Pluto

Origin and discovery

Pluto was astronomically discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. In 2006 the IAU reclassified it as a "dwarf planet" — but in astrology it kept its full status: in symbolic terms, the Pluto archetype is too important to demote. Its name comes from Pluto, Roman god of the underworld (Greek Hades), and was suggested by Venetia Burney, a then-11-year-old British girl.

Astrologically, before its discovery Scorpio was ruled by Mars. The discovery synchronicity is significant: Pluto appeared shortly before the rise of fascism, the discovery of nuclear fission, the Great Depression and World War II. That is why astrologers associated it with mass power, deep transformations, the abysmal unconscious, life-and-death issues. Scorpio, sign of the depths, found its modern ruler in Pluto.

What Pluto rules

Pluto represents radical transformation: ego death and rebirth, deep psychotherapeutic processes, descent to the unconscious, integration of the shadow, intense crises that make you another person. Also: hidden power, taboos (sex, death, money, the occult), magic, alchemy, kundalini, regenerative energy, eros and thanatos. It is the most intense planet — where it touches you, you experience absolute things.

In shadow: obsession, jealousy, vengeance, abuse of power, manipulation, paranoia, destructive control, neurotic compulsions, addictions, criminality. Pluto takes 248 years to traverse the zodiac (between 12 and 30 years per sign, due to its eccentric orbit): clearly generational marker. Its transit over your chart produces the deepest crises of life — but also the most transformative.

Pluto in your chart

Pluto describes generational energies: the personal is in its house and aspects. Pluto in House I = intense personality, magnetic, transformative. Pluto in House VIII (its natural house) = vocation for the deep, healing, intense sexuality. Pluto in House X = transformative public power, vocation that involves life and death (medicine, psychology, justice). Its aspects to personal planets describe how transformation enters your life.