ARTICLES

The Debt Crisis and Pluto's Transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn'

©2008 by Donna Cunningham'

Note: the following is an excerpt from Donna's advice column in Dell Horoscope Magazine. '

A multitude of people in our country are being overwhelmed by debt. Last year saw a 55% increase in mortgage foreclosures, and other worrisome financial indicators. The average credit card debt is almost $10,000, and in 2005, U.S. consumers charged $1.8 TRILLION, so we are clearly living beyond our means. The general level of pain and anxiety has moved me to make a study these past several months of what is called predatory lending-a kind of entrapment that a legion of unscrupulous credit card companies, banks, pay-day loan stores, and other lenders are actively pursuing. 'By extending what looks like easy credit, they lure people into borrowing more than they can repay, stealthily jack up the interest to undreamed-of levels of 25-35%, and then tack on late and over-limit fees until your debt is many times what you originally owed.'

I'm not a financial astrologer by any means, and yet in self-defense and to inform my readers, I've had to educate myself about the realities of debt and how it has escalated in this decade. We ALL have to educate ourselves and stay alert or be swept away by this tide of events. If you're not a member of AARP, go to the library and read the excellent and readable features in recent issues of their newsletter and magazine on debt traps, scams that are affecting seniors, and identity theft. They also have useful tips on money management, along with up-to-date information on Social Security and Medicare. '

Astrologically, I relate the development of the Easy Credit mentality and the spiraling of personal debt to the passage of Pluto-the planet of debt, high finance, and power-through over-expansive Sagittarius from 1995 until now. Despite its many sterling qualities, Sag is a sign that wants more and more and never believes the bills will come due, and even if they do, it will all work out because God will provide and, after all, didn't they go to college and get a higher education? 'Meanwhile, the cost of education soared, with a 35% tuition increase since 2001-2, so that students are piling up educational loans as high as $100,000. Sag is the sign of gambling and speculation; addictive gambling in casinos and online became an epidemic, while speculation on the stock market and in real estate became a preoccupation for higher income people. Sag is the sign of foreign countries, and many of us indulged a lifelong desire to travel by putting trips on credit cards; at the same time high-end imported labels and exotic foods became considered necessities. '

Over the past year, we've seen the long-term effects of financial overexpansion that took place with Pluto in Sag. Pluto has reached that critical 29^th°' of a sign, teetering on the edge between Sagittarius and Capricorn, and finally crossing the line into Capricorn around Thanksgiving for a 15-year stay. 'Capricorn is a much different sign than Sag, partaking of the nature of Saturn, and so most of us will be called upon to tighten our budgets, trim the luxuries, stick with basics, and pay off what we owe-or else pay the consequences off all those years of over-expansion. This year, with the back and forth movement and trines between Saturn in Virgo and planets in Capricorn, is an ideal window for embarking on that process.'

If you are one who is struggling, here are some resources that can guide you in getting out of debt. ''Big Spender', hosted by Larry Winget, (http://www.larrywinget.com/bigspender.html), is a show worth watching. He often works with professional people who have gotten in serious trouble financially due to debts. 'It's on A & E on Saturday morning, 11:30. 'He has an excellent method for getting out of the debt cycle. He's a tough but cool guy, no enabling. Also useful is the step-by-step process in Oprah Winfrey's Debt Diet (http://www.oprah.com/money/debtdiet/steps/debtdiet_steps_01.jhtml 'If you're not a member of AARP, go to the library and read the excellent and readable features in recent issues of their newsletter and magazine on debt traps, scams that are affecting seniors, and identity theft. They also have useful tips on money management, along with up-to-date information on Social Security and Medicare. Getting out of debt is not a pleasant process, but it is doable, and being on solid financial ground can bring more security and peace of mind.'

Donna Cunningham, an OAA member and one of astrology's best-known authors and teachers, is now offering a 14-lesson correspondence course by e-mail. If you've already studied the signs, planets, houses, aspects, and transits but don't know how to put the pieces together, Astrology Chart Interpretation and Synthesis is for you. See details at: www.moonmavenpublications.com/correspondancecourse.html '