On March 23rd, 2023, Pluto moved out of Capricorn and began its journey through the sign of Aquarius. To celebrate this new beginning, Keren Brown and I created a gathering for our online communities, Dancing Down the Moon and WiseWomans Way. Being such a momentous juncture, we opened the live call to anyone—the replay is available in our communities.
It was a very poignant moment for me as 15 years ago, when Pluto moved into Capricorn, we had a similar gathering at the Temple for Sacred Arts in Cairo. At that time we spoke about Pluto and Capricorn and what this transit might bring. In retrospect, that gathering was far more powerful than I ever could have imagined. The last 15 years have been challenging, but going into it with eyes open and knowing where the challenges would be coming from or what Pluto might be trying to teach us made us feel less helpless.
Astrology and Mythology
Astrology and Mythology have been used for centuries as tools for self-exploration. It can be seen as a way to gain insight into our innermost thoughts and feelings and understand the world around us. They provide guidance in times of confusion and help us make sense of our experiences. We can discover hidden truths about ourselves and our place in the universe by looking at these celestial bodies.
Studying ancient myths can uncover deeper meanings about life’s purpose and relationships. With this knowledge, we can better understand who we are and our purpose in life.
These are such powerful tools because both are based on archetypes—something the famous psychologist Carl Jung explored deeply. Archetypes touch us on the deep level of the collective unconscious. In astrology, the outer planets (Pluto, Uranus, Neptune) are less about personal aspects and more about the collective.
Pluto: Our Karmic Teacher
Pluto’s orbit around the sun takes approximately 250 years (give or take, it is elliptical, not a circle). Pluto represents collective transformation, or as Stephen Arroyo calls it, “mass karma.” It is the archetype of the dark sister, Hades, or the Underworld. Our place of deep, hidden, untapped power—often described as chthonic energy.
Chthonic energy is an ancient and powerful form of energy hidden away in the depths of the Underworld. This dark power is often associated with the mysterious figure of Hades, who ruled over the realm of the dead.
The dark sister archetype is also an ancient concept that has existed since the beginning of time. She can be found in the mythology of Inanna/Ereshkegal, Isis/Nepthys, and many others. This energy has been a source of fascination for many throughout history, including those seeking to tap into its untapped power. We have seen a renewed interest in that profound chthonic energy.
Pluto was discovered recently, in the 1930s, which aligned with the rise of fascism and the discovery of nuclear fission (which harnesses the power of plutonium). At the same time, depth psychology which started with Sigmund Freud at the beginning of the 1900s was emerging and taking hold as people like Carl Jung began expanding the field—illuminating that this dark power can be harnessed for good and “evil.” Jung introduced us to concepts such as the collective unconscious and the shadow, which are deeply connected to Pluto.
Pluto is a relentless teacher. It teaches us that the more unconscious a person is, the more dangerous they are to themselves and others. This theme has become apparent to us all during Pluto in Capricorn—both with the rise of social media and the disempowerment of the masses—someone even created a word to describe these people as “sheeple.”
Another word deeply associated with Pluto is apocalypse. It means revelation or disclosure in ancient Greek. It is the parting of the veils—an excellent way to describe Pluto’s action—it shows us what has is hidden—like Toto exposing the Wizard of Oz to Dorthy by pulling back the curtain. The astrological sign the transit occurs in hints at what we might find hidden behind those veils.
The Sign of Capricorn
Capricorn symbolizes structures, hierarchies, careers, money, determination, institutions, corporations, and limits in astrology. A mountain goat climbing straight up the mountainside’s sheer face is Capricorn’s perfect image. It symbolizes its ability to reach its goals and ambitions with great precision. Capricorn is also known for its hardworking nature and a strong sense of responsibility.
Pluto in Capricorn
Pluto, in any sign, is a period of great transformation, allowing us to make dramatic changes in our lives. Pluto in Capricorn was a time when power struggles, the fall of patriarchy, and the breakdown of hierarchical institutions began to occur.
Before this transit, most people were not even familiar with the concepts of patriarchy or Plutocracy (hard to remember that far back). This shift in power dynamics could create a more equitable and balanced society where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
As Pluto moves out of Capricorn, we can look back and see its energy’s effects on our lives and how it could help us create positive change. We may have faced difficult decisions with far-reaching consequences, but this period also brings about opportunities for growth and transformation.
What Happened while Pluto was in Capricorn
Pluto in Capricorn is a period that began in 2008 and will last until 2024. During this time, Pluto transits through the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which I just described. It was a period of transformation and upheaval. If you think back, you will see that a lot happened during that period.
The most significant event of this transit was the 2008 financial crisis, one of the most devastating economic downturns in modern history. It affected economies worldwide and had a lasting impact on global markets—many such events involved large institutions such as governments and corporations, which Capricorn rules.
In 2010/2011, we had Arab spring and the revolution in Egypt. 2012 (or 2011, depending on which calculations you follow) brought us the end of the Mayan calendar—not the end of the world. The end of a calendar also ruled by Saturn/Chronos (Capricorn’s ruling planet).
Many people were unaware that the apocalypse (parting of the veils) was happening—the media was so busy trying to ridicule this highly illuminating occasion and make it into some woo-woo dystopian film.
We also had the rise of the “Me Too” movement in 2017, involving inequality and hierarchy. The grand finale (I hope) was the pandemic involving many players such as governments, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical corporations.
Conclusion
In the period since 2008, we have had a very illuminating ride. For most people, the concept of institutions and corporations is no longer favorable. The belief that our governments or industries, such as the medical sector, are here to help or have our best interests at heart is long gone. The veil has been lifted. The 1% does not choose to include any of the 99%. We are on our own. But that’s OK. As long as we know who are friends are, we can make better choices. And the good news is that Pluto is leaving Capricorn and moving into Aquarius—a sign known for being humanitarian.
In Part 2 of Pluto in Aquarius: Entering a New Era, we will look into the future and explore the astrological sign of Aquarius and what Pluto in Aquarius might offer us.
Extracting the wisdom from the last cycle before moving forward is essential. In our live gathering on March 23rd this year, we did a guided visualization to take us back to the time when Pluto made its journey through Capricorn. After reading this blog post, I recommend you do some contemplative practice to help you process the last 15 years of Pluto is Capricorn. And after that, I hope you will read Pluto in Aquarius: Entering a New Era-Part 2 Looking Forward.
Possible Contemplation Questions:
What big themes emerged for you in the last 15 years—between 2008 and 2023?
How did the significant events between 2008 and 2023 (the financial crisis, pandemic, end of the Mayan calendar, Arab spring, or others) impact you personally?
What illuminating pearls of wisdom have you extracted from Pluto’s trip through Capricorn?
You can join us in our online communities, Dancing Down the Moon and WiseWomans Way, to watch the replay.
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Leslie Zehr is a mystic, sacred arts teacher, workshop leader, mentor, podcaster, and author. For more than 30 years has supported women to reconnect to the Divine Feminine within through the mysteries of ancient Egypt. A trained hypnotherapist, reiki master, astrologer, aromatherapist, and homeopath, Leslie is the author of two books –The Alchemy of Dance: Sacred Dance as a Path to the Universal Dancer and The Al-chemia Remedies: Vibrational Essences from Egyptian Flowers and Sacred Sites. Her lectures and workshops have taken her from Cairo, ancient Egyptian temples, and archaeological sites along the Nile River to studios and centers across the United States. Currently, Leslie offers courses through her online school, Universal Dancer Temple of the Sacred Arts, and she is the Host and Producer of The Universal Dancer Podcast.