Pluto in Aquarius
The REAL of change
Expect to hear a lot about the sign Aquarius in the upcoming year. Why?
For the first time since the 18th century, Pluto will leave Capricorn, where it has been since 2008, and enter Aquarius, where it will be for the next two decades. Pluto is a generational force, staying between 15 and 30 years in each sign. In the last few years, Pluto has danced between Capricorn and Aquarius, but on November 19, 2024, Pluto enters Aquarius for good. However, we are already feeling the shift.
When planets like Pluto change signs, astrologers pay attention because it marks a massive shift in the energy at play. In short- it’s a big deal.
What does that all mean?
First off, Pluto, a.k .a. the god of the underworld, is all about fundamental transformation. Which means delving beyond the surface stuff into the gritty reality of what is. Think shadow work, hero’s journeys, phoenixes rising from the ashes, soul retrievals, and the unconscious being made conscious. That’s plutonian terrain. The good news is huge potential is possible. The challenge is we will be asked to look at some hard, possibly yet unfaced, stuff.
Going back to go forward we get a sense of this. Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008. The same year, we had a massive financial crash. The goal, of course, was to point out what wasn’t working. The challenge was learning from it. You see, Capricorn represents infrastructure and the foundations of society. It rules politics, government, and economics- the bones that make up the societal skeleton. Thus, forces like morals, traditions, leadership, and integrity all come into play. The last few decades have indeed revealed some shadow layers there. Collectively and personally, we can assess if we have allowed these hard truths to fortify our foundations with more integrity, appreciation, honor, and honesty.
Or maybe we haven’t? With Pluto, there is a tendency to double down on desired outcomes when the truth is staring us in the face. Think cognitive dissonance, denial, bypassing, propaganda, and spin. Those are all ways we try to negotiate out of plutonian realities. The problem is. It doesn’t work. Pluto is the god of death, after all. Try out running that.
Which brings us to Aquarius. Aquarius is symbolically represented by waves of water being poured or carried by a vessel. The “water bearer” literally brings new life to parched throats. Despite its name, Aquarius is an air sign and not a water sign. Some astrologers upgrade this element to symbolize electricity itself. This is why Aquarius represents science, technology, innovation, authenticity, and rebelliousness. New ideas and innovations are the catalysts to rumble with the stasis of the status quo. Electricity illuminates genius and fosters radically new ways of thinking.
The last time Pluto was in Aquarius (from 1778-1798), we saw some shades of this. In America, the Revolutionary War was fought. The Bill of Rights was ratified. The French Revolution began, and the Reign of Terror started. Hawaii was ‘discovered’ by Captain Cook. The Industrial Revolution occurred. The first vaccination for smallpox was administered. The cotton gin was invented. Mary Wollstonecraft’s The Vindication of the Rights of Women was published.
You get the idea.
So, as we begin the journey into this new energy, let’s highlight Aquarian themes, the light and the shadowy, because both will be evident. (*Find Pluto in your chart to get your personal growth edges, or contact me for a reading, but for general themes, read on).
~Science and anti-science. Expect scientific discoveries and new technologies. Of course, there is bound to be tension anytime innovation meets tradition. Remember when those early astrologers said the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the solar system? It wasn’t good. History and psychology validate that humans instinctively balk at new information when it challenges our most comfortable beliefs. Throw some religion in there, and you have a mighty foe. We can anticipate some pretty incredible scientific advancements, but we can also predict a rise of anti-science backlash. In fact, it is already starting. Many of my scientist friends, colleagues, and teachers, from epidemiologists and medical doctors to psychiatrists and meteorologists, have received death threats because of the honorable work they do.
Of course, with new discoveries also comes responsibility. We all know examples where significant advancement has led to tenuous, even destructive, results. Thus, any new technologies must be channeled through our wisest and better selves. It will be a balancing act indeed. I suspect the rise of AI and overall automation is going to significantly challenge our critical thinking skills. It already has.
Navigating this energy well means becoming a scientist in our own thinking. This means observing and being curious rather than falling into the familiar comfort of what we think we know. It means honoring the complexity of advancement rather than the security of comfortability. Much of what arises will be realities that will spur the conspiracies of comfort. The work is to not fall prey to truths that feel convenient. Remember, opinions and assumptions are not the same as facts, even when we really want them to be. It also means we need to pick our experts wisely. This time will require those wiser than ourselves to lead the charge because, contrary to popular belief, you can’t do your own research. That takes literally decades of study and experimentation. What you can do is learn to think critically when examining sources and experts. For more on that check out, Decoding Deception.
~Consequences and Denial. Aquarius deals in technical truths (see science above). The reality that is in front of us. Which may be different from what we want it to be. It isn’t emotional or punitive, though it can stir emotion. Technical truth is what it is. Another name for this is consequences. So, expect to face the results of past decisions. Environmental, spiritual, political, financial, racial, etc., we can’t escape the outcomes of prior choices. Of course, the shadow of technicality is denial in all its many forms.
Navigating this energy well means being open to the reality of our lives and rethinking what we think we know. It is about receptivity, knowing our own biases, being curious about what is arising, and being flexible enough to find new solutions to old problems and patterns. It will require radical accountability because no matter how we try, we can’t outrun reality (but many will try).
~Freedom and Selfishness. Imagine attending a symphony of the world’s greatest musicians, and each decided to play a piece that best expressed their personal instrument and talent. One hundred of the very best musicians, each playing different melodies. Regardless of the expertise, you would hear only noise. But what happens when they decide on an untied score? Harmony. Music. Irrespective of the talent, it is only in collaboration that the melody is revealed. Real freedom is that analogy.
Our unique authenticity, freedom, and sovereignty were never meant to be selfishly wielded but gifts to share with and for the greater good. It takes every color to make the most brilliant rainbow. It takes all of us to commit to the true definition of freedom to ensure freedom for all.
The shadow, of course, is selfishness rather than a desire to collaborate. It is toxic tribalism and polarity. It is unyielding authoritarianism and the danger of dogma. It’s the notion that freedom is self-serving without regard for the collective good or personal freedom of others. It is hypocrisy in all its overt and covert forms. It is coercion, control, and conspiracy. It takes away freedoms that were previously earned.
Navigating this well takes the knowledge and willingness to embrace the uniqueness of your own instrument in balance with the cooperation and collaboration of all. It is about empathy, understanding, and respecting our differences rather than vilifying them. It is about walking the talk and being radically accountable, fair, and just (even when it challenges your own beliefs). It also means being aware of and resisting groupthink because there is power in collaboration. We must use that power to build, not destroy.
~Rebellions and Revolutions. Revolutions can be liberating and endearing, maybe even necessary. They can also be horrifically unjust, violent, and deadly (shadow Pluto). The light of the time asks us to summon the love rebels. The ones that make good trouble by standing for accurate definitions of truth, honor, integrity, freedom, and equality -not selfish ones. After all, electricity (an Aquarian force) becomes dangerous when it is ungrounded.
Shadow rebels and revolutions emerge in authoritarian ideologies where the means rationalize a chosen end. Righteousness becomes riotous and violent when it controls or denies the liberty of another. Tribes and groups become deadly when they become toxically dogmatic and totalitarian in their beliefs. Ideology becomes dangerous when it stops questioning itself or is woven with egotism.
Navigating this time well means aligning it is essential to align our rebellious spirit with integrity, real freedom, and democracy. It is about standing for what is right and just while being responsive rather than reactive. It is about identifying the danger of dogma and standing firm against destructive fire-starters and conflict entrepreneurs.
~Complexity and Polarity. In Aquarius times, expect the unexpected. Overall, we humans tend not to readily embrace uncertainty. It conflicts with our sense of safety, security, and identity. The truth is (and remember, Aquarius is all about uncomfortable truths) that the world is complex, complicated, and uncertain no matter how hard we try to control, manage, or spin it. The shadow of complexity is the opposite of that- polarity, black-and-white thinking, “othering” another, conspiracy, and the need to pick a side, all the while solidifying the echo chambers of our own beliefs.
Navigating this well means remembering complex times call for complex solutions. In the words of organizational psychologist Adam Grant, “Intelligence is traditionally viewed as the ability to think and learn. Yet, in a turbulent world, there’s another set of cognitive skills that might matter more: the ability to rethink and unlearn.” This time calls for complicated and complex conversations, approached with the intention of understanding rather than winning. Solutions can be found, but only if we allow ourselves to see the issue from multiple angles.
~Faith and Doubt. Aquarius reminds us that the current possible was once considered impossible. It reminds us to hold fast to the knowledge that there is more to the story we are living. More chances of redemption. More opportunities to show up better. More innovations are on the horizon. More choice points of opportunity. We may not know the how, but we can hold steady in the wonder of possibility.
The shadow, of course, is doubt and even disillusionment within the chaos of change. It can feel isolating, separating and disappointing to witness people reacting in dysfunctional ways to current times. People you cared about. People you know are smart and good.
It makes sense that the Sabian Symbol, for 1-2 degrees of Aquarius, is “An adobe house” and “An unexpected thunderstorm,” reminding us of both the inevitability and humility of change and the need to find stability and shelter. Change is coming regardless. Though we can strive to create a sense of security and certainty, there are bigger forces beyond our control. Next time you feel extra convinced of your authority, try stopping a thunderstorm. Denial, spin, fantasy thinking, and bypassing cannot control the reality of entire weather systems (though currently, some are convinced “they” can, which is a perfect example of precisely what I am talking about).
This stormy image is not to frighten us but to remind us to deal with the real. Because while genius and innovation stem from the challenges of setbacks, we find solutions only when we can accept the reality of the problem itself.
So, get ready to get real. Though some profound and pivotal unexpected change is predicted, its nature depends solely on our choices and how we decide to channel that force. The goal, of course, is a revolution toward the innovation of collective connection rather than distance, a revolution that brings us closer together rather than more polarized.
As always, we have a choice in how we walk the road ahead. How open are we to the changes that call us forward? How tethered are we to the stories that keep us stuck? Pluto, after all, is the force of ego eradication, and it rarely whispers. The lessons ahead may roar, urging us to confront what no longer serves. Shifting entrenched energies—like narcissistic idealism, unchecked greed, selfish freedom, and riotous revolutions—is no small task. But it is necessary.
Pluto will show us exactly what isn't working so we have the opportunity to get it right.
If the past few years have taught us anything, I hope it's this: we weather the storms best when we stand together. We are going to have to figure out how. The era of self-serving idealism is unsustainable. It cannot hold. The good news? When we unite for the common good, incredible things become possible—examples of this are all around us if we look.
The challenge, of course, lies in embracing a fundamentally new way of thinking as a people, a nation, and a world. Aquarius reminds us that our individuality is meant to add value to the whole, and our freedom is an extension of the rightness of all.
“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.”
~Albert Camus
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