The transits of the planets

Effects of the transiting Pluto

---

Inward

When Pluto transits planets or points that are important in the natal chart, it almost always heralds periods of profound change and transformation, determined by the nature of the natal factor involved. Such transits are usually accompanied by a feeling of immense inner pressure that seeks expression or release. Whenever possible, choose expression - take deliberate action that channels the Plutonian energy through the natal factor being transited and engage in a consciously chosen series of activities. Those activities must serve the wider world and the community in which you live, not merely help you gain power. Above all, avoid pursuing power for its own sake, with no definite aim beyond feeling powerful. Releasing the energy - like letting excess air escape from an overinflated tire - should be a last resort, undertaken only if you decide there is no useful way to harness it and that allowing the pressure to keep building would end in breakdown or destruction. Sometimes what looks like a pointless breakdown, in which many aspects of your life collapse, can be a release that eventually leads to renewal and growth, provided the collapse is moderated so it does not cause too much damage.

The only thing you can safely assume during these times is that you cannot simply remain where you are and do nothing. One way or another - for better or for worse - that will be impossible.

Outward

The external manifestations of Pluto transits appear in two distinct ways. At times you may feel as though a strong current or favorable wind is carrying you effortlessly toward your goals; nothing you do seems to hinder your progress, and everything works. This is the most positive expression of a Pluto transit. Yet, when you first notice this momentum, do not assume it will continue indefinitely. You can never afford to act unconsciously, especially during a process of transformation. Instead of fearing that something might suddenly go wrong, focus on understanding why things are going so well. What strengths are you displaying? What conditions around you support your success? Remember, too, that the energy driving this process is not intended solely for your benefit; you must use it to serve the greater good of as many people as possible.

The less pleasant manifestation occurs when, no matter how hard you try or how well you prepare, nothing seems to work. Tactics and strategies that once helped you advance lose their effectiveness, and you may feel the world is conspiring against you. This situation also calls for deep self-examination. Begin by asking whether your objectives are truly beneficial for you and for those around you. Do not cling to outdated methods. Stay acutely aware, moment by moment, of what works and what does not. If, despite honest analysis, matters keep getting worse, stop what you are doing if you can, until you discover the cause. If circumstances prevent you from stopping, let go of your original objectives and see where the process leads. This may be one of those creative breakdowns needed to start a new phase of life, discarding the baggage of old attitudes and habits that kept you repeating the same mistakes.

In both scenarios - whether everything flows smoothly or with difficulty - you may feel as if fate has taken over. Plutonian energies often seem fated. All that really means is that you do not yet understand why events are unfolding as they are, even when they unfold in your favor. Work on that!

Pluto at the Personal Level

The energy of Pluto functions poorly at the strictly personal level. Everything said about Pluto’s qualities so far should make it clear that it operates on a plane that transcends the ordinary individual - or at least anyone who has not reached a reasonable degree of self-actualization. It can seem, however, that people who seek power for personal gain, and do so for no reason beyond the thrill of power itself, often get away with it. Many ultimately do not, yet history does present figures such as Joseph Stalin, who died a natural death while still in full possession of his power. Such individuals embody a collective Plutonian energy arising from social and historical circumstances that allow them to emerge. Unless your ambition is to become that kind of person, you can safely assume that subordinating Plutonian energy to ego-driven goals is extremely dangerous.

Pluto at the Interpersonal Level

Pluto’s energy is only marginally better at the interpersonal level. Because it lies so far beyond ordinary cultural and historical circumstances, any social group possessed by Plutonian energy may try to elevate its own image of the social order into a god. We can see examples of this even today. When Pluto operates at this level it suppresses individual freedom and self-determination. Transcendent planetary energies can manifest only through fully self-actualized individuals who no longer seek egoistic ends but act from love and compassion for all. A collective - state, nation or culture - gripped by Pluto working negatively will regard such people as subversive and attempt to destroy them.

Examples of Plutonian energies overwhelming human collectives include any nation seized by war hysteria that goes beyond legitimate self-defense (real self-defense, not the kind used as an excuse for aggression). Cults or religious groups that try to control everyone’s mind and impose universal group-think show the same negative Plutonian energy. Even smaller groups that form a "gang" to fight rival gangs operate in the same way. This is one reason many older textbooks associate Pluto with organized crime, and I believe they do so rightly.

Pluto at the Transcendent Level

This is Pluto’s proper sphere, and it appears on two levels. The first may at first look like Pluto operating on the personal level, but it is not. It involves any relationship whose aim is positive, healing psychological transformation. Why is this transcendent? Because when such processes succeed, the individual moves toward self-actualization, and self-actualization is a transcendent process whether it occurs through therapy, a spiritual teacher or a guru. Psychotherapeutic experiences that fall short of this level can do more harm than good. The goal is not to produce a "well-adjusted" person but to help someone become more fully and authentically themselves.

The other level may seem interpersonal, but its effects show it is more than that. It emerges whenever a substantial group - a collective - recognizes the need for spiritual regeneration and growth for the entire community. A somewhat less exalted form occurs when a community decides to heal its internal divisions by liberating as many people as possible from perpetual oppression, not for practical gain but simply because every human being deserves the best that can be achieved. Sometimes this awakening follows a major breakdown. The American Civil War is a clear example of this second kind of transcendent transformation. As long as the North fought merely to preserve the Union, it achieved little success. When it began to fight to end slavery, it gained momentum and won the war. Afterward, however, one could argue that the opportunity for further transformation was lost during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.