The Meaning of Pluto in Astrology
People tend to fear both Pluto and Saturn. But neither planet is means any harm. Pluto is one of the most powerful planets in the heavens, despite its small size. The ruler of Scorpio has the cosmic energy needed to change our lives, relationships and status quo, whether we like it or not. But fear not because all these transformations that Pluto brings are with your best interests in mind.
Hades, God of The Underworld
In Greek mythology, Pluto is the son of Saturn (Chronos). In Greek mythology, he’s known as Hades. Hades takes the souls of humans after death and leads them to the afterlife, which is his personal kingdom. This planet is seen as a symbol of death but its symbolism is more complex than that. Hades in Greek means the unseen and Pluto is the energy that unveils hidden truths and traumas.
One of the main myths involving this small but mighty planet highlights his love for Persephone, Ceres’ daughter. He kidnapped her because he wanted her to be his queen in the underworld. Her mother put a curse on the Earth as she was grieving the loss of her daughter, not allowing it to bear any fruits or vegetables.
Zeus got involved and reached a compromise that involved Persephone spending half of the year with her mother and the other half with in the underworld. This myth explained the appearance of the cool seasons (fall/autumn and winter) and the warm seasons (spring and summer).
Death and Rebirth
Pluto symbolizes death and rebirth but not normally physically. It ends things that no longer serve us and makes space for new things that support our cosmic path. It can end relationships and careers and even bring health challenges. But what is important is that all this cosmic rearrangement helps us to become the best version of ourselves over time.
Just like Hades guiding the Soul after death, Pluto never acts out of alignment with individual or collective cosmic destiny. It makes sure we fulfill our pre-birth plan. Therefore, this planet has the ultimate control over humanity, guiding us through key moments in our existence and beyond.
At its Best: Cosmic Healing Power
One reason why I love Plutonian energy is its incredible healing power. It digs deep into our Souls for those hidden truths, traumatic events and emotional wounds and aims to bring them to the surface to heal them. Without healing the past, we can’t fully appreciate the present or build a future.
At its Worst: Control and Obsession
Like all celestial bodies in astrology, this planet has its positive and negative qualities. Its challenging energy involves exaggerated control and the risk of becoming obsessive. A poorly aspected Pluto might work with our ego rather than our soul and make us obsessed with power and control.
Hades is often depicted as a man with a beard and cold eyes, holding the key to the underworld. But this key is also a symbol of control and the power to destroy or take away things we love the most.
The good news is that the more evolved you become, the better you’ll get at working with this energy. You can use it to fulfill your destiny and reach your divine mission or you can allow it to transform you into an obsessive, controlling individual that, paradoxically, will end up losing control.
Pluto in The Birth Chart
It’s placement in your chart is crucial for understanding your destiny. It will not affect your daily life as much as the personal planets (Mercury, Mars, Venus, the Moon, or the Sun) but it will have a say in your fate.
The Sign
Pluto spends a very long time in each sign; up to 31 years, making it a generational planet.
It influences masses of people and the collective frequency. The sign shows the energy you invest in life-changing events, your obsessions, your control dynamic, and your relationship with the most profound truths of life. I’m going to start with Leo because very few people who were born when Pluto was in Cancer (1914-1939) will still be around today!
In Leo:
This placement will infuse your spirit with qualities of leadership, out-of-this-world creativity, and a dramatic way of self-expression. Your unique creative sense might transform your life and impact the world in a very evolutionary manner. Here, it wants you to have the courage to express yourself freely and eliminate everything that restricts your potential.
In Virgo:
This placement implies radical changes to your daily mindset and routines. You might have revolutionary ideas that lead you toward a complex and fulfilled life. But your unique way of thinking is also one of your great challenges as you will have to eliminate everything that holds you back. Virgo is a sign that is very much people-oriented. Because of its humble energy, you might find it even more difficult to end relationships when they no longer align with your life purpose.
In Libra:
Your transformations come through your network, and social and personal relationships. You might meet people who have a great impact on your life but also lose some important ones that hold you back. However, Libra is about balance so this placement wants you to reach a stable state of balance after you go through all the challenges it brings in your life.
In Scorpio:
This planet rules Scorpio so its power is much more intense here. You will experience emotional struggles and a profound desire to understand yourself and the world around you. But you might also have a strong need to control your relationships and achieve your goals through questionable means. This placement wants you to grow spiritually so that you can live a righteous and dignified life, away from your egoistic impulses.
In Sagittarius:
You’re adventurous and attract radical life changes through your unique experiences. You want to reach a higher level of wisdom through discovering new cultures and getting into complex life philosophies. However, in this sign it wants you to fight your superficiality and go beyond the surface. You need to get into the depth of those mysteries that attract you so much to find your answers and incorporate the new knowledge into your life.
In Capricorn:
this brings challenges and changes in your life through authority and structure. Your parents might make a decision regarding your life that completely changes its course. Or you might have to work with a highly authoritative figure who guides you through your destiny in your mature years. You might also have a lot of responsibility and need to exercise the control you possess wisely, without abusing your power.
In Aquarius (2023-2044):
Your life is unlikely to be mundane or follow a linear trajectory. Most likely you will go through unexpected ups and downs. Technological revolutions, including alien technology incorporated into our society by generous E.T.s, and incredible innovations might change your life and your perspective. Or you might be the one who brings such change into the world.
The House
The house indicates the area of life where you’re most likely to experience great change.
1st House
Your core energy will go through different phases of self-expression. Knowing yourself and understanding your potential is crucial for this placement. You have a powerful energy and the way you know to manifest it can transform your life significantly.
2nd House
Your greatest life changes might come from your material possessions. You adjust your values and beliefs according to how much they contribute to your wealth. This is a very ambitious placement as you will always keep your eyes on the price. But it is equally important to not sacrifice everything for your financial security.
3rd House
This planet is shining over your intellectual interests. This placement works with your mental stimulation, curiosity, and thirst for knowledge but also with how you express all these aspects in your life. Communication can change the status quo and bring you new perspectives that help you understand yourself and your life from a different perspective.
4th House
This placement makes you prone to radical changes in your domestic life. You might have a particular family life and special relationships with your roots. This placement invites you to understand the history of your family and acknowledge the energy of your ancestors. It is a profound placement as it puts you in touch with your family’s karma and gives you the support to heal it.
5th House
In the happiest house of the zodiac brings a certain cosmic contrast that you will have to navigate. Here, the Plutonian energy wants you to grow and reach spiritual maturity through your creative skills. Children in your life might contribute significantly to your transformation into the adult that you were meant to be.
6th House
This placement puts you through changes regarding your daily routine and health. You might deal with unexpected obstacles that slow down your rhythm. Trust the process, you will grow even stronger through all these struggles.
7th House
This will bring intense relationships and connections into your life. These can be karmic and meant to help your spirit evolve. But they will also be very difficult as you will have to face yourself through each one of these experiences. Your partners mirror your energy in a way that invites you to overcome your traumas and karmic baggage and shine in your uniqueness. Many of these bonds will end after their mission is complete, making room for things that your authentic self is meant to enjoy.
8th House
This is a notch more intense than any other house placement on this planet. Pluto rules the eighth house and it can have full control over its energy. With this placement, radical changes are not an option but a given in your life. You might feel the theme of death and rebirth more than once in your life as you go through profound emotional and psychological transformations.
9th House
Pluto in the ninth house invites you to seek new experiences that bring you a richer understanding of yourself and the world you live in. Through these adventures, you might change your beliefs, and ways of thinking and even control your emotions more wisely. Your ultimate goal is to find truth in everything you touch and learn from it, which contributes a lot to your spiritual development.
10th House
This placement changes you through the filter of your career and public image. You might struggle with leaving the old you behind for the new you to emerge and touch the masses in the way you were meant to do. But at the end of the day, what matters is that you live up to your potential and none of these struggles limit your ability to shine.
11th House
This placement indicates that your goals might be met through your social network. You have a strong sense of community and are determined to fight for the right causes. But this urge to support your community will challenge your identity and personal life. This planet wants you to get rid of those things and connections that don’t support your beliefs and find your tribe that will help you find your authentic self too.
12th House
When this planet is posited in the house of spirituality, it works directly with your subconscious nature. You might go through several moments of awakening through your life and each one of them brings you closer to the universal truth. This placement wants you to embrace your spiritual views and profoundness while you allow the cosmic wave to shape your core energy into the true version of yourself.
How it’s Aspected
We can’t decipher Pluto’s influence in your chart without analyzing the aspects it forms with other planets.
- Conjunctions: These increase the intensity of both planets involved. Pluto tends to alter the energy of the other planet in a way that makes it more more volatile and prone to transform your life.
- Sextiles: These empower the other planet to reach its true energetic potential without limitations or fears. Pluto wants to use the energy of its sextile partner to help you overcome the changes in your life.
- Trines: Similar to sextiles, trines are positive waves of energy that tame the radical energy of the planet. The other planet might help Pluto reach its purpose in your life in less dramatic ways, helping you overcome all the obstacles.
- Squares: The two planets are at odds with each other and you need to reach the level of personal development needed to balance both energies and find a cosmic compromise.
- Oppositions: Oppositions can bring internal conflicts and turmoils that hold you back from fully trusting your potential. Focus on the energy of each planet and pick the positive, productive side of it to incorporate into your life.
