Digging for treasure
Pluto is often considered one of the most difficult planets in the astrological cosmos, symbolising as it does the process of death and rebirth, transformation, and the hidden side of ourselves. Astromoners have even tried to hide it by reducing it to a dwarf planet, which says something about our willingness to deal with our collective inner darkness. Pluto is on my mind right now as transiting Pluto is squaring my natal Pluto, one of a series of challenging transits which we all experience between the ages of 35 and 45. It starts with Saturn squaring its own natal position (I had that one last year), Neptune will also square its natal position and transiting Uranus opposes natal Uranus. There's a Saturn opposition at the end of all that too. This period is well-known as the astrological version of the mid-life crisis that we all go through around this age, and it's often a time when we find ourselves confronting issues which have their roots in our Saturn return, around the age of 29, as well as those old outdated patterns of being which go right back to our childhood.
There's no avoiding it, Pluto can be a difficult energy to deal with. Transformation is all very well, but its never a painless process, and we've been alive long enough now for those negative patterns to become really entrenched. Pluto rules all those things we like to disown in ourselves - death, decay, our negative thinking, self-worth-denying, power-giving-away shadow side. So Pluto transits can be a difficult time, when life conspires to make us face up to ourselves, to dig deep, get honest and look the painful stuff in the face. Pluto also symbolises power, so we can find control issues coming up around this time, whether we give our power away, hoard it for ourselves to the detriment of those around us, or use our best control freakery to give ourselves the illusion of it. Pluto, known as Hades in greek mythology, rules the underworld, where its dark and cold and enclosed. Pluto transits often propel us into situations we would not have chosen - in most versions of the story, Persephone is abducted by Hades against her will. We may find ourselves in a situation where we are denying our authentic self, just like the maiden of spring ending up as Queen of the Underworld. We can end up feeling trapped and claustrophic.
But Pluto is also the planet of hidden wealth, of precious metals and fossil fuels. By digging deep into our psyches, we unearth our own hidden treasure, turn the shadow into a shining authentic sense of self. Under a Pluto transit, this is not only advisable, but necessary. Pluto comes along to tell you that its time to put your money where your mouth is, to make the changes you need, to allow the transformation to happen. There can be a sense of grief during a Pluto transit, whether from actual losses in your life or simply from an awareness of old wounds re-surfacing. Pluto is an intense energy, and some of what you dig up might be deeply entrenched anger, pain, frustration. The trick, as ever, is to use that energy - I'm finding the best way to work through it is to get on with something, to take action. Pluto transits tell you to stop procrastinating, to unearth that true and perfect self who is within you, however deeply buried, and acknowledge whatever led her to be buried in the first place. You can't transform something until you have named it, understood it. The process can be frustrating, and seem never-ending, because this is transformation as a clearing of the way. The new is not ready yet, but an awareness of what that new self might be helps you to use the intense Plutonic energy to work towards it. It's hard work, but I can feel the space opening up inside me, the potential and possibility of it. You can't force the change, but you can be open to it. The key to using a Pluto transit is empowerment, finding your power-from-within and accepting it. There may be painful situations in your life which you are stuck with for now, but you can work towards changing them, controlling what you can and working to accept the rest.
It helps to be gentle with yourself, to let the difficult emotions flow out and away, to accept them and let them go. Physical activity can help to release the intense energy (and avoid anxiety-induced insomnia). Accepting your own power and strength, and working to be aware of how you use them, will also help. Most of all I'm finding that when the claustrophobia gets too much, you have to balance it, to do whatever makes your soul fly free. So that one day soon, you can break out of the depths for good.
There's no avoiding it, Pluto can be a difficult energy to deal with. Transformation is all very well, but its never a painless process, and we've been alive long enough now for those negative patterns to become really entrenched. Pluto rules all those things we like to disown in ourselves - death, decay, our negative thinking, self-worth-denying, power-giving-away shadow side. So Pluto transits can be a difficult time, when life conspires to make us face up to ourselves, to dig deep, get honest and look the painful stuff in the face. Pluto also symbolises power, so we can find control issues coming up around this time, whether we give our power away, hoard it for ourselves to the detriment of those around us, or use our best control freakery to give ourselves the illusion of it. Pluto, known as Hades in greek mythology, rules the underworld, where its dark and cold and enclosed. Pluto transits often propel us into situations we would not have chosen - in most versions of the story, Persephone is abducted by Hades against her will. We may find ourselves in a situation where we are denying our authentic self, just like the maiden of spring ending up as Queen of the Underworld. We can end up feeling trapped and claustrophic.
But Pluto is also the planet of hidden wealth, of precious metals and fossil fuels. By digging deep into our psyches, we unearth our own hidden treasure, turn the shadow into a shining authentic sense of self. Under a Pluto transit, this is not only advisable, but necessary. Pluto comes along to tell you that its time to put your money where your mouth is, to make the changes you need, to allow the transformation to happen. There can be a sense of grief during a Pluto transit, whether from actual losses in your life or simply from an awareness of old wounds re-surfacing. Pluto is an intense energy, and some of what you dig up might be deeply entrenched anger, pain, frustration. The trick, as ever, is to use that energy - I'm finding the best way to work through it is to get on with something, to take action. Pluto transits tell you to stop procrastinating, to unearth that true and perfect self who is within you, however deeply buried, and acknowledge whatever led her to be buried in the first place. You can't transform something until you have named it, understood it. The process can be frustrating, and seem never-ending, because this is transformation as a clearing of the way. The new is not ready yet, but an awareness of what that new self might be helps you to use the intense Plutonic energy to work towards it. It's hard work, but I can feel the space opening up inside me, the potential and possibility of it. You can't force the change, but you can be open to it. The key to using a Pluto transit is empowerment, finding your power-from-within and accepting it. There may be painful situations in your life which you are stuck with for now, but you can work towards changing them, controlling what you can and working to accept the rest.
It helps to be gentle with yourself, to let the difficult emotions flow out and away, to accept them and let them go. Physical activity can help to release the intense energy (and avoid anxiety-induced insomnia). Accepting your own power and strength, and working to be aware of how you use them, will also help. Most of all I'm finding that when the claustrophobia gets too much, you have to balance it, to do whatever makes your soul fly free. So that one day soon, you can break out of the depths for good.