Neptune-Pluto approaching conjunction in Hitler's chart
Neptune-Pluto in Hitler's 8th house in early Gemini is an unusual chart pattern (thank heavens) which I will attempt to address. Since I am a "modern" astrologer and use the outer planets, this chart pattern falls to me to address. Others may choose to enter their views.
BACKGROUND
Neptune-Pluto cycles last about 500 years and coincide with important shifts in western (Greek origin) culture. This conjunction (allowing a 15 degree orb for mundane usage) occurred around 500-565 BC, 85-82 BC, 410-413 AD, 904-906, 1397-1400, and 1880-1905.
These periods, in broad terms, resulted in turmoil and severe transformations that seemed to cleanse some aspects of cultural thought and bring in newer visions to be experienced. We might choose to see this simplistic observation as representing wars and other collapses of cultural stability due to strange visions and ideologies (a negative interpretation) followed by a total rebuilding and adoption of new visions and institutions to serve those consensus ideals (a positive interpretation).
HITLER's CHART
Neptune is 4 degrees from conjoining Pluto, and is located in Hitler's 8th house. This chart is placed in the year of 1885 ---- we should keep this in mind. By the turn of the century, Neptune was alread 10 or more degrees ahead of Pluto and separating. Major aspects to this pair seem to be few and far between (except to the MC angle). However, this pair (with a midpoint of 2 Gemini) is semi-square (45 degrees) to Saturn in the 10th and sesqiquadrate (135 degrees) Uranus in the 12th. Neptune is semi-sextile (30 degrees) to the Sun near the Descendant angle. Let us look at each of these patterns.
** Neptune-Pluto, Gemini and 8th house: Hitler has a sense of fundamental social change that is occurring in Europe as he grows and develops. As a young student, this was expressed in terms of bizzar and striking artwork that could be seen as disturbing and visionary. As he became more socially aware, he saw Germany's political changes, maneuvering of political players and their disruptive impact on Germany's relations with its neighbors, the putting in place of restrictions upon the country in terms of its ambitions and armaments to support those ambitions, and the disruptive internal politics and government upheavals.
Hitler participated in some of that disbruptive internal maneuvering and came out on the short end of the stick, being imprisoned for his views and actions. Rebellion to gain control, helping to disrupt the political structure of his country, following someone's elses vision which he felt he shared. While in jail he formulated his own vision and wrote a book about it.
As Germany moved through the early 1930's Neptune formed an opening semi-square to Pluto (from Cancer, 9th house to Virgo, 10th house). This opening phase (of eight phases) denotes a time of struggle to be free of the past, to form a new identity. Hitler's 8th house fits with my interpretation of the 8th being a house of unequal sharing. Rather than experiencing his 8th house planets as if he was manipulated by society, he chose to to be the manipulator of others. It will be necessary for someone to evaluate other patterns in his chart that support this statement!
Identifying with the changing Pluto-Neptune cycle, in the 9th & 10th houses, Hitler sought to impose (Pluto) his vision (Neptune) by rearranging his country's understanding of how to deal with "others" (9th house) (countries and internal ethnic groups) to accomplish (10th house) his vision through deceit and propaganda and outlandish misrepresentations (Neptune). Most of the decade prior to World War II resulted in reshaping politics, cultural expectations, using ethnic groups to depress while building up the primary German population by contrast, all to whip up excitement and support for his control of the country.
** Saturn in Leo, in the 10th. For mundane astrology, Saturn in Leo seems not to be a great place. On an individual level, Saturn in Leo suggests one who hesitates to express feelings, but seeks to control emotions. Nature is one outlet that helps self-expression (Hitler often went to his Austrian mountains to get away from pressures). One wants to be the center of attention, especially in controlled or staged situations. On a larger scale we can look back and take note of the alteration between public performances and speeches contrasted to private doubts, rants and excessive tensions and re-planning. He crafted public bigger-then-life events to reflect his sought-after importance.
** Uranus in Libra, on a personal level, focuses upon innovation in relationships, changes in relationships. On a national level this can be related to constant changes in his staff, in his policies, in his war plans, in his trust of others. Much of this was hidden from the public and his country's enemies, but that was not a total success. Uranus in the 12th house points to a focus on psychology, mystical and spiritual topics. Hitler used these factors as part of his total tool box of warring against others ---- personal, political, military, national population.
IN SUMMARY
Concerning just this Pluto-Neptune pattern, we can see how the above mentioned views seem to fit with what we casually know and/or remember about this man, this period in history. All of this will be subject to astrological adjustment as other chart patterns are explored, and subject to historical question by those who do any historical review on Wikipedia or other sources. Corrections or contradiction should be noted. Do not take my views as being the correct or only views.
I hope this gets our discussions underway. Dave
I've read really awesome analysis of his chart, but in my language...