The Interfering Influence of Experience – Part 10 – On The Generations
In the permanent symphony of time there are occasions when a discordant note is played. Then begins an unexpected movement, a change of key, or an arrangement that seems to follow a different scale. Just such a moment occurred in the late Summer of 1962 and among its many effects one that is of the most consequence is on the imprinted experience of the people born under that moment. This is the story of Generation X – the interfering generation that emerged out of the halves of two neighboring ones – leaving them both truncated while imbuing Generation X itself with a truly unique signature among the cohorts alive today. Who are they, exactly? And what is their fucking problem?
To answer that let’s explore their ways of thinking, aesthetics, and values. These are determined by their generational placements:
Generation X officially begins on August 10, 1962 and the last of them were born on September 7, 1975. This period features two distinct halves which otherwise might not be understood to be a “generation” at all, owing to the different zodiacal placements of the key planets. Typically a generation is brought together by shared values and aesthetics but what unites Gen X is a common experience, produced by the continuing co-presence of Pluto and Uranus. What this tells us is that the differentiating factor in this cohort is that their values and aesthetics are less important to them than their shared experience is. This is unique in our time and will change how we explore who they are. It remains true that:
Uranus tells us how these people think
Neptune tells us about their aesthetics
Pluto tells us what they value
… but in the case of Generation X it is the intricately connected values and thinking which matter. The early part of the generation finds Uranus and Pluto both in Virgo, with Neptune in Scorpio (a continuation of the Generation Jones aesthetic sense). The later part of the generation finds Uranus and Pluto both in Libra, with Neptune in Sagittarius (an aesthetic that continues through the following generation). Remember that Gen X is a full 14-year generation but it sits between two truncated 7-year generations:
How then do these two disparate halves end up sharing generational characteristics that unite them as a real and observable cohort? The answer to that is in the sequence of experience which they share. (You may wish to review Part 3 which covers this in depth). It is because Pluto and Uranus are in the same signs – co-present – that these people will always experience them together. Whenever the Pluto note is played in the sequence of events in their life the Uranus note is playing concurrently. To illustrate this, below are the sequences for each half of Generation X:
The visual representation helps to underscore that similarity. Both groups experience an initial Pluto-Uranus note, followed by a pause, with a finishing Neptune note. Herein lies the common experience which unites Generation X – the difference is that the sequence shifts ahead by one zodiacal sign but the pattern is otherwise intact. When these individuals encounter life events they live a common pattern and for these people there is agreement about how life goes. They are people with different ways of thinking as is standard for generational halves, but both share aesthetic and value sensibilities with their neighboring generations instead of with each other. The first half of Generation X (Gen X1) has the same aesthetic and value sensibility as Generation Jones while the second half of Generation X (Gen X2) shares aesthetics and values with the following generation. By now you should be seeing the essence of the problem.
The solution to that problem is to understand the co-presence of Pluto and Uranus. These are the planets which imbue the people born under them with their sense of values and their way of thinking, but they are inconveniently intermingled with each other. This tells us that these people will value their way of thinking and will think through the lens of their values. Taken further we can say that Generation X will have values and ways of thinking which reinforce each other. To them, these two things are intricately linked and they will not have an easy time understanding the separation of these two concepts in the other generations that surround them. Gen X1 – those with Pluto in Virgo – will share the values of Generation Jones in that both want things to be done correctly, purely, and with details considered. They will both want things to be honest and purely motivated and that is what is most important to both of them. The difference is that Uranus has joined Pluto in Virgo when Generation X comes along and Uranus is the disruptor. For Generation X this means that these values are unattainable.
Gen X1 has Uranus in Virgo, the mutable Earth sign ruled by Mercury. Uranus here disrupts and alters the substantial details and creates great uncertainty in the way of thinking. These people will be very skeptical and inquisitive as a result. They will always be questioning if something is real and will view this concept as something which can be altered by circumstances and events. The intertwining of this with their Pluto-derived values undermines those values. Whatever it is that they value is disrupted and as a result they will come to value disruption because it is what comes naturally to them. Further, they come to view their disruptive way of thinking as pure, correct, and honest. This combination produces a cohort that does not get what it values because it doesn’t recognize it when it comes.
Gen X2 has Uranus in Libra, the cardinal Air sign ruled by Venus. Libra is concerned with balance, justice, and appearances and Uranus is of course interested in disruption. The cardinal orientation of Libra makes Uranus more active here and will produce an extremely open-minded cohort willing to question everything about what is beautiful, worthwhile, and balanced. This is a decidedly difficult placement because the essence of Uranus to disrupt is in direct contradiction to Libra’s tendency toward balance. The result is we will find an unbalanced manner of thinking. On the positive side this is an air sign so one result of the imbalance will be to identify unexpected ways of finding balance. Pluto is also present here, creating a very strong draw toward and appreciation for balance itself. Again, the actions of Uranus and Pluto are working at cross-purposes and it is the way of thinking which definitionally precludes the attainment of the most cherished values. This combination produces a cohort that does not get what it values because it doesn’t think it wants to.
In both groups we see that they do not get what they want because that is circumstantially impossible. Instead they come to value what they do receive because it is consistent with how they think things should be anyway. What a circumstance this is! I think we have found their fucking problem!
Generation X has a fundamental problem with their values being disrupted by their own way of thinking while having a way of thinking that is entirely rooted in those same values. In this way they are unlike the other generations of our times and they may be better understood as a correction to Generation Jones and as a table-setter for the generation to follow. To explore this further let’s take a look at Neptune, the bringer of the aesthetic.
In Gen X1 we find Neptune still in Scorpio, where it has been during the bulk of Generation Jones. This leads to an edgy, authentic, and confrontational aesthetic that above all seeks express depth.
In Gen X2 we find Neptune in Sagittarius, where it will be for the entirety of the generation to come. This leads to an adventurous, driven, and innovative aesthetic that seeks to affirm.
In the first case we have a continuation of the Generation Jones aesthetic and value system. For both, there is a strong inclination to understand everything and express that as a value. They want to look at things realistically with the eyes of a child and identify it, explore every facet of it, and express it aesthetically in a very realistic way. For Generation Jones, this can be accomplished but for Gen X1 this is approached but is then immediately dismissed.
In the second case we have an extreme value for justice, balance, and beauty along with an ability to innovate ways to express this aesthetically. In Gen X2 this will be approached but soon falters. In the generation that follows, this will be accomplished.
Generation X is unlike other generations because they are united by the common expectation that life events will override their thoughts and values in any given matter and they are this way because, for them, it is true. As a result they see themselves as outliers, adventurers and above all, survivors. As is the case with all generations they will see these ways of being as normal, and if you understand what is normal for them you will have greater success communicating with them. When interacting with a person of Generation X these are the key things to do for best results:
Pluto/Uranus in Virgo – acknowledge their insight, wisdom and experience
Be kind to them because they have overlooked their opportunity
Pluto/Uranus in Libra – acknowledge their journey, effort, and righteousness
Be kind to them because they have tripped over their own feet
As with all generations, on an individual basis outcomes in these areas will be modified by personal planets and the dignity of the ruling planet of the sign. All born under this generational configuration will possess these traits but they may be expressed more positively, negatively, grandly or slightly, depending on the personal chart. We’ll discuss how that works later in this series but the foundational placements as presented here will always be present in those born under this configuration.
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