Top 5 Themes for Pluto in Aquarius

 

On March 23, 2023 Pluto will move into the sign of Aquarius, where he will be (with the exception of a brief retrograde visit back into Capricorn June 11 2023 - January 20 2024) for the next twenty years. Pluto, being on the outer limits of the solar system, has a very slow cycle. It takes him 248 years to go all the way around the zodiac. Due to his elliptical orbit, the time he spends in each sign may vary, but to put things in perspective, Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008, and the last time he was in Aquarius was 1778 – 1798.

 

Pluto & Aquarius from the Astro Codes Oracle

 

 

Pluto sign changes tend to define the generation born within it. For example Pluto in Scorpio (1983 – 1995) is the Millennial generation, Pluto in Sagittarius (1996 – 2008) is Gen Z, and Pluto in Capricorn (2008 – 2023) the Alphas. His cycle is so slow moving he will appear in the same sign as those in your age group. However where he appears in your personal birth chart and the aspects he makes, will change how Pluto affects you personally.

 

Pluto is the planet that rules, power, death, transition and the hidden shadow. Pluto is change and endings over time. While Uranus marks sudden changes, Pluto’s changes are slow, but they are the kind there is no going back from. When Pluto changes something, it’s for good. When Pluto went into Capricorn in 2008, we saw the banking and housing crisis, the rise of more populist and fascist style leaderships, and literal and figurative wall building. This is because Capricorn rules boundaries, governments, and big business. The power of government and corporate interests was highlighted, as was the shadow of that power and the way it has been misused and abused. The Pluto in Capricorn years also saw more nationalist movements like Brexit and the MAGA campaign in the US, where governments sought to isolate themselves and consolidate power in the hands of a few. The Capricornian restrictions and boundaries were especially apparent during the pandemic, where we had to be physically separate from each other, lest Pluto (death) visit us.

 

Pluto now moves into a 20 year period where he will bring his transformative energies into the sign of Aquarius. Some clues as to the themes of the next 20 years lie in looking at the meaning of Aquarius, and to look at previous Pluto in Aquarius years. Aquarius is an air sign, ushering in an era of new ideas, technology and inspiration. It is also a sign of humanitarianism, community and friendship. On the more negative side it can be a sign of rebellion, revolution and one that throws out the old merely for the sake of it.

 

Here are my top 5 themes I am expecting to see for the Pluto in Aquarius years.

 

1. Revolution  - The last Pluto in Aquarius years (1778 – 1798) saw the French Revolution, the Haitian Revolution and the aftermath of the American Revolution. While Capricorn is the era of the ruling class, Aquarius is about the people underneath them. The French Revolution saw a rejection of the upper class who were living in luxury while the majority of people were facing food shortages and poverty. The Haitian revolution was an uprising of enslaved people against those who exploited them. With the growing gap between the rich and poor during the Capricorn years, expect to see uprisings against authoritarian and exploitative powers. Aquarius after all is a sign of power in the hands of community. Whether these revolutions are as violent and disruptive as they have been in the past, or will be more of a slow cultural change over this 20 year span, remains to be seen.

 

2. Rebellion – A revolution can quickly turn bad if it does not have a clear end goal or sense of moderation, as witnessed during the French Revolution. What started as a revolution to overthrow the French nobility, devolved into the Terror. Hundreds of French people lost their lives to the guillotine during the years of 1793 -94. Aquarius is a rebellious sign that likes to go its own way and can get carried away with an idea. After all it is a fixed sign, and once an idea takes hold, it becomes hard to let go of it, even when that idea tuns sour. Rebellion with a cause can move things forward, but rebellion just for the sake of it can have disastrous results. The years coming up may see more rebellion against old ways from those who are younger. Expect to see old ways and established norms turned upside down. However an interesting side result is that after overthrowing the old, the new group finds themselves to be the establishment and can face rebellion from those younger than them.

 

3. Technology – While technology has always been a factor in change, expect to see the pace of technological change speed up even more over the next 20 years. The last period of Pluto in Aquarius, 1778 – 1798 saw the start of the Industrial Revolution, which had profound changes on society. The invention of the steam engine changed everything from being able to travel faster due to trains and steam boats, to being able to increase the production of goods through their use in factories. Because of this our relationship with work changed and we saw an increase in urbanization as people moved into cities to provide labour for the factories. With the advancement of AI technologies, bio integration and who knows what other new technology, our relationship with work and how we structure society may be irrevocably changed.

 

4. Community – Aquarius is also the sign that rules communities, friendships and large groups of people. It is about the collective, all of us together, rather than as individuals. Perhaps another change we may see is an emphasis on community responsibility and collective welfare. Ideas like the 15 minute city, designed to make urban areas more livable and cut down on emissions, as well as minimum income, may become more popular in the coming years. One trend we are already seeing is the increase of friends buying homes together as home ownership gets more expensive in many areas. There may be a willingness to think differently about types of communal living arrangements.

 

5. The Air – Aquarius is a fixed air sign, moving us away from the earthy energy of Capricorn. During the last Pluto in Aquarius years, hot air balloons were first used by Napoleon for reconnaissance during battle. It is possible that we may see advancements over the next twenty years in air travel, and in using aircraft and drones in battle. Drones may also become a technology used for delivery and other services. Another way I expect to see the theme of air is in a focus on air quality and reducing air pollution. As we find more sustainable environmental practices, I hope these years will help us to change our air quality for the better.

 

While some of these possible manifestations of Pluto in Aquarius may seem scary and dramatic, these are only possibilities. It is up to us collectively to decide how we want to use the energies in a positive way that improves things for everyone and the planet . It is also important to remember that while themes do repeat, they are not going to happen the same way they did in the past. They will take on their own flavour of the times we are currently living in. Pluto may rule death and the hidden darkness, but he also brings truth to light and helps us all to shed the things that are outworn and no longer useful.   

 

On a more personal level it can be helpful to look at your birth chart to see what house or area of the chart Aquarius is to see where these changes may be playing out for you personally. If you do not know your chart or are looking for a consultation for what Saturn in Capricorn and Pluto in Aquarius mean for you, you can book a session with me. You can also check out my Patreon for detailed weekly astrology reports and tarotscopes to help you plan your week using the astrological weather.

Saturn in Pisces Top 5 Themes

On Tuesday March 07, Saturn moves into the sign of Pisces, where he will be until February 26, 2026 (with a brief period in Aries May 24 – Aug. 31 2025). Saturn changes signs every two and a half to three years, and takes 29.5 years to complete his cycle around the zodiac. The last time he was in Pisces was 1993 – 96. So get ready for some themes from 30 years or so ago to repeat themselves again.

Saturn is the planet of rules, boundaries, limitations and discipline. He isn’t the most fun or easy planet to get along with, and we often struggle with Saturn issues when we are younger. What teenager likes rules and limitations? That’s why first Saturn returns (a return is when a planet returns back to the original point in a birth chart) at around 28-30 years can be so difficult. When we are in our teens and twenties we want to have fun and party, and then Saturn turns up to say its time to clean up all the empty cups, pick up the trash, and peel our sleeping friends off the couch to tell them to go home. We tend to think of Saturn as a killjoy, and it only as we get older that we appreciate him for teaching us discipline and that the best rewards are the ones that come from hard work. He teaches us accomplishment, character and resiliency. Things we usually don’t appreciate until we are older.

 

Since March of 2020 (and we all know what happened that month). Saturn has been in the sign of Aquarius, a sign that rules community, friendship, technology and innovation. The last three years have brought restrictions to our ability to get together with friends or with our community. We have all experienced lockdowns and mask mandates, travel restrictions and had to forgo large events. This time has also encouraged us to be disciplined and vigilant in order to protect the health and well-being of the more vulnerable in our communities. And no matter which side of the debate you are on, it feels like everyone has lost friends during the past few difficult years of Saturn in Aquarius. We also had to learn to use technology to connect with each other. There was an upsurge in use of platforms like TikTok and we all became familiar with endless Teams and Zoom meetings. While the technology was a blessing, it also showed us its limitations. Many of us suffered from Zoom fatigue and found that nothing can replace the hug of a loved one. We also learned more about how social media has been used to manipulate, misinform and even spy on us. 

 

For many the move from Aquarius into Pisces will bring a much needed shift in energy. It’s helpful to look back on the period Saturn was last in Pisces 1993 – 96 to get some ideas of how this energy will play out this time.  Pisces rules art, music, dance, photography, spirituality and romance. I also rules the ocean, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, drugs and alcohol Below are the top 5 themes Saturn in Pisces will bring to the next couple of years. 

1. The Return of the Poet

The last Saturn in Pisces period of the early to mid 90s is best remembered for grunge music and fashion. It drew on the previous Saturn in Pisces era of  1964 - 67. This was a time of flower power and the hippie movement starting to take off. Grunge was known for its “poor sad me” attitude, making depression and melancholy look romantic. It was a period of baggy jeans, old cardigans and unkempt greasy hair. Everyone wanted to be a sad plaid dressed guitar player. The period before in the 60s was also a time of long flowing hair, folk music, and bright coloured prints. The music expressed the emotions and sensitivities of the that time too. Expect the echos of both the grunge and hippy music in art, music, and fashion.

2. Groundbreaking Art and Music

The last two Saturn in Pisces eras brought big changes to popular music. The mid 60s saw the British Invasion with Beatlemania, the Rolling Stones and other UK acts. Rock music got edgier and folk music brought more of a consciousness to political issues. In the 90s grunge brought the excesses and glitter of the 80s to an end. Suddenly every band was “alternative”. It wasn’t just in music, in television the 60s brought colour tv into our homes and the 90s brought an upsurge in cable networks available. Saturn in Pisces eras tend to make for game changing art and music. 

3. Save the Whales

Environmental issues related to the oceans often come to the public awareness during Saturn in Pisces years. In 1993 the Free Willy movie was released, making millions of kids aware of the plight of captured marine animals. In 1966 Jacques Cousteau’s documentary series brought the mysteries of the ocean deep into people’s living rooms. On a lighter note Flipper, a fictional tv show about a helpful dolphin also found popularity at this time. Expect to see more awareness around the ocean, marine life and water conservation. 

4. Experimentation with Drugs

The 1993 - 97 period was the beginning of the movement to legalize pot in the US and Canada and saw an increase in its usage. It was also the era of  “heroin chic” which tended to romanticize this highly addictive drug. In the 60s experimentation with LSD (invented in 1938 during the previous Saturn in Pisces period) and with other drugs became a part of the growing counter culture movement. Expect either a normalization of, or further experimentation with psychedelics and other drugs to become more common. 

5. Big Changes for Russia

 This isn’t so much related to Pisces as it is to the conjunction of Saturn with Neptune in 2026. Every time Saturn and Neptune conjunct Russia sees big changes. The last time this occurred the Soviet Union ended, the time before that Stalin died, and the time before that was the Russian Revolution. This conjunction occurs in Pisces this time. Who knows what major change will occur in Russia this time, but big change is on the way. 

Saturn in Pisces years are ones that can be great for making art as they bring discipline to creative pursuits. It’s also a time that can see expected boundaries break down and the dissolving of previous norms and expectations.