Pluto in Aquarius
The Constellation Aquarius from Star Lore of All Ages by William Tyler Olcott (1911)
You may have already heard a lot about Pluto moving from Capricorn to Aquarius on November 19 last year. It is a big big deal and in this article I will illustrate the numerous reasons why. I promise we will get to the juicy stuff, and it is just a bit further down after the intro.
Pluto is the most generational of all the planets because he is in each zodiac sign for the longest amount of time, and his shifts from one sign to another tend to be world-altering, often creating chasms between one generation and another. He rules the abyss—a deep immeasurable void of primeval Chaos out of which the earth and sky sprung into existence.
It is the slowest moving outer planet and takes 248 years to complete a cycle through all the zodiac signs. He originally entered Aquarius on March 23, 2023 and retrograded back into Capricorn twice before ultimately landing in Aquarius on November 19, 2024 where he will solidly remain until March 8, 2043. The following are the dates:
March 23, 2023 to June 11, 2023
January 20, 2024 to September 1, 2024
November 19, 2024 to March 8, 2043
August 31, 2043 to January 19, 2044
Pluto was discovered on January 23, 1930 after an astronomical search for a suspected trans-Neptunian object called “Planet X” and it was ultimately named after the God of the Underworld, although many possible names were at first considered—including Chronos and Minerva—and the name Pluto was officially adopted on May 1, 1930.
Illustration of zodiac signAquarius in Urania's Mirror by Sidney Hall (1825)
The energies of life and death, power and intensity, transformation and rebirth emanate from Pluto, and its energetic frequency is a higher octave of Mars. It quickly assumed its role as the modern-day co-ruler of Scorpio after its discovery. Pluto is also associated with a plethora of topics, including the astral plane, magic, sex, and witchcraft. According to occult writer Sepharial the period of life between 99-115 years old is ruled by Pluto. (It also rules corruption and crime. For a complete list of correspondences, please see Pluto Correspondences.)
This Pluto transit through Aquarius will be a drastic time of jettisoning our ideas and impressions of what previously defined us collectively. But first let’s quickly review his transit through Capricorn. If we recall that Capricorn represents established governments and businesses, we can easily see how both of these institutions were revolutionized between 2008 and 2024.
Beginning in 2008 the Global Financial Crisis exploded just as Pluto was saying goodbye to Sagittarius, the sign of high optimism and overconfidence regarding financial speculation. As Pluto entered Capricorn, world governments quickly flexed their authority, implementing stricter financial regulations like the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 in the US and austerity measures like the Welfare Reform Act in the UK.
Illustration of Aquarius zodiac sign from Repertorio de los Tiempos c. 1492
Partly due to the economic fallout, we saw employment transformed between 2008 and 2024 with an unprecedented rise in gig workers. In 2009 approximately 10-12 percent of the United States workforce was freelance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By 2020 that number jumped to 30 percent according to the Freelancers Union.
Some of those gig workers also worked full time, but the general trend of juggling multiple jobs or seeking side gigs outside of one’s 9 to 5 also increased, especially with the gig economy’s rise between 2013-2017. The idea of having a “side hustle” is mainstream and shows no signs of disappearing.
By 2023 remote or at least hybrid work in private and public sectors was a mainstay for many white collar workers and the archetype of the office worker had dissolved. In 2008 less than 3% of employees worked fully remotely in the US, according to the Pew Research Center. By 2021 more than a quarter of employees were fully remote, and polls by Gallup and Upwork projected that a third of the workforce would be remote by 2024.
Illustration of Aquarius from The 12 Zodiac Signs in Horologiographia by Sebastian Münster (1533)
Aquarius signifies the sphere of the social collective and its revolution. It is the sign of rebellions and reforms, and associated more with “the common man” than with the establishment even though it rules acts of Congress and other laws. It represents elected officials and civic organizations but it also rules strikes and acts of civil disobedience. While Pluto in Capricorn immensely changed our world, we will witness electrifying changes to the collective in the next 20 years of Pluto in Aquarius.
First, we will see a rise in extremist beliefs on all sides of the philosophical spectrum. These will center around socialism on the one hand and individualism on the other. This will create a chasm in society (and Pluto rules chasms) between those who strongly advocate for curtailments for the good of the collective (think carbon credits) and those who espouse the importance of individual free will.
This will lead to a lot of paradoxes in consciousness and only those who elevate their thinking will be able to fully engage in discourses around these ideas, as they will no longer follow the rhetoric or logic of the old paradigm. This new era at its highest level is trans-logical and many individuals will move into higher-order thinking in which they no longer dictate what other people do. In spiral dynamics, a theory originally developed by Clare Graves and built upon by thinkers like Ken Wilbur, this is called second-tier consciousness, integral awareness, or systems thinking.
The Star tarot card (Les Etoilles) from Oswald Wirth's tarot deck (1889)
This toggle between advocacy for restrictions for the sake of the collective on the one hand and free will for individual liberation on the other illustrates the inherent friction within the sign of Aquarius—being co-ruled by both Saturn (restrictions) and Uranus (liberation). This conflict represents a flash point for humanity. In which direction will we go? Towards greater curtailments and acquiescence to authorities? Or towards liberation and self-governance?
There is no single answer because what will likely occur is that humanity will experience a chasm between different timelines. Those who desire to “go along to get along” will do so and live a restricted life ruled by technocratic surveillance and those who seek independent solutions will find others with whom they can create new realities outside the matrix.
There may be a massive increase in co-operatives and co-living and co-working spaces. Different strokes for different folks. It will feel at times like we are living in difference universes or at least on opposite ends of the earth from one another—the antipodes. Extreme laws will pass and public outcries and rebellions will ensue. The question will be: Do we get dragged down by the outer drama or quell our own inner chaos? It isn’t all or nothing either. Moving past black/white thinking is so imperative at this time and accepting paradoxes is necessary for moving forward, so we may find ourselves in a mindset in which we are both and yet neither.
Aquarius illustration (1930)
As Aquarius rules clubs and associations we will see a return to community groups as a way of finding friends and romantic partners. Think of the Lions Clubs spaghetti suppers of your parents’ era except 2.0. Millions will likely quit social media and online dating and return to face-to-face gatherings as a way of seeking connection and feeling engaged in the world.
Before we get too excited, we must acknowledge that millions will also choose online sex sites and virtual reality as dopamine hits and modes of escape. (And insta-fans is a relationship surrogate for many.) We will increasingly see marked divergences over time in our social realities and what people believe regarding the questions of What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to relate to another human?
Spirituality will grow as an increasing number of individuals feel adrift in a sea of instant gratification without any end game. This includes traditional religions like Islam as well as amorphous new-age spirituality. In the West we will see a growing fascination with meditation and plant medicines like ayahuasca. However an increased number of charlatans and plastic shamans will take the collective stage posing as spiritual leaders. It is more critical than ever to practice discernment and remember that true spiritual teachers do not require large followings or exorbitant fees.
We will see a rise in false altruists and fake humanitarians. Pluto represents the antichrist and Aquarius rules television so the famous figures on the screen are not always who they claim to be. (Remember, the revolution will not be televised.) There will be a continued rise in Scientism and blind faith in biotechnologies.
Western governments and big businesses will continue to prop up Science as a new religion and critical thinkers will be labelled as dissidents. On the other side of the coin there will be a continued rise in natural healing and this will be the arena of another big chasm in society—those who trust in Big Pharma versus those who prefer the preventive care of plants and herbs.
Illustration of the Star card from The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A. E. Waite (1910)
All the resources we need about natural healing methods and techniques are available for free online so this is the first time in human history that most of us have the option of asserting our free will regarding our bodies and our personal health and safety. The optimal way to proceed through this time is to relinquish any lingering desire for a savior or guru to tell us what to do.
Aquarius rules lights and its co-ruler Uranus rules electricity so we will see continued changes to technologies related to getting and using power. Under the guise of sustainability we will see mandates for solar, wind, and electric power. (Remember that Aquarius is co-ruled by Saturn who loves rules.) We will see more wireless technology, including increasingly required “smart devices” like smart meters and lightbulbs.
There will be innovations to cars—mostly along the lines of electric vehicles—but also regarding surveillance and possible biometric requirements for starting engines. On the up side we may finally see significant advances to airplane technology as it is Aquarius-ruled. The airline industry as a whole will be reformed and the recent crashes could be precursors for new requirements.
Pluto rules diseases and epidemics (as well as poisons) and many conditions ruled by Aquarius are on the rise—blood disorders, blood poisoning, blood clots in the calves, poor blood circulation, heart weakness, irregular heart beats, and other blood and cardiac irregularities that we have not seen in such skyrocketing numbers until recently.
There is already an increase in nervous disorders including mental illness and muscle spasms. It is important to detoxify frequently and keep our minds clear and calm during this transit. There is an increase in sudden deaths but there is also hope for an increase in sudden rebirths and recoveries for those who keep their faith. This will likely be accompanied by an uptick in spiritual and energetic healing.
Keep calm and Aquarius on
Ethers are ruled by Aquarius and we will likely see illness involving one’s breath and ethers in and around one’s body. This can refer to illnesses caused by vaping, which is the Aquarian version of smoking. Vaping-related illnesses will likely increase and we may even see “spiked” vape pens in some areas of the world. It is best to avoid vaping completely during this time. If one wants to use cannabis the best route may be an old-fashioned method rather than a new technology or chemical pill.
We will likely also see increasing air pollution and poisoning in the air. It will be helpful to use air purifiers in your home and detoxify your lungs on a periodic schedule. Aquarius rules gases and Pluto rules toxins. Pluto also rules inoculations, and in the next 20 years, we will likely see more sudden shifts in inoculation requirements.
Pluto in Aquarius indicates sudden and unexpected outbreaks of epidemics. These can be physical diseases or computer viruses. Internet blackouts will continue to occur and it is imperative to back up on hard drives as well as print out key documents—like deeds, financial accounts, legal agreements—on paper.
We will see revolutions and rebellions and coup d’états. Many of these will happen electro-magnetically or wirelessly—involving the internet or electronic weapons like stun guns, laser guns, “flashblind” devices, or frequency weapons. We will also likely see violent attacks using gases, toxic fumes, and other airborne pollutants.
Illustration of zodiac sign Aquarius c. 1880-1946
Pluto rules global wars and Aquarian-ruled areas of the world already embroiled in conflict are Ethiopia, Eritrea, Russia, Syria, and Ukraine—as well as The Holy Land, which includes modern-day Israel and Palestine.
We may also witness conflict in Iran, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the former region of Circassia, which covers Russia as well as small swathes of Turkey and Georgia. During Pluto’s first transit through Aquarius in 2023, Turkey was launching air strikes against Iraq.
The former Abyssinian region of the world (The Horn of Africa) including modern-day Eritrea and Ethiopia is also embroiled in conflict. Notice how Pluto rules abysses as well as Abyssinia.
The former Tartary will also likely see ongoing and perhaps widening conflict. This area includes modern-day Russia, Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Krgzstan, Ukraine, and Turkey.
Illustration of zodiac sign Aquarius, Johannes Regiomontanus (1512)
Although 90° degrees square to each other on the zodiac wheel, an intriguing simpatico exists between Scorpio, the sign Pluto co-rules, and Aquarius, the sign Uranus co-rules. The two planetary energies merging together is quite explosive.
Together, they are a fireball: Pluto rules atomic and intra-atomic energy, atomic fission, laser beams, plutonium, and cosmic energy. Uranus rules atomic radiation, TNT explosives, pyrotechnics, uranium, the electricity of the body and literal “shocks” to the system. To put a cherry on top: Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239 are the two main fuel sources for nuclear fission.
In TV and film we will see themes of nuclear war as well as the grotesque: monsters, mummies, vampires, witches, and wizards. (Wicked—the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time, that just happens to be about witches—was released in box offices on November 22, 2024, just three days after Pluto entered Aquarius.) We will see a continued rise in pornography of all kinds as insta-fan websites continue to grow and VR experiences go live and eventually explode. It is easy to foresee more grotesque themes entering these media as well.
We may see an increasing mood of idealism and hope for the future, especially among Millennials and Gen Z. Uranus rules pendulums so expect many political pendulum swings back and forth over the next 20 years. Pluto in Aquarius will create deep and lasting change to our collective. It will unearth what has been lurking under the surface for decades, giving buoyancy to truth and freedom movements, co-living experiments, decentralized cryptocurrencies, and ultimately the fuel we need to spiritually awaken.
We are seeing a split in the direction of humanity, which shows that we have true choice in the matter. We can constrict in fear or expand in courage. We can shape our future or be squeezed into the mold. But ultimately the choice is ours—and we have never had so many opportunities for achieving liberation.
It is an exciting time to be alive. Pluto was last in Aquarius between 1778-1798 a time of many major revolutions and wars:
The American Revolution (1775-1783) and its resulting Treaty of Paris (1783)
Debt Forgiveness of Revolutionary War Veterans (1780s)
The Discovery of Uranus (1781)
The French Revolution (1789) and its most famous Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) and execution of King Louis XVI (January 21, 1793)
Debt Forgiveness of the French Nobility (1789) and Abolition of Feudal Dues (1789)
The United States Constitutional Convention (1787) and Ratification (1788)
The Ratification of the Bill of Rights (1791)
Invention of the Cotton Gin (1793)
The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) in France in which 1000s were executed including Marie Antoinette
The French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802) in which Napoleon rose to power
The Haitian Revolution (1791-180) after which colonial debt was forgiven
During the above wars and revolutions, the world saw massive technological transformations occurring amidst the First Industrial Revolution. In addition to restructuring societies all over the world, including Europe and North America, the last transit of Pluto in Aquarius resulted in many instances of debt restructuring and relief. It is likely we will witness similar debt forgiveness in the next 20 years with the rise of AI and the millions of jobs that will be lost.
The Star card (Les Etoilles) from F.I. Vandenborre tarot deck (1780)
One would be remiss to not speak at length about the skyrocketing rise of AI projected to occur the next 20 years. This too will completely obliterate our current version of reality. However, it will be closely tied with the Uranus in Gemini transit that will occur during the following times:
July 7, 2025 to November 7, 2025
April 25, 2026 to August 3, 2032
December 12, 2032, to May 22, 2033
A future article about the effects of Uranus in Gemini will discuss the ways in which artificial intelligence will drastically alter our future landscape.
In closing it feels appropriate to quote the opening words of the quintessential novel set during the last transit of Pluto in Aquarius—A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Published in 1859 it chronicles the rise of the French Revolution and its surrounding socio-political landscape from the 1780s-1790s and begins with perhaps the most famous opening lines of any novel in history, describing that period of time:
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…
Drawing of Aquarius, the eleventh zodiacal sign, appearing in William Hone's Hone's Everyday Book (1826)
Source Bills, Rex. The Rulership Book.
