In the kind of transformational astrology that I practice, Pluto’s rule in the astrological pantheon is to take us deep into the Underworld and reveal all of the dark and nasty corners of the psyche in order to illuminate that darkness and therefore aid in the process of personal evolution. Pluto is the Lord of Death – he causes obsession and has the potential to bring out the worst in us but also the best in us. Pluto’s placement in the chart shows where we can be undone by our own psychology, but also where we can be transformed and reborn.
In the astrological chart for the United States (I use the “Sibley” chart and here’s why), Pluto is in the second house of money. To quote myself, which always seems a little weird:
Pluto, as the ruler of the underworld, represents the shadow side of the psyche, whether in an individual chart or the chart of a nation. With Pluto in the second house of money and finance, the American shadow is a dirty little secret – an obsession (Pluto) with the power that money can provide (second house). The persona of the country is the sunny Jupiterian/Sagittarian nature of optimism and faith that everything will turn out fine. But the Plutonian shadow of greed hides in the darkness.
Pluto first opposed the Cancerian Sun of the United States back in 2014 – at the time it was locked in a stressful aspect to Uranus, planet of revolution and we started to see a steep increase in the number of shootings of unarmed young black citizens culminating in riots over the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson. Racism is one of the dark spots in American history and it’s not surprising that it emerged with such ferocity at this time.
Since 2014 Pluto has been no more than two degrees from an exact opposition (stressful aspect) to the Sun in the US chart. (Geeky astrological detail: because Saturn squares the US Sun, Pluto is also transiting in square to US Saturn which applies even more pressure.) The candidacy of Donald Trump with his openly expressed xenophobia has opened the door to the dark Plutonic realms of the US citizenry. His campaign rallies have resembled WWE spectacles more than political events. Racists of all flavors and types feel ennobled to express their views which have long been hidden under a guise of respectability.
This, my friends, is Pluto in action. Trump didn’t cause this to happen – together with Pluto, he opened the door to the circles of hell and the demons began to emerge from the underground.
This particular cycle will end towards the end of the year, just in time for the presidential election, but we are not out of the woods. Transiting Saturn, the Celestial Taskmaster, is crossing back and forth over the Ascendant (identity) of the US chart over the next year. Saturn crossing the Ascendant demands that we examine the way we are seen in the world, and the way in which we see ourselves and challenges us to see the Truth instead of what we want to see.
The United States has a strong national identity of freedom and liberty for all, but the truth is very different and we are seeing this more and more under the influence of Pluto. It is no longer possible to hide from the uncomfortable truths of racism and classism and the anger and rage that is driving so many in this country. Hopefully we can use this as a nation to begin to create the necessary transformation to survive the century.
Please remember this is an astrology blog. While I welcome all views to participate, now that all sides have been represented any comments that don’t add value to the discussion will be moderated. Apologies in advance!
Thanks for this analysis, Lynn. I keep looking for any writing on the larger picture playing out, to make sense of it, put it in some perspective, and see any potential eventual upside. I have seen some things lately about the Saturn-Neptune square, I guess adding confusion and obfuscation (and maybe undermining of that sunny Sag front). But maybe Neptune can also add some universal oneness as well with any luck, to counteract the us vs them divisiveness. (sigh)
Part of what we’re dealing with here with Saturn in Sag squaring Neptune, both of which are ruled by Jupiter, is a battle between Saturn’s need for reality and Jupiter’s tendency to act impulsively without care for consequences. Any square formation is powerful but also contains the key to great transformation if we can integrate the two dynamics and use that strong Jupiter influence while attending to structure, planning and responsibility.
I keep in mind your Pluto in Capricorn forecast from 2007. We are at the top of the ‘Bell Curve” in this cycle when intensity is at it’s highest . Keep the faith, hold the light and the world will be a brighter place by 2024 :)
That’s right Lizzy, just hang on for another six years! By then Pluto will be moving into Aquarius and the machines will be the new enemy. :)
“The world will be a brighter place by 2024?”
I don’t share your illusion for humanity…
The corruption, greed and money-power struggles will simply float around in the undercurrents until they resurface somewhere new…so it will be more of the same…just with different faces in different places (and probably many of the same places as well but the ‘money-power-zone’ will shift location).
As always you are right on target. I have been troubled by the direction our country has been going
for a number of years/how deeply we divided we have become/the income divide has grown to
a point that it threatens the very idea of Democracy…..you pointed out the 2nd house issue of greed
and power which makes so much sense/the issues of racism and immigration are nothing new/we have
treated every new wave of immigration with distain (Italian, Irish, Jews,Chinese and now Latinos not to
mention the Africans who we exploited from the get go) while proudly bragging that we are nation of
immigrants/I think the Pluto transit is demanding that we that we come out of the shadows and stand up
for the principals this country was founded on or we will slowly but surely destroy those very ideas.
You don’t mention any thing about the greed, corruption and hypocrisy of the Clinton machine or the obsession of Hillary’s ambitious rise to power, manipulating personal financial gains from all over the world. Sure, the foundation gives 64% it receives from domestic and foreign donations where women, gays, Jews, and Christians are abused and murdered. But, that is considered minimal by charity orgs standards. So, while Trump is from an older generation as is Bill, actions of Bill speak louder than TRUMPS words. Hillary stood by her man but in reality she held on tight to his tail strings for her own obsessive ambitions. I remember in the 80’s and 90’s and early 2000, at corporate Christmas parties where top management said to secretaries and all women reports “come sit on my lap and we’ll see what comes up.” Common in all workplaces. We all eventually rose above that behavior in the workplace and HR laws did a good job. But that’s the past as is Trumps crude remarks from 11 years ago. Nowadays, the language and indecent behavior is on TV, Hollywood movies, hallways of our Jr high schools. This was a clearly a distraction as was the violence perpetuated by the Clinton machine at Trump rallies. And all that Wikileaks has revealed. Wake up Ladies. ,Hillary is the dark shadow. I am an educated, informed Hispanic American Woman who can see thru the dark illusion of Hillary Clinton. God help us and bless the US.
Please remember this is an astrology blog. While I welcome all views to participate, now that all sides have been represented any comments that don’t add value to the discussion will be moderated. Apologies in advance!
All shadow I see and react to that is outside of me informs me of the same activity inside of me. Hoping to clear what is inside of me and then be a force for wisdom outside of me.
Uranus Retrograde in Aries, this past weekend, is attempting to provide you with feedback from others.
You were the one who made your astrological interpretation a “political” blog. So, now that that a Hispanic female commented to the contrary and attempted to present a few facts, you shut down the discussion. Classic!
Do you not realize that you just helped to prove where the REAL racism, hatred and xenophobia comes from?
Obviously you don’t welcome ALL views…and, NO, all views have not been presented.
But, THANK YOU, for revealing your inner prejudices! If you were confident in your astrological interpretation, you would welcome scrutiny and intelligent discussion. Got it!