Pluto Retrograde 2020

Pluto Retrograde Chart 

4/25/2020   11:54 AM 

Pluto retrograde begins on April 25th, 2020 at 25° Capricorn and ends on October 4th, 2020 at 22° Capricorn - 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. 

The last time Pluto Retrograde occurred, 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 saw that Pluto Retrograde in my 3rd house was giving me the opportunity to meditate on my communication skills.  The third house covers many aspects of life and so this does not mean that the same thing will happpen again (especially if I have not learned my lesson) but it could very well be that I will be presented with the opportunity to show that I have learned from history and the mistakes of the past. 

Major Aspects 

Jupiter Conjunct Pluto in the 10th House Square Mercury in the 1st House - Jupiter applying a conjunction to Pluto in the area of the chart which rules over public perception, people can become obsessed with optimistic thoughts and ideas. People look to those in power such as politicians, high profile doctors, and religious leaders to tell them something (anything) that will make them feel better about the current status of the corona virus epidemic. In turn, I think our leaders are going to push an optimitic perspective on this situation. 

This aspect is at odds with Mercury in the First House. When Mercury is in the first house people are more likely to be combative and argumentative with their words. They have their own thoughts and ideas and they are not afraid to express them. So what we want to hear from our leaders and what we actually think are two different things and this creates an air of tension. 

Personal Aspects 

Pluto is a very slow moving planet, so any aspects that it forms to your Natal Planets should already be in place. For instance, Transit Pluto has been forming a Trine to my Natal Sun for the last six months. This is an aspect which gives a grants both power and opportunity to the urge of self-transformation. If you've been a good little astrologer and tracking your transits you should already be aware of any aspects transit Pluto is making to your Natal Planets. 

Where does Capricorn fall in your natal chart and how will Pluto retrograde likely to affect you?

Carolina Dean