Mar

28

Filed Under Astrology In Daily Life, Pluto the Transformer

Since 2009, Pluto has transited my Pluto, Mars, Sun and is currently joining my North Node. I am Pluto girl. & I still have questions. The main one being, What just happened? Trying to meaningfully interpret one’s own Pluto transit is like reading hieroglyphics -before the Rosetta Stone. With Pluto we are often in the dark.

Pluto transforms. We hear this all the time. But this word is too glamorous for the Hell realm we will enter under it’s influence. Often Pluto sends you a crisis – spiritual, existential or literal. And if you survive it you will be changed. Pluto’s journey into the underworld is dark, relentless and psychologically demanding. Pluto strips your character to it’s bare bone essentials, your core dysfunctions and wounds, which is uncomfortable. What you discover about your self isn’t pretty. You will likely resist, and yet your resistance is futile…it prolongs the agony.

Pluto charges the Dark Night of the Soul. Times in your life when you lose your faith. Times when the world no longer gives life, but takes life away. The world turns wintry, bitter cold. Your passion and aliveness, your zest for life dulls and fades. You may feel both dulled down and acutely sensitive to your darkest emotions. You may rage at the loss, darkness, the unfairness, especially if you’re a ‘half glass full’ kind of person. You may experience Pluto as a dream stealer or thief – taking away people, your creativity, imagination, cherished dreams. The scale of a Plutonian event can be large or small, but it initiates you into the darkest aspect of the human condition. The most important advice I can offer for this time of life is to not shut down, to courageously feel it all. This is a necessary process of coming to terms with who you truly are, not who you have been or wanted to be.

Maybe I’ve painted too dark of a picture for you; I have heard some are on friendly terms with Pluto. That Pluto is juicy: all goth, sex, rock n’ roll, and richly dark. To which I say, yes, that’s true, too. But never underestimate this God of Hell. It’s wise to be wary & respectful of the Plutonian process– if you have been stripped down to the core, been utterly destroyed and been re-made in life, you may understand how this process is necessary for your spiritual evolution as a human being. You still may be angry about it. This God who gives tremendous power -and- takes it away. That’s my Pluto.

We all have different journeys, and thus, different relationships to Pluto’s torch-wielding powers. However, there are general tips we can learn from. Although they will be a mere candle to the dark sea sky, they are nonetheless candles, offering a glimmer trail to follow into your own psyche.

1. Two areas Pluto consistently makes an appearance: your relationships and your health. In myth, Pluto comes above ground for two reasons: once to heal a wound inflicted on him by Hercules, and another to abduct the lovely maiden Persephone. Illness and intimate relationship crises are plutonic initiations, catalysts for ‘seeing’ invisible parts of our natures that we are, for the most part, in the dark about. Expect intimate themes like: jealousy, fear of abandonment, betrayal.

2. Eliminate and let go of anything no longer true for you. This popular Pluto phrase is a Zen Koan bobbing around in my brain. Be careful with this one. Astrologer’s rule number one: Don’t feed your fears with astrology. You’re about to have a Pluto transit: the house probably won’t burn down, you probably won’t die. On the other hand, this is a good line of thinking, What is your deepest fear? Is it controlling your life? If you’re unhappy and feel that Plutonian urge to tear down and destroy, there is a possibility of hurting your self or other people. Pluto is a psychological planet. Don’t wait until your pain gets so bad that you’ve irrevocably harmed your self or others. Psychologists help.

Freud said that our waking consciousness is only the tip of the iceberg- the 95% underneath and hidden is Pluto, so if you don’t know what you need to eliminate, you’re not alone. And it’s buried. Sometimes Pluto issues are repressed & hard to get to; it takes time to do this work.

3. “Pluto is inherently separative and isolating. An individual is apt to feel himself to be set apart. The normal rules and expectancies of the world just do not work anymore.”A dark night of the soul interpretation from late Astrologer James Eshelman. He’s talking about a psychological feeling of alienation. Even if one has worldly power and it all looks like smooth sailing, according to Eshelman, they have Lone Wolf qualities to them.

4. “Don’t expect to understand what is happening/has happened to you.” This helpful insight came from my mentor, Paul Bogle who explained that he, and many others who have experienced major Pluto transits, often cannot digest what has happened to them until many, many years later. Sometimes 20 years later. Why? Something about our little pea sized consciousness being unable to fathom the effects of the outermost planet… Changes are either so outwardly dramatic or inwardly, deeply pivotal, that it takes years for the psyche to integrate what’s happened.

5.The effects of Pluto are not always visible to the outside world. Pluto is the master of invisiblity. When I have shared my existential sense of alienation, loneliness, and an odd identity crisis with a chosen few I’m at first greeted with, What? Life is so great for you! This internal feeling of being set apart can reinforce the dark emotions, so it helps to have a journal, art form, a psychotherapist or a Plutonian partner with Eighth House planets/Pluto aspects who can handle it.

6. You feel like you are dying or you lose loved ones. Death and the insignificance of our mortal life is a silent presence for the most part, but during a Pluto transit -it’s not so silent. My grandmother died this year (not unexpected) but the feelings of grief, loss and dying, linger. Alternately, you are likely also engaged in the Plutonian process whereby parts of your self are actively dying. Bring your dark humor: What psychiatrists call mental illness (which often isn’t a pathology, but reclaiming lost/wounded parts of self) is what Roman Polanski calls good theater.

7. Get comfortable with Nothingness. Darkness, nothingness, oblivion. For me, goals are harder to accomplish, difficult. The everyday world of accomplishment and routine satisfaction goes quiet. Clients share their morbid fascination with dark matter, oblivion and black holes.

8. Pluto transforms (through crisis). We’ve covered this, but like a marketing gimmick, the idea that one will ascend to new heights/depths of magical power during a Pluto transit may be a distraction from doing the real work of being present to the unpleasantries surfacing.

9. Don’t try and control circumstances and people. Don’t project your power onto others. Control is an issue with Pluto -too much or not enough of it. Trying to control circumstances is futile and during this time Pluto is bent on reminding you of that, which can cause backlog of psychological futility and various permutations of powerlessness (anger, fury, re-wounding). In my experience, raising a bit of hell now and again with Pluto, isn’t such a bad thing -it gets the poisons and furies out. When your contractor basically moves into your home office, when you feel like you’re about to explode into bits of drywall, go scream into the wind or in a locked bathroom. Talk to your partner or your ‘person of offense’, honestly. It’s unhealthy to hold it in.

10. Find psychologically fearless friends. Until the Pluto transit is over, there is always more psychological work to do –so who can help? Guides, shamans, priests and some therapists may help, yet anyone who tries to fix you or sugarcoat things won’t. Get friends who are psychologically fearless, who speak truth -folks who can give you the nuggets of insight into yourself you so need.

Articles and books for a Pluto transit:

The Dark Night of the Soul by Erin Reese

Healing Through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear, and Despair by Miriam Greenspan

Dark Nights of the Soul: A Guide to Finding Your Way Through Life’s Ordeals by Thomas Moore

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Library) by Pema Chodron

image: Julia Stiles in the play, Persephone

Comments

23 Responses to “Ten Tips For Surviving A Pluto Transit”

Ivana on January 10th, 2011 6:13 am

You have written an accurate and very helping article about Pluto transits and I wish to thank you for it.
I have been, and I still am, going through many of these transits at the same time to the most sensitive and personal spots and I’ve never seen anything like it before.

It seems I am a Plutonic person natally. Pluto is the planet with most aspects in my chart and to-the minute square with my Sun and Asc. So, I kind of feel him all my life.

But the transits have started to shake me to the core: Pluto conjunct Dsc, opposite Sun, Asc, Mercury and Saturn and square natal Pluto.

What you say is so true what ever shape it takes in our personal stories. It helps me to read about it and to see that at least in this I am not on my own.

Greetings,
Ivana
Vicki O on January 22nd, 2011 12:46 pm

Dear Jessica,

Thank you for these awe inspiring Plutonian navigation tips. They feel like beaconing light waves shooting forth from a gold miner’s hardhat as she grapples to find her way out of a deep dark dank cave.

Your wisdom helps me navigate the many Plutonian transits up for me now. Holding out hope that I can survive and eventually will find the gold I seek without killing or maming everyone in sight.

You remind me of Confusious’ famous words that true wisdom is in knowing the extent of our ignorance – yess Jess! I really don’t know a thing!

Your insights remind me to flow with the powerful darkness, trusting that somehow I am not alone and there is a way out – a life giving light shining brightly on a long awaited Spring day!

Your fellow 12th house Plutonian soror mystica.

Vicki O
Michele on February 1st, 2011 7:31 pm

WOW! That was incredible… Can’t tell you how much your pluto pointer’s ARE ME! Had my chart read a while ago (when “it” first hit my Saturn (7th) and the reader told me, “well, your Pluto hit your Saturn!” I said, NO S*#t! and I meant it! I knew what happened and I also didn’t know what was going to and is still happening to me to this day. I will keep you under my favorites, I love your site and Thank YOU!
Jessica on February 2nd, 2011 9:48 am

Thank you (all) for sending me your feedback. It is a harrowing journey into the underworld and so I tried to muster some kind of guide gathered from firsthand experience, and frankly, it was/still is difficult to process consciously. It’s one of those planets that doesn’t like to be seen! I’m thinking of writing a follow-up, more tips, because of your wonderful responses. Till then, in solidarity, from down under. xo, Jessica
Danijela on May 11th, 2011 4:20 am

Hi Jessica

What a great article. Pluto is currently conj my Asc – exact couple of days ago… Need I say more…
Lesa on March 28th, 2012 1:50 pm

I don’t know if this is what is actually happening but you have described the last couple of years perfectly for me. How do I find out if that is what has been going on?
Jessica on March 28th, 2012 2:18 pm

Hi Lesa, You can get an astrology reading Email me if you are interested.
kate on March 28th, 2012 2:42 pm

thanks so much for this! this is so helpful, that i am going to print it out. i have a very cardinal chart, and my moon and sun respectively are conjunct the pluto and uranus which are moving to exact square, with pluto conj. my moon.

everything on this list really resonates with me and makes a lot of sense. #4 i haven’t read anywhere, but it seems to be very true thus far. my one friend who is into astrology will occasionally ask if i am feeling the pluto transit on my moon, and i say that i am, but i cannot articulate it. it’s also in capricorn. in the 12th house, so it’s very remote. anyway, #4 makes me feel a lot better about that aspect of pluto, because it’s something i’ve been struggling with.
Jessica on March 28th, 2012 4:14 pm

Hi Kate, 12th house transits are harder to access in a rational-logical way and may even require a non-linear approach. I bet you’d get a bird’s eye view on what your Moon is feeling thru recording your dreams and investigating the themes, or drawing pictures about how you’re feeling – something more intuitive and imaginative might help your quiet Capricorn Moon articulate her feelings.
Sally Kirkman on March 29th, 2012 6:47 am

hi Jessica, and sometimes Pluto is so obvious too. Transiting Pluto hit my MC late 2008 and I lost my only 2 contracts like that, bam, gone. The last few years have been a process of transformation. Difficult but being reborn stage by stage. Great article, thank you.
Elke on March 30th, 2012 1:18 pm

Hi Jessica,
I can only join the relief and appraisal by all other commenters and I too thank you for listing and describing the “un-understandable”. I am having exactly the same transits as you are having/ just had, with Pluto on my North Node, back and forth (takin the retrogrades into account) opposing my sun in the meanwhile, over and over. Since pluto is activating your NN, I’m very curious to hear about your findings on that particular point, as I’m not sure what to make of it. I can only say that smalltalk and people not being straight forward or able to explain things properly infuriate and irritate me more than ever. Pluto gives me a hightened sixth sense to BS-talk, people misusing power to extract all private details out of you (job interviews) while (on purpose) not being open, informative or even having the intention they claim to have. I really feel like I’m in some sort of twisted game with that. NN, 3rd house, Capricorn. Anyways, thank you for your guidance and sharing. I find the “try not to understand what just happened” soothing, allthough there’s pressure, bills to pay and a real world out there, screaming I should have some smart tactics in place.
Jessica on March 30th, 2012 2:01 pm

Hi Elke, Pluto on North Node is an impetus to take charge of your life and if you’re off course radically change it. The North Node is a destiny point, inspiring the feeling “I would really be on purpose if I were only doing XYZ” and transiting Pluto brings characteristic relentless honesty, psychological fearlessness and probing to this quest. Pluto is also opposing the South Node, too, so don’t forget that piece — to move forward we’re being challenged to move beyond old, entrenched and probably hard to see patterns. We need the investigative scrutiny that Pluto offers. It’s interesting we have the same nodal placement by house and sign. I haven’t had the same communication issues that you’re having but I have, like you, experienced major pressure for real world strategies and solutions to practical realities I am facing- which feels very Capricorn 3rd house. I found myself recently declaring: no one ever taught me how to critically think (when faced with an obstacle –Cancer SN cries instead
Michele on April 6th, 2012 12:04 pm

Hi Jessica! This so hit the spot. I have Pluto nataly Squaring my Sun in the 12th house, but now he is transiting my 2nd house in Capricorn that holds my Venus. I have just suffered a tremendous scathing at work and don’t know what will become of this. I am trying to let go and let him do what he needs to and just go with it. I have other things in my life too that have taken a hit and I fear for those that I love the most right now, because they are all experiencing Plutonian issues as well, and all fall into exactly the catagories above. And like the Ivana with Pluto at the top of my chart in Virgo, I get scathed all the time in the outer world. Maybe I need to go inside and use my Pisces IC to heal myself. Great and beautifully written post on Pluto here.
Blessings Jessica. Hope you are surviving Ok.
Erin Reese on April 6th, 2012 9:06 pm

Excellent article, Jessica. Thank you for sharing your findings and wisdom with us.
I particularly love #7, as you know…

I give great thanks to Sir Pluto for bringing me to Hades’ hell in a handbasket. The illusory small self within is now dead, and the eternal I is ever free. There is Nothing. And within that, is Everything. Pluto shows us this.

Love and truth,
Erin
Shellrae on April 12th, 2012 6:41 am

Perfect timing
This was like hitting the lottery
So simple and direct
thanks I needed that
kate on April 12th, 2012 9:18 am

jessica,
i figured out the dream part, and have been trying to write them down lately, as much as possible. i have had some more disturbing dreams dealing with phobias, etc. lately, and i am chalking it up to pluto.

thanks for the recommendation on drawing or expressing things in a more imaginative way. i majored in art and used to paint/write a lot, but not so much lately. i have been thinking it may be a good way to deal with the pluto transit.

thanks so much for your insightful comments
Thomas on April 25th, 2012 2:50 pm

A few years ago when transiting pluto ‘hit’ my Sun, Moon, Venus, Chriron, Ascendant, Part of Fortune I created a cremation for myself, let me explain. I created an effigy of me (full sized)invited all my friends laid ‘me’ on the ground and set fire to the effigy – very cathartic. If Pluto was trying to ‘destroy’ me I was taking control…
We all sang auld lang syne whilst we watched the ‘body’ turn to dust. I still have to re-birth (am wondering what kind of astro drama I can create for this one!). I’ve come to love/understand Pluto on a personal level you can too if you take him in your arms and allow him to take you into ‘his’ underworld.
Maree on May 29th, 2012 10:10 pm

Dear Jessica,

I don’t know how I got here, but I’m so grateful for the tips on how to survive transitting the Lord of the Underworld. In 2011 Pluto went square my asc in Libra and has been conjunct my moon in Capricorn. (It’s semi-sextile my sun in Sag.) I am def. feeling the Dark Night of the Soul happening in my life right now. #5 rings strongly for me here, I appreciate what you said about Pluto being invisible. There’s that thing where everything in my life “looks” wonderful on paper but I’m feeling depressed, isolated, stagnant. This is such powerful work that Pluto demands. Have you written more on the subject? I’d love to read more. Thank you again and blessings.
Jessica on May 30th, 2012 8:14 am

Hi Maree, Thanks for stopping by and sharing. I’m in the process of creating new material for working with the Uranus-Pluto square in your natal chart. Stay tuned! Keep it up with Pluto: he is demanding, but there is a light at the end… xo, Jessica
nicole on June 14th, 2012 1:42 am

yay! thank you! these words do help. i am just going through a pluto conjunct sun transit. sun at 7.51 cap… soothing words in a time of monsterturnaround. xxx!!!
selena on July 23rd, 2012 3:08 pm

hey there,
thanks for this article!
great to hear your advice..
Pluto is currently transiting my natal moon in capricorn… crossing it over and over…feels like it will never end!
I’m having a real strange time ( I hate having moon in cap anyway!) I feel the real me can’t hide anylonger which is a great/exciting thing but it meant i had to move on from who i used to be; it was like the old me had to die for the real one to be born but it wasn’t a gradual thing, it was like having to destroy my old self (cue dramatic music! true tho! I think i’m through the worst bit and excited to be who i really am. But,
i cut off lots of old friends – i just couldn’t stand to be with them anymore (sounds bad i know, but it was like I was a new person, and didn’t want to be the old me with them, if that makes sense…).
Also having diff. relationship now with my elderly mum because i’m not the same person i used to be, but other people are gonna have to adjust to it and thats not easy..sigh! it will pass..)
If anyone else is going thru pluto/moon transit would love to hear how its affecting you, thx x
kate on August 1st, 2012 11:48 am

selena,
i am experiencing the same transit, and i too have been slowly cutting friends out of my life and/or distancing myself from them. i just feel like 90% of them don’t make sense to me anymore, or they really rub me the wrong way! i find myself asking myself “how was i ever friends with these people?” i find it SO interesting that you’re experiencing the same thing! i’m curious, where is your natal moon located?

another thing i’ve felt is the need to purge a lot of my worldly possessions. i just don’t feel much connection to most of them either. i guess all this purging is to be accepted with a pluto transit, but it’s kind of amazing.
Lana on January 10th, 2013 12:01 pm

Hi guys,
I’m approaching my first hit of Pluto Opposite Sun. Thank you for the info i’ll keep it all in mind. Just confused about one thing. My sun is in the 8th, how would that opposition manifest itself? I know 8th house is all about the dark, hidden, taboo, etc and I’m clueless as to how i will feel this opposition. if anybody can shed some light, i’d be very grateful

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