Pluto in the Signs

Pluto takes 248 years to transit the zodiac and its erratic orbit makes for a 32-year stay in the sign of Taurus, but only a 12- and 14-year transit of the signs of Libra and Scorpio, respectively. Discovered in 1930, it presaged Hitler coming to power in 1933 and the events that led up to World War II, which became the bloodiest conflict in mankind's history, costing the lives of some 55 million people and over a quarter of a billion miscellaneous casualties on top of that.

This was also the time of a race to discover the secret of atomic weapons and both the Axis Powers of Germany and Japan and the Allied Forces were locked in this struggle to unravel this secret. Ultimately, the United States won the race and the culmination of this research was unleashed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, thereby effectively bringing the hostilities of World War II to a decisive conclusion.

The devastating power of an atomic weapon can be likened to the power of Pluto. It tends to stand for transformation through the removal of the past by totally laying waste to it so that a new future can be built upon the ruins. This is why it is considered a powerful force to reckon with. Rarely is this experience subtle in nature, but a new beginning can rise from the ashes of the past.

Placement in the signs, much like Uranus and Neptune, is of a more generational and historical significance than a personal one. Of course, if this planet figures prominently in a given chart, its influence will have a much more powerful impact on the native's life. Whatever the case, the house position is usually more significant than the sign placement.

Pluto is the ruler of the sign Scorpio and the natural planetary ruler of the eighth house. This planet is associated with transformation, regeneration, evolution, sex and taboos of society, death (although not always physical death), the unconscious, anger and violence, the dark side of human nature, repression, obsession, secretiveness, fears, intensity, psychology, the occult and astrology, power, and the desire to get to the bottom of things or a propensity for digging.

Wherever it is placed in a chart by sign and house placement, there is a good chance that the native will undergo some sort of transformation sometime in the course of their life. Pluto's energy is rarely subtle, but because it moves so slowly through the signs it tends to give us a good deal of time to cope with these changes and learn to transform what needs to be changed. Usually, the more we resist these changes, the more powerful the force of Pluto becomes until it is so strong it is irresistible. At this point the pressure for transformation is quite likely to be explosive. Pluto is relentless and, like a force of nature, anything standing in its path is either transformed or destroyed. It tends to lay waste to the old in order to make way for the new.

Generationally, Pluto's sign placement will indicate the area where its transformative influence will be directed. Often this may indicate periods of extraordinary violence and wars fostered by dictators and tyrants that leave humanity no other recourse but to resist relentlessly, until they have been toppled from power, in order to ensure survival.

ARIES PLUTO

This placement is associated with the pioneer (Aries) movement in America and the drive west. This took bravery and courage (Aries) to face the obstacles in the path of the settlers in order to carve out a new home on the frontier. Carve might be a good word for this period and much of what was cut away consisted of Native Americans that looked upon this expansionism as a threat to their homes, their way of life and even their very survival.

Like anyone else whose land has been invaded, they resisted. History tells us of how this shameful episode in American history concluded and in fact in many ways is still perpetuated to this day. But some believe might-makes-right and this survival-of-the-fittest mentality was used as an excuse for nothing short of indiscriminate murder and tyranny of Native Americans. Once again, Pluto shows us the dark side of humanity and our propensity for violence.

TAURUS PLUTO

Here the power drive of Pluto is directed toward material wealth and during this time period there was s good deal of expansion in the industrial revolution. This period is not without its share of travail. Students of history will note that during this time the American Civil War was fought. Neptune in Aries (1861) may have aided this as the idealism of Neptune became a belief in freedom (Aries) and was brought about by combat when the Civil War became a war to end slavery.

I find one thing personally interesting about this placement. That is, the Confederate Army and field commanders, in my opinion, far outclassed the Union and usually gave the Federals, due to their wishy-washy commanders, one hell of a pummeling. Yet the war was won, as are most modern conflicts, by industrial might which was clearly on the side of the Union. Thus, we see power (Pluto) in the hands of wealth (Taurus/second) turning the tide of battle.

GEMINI PLUTO

During this period, Pluto's transformative influence was directed toward education, communication, transportation and scientific breakthroughs. Educational reforms in the United States and Europe made education more readily accessible to everyone and, in some cases, compulsory. The telephone system spread and newspapers proliferated throughout the world. The dark side of placement here was as Pluto was leaving Gemini; World War I broke out and ended as its began its transit of Cancer (homeland). This may be an indication that a failure of communication (Gemini) was responsible for the outbreak of hostilities in Europe.

On a personal level, these people tend to prize education and feel that knowledge gives them power over others and in the world. If subverted, this could merely indicate dominating others through the controlled use of information – propaganda.

CANCER PLUTO

This transit of Pluto was a time of great turmoil around the world. This began with World War I and due to new inventions of Pluto in Gemini; namely, the rapid-fire machine gun, poison gas and tanks, the death toll surpassed nine million. Cancer is a sign of the home (homeland) and a desire for security; feeling this security threatened often leads to war.

Economic upheaval follows with the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression that embroiled the world once more in a kind of war for survival. The punitive measures of The Treaty of Versailles and the nationalistic furor of Cancer, furthered by vast world-wide unemployment made the masses rife and fertile soil for anything, or anyone, offering a solution.

Work programs were instituted in the United States, while in Europe and Russia we see the rise of fascism and communism (socialism). In the early 1930's Japan invaded Manchuria, which peeved the United States. In 1933, Hitler came to power, and in 1939, though the circumstances actually began much earlier, September 1st saw Hitler's invasion of Poland which we consider the official start of World War II. This left Pluto waiting to enter Leo.

On a personal level, these natives are inclined to give high priority to security and family. This could, though, make them prone to being easily swayed by political leaders that may want the masses' attention directed toward the borders (security) rather than have them too closely scrutinizing what is going on within them. This generation may have had to learn to give more freedom to their families and, due to economic pressure, separation from them due to the present increased mobility of society.

LEO PLUTO

Leo's love of drama certainly outdid itself during this period of history. The self-aggrandizement of Leo made for some rather nasty but flamboyant despots, the most notorious of which was Adolf Hitler. World War II was off to a fine start and the Japanese sent us a rather bloody invitation to join in the festivities with their attack on the fleet anchorage at Pearl Harbor, taking the lives of more than 2,400 Americans.

Although the Japanese had intended to formally sever diplomatic relations with the United States prior to this attack, a snafu at the Japanese Embassy delayed the relaying of this transmission; and hence, we call the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 (a day that will live in infamy – F.D.R.), a sneak attack. This ignoble breech of protocol caused Admiral Yamamoto, who knew American sensibilities, to utter the words, "I fear we have roused a sleeping giant whose wrath will be terrible!" Truer words were never spoken! If you have not seen the movie I won't ruin the ending by telling you which side won, but when it was over more than 55 million were dead and another quarter of a billion plus, wounded. This was an unprecedented catastrophe (man-made) the likes of which the world had never seen before, nor has since - at least not yet!

This set the industrial gears to turning in America, which even today is the backbone of our economy, though this is changing. And this industrial might again won a war (just like the Civil War) and quite possibly saved the world from the Axis Powers. The war also ended with a rather large bang, actually two of them, at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For this was the beginning of the age of atomic weapons.

Shortly thereafter, another skirmish occurred in a little place called Korea. This was referred to as a "Police Action" (although my father still swears it was a bona fide war). And let's not forget the Cold War, which saw the proliferation of nuclear arsenals, in the United States and the former Soviet Union, reach epidemic proportions; arsenals so vast that it has been estimated to have the power to depopulate the planet 100 times over. At this time the stage was also set for America's eventual involvement in Viet Nam.

Some good obviously came from this. The industrial base of America was great for the economy and advances along these lines ensured returning veterans would have jobs. The G. I. Bill helped veterans return to college and buy homes so they could raise a family in prosperity. Also the infrastructures of nations laid waste during the war were rebuilt.

Due to twisted priorities, however, what future generations will likely remember about this time is the beginning days of television and, as if that were not enough, rock and roll music! This placement is also considered to be the sign of Pluto's exaltation.

These people are considered to be the "me-now generation" and have a need to find personal fulfillment in their jobs and life. They were born during a time of prosperity when the "American Dream" seemed readily attainable to anyone willing to work for it, though today those prospects do not seem nearly as bright for the common man. Most of these people will pursue a way of life that must be rewarding or they will not hesitate to balk. However, they may have to learn that today, what was once within easy reach requires much more of a struggle to achieve. Perhaps it is this individuality mentality that will be transformed for this generation due to Pluto's influence as it transited this sign.

VIRGO PLUTO

The sign Virgo is associated with work and service, and diet and health. These areas are destined for transformation at the time of this transit and for the generation born into it. Many advances in medicine were made during this time and new treatments for diseases came into use. People of this generation and society during this transit became more aware of the dangers of pesticides and some of the additives put into foods. As a result of this awareness, there began an increasing interest in naturally grown foods, vegetarian diets and a growth in the number of health food stores and the use of vitamins and dietary supplements.

This transit may have marked the beginning of the changes in the economic base of the industrial world and we are still seeing the impact of this in the United States. This probably signaled the beginning of automation taking more jobs away from workers and the conversion to a more service-oriented economy and this transformation is still in its evolutionary process today.

During this time, small conflicts seemed to be breaking out all over the world and America found itself embroiled in the longest war in its history in Viet Nam. One negative aspect of this transit may have helped to bring about the drug culture (Virgo/sixth/health) of the '60's.

On a personal level, this could make for a generation that finds itself stuck in the throes of this economic transformation; and as a consequence, find jobs increasingly difficult to find despite training and education. This may have aided the change in sexual (Pluto) views in western culture (Virgo/health). These natives may be suited for work in health, diet, scientific or research fields.

LIBRA PLUTO

Libra is the natural sign of the seventh house and is associated with marriage, committed relationships, partnerships, public relations, the law (lower courts), diplomacy, and striving for balance. Ruled by Venus, Libra is also associated with women, the arts and a need to achieve balance.

During this time frame the Women's Movement was in the forefront of societal transformation, particularly in America. Internationally, this was a time when humanity turned its attention to diplomacy to avoid conflicts. For both of these issues there was a degree of success and a degree of failure. Diplomatically, this may have been helpful to easing tensions between the Eastern Bloc countries and the West and particularly between the Soviet Union and the United States.

On a more personal level, due to the changes in attitudes in relationships, the divorce rate shot up, leaving more people adrift during this transformative stage in the evolution of relationships. It seemed to take years for the bitterness between the sexes to subside or maybe men and women found that they do not really need relationships as much as they thought. Whatever the case, this time left a lot of walking wounded on the battlefield of the sexes. But maybe that is just part of the human condition. I sometimes wonder if men and women are not at their happiest when they are making each other miserable!

On a more personal level, the people of this generation are likely to have an intense (Pluto) interest in relationships (Libra). When this generation reaches adulthood, it is in the sphere of relationships that they will probably find their greatest challenges for transformation. This could also indicate powerful works of expression in the field of artistic endeavor. Maybe this generation will have to find balance, not just on a personal level, but on a world wide level as well, and this could include proper use of resources of our planet as Venus (Libra's ruler) also rules Taurus and the second house of resources. Whatever the case, Pluto's challenges can be rather difficult and are never subtle.

SCORPIO PLUTO

While Pluto transited through Scorpio, the sign it rules, we saw some very powerful developments on the international scene. We saw a sexually transmitted disease make its appearance at the beginning of this transit and no longer have any doubts of how serious this is. This sexually transmitted disease is AIDS and it can cause death (Pluto). This is a new plague for our time. We also witnessed the outbreak of the Ebola Virus and flesh eating bacteria. All things related to the "hidden" associated with Pluto, Scorpio and the eighth house.

We also became aware, once again, of the dark side we project onto others. In this case, we projected this onto Iraq and the subsequent Gulf War. Hussein was fine as long as he kept Iran in check. When he had a massive arms build-up after his war with Iran, countries all over the world lined up to make their fair share of the profits. This included the United States, which gave two billion dollars in loans of taxpayers' money just one year before these arms, many bought from American arms dealers, were turned against American troops.

All this was done despite the fact that the United Nations knew that Hussein was using mustard gas against women and children - the Kurds - in Iraq. This Persian Gulf War was a time of fear that nuclear, chemical or biological weapons would be used. The world chose to ignore Hussein and his tyranny until the world's oil supplies were endangered. Only then did the world take action. Today we know how blithely we looked the other way and even gave aid to a tyrant. How then can the world ignore at least some of the responsibility for the Persian Gulf War?

Perhaps even more distressing was that this war led to a problem that we are currently grappling with today – the war on terrorism. This conflict laid the foundation for the extremists that are running amok across the world and indiscriminately killing people all around the planet. This war, admittedly, was just the flash-point for problems that had been brewing for decades. But this laid the foundation for Pluto's transit into the sign that, in its negative expression, can be related to fanaticism – Sagittarius.

This generation will possibly have to deal with disasters attributed to pollution, disease or war when they reach adulthood. If this negative manifestation should be the case, the consequences may be dire indeed, for this is a powerful placement. This could be a generation that brings into the world governments known for power madness and oppression unlike anything so far witnessed by humanity. On the positive side, however, this could be a generation doubly endowed with the opportunity for transformation and growth for humanity. One thing is relatively certain, and that is that this generation will live in times of great intensity where the potential for good and evil may be equally strong.

Personally, by house position, these people are likely to be very intense in their approach to life. On some level they will be faced with the necessity for transformation. In all likelihood, this may not be at all pleasant to deal with. However, as in all cases, it will depend on the individual's reactions to this need to transform the self.

SAGITTARIUS PLUTO

Sagittarius is the natural sign of the ninth house and its ruler is Jupiter; planet of expansion. The ninth house is associated with higher education, the law (higher courts), religion, philosophy, morals, ethics, the abstract mind, publishing, long-distance travel, foreign countries, cultures and people. During Pluto's transit of this sign, just beginning at this writing, we are likely to see its transformative and evolutionary influence in any of these areas.

Pluto, combined with Jupiter, ruler of Sagittarius, could indicate a time of intense explorations and a broadening of the horizons on all fronts. The findings of these explorations could transform our view of the world and the universe and subsequently have a major impact on education. This might also indicate a time of intensity and religious involvements in the high courts to stop exploration in some scientific fields. We can see this happening already in the field of genetics. Some discoveries made in this area seem as though they are nothing short of science fiction, but are actually a reality today. The fear this research instills in many people is likely to lead to regulating this and other similar areas of research through the court system.

Pluto once again reminds us of its propensity, and mankind's, for war. What began with this planet's transit of Scorpio has now come to fruition. Sagittarius, related to fanaticism, is now being transited and this fanaticism is fueling the current war on terrorism throughout the world. Ninth house issues, such as religion and ideology, seem to be at the heart of this matter. Currently, as always where fanaticism is concerned, there does not appear to be any easy answers.

This time and this generation born into it will probably be true adventurers in expanding knowledge. New fields of endeavor will possibly be explored, but we are just as likely to expand our horizons in more conventional ways as well. Sagittarius, being a mutable sign, may indicate finding new ways to deal with existing problems.

CAPRICORN PLUTO

Capricorn may stabilize, at least somewhat, Pluto's drive for transformation, possibly making for transitions that are less chaotic and disruptive. This could indicate a time when more attention is focused on a new world government that people have been speculating about for years and believe is in humanity's future. The last transit did coincide with a new government in America. Or this could indicate a generation that grows into adulthood and brings this government into world reality.

This could, on the negative side, make for a time or generation inclined to government (Capricorn) control (Pluto) and totalitarian authorities. If this indicates power, ambition, status and material gains under Pluto's influence, this could make all other interests suffer such as the environment and the right to individual autonomy on a world-wide scale. This might cause more problems than it cures, if this should be the case.

On a more positive note, this may indicate beneficial business interests that make jobs available for a wider number of people. Capricorn's gift for management could make these operations run more smoothly and efficiently, making for world-wide prosperity and putting material security within the grasp of more people than ever before. This could be done in amanner that does not threaten the environment or unduly waste our resources due to Capricorn's responsibility. This placement does offer the opportunity for responsible and practical (Capricorn) use of Pluto's transformation.

AQUARIUS PLUTO

Historically, the last transit of Pluto through Aquarius was associated with the American and French revolutions. If the Pluto in Capricorn generation does bring a new world government it may fall to this transit/generation to put an end to any abuses of power of such a government. This revolution, however, may just as well be social as combative. This could possibly indicate power to the people rather than special interest groups. This interest in government could be thrust upon the people, though, through abuses of power by those in authority.

This could also indicate a time of great scientific achievements in all fields. Other Aquarian/eleventh house issues could just as easily see this influence such as technology, inventions, humanitarian interests, interest in the occult and astrology and possibly serious study will be given to the intuitive and psychic processes of the human brain.

For good or ill, this will probably be an indication of a revolution of sorts in many areas and a generation that is likely to take a personal interest in bringing about change. In this way, Aquarius may help Pluto toss out the old to make way for the new.

PISCES PLUTO

This could indicate advances in artistic expression stemming from the unconscious as both Pisces and Pluto are associated with the unconscious. This could also indicate a time when compassion and sympathy (Pisces) are expressed with great intensity (Pluto) and thus could usher in a new era of understanding and fellowship for humanity.

Still, due to confusion (Neptune ruler of Pisces), some of these efforts are likely to be misguided and impractical and amount to no more than so much wasted effort. However, this could indicate breakthroughs in understanding more about the unconscious of man and its workings.

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