With an odd elliptical path around the Sun that takes 246 years, Pluto visits each sign for quite a few years, but how long varies by sign. It has spent 13 years in Sagittarius – since 1995. On January 25, it will take up residence in Capricorn for 16 years – until 2024.

During these years while Pluto has been in Sagittarius, we have had a look at the dark side of fanaticism, when rigid belief systems (on both sides) have lead to religious and cultural conflicts. We have seen disgrace in the Catholic Church over pedophile priests and a split in the Episcopal Church over openly gay bishops. Relentless optimism helped fueled the housing bubble and runaway credit.

Capricorn introduces a more grounded reality and now offers the opportunity to manifest the dreams that arose from Sagittarian hopes. In 2008, focusing your vision, taking action and manifesting it are possible.

After entering Capricorn, Pluto will retrograde back briefly into Sagittarius from June to November, for a last go at transforming outmoded belief systems and encouraging our aspirations.

What can we expect from Pluto in Capricorn?

Capricorn rules large institutions such as government, corporations, banks; buildings and infrastructure like bridges; and our drive to success on the one hand as well as our pessimism and fear of scarcity on the other.

The last time Pluto was in Capricorn it had not yet been discovered. Between 1762 and 1778, the American Revolution was powered by the drive to loose the controls of Mother England in favor of self-government. There was an economic and taxation reason for it. Previous to that, from 1516-33, Pluto in Capricorn powered Martin Luther’s bold moves against a corrupt Catholic Church and led to the Protestant Reformation.

There is a theme here of “revolution” and “reformation.” Reforming corrupt systems that no longer served the people was powered by the need to make evolutionary changes in government and in economics. Incidentally, neither England nor the Catholic Church ceased to exist during the previous transits of Pluto and neither will we.

We have 16 years for Pluto to do its work but during this time our government and other world governments will be reformed (anyone deny it is needed?), big business may descend in favor of entrepreneurship; banks (probably sooner than we think) will struggle and our monetary system (fiat currency without backing) may need to return the stability of being backed by precious metals; and who knows what other aspects of business and government could be transformed.

I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to the changes. There are many things I would like to see changed. I am focusing my conscious intention in envisioning the new government I want, the new way business will be done, the new economy and the new way we will work together to succeed.

Without getting too far ahead of the present, what is 2008 going to be like?

With Jupiter in Capricorn all year (until January 2009), expansion and opportunity figure prominently in 2008. Here are my suggestions for navigating the year ahead:

· Time to move in new directions that bring you closer to living your purpose. However, with Mars retrograde until January 30, Mercury retrograde from January 28 to February 18 and a set of eclipses in February, the best timing to move forward is not until late February or early March. Use the first couple months for strategic planning.

· Release resentments from the past or anything that might weigh you down. Take responsibility for your own emotions.

· Let go of the illusion of your powerlessness. You create your own reality so make responsibility use of your power.

· Detox your body, declutter your environment, downsize and simplify. This leaves you freer to serve by offering your gifts for the good of the whole.

· Don’t despair – prepare. Create your vision of desired outcome and take the steps you see that lead to manifesting them day-by-day.

· Consider who are your natural allies and reach out. Learn to collaborate to succeed.