Astrolgy: Pluto and Transformation

Collective Evolution of Life on Earth.

In astrological symbolism, Pluto has one primary function – to teach us that there is no such thing as death that everything that “dies” is in fact in a process of transformation and will re-emerge as life in another form – the Phoenix rising from the ashes of its former self. Pluto symbols are powerfully represented in the natural world – the snake shedding its skin to allow for the next phase of growth.

Pluto represents the slow moving but very powerful force of evolutionary change, both in the life (lives) of an individual and in the evolution of humanity of planet earth. It is the force that ensures that life does not stagnate, that it is constantly processing towards greater vitality.

Pluto has travelled through the sign of Sagittarius from 1995 – 2008 and completes its visit to Sagittarius in November 2008.

In January 1995, Pluto symbol of the underworld entered the sign of Sagittarius, sign of the teacher, lawgiver, shaman, humorist and traveller. Sagittarius also rules contact with foreigners and foreign cultures, with the myriad of racial and religious encounters and differences this brings. Sagittarius is the centaur; half human, half animal. It is the sign that rules the integration of opposites.
Pluto in Sagittarius is not a comfortable mix, the boisterous enthusiasm and extravagant opinions of Sagittarius making an uneasy cocktail with the fixed attitudes and love of secrecy claimed by Pluto. Nonetheless, Sagittarius brings with it a vision that must be transformed into reality, Pluto then provides the driving power and impact experiences for this to take place.
Pluto last visited the domain of Sagittarian integration in 1748 once again moving closest to out earth and the Sun. With Pluto in Sagittarius until November 2008, our ideas, practices, beliefs and needs in the realms of law, philosophy, culture, religion, race and spiritual experience, will be broken down and then polarised into component parts, so that birth can begin and thus complete the process of transformation.
We will emerge from this era with a set of expanded ideas and practices about who we are with regards to nation and culture, race and religion, law and custom.
This will possibly come through the dividing of our societies into their component and opposing parts we may see culture and belief pitched against one another, the differences being clearly defined. There we will find a new point of integration where the apparent opposites can meet in harmony. The emergence of the new requires the death of many of the old ways of seeing things and doing things. New concepts and ideals emerge.
Visionary Leadership will have its part to play in this process, as will a new and rampant individualism, for the double sided nature of the sign of Sagittarius gives rise to both.
In the sign of the Centaur we have the charismatic leader of religion or politics, as well as the wild individual who will accept no leadership at all. All around us we will see the eruptions of race and religion.


Through History in the years AD this is the ninth transit of Pluto through Sagittarius. In this era the underworld icon first made its way through the sign of the centaur from 26AD to 42AD.
Here we have some of the classic patterns of its journey. Sagittarius rules the beliefs and practices of religious and political conviction.
In 26 AD the government of Rome was in the grip of a secret battle that would determine the future course of the empire. 26 AD saw Pontius Pilate appointed as Roman procurator, Four years later the mystic we know as Jesus Christ began his ministry, spending times teaching of the doctrines of universal love, peace and compassion – Sagittarian themes of the highest order. His ministry ended in trial, and cruxifixction and death, followed by myths of his resurrection and imminent return. It was Rome that brought Christ to his death, not the Jews as Christian myth would have us believe – for Pilate was a governor renowned for his merciless treatment of any threat to civil order. Here is the transit of Pluto through Sagittarius was enshrined the essential story of the life of Christ.
26AD – 42AD
272AD – 287AD?
517AD – 533AD
763AD – 778AD
11TH CENTURY
1255AD – 1270AD
1502AD -1517AD
1748AD – 1762AD
1995AD – 2008AD

Whatever sign Pluto travels through it activates the theme of transformation, highlighting what needs to be reconstructed and transcended. It will do this with the theme or value system of each sign as it makes its journey through the heavens. Where it goes it cleans up. Pulling towards the light all that has not been seen.

On a Personal Level

Since 1995 Sagittarians have had Pluto transiting ( or moving through their Sun’s sign) Your Sun represents your sense of self, when Pluto comes along to meet up with the same degree as the Sun in your chart you experience transformation in your life, this transformation is Pluto’s designated role. It brings to the surface level that which needs to see the light.

Geminis will also have been experiencing this as Sagittarius is their opposite sign, They will have had Pluto opposing their Sun, sometime from 1995 to 2008, depending on how late in the sign their birthday falls)
For example if your birthday is on the first day of Sagittarius 22nd November, then your Sun will be at 1 degree Sagittarius and you would have experienced the Pluto transit of your Sun in 1995. If your birthday is on the 6th December, approx half way through the Sagittarius period (22nd Nov to 22nd Dec) then your Sun will be at approx 15 degrees and you would have experienced Pluto transiting your Sun in 2001 (Half way through the 30 degrees each sign has).

Pluto transits ultimately brings profound inner transformation. The house (or life area) your Sun is in your birth chart indicates the arena in which this transformation takes place for you. As with all things being open to the necessary change allows the flow to move you.

Ensha