How to Embrace the Most Intense Planet in Astrology

How to Embrace the Most Intense Planet in Astrology

It’s a fact: Every astrologer has a favorite planet they hold near and dear to their hearts. I personally adore Pluto—and so should you! (Sorry, NASA, Pluto is still a planet in astrology, whatever you say!)

Pluto Retrograde resides on my Libra ascendent in my natal chart and has taught me many lessons in my 30-plus years. First off, I’ve become more tolerant of other people’s views and opinions, which, um, isn’t always easy. I’ve also come to embrace the hidden depths of my personality, like my unwavering loyalty to others, confidence, and brutal honesty. TL;DR: I’ve learned to embrace all my emotions—the good, the bad, the ugly—and to commit my life to personal growth. Not too shabby for a lil teeny planet, amirite??

What does Pluto represent in astrology?

When we look at our charts and cosmic transits, the dwarf planet Pluto represents transformation. While Pluto may be small in size (it’s approximately half the width of the whole United States *the more you know*), it packs a bigger punch than most other planets in astrology. It moves slowly, taking a whopping 12 to 30 years to move through just one sign and 248 years to move through the whole zodiac.

Pluto’s energy is extremely potent and powerful. The bb planet represents the underbelly of emotions, what lies beneath the surface, and the subconscious mind. All the parts of ourselves that we do not share freely with the outside world. (Casual.) It destroys weak foundations, only to rebuild stronger and more resilient than before. (Again, totes chill.) Pluto is also the natural investigator and BS detector of the zodiac—it’s hard to get anything past this intense planet. In a word: intense.

On a deeper psychological level, Pluto is the master of transformation. It's always evolving. The lil bb planet is also, um, kinky. Like, Fifty Shades–level kinky. Pluto is sexually explorative and finds great pleasure in pain, bordering on masochistic. (It’s no surprise that it’s the ruling planet of Scorpio!) The reasoning is that Pluto loves to explore and honor edgier sentiments within. Pluto urges us all to normalize fetishes and fully embrace this side of ourselves. Why? Because Pluto wants us all to live our truth, not hide.

Pluto as a generational planet

Because of its slow movement through the zodiac, Pluto is sometimes called a generational planet—meaning that most millennials have the same Pluto sign. For example, people born between 1983 and 1995 are sometimes even called the “Pluto in Scorpio generation.” Unlike, say, Mercury’s movements, which have a strong effect on the details of your day-to-day life (hey, Mercury Retrograde), Pluto’s movements are more about the bigger picture—think missing your train versus, um, a worldwide pandemic (yeah, some astrologers said the Saturn-Pluto conjunction back in January 2020 was a sign that something world-changing was coming soon).

On a bad day, Pluto can bring out power struggles with others and triangular relationships. (PSA: Love triangles do not necessarily mean a third IRL person is involved.) (Although, yes, it can sometimes mean that too.) Instead, it might mean that, say, our desire for fame and success stands between us and our partners. Or religious differences. Power struggles are common with Pluto, too, as the need to always be “right” and in control can force us to have arguments with others. It can add heaviness and obsession to relationships and projects—with Pluto currently orbiting the sign of Capricorn, it has proven to be the latter of the two.

Pluto as a ruling planet

Pluto is the ruling planet of Scorpio. Which makes sense, right? Scorpio is the sign of sex, death, and transformation, aka all of Pluto's favorite things. They both share a spooky, mysterious vibe, too. Thanks to Pluto, Scorpio is drawn to the mysterious, the occult, and the spiritual.

BTW: Because Pluto wasn't discovered until 1930, Scorpio has another ruling planet: Mars. Mars is Scorpio's ruler in traditional astrology, while Pluto is Scorpio's ruler in modern astrology.

Pluto Retrograde

Because of its long orbit, Pluto spends about six months of every year moving retrograde. And lucky for us, it's nowhere near as chaotic as Mercury Retrograde. Pluto's status as an outer planet—and the outermost outer planet, at that—means that the changes of Pluto Retrograde have a subtler effect on our day-to-day lives than those of the inner planets like Mercury and Venus.

That said, Pluto Retrograde can still bring some big changes. In particular, you might learn some secrets, go through transformational personal growth, or get in touch with your intuition.

Where is Pluto right now?

Pluto has been in Capricorn, the sign of structure, since January 24, 2008, and will continue to roam through this pragmatic earth sign until 2024 (with one exception: it will exit Capricorn and dip into Aquarius from March 23, 203 until June 11, 2023 during Pluto Retrograde, and then return to Capricorn). During this period, Pluto will expose abuses of power, build better business models, normalize sexual taboos, and hopefully encourage equal pay for equal work. Y’know, casual!

Your Pluto sign

Remember how I said Pluto is a generational planet? Yeah, that means that there are some placements, like Pluto in Aries, that zero people currently living have in their birth chart. BTW, see how some of these dates overlap? That's thanks to Pluto Retrograde, so double check your birth chart to be sure.

Pluto in Aries

1823-1853

Pluto in Taurus

1853-1884

Pluto in Gemini

1884-1914

Pluto in Cancer

1914-1939

Pluto in Leo

1937-1958

Pluto in Virgo

1956-1972

Pluto in Libra

1971-1984

Pluto in Scorpio

1983-1995

Pluto in Sagittarius

1995-2008

Pluto in Capricorn

20o8-2024

Pluto in Aquarius

1778-1798, 2023-2044

Pluto in Pisces

1798-1823, 2043-2067

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