Shadow Work for Pluto in Aquarius
On November 19th, just 12 days from the writing of this post, we will experience one of the most important astrological shifts of 2024, and one of the biggest shifts in the past decade and a half, as Pluto leaves Capricorn for the final time in our lifetime, and enters Aquarius for the next two decades.
Any time Pluto changes signs it’s a big deal. As the outermost planet in our solar system, Pluto is a slow moving dude, changing signs the least often out of any of the heavenly bodies in Astrology. Pluto can spend anywhere from 13-21 years in a sign, thanks to its orbit being more of an elliptical or oval shape, giving it a unique pattern and setting it apart from the rest of the planets who tend to have a pretty fixed timeframe. Because it takes Pluto 248 years to orbit the Sun, each Pluto transit we experience is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Thus, there is a finality to Pluto that we don’t experience with any other planet - though Neptune is a close second.
It’s difficult to overstate the meaning of Pluto’s ingress into Aquarius. There isn’t a single person alive right now on planet Earth that will live to see Pluto enter Capricorn again. In fact, it will take several generations from now before anyone will be alive to see that transit once more. Whatever journey is ending for you in just a handful of days is ending for good.
As an outer planet, Pluto falls into the domain of Modern Astrology, and is most prominent in Evolutionary Astrology. This mysterious planet represents the ideals of power and control, destruction and creation, cycles of death and rebirth, deep healing, compelling spiritual gifts, sex, shadow work, and, ultimately, transformation. Pluto is our own personal Underworld. However, when we confront transiting Pluto, this is where we begin to see the influence of the Plutonian journey on a collective level, not just an individual one. Pluto drags up whatever needs to be addressed by society as a whole, and we are forced to grapple with the consequences and subsequent transformation of a culture.
So, what does this mean for Pluto in Aquarius? In order to begin to understand what’s headed our way, we first need to take a look back at where we’ve been.
Pluto first entered Capricorn back in 2008, meaning that we, as a collective, have spent roughly the past sixteen years enduring the Plutonian journey wherever Capricorn rules in our individual charts, as well as embarking upon this journey on a larger, societal scale. Over the past decade and a half we’ve had to confront such themes as corruption, money and capitalism, the government and the powers that be, the patriarchy, tradition, infrastructure, material stability and sustainability, and the like.
Capricorns have a tendency to be buttoned-up; they like to abide by the rules of society and doing whatever it is they’re “supposed to be” doing according to these norms and structures. Aquarius, on the other hand, lives to break such rules. As both of these signs are traditionally ruled by Saturn, they are both concerned with societal structures and foundations. However, where Capricorn seeks to establish these structures of power, Aquarius shows up to dismantle any outdated or corrupt ones, and replace them with something that is more equal, accessible, and supportive for all peoples. Aquarius is the sign of community, and strives, above all else, to implement systems that serve everyone regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, sexuality, race, religion, or creed. Aquarius is truly the sign of the everyman.
Aquarius is also the sign of the future! Its modern day ruler is Uranus, the planet of sweeping, revolutionary change, that shows up and gives everything a total overhaul without warning. Which perhaps explains its avant-garde nature that thrives on innovation and pushing the envelope. Aquarius is the sign that advances the conversation of humanity forward, which is why it also presides over cutting edge arenas like technology and science. This sign is where we see the geniuses throughout history who possessed visions that at the time may have been deemed insane, or at least were deeply misunderstood initially, but ended up changing things for society as a whole. In our individual charts, the house ruled by Aquarius is the area in our lives where we, too, are just a little bit different from the crowd, and possess the gift of the vision for the future. This is where we live on the cutting edge of things and may be ahead of the times. You can expect to see the rise of such geniuses, as well as the demise of those who may be more corrupt than we first realized.
With Pluto’s ingress into the sign of the Water Bearer on November 19th, we will begin to shift towards these Aquarian themes both individually and collectively. You can expect to see things such as cryptocurrency coming forward once again - a truly perfect example of the rebellious spirit of Aquarius who desires freedom above all else. Cryptocurrency, too, takes on this rebellious spirit as an alternative means of money that is completely decentralized and challenges long-standing establishments such as the FDIC. This arena is especially poignant when you consider that the ultra-rich have a tendency to use it as a financial playground, as well, where Aquarius strives more towards the everyman. This dichotomy is a strong example of the Shadow Work that Pluto will bring forward on a collective level: as we move deeper and deeper towards dismantling systems that keep the ultra-rich, well, ultra rich, we will be forced to reckon with how they may insert themselves in things that were originally meant more for the rest of us, to level the playing field.
Beyond that, technology will certainly continue to play an integral role in our lives. Things on the tip of the spearhead of technology, such as A.I., will become a big conversation piece, as well. We are already seeing the rise of A.I. into the mainstream via things like filters that have gone viral across social media platforms such as Instagram or TikTok - yet another Aquarian domain - that have later turned out to be problematic when it is revealed that the art used in the programs are directly ripped off from artists who are neither given credit, nor paid. We can expect to see conversations surrounding the ethics of A.I. and similar technologies take center stage as Pluto forces us to reckon with questions such as, what happens when these resources fall into the wrong hands? Similarly, we will begin to explore just how A.I. and technology as a whole can be accessible to more and more groups of people, as well as science. How can we harness the power of science and technology to serve the greater good? Since Pluto loves to deal in extremes there will no doubt be a push away from technology as well, as we are forced to grapple with how things like social media have taken over our lives, and not always for the better.
We may also see shifts towards alternative ways of living. Here in the United States many believe we are in the late stages of capitalism - which tracks pretty hard with the later degrees of Capricorn - and then begs the question: what comes after? Certainly, the Plutonian journey through Aquarius will bring forward a desire not only for greater equality, but for greater sustainability, as well. We are already seeing trends like this in fashion as people largely move away from luxury items and have started to demand more sustainable practices from fashion houses. Many people are now rejecting the celebrity culture of only wearing an outfit once, and then never wearing it again, and are into renting items, buying second hand, and repurposing clothing via thrifting, upcycling, etc. All very Aquarian.
As I’m sure many of you have seen online already, plenty of people think Pluto in Aquarius will trigger a revolution of sorts here in the United States, that there will be a returning of the power to the people, indeed both the American and French revolutions coincide with the last time Pluto was in Aquarius. And while I am inclined to agree and share this same hope, I think it’s imperative that we consider the possibility of an anti-revolution of sorts: that the revolution may in fact happen, but not in the way we think it will.
An inevitability of Pluto transits is that we first have to deal with the shadow and destruction before we get to experience the empowerment, healing, and creative potential of this planet. The results of this week’s election are a perfect example of this. Aquarius represents the counter-culture, the disenfranchised, the alienated. A harsh reality of the sociopolitical climate in the United States is that rural America by in large has felt ignored, pushed to the wayside, and so on. As has a specific group of men who self-identify as incels. Right or wrong. In a world that has become increasingly more connected, and pushes further and harder for equal rights, justice, and better systems, we are now seeing the rise of the response to these movements via nationalism, fascism, white supremacy, and the alt-right. It is, in fact, the alt-right that is counter culture in America, and the MAGA of it all is an undeniable wave of revolution that we are swimming in right now. As we move into the age of Pluto in Aquarius, we are immediately being presented with a deep, dark growth that needs to be pulled out at the root.
Let me be clear: I am in no way trying to plant seeds of fear. However, I think it’s important to talk about the reality of Pluto transits. They are intense. They are hard. They push us towards our breaking point so that we will take action to bring about something new. I do not truly know what will transpire over the next twenty years. Nobody does. But it’s important to consider as many possibilities as we can, and whether we like it or not, this is the current reality of our country. Keep in mind that because Pluto is the slowest moving planet, these Plutonian processes play out slowly, over a long period of time. The moment that Pluto enters Aquarius doesn’t mean that long-standing systems get overthrown. But it does mean that the work we’re going to do over the next two decades begins.
Remember that Pluto demands unadulterated honesty. If we cannot be honest about what is happening in our country and around the world, we cannot change it.
If you are interested in learning more about what is on the horizon for the next two decades with Pluto in Aquarius, I am teaching a two hour class all about Pluto this Saturday, November 9th, from 1-3pm MST via Zoom. You can sign up all the way up until the class begins. Grab your ticket here.
Beyond the collective implications of this ingress, in our own charts it will be important to look at which house is ruled by Aquarius, as we will all begin a new Plutonian journey in our own lives, too.
Keep in mind that even though this is Pluto entering Aquarius for real, we’ve already had an introduction to this transit twice. The first time was back in 2023, from March 23-June 10, and the second time was earlier this year from January 19-September 1. Whatever has transpired in the first two degrees of Aquarius will re-emerge for us, both individually and collectively, for further review, understanding, and integration. Again, you can expect to see this play out in your own lives, the lives of those around you, and on a national and international scale.
All of this is to say that Pluto’s ingress into the Water Bearer is a brand new, twenty-year-long chapter. While us astrologers can speculate and make our best educated guesses on what will transpire, there’s no way to actually, truly know. However, when it comes to unraveling the meaning of Pluto in Aquarius in your own life, the key is to find the house in your chart that contains Aquarius. This is where the focus of great change and potent transformation is coming next. The themes of that respective house will come forward and play an important role, too. As will any planets or placements you may have in the sign of the Water Bearer. Welcome to the real Age of Aquarius.