Pluto in Aquarius

Ahhh, Pluto in Aquarius…

I have been patiently awaiting this much anticipated transit.

On March 23, 2023, Pluto will enter Aquarius, saying goodbye to Capricorn (briefly) where it has been transiting since 2008! Pluto will then retrograde back into Capricorn on June 11, 2023 until January 21,2024. It will once again dip back into Capricorn in September 2024 and finally move into Aquarius on November 20, 2024, at which point it firmly remains in Aquarius until 2044!

Think of transits like weather patterns. The weatherman tells us a storm system is arriving with a cold front, swirling around our area for the next 5 days. What do we do when we know a storm is arriving? We prepare as much as we can, right? We make a trip to the grocery store to stock up on dry goods, canned items, etc. We check our batteries, and candles. We make sure we have enough gas in the car, or that our cars are fully charged. Despite all of the preparation, we can’t foresee all that will transpire. Weather patterns change as they approach dry land. The storm can swirl around and move further south or further north.

We, astrologers can see trends, but we cannot predict outcomes. That would interfere with Free Will. At best, we can see what lies ahead so we can prepare. So, I look for patterns. What happened the last time Pluto was in Capricorn or Pluto was in Aquarius? This is where it gets interesting. By observing the patterns of previous transits, we can glean some insight into what may happen this time around. But it’s only a hint.

Let’s dive in! As you can see, when the outermost planet, Pluto, transits a constellation, it doesn’t just arrive and stay there. In a way, it is fickle. Saying “Hello” and then jaunting back into the previous sign, only to return and stay for good when a certain amount of time passes. There is a sort of preparation period to these long transits.

Pluto is a small but mighty planet! At one point it was downgraded to a dwarf planet, but that didn’t work out so well. Downgrading it in name did not diminish its effect on us--never underestimate the power of Pluto.

Pluto was also known as Hades in Greek mythology--Lord of the Underworld. He represents death, destruction and ultimately transformation. Pluto paints our individual characters but primarily it shapes the identity of generations. It governs our own power and power we want to have over others. It can be obsessive and intense. And what can be more intense and powerful than sex? Yes, Pluto rules all forms of sex. Fundamentally, Pluto breaks us apart, removes, destroys and purges that which doesn’t serve us, ultimately rebuilding and transforming us. It is unlike Saturn which ensures we learn a difficult lesson. Pluto can actually kill us in the process of transforming us. That is how intense it can be.

Most social scientists may not realize when they name a generation, they are actually describing the characteristics of the entire generation, i.e. The Silent Generation (Pluto in Cancer), The Baby Boomers or The Me Generation (Pluto in Leo), Generation Jones (Pluto in Virgo—ever in service Virgo doesn’t even know it has its own place in the Stars), Generation X (Pluto in Libra), The Millennial Generation (Pluto in Scorpio), Gen Z (Pluto in Sagittarius) and finally Pluto in Capricorn, which Astrologers are beginning to call The Builder or Achiever Generation.

This is the power of Pluto! It shapes entire generations from the moment of birth to the coming of age, through the transformation of society.

It's one of the reasons Pluto is also associated with Earthquakes! Turmoil and upheaval ensue.

In 2008 Pluto entered Capricorn for the first time in 246 years. The previous transit through the sign of the Sea-Goat, occurred between 1762-1778 when the United States was then tethered to the British Empire as a set of 13 colonies. The Colonies declared their independence from Britain on July 4, 1776 in an effort to assert their own power (Pluto) independently (Aquarius) from the centuries old institution (Capricorn) of the British Crown.

I’ve been carefully observing this transit right from the start, since I was aware of what had transpired during the previous transit. As difficult as it was to watch, many things did not surprise me. I’m not suggesting that I was immune from these astrological events (I was not), but being aware allows for less of the shock factor.

Capricorn is the builder, the rule follower, chain of command sign, having rulership over all institutions and entities which possess an hierarchical structure, i.e. Big Business (Corporations), Government, The Church (doesn’t matter the religion), The Military, The Institutions of Learning, and The Construction Industry to name a few. Any entity which follows a means of “climbing up the ladder” to “achieve” success, accolades, promotions, etc. belongs to the realm of Capricorn.

Looking back to 2008, the moment Pluto entered Capricorn, we experienced the financial crisis almost “instantaneously”. Things had been unraveling for some time, but the brunt of the crumbling institutions occurred once Pluto made the first entry into Capricorn. Banks, government, the construction and real estate industries were all affected…and therefore individuals were as well. Pluto was destroying decades old institutions. No more Lehman Brothers or Chrysler. AIG, Goldman Sachs and GM barely survived, but only after help from the U.S. Government.

In 2010, the United Sates Congress approved a new way of providing Health Care to its citizens. An effort by government to exert power over the private sector—Pluto (Power) in Capricorn (Government) is perfectly exemplified in this situation.

In 2013, the Catholic Church was rocked when a new Pope was elected, not because the previous one had died, but the Church (Capricorn) was in tumult over the sex-abuse scandal (Pluto) and bringing in a new Pope was “damage control”.

By a small majority, in 2016, the people of England voted in favor of Brexit--meaning that the United Kingdom would split from the European Union. This is another example of will-power (Pluto) of the UK to become independent from a more powerful Government entity—The EU (Capricorn).

A few months later in 2016, one of the biggest upheavals in the United States occurred with the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President. This disruptive (Pluto) force was like a Bull in a China Shop. Love him or hate him, he played his part in transforming (Pluto) the institution of government (Capricorn), or least shining a light on it’s inadequacies...with a ripple effect in countries worldwide.

The Me Too social movement was founded in 2006, but we did not really hear about it until the transit of Pluto in Capricorn. Efforts to rectify many wrongs upon people in society saw the demise of Hollywood icons, like Harvey Weinstein in 2018. This almost took down and entire industry (Capricorn) who held power (Pluto) over both women and men through sexual means.

Educational institutions were not spared either as we watched the college admissions scandal, also referred to as the Varsity Blues Scandal in 2019. Many Ivy League and highly rated private universities in the United States became the subject of corruption relating to the admission decisions.

This later segued into the pandemic in 2020 through 2022 with what we now refer to as Zoom School. Parents and students around the country started questioning wether these institutions really were serving students as they were intended? Discussions of changing these institutions and how education is delivered has been an ongoing conversation for some time now.

So here we are, with Pluto in Capricorn in its final degree as we are about to enter Pluto in Aquarius. Two Bookends, one starting in 2008 and one in 2023 and 2024 which all relate to the demise, rebuilding and transformation of institutions.

If you have even just skimmed the headlines in the last 10 days, you are aware that banks are failing again and government is bailing them out. Silicon Valley Bank is being “bailed” out by the United States Federal Reserve and Credit Suisse is being saved by another institution, UBS.

And in true Pluto in Capricorn fashion, our precious Earth is grumbling with angst leading to the enormously tragic series of earthquakes in February and March 2023 in Turkey, Syria and now Pakistan.

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Enter Pluto in Aquarius! As I mentioned earlier, we will get a preview starting on March 23/24, 2023. The last time Pluto made its way through the sign of the Water Bearer, was between 1778-1797! Before we take a look back, I think it’s important to discuss the symbology of Aquarius-- pouring the water of life from its urn as the cosmic life-force, carrier of creative energy and knowledge, as well as purification through renewal. Although symbolized as the Water Bearer, Aquarius is actually an air sign (Gemini and Libra are the other two).

Aquarius represents the need for civilizations to reform and grow.

The structures of society will stagnate and decline if they’re not changed through vision, innovation and revolution.

In the physical world, Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, which rules electricity. As the higher octave of Mercury, Communications and thinking takes on a higher, ethereal quality. The Collective Consciousness becomes front and center. Oneness, Unity and Utopia are keywords often associated with the sign.

Aquarius had dominion over social organizations, non-profits, networking groups, and humanitarian endeavors. It is associated with inventors, scientists, those with progressive ideas--all with a strong need for independence

Aquarius rules rebels, revolutionaries, and original thinkers. Quirky, unique and mad genius are also "love words" for Aquarius. Friendly and outgoing with many acquaintances, but close friends are few (by choice). It is a fixed sign, so it is rooted in firm, pre-conceived ideas.

Aquarian professions include technical areas of television, radio, the internet, airline pilots, flight attendants, scientists, inventors, astrologers and anything related to Space--the Cosmos.

In the physical body, Aquarius rules the arteries and the circulation of blood. It is associated with the shins, calves, ankles and the nervous system.

Understanding Aquarius will help us to see where death, destruction, intensity, power and transformation will ultimately take place in our societies.

During the previous Pluto in Aquarius transit between 1778-1797, The American Revolutionary War (1785-1783) was fought, followed by the signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17,1787. The French Revolution took place between 1789-1799 and subsequently, the creation of the French Republic on was ratified on September 22,1792. The planet Uranus (modern ruler of Aquarius) was discovered by William Herschel on March 1, 1781. Thomas Paine wrote Rights of Man in 1791, while Immanuel Kant wrote the essay Perpetual Peace in 1795 during this period of the Age of Enlightenment, also known as the Age of Reason.

But we are in a completely different time now, so how do we look at the previous transit and apply it to the upcoming one? Is there a theme?

I can see rebellion amongst dissatisfied citizenry, a desire for independence, a connection to one another on a human level, unification, and a striving for a more peaceful society. There can be interest in furthering scientific and technological advancements, discoveries made in medicine and space flight.

We are catching glimpses of this already, so let me share with you my observations. What is different now that did not exist during the previous Pluto in Aquarius transit is flight, both with airplanes and space ships. We now have technology in the way of computers and the internet. We can communicate with one another over the "airwaves" (Aquarius) using our smart phones.

Information is almost instantaneously accessed via social media. But what is even more fascinating to me is what is occurring in advertising and pop culture. Aquarian themes are everywhere.

I started noticing this back in 2021 when Saturn was transiting Aquarius.

Here are a few examples:

Chanel advertising campaign Fall 2021, “Say it in the Stars”

And here from the Apple App store in Fall 2021, “4 Astrology Apps that Shine Bright” in their Stories.

Just recently in January of 2023, I received an email from the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants with the headline: “Let the Stars Spark Your Travel Dreams”

And just today, this email from Quest Laboratories with the headline: “Today’s Horoscope: you could know your blood type for just $10.

Gimmiks? Perhaps. But the casual reference to “the Stars”, Astrology, Horoscopes, etc in the advertising from luxury beauty brand, Chanel, to the suggested latest astrology apps from Apple, to choosing travel according to your zodiac sign from Kimpton and rounding out the effort to get your Blood type as the Horoscope of the day gives us an inkling as to what lays ahead.

Last Spring, I was approached by Redfin to write a short post for choosing plants according to your zodiac sign. I jumped in with glee as my first profession was/is design. If you haven’t had a chance to read the article yet, take a look here.

Astrology in Design? Absolutely. Here is an example of an article written 2 years ago and featured on Shutterstock

The last one of note is online marketplace, ETSY. I received this announcement not too long ago, indicating the rising popularity of astrology.

Astrology is an Aquarian concept and one you will start to not only see a lot more of, but I also see it gaining acceptance.

Tech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is another Aquarian concept, so I am watching this sector as well. Looking at just Elon Musk alone between SpaceX (here we have the reference to the Stars agin), Starlink (Connectivity through Satellites), Tesla (innovation in cars) and now Twitter (transformation of social media) will give us some clues as to trends.

Another event just occurred yesterday which aligns perfectly with the trend in AI, and this was the soft launch of Adobe’s new AI generator: “Today, Adobe introduced Firefly, a new family of creative generative AI models, first focused on the generation of images and text effects.”

I believe that we will continue to see advertising, technologies, advancements, and concepts related to Unity, the Collective Consciousness, and the striving of the betterment of humanity.

One of my favorite Aquarian phrases is "Find your tribe, love them hard". So I leave you with this as we embark on a very interesting time in our lives. With gratitude and appreciation to my "tribe" of readers and followers who appreciate astrology as much as I do. I love you ALL!