You may have heard people referring to planets in retrograde before. Perhaps it was Mercury, as his retrograde movements are quite notorious for causing all sorts of problems and miscommunications. Retrogrades happen more often than you would think, and simply refers to the period where a planet appears to be moving backwards in the sky. With all the Planets representing different aspects to life and humanity, and being situated in different areas of the sky, every retrograde will have a different meaning and will affect us differently.
Pluto will station retrograde on 25th April 2020 at 24°59’ of Capricorn, and will station direct on 4th October 2020 at 22°29′ of Capricorn. Whilst Pluto goes retrograde every year, this retrograde period will be particularly significant considering it takes place in the power and structure oriented Capricorn, during a time where we’re all concerned about the unknown regarding the Corona Virus outbreak. Pluto’s retrograde period shows that there will be a large emphasis on all that is in the shadows behind power structures, death, destruction and protest all the way up until October.
This retrograde offers us the chance to reflect on all areas of life in which we seek to control or are being dominated by, as we purge all that isn’t good for our soul growth.
Pluto Rx in Capricorn
Pluto himself has significant astrological influence, representing all that lies beneath the shadows. He causes mandatory demolition in our lives in order for us to transform and be reborn. Pluto is a very slow moving planet, taking around 248 years to complete his orbit. This means that he dominates long periods of our lives at a time; his annual retrograde period usually lasts around five months.
Of course, Pluto as a planet is in no way entirely negative, but he’s often feared because of the destruction that he brings along in order to better our lives, and steer us onto the right path of personal growth. He is associated with death and rebirth, obsession and the naked truth, and acts as a reminder that discomfort is necessary in order for deep and beneficial change to occur. Pluto retrogrades force us to come face-to-face with the darkest parts of our subconscious, which can often cause existential crises. He eliminates all that isn’t good in our lives in order for us to detox and take back our power.
When transiting Pluto is in Capricorn, we are focused on wider society as much as we are watchful of ourselves. Capricorn is heavily connected to the themes of power, structure, reputation and status. This transit will be a catalyst for global transformation, and in the coming months, we will witness secrets that are hidden behind powerful and public figures and systems coming to the light. Nothing can truly be hidden from the powerful presence of Pluto’s retrograde in Capricorn, and the truths that powerful people have tried to bury will be unearthed. On a personal level, it will feel like a natural response to resist Pluto’s volcanic and intense energies at first, by holding onto our perceptions of who we are and life as we know it. But it’s only once we surrender ourselves to this transit that we will begin to uproot all the parts of ourselves that require evolution, and allow our consciousness to shift.
Pluto Conjunct Jupiter
Jupiter and Pluto have formed a strong conjunction at 1.7° and will do so again in a second conjunction on 30th June 2020 at 0.1°. When these two planets form a conjunction, Jupiter shines a light of optimism onto our experience, and allows us to deeply evolve spiritually. When Jupiter and Pluto’s energies combine, particularly in Capricorn, we aren’t just highly ambitions, but we’re curating our own luck when faced with obstacles. Our ideas aren’t always concrete, and we may be encouraged by materialism and recognition more than anything else, inevitably leaving room for greed and jealousy.
We will experience major changes regarding law and politics. The foundations of our society are about to shift, and we may all face internal challenges when trying to re-align ourselves with these new ways of life. Even after we have passed through this pandemic and global shift, life will certainly be different. There is a severe amount of distrust between the people and societies most powerful figures during this time. They may feel inclined to bury the truth, and keep things in the shadows for as long as possible. But under Pluto’s influence, what’s hidden will always be brought to light, and secrets won’t be kept for very long.
Our fear of the unknown is heightened during this retrograde, which isn’t ideal when so much information about this global pandemic remains in the shadows. There will be an increased fear of death, or even a strong belief that parts of us have already died due to all the things we have had to let go of. We may become obsessive, finding particular words said regarding the virus to be triggering, or causing an increase in our anxieties. The selfishness and greed of society will be heightened, as as everyone will feel a sense of victimisation and an urge to fend for themselves.
Pay close attention to the areas in which these conjunction fall in your chart, particularly if you have any planets between 20-27° of Capricorn, as you will experience major transformations in these areas.
Pluto Square Mars
The affects of Pluto’s retrograde will be long and slow. But towards the end, we will experience two significant squares between Pluto in Capricorn and Mars in Aries (the first taking place on 13th August 2020, and the second on 4th October 2020). Both Capricorn and Aries are cardinal, action driven and dynamic signs. They are two of the zodiac’s biggest ‘go-getters’. Unafraid to exert their forces and grasp hold of exactly what it is that they want from life.
When these two planets square off on 13th August 2020, we will be more prone to facing clashes of power and confrontation. There will be an intense need to control the masses, and to exert power and influence many. Powerful figures may come across as forceful and thirsty for domination. Rather than playing it safe, we will be openly challenged by people during this time and our ego’s will face a few bruises. We’re not only waiting and wishing for change during this transit, we are demanding it, and won’t shy away from going out there and doing whatever we can to set things in motion ourselves.
In our personal lives, we’re striving to climb the ladder and and attain power (or symbols of achievement) in any way that we can. By repressing these urges to take action, we may develop pent up feelings of aggression that we exert over those around us. However, if we aren’t careful, we may come across as intimidating to others or even domineering if we lose control, refuse to back down from those who challenge us, or push boundaries (or even ourselves) further than they need to be pushed. We ought to control our urges when we feel constrained or provoked, and practice releasing our internal tensions through healthier channels.