Astrologers take Pluto's demotion in their stride

TORONTO - Scientists may have demoted Pluto to the rank of a "dwarf planet" last week but astrologers foretell no major changes in the way they read the heavens because of the move.

Russell Grant, a British astrologer and author, said Pluto's planetary demotion was not a surprise after years of discussion and he would not change the charts he uses for his clients.

"I personally am shaken, not stirred," Grant said. "It's very interesting that Pluto's been downgraded in a planetary sense because he could never be downgraded in a mythological sense.

"I will continue to use Pluto because he gives me the ability to look into people's charts and see where they're coming from psychologically."

Grant said astrologers had long used non-planets, such as Earth's moon. He also charts several asteroids in our solar system which are much smaller than planets.

"Astronomers have had several cases in the past where they've made changes in the objects used by astrologers," said Lee Lehman, academic dean of Kepler College in Seattle. He said it took several decades for astrologers to reach a consensus on Pluto's relevance after its discovery in 1930.

One reason astronomers unseated Pluto was that technological advances made them aware it was actually smaller than a body discovered in 2003, and nicknamed Xena, after the television show's warrior princess.

Grant said Xena had limited use as its position meant it would currently only affect people whose sun signs were in Pisces and Aries, just two of 12 constellations in the zodiac.

- REUTERS