Ken Allen was a Bornean orangutan who lived at the San Diego Zoo from the 1970s through the 1990s. Ken’s enclosure had been designed to be escape-proof: high walls, smooth surfaces, no obvious handholds. Yet on June 13, 1985, with the Sun and Mercury in nimble Gemini, zookeepers arrived to find Ken casually strolling through the grounds, exploring and greeting people. The keepers returned him to his enclosure. Two weeks later, he escaped again. They began watching him constantly, but he was too clever for them. He only escaped when no one was looking. The zoo brought in rock climbers to search for possible escape routes. They found nothing. Yet Ken kept getting out. During his escapes, he was well-behaved (except for throwing rocks at one ape he disliked). Visitors loved him. People flocked to see him and sympathized with his plight, buying T-shirts that said, “Free Ken Allen.” (His name honored zookeeper Ken Willingham and security officer Ben Allen, who had intervened when his mother neglected him).
Orangutans are brilliant problem-solvers with remarkable memories – but Ken was in a class by himself. Determined to fix their embarrassing security issue, zookeepers dressed as tourists and spent hours watching Ken from the crowd. One day, when he thought no one was looking, he began piling up branches in a corner, using them as a ladder to reach a ledge. Then he shimmied up a wall and swung himself over to freedom. Eventually, after multiple renovations and constant vigilance, the zoo managed to create an enclosure that Ken couldn’t escape. But that just left him moping in despair. So, they enriched his environment with puzzles, activities and more social interaction. But he was never free again.
Ken Allen, born Feb. 13, 1971, was a world-class escape artist with Sun and Mercury in far-sighted, brilliant Aquarius, supported by Mars, Jupiter and Neptune in fiery, don’t-fence-me-in Sagittarius. Sadly, he died at age 29 from lymphoma. But his antics, which made him world-famous, helped raise awareness about the needs of such intelligent creatures. Today, zoos design orangutan habitats with Ken Allen’s legacy in mind. He wasn’t just an escape artist: He was a reformer who helped others of his kind.
There may be a few rough spots ahead this week, with Mars squaring Pluto on Monday the 25th (pressure, power struggles), and Venus squaring Saturn on Thursday the 28th (relationship issues, melancholy). So, we’ll likely appreciate the burst of freedom at the Sagittarius Full Moon (May 31, 1:45 a.m. PT). Now we get to have an adventure, explore an unfamiliar place, delve into an exciting field of study or meet new people, as Ken Allen loved to do. As the Moon at nine degrees of fiery Sagittarius opposes the Sun and Uranus in airy Gemini, there’s a restless, chaotic vibe in the air. Surprises, breakthroughs or breakdowns can occur. Mercury at the tail end of Gemini makes us itch to break free of restrictions. And the powerful, no-nonsense Mars-Pluto square will still be in orb. Thankfully, Saturn in Aries forms a supportive trine to the Sun and Moon, offering some boundaries to bolster our well-being.
So, adventures are beckoning! A word to the wise, however: Don’t quit your job or marriage just because you’re feeling restless. Think things through and map out your next move before taking a huge leap you may regret. Also, Jupiter rules this lunation, and it’s still happily ensconced in watery Cancer. Check in with your deeper feelings and needs before acting. Perhaps consult a family member if you’re tempted to make a rash move. Mars is slowly, stubbornly making his way forward in earthy Taurus, reminding us to take our time and enjoy our bodily senses, especially through spending restorative time in nature.
Uranus in Gemini is again in the spotlight, as it was near the May 16 New Moon in late Taurus. Shortly thereafter, as the Moon, Mercury and Uranus converged in Gemini, we heard the horrifying news of the hate-driven shootings at an Islamic center here in San Diego. It can be deeply unsettling when something like that happens so close to your home. Many of us have been feeling emotional and on edge, wishing we could better protect our neighbors. Uranus often triggers the unexpected, and we never know what that’s going to look like. For this Full Moon, I pray it brings breakthroughs and thrilling escapes, like Ken Allen enjoyed for so long. Keep your eyes and ears open and stay safe. I wish you many blessings!