The grade of Uranus and Pluto Radical Enlightenment and the Realm of Shadows
Bouguereau, "La Nuit"
Psyche’s final task is to descend into the underworld and fetch a box of beauty from the Queen of the Dead. The grade of Uranus and Pluto provides an in-depth look at how two of the outer, or transpersonal planets, function in the natal chart. Though Psyche is successful in her quest, at the end of this task she succumbs to one of her personal demons, which may be interpreted variously as vanity, greed, or insecurity.
Psyche thinks that Aphrodite has written her death warrant with this task, and so decides to jump off a high tower. But all of a sudden the tower speaks to her, and gives her detailed instructions on how to survive her underworld journey. The most important admonition the tower makes to Psyche is not to be moved by pity for all the dead souls she will encounter in the underworld. Pity is expressly forbidden to her. The tower’s advice is Uranian, in that Psyche must go against her natural feelings to accomplish her goal. Sometimes the Great Work demands that we consider ourselves before the needs of society, and act alone. Uranus also represents, paradoxically, a point in the natal chart where we may be swept up in a social movement that seeks to transform the social order. The progress and evolution of our species is symbolized in this myth by the tower, a product of human intelligence.
Psyche has longed for the release of death so consistently that she appears to take her underworld journey in stride. Only after she has returned to the earth’s surface and glimpsed the sun’s light does she give in to the temptation to peep inside Persephone’s box of beauty. This attraction to the forbidden puts her into a deathlike coma, “a sleep truly Stygian.” Pluto is the force of death and other dark forces in the natal chart. Just as Psyche is drawn back into darkness at the moment she finishes her goal, Pluto shows us where we are susceptible to “re-wounding” ourselves in our hurt places.
Bouguereau, "Pandora"
The individual grade of Uranus and Pluto is recommended to clients who feel caught up in epic forces beyond their control. The transits of Uranus and Pluto to the natal chart make us consider both the power of fate and our larger relationship to the human family. These planets also indicate where we may experience liberation from social conditioning (Uranus) and our deepest wounds (Pluto). This grade is also suggested to clients who are actively involved in social movements and the healing arts.
$60 for the individual grade, or $275 for the complete series of all five grades