Pluto Direct October 2019

I talked about Pluto Retrograde in a previous post. Today, I want to share some insights into Pluto Direct. Pluto's mantra is "I Transform" but it would probably be more accurate to say that it is "Change or be changed". What this means is that we can make friends with change, accept it, and ride the wave of cosmic energies; or we can swim against the universal current fighting change every step of the way with every ounce of strength that we have. Our attitude towards change can have a direct effect on how we experience this retrograde. 

During Pluto Retrograde we were given the opportunity to examine our sense of personal power. In order to appreciate something, we often have to lose it or otherwise have it taken from us. The natal house where Capricorn falls in your chart is the area of life most affected by Pluto Retrograde. This is the area of life in which you may have felt that you had a lack of power or control. For example, in my day job I work in an office environment. My job requires me to build and maintain relationships with affiliates in my industry who we depend upon for work. Some of my affiliates I get along quite well with and others I do not. 

Capricorn falls in the 3rd house in my natal chart. The third houses rules over communication and short journeys. In addition the 3rd house is ruled by Mercury the planet of communication and travel (again, I work in the moving industry).  The majority of my communication with our affiliates is via email and some by phone.  I am a very direct person, I don't "fluff" my emails or my conversations. My goal is to give/receive the information needed or requested as quickly as possible and get off the phone or end the email chain so I can move on to my next task. For example. I hate the small "pleasantries" that precede a conversation such as "How are you today?" (this is a question that I usually answer quickly but fail to reciprocate). Communicating with others (at work), especially on the phone,  is an area of life where I feel powerless because I cannot speak freely as I would like to.  For this reason, I have had to learn to change the way I communicate with others. 

Now that Pluto will be stationing direct, I will be presented with the opportunities to show what I have learned about that way in which I communicate with others. If I can successfully change my communication style I will have shown that I am capable of growth and self-improvement. If not, Pluto will see to it that I am forced to transform (change or be changed). 

Where does Capricorn fall in your Natal Chart and how did Pluto Retrograde affect you?

Carolina Dean 

Pluto Retrograde 2019

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