JanIt’s a fact: Every astrologer has a favorite planet they hold near and dear to their hearts. I personally adore Pluto—and so should you! (Sorry, NASA, Pluto is still a planet in astrology, whatever you say!)
Pluto Retrograde resides on my Libra Ascendant in my birth chart and has taught me many lessons over the course of my life. First off, I’ve become more tolerant of other people’s views and opinions, which, um, isn’t always easy. I’ve also come to embrace the hidden depths of my personality, like my unwavering loyalty to others, confidence, and brutal honesty. TL;DR: I’ve learned to embrace all my emotions—the good, the bad, the ugly—and to commit my life to personal growth. Not too shabby for a lil teeny planet, amirite??
What does Pluto represent in astrology?
When we look at our charts and cosmic transits, the dwarf planet Pluto represents transformation. While Pluto may be small in size (it’s approximately half the width of the whole United States *the more you know*), it packs a bigger punch than most other planets in astrology. It moves slowly, taking a whopping 12 to 30 years to move through just one sign and 248 years to move through the whole zodiac.
Pluto’s energy is extremely potent and powerful. The bb planet represents the underbelly of emotions, what lies beneath the surface, and the subconscious mind. All the parts of ourselves that we do not share freely with the outside world. (Casual.) It destroys weak foundations, only to rebuild stronger and more resilient than before. (Again, totes chill.) Pluto is also the natural investigator and BS detector of the zodiac—it’s hard to get anything past this intense planet. In a word: intense.
On a deeper psychological level, Pluto is the master of transformation. It's always evolving. The lil bb planet is also, um, kinky. Like, Fifty Shades–level kinky. Pluto is sexually explorative and finds great pleasure in pain, bordering on masochistic. (It’s no surprise that it’s the ruling planet of Scorpio!) The reasoning is that Pluto loves to explore and honor edgier sentiments within. Pluto urges us all to normalize fetishes and fully embrace this side of ourselves. Why? Because Pluto wants us all to live our truth, not hide.
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Pluto as a generational planet
Because of its slow movement through the zodiac, Pluto is sometimes called a generational planet—meaning that most millennials have the same Pluto sign. For example, people born between 1983 and 1995 are sometimes even called the “Pluto in Scorpio generation.” Unlike, say, Mercury’s movements, which have a strong effect on the details of your day-to-day life (hey, Mercury Retrograde), Pluto’s movements are more about the bigger picture—think missing your train versus, um, a worldwide pandemic (yeah, some astrologers said the Saturn-Pluto conjunction back in January 2020 was a sign that something world-changing was coming soon).
On a bad day, Pluto can bring out power struggles with others and triangular relationships. (PSA: Love triangles do not necessarily mean a third IRL person is involved.) (Although, yes, it can sometimes mean that too.) Instead, it might mean that, say, our desire for fame and success stands between us and our partners. Or religious differences. Power struggles are common with Pluto, too, as the need to always be “right” and in control can force us to have arguments with others. It can add heaviness and obsession to relationships and projects—with Pluto currently orbiting the sign of Capricorn, it has proven to be the latter of the two.
More Generational Planets
Pluto as a ruling planet
Pluto is the ruling planet of Scorpio. Which makes sense, right? Scorpio is the sign of sex, death, and transformation, aka all of Pluto's favorite things. They both share a spooky, mysterious vibe, too. Thanks to Pluto, Scorpio is drawn to the mysterious, the occult, and the spiritual.
BTW: Because Pluto wasn't discovered until 1930, Scorpio has another ruling planet: Mars. Mars is Scorpio's ruler in traditional astrology, while Pluto is Scorpio's ruler in modern astrology.
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Pluto Retrograde
Because of its long orbit, Pluto spends about six months of every year moving retrograde. And lucky for us, it's nowhere near as chaotic as Mercury Retrograde. Pluto's status as an outer planet—and the outermost outer planet, at that—means that the changes of Pluto Retrograde have a subtler effect on our day-to-day lives than those of the inner planets like Mercury and Venus.
That said, Pluto Retrograde can still bring some big changes. In particular, you might learn some secrets, go through transformational personal growth, or get in touch with your intuition.
Where is Pluto right now?
Right now, Pluto is in the process of moving from Capricorn to Aquarius. Let's get specific: Pluto was in Capricorn, the sign of structure, from January 24, 2008 to March 23, 2023. Then, it briefly dipped into Aquarius until June 11, 2023, before moving back into Capricorn during its retrograde period. Pluto re-entered Aquarius on January 20, 2024, but it'll dip back into Capricorn from September 1, 2024 until November 19, 2024. Then, it'll stay in Aquarius until March 8, 2043—that's right, 19 whole years!
More about those vibes
Your Pluto sign
Remember how I said Pluto is a generational planet? Yeah, that means that there are some placements, like Pluto in Aries, that zero people currently living have in their birth chart. BTW, see how some of these dates overlap? That's thanks to Pluto Retrograde, so double check your birth chart to be sure.
Pluto in Aries:
Dates: 1823-1853
Vibe: This period in history marked a time of paranormal activity and a rise in mediums. They brought these energies from the shadows and into the light, allowing people to investigate life after death.
Pluto in Aries celebrities: Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Thomas Hardy, Emily Dickinson, Thomas Edison, Victoria Woodhull, Kate Chopin, Alexander Graham Bell
Pluto in Taurus
Dates: 1853-1884
Vibe: This placement isn't a fan of change, preferring rigidity and security. This generation takes baby steps towards progress after thought and plans are in place.
Pluto in Taurus celebrities: Virginia Woolf, Carl Jung, Marcel Proust, Joseph Conrad, Edith Wharton, Lionel Barrymore, Sigmund Freud, Marie Curie
Pluto in Gemini
Dates: 1884-1914
Vibe: Pluto in Gemini wears two faces: one in public and one in private. Their dualistic nature can be extreme, as yearning for laughs at times and drama in other moments.
Pluto in Gemini celebrities: Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Zora Neale Hurston, Katherine Hepburn, Agatha Christie
Pluto in Cancer
Dates: 1914-1939
Vibe: Emotions run deep with Pluto in Cancer. Feelings change faster than the phases of the Moon, creating confusion and drama.
Pluto in Cancer celebrities: Shirley MacLaine, Jane Fonda, Harvey Keitel, Marilyn Monroe, Flip Wilson, Jack Nicholson, Joan Rivers, Elizabeth Taylor
Pluto in Leo
Dates: 1937-1958
Vibe: The universe revolves around Pluto in Leo. Their egos are big, making them the center of attention 24/7. However, their creativity can transform the world.
Pluto in Leo celebrities: Frances McDormond, Kris Jenner, Pam Grier, Iggy Pop, John Waters, Lily Tomlin, David Bowie, Dolly Parton, Kris Jenner, King Charles III
Pluto in Virgo
Dates: 1956-1972
Vibe: The desire for perfectionism is high and unattainable for people born with Pluto in Virgo, but that doesn't mean they won't push themselves to the limit to attain it...until they eventually learn that perfection doesn't exist.
Pluto in Virgo celebrities: Paul Rudd, Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Courteney Cox, Lucy Liu, Tina Fey, Ice Cube, Sarah Jessica Parker, Viola Davis, Lisa Rinna
Pluto in Libra
Dates: 1971-1984
Vibe: Partnerships are inconsistent for Pluto in Libra. Relationships have ups and downs, but Pluto in Libra has to learn how to navigate through these times and create a healthier dynamic.
Pluto in Libra celebrities: Britney Spears, Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Tyrese Gibson, Channing Tatum, Reese Witherspoon, Amy Schumer, Pedro Pascal, Anne Hathaway, Meghan Markle, Kim Kardashian
Pluto in Scorpio
Dates: 1983-1995
Vibe: Pluto in Scorpio people's relationship with sex and money is complicated. For them, investing time and energy into a relationship can yield both financial gain and romantic commitment.
Pluto in Scorpio celebrities: Taylor Swift, Margot Robbie, Lady Gaga, Emma Stone, Blake Lively, Emma Roberts, Lindsay Lohan, Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, Kali Uchis, Prince Harry, Kendall Jenner, Harry Styles, Selena Gomez
Pluto in Sagittarius
Dates: 1995-2008
Vibe: For Pluto in Sagittarius people, uniting with different cultures through the internet or travel is a priority. They can see how similar they are to those who live thousands of miles away.
Pluto in Sagittarius celebrities: Zendaya, Elle Fanning, Ariel Winter, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Simone Biles, Sofia Richie, Billie Eilish, Millie Bobby Brown, Tyla, Sabrina Carpenter, Sophie Turner, Jenna Ortega, Olivia Rodrigo
Pluto in Capricorn
Dates: 1762-1778, 20o8-2024
Vibe: People born with Pluto in Capricorn see their professional lives and the way business deals are made evolving through their lifetime. This placement comes with people in power being dethroned, bringing a new wave of successors to a higher status.
Pluto in Capricorn celebrities: Ann Radcliffe, North West, Mary I of England, Andrew Jackson, Jane Austen, Ludwig van Beethoven; Blue Ivy, Dream Kardashian, Prince George of Cambridge, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor
Pluto in Aquarius
Dates: 1778-1798, 2023-2044
Vibe: Innovation is key for Pluto in Aquarius. They look outwards instead of inwards to help them grow, which leads to them exploring different views and ideologies than the previous generation.
Pluto in Aquarius celebrities: John Keats, Davy Crockett, Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Horace Mann, Thomas Carlyle, Daniel Webster, John Tyler; Townes Meadow Bair, Whimsy Lou Smith, Cardinal Madden
Pluto in Pisces
Dates: 1798-1823, 2043-2067
Vibe: People born with Pluto in Pisces have moods that can be extremely changeable, and the same goes for their goals. Sticking to one perspective can be hard, since they’re always swimming towards something new.
Pluto in Pisces celebrities: George Eliot, Abraham Lincoln, Emily and Charlotte Brontë, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Louis Vuitton, Galileo Galilei, Pierre Kerr Spiegel
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Lisa Stardust is a NYC-based astrologer, tarot card reader, energy healer, and manifestation guide known for her pop culture horoscopes. She is the author of Saturn Return Survival Guide: Navigating This Cosmic Rite of Passage, The Astrology Deck: Your Guide to the Meanings and Myths of the Cosmos, and Love Deck: 70 Cards to Ignite Attraction, Passion, and Romance. In addition to Women's Health, her work and writing has been featured in The Today Show, Oprah Daily, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, and InStyle. Hailing from a long line of spiritual healers, Lisa has been practicing astrology professionally for over 15 years but has been studying the stars all of her life.
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