I was talking to a friend of mine earlier about the recent crisis in Japan and she was saying that it must be especially difficult for Japan to recover from this partly because they're still recovering from the collective psychological wound of the atom bomb drops on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which in the big scheme of things did not happen so long ago. And psychological woundedness is a strong influence on the very nature of Japan, as can be seen by Pluto's prominence there on the ascendant of the country's radical chart.

    Neptune is also highlighted in the chart, at 29 Taurus, it also is near to the Japan ascendant, just out of orb of conjunction. Neptune received a sextile from transiting Uranus when it was at the tail-end of Pluto, and so the country should still be feeling the waning effects of that transit. Revolutionary Uranus in aspect to compassionate Neptune? And now Uranus moves toward a sextile with powerfully, psychologically transformative Pluto? Uranus is in the process of shaking up Japan, literally and spiritually. Seen as an opportunity for collective spiritual growth, a Uranus sextile to Pluto/Ascendant should give an ability for a revolutionary new national identity for Japan. Though Uranus is sudden and unexpected change, the aftermath of a Uranus transit (as with any outer planet) will take a long time to manifest. I do think Pluto's influence on the ascendant bodes well for outside sources of money to help in the rebuilding/healing process, so that's good.
    An upcoming transit that should also be noted is the conjunction Pluto will make to Japan's south node when it reaches 20 degrees Capricorn. This will take place in Japan's 8th house, where Pluto is already currently transiting. Working with Plutonic healing is part and parcel of Japan's collective healing process, and the country is getting a lot of emphasis to focus on that healing work right now. Pluto shows us where our cycles of abuse are, and part of Japan's history of abuse has to do with the atom bombs. Any person or country who has experienced abuse can either choose to become psychologically aware of that abuse so that they can rise above it (end the cycle), and Japan must do the same in coming to terms with this nuclear crisis. Pluto shows us how we've chosen to hang on to victim identity, to self-mutilate, to accept abuse, to be abusers. Pluto's transit to the south node coming up in several years will continue to bring those issues to light. And all of us will benefit from that country's Plutonic process.
    Though this moment is devastating and scary, we are being given the opportunity to choose healing. How will we heal our reliance on unhealthy energy?