Pluto is in Aquarius!

Tips for those who have Saturn in this zodiac sign

Hi there!

I have big news for you today. 

Some astrologers hype up quite common events, such as a New Moon or Full Moon, to sell you something different every month. 

But the ingress of Pluto into Aquarius is HUGE. 

We did have two little previews of this transit because Pluto visited Aquarius in the following dates: 

• From March 23rd of 2023 until June 11th of 2023

• From January 20th 2024 until September 1st of 2024 

In those occasions, Pluto only stayed in the degrees 0 and 1 of Aquarius before retrograding back to Capricorn. 

Now is different. 

Pluto arrived at Aquarius on November 19th of 2024 and it won’t leave this sign until 2043. 

It will retrograde because it retrogrades every year. But always in Aquarius for almost 20 years. 

The Aquarius part of your chart will be UTTERLY TRANSFORMED by this transit. Specially if you have planets or angles in Aquarius. 

Since my focus is the planet Saturn and the Saturn return, I’ll offer some tips for those (like me!) who have their natal Saturn in Aquarius. 

But first, some astrological theory thanks to Richard Tarnas’ book Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View. 

The discovery of Pluto 

Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. 

In the decades surrounding Pluto’s discovery, and in the 20th century in general, these are some of the significant events that Tarnas mentions: 

• Splitting of the atom and the unleashing of nuclear power

• Technological empowerment of modern industries and military forces

• Rise of fascism and other mass movements

• Cultural influence of evolutionary theory and psychoanalysis 

• Increased sexual and erotic expression in society and the arts

• Intensified activity and public awareness of the criminal underworld

• Driven mass violence and catastrophic historical developments, such as the world wars, the holocaust, and the threat of nuclear annihilation and ecological devastation 

These events correlate synchronistically with the meanings attributed to the planet Pluto in astrology. 

Archetypes and deities connected to Pluto 

Pluto is the god of the underworld in Roman mythology. The name fits the planet like a glove.  

Its symbolic characteristics also resemble those of the Greek god Hades and the figure of Dionysus. 

For the Greeks, Hades and Dionysus were closely associated. The myth of Persephone and Hades is very representative of Pluto’s qualities. 

The archetype connected with the planet Pluto also includes many significant deities outside the ones already mentioned. 

Pluto is linked with myths of descent and transformation and deities of destruction, regeneration, death, and rebirth. 

Some of these deities are: 

• Shiva

• Kali

• Shakti 

• Pan

• Medusa

• Lilith

• Innana

• Isis

• Osiris

• Pele

• Quetzalcoatl

Pluto’s meanings

Pluto intensifies whatever it touches, sometimes to catastrophic extremes. This is why it is connected with volcanoes, volcanic eruptions, and the power within the Earth.   

This planet also deals with the biological processes of birth, sex, and death. It’s connected with bodily fluids and the cycle of death and rebirth.  

Some plutonic experiences include the violent discharge of pent-up energies, purifying fires, purges, life-and-death situations, and power struggles. The more titanic, potent, and massive these events are, the more present Pluto is. 

Pluto represents the underworld and underground in all senses, such as geological, instinctual, social, sexual, urban, criminal, and mythological.  

The terrifying reality that lurks beneath the surface of things like the ego or societal conventions belongs to Pluto’s realm. When that reality is unleashed with destructive and transformative force, Pluto is behind those actions. 

Pluto compels, burns, consumes, transmutes, kills, and resurrects. 

All the archetypes associated with Pluto embody the powerful forces that emerge from nature’s chthonic depths. 

Nea Kameni, a volcanic island in Greece

Pluto’s themes 

1. Power

2. Depth

3. Intensity

4. Transformation

5. Research

6. Alchemy

7. Mystery

8. Taboo

9. Darkness

10. Shadow

11. Self-examination

12. Compulsion

13. Empowerment

14. Instinct

15. Libido

16. Aggression

17. Trauma

18. Destruction

19. Regeneration

20. Catharsis

21. Elimination 

22. Evolution

23. Intensification

24. Upheaval

25. Breakdown

26. Decay

27. Fertilization

28. Purge

29. Purification 

30. Discharge

Meanwhile, these are Saturn’s meanings

The meanings connected with planet Saturn are very different from those of Pluto. 

Some of Saturn’s keywords are resistance, patience, structure, limits, boundaries, and limitations. 

If you want to review Saturn’s meanings, check out this text: Saturn’s Themes and Their Activation During The Saturn Return

Pluto by transit conjunct the natal Saturn 

In his book Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living, Robert Hand explains what could happen when Pluto by transit conjuncts your natal Saturn. 

If you have Saturn in Aquarius, you should keep reading. 

Hand states that this transit can denote a rather stressful period. 

While Pluto is the force of inevitable transformation, Saturn is the resistance to such transformation. 

You can expect significant changes experienced only after considerable difficulty in several areas. 

These are some possible manifestations of Pluto by transit in conjunction to your natal Saturn: 

• Intensified struggle

• Clash between resistance and transformation

• Psychological breakthroughs

• Structural regeneration

• Lessons in scarcity and self-reliance

Pluto by transit in conjunction to the natal Saturn is challenging, and it offers profound and transformative growth opportunities. 

However, the opportunities can only be achieved by surrendering old structures and embracing new ones.

So how can you do that? Keep reading, babe!

8 tips for people who have Saturn in Aquarius 

If you have Saturn in Aquarius, here are some ideas for you to navigate the period of Pluto by transit in conjunction with your natal Saturn: 

1. Find empowerment in limitation

Whether internal or external, limitations are not blocks but catalysts for empowerment. Work within your boundaries, and recognize how constraints can help you discover hidden strength and determination. List things you can eliminate from your life because they have served their purpose. Then, start getting rid of them one by one. 

2. Cultivate patience for slow transformation

Instead of seeking rapid change, allow for gradual, deep transformations. Let go of the urge to rush through the discomfort. Slow and steady progress will lead to more lasting changes in your life’s structure. If you struggle to embrace the slow life, start meditating. 

3. Face your fears and your shadow

This period often forces you to confront your deepest fears and unresolved trauma. Rather than avoiding these uncomfortable feelings, acknowledge and work through them. This process can lead to powerful psychological breakthroughs. Check Carl Jung’s work about the shadow, and do some free journaling. 

4. Let go of old structures

Release outdated habits, beliefs, and structures that no longer serve your growth. Surrendering to change will create space for transformation. Instead, resistance to change will only extend your suffering. Trusting that letting go of what’s no longer necessary will make room for a new reality is paramount. The book Letting Go: The Pathway To Surrender could be a useful tool to do it. 

5. Build resilience through adversity

Pluto-Saturn transits test your ability to handle adversity. Instead of viewing challenges as obstacles, see them as opportunities to build resilience and develop inner strength. These difficult experiences ultimately strengthen your foundation. Yoga or strength training will help you gain the body resilience needed to deal with other types of challenges. 

6. Prepare for structural rebirth

Expect a breakdown of familiar structures in your life, including relationships, careers, or personal beliefs. While this can be disorienting, trust that this deconstruction is needed for a more resilient foundation. When you feel overwhelmed, take some deep breaths and ground yourself by putting your feet on the grass. 

7. Adapt to scarcity and self-reliance

This transit may bring periods of scarcity or loss in areas you once relied upon for security. Embrace these challenges as lessons in self-reliance and resourcefulness. Learning to thrive with less will increase your resilience. Minimalism can give you tools to organize your existence within certain limits by focusing on what you truly value.  

8. Trust in the timing of change

The transformation unfolding during this period is occurring at the right pace. Rushing the process may result in unfinished or unstable growth. Patience. To get inspired, consume material about people who went through hardships. The movie Nyad comes to mind. 

These tips are inspired by Tarnas’ focus on deep psychological processes and Hand’s emphasis on personal transformation. 

Which ones will you implement? Let me know in the comments! 

How long does this transit last?!

You will start feeling this transit when Pluto is one degree away from your natal Saturn. 

Then, the peak of the transit will occur when Pluto is at the same degree as your natal Saturn. 

And it will release its grip when Pluto gets one degree away from the degree of your natal Saturn. 

Outer planets usually have three (and sometimes more) exact hits over a couple of years. The whole transit will last for two years, but it won’t be always pressing. 

You can use Astro Seek’s calculator to see the dates. Have your birth chart handy to look at the exact degree of your natal Saturn.  In “Planet,” you have to choose Pluto. In the degrees, you must put the degree, minute, and second of your natal Saturn. 

Final thoughts 

Tarnas states that periods of crisis serve to build enduring psychological foundations for the future. These periods' deprivations, losses, and hard work pushed individuals out of an old form of life and into a new one. 

However, this can only be seen in retrospect. 

The new was not visible during the transit. The grim realities of hardship and oppression, contraction, and decline were in evidence. No glimpses of hope.  

But resilient people kept going. 

Resilient people ALWAYS keep going, even in the darkest of times. Just because we can’t see the light now that doesn’t mean it won’t emerge soon. 

I have written this for myself, too. I have Saturn in Aquarius and I need the reminder to keep going. 

So, let’s embrace the difficulties, trust in the long-term changes, and allow yourselves to be shaped by whatever transformation Pluto brings to our metaphorical doors. 

Thanks for reading and until next Monday!

With love, 

Valentina