Let’s talk about destruction and creation, burning towers, rock bottom, regeneration and using ashes as clay.
Pluto, our planet of profound change and ultimate reckoning, has set up shop in Aquarius, and the energy of the dwarf daddy of death’s transit will have a weighty effect on all of us.
Named for the maiden-snatching, shadow-dwelling god of the underworld, the small but mighty planet Pluto is associated with destruction, subversion, depth, intensity, primal urges, the taboo, the criminal, the subterranean, subconscious forces, underworld journeys and the dark and dangerous heart that beats below the veneer of civilization and the crust of the Earth itself.
Sunny stuff it ain’t.
Pluto in Aquarius dates
After a particularly tenuous tenure in the pay dirt/capitalist/patriarchal/greed is good sign of Capricorn, Pluto shifted into the professionally weird, utopian-leaning space cowboy climes of Aquarius in November of 2024, where the dark lord shall reign until 2044.
This once-in-a-generation shift is a pivotal power play in a saga that will unfold in the years and decades to come.
Applied astrology expert Tiffany Leonardo tells The Post that knowledge is our best defense against fear during this and all cosmic transits.
“Astrology consists of cycles within cycles. Being aware of these cycles helps us find our flow within them and minimizes resistance. Think of this concept as knowing the weather forecast for an upcoming trip. With this insight, you know what to pack and how to dress so you’re comfortable.”
How to pack for Pluto? With girded loins, gritted teeth and a brave heart, folks.
How long will Pluto be in Aquarius?
Pluto’s orbit is arduously long, with the planet changing signs once every twelve to thirty years.
Pluto’s residency in the ivory tower/alien vein of Aquarius will last two decades.
Leonardo shared that as an outer planet, Pluto influences the ideals and energy of an entire generation, and its impact amounts to a slow burn that singes the whole.
“Inner planets have a personal impact on an individual’s everyday life, while outer planets have more of an impact on a societal level,” she says. “Inner planets move quickly, so we can feel their impact in daily life. On the other hand, outer planets move very slowly, and we see their influence unfold over time.”
She notes that to understand where Pluto is taking us, it’s helpful to look back at where we’ve been.
“During Pluto’s time in Capricorn, we saw the rise of influencers and celebrities inviting us into their elite lives of luxury. If you know a Capricorn, you know they are all about being prominent leaders with status, and under the influence of this transit, society as a whole was able to find new paths toward success.”
“Today, it’s much easier to launch our businesses, carve out our career paths, or pursue a more independent work life than it was two decades ago. Reflecting on this societal change, it’s evident how crucial it is to grasp the cycles we are experiencing.”
What does Pluto in Aquarius mean?
Like a skin suit, Pluto takes on the thematic energy of the sign it moves through. In the future-focused, emotionally objective sign of Aquarius, Pluto’s slash-and-burn path will be interesting to behold.
Since Aquarius rules electricity and technology, we may see developments in renewable (a Plutonian theme) energy, and more people question how tech can benefit all rather than pad the pockets of a few.
With Pluto at the helm and Aquarius in the lead, there’s a fated, “Fight Club”-esque, new world-order energy to this transit.
Leonardo shared, “With Pluto now in Aquarius and the fresh start of 2025 upon us, this is a pivotal time to begin laying the foundation for the years ahead. Aquarius is about innovation, humanitarian efforts, community, eccentricity, and authenticity. If you haven’t felt it already, we’ll start to see a shift in society from “me” to “we.” Our perspective will shift toward: ‘How can we support those around us — and do so in community?’”
What happened the last time Pluto was in Aquarius?
The last time planet Pluto marched through Aquarius was 1778-1798, a span of years that saw the French, American, Haitian and Industrial Revolutions as well as the Age of Enlightenment, which, in proper Aquarian form, favored reason over reaction and abstraction over intimacy.
Inventions from this era include the hot air balloon, sewing machine, smallpox vaccine and parachute.
Pluto’s last cycle in Aquarius included the dismantling of social hierarchies, resistance to the powers that be, the revaluation of labor, violent responses to economic disparity, and the wild application of the imagination leading to technological breakthroughs.
These themes will no doubt resurface when Pluto returns to the visionary vapors of Aquarius.
What to expect
When it comes to Pluto, destruction is only wrought in the name of evolution, and often, the planet “tests” the mettle of its children to cast out what holds them back.
Rid us of the rot if you will.
Given a choice, few would want or opt for the kind of brutal reckoning and radical rebirth that Pluto is designed to deliver. Yet, in retrospect, and to paraphrase Mary Oliver, these boxes of darkness often become the gifts we need most.
“With Pluto’s slow pace, we’re playing the long game here. Prepare for some stretchiness along the way — this is how transformation happens. It’s all here to support us, offering a simple invitation: to be free and to be you,” said Leonardo.
Aquarius is ruled by sideways spinning, lightning wielding, structure upending Uranus, the punk rock planet of progress. In-kind, and as Leonardo explains, “This Pluto in Aquarius cycle invites us to break the rules of the old regime, move away from tradition, and expand our minds. It asks us to notice the constraints we place on ourselves that block the expression of our most authentic selves.”
As Aquarius rules the eleventh house of friends, community and collective consciousness, this transit is also a summons to lean deep, true and altruistically into our communities, “It’s a reminder that there’s power in numbers. As Pluto represents transformation, we’ll continue to see an amplification of everyday voices and a shift in power.”
To see how this reckoning will rock you on a personal level, look to the house in your birth chart ruled by Aquarius. If you have your birth date, time, and location, you can calculate your chart using a generator like this.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture, and personal experience. To book a reading, visit her website.
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