On April 18, 1977, US President Jimmy Carter addressed the nation to discuss the “energy crisis.” The US needed, he said, to “balance the demand for energy with rapidly decreasing resources” and this would “test the character of the American people.”

In this address, Carter stressed “strict conservation” which included the increased use of coal and use of renewable energy resources. He added that the US was “the most wasteful nation on earth” and we used “twice as much [oil] as other countries.” He linked this to our environmental problems stressing that “conservation” solved both problems at once.

During his short, four-year tenure in the White House, this Libra sun and Scorpio moon had Pluto-in-Libra transiting his sun and Uranus-in-Scorpio transiting his moon and Neptune-in-Sagittarius transiting his natal Jupiter. All outer planets were on Carter and he responded by asking society to change.

The US did change, but in the opposite direction of Carter’s imperative, although we did increase our use of coal.

Pluto is about transformation, destruction and power. For Carter, this transit did not imbue Carter with power. On the contrary, Pluto in Libra created three new commandments that ware etched in stone somewhere, maybe in the Rose Garden, for all future presidents Democrat and Republican:

Thou shalt not ask the American people to sacrifice EVER!
Thou shalt never say the word “Conservation” as President.
Thou shalt never tell the American people the truth if it’s not pleasant.

Optimism

In January 1981 as Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto were in Libra. Uranus was in Scorpio soon to move to Sagittarius and Neptune was in Sagittarius. Libra is an air sign and Sagittarius a fire sign.

Reagan promoted the opposite of conservation with reduced regulation to promote “trickle down” economics that gave the green light for business to ignore all environmental and energy concerns. And guess what – it worked! As we can see today, there was “trickle” but the real beneficiaries were what today are called the “one percent.”

Late astrologer Linda Goodman saw Sagittarius as the sign of the rose-colored glasses; for me, it’s Libra. Libra ruled by Venus seeks pleasure from both the world and others. It’s a sign that reflects off of others to define self.

Sagittarius in contrast is about experience, heightened experience and seeking to protect those whose experiences it shares. Sagittarius is optimistic but not known, generally, for being the top of the list when it comes to responsibility.

Libra and Sagittarius are optimistic but can hide behind that optimism to avoid harsh realties. That a Libra sun president told us that our lifestyle wasn’t sustainable means that he truly believed the situation was dire.

Beginning with Reagan, we chose avoid-reality optimism and the weapon of words to distract from our own actions. Words continue to be used to confuse rather than for true connection to choose our collective path.

“C” for Calamity

As the increase in natural disasters has risen, it has revealed the economic inequalities of our country. When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, the nation saw how those left behind to suffer were primarily African American.

Katrina also revealed insufficient focus on maintaining and improving infrastructure. Since Reagan there has been desire to privatize public goods which, as the word suggests, means that private goals have to be met for public good to transpire.

Katrina revealed much. But, as in 1977, we sent money and called it done. Back to normal.

“C” for Capricorn

Presidents since Carter – of both parties – have always said the economy is strong, regardless of its true nature. Then in 2008, Pluto entered Capricorn.

From the time of Pluto in Libra to Pluto in Capricorn, many other energies transpired, the major being Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn which produced both inspiration in the world of business and technology but also a spiritualization of it. Today, people are loyal to organizations including retain stores in a cult-like way.

Had we heeded Carter in 1977 to at least review our economist underpinnings we may have been in better shape in 2005 and 2008. While Carter’s ideas in his 19-minute speech may not have included the best or most innovative solutions, he at least told the truth – the American lifestyle is not sustainable.

In 2008, a time of more brand and message awareness than 1977, the economic setback was called a “recession” rather than “depression.” Since our nation is afflicted with emotional depression as well as economic depression, there was clear avoidance of that term.

The lesson of 2008 was brushed away relatively quickly; by 2012, the economy was “growing” again. All was well. Back to normal.

“C” for Conservation

The Coronavirus pandemic, which is still occurring, has sent people indoors. The close down of great portions of the economy is revealing how dependent the US is upon other nations for “stuff.” The economies of moving overseas are rational for a business. Business isn’t in the business of promoting the public good.

Hopefully when the pandemic subsides, there will be a new look at Carter’s plea for conservation. Preservation is a good friend of conservation so it may be a good time to take a deeper look at the US economy and find ways to make it more sustainable, and, hopefully, more diversified while conserving and preserving precious resources.

Pluto in Capricorn in 2008 said, “You need to build a new social structure.” We didn’t.

We can now. Pluto is in Capricorn until 2023 and will keep telling us this until we do it. With so much time on our hands, why not?