to be praised or anything in return. He is sensitive and intelligent. From him we can learn the true meaning of unconditional love and forgiveness. Domestic dogs are faithful companions to humans with a strong sense to serve. Their ability to love even when abused is incredible. Psychic gifts have been associated with Dog because of his talent to pick up on subtle energy frequencies generally unknown to mankind. Like other animals they can feel for instance if an earthquake is about to occur, and can lead us to safety, if we trust them like they trust us.”

- Ina Woolcott, www.shamanicjourney.com

To read more about Sirius, check out http://www.crystalinks.com/sirius.html

Love, Peace and Enlightenment to All...

​-Catherine

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