Pluto stations retrograde in Capricorn at 11:48 am (Pacific) on 4/24/19. What this means is that, from our perspective on earth, Pluto appears to move backwards across the sky. Pluto retrograde happens about once a year and last anywhere from four to five months at a time.
So named after the God of the Underworld in mythology, Pluto is associated with transformation and renewal. Such change is not always pleasant or even peaceful. Transits of Pluto are often marked by periods of destruction followed by some form of renewal and regeneration. In this respect, I see Pluto as being very similar to The Tower card in the Tarot. The Tower is all about tearing down something old so that something newer, stronger, and better can take it's place. Examples of this kind of action in nature include intentional forest fires which cause the trees to grow back stronger, or cutting dead leaves off a plant so that it can thrive. Another example of transformation through violence can be seen in the Stonewall Riots that sparked the Gay Liberation Movement, or the American Revolution that gave birth to the United States.
When Pluto is moving forward, it can bring secrets to light and hidden truths are revealed. Often such truths are shocking or hard to accept and we are left to deal with the aftermath of the destruction that they bring. We are left to pick up the pieces and make sense of it all. However, when these things happen they are often for the greater good and are designed to help us grow, to thrive, to become stronger and better than we were before. So, perhaps it is a necessary evil.
When Pluto stations retrograde, our attention turns inward and we are moved to reflect on our darker, more secretive natures. We are challenged to rid ourselves of that which does not serve us, to release that which holds us back, to let go of our secret shame. If we ignore our shadow selves, we may be confronted by them in the form of qualities we see in others that we do not like. Internal conflict with the self can lead to external disputes with others. Our thoughts may turn to our sense of personal power. We may ask ourselves what makes me feel powerful? What makes me feel powerless? We may take steps to obtain more power over ourselves and in our lives in general.
Where Capricorn falls in your birth chart is the area of life that is most affected. For example, Capricorn represents the 3rd house in my birth chart (I use the whole house system). The third house naturally aligns with Gemini in the natural chart and is ruled by Mercury. The third house is all about the capacity of our minds, how we exchange and process information, our self-expression, and short journeys.
Now Pluto retrograde has not occurred as of yet but its effects can be felt in the period just before the retrograde as the Planets slows down, comes to a stop, and then begins moving backwards. This period is called the pre-shadow. During the pre-shadow we feel the first beginnings of the effect of the retrograde. Recently, I got into a bit of trouble at my day job over an email I sent to a client that was misconstrued as "unprofessional" which was not my intention. While the incident was smoothed over, I now see that Pluto Retrograde in my 3rd house is giving me the opportunity to meditate on my communication skills. So I will definitely be more careful how I frame my words (both spoken and written) over the next 5 months.
Where does Capricorn fall in your natal chart and how will Pluto retrograde likely to affect you?
Carolina Dean
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